Title: The Law of Christ: Freedom From The Law (Part 2) Meta: The Christian is not under the Law as a covenant rule of duty; he is "in-lawed to Christ." And Christ gives him a much clearer and higher revelation of duty than the Law of Moses did. It is not that the law of Christ overthrows the "holy and righteous and good" Law of Moses. God forbid! Rather, it fulfills and surpasses it! - Charles Leiter Tags: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23,Mosaic Law,Ten Commandments,Jesus Christ,God,Hebrew Roots Movement,legalism 1 00:00:00,448 --> 00:00:02,529 Well, let's look at these verses once again. 2 00:00:02,530 --> 00:00:12,720 It won't hurt us to become really familiar with this passage in 1 Corinthians 9. 3 00:00:12,721 --> 00:00:15,770 Paul says in verse 19, "Though I am free from all men, 4 00:00:15,771 --> 00:00:22,025 I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more." 5 00:00:22,026 --> 00:00:24,124 He is free, that's the reality. 6 00:00:24,125 --> 00:00:29,645 He is free from all men but he willingly makes himself a slave to all 7 00:00:29,646 --> 00:00:31,002 that he might win the more. 8 00:00:31,003 --> 00:00:34,547 "To the Jews I became as a Jew," - 9 00:00:34,548 --> 00:00:39,398 that explains some of the things that happened in the book of Acts - 10 00:00:39,399 --> 00:00:41,097 "that I might win Jews. 11 00:00:41,098 --> 00:00:43,616 To those who are under the Law as under the Law 12 00:00:43,617 --> 00:00:45,966 (though not being myself under the Law) 13 00:00:45,967 --> 00:00:50,666 that I might win those who are under the Law. 14 00:00:50,667 --> 00:00:55,734 To those who are without law as without law 15 00:00:55,735 --> 00:01:00,535 (though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ)" - 16 00:01:00,536 --> 00:01:04,894 he doesn't want us to think that he just ran wild when he was with the Gentiles. 17 00:01:04,894 --> 00:01:09,200 He was under the law of Christ or inlawed to Christ - 18 00:01:09,201 --> 00:01:11,571 "that I might win those who are without law. 19 00:01:11,572 --> 00:01:17,290 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. 20 00:01:17,291 --> 00:01:23,030 I have become all things to all men that I may by all means save some. 21 00:01:23,031 --> 00:01:26,992 And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, 22 00:01:26,993 --> 00:01:32,372 that I may become a fellow partaker of it." (P) 23 00:01:34,119 --> 00:01:39,024 If we could, just very briefly, look back at where we've come so far, 24 00:01:39,025 --> 00:01:44,513 we have seen three great principles in this first session. 25 00:01:44,514 --> 00:01:50,570 One is that we saw something concerning the real purpose of the Law of Moses. 26 00:01:50,571 --> 00:01:53,796 It was never given as an alternate method of salvation. 27 00:01:53,797 --> 00:01:59,018 Nobody has ever been saved by lawkeeping, and God didn't set it up for that purpose. 28 00:01:59,019 --> 00:02:04,971 It was never given to add conditions to the promise made to Abraham. 29 00:02:04,972 --> 00:02:09,047 Even in human contracts, you can't do that. 30 00:02:09,048 --> 00:02:11,787 And it was never intended as a means of salvation. 31 00:02:11,788 --> 00:02:13,314 What was its real purpose? 32 00:02:13,315 --> 00:02:22,345 Well, Paul says it was a conductor, a child conductor, a tutor to lead us to Christ; 33 00:02:22,346 --> 00:02:24,969 to expose sin; to convict of sin; 34 00:02:24,970 --> 00:02:29,835 to give types and shadows and examples of the coming Messiah. 35 00:02:29,850 --> 00:02:31,976 You see that, you know, John the baptist, 36 00:02:31,986 --> 00:02:36,705 when Jesus came on the scene, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God." 37 00:02:36,713 --> 00:02:39,048 This is the real One. 38 00:02:39,049 --> 00:02:42,978 All that was foreshadowed in the Law. (P) 39 00:02:42,979 --> 00:02:45,508 So, the real purpose of the Law. 40 00:02:45,509 --> 00:02:49,819 Then secondly, we saw that even though many of the promises made in the Old Testament 41 00:02:49,820 --> 00:02:57,588 appear to be physical in nature and even have an initial physical fulfillment, 42 00:02:57,589 --> 00:03:04,852 yet when we come to the New Testament we find that they had a much deeper significance. 43 00:03:04,853 --> 00:03:11,198 It would take quite a bit of time to read even a representative number of passages, 44 00:03:11,199 --> 00:03:18,430 but one of them in the Old Testament, God talks about making a covenant with David. 45 00:03:18,431 --> 00:03:23,697 And He promised David that he would never lack a man to sit on his throne. 46 00:03:23,698 --> 00:03:27,909 He said it is as enduring as the sun, the moon. 47 00:03:27,910 --> 00:03:31,298 And that sounds pretty permanent. 48 00:03:31,299 --> 00:03:36,359 And the way it's all worded, it sounds like the lineage of David, 49 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:41,269 David's sons, you know, one after another, sitting on his throne. (P) 50 00:03:41,270 --> 00:03:44,474 When you come to the New Testament, let me just read it to you, 51 00:03:44,475 --> 00:04:02,246 Luke chapter 1 verse 30, "The angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary; 52 00:04:02,247 --> 00:04:04,467 for you have found favor with God. 53 00:04:04,468 --> 00:04:07,622 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, 54 00:04:07,623 --> 00:04:09,191 and you shall name Him Jesus.'" 55 00:04:09,191 --> 00:04:15,386 - Now this is an angel speaking. This is the divine interpretation of prophecy. 56 00:04:15,387 --> 00:04:18,863 "He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; 57 00:04:18,865 --> 00:04:24,918 and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 58 00:04:24,919 --> 00:04:32,350 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end." 59 00:04:32,351 --> 00:04:37,761 You see, this is the fulfillment of those promises where God told David, 60 00:04:37,762 --> 00:04:41,089 "You'll never lack one of your seed; 61 00:04:41,090 --> 00:04:44,384 one of your descendants will reign on the throne forever. 62 00:04:44,385 --> 00:04:47,705 Like the stars, like the moon, like the sun forever." 63 00:04:47,706 --> 00:04:51,686 Well, this is it. The Lord Jesus is the fulfillment. (P) 64 00:04:51,687 --> 00:05:05,001 One more, let's look in Acts chapter 15. 65 00:05:05,008 --> 00:05:09,412 This is where James is giving his interpretation of the Gentiles being saved. 66 00:05:09,413 --> 00:05:13,407 They meet there at Jerusalem, at this council, 67 00:05:13,408 --> 00:05:18,060 and Peter tells about what God had done in the salvation of the Gentiles. 68 00:05:18,061 --> 00:05:20,555 And verse 13, "After they had stopped speaking, 69 00:05:20,556 --> 00:05:23,966 James answered, saying, 'Brethren, listen to me. 70 00:05:23,967 --> 00:05:27,300 Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself 71 00:05:27,301 --> 00:05:31,820 about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. 72 00:05:31,821 --> 00:05:35,645 And with this the words of the Prophets agree, just as it is written,'" - 73 00:05:35,646 --> 00:05:40,259 now we are getting an apostolic interpretation of Old Testament prophecy, 74 00:05:40,260 --> 00:05:44,530 and this is what he says, "‘After these things I will return, 75 00:05:44,531 --> 00:05:49,497 and I will rebuild the tabernacle of David which has fallen, 76 00:05:49,498 --> 00:05:53,980 and I will rebuild its ruins, and restore it.'" 77 00:05:53,981 --> 00:05:55,473 - Now, where is the building at? 78 00:05:55,480 --> 00:06:01,876 You know, you start looking around, maybe it's talking about rebuilding some temple or something. 79 00:06:01,877 --> 00:06:06,118 You see, this is what has already happened when Christ came 80 00:06:06,119 --> 00:06:09,496 and did the work that He did on the cross. 81 00:06:09,497 --> 00:06:12,391 He has rebuilt the tabernacle of David. 82 00:06:12,392 --> 00:06:17,249 The Son of David is now reigning, you see. 83 00:06:17,250 --> 00:06:22,425 Verse 17, "'In order that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, 84 00:06:22,441 --> 00:06:26,232 and all the Gentiles who are called by My name,' says the Lord, 85 00:06:26,233 --> 00:06:28,629 who makes these things known from of old." (P) 86 00:06:28,630 --> 00:06:31,329 So James says, Look, this is the fulfillment of Scripture. 87 00:06:31,330 --> 00:06:35,392 God has rebuilt the tabernacle of David which has fallen, 88 00:06:35,393 --> 00:06:38,172 and now He is bringing in the Gentiles. 89 00:06:38,173 --> 00:06:41,566 You see, he takes it in a spiritual way. 90 00:06:41,567 --> 00:06:43,853 There are so many things like this. 91 00:06:43,854 --> 00:06:46,723 Every valley shall be exalted, every mountain [made low]. 92 00:06:46,724 --> 00:06:49,377 Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 93 00:06:49,378 --> 00:06:52,915 It's not talking about a building project over in Palestine. 94 00:06:52,916 --> 00:06:57,142 Every mountain shall be made low, the valley shall be exalted. 95 00:06:57,143 --> 00:07:00,788 It's saying every proud person is going to be brought down. 96 00:07:00,789 --> 00:07:03,854 Every humble person is going to be lifted up. 97 00:07:03,855 --> 00:07:08,800 You see, these are New Testament ways of understanding these Old Testament prophecies. (P) 98 00:07:08,801 --> 00:07:13,920 And then, thirdly, the key to understanding the whole Bible is Christ. 99 00:07:13,928 --> 00:07:20,006 We won't spend more time on that, but you remember in Ephesians 1, he says, 100 00:07:20,007 --> 00:07:25,431 "All these took place with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of times, 101 00:07:25,432 --> 00:07:28,649 that is, the summing up of all things in Christ." 