Title: The Law of Christ (Part 1) Meta: As a Christian, Paul is neither "under the Law" nor "without law"; instead, he is "under the law of Christ." (1 Cor. 9:20-21) That is, Paul no longer thinks of godly living in terms of the Mosaic Covenant, nor does he give himself to ungodly license; rather, his heart and mind are now focused on Christ. - Charles Leiter (pg. 21 "The Law of Christ") Tags: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23,Mosaic Law,Ten Commandments,Jesus Christ,God,Hebrew Roots Movement 1 00:00:00,227 --> 00:00:05,140 Well, what a blessing to be here this morning. 2 00:00:05,141 --> 00:00:13,787 I was thinking of an account from the life of Amy Carmichael when she was younger. 3 00:00:13,788 --> 00:00:17,424 There was an old lady struggling to make it across the street, 4 00:00:17,425 --> 00:00:20,361 and she went out and helped her. 5 00:00:20,362 --> 00:00:27,164 And something happened inside of her, and she was changed from then on. 6 00:00:27,165 --> 00:00:30,489 And you know, she ended up going to India. (P) 7 00:00:30,490 --> 00:00:34,599 But sometimes the Holy Spirit does things in us, 8 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:40,223 I mean, we come to a meeting, we hear certain truths. 9 00:00:40,224 --> 00:00:42,903 And it's not just that we've been informed of something 10 00:00:42,904 --> 00:00:50,147 but it's like a light comes on inside and something has changed in our life from then on. 11 00:00:50,148 --> 00:00:56,533 I've experienced meetings where my life was never the same after that. 12 00:00:56,534 --> 00:00:58,458 And that's really what we long for. 13 00:00:58,459 --> 00:01:03,294 We long for something more than just learning information. 14 00:01:03,295 --> 00:01:07,671 And I was thinking that I'm not just speaking for you, I'm thinking of myself. (P) 15 00:01:07,672 --> 00:01:11,553 Whenever I wrote this book on the Law of Christ, 16 00:01:11,554 --> 00:01:16,921 everyday if I determined my life, my success, 17 00:01:16,922 --> 00:01:21,895 am I reading my Bible, did I pray or whatever, I was doing fairly well maybe. 18 00:01:21,896 --> 00:01:25,873 But whenever I thought about Christ and the Law of Christ, 19 00:01:25,874 --> 00:01:31,478 every day reminded of how far short I was falling. 20 00:01:31,479 --> 00:01:35,136 And that's what we need. 21 00:01:35,137 --> 00:01:38,272 We need to see the reality of what we are talking about. 22 00:01:38,273 --> 00:01:40,964 That's what we long for today. (P) 23 00:01:40,965 --> 00:01:47,931 Let's open our Bibles to 1st Corinthians chapter 9 24 00:01:47,932 --> 00:01:53,542 and we'll begin reading at verse 19. 25 00:01:53,543 --> 00:01:57,696 Paul says, "For though I am free from all men, 26 00:01:57,697 --> 00:02:03,671 I have made myself a slave to all, that I might win the more. 27 00:02:03,672 --> 00:02:08,334 To the Jews, I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews. 28 00:02:08,335 --> 00:02:10,795 To those who are under the Law, as under the Law, 29 00:02:10,797 --> 00:02:14,028 although not being myself under the Law, 30 00:02:14,029 --> 00:02:17,676 that I might win those who are under the Law. 31 00:02:17,677 --> 00:02:22,365 To those who are without Law, as without Law, 32 00:02:22,366 --> 00:02:29,970 though not being without the Law of God but under the Law of Christ (there's that phrase), 33 00:02:29,971 --> 00:02:33,225 that I might win those who are without Law. 34 00:02:33,226 --> 00:02:38,144 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. 35 00:02:38,145 --> 00:02:43,650 I have become all things to all men that I may by all means save some. 36 00:02:43,651 --> 00:02:46,027 And I do all things for the sake of the gospel, 37 00:02:46,028 --> 00:02:51,500 that I may become a fellow partaker of it." (P) 38 00:02:51,501 --> 00:02:56,198 We want to look at a very glorious, very wonderful subject today, 39 00:02:56,199 --> 00:02:59,430 and that is, The Law of Christ. 40 00:02:59,431 --> 00:03:01,350 And we have a small group here, 41 00:03:01,351 --> 00:03:06,514 you don't have any excuses for not answering questions if I ask you, 42 00:03:06,515 --> 00:03:08,654 so I'm going to start asking you questions. 43 00:03:08,655 --> 00:03:14,082 What three groups do we see here in this passage? 44 00:03:14,083 --> 00:03:16,626 What's the first one? 45 00:03:16,627 --> 00:03:21,633 Paul says, "To the Jews, I became a Jew." 46 00:03:21,634 --> 00:03:25,081 There's one group. The Jews. 47 00:03:25,082 --> 00:03:28,882 What's the second group? 48 00:03:28,883 --> 00:03:33,823 The Gentiles. Those without Law. 49 00:03:33,824 --> 00:03:35,777 And then the third group? 50 00:03:35,778 --> 00:03:39,446 Well, they are the Christians, represented by Paul himself. 51 00:03:39,447 --> 00:03:41,952 So there's three groups here. (P) 52 00:03:41,953 --> 00:03:48,181 It's amazing to see the Pharisee of the Pharisees talking about those Jews over there. 53 00:03:48,182 --> 00:03:51,328 He says, "To those Jews, I became as a Jew." 54 00:03:51,329 --> 00:03:57,048 Here he is, something has happened to him. He's different. 55 00:03:57,049 --> 00:04:00,850 And he doesn't identify himself anymore with those Jews. 56 00:04:00,851 --> 00:04:03,462 He said, "To those Jews, I became like a Jew." 57 00:04:03,463 --> 00:04:08,430 Here is Paul, Saul of Tarsus, a Pharisee of the Pharisees, 58 00:04:08,431 --> 00:04:12,017 but something miraculous has taken place. 59 00:04:12,018 --> 00:04:16,463 And He is in this third category. He's with the Christians now. (P) 60 00:04:16,464 --> 00:04:18,786 But notice how these groups are described. 61 00:04:18,788 --> 00:04:25,574 The Jews are described as those who are under the Law. 62 00:04:25,575 --> 00:04:26,763 They are under the Law. 63 00:04:26,764 --> 00:04:29,142 What Law is this? Well, the Law of Moses. 64 00:04:29,143 --> 00:04:31,313 They are under the Law. 65 00:04:31,314 --> 00:04:35,032 And normally when Paul uses the word Law by itself, 66 00:04:35,048 --> 00:04:39,998 he is talking about the Mosaic Law - The Law of Moses. 67 00:04:39,999 --> 00:04:41,503 So the Jews are under the Law. 68 00:04:41,504 --> 00:04:47,086 What about the Gentiles, how are they described? 69 00:04:47,087 --> 00:04:48,329 They are without Law. 70 00:04:48,330 --> 00:04:50,516 Now, let me ask you a question. 71 00:04:50,517 --> 00:04:55,852 Are Gentiles totally without Law? 72 00:04:55,853 --> 00:04:58,162 No they are not. They are not totally without Law. 73 00:04:58,163 --> 00:05:02,330 What kind of Law do they have? 74 00:05:02,331 --> 00:05:10,908 [You're going to have to talk really loud; first of all, I can't hear]. 75 00:05:12,005 --> 00:05:13,835 They have the Law written on the heart. 76 00:05:13,836 --> 00:05:21,212 Anybody know where that passage is that talks about the Law written on the heart? 77 00:05:21,213 --> 00:05:30,270 Romans chapter 2:14-15. 78 00:05:30,271 --> 00:05:37,509 He says, "When the Gentiles do by nature the things contained in the Law, 79 00:05:37,510 --> 00:05:44,022 that is, in the Law of Moses, these having not the Law are a Law unto themselves 80 00:05:44,023 --> 00:05:48,708 in that they show the work of the Law written on their hearts. 