072215 FBC Session 3
Law and Grace | Session 3 | July 22, 2015
Galatians 3:19 | “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.”
FOUR VIEWS OF THE LAW • • • •
The Roman Catholic view: The Law is Good News The Reformed view: The Law is mixed news The Evangelical view: The Law is Bad news The Dispensational view: The Law is old news
THE DISPENSATIONAL VIEW OF THE LAW •
• • • •
The Law was given to the nation of Israel alone. o Israel is distinct from the church, and God’s dealings with Israel cannot be equated to His dealings with the church. o There is no shadow of the church in Israel, and no type of the church in Israel. The Law served its purpose in the nation of Israel. o Its purpose was one of preservation, until the Messiah should come. In the church-age, justification and the righteousness of God are found by faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 3:19-26. The “handwriting of ordinances that was against us” has not been “blotted out.” Colossians 2:1-17, 20-23. The Law has no place in Evangelism, spiritual growth, maturity, or sanctification.
LOOKING INTO SCRIPTURE GALATIANS 3:23-26 •
Notice the dispensational line drawn by faith. o Before faith (v. 23) is contrasted with after faith (v. 25) o We either have a contradiction OR Paul must be speaking of an age of faith and not just faith itself.
Law and Grace | Session 3 | July 22, 2015
•
§ Hebrews 11 speaks of faith itself as being in existence since Able. § Galatians 3:26-28 describe the faith that is the subject of this dispensation. Clearly there is a dispensation of the Law and a dispensation after the Law.
TITUS 3:4-9 •
•
Verses 4-7 – The Gospel according to Paul: o God’s grace and displayed love (philanthropia) to man is the foundation o We are saved according to (not by) God’s mercy § Not by works of righteousness § Two key ingredients: • Washing of regeneration • Renewing of the Spirit § This mercy was poured out abundantly through Jesus Christ o We are justified by His grace Verse 8-9 – the Commandment of Paul o Be careful to engage in good deeds o “Stand aloof” from the following, because they are “vain” and “unprofitable.” § Foolish questions § Genealogies § Strife and contentions about the Law
THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW •
•
John MacArthur represents the standard, conservative evangelical view: o “To develop the necessity and a great expectation for the Redeemer by revealing human sinfulness to the degree that is would create the desperation in men that drives them to the Savior. That's the reason for the law.” (John MacArthur, “The Purpose of the Law,” sermon code: 80-178) o My questions: 1. Did the Law develop the necessity for the Redeemer? 2. Did the Law develop the expectation for the Redeemer? 3. Did the Law reveal sin to the degree that it created desperation in men? 4. Did that Law-created desperation drive them to the Savior? The purpose of the law: dispensational view o
The Law served as a protector of Israel until “the fullness of time” when the Redeemer would be “born under the Law to redeem [Israel] from the Law.” Now that faith has come, Israel is reprimanded for her “desire to be enslaved all over again” by the Law (Galatians 4:4-11). The Law enumerated sin but never drove Israel to Christ.
o
The Law is no more effective among Gentiles than it was among Jews, and just as we join Paul in condemnation of Judiazers for placing themselves or anyone else under the Law, we should not place ourselves or other Gentiles under the Law.
o
When we proclaim the grace of God displayed in the “unspeakable gift” of Jesus, we find a rich source of motivation for salvation and holy living.
Galatians 3:19 | “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.”
FOUR VIEWS OF THE LAW • • • •
The Roman Catholic view: The Law is Good News The Reformed view: The Law is mixed news The Evangelical view: The Law is Bad news The Dispensational view: The Law is old news
THE DISPENSATIONAL VIEW OF THE LAW •
• • • •
The Law was given to the nation of Israel alone. o Israel is distinct from the church, and God’s dealings with Israel cannot be equated to His dealings with the church. o There is no shadow of the church in Israel, and no type of the church in Israel. The Law served its purpose in the nation of Israel. o Its purpose was one of preservation, until the Messiah should come. In the church-age, justification and the righteousness of God are found by faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 3:19-26. The “handwriting of ordinances that was against us” has not been “blotted out.” Colossians 2:1-17, 20-23. The Law has no place in Evangelism, spiritual growth, maturity, or sanctification.
LOOKING INTO SCRIPTURE GALATIANS 3:23-26 •
Notice the dispensational line drawn by faith. o Before faith (v. 23) is contrasted with after faith (v. 25) o We either have a contradiction OR Paul must be speaking of an age of faith and not just faith itself.
Law and Grace | Session 3 | July 22, 2015
•
§ Hebrews 11 speaks of faith itself as being in existence since Able. § Galatians 3:26-28 describe the faith that is the subject of this dispensation. Clearly there is a dispensation of the Law and a dispensation after the Law.
TITUS 3:4-9 •
•
Verses 4-7 – The Gospel according to Paul: o God’s grace and displayed love (philanthropia) to man is the foundation o We are saved according to (not by) God’s mercy § Not by works of righteousness § Two key ingredients: • Washing of regeneration • Renewing of the Spirit § This mercy was poured out abundantly through Jesus Christ o We are justified by His grace Verse 8-9 – the Commandment of Paul o Be careful to engage in good deeds o “Stand aloof” from the following, because they are “vain” and “unprofitable.” § Foolish questions § Genealogies § Strife and contentions about the Law
THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW •
•
John MacArthur represents the standard, conservative evangelical view: o “To develop the necessity and a great expectation for the Redeemer by revealing human sinfulness to the degree that is would create the desperation in men that drives them to the Savior. That's the reason for the law.” (John MacArthur, “The Purpose of the Law,” sermon code: 80-178) o My questions: 1. Did the Law develop the necessity for the Redeemer? 2. Did the Law develop the expectation for the Redeemer? 3. Did the Law reveal sin to the degree that it created desperation in men? 4. Did that Law-created desperation drive them to the Savior? The purpose of the law: dispensational view o
The Law served as a protector of Israel until “the fullness of time” when the Redeemer would be “born under the Law to redeem [Israel] from the Law.” Now that faith has come, Israel is reprimanded for her “desire to be enslaved all over again” by the Law (Galatians 4:4-11). The Law enumerated sin but never drove Israel to Christ.
o
The Law is no more effective among Gentiles than it was among Jews, and just as we join Paul in condemnation of Judiazers for placing themselves or anyone else under the Law, we should not place ourselves or other Gentiles under the Law.
o
When we proclaim the grace of God displayed in the “unspeakable gift” of Jesus, we find a rich source of motivation for salvation and holy living.