102 00:07:28,650 --> 00:07:33,364 He is the culmination of everything. (P) 103 00:07:33,365 --> 00:07:37,987 Okay, so thus far we've seen that Christians 104 00:07:37,988 --> 00:07:40,809 (and I'll just quote what Paul and others say,) 105 00:07:40,810 --> 00:07:45,000 Christians are not under the Law. 106 00:07:45,001 --> 00:07:48,880 They are free from the Law. 107 00:07:48,881 --> 00:07:52,470 They are dead to the Law. 108 00:07:52,471 --> 00:07:56,097 They are not under a tutor. 109 00:07:56,098 --> 00:08:01,182 Relationship of a lost man to God is one of Law. 110 00:08:01,183 --> 00:08:05,540 That is not the way it is with the Christian; he is not under Law anymore. 111 00:08:05,541 --> 00:08:08,077 He is dead to Law. (P) 112 00:08:08,078 --> 00:08:13,586 So what does that mean? What does it mean to be dead to the Law? 113 00:08:13,587 --> 00:08:17,743 Does it mean that it's no longer wrong to murder? 114 00:08:17,745 --> 00:08:18,875 We know that can't be. 115 00:08:18,876 --> 00:08:22,697 So what does it mean that we have died to the Law? 116 00:08:22,698 --> 00:08:26,336 Now I want to go through several things with you very briefly, 117 00:08:26,337 --> 00:08:27,884 but I hope we can lay hold of these. 118 00:08:27,885 --> 00:08:32,919 First of all, the Christian is dead to the Law and free from the Law - 119 00:08:32,921 --> 00:08:38,568 he is free from the curse and condemnation of the Law. 120 00:08:38,570 --> 00:08:42,525 Paul says, "As many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse." 121 00:08:42,525 --> 00:08:46,287 If you're still under the Law, you're cursed; 122 00:08:46,288 --> 00:08:49,755 because if you're under Law, you've broken that Law, 123 00:08:49,763 --> 00:08:51,815 and the curse of the Law is resting on you. 124 00:08:51,816 --> 00:08:54,942 If you're still under there, you're cursed. 125 00:08:54,943 --> 00:08:58,691 And the lost man lives under a curse all the time. 126 00:08:58,692 --> 00:09:02,282 The wrath of God abides on him. (P) 127 00:09:02,283 --> 00:09:05,958 Now think of this: You may see this fellow out here, 128 00:09:05,959 --> 00:09:10,733 everything seems great, his kids are successful, 129 00:09:10,734 --> 00:09:19,614 they are not having any big problems, his tomatoes are all growing really great, 130 00:09:19,615 --> 00:09:25,381 and all the while, daily, he is living under a curse. 131 00:09:25,382 --> 00:09:32,893 He has got the wrath of God abiding on him; he lives under a perpetual curse. 132 00:09:32,894 --> 00:09:34,500 That is not true for the Christian. (P) 133 00:09:34,501 --> 00:09:40,094 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us. 134 00:09:40,095 --> 00:09:48,923 There is therefore now no condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus. 135 00:09:48,924 --> 00:09:54,967 When you first become a Christian, you have this sense, "My sins are gone. 136 00:09:54,968 --> 00:09:59,385 And God really does accept me." 137 00:09:59,386 --> 00:10:04,509 But after you've been a Christian a while and you start realizing how much sin there is remaining, 138 00:10:04,510 --> 00:10:08,121 you start to feel a little bit condemned and defiled. 139 00:10:08,122 --> 00:10:11,758 O beloved, that is a lie. 140 00:10:11,759 --> 00:10:19,459 If you're a child of God today, there is not one tiny speck, 141 00:10:19,460 --> 00:10:23,589 not one little tiny sin that is remaining on your account. 142 00:10:23,590 --> 00:10:27,964 If there was, you'd have to go to hell forever to pay for it. 143 00:10:27,965 --> 00:10:29,402 Sin is not imputed. 144 00:10:29,403 --> 00:10:34,520 God says, "Their sins and their iniquities, I will remember no more." 145 00:10:34,521 --> 00:10:38,936 That whole category of sins and iniquities, it's gone. 146 00:10:38,937 --> 00:10:43,206 That's unbelievable! 147 00:10:43,207 --> 00:10:45,584 Christians aren't out on probation. 148 00:10:45,585 --> 00:10:49,792 Their sins are no longer remembered. 149 00:10:49,793 --> 00:10:52,403 And it's an amazing thing. (P) 150 00:10:52,404 --> 00:10:57,269 Let me try to get across to you what this is. 151 00:10:57,270 --> 00:11:00,866 Maybe I used this when I was here last time, I don't remember. 152 00:11:00,867 --> 00:11:03,891 Talking about justification. 153 00:11:03,892 --> 00:11:10,980 But, suppose that I get up this morning and I am a little bit unkind and rude to my wife, 154 00:11:10,981 --> 00:11:14,071 and I don't even really think about it. 155 00:11:14,072 --> 00:11:21,674 And I go off to work, and it dawns on me, "That was sin. 156 00:11:21,675 --> 00:11:24,008 It wasn't intentional, but it was sin." 157 00:11:24,009 --> 00:11:27,003 The Bible talks about that, you know. 158 00:11:27,004 --> 00:11:31,840 Unintentionally sinning; there is such a thing, a lot of it. 159 00:11:31,841 --> 00:11:38,838 And you realize it was sin; and I call my wife up and ask her forgiveness, 160 00:11:38,839 --> 00:11:44,013 or when I see her I ask her forgiveness. I ask God to forgive me. 161 00:11:44,014 --> 00:11:50,372 Now, I committed a sin, and maybe it was 2 to 3 hours before I even realized, 162 00:11:50,373 --> 00:11:54,636 what if I had died in-between there? 163 00:11:54,637 --> 00:11:59,186 Would I have gone to heaven or hell? 164 00:11:59,187 --> 00:12:02,841 Somebody nodded. if you nod, that doesn't answer my question. [Laughs]. 165 00:12:02,842 --> 00:12:07,248 You'd go to heaven. 166 00:12:07,249 --> 00:12:08,803 You realize what that means? 167 00:12:08,803 --> 00:12:12,235 That means during the time that you committed that sin, 168 00:12:12,236 --> 00:12:14,977 to the time that you realized and confessed it, 169 00:12:14,978 --> 00:12:18,020 during that whole time you remained in a justified state. 170 00:12:18,021 --> 00:12:24,246 The sin was not imputed to you. It wasn't on your account. (P) 171 00:12:24,247 --> 00:12:26,389 Now, suppose I knew. 172 00:12:26,390 --> 00:12:30,987 Suppose I was unkind to my wife and I knew that I had been unkind to her. 173 00:12:30,988 --> 00:12:32,121 It's a known sin. 174 00:12:32,122 --> 00:12:39,433 I mean, I go out the door, I close it a little bit too hard and go off in a huff to work. 175 00:12:39,434 --> 00:12:46,390 I know none of you have ever experienced that as a husband. [Audience laughs]. 176 00:12:46,391 --> 00:12:52,726 And all morning long it's bothering you, it's bothering you, "That was wrong." 177 00:12:52,727 --> 00:12:56,727 You call your wife and ask her forgiveness, you ask God's forgiveness. 178 00:12:56,728 --> 00:12:58,947 Now, that was a known sin. 179 00:12:58,948 --> 00:13:06,103 Suppose you had died between the time that you committed it and the time you confessed it, 180 00:13:06,104 --> 00:13:08,299 where would you go? 181 00:13:08,300 --> 00:13:12,591 I hope you'd say you'd go to heaven. You'd go to heaven. 182 00:13:12,592 --> 00:13:17,771 Now think of what that means. God did not impute that sin. 183 00:13:17,772 --> 00:13:21,290 "Their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more. 184 00:13:21,291 --> 00:13:26,145 I blotted them out. They are gone!" 185 00:13:26,146 --> 00:13:29,153 That's incredible. (P) 186 00:13:29,154 --> 00:13:32,483 The Jews look at that, and they say, "Man, if that is true, 187 00:13:32,484 --> 00:13:35,997 then let us sin that grace might abound." 188 00:13:35,998 --> 00:13:38,830 And if that's what is going on in your heart, 189 00:13:38,831 --> 00:13:45,105 you see, the Pharisees said, "Well, that would give a license to sin." 190 00:13:45,106 --> 00:13:46,523 You know why? 191 00:13:46,523 --> 00:13:49,970 Because Pharisees read their Bibles because they have to; 192 00:13:49,971 --> 00:13:52,031 and they go to church because they have to; 193 00:13:52,032 --> 00:13:56,453 and they hate being around Christians but they have to. 194 00:13:56,454 --> 00:14:00,188 You see the difference? 195 00:14:00,189 --> 00:14:03,661 A true child of God, why is it that it bothered me all morning? 196 00:14:03,662 --> 00:14:10,263 Because I am a child of God, and I remain a child of God. 197 00:14:10,264 --> 00:14:13,210 You say, "Maybe that would give a license to sin." 198 00:14:13,211 --> 00:14:21,271 If you're a true Christian, you already sin more than you want to. Isn't that true? 199 00:14:21,279 --> 00:14:24,885 Because God says, "Their sins and their iniquities I will remember no more." 200 00:14:24,894 --> 00:14:26,694 He says, "I'll write My law on their heart." 201 00:14:26,695 --> 00:14:32,232 He puts something inside of you that wants to be like Him. 202 00:14:32,233 --> 00:14:38,300 That is the difference between religion and being a Christian. (P) 203 00:14:38,301 --> 00:14:41,224 Now, the flesh is gravitating all the time towards evil. 204 00:14:41,225 --> 00:14:44,774 That is not who you really are, as a child of God. 205 00:14:44,775 --> 00:14:49,203 That is part of who you are, but that is not the deepest truth about you. 206 00:14:49,204 --> 00:14:52,895 The deepest truth is you want the Lord. 207 00:14:52,896 --> 00:14:57,249 He has made you new in the innermost being. (P) 208 00:14:57,250 --> 00:15:01,671 So, the Christian is no longer under condemnation. 209 00:15:01,672 --> 00:15:05,177 Now that's a glorious thing. 210 00:15:05,178 --> 00:15:11,508 But secondly, we are free from the Law as a means of obtaining righteousness and life. 211 00:15:11,509 --> 00:15:14,340 You see, the Law said, "The soul that sins will die." 212 00:15:14,341 --> 00:15:17,482 We are free from that. We are no longer under the curse. 213 00:15:17,483 --> 00:15:19,954 But the Law also said, "Do this, and you will live. 214 00:15:19,955 --> 00:15:23,771 If you want life, you've got to obey." 215 00:15:23,772 --> 00:15:31,301 And what happens when you become a Christian is, God gives you the righteousness of Christ; 216 00:15:31,302 --> 00:15:33,816 and no longer are you under this thing that is saying, 217 00:15:33,817 --> 00:15:38,033 "You perform or you're not going to have My favor. 