81 00:05:48,709 --> 00:05:50,796 Their thoughts also bearing witness, 82 00:05:50,797 --> 00:05:57,236 their conscience accusing (or condemning them), or excusing them. (P) 83 00:05:57,237 --> 00:06:03,278 So, written on the heart, God says that man is not just neutral, he's not amoral. 84 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:06,630 He has, written on his heart, the work of the Law written on his heart. 85 00:06:06,631 --> 00:06:15,005 You remember in Acts chapter 28, they were shipwrecked on a certain island 86 00:06:15,006 --> 00:06:18,925 and they were gathering the natives there, started a fire, 87 00:06:18,926 --> 00:06:25,844 and Paul was picking up sticks and a poisonous snake attached to his hand. 88 00:06:25,851 --> 00:06:27,212 And what did the natives say? 89 00:06:27,213 --> 00:06:34,575 They said, "Surely this man was a murderer and justice has not allowed him to live." 90 00:06:34,576 --> 00:06:37,963 Now how in the world did they know murder was wrong? 91 00:06:37,964 --> 00:06:39,680 None of them had ever seen a Bible. 92 00:06:39,681 --> 00:06:42,526 None of them had ever seen the Ten Commandments. 93 00:06:42,527 --> 00:06:44,205 They knew murder was wrong. 94 00:06:44,206 --> 00:06:50,151 How did they know that a just penalty for murder would be the death penalty? 95 00:06:50,152 --> 00:06:53,768 They say, "Justice has not allowed him to live." 96 00:06:53,769 --> 00:06:55,381 Now look at that. 97 00:06:55,382 --> 00:06:58,983 They knew, as Paul says at the end of Romans 1, 98 00:06:58,984 --> 00:07:03,819 they knew the ordinance of God that those who commit such things are not only worthy of death. 99 00:07:03,820 --> 00:07:06,706 They realize that. They understand that. 100 00:07:06,707 --> 00:07:10,354 So, they have the Law written on the heart. (P) 101 00:07:10,355 --> 00:07:16,420 And then, the Christians are described as under the Law of Christ. 102 00:07:16,421 --> 00:07:18,576 That's the Law they have. 103 00:07:18,577 --> 00:07:24,372 And actually the phrase here in the Greek is in-lawed to Christ. 104 00:07:24,373 --> 00:07:27,588 He says the Christian is in-lawed to Christ. 105 00:07:27,589 --> 00:07:30,647 We'll talk about that more maybe later on. 106 00:07:30,648 --> 00:07:33,630 But I want to concentrate on this matter of the Law of Christ. 107 00:07:33,631 --> 00:07:40,272 If someone were to ask you, if you're Christian, What is your rule of duty? 108 00:07:40,273 --> 00:07:46,063 What is it that summarizes the way you're supposed to act, 109 00:07:46,064 --> 00:07:47,433 the way you're supposed to live? 110 00:07:47,434 --> 00:07:51,531 Would you just immediately answer, "Well yeah, the Law of Christ. 111 00:07:51,532 --> 00:07:52,948 That's my rule of duty." 112 00:07:52,949 --> 00:07:54,120 Would you answer like that? 113 00:07:54,121 --> 00:07:58,407 That's the way Paul thought. 114 00:07:58,408 --> 00:08:01,502 And then if somebody says, "What is the Law of Christ?" 115 00:08:01,503 --> 00:08:06,005 You immediately just explain to them what the Law of Christ is. 116 00:08:06,006 --> 00:08:12,306 You see, there is something very defective about the emphasis, 117 00:08:12,307 --> 00:08:18,333 the instruction that we've received when we don't even know what the Law of Christ is. 118 00:08:18,334 --> 00:08:23,676 Not only is it not foremost in our minds, we can't even identify it. (P) 119 00:08:23,677 --> 00:08:25,800 And so, that's what we're going to be talking about today. 120 00:08:25,801 --> 00:08:29,652 We're going to go back and we have to lay a foundation. 121 00:08:29,653 --> 00:08:36,552 We've got a lot of things to cover, but everybody is fresh and we're ready to go. 122 00:08:36,553 --> 00:08:41,927 So, what is the Law of Christ? 123 00:08:41,928 --> 00:08:44,665 Well, we can begin by saying what it's not. 124 00:08:44,666 --> 00:08:49,953 The Law of Christ is not the same thing as the Law of Moses. 125 00:08:49,954 --> 00:08:51,872 It just isn't. 126 00:08:51,873 --> 00:08:55,203 And Paul makes that very clear in many places in the New Testament. 127 00:08:55,204 --> 00:08:57,575 He does it right here in fact, in verse 20. 128 00:08:57,576 --> 00:09:04,791 He says, "To those who are under the Law (the Jews), he acted as if he was under the Law." 129 00:09:04,792 --> 00:09:09,836 You remember, he would do the things that were necessary not to offend the Jews. 130 00:09:09,837 --> 00:09:14,024 "Though not being myself under the Law." 131 00:09:14,025 --> 00:09:17,750 He wasn't under the Law of Moses. 132 00:09:17,751 --> 00:09:21,382 And, many other places I could give you these references. 133 00:09:21,383 --> 00:09:23,364 I know, some of you are taking notes here. 134 00:09:23,365 --> 00:09:26,837 Romans 6:14, "Sin shall not have dominion over you. 135 00:09:26,838 --> 00:09:33,262 For you are not under the Law but under grace." 136 00:09:33,263 --> 00:09:39,140 And again, in Romans 7:4-6, maybe I ought to read this. 137 00:09:39,141 --> 00:09:42,749 Paul says more than once. 138 00:09:42,750 --> 00:09:49,173 Verse 4, "My brethren, you also were made to die to the Law 139 00:09:49,174 --> 00:09:53,366 (Christians have died to the Law) through the body of Christ, 140 00:09:53,367 --> 00:09:56,735 that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, 141 00:09:56,736 --> 00:09:58,347 that we might bear fruit for God." 142 00:09:58,348 --> 00:10:04,628 And then in verse 6, "Now we have been released from the Law, 143 00:10:04,629 --> 00:10:09,084 having died to that by which we were bound." (P) 144 00:10:09,085 --> 00:10:12,754 So, Christians have been released from the Law. 145 00:10:12,755 --> 00:10:24,108 Ephesians 2:14-16, he says, "He himself is our peace who made both groups into one 146 00:10:24,109 --> 00:10:28,717 (that is, Jew and Gentile,) broke down the barrier, the dividing wall, 147 00:10:28,718 --> 00:10:36,791 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances. 148 00:10:36,792 --> 00:10:42,981 So, Christ abolished the Law of commandments contained in ordinances. 149 00:10:42,982 --> 00:10:46,495 Amazing statement. 150 00:10:46,496 --> 00:10:56,413 Again in Colossians 2:13-17, really if we would read the whole thing, 151 00:10:56,414 --> 00:11:04,345 but he says in verse 14, "He cancels out the certificate of death consisting of decrees against us 152 00:11:04,346 --> 00:11:08,417 (that was the Law), and which was hostile to us, 153 00:11:08,418 --> 00:11:15,625 and He has taken it out of the way having nailed it to the cross (that's the Law). 154 00:11:15,626 --> 00:11:23,384 Galatians 2:19-20, you remember that, 155 00:11:23,385 --> 00:11:30,122 he says, "I, through the Law, died to the Law, that I might live to God." 156 00:11:30,123 --> 00:11:35,390 And he goes on and talks about how he has been crucified with Christ and so on. 157 00:11:35,391 --> 00:11:36,730 So he died to the Law. 158 00:11:36,731 --> 00:11:41,654 Now that's just a few. We could look at a number of others. (P) 159 00:11:41,655 --> 00:11:47,547 But the Christian, according to the Bible, has died to the Law. 160 00:11:47,548 --> 00:11:52,208 We're free from the Law. We are not under the Law. 161 00:11:52,209 --> 00:11:55,404 Now I just want to give a little bit of time here to review some history. 162 00:11:55,405 --> 00:11:58,881 I am going to do this on an imaginary blackboard. 163 00:11:58,882 --> 00:12:08,992 Right here, we have the giving of the Law, and this is about 1500 BC. 164 00:12:08,993 --> 00:12:11,110 There is the giving of the Law. 165 00:12:11,111 --> 00:12:12,990 And you remember what it was like. 166 00:12:12,991 --> 00:12:18,768 It was an awesome display of God's power and holiness. 167 00:12:18,769 --> 00:12:23,283 We're not talking about, in the Law of Moses, something that men came up with. 168 00:12:23,284 --> 00:12:29,528 We are talking about a direct powerful, mighty revelation of God. 169 00:12:29,529 --> 00:12:32,380 And He came down on Mount Sinai, 170 00:12:32,381 --> 00:12:38,170 and the mountain, it says, was burning like a furnace and trembling. 171 00:12:38,171 --> 00:12:42,746 And Moses, it says in the book of Hebrews, was terrified. 172 00:12:42,747 --> 00:12:45,903 And the people said, "Don't let God speak anymore." 173 00:12:45,904 --> 00:12:53,212 And He wrote the Ten Commandments with His own finger. 174 00:12:53,213 --> 00:12:55,300 What does that mean? I don't know. 175 00:12:55,301 --> 00:12:59,295 The movie is portrayed as bolts of lightning. Maybe it was. 176 00:12:59,296 --> 00:13:02,969 But God wrote this with His own finger. 177 00:13:02,970 --> 00:13:10,601 We are talking about something that is set in stone. Literally, it was set in stone. (P) 178 00:13:10,602 --> 00:13:12,675 And this was a terrifying thing. 179 00:13:12,676 --> 00:13:19,692 This was something that God said, "I am giving you these things as a perpetual, forever thing. 180 00:13:19,693 --> 00:13:24,248 You read through those laws and commandments. 181 00:13:24,249 --> 00:13:34,954 And so, that went on - that's 1500 BC - that went on for 900 years. 182 00:13:34,955 --> 00:13:39,020 Which way am I going here, maybe I am going this way. 183 00:13:39,021 --> 00:13:47,051 900 years, and there was a prophet named Jeremiah. 184 00:13:47,052 --> 00:13:49,779 And what did God say through him? 185 00:13:49,780 --> 00:13:52,909 "The days are coming, says the LORD, 186 00:13:52,910 --> 00:13:57,426 when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. 187 00:13:57,427 --> 00:14:03,660 Not like the covenant I made with their fathers, which they broke." 188 00:14:03,676 --> 00:14:06,511 What are going to be the characteristics of that new covenant? 189 00:14:06,512 --> 00:14:11,207 He says, "I will write My laws on their hearts." 190 00:14:11,208 --> 00:14:16,140 Not on tablets of stone, I will write My laws on their hearts. 191 00:14:16,141 --> 00:14:21,237 And I'll put them in their minds and I'll put them on the inside. 192 00:14:21,238 --> 00:14:29,202 And then, they shall not teach every man his neighbor and every man his brother, saying, "Know the LORD," 193 00:14:29,203 --> 00:14:34,094 for all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest. (P) 194 00:14:34,095 --> 00:14:38,816 Under the Old Covenant, you could be a good Jew and not know the LORD. 195 00:14:38,817 --> 00:14:44,150 I mean, you could bring your sacrifices, you'd remain among the "people of God". 196 00:14:44,151 --> 00:14:48,857 You didn't truly know the LORD but you would be in good standing as a Jew. 197 00:14:48,858 --> 00:14:53,724 You wouldn't be cast out of the covenant people and you would experience their blessings. 198 00:14:53,725 --> 00:14:55,768 But He says in this covenant, 199 00:14:55,769 --> 00:14:58,910 every person in this covenant that I am getting ready to make, 200 00:14:58,911 --> 00:15:03,823 every one of them will know the LORD from the least to the greatest of them. 201 00:15:03,824 --> 00:15:06,854 If you were a good Jew, if you knew the LORD in the Old Covenant, 202 00:15:06,855 --> 00:15:10,243 you had to teach your neighbor and teach your brothers, saying, "Know the LORD." 203 00:15:10,244 --> 00:15:11,860 Somebody that really did know the LORD 204 00:15:11,861 --> 00:15:16,438 might go to his neighbor and say, "You know, I truly know the LORD. 205 00:15:16,439 --> 00:15:19,987 You're doing all these sacrifices but you need to know the LORD." 206 00:15:19,988 --> 00:15:25,784 But in the New Covenant, God says, "They all shall know Me, from the least to the greatest of them. (P) 207 00:15:25,785 --> 00:15:31,717 Jesus put it this way, "It is written in the Prophets, 'They shall all be taught by God.'" 208 00:15:31,718 --> 00:15:34,739 Personally taught by God. 209 00:15:34,740 --> 00:15:36,812 And what else in the New Covenant? 210 00:15:36,813 --> 00:15:39,743 "Their sins and their iniquities, I will remember no more." 211 00:15:39,744 --> 00:15:43,252 Those will be gone forever. 212 00:15:43,253 --> 00:15:50,088 Now, that was 900 years after, Jeremiah gives this prophecy. 213 00:15:50,089 --> 00:15:58,940 And if you're keeping notes, Jeremiah 31:31-34. (P) 214 00:15:58,941 --> 00:16:04,754 And so, think, if you were a godly Jew and you think, 215 00:16:04,755 --> 00:16:13,294 "God is going to make a Covenant where everybody in the whole nation knows Him personally, 216 00:16:13,295 --> 00:16:19,180 and their sins are forgiven, and they have the Law written on their heart?" 217 00:16:19,181 --> 00:16:21,400 And so, they are waiting. 218 00:16:21,401 --> 00:16:25,165 They wait a hundred years and that New Covenant doesn't come. 219 00:16:25,166 --> 00:16:31,893 And they waited 200 years, and 300 years, and 400 years. 220 00:16:31,894 --> 00:16:39,420 600 years later, in an upper room with a little group 221 00:16:39,421 --> 00:16:44,366 that could practically sit around a couple of these tables, 222 00:16:44,367 --> 00:16:50,071 Jesus says, "This cup is the New Covenant in My blood." 223 00:16:50,072 --> 00:16:53,083 Amazing thing. (P) 224 00:16:53,084 --> 00:16:57,619 You know, it's something. That first covenant came with flashes of lightning 225 00:16:57,620 --> 00:16:59,863 and thunder and earthquakes and everything. 226 00:16:59,864 --> 00:17:03,203 This covenant, all the thunder and lightning and earthquakes, 227 00:17:03,204 --> 00:17:07,130 they are contained in this quiet statement. 228 00:17:07,131 --> 00:17:10,525 And they are unbelievable, wonderful things. 229 00:17:10,526 --> 00:17:16,758 He says, "This is the New Covenant in My blood" - Luke 22:20. 230 00:17:16,759 --> 00:17:27,933 Not the blood of bulls and goats, but the blood of God Himself - God's Son. (P) 231 00:17:28,837 --> 00:17:30,954 Now, think of this. 232 00:17:30,955 --> 00:17:37,374 When God made this covenant back here 1500 BC, 233 00:17:37,375 --> 00:17:44,033 did He say, "I am going to make an Old Covenant with you"? Did He say that? 234 00:17:44,034 --> 00:17:45,015 He didn't say that. 235 00:17:45,016 --> 00:17:49,260 He said, "He is making a covenant." 236 00:17:49,261 --> 00:17:54,194 But then, Jeremiah says, "God says, I am going to make a New Covenant." 237 00:17:54,195 --> 00:18:00,964 And when you get to the New Testament, what happens in Hebrews chapter 8 verse 13? 238 00:18:00,965 --> 00:18:04,582 He brings this out, and I'll just read it to you. 239 00:18:04,583 --> 00:18:11,541 He says, "When He said, A New Covenant, He has made the first obsolete. 240 00:18:11,542 --> 00:18:18,257 And whatever is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to disappear." 241 00:18:18,258 --> 00:18:20,562 Now that's where we get the idea of the Old Covenant, 242 00:18:20,563 --> 00:18:24,475 the writer to the Hebrews says, "Look, God calls this a New Covenant. 