218 00:15:38,034 --> 00:15:41,650 You're not going to have life, you're not going to have blessing unless you perform." 219 00:15:41,651 --> 00:15:48,076 And so, if you do well one day, you think, "Wow, I did good today. 220 00:15:48,077 --> 00:15:51,521 I'm God's son. God's smile is on me." 221 00:15:51,522 --> 00:15:55,905 And if you don't do well, you feel like you're under the curse. 222 00:15:55,906 --> 00:15:57,486 That isn't true. 223 00:15:57,487 --> 00:16:04,154 Now, if you do something as a Christian that is displeasing to God, eventually He'll chasten you. 224 00:16:04,155 --> 00:16:06,559 But chastening is a totally different thing. 225 00:16:06,560 --> 00:16:14,177 Chastening is suffering inflicted out of love for the good of the one being chastened. 226 00:16:14,178 --> 00:16:18,572 In other words, it's a proof of my sonship! 227 00:16:18,573 --> 00:16:24,952 In other words, the Christian abides in a continual state of blessing. (P) 228 00:16:24,953 --> 00:16:28,384 Romans 4:6-8, "David describes the blessedness of the man 229 00:16:28,385 --> 00:16:32,363 to whom God imputes righteousness without works. 230 00:16:32,364 --> 00:16:36,214 Blessed are those whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 231 00:16:36,215 --> 00:16:39,926 Blessed is the man to whom God will not impute sin." 232 00:16:39,927 --> 00:16:50,170 The Christian, here he is, his tomato plants are all wilted, and he is in prison; 233 00:16:50,171 --> 00:16:53,555 and he is a son of God, and he is blessed. 234 00:16:53,556 --> 00:16:56,786 All the time he is abiding under perpetual blessing. 235 00:16:56,787 --> 00:17:02,810 And if he sins, God loves him so much He'll give him a spanking and get him straightened out. 236 00:17:02,811 --> 00:17:06,223 That's a glorious thing that God loves me like that. 237 00:17:06,224 --> 00:17:10,593 I am no longer under, I'm free from the Law 238 00:17:10,594 --> 00:17:16,796 that I've got to perform in order to have God's smile or blessing. 239 00:17:16,797 --> 00:17:22,097 In the ultimate sense, His blessing is upon me all the time. 240 00:17:22,098 --> 00:17:25,820 Like I said, some of our actions may displease Him, 241 00:17:25,821 --> 00:17:27,545 and because He loves me so much, 242 00:17:27,546 --> 00:17:30,987 because His smile is upon me in the ultimate sense, 243 00:17:30,988 --> 00:17:35,914 He will chasten me in order to make me more like Christ. 244 00:17:35,914 --> 00:17:38,424 Now, that's a totally different situation. (P) 245 00:17:38,425 --> 00:17:41,335 Paul says, "We are free from that. 246 00:17:41,336 --> 00:17:44,507 You have the righteousness of Christ." 247 00:17:44,508 --> 00:17:46,924 "He made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, 248 00:17:46,925 --> 00:17:51,819 that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). (P) 249 00:17:51,820 --> 00:17:53,764 How else is the Christian free from Law? 250 00:17:53,765 --> 00:18:01,828 Well, he is free from the Law as an external rule that contradicts his true nature and desires. 251 00:18:01,829 --> 00:18:03,172 Now why do I bring this up? 252 00:18:03,173 --> 00:18:10,961 Well because, in experience, what the lost man experiences is a constriction. 253 00:18:10,962 --> 00:18:17,559 He is constrained and restrained by threats and fear, and he has to do stuff. 254 00:18:17,560 --> 00:18:20,514 You know, there is a bumper sticker years ago, 255 00:18:20,515 --> 00:18:27,244 "Every thing I like is either illegal, immoral or fattening. [Audience laughs]. 256 00:18:27,245 --> 00:18:29,220 Well, the fattening part is one thing, 257 00:18:29,221 --> 00:18:33,021 but every thing I like is illegal or immoral? 258 00:18:33,022 --> 00:18:36,480 What's that saying about the heart? 259 00:18:36,481 --> 00:18:42,433 You see, the lost man reaches out to steal, and the Law says, "You shall not steal." 260 00:18:42,441 --> 00:18:45,058 He wants to commit adultery, it says, "You shall not commit adultery." 261 00:18:45,059 --> 00:18:48,656 He is hemmed in. He is in bondage to the Law. (P) 262 00:18:48,657 --> 00:18:51,550 Christians are freed from the Law. How does that happen? 263 00:18:51,551 --> 00:19:01,502 He puts the Law inside of you so that you want to be the things that the Law requires. 264 00:19:01,503 --> 00:19:05,497 How does Paul put it? We probably ought to turn to this; this is so important. 265 00:19:05,498 --> 00:19:28,684 Galatians 5:18, "If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law." - 266 00:19:28,685 --> 00:19:32,051 Now he's not talking about something that changes from one day to the next. 267 00:19:32,052 --> 00:19:34,848 He's talking about the state of Christians. 268 00:19:34,849 --> 00:19:39,828 Christians are those who are Spirit-led, and they not under the Law. 269 00:19:39,829 --> 00:19:43,400 "Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, (and he goes through all those things 270 00:19:43,401 --> 00:19:46,859 and says that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.)" 271 00:19:46,860 --> 00:19:52,224 Now verse 22, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, 272 00:19:52,225 --> 00:19:56,639 kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; 273 00:19:56,640 --> 00:20:02,877 - now look at this phrase - against such things there is no law." 274 00:20:02,878 --> 00:20:04,437 What is he saying? 275 00:20:04,438 --> 00:20:09,150 He is saying just walk in the Spirit, just be what God has made you to be, 276 00:20:09,151 --> 00:20:13,144 and you will never have a restriction. 277 00:20:13,145 --> 00:20:21,523 But you'll never run into a fence called the Law. You are free. (P) 278 00:20:21,524 --> 00:20:24,282 I wish I could get this across. 279 00:20:24,283 --> 00:20:28,212 Think about heaven. 280 00:20:28,213 --> 00:20:31,051 Here we are, all in heaven, 281 00:20:31,052 --> 00:20:36,164 and you come around the corner and there is a sign, "You shall not commit adultery. 282 00:20:36,165 --> 00:20:37,741 You shall not murder." 283 00:20:37,742 --> 00:20:39,428 You think that's [possible]? 284 00:20:39,429 --> 00:20:44,361 You see, the reality is, there in your heart you don't want that. 285 00:20:44,362 --> 00:20:45,439 You're totally free. 286 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:51,374 When you get to heaven, the principle that God has put in your heart to love Him 287 00:20:51,375 --> 00:20:54,457 has become the only reality in your life. 288 00:20:54,458 --> 00:20:57,065 Now, right now we are still battling the flesh, 289 00:20:57,066 --> 00:21:00,556 but the principle that's in us is a love 290 00:21:00,557 --> 00:21:04,231 (that's what He means when He says I'll put my law inside of you,) 291 00:21:04,232 --> 00:21:08,512 a love for righteousness. 292 00:21:08,513 --> 00:21:11,434 That is why in 1 Timothy 1:9-10, 293 00:21:11,435 --> 00:21:15,556 he says the law was not made for a righteous man. 294 00:21:15,557 --> 00:21:21,853 It's made for all these different..., I better read it. 295 00:21:25,092 --> 00:21:29,147 "Realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous man, 296 00:21:29,148 --> 00:21:31,373 but for those who are lawless and rebellious, 297 00:21:31,374 --> 00:21:35,816 for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, 298 00:21:35,817 --> 00:21:38,822 for those who kill their fathers or mothers, 299 00:21:38,823 --> 00:21:43,950 for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers 300 00:21:43,951 --> 00:21:48,654 and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, 301 00:21:48,655 --> 00:21:55,112 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted." (P) 302 00:21:55,113 --> 00:22:01,873 In other words, the Law is made to restrain the wicked. 303 00:22:01,874 --> 00:22:07,706 Christians are in a different category, there is something that has happened inside of them. 304 00:22:07,707 --> 00:22:13,849 And they no longer are restrained from evil all the time by outside force. 305 00:22:13,850 --> 00:22:19,575 There is something inside of them restraining them. (P) 306 00:22:21,723 --> 00:22:24,331 We are staying over at the Toms; 307 00:22:24,332 --> 00:22:27,015 and I don't see any of those cameras up, you know, 308 00:22:27,016 --> 00:22:32,302 trying to make sure we don't steal anything. [Laughs]. 309 00:22:32,303 --> 00:22:37,328 No sign, "Shoplifters will be prosecuted." (P) 310 00:22:37,329 --> 00:22:39,761 You see, when you are dealing with Christians; 311 00:22:39,762 --> 00:22:48,416 we had a book table or book room there, and we've got cash in there. 312 00:22:48,417 --> 00:22:51,944 And somebody said, when I was talking about this, they said, 313 00:22:51,945 --> 00:22:54,623 "Well, you don't leave a lot of cash in there, do you?" 314 00:22:54,624 --> 00:22:58,271 I'm not afraid of Christians stealing that. 315 00:22:58,272 --> 00:22:59,129 You see the difference? 316 00:22:59,130 --> 00:23:05,596 I mean, there might be some lost kids there that are in deep trouble or need, 317 00:23:05,597 --> 00:23:07,445 they might take something out of there. 318 00:23:07,446 --> 00:23:11,025 But I am not really trying to, you know, "O I want to make sure 319 00:23:11,026 --> 00:23:17,061 I don't want to let Jen get in there, she might steal something." [Laughs]. 320 00:23:17,062 --> 00:23:22,007 Think of this. We are free! 321 00:23:22,008 --> 00:23:25,913 You are free to be who you really are. 322 00:23:25,914 --> 00:23:32,406 It's a glorious thing; you are free from the Law. (P) 323 00:23:32,407 --> 00:23:36,511 How else are we free? 324 00:23:36,512 --> 00:23:41,373 Well, we are dead to the Law in the sense that we've moved out of the whole realm of demand, 325 00:23:41,389 --> 00:23:43,047 and we are in the realm of supply. 326 00:23:43,048 --> 00:23:44,514 Now this is a little different. 