243 00:18:24,476 --> 00:18:28,671 That means that one is old and is ready to disappear." 244 00:18:28,672 --> 00:18:30,061 Why didn't he say it's already gone? 245 00:18:30,062 --> 00:18:33,960 Well, the Jews were still clinging to it. The Temple was still standing. 246 00:18:33,961 --> 00:18:35,391 They are still trying to do this stuff. 247 00:18:35,392 --> 00:18:39,620 But the axe has been laid to the root. That covenant is over. (P) 248 00:18:39,621 --> 00:18:47,532 When Jesus died on the cross, that was the end of that, and a New Covenant had begun. 249 00:18:47,533 --> 00:18:55,317 And the changes that were getting ready to take place were cataclysmic. 250 00:18:55,318 --> 00:18:59,575 I mean, they were unbelievable. 251 00:18:59,576 --> 00:19:04,424 We will see this more as we go along lord willing 252 00:19:04,425 --> 00:19:11,267 But he is saying this thing is gone, it's over. It's old, it's obsolete. 253 00:19:11,268 --> 00:19:15,009 We're not under that anymore. We're under the New Covenant. 254 00:19:15,010 --> 00:19:19,610 And the Jews had a tremendous problem with that. 255 00:19:19,611 --> 00:19:25,888 And why wouldn't they? God gave that Old Covenant. 256 00:19:25,889 --> 00:19:30,941 But there's something bigger happening even than that. 257 00:19:30,942 --> 00:19:32,634 But they had a tremendous problem with it. 258 00:19:32,635 --> 00:19:35,859 They said, "Look, it's right, you've got to believe on Jesus 259 00:19:35,860 --> 00:19:38,149 but you've got to keep the Law of Moses too." 260 00:19:38,150 --> 00:19:43,973 And Paul said, "If anybody says that, let him be accursed." 261 00:19:43,974 --> 00:19:48,984 He says that is a serious, extreme error. 262 00:19:48,985 --> 00:19:54,690 Well, how is he going to prove that from the Bible when it was obvious God gave that first Covenant? 263 00:19:54,691 --> 00:19:57,759 How is he going to prove that that is gone? 264 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:01,417 Pharisee of the Pharisees that he was. (P) 265 00:20:01,418 --> 00:20:12,319 Well, he goes back to something else to show the true place of the Old Covenant. 266 00:20:12,320 --> 00:20:18,007 And so, let me ask you this: Was there any other covenants in the Bible? 267 00:20:18,008 --> 00:20:21,291 There is this Old Covenant, there is this New Covenant, 268 00:20:21,292 --> 00:20:26,974 are there other covenants? 269 00:20:26,975 --> 00:20:29,043 The covenant with Abraham. 270 00:20:29,044 --> 00:20:31,554 And now we're at our blackboard here again. 271 00:20:31,555 --> 00:20:34,177 Here is 1500 BC. 272 00:20:34,178 --> 00:20:41,824 Go back before, 430 years there was a covenant that was before that. 273 00:20:41,825 --> 00:20:46,656 And Paul says, that's the big one. 274 00:20:46,657 --> 00:20:51,858 That was the one where God started the whole Jewish nation. 275 00:20:51,859 --> 00:20:54,214 He made a covenant with Abraham, 276 00:20:54,215 --> 00:20:57,815 and what was the nature of that covenant with Abraham? 277 00:20:57,816 --> 00:21:02,683 God said to Abraham, "Now Abraham, if you do this and you sacrifice this, 278 00:21:02,684 --> 00:21:07,862 and you offer these various sacrifices, and if you keep all these, then I'll do such..." 279 00:21:07,863 --> 00:21:11,882 That's not the way that covenant was. (P) 280 00:21:11,883 --> 00:21:15,542 He took Abraham out and He said, "Look at the sky. 281 00:21:15,543 --> 00:21:17,255 Count those stars if you can count them. 282 00:21:17,256 --> 00:21:19,753 That's how many children you're going to have." 283 00:21:19,754 --> 00:21:23,456 It was a promise. 284 00:21:23,457 --> 00:21:27,825 Totally different thing. This is a covenant of promise. 285 00:21:27,826 --> 00:21:31,508 And Paul says, "Look, back at the very beginning, 286 00:21:31,509 --> 00:21:34,509 God laid the foundation of the Jewish nation. 287 00:21:34,510 --> 00:21:40,522 He made it clear this is all promise. 288 00:21:40,523 --> 00:21:41,916 There weren't conditions. 289 00:21:41,917 --> 00:21:44,436 There weren't, "Do this and you will live." 290 00:21:44,437 --> 00:21:47,732 It was a promise. (P) 291 00:21:47,733 --> 00:21:55,083 Now let's turn to Galatians 3, and we'll see how Paul deals with this. 292 00:21:55,084 --> 00:22:01,990 And this is such a pivotal portion of Scripture. 293 00:22:01,991 --> 00:22:07,902 Galatians 3 verse 15, "Brethren I speak in terms of human relations, 294 00:22:07,903 --> 00:22:10,503 even though it's only a man's covenant, 295 00:22:10,504 --> 00:22:15,458 yet when it's been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 296 00:22:15,459 --> 00:22:17,372 Now the promises 297 00:22:17,373 --> 00:22:22,943 (if you go down through here, you could underline the word 'promise' or 'promises,' there's a lot of them) 298 00:22:22,944 --> 00:22:28,013 the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. 299 00:22:28,014 --> 00:22:32,018 He does not say, And to seeds, referring to many but rather to one, 300 00:22:32,019 --> 00:22:37,457 And to your seed, that's Christ. 301 00:22:37,458 --> 00:22:41,435 What I am saying is this: the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, 302 00:22:41,436 --> 00:22:46,368 does not invalidate that covenant previously ratified by God 303 00:22:46,369 --> 00:22:51,887 so as to nullify the promise. 304 00:22:51,888 --> 00:22:56,430 For if the inheritance is based on Law (now here's the term inheritance. 305 00:22:56,431 --> 00:23:00,759 This promise has to do with an inheritance,) 306 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:06,205 if the inheritance is based on Law, it's no longer based on promise. 307 00:23:06,206 --> 00:23:11,875 (Contrast between promise and law.) 308 00:23:11,876 --> 00:23:17,276 But God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. 309 00:23:17,277 --> 00:23:21,849 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions 310 00:23:21,850 --> 00:23:25,449 having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator 311 00:23:25,450 --> 00:23:32,979 until the seed should come to whom the promise had been made - that was Christ. 312 00:23:32,980 --> 00:23:38,605 Now a mediator is not for one party only whereas God is only one. 313 00:23:38,606 --> 00:23:42,609 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be. 314 00:23:42,610 --> 00:23:45,561 For if a Law had been given which was able to impart life, 315 00:23:45,562 --> 00:23:49,821 then righteousness would indeed have been based on Law." (P) 316 00:23:49,822 --> 00:23:53,308 God never intended it for people to get saved through law keeping. 317 00:23:53,309 --> 00:23:55,427 That wasn't the idea. 318 00:23:55,428 --> 00:23:57,971 "But the Scripture has shut up all men under sin, 319 00:23:57,972 --> 00:24:03,935 that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 320 00:24:03,936 --> 00:24:07,235 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the Law, 321 00:24:07,236 --> 00:24:10,808 being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 322 00:24:10,809 --> 00:24:16,077 Therefore the Law has become our tutor (or schoolmaster) to lead us to Christ 323 00:24:16,078 --> 00:24:18,251 that we may be justified by faith. 