327 00:23:44,515 --> 00:23:48,389 It's similar, but it's a little different than what I am talking about here. 328 00:23:48,390 --> 00:23:54,815 We've moved out of the realm of demand, and we are in the realm of supply, 329 00:23:54,816 --> 00:23:59,284 or what the Bible calls grace. 330 00:23:59,285 --> 00:24:03,748 Romans 6:14, "Sin shall not have dominion over you, you are not under the Law 331 00:24:03,749 --> 00:24:08,966 (you're not in the realm of demand,) you are under grace. (P) 332 00:24:08,967 --> 00:24:10,157 There's two realms. 333 00:24:10,158 --> 00:24:14,319 There is a realm of Law, and over here is the realm of grace. 334 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:18,607 There's a realm of the flesh, over here is the realm of the Spirit. 335 00:24:18,608 --> 00:24:23,365 There's a realm of condemnation, over here is the realm of justification. 336 00:24:23,366 --> 00:24:26,073 This is the realm of sin; this is the realm of righteousness. 337 00:24:26,074 --> 00:24:28,968 We are over here in this realm. 338 00:24:28,969 --> 00:24:35,688 And over in this realm, nothing depends ultimately on us. 339 00:24:35,689 --> 00:24:41,990 Back in that realm when you were under the Law, it did depend, it was conditioned on you. (P) 340 00:24:41,991 --> 00:24:46,754 Let me give you an example of this. 341 00:24:46,755 --> 00:24:53,572 Peter has a problem with self-confidence. It's a sin problem. 342 00:24:53,573 --> 00:24:56,949 He is over here in the realm of grace. 343 00:24:56,950 --> 00:25:01,542 The Lord Jesus engineers a situation where Peter would fail, 344 00:25:01,543 --> 00:25:06,519 so that that problem with self-confidence can be dealt with; 345 00:25:06,520 --> 00:25:07,758 so that he can be strong. 346 00:25:07,759 --> 00:25:12,439 And He says, "After this is over, when you turn again, (not if you turn again,) 347 00:25:12,440 --> 00:25:15,891 you'll be able to help these other guys out; you'll be able to strengthen the brethren." 348 00:25:15,892 --> 00:25:21,802 You see what we are talking about - a realm of supply rather than a realm of demand. 349 00:25:21,803 --> 00:25:24,038 You may be shocked in your Christian life, 350 00:25:24,039 --> 00:25:27,938 you may have things come out where you're shocked at how much sin still remains, 351 00:25:27,939 --> 00:25:31,476 and how bad you still are in some way. 352 00:25:31,477 --> 00:25:32,706 But God isn't shocked. 353 00:25:32,707 --> 00:25:37,070 He knew all about all that before He ever chose you. 354 00:25:37,071 --> 00:25:40,345 And He sets to work when He saves you; 355 00:25:40,346 --> 00:25:44,767 He says, "Look, I won't turn away from you to do you good. 356 00:25:44,768 --> 00:25:50,393 Not only that, I'll put the fear of Me in you so that you won't turn away from Me." 357 00:25:50,394 --> 00:25:55,109 That's supply. That's grace. (P) 358 00:25:55,110 --> 00:25:59,346 And so, He undertakes to do for us everything. 359 00:25:59,347 --> 00:26:04,161 He says, "I'll cleanse you from all your filthiness and all your idols." 360 00:26:04,162 --> 00:26:07,977 There are things in your life after you become a Christian, 361 00:26:07,978 --> 00:26:09,839 and God says, "I'm going to work on those. 362 00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:14,895 I am not going to leave you alone until I make you like Christ." 363 00:26:14,896 --> 00:26:19,975 It doesn't depend ultimately on our performance, it depends upon His faithfulness. 364 00:26:19,976 --> 00:26:25,602 He says, "I will reign over you, I will be your God. 365 00:26:25,603 --> 00:26:31,214 I'll cleanse you from everything. I am going to get the job done." (P) 366 00:26:31,215 --> 00:26:34,912 Now if you don't find that happening in your life, then you need to be afraid. 367 00:26:34,913 --> 00:26:38,783 But if you are a child of God, you find that happening. 368 00:26:38,784 --> 00:26:43,771 Sometimes you may try to walk beyond what you are and you fall backwards, 369 00:26:43,772 --> 00:26:48,745 but lo and behold, there it is, under that reality of God's grace. 370 00:26:48,746 --> 00:26:53,058 I remember one night I was teaching a Bible study to the students, 371 00:26:53,059 --> 00:26:56,477 maybe 15 or 20 years ago, and I was coming into our house, 372 00:26:56,478 --> 00:27:02,556 and it dawned on me, "Wow, I really am a Christian. I am a Christian." 373 00:27:02,557 --> 00:27:08,270 I mean, God has changed me; I love God. I really do. 374 00:27:08,271 --> 00:27:10,160 Isn't it a glorious thing? 375 00:27:10,161 --> 00:27:12,248 We are free! We are free! 376 00:27:12,249 --> 00:27:15,458 No longer is it dependent upon you; 377 00:27:15,459 --> 00:27:18,618 you're out of the realm of demand, you're in the realm of supply. 378 00:27:18,619 --> 00:27:21,404 You are free from the Law. (P) 379 00:27:21,405 --> 00:27:23,939 "I will work in you, I'll work in you," 380 00:27:23,940 --> 00:27:29,185 He says, "I'll work in you both to WILL and to DO of my good pleasure." 381 00:27:29,186 --> 00:27:33,343 "The fact that you desire to do what is good, I worked it in you." 382 00:27:33,344 --> 00:27:35,718 And then, once you start desiring it, 383 00:27:35,719 --> 00:27:38,470 it's a long way before you actually get there, isn't it? 384 00:27:38,471 --> 00:27:43,437 But He says, "I'll work in you to DO of my good pleasure too." 385 00:27:43,438 --> 00:27:49,574 Safe in Thy sanctifying grace, Almighty to restore. 386 00:27:49,575 --> 00:27:57,627 Borne onward, carried onward—sin and death behind, and love and life before. 387 00:27:57,628 --> 00:28:02,054 Oh, let my soul abound in hope, and praise Thee more and more! (P) 388 00:28:02,055 --> 00:28:05,503 Carried forward by grace. What does he say? 389 00:28:05,504 --> 00:28:08,742 He says, "The Law entered," talking about the Law of Moses, 390 00:28:08,743 --> 00:28:13,648 Romans 5, "The Law entered that sin might increase." 391 00:28:13,649 --> 00:28:18,479 Not as the Jews thought, that men might save themselves by lawkeeping. 392 00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,480 No, the Law entered that sin might increase. 393 00:28:20,481 --> 00:28:26,846 "But where sin abounded, Grace abounded (it increased) all the more. 394 00:28:26,847 --> 00:28:30,899 That as sin has reigned in death, 395 00:28:30,900 --> 00:28:35,161 even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life." 396 00:28:35,162 --> 00:28:39,607 We are living in a realm where grace is reigning. 397 00:28:39,608 --> 00:28:41,749 Now, in the old realm, sin reigns. 398 00:28:41,757 --> 00:28:49,940 That means sin gets on a man's back, and it rides him down till it destroys him. 399 00:28:49,941 --> 00:28:54,331 It rides and beats him to death. 400 00:28:54,332 --> 00:28:56,184 Now what happens when you become a Christian? 401 00:28:56,185 --> 00:29:00,785 You're out of that realm of demand. Grace is reigning. 402 00:29:00,786 --> 00:29:04,277 How much? As much as sin used to reign. 403 00:29:04,278 --> 00:29:08,078 Don't you like having grace riding on your back, you know, 404 00:29:08,079 --> 00:29:13,544 "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, 405 00:29:13,545 --> 00:29:15,684 and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (P) 406 00:29:15,685 --> 00:29:18,827 Grace is reigning over you; working in you, 407 00:29:18,828 --> 00:29:23,926 keeping you from going astray, causing you to turn toward God. 408 00:29:23,927 --> 00:29:27,321 The realm of supply. (P) 409 00:29:27,322 --> 00:29:32,263 So, that's the realm we live in. 410 00:29:32,264 --> 00:29:36,307 God has put His very life in us, and grace is reigning. 411 00:29:36,308 --> 00:29:41,099 And the way we bear fruit, according to the Lord Jesus, 412 00:29:41,100 --> 00:29:45,380 the way you bear fruit is not by looking at the Law. 413 00:29:45,381 --> 00:29:48,603 It is by abiding in the Vine. 414 00:29:48,604 --> 00:29:54,734 "If you abide in Me, and I abide in you, - what happens? - you'll bear much fruit." 415 00:29:54,735 --> 00:29:56,570 What is He saying? If He is saying anything, 416 00:29:56,571 --> 00:30:00,845 He is saying the way you get fruit is not by rules and externals, 417 00:30:00,846 --> 00:30:05,953 it's by internal life that I have put in you. 418 00:30:05,954 --> 00:30:08,117 How are you going to bear fruit? Abide in the Vine. 419 00:30:08,118 --> 00:30:09,530 Basically He is saying, "Stay." 420 00:30:09,530 --> 00:30:13,017 The word "abide" just means continue to stay where you are. 421 00:30:13,018 --> 00:30:16,037 It's not saying, Go out and climb the highest mountain. 422 00:30:16,038 --> 00:30:19,223 No, stay where you are. 423 00:30:19,224 --> 00:30:23,139 Abide. (P) 424 00:30:25,742 --> 00:30:30,397 You know, the Puritans were a group of godly men, and I don't want to categorize them, 425 00:30:30,398 --> 00:30:35,853 but there was a little bit of a flavor of looking back at the Law. 426 00:30:35,854 --> 00:30:42,786 And one of the men actually said, "Moses takes us to Christ to be justified," - 427 00:30:42,787 --> 00:30:47,926 that's a tutor right? The Law leads us to Christ, that part is good. 428 00:30:47,927 --> 00:30:52,382 And he said, "Christ sends us back to Moses to be sanctified - 429 00:30:52,383 --> 00:30:55,312 (now go back and start studying those commandments, 430 00:30:55,313 --> 00:31:00,631 you know, I've got this 1,000 page book on the Ten Commandments, 431 00:31:00,632 --> 00:31:06,301 and really dig in and try to concentrate on your duty.)" 432 00:31:06,302 --> 00:31:12,064 Beloved, Christ does not need to send you anywhere to sanctify you. 433 00:31:12,065 --> 00:31:15,472 He doesn't need to send you back to Moses. 434 00:31:15,473 --> 00:31:18,926 You look at Christ, that's entirely sufficient. 435 00:31:18,927 --> 00:31:21,839 Paul says, "We are gazing at Him," 436 00:31:21,840 --> 00:31:28,477 he says, "We are being transformed into the same image, even from glory to glory, 437 00:31:28,478 --> 00:31:29,772 by gazing on Christ." (P) 438 00:31:29,773 --> 00:31:34,426 The problem with most of us is we have so little glimpse of Christ. 439 00:31:34,427 --> 00:31:36,730 It's not that you don't know enough commandments. 440 00:31:36,731 --> 00:31:43,882 The way of growth in the Christian life is not by focusing on Law or on sin. 441 00:31:43,883 --> 00:31:47,665 "I've got this problem with sin; I've got to really zero in on that sin 442 00:31:47,666 --> 00:31:51,489 and think about it day and night, and really work on it to get out of it." 443 00:31:51,490 --> 00:31:57,341 No, you just need a little glimpse of Christ, that stuff goes out the window so quickly. 444 00:31:57,342 --> 00:32:01,541 Temptations lose their power when Thou art nigh. 445 00:32:01,542 --> 00:32:02,893 Haven't you experienced that? 446 00:32:02,894 --> 00:32:05,995 You get a little glimpse of grace; you get a little glimpse of Christ, 447 00:32:05,996 --> 00:32:12,731 it's like, "What? I don't want that stuff." (P) 448 00:32:15,019 --> 00:32:19,863 The way of holiness, beloved, is not law; even New Testament law. 449 00:32:19,864 --> 00:32:23,003 It's the power of the Spirit. 450 00:32:23,004 --> 00:32:25,174 What did we read? 451 00:32:25,175 --> 00:32:29,222 The fruit of the Spirit is love and joy and peace and so on. 452 00:32:29,223 --> 00:32:33,135 We are not called to produce those things. 453 00:32:33,136 --> 00:32:35,558 It's the fruit of the Spirit. 454 00:32:35,559 --> 00:32:40,394 We are to be channels; we are to be rightly related and let Him live that. 455 00:32:40,395 --> 00:32:41,966 And haven't you experienced that? 456 00:32:41,967 --> 00:32:44,904 You get on your knees before God, you get cleansed of your sins, 457 00:32:44,905 --> 00:32:50,045 and you think again, you lay hold again of what He has done for you, 458 00:32:50,046 --> 00:32:53,955 and all of a sudden the joy is there and the peace is there. 459 00:32:53,956 --> 00:32:57,887 It's the Spirit having free course. (P) 460 00:32:57,888 --> 00:33:03,677 Alright, I've spent too long on those, but it's wonderful stuff. 461 00:33:03,678 --> 00:33:05,560 We are dead to the Law. 462 00:33:05,561 --> 00:33:14,596 There is another way, No. 5: We are free from the Law as a covenant rule of duty. 463 00:33:14,597 --> 00:33:18,672 The Law of Moses, we are not under that anymore as a covenant rule of duty. 464 00:33:18,673 --> 00:33:26,088 Now that means, you see, when God gave the Law, He gave a unit. 465 00:33:26,089 --> 00:33:29,614 It was all these commandments, 613 the rabbis said. 466 00:33:29,615 --> 00:33:32,778 All of that was the Law. 467 00:33:32,779 --> 00:33:37,544 That is not the covenant we are under anymore. 468 00:33:37,545 --> 00:33:39,806 We are in the New Covenant. 469 00:33:39,807 --> 00:33:44,535 No longer do you have to bring a lamb or something, 470 00:33:44,536 --> 00:33:47,300 when you accidentally touch a lizard carcass. 471 00:33:47,301 --> 00:33:51,679 All that stuff, including the Ten Commandments. (P) 472 00:33:51,680 --> 00:33:54,321 Now listen to me carefully here. 473 00:33:54,322 --> 00:33:57,559 Again, what did I say? I said, I am not saying murder is right now. 474 00:33:57,560 --> 00:34:02,171 I am saying that those things, as a unit, we are not under that anymore. 475 00:34:02,172 --> 00:34:04,148 None of it. 476 00:34:04,149 --> 00:34:07,088 We are not under those. 477 00:34:07,089 --> 00:34:10,926 We are free from it as a covenant rule of duty. 478 00:34:10,927 --> 00:34:14,908 Not that the law of Christ, over here in this realm - the New Covenant, 479 00:34:14,909 --> 00:34:21,106 not that the law of Christ contradicts any of that. God forbid. 480 00:34:21,107 --> 00:34:25,087 It fulfills and surpasses it. 481 00:34:25,088 --> 00:34:27,938 Just like I said, which one is higher? 482 00:34:27,938 --> 00:34:31,947 You shall not commit adultery, or love your wife as Christ loved the church. 483 00:34:31,947 --> 00:34:37,976 You are dealing with something much, much more that takes that in, and goes way beyond it. 484 00:34:37,976 --> 00:34:44,059 Never in any sense, in any way, shape or form, is Christ throwing that out. 485 00:34:44,060 --> 00:34:47,538 He is taking it way beyond. 486 00:34:47,539 --> 00:34:52,281 But nevertheless, our mindset is, "I am not under that anymore, 487 00:34:52,282 --> 00:34:54,500 I am over here in this realm. 488 00:34:54,501 --> 00:35:00,040 I am looking at what Jesus said, I am looking at what the Apostles said." (P) 489 00:35:00,041 --> 00:35:02,909 Now, there's questions coming up, I hope, in your mind. 490 00:35:02,910 --> 00:35:05,856 We are going to talk about them in a little bit. 491 00:35:05,857 --> 00:35:10,405 But think of this: Back in the Old Testament, Moses said, 492 00:35:10,406 --> 00:35:16,586 (he was prophesying,) God said through Moses, 493 00:35:16,587 --> 00:35:20,099 "There is a day coming when I am going to raise up a Prophet like you 494 00:35:20,100 --> 00:35:22,585 from among your brethren." 495 00:35:22,586 --> 00:35:23,708 Remember that? 496 00:35:23,709 --> 00:35:27,736 Towards the end of Moses's life or somewhere in there, 497 00:35:27,737 --> 00:35:32,775 He says, "I am going to raise up a Prophet like you from among your brethren. 498 00:35:32,776 --> 00:35:36,478 And anyone that doesn't listen to the words of that Prophet 499 00:35:36,479 --> 00:35:41,349 will be cut off from among the people." 500 00:35:41,350 --> 00:35:45,434 So now, this great Moses, you know, 501 00:35:45,435 --> 00:35:49,657 He says, "I am going to raise up a Prophet like you." (P) 502 00:35:49,658 --> 00:36:15,343 Let's look back here, we probably ought to turn to this in Deuteronomy 18:15, 503 00:36:15,344 --> 00:36:21,200 "The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from among you, 504 00:36:21,201 --> 00:36:24,488 from your countrymen, you shall listen to Him. 505 00:36:24,489 --> 00:36:27,730 This is according to all that you asked of the LORD your God in Horeb 506 00:36:27,731 --> 00:36:34,302 on the day of the assembly, saying, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, 507 00:36:34,303 --> 00:36:37,237 let me not see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’ 508 00:36:37,238 --> 00:36:40,511 And the LORD said to me, ‘They have spoken well. 509 00:36:40,512 --> 00:36:46,514 I will raise up a Prophet from among their countrymen like you, 510 00:36:46,515 --> 00:36:50,805 and I will put My words in his mouth, 511 00:36:50,806 --> 00:36:55,018 and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. 512 00:36:55,019 --> 00:36:58,515 And it shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words 513 00:36:58,516 --> 00:37:03,434 which He shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him." (P) 514 00:37:03,435 --> 00:37:06,895 Now you might say, "Well, that could be talking about any prophet." 515 00:37:06,896 --> 00:37:26,974 But you get over to the end of Deuteronomy 34:10, at the time of Moses's death, 516 00:37:26,975 --> 00:37:29,709 and these are the closing words of Deuteronomy, 517 00:37:29,717 --> 00:37:37,844 "Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, 518 00:37:37,845 --> 00:37:41,593 whom the LORD knew face to face, 519 00:37:41,594 --> 00:37:45,245 for all the signs and wonders which the LORD sent him to perform 520 00:37:45,246 --> 00:37:49,340 in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and all his land, 521 00:37:49,341 --> 00:37:52,738 and for all the mighty power and for all the great terror 522 00:37:52,739 --> 00:37:55,289 which Moses performed in the sight of all Israel." 523 00:37:55,290 --> 00:37:58,860 It says there hasn't been anybody like that. (P) 524 00:37:58,861 --> 00:38:20,498 Now let's turn to Acts chapter 3 verse 22. 525 00:38:20,499 --> 00:38:27,558 Peter is preaching here, and verse 22, 526 00:38:27,559 --> 00:38:33,884 "Moses said, 'The LORD God shall raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren; 527 00:38:33,885 --> 00:38:38,074 to Him you shall give heed in everything He says to you. 528 00:38:38,075 --> 00:38:41,367 And it shall be that every soul that does not heed that Prophet 529 00:38:41,368 --> 00:38:43,700 shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.’" - 530 00:38:43,701 --> 00:38:48,282 That was the Jewish branches that were broken off from that olive tree - 531 00:38:48,283 --> 00:38:53,383 "And likewise, all the prophets who have spoken, from Samuel and his successors onward, 532 00:38:53,384 --> 00:38:56,536 also announced these days. 533 00:38:56,537 --> 00:38:58,757 It is you who are the sons of the prophets 534 00:38:58,758 --> 00:39:01,908 and of the covenant which God made with your fathers, saying to Abraham, 535 00:39:01,909 --> 00:39:07,502 'In your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.' 536 00:39:07,503 --> 00:39:10,825 For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you 537 00:39:10,826 --> 00:39:13,277 by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.” 538 00:39:13,278 --> 00:39:16,750 So here is this promise again, you see. (P) 539 00:39:16,751 --> 00:39:23,445 But Christ is the Prophet like unto Moses. 540 00:39:23,446 --> 00:39:26,841 Did He know God, did He speak to God face-to-face? 541 00:39:26,842 --> 00:39:31,255 There is never anybody that spoke to God face-to-face like He did. 542 00:39:31,256 --> 00:39:34,686 Did He show the mighty signs and wonders like Moses? 543 00:39:34,687 --> 00:39:39,543 Well, He went way beyond anything that Moses did. 544 00:39:39,544 --> 00:39:48,025 Christ swallows up and replaces Moses as a Lawgiver; 545 00:39:48,026 --> 00:39:53,962 just like He swallows up and replaces Aaron as a Priest; 546 00:39:53,963 --> 00:39:59,145 and He swallows up and replaces David as a King. (P) 547 00:39:59,146 --> 00:40:05,001 Is Christ a true Priest? He is the only true Priest that ever lived. 