324 00:24:18,252 --> 00:24:23,305 Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 325 00:24:23,306 --> 00:24:26,159 We are no longer under the Mosaic Law. 326 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:30,033 No Christian is under the Mosaic Law. 327 00:24:30,034 --> 00:24:33,751 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. (P) 328 00:24:33,752 --> 00:24:37,776 Now I'm covering a lot of material here, but we are going to read this passage. 329 00:24:37,777 --> 00:24:43,575 "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ. 330 00:24:43,576 --> 00:24:47,257 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, 331 00:24:47,258 --> 00:24:50,740 there is neither male nor female: you are all one in Christ Jesus. 332 00:24:50,741 --> 00:24:58,755 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, 333 00:24:58,756 --> 00:25:07,224 heirs (remember we talked about an inheritance) according to promise. 334 00:25:07,225 --> 00:25:09,137 Heirs according to promise." 335 00:25:09,138 --> 00:25:12,241 Now, what is he saying up here at the beginning of this? 336 00:25:12,242 --> 00:25:19,272 He says, even if it's a man's covenant, no one set's it aside or adds conditions to it and so on. (P) 337 00:25:19,273 --> 00:25:22,326 Let me just give you an example. 338 00:25:22,327 --> 00:25:24,202 When my grandfather died, 339 00:25:24,203 --> 00:25:29,524 my older brother was the one that had been appointed to read the will. 340 00:25:29,525 --> 00:25:35,534 And our family was sitting around in my mother's living room. 341 00:25:35,535 --> 00:25:39,626 And he started reading down through my grandfather's will. 342 00:25:39,627 --> 00:25:41,927 And all of a sudden, my ears perked up. 343 00:25:41,928 --> 00:25:48,310 He said, "To my grandson, Charles, I will this, this, and this." 344 00:25:48,311 --> 00:25:51,247 Certain things of his possessions. 345 00:25:51,248 --> 00:25:57,545 Total surprise to me. Something he specially wanted me to have. 346 00:25:57,546 --> 00:25:59,139 Isn't that something? 347 00:25:59,140 --> 00:26:02,703 That's the way it is, with you being a Christian today. 348 00:26:02,704 --> 00:26:06,347 If you're a Christian today, that's why you are a Christian. 349 00:26:06,348 --> 00:26:13,299 There was a promise and an inheritance written up that you didn't even know about. 350 00:26:13,300 --> 00:26:19,610 And now, you are a partaker of it, based on promise. (P) 351 00:26:19,611 --> 00:26:22,618 Now, my brother is reading this, 352 00:26:22,619 --> 00:26:26,504 he says "To my grandson, Charles, I give this and this." 353 00:26:26,505 --> 00:26:32,670 He didn't look at it and say, "Oh I don't agree with that," and scratches a line through it. 354 00:26:32,671 --> 00:26:35,537 You think you could do that? 355 00:26:35,538 --> 00:26:41,037 This is a man's covenant but it stands firm. 356 00:26:41,038 --> 00:26:43,005 And he also doesn't add conditions to it. 357 00:26:43,006 --> 00:26:47,959 He doesn't say, "Well, I know he said that and he gave that promise, 358 00:26:47,960 --> 00:26:52,401 but I think really Charles shouldn't have that unless he does such and such and so on. 359 00:26:52,402 --> 00:26:57,247 I don't think he has really proved himself enough to inherit this stuff yet." 360 00:26:57,248 --> 00:26:58,619 That's adding condition. 361 00:26:58,620 --> 00:27:04,540 Paul says, "Look, the Law of Moses cannot touch any of that." 362 00:27:04,541 --> 00:27:05,874 Why did God give it? 363 00:27:05,875 --> 00:27:11,118 He gave it as a temporary measure, a tutor, a child conductor 364 00:27:11,119 --> 00:27:17,591 until He could get to the real stuff that He was going toward all along. 365 00:27:17,592 --> 00:27:21,079 And that's Christ! (P) 366 00:27:21,080 --> 00:27:25,910 You see, when God chose Abraham and established the nation of Israel, 367 00:27:25,911 --> 00:27:30,431 there was never any thought of this being the big thing. 368 00:27:30,432 --> 00:27:33,484 Anybody that's got this idea that, you know, 369 00:27:33,485 --> 00:27:41,704 "God has got to the church temporarily until He can get back to the big stuff, Israel," - 370 00:27:41,705 --> 00:27:44,984 Total Mistake. 371 00:27:44,985 --> 00:27:52,789 Israel was the temporary thing until God could get to the big stuff which is Christ and the Church. 372 00:27:52,790 --> 00:27:55,080 You see, that's what we are dealing with here. 373 00:27:55,081 --> 00:28:05,171 And Paul is saying, "Look, this Law of Moses was a temporary school conductor for the stage of infancy." 374 00:28:05,172 --> 00:28:08,502 And now, you've entered into sonship. 375 00:28:08,503 --> 00:28:11,236 We are going to talk about that more. (P) 376 00:28:11,237 --> 00:28:15,359 But think of this idea of promise. It's a very wonderful thing. 377 00:28:15,360 --> 00:28:18,231 God granted some things to Abraham by promise. 378 00:28:18,232 --> 00:28:25,149 Now, first of all, He promised him a seed. 379 00:28:25,150 --> 00:28:28,570 And if you think of it in the initial sense, 380 00:28:28,571 --> 00:28:32,707 the sense that takes place as you are reading the Old Testament, 381 00:28:32,708 --> 00:28:36,118 that seed was Isaac. 382 00:28:36,119 --> 00:28:40,190 You know, He says, "Ishmael is not the one that's going to live. 383 00:28:40,191 --> 00:28:46,630 I am going to establish My covenant with Isaac; Sarah is going to bear a son." 384 00:28:46,631 --> 00:28:51,999 And in Isaac, God says, your seed shall be called. 385 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:57,444 OK, so He promised Abraham a seed, and that was Isaac. 386 00:28:57,445 --> 00:28:59,098 We could read the verses on that. 387 00:28:59,099 --> 00:29:01,044 If you are taking notes, let me give you some. 388 00:29:01,045 --> 00:29:11,482 Genesis 17:18-19 and also verse 21. And then, Genesis 21:12. 389 00:29:11,483 --> 00:29:17,513 Now if I am going too fast, stop me if you want to write some of these down. (P) 390 00:29:17,514 --> 00:29:19,567 "In Isaac shall your seed be called." 391 00:29:19,568 --> 00:29:21,675 So He promised Abraham a seed. 392 00:29:21,676 --> 00:29:26,483 Secondly, He promised him a nation. 393 00:29:26,484 --> 00:29:32,453 And all this takes place in Genesis 12:1-3. 394 00:29:32,454 --> 00:29:38,041 He says, "I will make of you a great nation." 395 00:29:38,042 --> 00:29:44,531 Who is the nation? Israel was the nation; physical nation. 396 00:29:44,532 --> 00:29:47,311 "I will make of you a great nation, Israel, 397 00:29:47,312 --> 00:29:50,077 and I am going to give you a land." 398 00:29:50,078 --> 00:29:53,012 What's that? Canaan. 399 00:29:53,013 --> 00:29:58,302 That was promised right there in Genesis 12:1-3 as well. 400 00:29:58,303 --> 00:30:04,323 And then He says, "I'll give you blessing, I'll bless you, 401 00:30:04,324 --> 00:30:10,349 I'll bless those who bless you, I'll make you a blessing." 402 00:30:10,350 --> 00:30:13,574 And when He blessed Abraham, you remember, He gave him riches, 403 00:30:13,575 --> 00:30:18,103 He gave him old age (a long life). 404 00:30:18,104 --> 00:30:22,049 I'd say He didn't give him old age but He gave him a long life 405 00:30:22,050 --> 00:30:27,248 so that he might live till old age. 406 00:30:28,098 --> 00:30:29,917 Protection, physical protection. 407 00:30:29,918 --> 00:30:33,680 All those blessings, material blessings. (P) 408 00:30:33,681 --> 00:30:37,183 Now all those are physical fulfillments. 