548 00:40:05,002 --> 00:40:10,674 Aaron was just doing stuff there with rams and stuff, 549 00:40:10,675 --> 00:40:16,443 he wasn't interceding truly and taking away sin. 550 00:40:16,444 --> 00:40:23,085 Aaron was a shadow; Christ is the reality, you see. 551 00:40:23,086 --> 00:40:26,847 The only real Priest that ever lived was the Lord Jesus Christ. (P) 552 00:40:26,848 --> 00:40:32,798 Was He a King? Yes, He is the only King who has ever been. 553 00:40:32,799 --> 00:40:36,068 He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. 554 00:40:36,069 --> 00:40:41,020 Any other king, David or Solomon or whoever, they were just little shadows; 555 00:40:41,021 --> 00:40:43,231 they were weak men. (P) 556 00:40:43,232 --> 00:40:47,245 Now beloved, listen to this: Is Christ a Lawgiver? 557 00:40:47,246 --> 00:40:49,762 Yes, He is the only Lawgiver that has ever been. 558 00:40:49,763 --> 00:40:53,810 Moses was the shadow. 559 00:40:53,811 --> 00:40:59,406 He (Christ) is the One that speaks the very words of God. 560 00:40:59,407 --> 00:41:02,978 Now that gives you a little different perspective about the Sermon on the Mount. 561 00:41:02,979 --> 00:41:08,320 People say, "Well, all He is doing there is correcting false Jewish ideas about what Moses said." 562 00:41:08,321 --> 00:41:10,448 No, He is not. 563 00:41:10,449 --> 00:41:14,647 "You've heard this about performing vows; I say to you, 'Don't do it at all'" - 564 00:41:14,648 --> 00:41:19,830 how is that correcting false ideas? You see. 565 00:41:19,831 --> 00:41:24,268 Even, "You have heard you shall not commit adultery; 566 00:41:24,269 --> 00:41:28,474 I say to you, 'Whoever looks on a woman to lust has committed adultery already.'" 567 00:41:28,475 --> 00:41:31,069 The Law of Moses was not talking about that. 568 00:41:31,070 --> 00:41:39,048 It was talking about a civil nation exercising the death penalty for an actual act of adultery. 569 00:41:39,049 --> 00:41:44,402 A judge in Israel had no way of knowing whether somebody committed adultery in his heart. 570 00:41:44,403 --> 00:41:46,322 Now, that doesn't mean it was right back then, 571 00:41:46,322 --> 00:41:51,639 in fact, we learn from Job that he wouldn't look on a woman. 572 00:41:51,640 --> 00:42:00,041 But the fact is, the Mosaic Law itself was dealing with a civil nation. (P) 573 00:42:00,042 --> 00:42:00,980 Now what do we have? 574 00:42:00,981 --> 00:42:05,796 Well, that mount was glorious where God gave that Law, written by the finger of God. 575 00:42:05,797 --> 00:42:10,775 But if you have eyes to see, there was something more glorious than that. 576 00:42:10,776 --> 00:42:13,925 If I could choose whether I would like to be there at that mount 577 00:42:13,926 --> 00:42:16,740 and see that mountain on fire and all that, No. 578 00:42:16,741 --> 00:42:18,926 I would rather be at the Sermon on the Mount 579 00:42:18,927 --> 00:42:24,666 where God incarnate sat and said, "I say unto you. 580 00:42:24,667 --> 00:42:28,447 You have heard this, but I say unto you." 581 00:42:28,448 --> 00:42:31,895 What is He doing there? 582 00:42:31,896 --> 00:42:34,463 He is telling us deeper things, yes. 583 00:42:34,464 --> 00:42:39,957 But what He is doing is, He is giving the laws of His kingdom. 584 00:42:39,958 --> 00:42:45,504 And these are laws that could never be given to a civil nation, a physical nation 585 00:42:45,505 --> 00:42:47,675 of mostly unregenerate Jews. 586 00:42:47,676 --> 00:42:52,861 Most of them were unregenerate, look at the way they lived. 587 00:42:52,862 --> 00:42:56,977 But He is giving laws that are for a nation 588 00:42:56,978 --> 00:43:00,645 of 100 percent regenerate people who all know the Lord, 589 00:43:00,646 --> 00:43:02,344 who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. (P) 590 00:43:02,345 --> 00:43:07,252 They are stuff that's absolutely impossible for anyone 591 00:43:07,253 --> 00:43:12,634 other than one empowered by the very life of Christ 592 00:43:12,635 --> 00:43:18,441 coming from outside themselves and filling them with strength to do it. 593 00:43:18,442 --> 00:43:24,296 And these are not legal, you know, 1, 2, 3, 4. They are guideposts. 594 00:43:24,297 --> 00:43:28,916 They are saying, if somebody slaps you on one cheek, turn the other also. 595 00:43:28,917 --> 00:43:31,047 "Now what does that mean exactly here, you know, 596 00:43:31,048 --> 00:43:34,122 I got cheated on the internet and maybe..." 597 00:43:34,123 --> 00:43:42,759 You see, He is giving us principles of life that is in a different realm. 598 00:43:42,760 --> 00:43:45,596 And the idea of going out here to the world, and saying, 599 00:43:45,597 --> 00:43:50,349 "Well, you know, we need to impose the Sermon on the Mount on the world." 600 00:43:50,350 --> 00:43:52,830 No, that's nonsense. 601 00:43:52,831 --> 00:43:55,554 That's what pacifism says. That's nonsense. 602 00:43:55,555 --> 00:43:59,991 The world is not going to live by that standard, it can't. (P) 603 00:43:59,992 --> 00:44:02,013 So then, you got other people come along and say, 604 00:44:02,014 --> 00:44:05,673 "We need to impose the Law of Moses on the world." 605 00:44:05,674 --> 00:44:07,064 Totally missing the picture. 606 00:44:07,065 --> 00:44:12,810 That was giving to a physical nation in a Theonomy, in a Theocracy, 607 00:44:12,811 --> 00:44:16,021 where you could go to God and say, "What are we going to do in this situation?" 608 00:44:16,022 --> 00:44:18,057 And God says, "He needs to be stoned to death." 609 00:44:18,058 --> 00:44:21,859 We don't have that now. 610 00:44:21,860 --> 00:44:27,341 That applied to the nation of Israel. That is gone. 611 00:44:27,342 --> 00:44:34,078 This (the Sermon on the Mount) applies to a spiritual nation - and that's the church. 612 00:44:34,079 --> 00:44:39,698 It doesn't apply to this world, they can't possible live in this. 613 00:44:39,699 --> 00:44:50,384 It is a miracle whenever we live in it in any measure, you know, it's incredible. (P) 614 00:44:54,395 --> 00:44:56,130 You remember in Deuteronomy 13, 615 00:44:56,131 --> 00:45:02,662 God says, If your dearest friend or the wife of your bosom 616 00:45:02,663 --> 00:45:09,654 tries to lead you away to another god, what are you supposed to do? 617 00:45:09,655 --> 00:45:14,339 Remember what the penalty is? Anybody? 618 00:45:14,340 --> 00:45:16,636 "Stone them to death. 619 00:45:16,637 --> 00:45:24,286 Your hand shall be the first. You shall not spare or pity them." 620 00:45:24,287 --> 00:45:29,680 So, if you live under the Old Covenant, 621 00:45:29,681 --> 00:45:31,830 you don't come in and share with the prayer minister, 622 00:45:31,831 --> 00:45:37,367 "Please pray for my husband, he's become a Jehovah's Witness." 623 00:45:37,368 --> 00:45:40,077 You don't do that. 624 00:45:40,078 --> 00:45:47,310 The commandment of God was to stone him to death; and you were to be the first. 625 00:45:47,311 --> 00:45:48,671 You say, "That's a bad law." 626 00:45:48,672 --> 00:45:52,388 No, that was a perfect, that was a wonderful law, 627 00:45:52,389 --> 00:45:56,134 for the situation into which it was given; 628 00:45:56,135 --> 00:45:59,551 because He's dealing, He's restraining, He's teaching, 629 00:45:59,552 --> 00:46:04,065 He's taking these people that are in this infancy stage and childhoood stage, 630 00:46:04,066 --> 00:46:09,568 and He's got them under a strict tutor, for their own good. 631 00:46:09,569 --> 00:46:13,741 And what did He say? "Then they will all hear and nobody would ever do this thing again." (P) 632 00:46:13,742 --> 00:46:15,833 You see, He's restraining them through the Law; 633 00:46:15,834 --> 00:46:21,297 He's trying to teach them basic principles of right and wrong and truth, 634 00:46:21,298 --> 00:46:27,398 to preserve some remnant of understanding until the Messiah would come. 635 00:46:27,399 --> 00:46:32,626 But we are in a different realm now. It's an amazing thing. 636 00:46:32,627 --> 00:46:35,902 We are not in that realm where we stone to death our husband or our wife. 637 00:46:35,903 --> 00:46:38,324 We are in the realm where we come and share at a prayer meeting 638 00:46:38,325 --> 00:46:40,900 and we start praying for them. Amazing. (P) 639 00:46:40,901 --> 00:46:49,708 Beloved, Christianity is made to flourish in a pluralistic society where people beat us up! 640 00:46:49,709 --> 00:46:52,476 It's not magisterial - "We're going to beat these, 641 00:46:52,477 --> 00:46:54,965 we're going to kill these homosexuals, we're going to do this," - 642 00:46:54,966 --> 00:46:58,644 that's not the way it is at all. 643 00:46:58,645 --> 00:47:01,777 We are in a realm now, where the blessing - 644 00:47:01,778 --> 00:47:07,087 God teaches Abraham, He blesses him with all these physical blessings 645 00:47:07,088 --> 00:47:11,121 to let us know that He'll bless those who serve God, 646 00:47:11,122 --> 00:47:14,087 and He still does it today in many ways. 647 00:47:14,088 --> 00:47:16,525 But by the time you come to Christianity, 648 00:47:16,526 --> 00:47:19,205 He is wanting you to grow up enough that you realize 649 00:47:19,206 --> 00:47:26,182 that somebody like the apostle Paul may not have anywhere to lay his head. 650 00:47:26,183 --> 00:47:32,853 And he says, "Often sleepless and hungry." 651 00:47:32,854 --> 00:47:39,611 And He wants us to grow up enough to realize that God's blessing is resting on that man mightily. 652 00:47:39,612 --> 00:47:41,477 You see how much more mature? 653 00:47:41,478 --> 00:47:46,798 Paul says in Galatians 3 moving into Galatians 4, he says, "You're sons now. 654 00:47:46,799 --> 00:47:49,148 You are no longer under that schoolmaster. 