409 00:30:37,184 --> 00:30:39,164 But when you come to the New Testament, 410 00:30:39,165 --> 00:30:46,866 you find out that those were minor compared to what was really being said. 411 00:30:46,867 --> 00:30:53,228 Who is the seed? He promised him a seed. 412 00:30:53,229 --> 00:30:58,675 We read it here. The seed is Christ. 413 00:30:58,676 --> 00:31:05,237 He says in Galatians 3 verse 16, "He does not say to seeds as referring to many; 414 00:31:05,238 --> 00:31:10,489 but rather to one, To your seed, that is Christ." 415 00:31:10,490 --> 00:31:12,722 So God came to Abraham and He promised him. 416 00:31:12,723 --> 00:31:22,332 He says, "One day, the Messiah is going to come in your line. The Messiah is coming." 417 00:31:22,333 --> 00:31:24,051 He promised him a seed. 418 00:31:24,052 --> 00:31:29,760 He promised him a nation, what's the nation? 419 00:31:29,761 --> 00:31:31,252 The church. 420 00:31:31,253 --> 00:31:35,116 Is the church ever called a nation? 421 00:31:35,117 --> 00:31:37,863 Remember Jesus told a parable, 422 00:31:37,864 --> 00:31:42,256 the parable of the vine-growers that wouldn't give the fruit in the proper season, 423 00:31:42,257 --> 00:31:47,003 He says, "Therefore the kingdom of God will be taken away from you 424 00:31:47,004 --> 00:31:52,220 and given to a nation that brings forth the fruit of it." 425 00:31:52,221 --> 00:31:54,999 Who is that? That's the church. 426 00:31:55,000 --> 00:31:58,580 If what you are looking at is not bringing forth fruit to God, 427 00:31:58,581 --> 00:32:00,911 you're not looking at the church. 428 00:32:00,912 --> 00:32:05,414 You may be looking at Christendom but you're not looking at the church.(P) 429 00:32:05,415 --> 00:32:07,834 The church is alive and well. 430 00:32:07,835 --> 00:32:12,396 I'm talking about Christians, real Christians, they are alive and well, 431 00:32:12,397 --> 00:32:17,848 and loving one another, and bringing forth fruit to God. 432 00:32:17,849 --> 00:32:22,824 Jesus said, "The kingdom will be taken away from you and given to a nation, 433 00:32:22,825 --> 00:32:24,596 a different nation. 434 00:32:24,597 --> 00:32:27,870 Not one nation, but men from every tribe and tongue and kindred 435 00:32:27,871 --> 00:32:32,722 all over the whole world make up this nation. 436 00:32:32,723 --> 00:32:41,356 What does Peter say? He says, "You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation." 437 00:32:41,357 --> 00:32:44,260 We are the ones that offer up spiritual sacrifices. 438 00:32:44,261 --> 00:32:48,139 You see how the New Testament is interpreting these things? 439 00:32:48,140 --> 00:32:59,910 God promises Abraham, He says, "Go out and look at the stars. So shall your seed be." 440 00:32:59,911 --> 00:33:05,033 Men from every tribe and tongue and kindred. 441 00:33:05,034 --> 00:33:15,014 What's the land? You think Abraham was thinking, "O I want that land of Canaan so bad. 442 00:33:15,015 --> 00:33:16,942 I really want the land of Canaan." 443 00:33:16,943 --> 00:33:24,296 What does Hebrews say? They were looking for a country, a heavenly one. 444 00:33:24,297 --> 00:33:28,007 He wasn't going to be content with having the land of Canaan, 445 00:33:28,008 --> 00:33:35,638 Abraham realized there's something big here that God is promising. (P) 446 00:33:35,639 --> 00:33:37,770 You remember in Romans 4. 447 00:33:37,771 --> 00:33:39,498 I better give you these verses. 448 00:33:39,499 --> 00:33:43,496 For those that are taking notes, you may want to look back at this. 449 00:33:43,497 --> 00:33:56,391 In Romans 4:13, he says, "The promise to Abraham that he should be the heir of the world 450 00:33:56,392 --> 00:33:59,700 was not through the Law." 451 00:33:59,701 --> 00:34:05,317 The promise that he should be the heir of the world. 452 00:34:05,318 --> 00:34:10,405 Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. 453 00:34:10,406 --> 00:34:14,804 There in Revelation, "Men from every tribe and tongue and kindred 454 00:34:14,804 --> 00:34:16,442 have been made priests to God. 455 00:34:16,443 --> 00:34:20,067 And they shall reign on the earth." 456 00:34:20,068 --> 00:34:25,143 A lot of what we talk about heaven, you know really we are talking about this new earth. 457 00:34:25,143 --> 00:34:27,739 "The meek shall inherit the earth." 458 00:34:27,741 --> 00:34:33,161 And God said, way back there in Genesis, He told Abraham in Genesis 17:8, 459 00:34:33,161 --> 00:34:42,243 He says, "Your seed are going to inherit the land of their sojourners. 460 00:34:42,244 --> 00:34:48,415 We, right now, are sojourners on this earth. 461 00:34:48,416 --> 00:34:51,570 And many times, the earth is drinking the blood of Christians, 462 00:34:51,571 --> 00:34:55,148 but one day, they are going to own the earth. 463 00:34:55,149 --> 00:34:59,197 The meek are going to inherit the earth, and they'll reign on the earth. (P) 464 00:34:59,198 --> 00:35:06,231 When God made this promise to Abraham, He is talking about this eternal thing, you see. 465 00:35:06,232 --> 00:35:08,844 A seed, a nation, a land. 466 00:35:08,845 --> 00:35:10,858 The seed, Christ. 467 00:35:10,859 --> 00:35:12,689 The nation, the church. 468 00:35:12,690 --> 00:35:15,657 The land, the new heavens and the new earth. 469 00:35:15,658 --> 00:35:19,746 What about the blessing? 470 00:35:19,747 --> 00:35:25,263 What's the opposite of blessing? Curse. 471 00:35:25,264 --> 00:35:29,592 And what does He say in Galatians? We better turn to this. 472 00:35:29,632 --> 00:35:41,730 Galatians 3 beginning at verse 7. 473 00:35:41,731 --> 00:35:46,107 Therefore be sure that it is those who are of faith that are the sons of Abraham 474 00:35:46,108 --> 00:35:48,375 (they are the true sons). 475 00:35:48,376 --> 00:35:54,331 And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, 476 00:35:54,332 --> 00:35:59,017 preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, "All the nations shall be blessed." 477 00:35:59,018 --> 00:36:02,045 What's the blessing? Justification. 478 00:36:02,046 --> 00:36:04,344 "All the nations shall be blessed in you." 479 00:36:04,345 --> 00:36:08,012 Before you become a Christian, you're under a curse. 480 00:36:08,013 --> 00:36:10,040 But when you are justified, you're blessed. 481 00:36:10,041 --> 00:36:11,529 You're under a blessing. (P) 482 00:36:11,530 --> 00:36:16,663 "So then, it is those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham the believer. 483 00:36:16,682 --> 00:36:19,712 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse. 484 00:36:19,713 --> 00:36:22,779 For it is written, 'Cursed is every one 485 00:36:22,780 --> 00:36:27,093 who does not abide by all things written in the book of the Law to perform them. 486 00:36:27,094 --> 00:36:31,564 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident, 487 00:36:31,565 --> 00:36:35,415 for the righteous man shall live by faith. 488 00:36:35,416 --> 00:36:37,011 However the Law is not of faith; 489 00:36:37,012 --> 00:36:42,035 on the contrary, he who practices them shall live by them. 490 00:36:42,036 --> 00:36:46,464 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us - 491 00:36:46,465 --> 00:36:50,281 for it is written, 'Cursed is every one who hangs on a tree' - 492 00:36:50,282 --> 00:36:57,397 in order that in Christ Jesus, the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, 493 00:36:57,398 --> 00:37:03,295 so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (P) 494 00:37:03,296 --> 00:37:06,176 The blessing has to do with Justification. 495 00:37:06,177 --> 00:37:10,517 The opposite of being condemned and under the curse. 496 00:37:10,518 --> 00:37:14,006 You're forgiven, you're justified, you're under the blessing. (P) 497 00:37:14,007 --> 00:37:15,103 Now look what we've done. 498 00:37:15,104 --> 00:37:20,529 We have come to the New Testament and we've found a whole lot more meaning in the Old Testament 499 00:37:20,530 --> 00:37:25,389 than what we could have if we read the Old Testament alone. 500 00:37:25,390 --> 00:37:27,908 Now beloved, you've got to get hold of this. 501 00:37:27,909 --> 00:37:35,863 There is a lot of people, including big time scholars that are a lot smarter than all of us, 502 00:37:35,864 --> 00:37:39,328 who come to the Old Testament, and they read the Old Testament, 503 00:37:39,329 --> 00:37:44,446 and they decide what the New Testament ought to teach. 504 00:37:44,447 --> 00:37:51,247 And then they try to make the New Testament fit into what they think the New Testament ought to teach. 505 00:37:51,248 --> 00:37:53,357 People do that with the Sabbath, for example. 506 00:37:53,377 --> 00:37:58,968 You just read about the Sabbath, you know, this perpetual thing that is forever, 507 00:37:58,969 --> 00:38:04,198 and you read those promises and you get, "O well, the New Testament has to teach this." 508 00:38:04,199 --> 00:38:08,241 And you take everything that everybody said and twist it into that, 509 00:38:08,242 --> 00:38:10,491 and try to fit it into that. (P) 510 00:38:10,492 --> 00:38:15,150 What did Paul say? He said, "Don't let anybody act as your judge 511 00:38:15,151 --> 00:38:19,754 with regard to a festival or a new moon or Sabbath day. 512 00:38:19,755 --> 00:38:23,861 Things which are a mere shadow of what was to come. 513 00:38:23,862 --> 00:38:29,509 But the substance, the reality, the body belongs to Christ." 514 00:38:29,510 --> 00:38:33,780 Paul says we've got the reality now. 515 00:38:33,781 --> 00:38:36,645 You don't go to the Old to understand the New. 516 00:38:36,646 --> 00:38:39,754 You go to the New to understand the Old, first of all. 517 00:38:39,755 --> 00:38:46,782 Then you let the Old inform you and teach you, but you don't let it dictate everything. 518 00:38:46,783 --> 00:38:50,009 And there are a lot of men that won't touch Galatians 3 519 00:38:50,010 --> 00:38:55,694 because Paul is telling something that they don't like. 520 00:38:55,695 --> 00:39:01,995 Alright, this is a basic principle: come to the New to learn about the Old. (P) 521 00:39:01,996 --> 00:39:07,269 Now, along this line, have you ever wondered how the apostles, 522 00:39:07,270 --> 00:39:09,790 how somebody like Paul, arrived at this thing? 523 00:39:09,791 --> 00:39:13,543 Let me just quote the verse. 524 00:39:13,544 --> 00:39:16,095 God speaking to Abraham, He says, 525 00:39:16,096 --> 00:39:21,271 "In your seed, all the nations of the world will be blessed." 526 00:39:21,272 --> 00:39:27,114 Paul says, well obviously that means that in Christ, all the Gentiles are going to be justified. 527 00:39:27,115 --> 00:39:29,528 God preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham. 528 00:39:29,529 --> 00:39:30,901 Where would you come up with that? 529 00:39:30,902 --> 00:39:38,341 You say, well the Holy Spirit showed him. But it's not just that. 530 00:39:38,342 --> 00:39:42,397 Think about this a little bit. 531 00:39:42,398 --> 00:39:47,876 Paul said there in 1 Corinthians, he said the preaching of Christ is a stumbling block. 532 00:39:47,877 --> 00:39:51,974 It's foolishness to the Gentiles, but to the Jews it's a stumbling block. 533 00:39:51,975 --> 00:39:55,688 Why was it a stumbling block to preach Christ? 534 00:39:55,689 --> 00:39:57,293 What does he say in 1 Corinthians? 535 00:39:57,294 --> 00:40:03,140 We preach Christ crucified. 536 00:40:03,141 --> 00:40:06,088 That was the stumbling block. 537 00:40:06,089 --> 00:40:09,276 Why is that such a big stumbling block? (P) 538 00:40:09,284 --> 00:40:13,712 Well, first of all, they are looking for the Messiah to come 539 00:40:13,713 --> 00:40:18,581 and deliver the nation of Israel from the heel of Rome. 540 00:40:18,582 --> 00:40:23,691 And so, you're coming and saying, "The Messiah has come." 541 00:40:23,692 --> 00:40:24,419 Where is He? 542 00:40:24,420 --> 00:40:29,246 "Well, He was crucified as a condemned criminal in the lowest form of Roman punishment 543 00:40:29,247 --> 00:40:30,757 by the Roman authorities." 544 00:40:30,758 --> 00:40:38,469 That's like a stumbling block. That's insane. 545 00:40:38,470 --> 00:40:42,387 But what else? There is something worse than that. 546 00:40:42,388 --> 00:40:46,472 What does the Bible say about somebody that's hanged? 547 00:40:46,473 --> 00:40:49,061 He is accursed. 548 00:40:49,062 --> 00:40:53,360 Paul quotes it right there. Cursed. 549 00:40:53,361 --> 00:40:56,451 So here you look at this and say, "The Messiah has come, 550 00:40:56,452 --> 00:40:58,713 the Romans killed Him as a condemned criminal 551 00:40:58,714 --> 00:41:03,967 in the lowest form of punishment that they have for the worst scum. 552 00:41:03,968 --> 00:41:07,402 And He died accursed by God." 553 00:41:07,403 --> 00:41:09,051 It's blasphemy. 554 00:41:09,052 --> 00:41:10,915 Yeah, that's something I left out. 555 00:41:10,916 --> 00:41:14,394 You read in Deuteronomy, it says, "He who is hanged on a tree is accursed." 556 00:41:14,395 --> 00:41:19,900 No it says "He is accursed by God." 557 00:41:19,901 --> 00:41:23,037 That's why Christ crucified is a stumbling block to the Jew. (P) 558 00:41:23,038 --> 00:41:25,622 Now think of this. 559 00:41:25,623 --> 00:41:28,223 Paul is breathing out threatenings and slaughter, 560 00:41:28,224 --> 00:41:29,882 he is determined to kill these Christians. 561 00:41:29,883 --> 00:41:35,926 He knows Christ is a lie because He died under the curse of God. 562 00:41:35,927 --> 00:41:42,697 What happened? He meets the risen Christ. He meets the Lord. 563 00:41:42,698 --> 00:41:46,866 He didn't know who He was at first, he says, "Who art thou, Lord?" 564 00:41:46,867 --> 00:41:49,487 He knew he was the Lord. 565 00:41:52,561 --> 00:41:57,263 Now think of all the confusion, mixed things going through his mind. 566 00:41:57,264 --> 00:42:02,547 He is thinking, "how does this fit?" 567 00:42:02,548 --> 00:42:07,182 He is the Messiah. He is risen. 568 00:42:07,198 --> 00:42:09,059 But He died under the curse of God. 569 00:42:09,060 --> 00:42:13,803 Then all of a sudden, it dawns on him, "Yeah, He died under the curse of God." 570 00:42:13,804 --> 00:42:20,146 What does it say in Isaiah 53? He caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. 571 00:42:20,147 --> 00:42:25,779 He (Paul) realizes He bore our sins in His own body. 572 00:42:25,780 --> 00:42:32,193 He realizes that this curse was not Christ's curse but my curse. 573 00:42:32,194 --> 00:42:38,385 And then he thinks, he said that the opposite of that curse is blessing. 574 00:42:38,386 --> 00:42:40,184 And he thinks, that's what it meant - 575 00:42:40,278 --> 00:42:44,202 In your seed, all the nations, the Gentiles, are going to be blessed. 