655 00:47:49,149 --> 00:47:54,410 You've got the Spirit of adoption, you are full grown sons." (P) 656 00:47:54,411 --> 00:47:57,969 My oldest son is in his 30s now. 657 00:47:57,970 --> 00:48:00,848 I don't have a list for him, 658 00:48:00,849 --> 00:48:03,919 I don't tell him anymore, "You gotta tie your shoe strand," 659 00:48:03,920 --> 00:48:07,556 and call him in the morning, "Put your shoes on. 660 00:48:07,557 --> 00:48:10,517 And you've got to brush your teeth, did you remember to brush your teeth? 661 00:48:10,518 --> 00:48:15,394 Don't put your gum under the table." (P) 662 00:48:17,019 --> 00:48:19,807 What is it? 663 00:48:19,808 --> 00:48:31,070 Much much fewer rules and regulations, much much greater responsibility. 664 00:48:31,071 --> 00:48:38,555 Our responsibility, beloved, is so big we can't comprehend it. 665 00:48:38,556 --> 00:48:41,084 He has opened the doors up. 666 00:48:41,085 --> 00:48:47,635 He says, "I take all those laws off of you. Now be like Me." 667 00:48:47,636 --> 00:48:51,533 It's unbelievable. 668 00:48:51,534 --> 00:48:53,026 We are free. 669 00:48:53,027 --> 00:48:54,754 Paul says, "You are free from the Law." 670 00:48:54,755 --> 00:48:58,893 It's amazing, he's dealing with the Corinthians, talking about immorality, 671 00:48:58,894 --> 00:49:01,275 he could so easily quote the Old [Testament], 672 00:49:01,276 --> 00:49:06,205 "The Bible says in the Law of Moses, 'You shall not commit adultery.'" 673 00:49:06,206 --> 00:49:09,955 What is he doing? He is dealing with Corinthians - 674 00:49:09,956 --> 00:49:11,817 the most immoral culture around. 675 00:49:11,818 --> 00:49:18,089 And he starts talking to them about, he says, "You are the temple of the Holy Spirit." 676 00:49:18,090 --> 00:49:25,398 Totally different way of approaching everything. (P) 677 00:49:29,780 --> 00:49:34,083 You see, the Law of Christ surpasses the Law of Moses 678 00:49:34,084 --> 00:49:42,075 as much as sonship surpasses slavery. 679 00:49:42,076 --> 00:49:43,963 That's how much it is. 680 00:49:43,964 --> 00:49:52,617 The Law of Moses restrain and constrain a civil, physical nation of mostly unregenerate people; 681 00:49:52,618 --> 00:49:54,761 held them in check for their own good. 682 00:49:54,762 --> 00:50:01,303 It was perfect for the setting in which it was given. 683 00:50:01,304 --> 00:50:06,809 But we are in a realm now that is unbelievable in terms of the liberty 684 00:50:06,810 --> 00:50:08,783 and the responsibility that we have been given. 685 00:50:08,784 --> 00:50:15,499 So Jesus is saying things like, "They hit you on one cheek, turn the other one. 686 00:50:15,500 --> 00:50:17,919 You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery,' 687 00:50:17,920 --> 00:50:26,324 I say this reaches right down into your thought life. Deal radically with it. 688 00:50:26,325 --> 00:50:27,780 You have heard you shall not murder, 689 00:50:27,781 --> 00:50:31,545 He says, 'I tell you, if you've got hatred in your heart, you are a murderer already.'" 690 00:50:31,546 --> 00:50:36,369 And John says in 1 John, "We know that no murderer has eternal life." (P) 691 00:50:36,370 --> 00:50:38,139 You don't stand and tell a group of Christians, 692 00:50:38,140 --> 00:50:40,868 "You know, we Christians ought not to hate each other the way we do." 693 00:50:40,869 --> 00:50:43,198 If you hate people, you're not a Christian. 694 00:50:43,199 --> 00:50:49,073 "We know that we've passed from death to life because we love the brethren." 695 00:50:49,074 --> 00:50:51,961 That's that law written on the heart. (P) 696 00:50:51,962 --> 00:50:59,643 Now, I am almost done here. 697 00:50:59,644 --> 00:51:07,454 "Well, after what I just heard him say, I am going to take this," 698 00:51:07,455 --> 00:51:11,275 and I'll try to get the right spot, 699 00:51:11,276 --> 00:51:17,386 "this big part of the Bible, I'm just going to throw that out. 700 00:51:17,387 --> 00:51:20,570 We are in the New Covenant now." 701 00:51:20,571 --> 00:51:23,214 No, that's exactly wrong, isn't it? 702 00:51:23,215 --> 00:51:29,960 Well, the differences between, (we call this the Old Testament,) 703 00:51:29,961 --> 00:51:35,095 but beloved the Old Covenant is a different thing than that first part of our Bible. 704 00:51:35,096 --> 00:51:36,442 We are not under the Old Covenant, 705 00:51:36,443 --> 00:51:41,486 but this whole first part of our Bible is still the Word of God to us. 706 00:51:41,486 --> 00:51:45,708 It is still absolutely authoritative. 707 00:51:45,709 --> 00:51:51,744 And Jesus said, "Not one stroke, not one dot, not one jot or tittle, 708 00:51:51,745 --> 00:51:57,358 not one iota will pass away until all is accomplished. 709 00:51:57,359 --> 00:51:58,401 It's the Word of God. 710 00:51:58,402 --> 00:52:03,594 He says in Timothy, he says, "All Scripture is inspired by God and so on," 711 00:52:03,595 --> 00:52:06,106 and he says, "that the man of God might be adequate..." 712 00:52:06,107 --> 00:52:13,225 He is talking about the Old Testament. The New Testament had not been written yet. 713 00:52:13,226 --> 00:52:20,041 You see, the big things about God and His character have never changed in the least. 714 00:52:20,042 --> 00:52:23,718 And all of this is the Word of God to us. (P) 715 00:52:23,719 --> 00:52:25,856 Now let's turn to a very important passage. 716 00:52:25,857 --> 00:52:33,303 Are you still with me, are you hanging on here? Faint yet pursuing. 717 00:52:33,304 --> 00:52:41,165 Matthew 5. I promise the last message won't be quite this long. 718 00:52:41,166 --> 00:52:49,104 Matthew 5:17, "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets." 719 00:52:49,105 --> 00:52:52,994 Now you might have gotten that impression if you saw some of the stuff He did. 720 00:52:52,995 --> 00:52:59,844 He touched lepers. That was unlawful. 721 00:52:59,845 --> 00:53:02,096 His disciples eat grain on the Sabbath day, 722 00:53:02,097 --> 00:53:04,189 they said, "Why are you letting them do what is not lawful?" 723 00:53:04,190 --> 00:53:07,049 He didn't say, "Well, it is lawful, you just don't understand the Law." 724 00:53:07,050 --> 00:53:11,255 He says, "Well, don't you realize David did what was unlawful. 725 00:53:11,256 --> 00:53:19,088 And the priests, on the Sabbath, do what's unlawful in order to honor the Temple." 726 00:53:19,089 --> 00:53:21,591 He says, "Something greater than the Temple is here. 727 00:53:21,592 --> 00:53:26,627 If my disciples are serving Me, they can break the Sabbath." 728 00:53:26,628 --> 00:53:31,085 Isn't that incredible? "I am the Lord of the Sabbath." (P) 729 00:53:31,086 --> 00:53:35,843 Well, they could have gotten the idea that He had come to abolish. 730 00:53:35,844 --> 00:53:40,382 I mean, "A woman caught in adultery, Moses said, 'Stone her.' What do You say?" 731 00:53:40,383 --> 00:53:42,248 They could have gotten the idea. 732 00:53:42,249 --> 00:53:48,675 And He wants to make it clear, "I did not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; 733 00:53:48,683 --> 00:53:51,366 I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 734 00:53:51,366 --> 00:53:55,068 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, 735 00:53:55,069 --> 00:54:00,175 not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass away from the Law until all is accomplished." 736 00:54:00,176 --> 00:54:03,115 Now, here is the problem: 737 00:54:03,116 --> 00:54:11,510 Verse 19, "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, 738 00:54:11,511 --> 00:54:18,194 and so, teaches others, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; 739 00:54:18,195 --> 00:54:22,749 but whoever keeps and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." 740 00:54:22,750 --> 00:54:28,696 Now He is talking about the Old Testament here, the Old Covenant, the Law of Moses. 741 00:54:28,697 --> 00:54:30,007 And He makes a conclusion, 742 00:54:30,008 --> 00:54:33,922 "Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments..." (P) 743 00:54:33,923 --> 00:54:37,576 Look, every part of this Law was perfect; 744 00:54:37,577 --> 00:54:41,333 if you annul one of the least of those, you're going to be least in the kingdom of heaven. 745 00:54:41,334 --> 00:54:44,891 Now what are we going to do with this? (P) 746 00:54:44,892 --> 00:54:57,732 Let's turn back to Deuteronomy 22, we'll try to read some of these least commandments. 747 00:54:57,733 --> 00:55:09,977 Deuteronomy 22:9, "You shall not sow your vineyard with two kinds of seed, 748 00:55:09,978 --> 00:55:12,339 lest all the produce of the seed which you have sown 749 00:55:12,340 --> 00:55:16,330 and the increase of the vineyard become defiled. 750 00:55:16,331 --> 00:55:20,713 You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together. 751 00:55:20,714 --> 00:55:29,100 You shall not wear a material mixed of wool and linen together (mixed garment)." (P) 752 00:55:29,101 --> 00:55:35,590 Now I won't do it, but I could probably go around to a bunch of you, probably on me too, 753 00:55:35,591 --> 00:55:42,884 and you look, "Ooh ooh. So and so percent this; so and so percent that." 754 00:55:42,885 --> 00:55:47,315 Whoever annuls one of the least of these commandments and teaches others, 755 00:55:47,316 --> 00:55:49,617 is least in the kingdom of heaven. 756 00:55:49,618 --> 00:55:53,403 A bunch of you guys are least in the kingdom. 757 00:55:53,404 --> 00:55:56,130 What does He mean? 758 00:55:56,131 --> 00:55:58,554 Well, we have it in that verse right before it, don't we? 759 00:55:58,555 --> 00:56:03,823 "Whoever plows with an ox and a donkey together." 760 00:56:03,824 --> 00:56:05,490 How does a Christian keep that? 761 00:56:05,491 --> 00:56:09,315 Have you ever heard that before? (P) 762 00:56:09,316 --> 00:56:12,007 Let's look at how Paul interprets it. 763 00:56:12,008 --> 00:56:32,709 2 Corinthians chapter 6, I have a NASB version, verse 14, 764 00:56:32,710 --> 00:56:34,824 "Do not be bound together with unbelievers." 765 00:56:34,825 --> 00:56:39,919 Now the problem is, you miss what's actually being quoted. 