576 00:42:44,203 --> 00:42:46,772 They are going to be justified. 577 00:42:46,773 --> 00:42:50,078 You see that? All of a sudden, it makes sense. 578 00:42:50,079 --> 00:42:52,810 Everything fits together. (P) 579 00:42:52,811 --> 00:42:57,051 He is not importing into this verse some kind of stuff that he made up. 580 00:42:57,052 --> 00:43:00,278 He is reading what God actually meant. 581 00:43:00,279 --> 00:43:05,266 God saying to Abraham by promise, He says, "Abraham, go out and look at the skies." 582 00:43:05,267 --> 00:43:11,408 He says, "You're going to have children beyond your imagination." 583 00:43:11,409 --> 00:43:14,987 And what's going to happen through your seed down the line, way down there, 584 00:43:14,988 --> 00:43:21,283 ("Your father, Abraham, rejoiced to see My day," Jesus said, "and he saw it and was glad.") 585 00:43:21,284 --> 00:43:23,785 Abraham looks way down through the centuries. 586 00:43:23,786 --> 00:43:28,653 He said, One day, your seed is going to come. 587 00:43:28,654 --> 00:43:34,277 And all the nations, not just the Jews, all the nations are going to be justified. 588 00:43:34,278 --> 00:43:37,796 The condemnation is going to be lifted off of them. 589 00:43:37,797 --> 00:43:40,848 And they are going to be blessed. 590 00:43:40,849 --> 00:43:46,131 And so, Paul says, "God preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, 591 00:43:46,132 --> 00:43:51,569 saying, 'In your seed shall all the nations be blessed.'" 592 00:43:55,282 --> 00:43:59,261 These are wonderful things. (P) 593 00:44:00,759 --> 00:44:03,322 What does all these mean? 594 00:44:03,322 --> 00:44:05,478 We are trying to get an overview of where we are going. 595 00:44:05,480 --> 00:44:09,755 You see, you can't just start out unless you realize what's happening here. 596 00:44:09,756 --> 00:44:15,048 What's happening is, all along God is working towards Christ. 597 00:44:15,049 --> 00:44:18,058 He is the pinnacle of everything. 598 00:44:18,059 --> 00:44:21,385 The church is not just some afterthought that God had 599 00:44:21,386 --> 00:44:25,076 when He had to give up on the physical nation of Israel. 600 00:44:25,077 --> 00:44:32,613 The church is something that God was working for - The body of Christ. 601 00:44:32,614 --> 00:44:36,174 The day is coming; this day is coming. 602 00:44:36,175 --> 00:44:39,403 And when you are part of the New Covenant, 603 00:44:39,404 --> 00:44:43,034 you don't meet a Christian and say, "Well, you know, you need to know the Lord." 604 00:44:43,035 --> 00:44:48,139 You need to know the Lord more but he already knows the Lord or he wouldn't be a Christian. 605 00:44:48,140 --> 00:44:50,672 His sins are forgiven, he is regenerate. 606 00:44:50,673 --> 00:44:53,025 The Law is written on his heart. 607 00:44:53,026 --> 00:44:56,875 All that is true in the New Covenant. (P) 608 00:44:58,401 --> 00:45:04,501 Why did God, I mean, It started back in Genesis 3:15. 609 00:45:04,502 --> 00:45:10,551 God says to the serpent, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, 610 00:45:10,552 --> 00:45:15,640 and between your seed (the children of the devil) and her seed." 611 00:45:15,641 --> 00:45:18,687 And if God hadn't put the enmity there, it would have never happened. 612 00:45:18,688 --> 00:45:23,208 All of us would be serving the devil and be in love with him. 613 00:45:23,209 --> 00:45:32,494 God says, I am going to do something to tear off a group of people that hate you. 614 00:45:32,495 --> 00:45:37,941 I am going to make them so they hate serpents - the devil. 615 00:45:37,942 --> 00:45:42,709 I am going to put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. 616 00:45:42,710 --> 00:45:46,832 And you'll bruise His heel, but He's going to bruise your head. 617 00:45:46,833 --> 00:45:48,496 That's what happened on the cross. 618 00:45:48,497 --> 00:45:50,886 That was God's plan [from the beginning]. 619 00:45:50,887 --> 00:45:54,862 You want to know what unifies the whole Bible? 620 00:45:54,863 --> 00:46:01,554 This one saving eternal purpose in Christ. 621 00:46:01,555 --> 00:46:04,183 That's the unity of the whole Scripture. 622 00:46:04,184 --> 00:46:08,522 And everything God is doing is in order to get to Christ. 623 00:46:08,523 --> 00:46:14,135 You've got to realize, He raises up the nation of Israel, not as something permanent, 624 00:46:14,136 --> 00:46:17,223 He is trying to get to Christ. 625 00:46:17,224 --> 00:46:21,521 He gives the Law of Moses, not as something permanent, but as a stepping stone, 626 00:46:21,522 --> 00:46:26,450 a tutor, a child conductor to lead us along to get us to Christ. 627 00:46:26,451 --> 00:46:31,973 And once you get there, you're not under the tutor any longer. (P) 628 00:46:31,974 --> 00:46:35,427 Now beloved, a lot of people have got in their mind, you know, 629 00:46:35,428 --> 00:46:43,439 "The big stuff is back there that Moses gave. Oh the big stuff." 630 00:46:43,440 --> 00:46:47,552 And they even look back at the Ten Commandments as if that is the epitome. 631 00:46:47,553 --> 00:46:48,695 The Ten Commandments. 632 00:46:48,696 --> 00:46:52,275 Think of this: What do you think is greater? 633 00:46:52,276 --> 00:46:58,974 You shall not commit adultery, or Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church. 634 00:46:58,975 --> 00:47:02,793 Which of those standards is higher? 635 00:47:02,794 --> 00:47:06,258 Think about it. 636 00:47:06,259 --> 00:47:10,568 I mean, we ought to be looking at the words of Jesus, and gazing. 637 00:47:10,569 --> 00:47:14,082 We ought to be memorizing the words of Jesus. 638 00:47:14,083 --> 00:47:21,459 I think of, "Look what He said here. This is unbelievable!" 639 00:47:21,460 --> 00:47:26,705 But instead, people have in their heads that Moses was the big guy 640 00:47:26,706 --> 00:47:29,075 and Christ comes along in the sermon on the mount, and said, 641 00:47:29,076 --> 00:47:35,294 "Now I just want to tell you what Moses really meant. When he said this, he really meant that." 642 00:47:35,295 --> 00:47:41,314 No, He says, "You have heard, but I say unto you." 643 00:47:41,315 --> 00:47:43,306 It's amazing. 644 00:47:43,307 --> 00:47:46,000 He is on a mountain there too. 645 00:47:46,001 --> 00:47:50,806 The sermon on the mount. And God the Son is speaking directly. 646 00:47:50,807 --> 00:47:54,759 He whom God has sent speaks the very words of God, 647 00:47:54,760 --> 00:47:59,075 for He gives not the Spirit by measure unto Him. 648 00:47:59,076 --> 00:48:05,249 Every thing that He said, perfect reflection of the Character of God. (P) 649 00:48:05,250 --> 00:48:11,630 We have got to have our minds renewed to see what we are dealing with here. 650 00:48:11,631 --> 00:48:14,071 Peter says, "O it's good to be on this mountain. 651 00:48:14,072 --> 00:48:16,113 Let's build three tabernacles. 652 00:48:16,114 --> 00:48:25,195 And a cloud, a voice, "This is My Son. Listen to Him." 653 00:48:25,196 --> 00:48:29,618 And when they looked around, there wasn't anybody left but Jesus alone. 654 00:48:29,619 --> 00:48:36,412 You see how radical that is? You see what God is saying? (P) 655 00:48:36,413 --> 00:48:38,873 I am getting ahead of myself. 656 00:48:38,874 --> 00:48:43,296 Lord willing, we would go on with this in the next message.