766 00:56:39,920 --> 00:56:44,705 Literally, "Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers." 767 00:56:44,706 --> 00:56:45,677 What's that talking about? 768 00:56:45,678 --> 00:56:52,185 That's talking about a verse that says, "Don't put an oxen and a donkey together." (P) 769 00:56:52,186 --> 00:56:54,253 What is Paul doing? 770 00:56:54,254 --> 00:56:59,987 He is saying, as a Christian, you don't yoke up, (a clean beast and an unclean beast,) 771 00:56:59,988 --> 00:57:07,067 you are a Christian, you are clean, you don't yoke up with an unclean. 772 00:57:07,068 --> 00:57:10,700 Okay? You see this? 773 00:57:10,701 --> 00:57:19,927 Christians keep this verse in a much deeper way than the Jews ever kept it. 774 00:57:19,928 --> 00:57:25,806 We don't say, "Ah, that doesn't matter, I'll just go join somebody unclean if I want to." (P) 775 00:57:25,807 --> 00:57:28,035 "If you annul one of the least of these commandments." 776 00:57:28,036 --> 00:57:34,794 He is saying, "Everything there reveals something about God." 777 00:57:34,795 --> 00:57:36,794 Now we may not understand all of them, 778 00:57:36,795 --> 00:57:39,270 but think of this: A lot of them, we are fulfilling all the time. 779 00:57:39,271 --> 00:57:43,622 For example, things about offering sacrifices for sins, 780 00:57:43,638 --> 00:57:46,481 and things about the lamb taking away the sin and all that; 781 00:57:46,497 --> 00:57:49,350 all that is fulfilled when you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 782 00:57:49,351 --> 00:57:52,832 You've kept all those commandments in principle. 783 00:57:52,833 --> 00:57:55,901 You see, you are not under any of them as covenant law, 784 00:57:55,902 --> 00:58:01,072 but you are fulfilling them as you walk and follow Christ. (P) 785 00:58:01,073 --> 00:58:02,265 Let me give you another one. 786 00:58:02,266 --> 00:58:05,776 In other words, no Christian takes a high-handed view towards the Old Testament. 787 00:58:05,777 --> 00:58:09,276 We thank God for every jot and tittle. 788 00:58:09,277 --> 00:58:14,185 And you study it, and dig into it, and memorize it, and look at it. 789 00:58:14,186 --> 00:58:20,123 But what? You've got to realize the whole thing is about Jesus. 790 00:58:20,124 --> 00:58:23,272 If you miss that, you've missed the whole thing. 791 00:58:23,273 --> 00:58:24,754 He goes through, He says, 792 00:58:24,759 --> 00:58:28,228 "You search the Scriptures because you think that you have in them eternal life; 793 00:58:28,229 --> 00:58:32,953 it's they that testify of Me." 794 00:58:32,954 --> 00:58:35,265 And as you come to the Old Testament as a Christian, 795 00:58:35,266 --> 00:58:38,887 you find all kinds of references to the Lord Jesus Christ. 796 00:58:38,888 --> 00:58:43,273 I mean, everything, from that scarlet thread that Rahab had, 797 00:58:43,274 --> 00:58:51,602 you know, "When we see that piece of red, you'll be spared. You won't die." 798 00:58:51,603 --> 00:58:54,650 All kinds of things like that. (P) 799 00:58:54,651 --> 00:58:57,383 But let's look at another one. 800 00:58:57,384 --> 00:59:21,927 Deuteronomy 25 verse 4, "You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing." 801 00:59:21,928 --> 00:59:27,326 Now, that still applies; I mean, you've got to be kind to your animal. 802 00:59:27,327 --> 00:59:29,934 They are saying that they are hungry, 803 00:59:29,935 --> 00:59:34,905 they are wanting to stop and get a bite or something, you don't keep driving them. 804 00:59:34,906 --> 00:59:42,837 You let them stop and eat something that you're threshing. 805 00:59:42,838 --> 00:59:45,440 How does that apply? How do we keep that least commandment? 806 00:59:45,441 --> 00:59:48,747 Well, Paul talks about this in the very place, 807 00:59:48,747 --> 00:59:57,352 1 Corinthians 9, let's turn to this, this is important; 808 00:59:57,353 --> 01:00:04,292 and with this I close, I promise. (P) 809 01:00:04,293 --> 01:00:13,099 1 Corinthians 9:6, "Do only Barnabas and I not have a right to refrain from working? 810 01:00:13,100 --> 01:00:16,318 Who at any time serves as a soldier at his own expense? 811 01:00:16,319 --> 01:00:18,837 Who plants a vineyard and does not eat the fruit of it? 812 01:00:18,838 --> 01:00:22,664 Or who tends a flock and does not use the milk of the flock? 813 01:00:22,665 --> 01:00:27,272 I am not speaking these things according to human judgment, am I? 814 01:00:27,273 --> 01:00:30,034 Or does not the Law also say these things?" - 815 01:00:30,035 --> 01:00:32,458 Now look, he is appealing to the Law. 816 01:00:32,459 --> 01:00:36,612 This same guy that said we are not under the Law, 817 01:00:36,613 --> 01:00:40,001 he is appealing to it as having divine authority. 818 01:00:40,002 --> 01:00:43,790 He says this isn't just a man speaking, God said this. 819 01:00:43,791 --> 01:00:51,869 It has divine authority, but it has no authority whatsoever as covenant law over me. 820 01:00:51,870 --> 01:00:57,461 It's the principle of what God was saying that is still binding upon me. 821 01:00:57,462 --> 01:01:02,222 And listen to what he says - "Does not the Law also say these things? 822 01:01:02,223 --> 01:01:03,929 For it is written in the Law of Moses, 823 01:01:03,930 --> 01:01:08,081 'You shall not muzzle the ox while he is threshing.' 824 01:01:08,082 --> 01:01:12,106 God is not concerned about oxen, is He?" Well, yes He is, in a sense. 825 01:01:12,107 --> 01:01:19,490 But he is saying, He has so much more to say than that, that it pales to insignificance. 826 01:01:19,491 --> 01:01:26,748 "Is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written." 827 01:01:26,749 --> 01:01:31,000 That means when God gave that, back there, hundreds of years before, 828 01:01:31,001 --> 01:01:37,064 and it was written down, it was written down for us. Amazing! (P) 829 01:01:37,065 --> 01:01:43,736 "For our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, 830 01:01:43,737 --> 01:01:50,219 and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. 831 01:01:50,220 --> 01:01:52,873 If we sowed spiritual things in you, 832 01:01:52,874 --> 01:01:56,408 is it too much that we should reap material things from you?" 833 01:01:56,409 --> 01:02:03,632 So here he is, he says he appeals to a commandment from the Law; 834 01:02:03,633 --> 01:02:08,483 and he says the real reason behind this was not even those oxen, 835 01:02:08,484 --> 01:02:12,301 even though God does care about oxen. 836 01:02:12,302 --> 01:02:18,787 But compared to us, upon whom the ends of the ages have come, 837 01:02:18,788 --> 01:02:22,041 that's the reason God gave this thing. 838 01:02:22,042 --> 01:02:26,221 And we fulfill these laws and these commandments. (P) 839 01:02:26,222 --> 01:02:31,215 He says, what's the attitude a Christian ought to be towards the Old Testament? 840 01:02:31,216 --> 01:02:36,025 It ought to be His attitude, which is, this is the very Word of God. 841 01:02:36,026 --> 01:02:38,697 Not one jot or tittle shall fail from it. 842 01:02:38,698 --> 01:02:44,572 I want to go back there and learn everything I can about Jesus. 843 01:02:44,573 --> 01:02:50,178 But you've got to be careful that you don't take your interpretation of it 844 01:02:50,179 --> 01:02:53,109 and put it on other Christians' consciences, 845 01:02:53,110 --> 01:02:57,031 unless it's something that the New Testament does. (P) 846 01:02:57,032 --> 01:03:04,438 Now you can go back and learn many profitable applications from a lot of things. 847 01:03:04,439 --> 01:03:06,534 I mean, that manna, you know, that manna; 848 01:03:06,535 --> 01:03:10,864 Jesus says, "I am the true bread that came down out of heaven." 849 01:03:10,865 --> 01:03:12,422 "You mean that's talking about Christ?" 850 01:03:12,423 --> 01:03:16,822 Yeah, He said, "You're not going to be able to store any of this up from one day to the next. 851 01:03:16,823 --> 01:03:19,462 Every day you've got to get a fresh supply. 852 01:03:19,463 --> 01:03:23,053 It will stink if you try to keep it over. 853 01:03:23,054 --> 01:03:25,772 And gather it morning by morning." 854 01:03:25,773 --> 01:03:29,213 All those things, you know, they are teaching us things. 855 01:03:29,214 --> 01:03:34,340 But you can't take this, if you don't have anything in the New Testament 856 01:03:34,341 --> 01:03:36,101 to prove that what you are saying is right, 857 01:03:36,102 --> 01:03:38,976 then you've got to be careful whether you can have it before God 858 01:03:38,977 --> 01:03:42,019 and you ask Him to teach you more, and so on. 859 01:03:42,020 --> 01:03:44,452 But there's a lot of things that we do have - 860 01:03:44,468 --> 01:03:47,580 Christ, our Passover, has been sacrificed for us. 861 01:03:47,588 --> 01:03:50,504 Okay, go back and read about the Passover. 862 01:03:50,505 --> 01:03:53,388 "This shall be the beginning of days for you. 863 01:03:53,389 --> 01:03:56,902 When I see the blood, I'll pass over you." 864 01:03:56,903 --> 01:04:01,267 Not when I see how you're feeling inside the house. 865 01:04:01,268 --> 01:04:04,217 "When I see that blood, I'll pass over you." 866 01:04:04,218 --> 01:04:06,149 All of those things we can learn. (P) 867 01:04:06,150 --> 01:04:09,826 You see, this whole thing (the OT) is still the Word of God to us, 868 01:04:09,827 --> 01:04:12,757 but we are not under any of it. 869 01:04:12,758 --> 01:04:18,077 And if anybody tries to take any one of those commandments and put them on you, 870 01:04:18,093 --> 01:04:25,972 and say, "You have to fulfill that commandment as a commandment back there," 871 01:04:25,973 --> 01:04:28,257 that is a mistake. 872 01:04:28,258 --> 01:04:34,104 And in general, Paul says "Those things are shadows of the things to come, 873 01:04:34,105 --> 01:04:38,251 but the substance belongs to Christ." 874 01:04:38,252 --> 01:04:42,804 That is the way we approach all this. Amen.