081915 FBC Session 4
Law and Grace | Session 4 | August 19, 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.” T H E P U R P O S E O F T H E L A W | A D IS P E N S A T IO N A L V IE W •
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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.” o Now that faith has come, Israel is reprimanded for her “desire to be enslaved all over again” by the Law (Galatians 4:4-11). o The Law enumerated sin but never drove Israel to Christ. The Law was never effective in leading Jewish individuals to Salvation, since this was not its purpose. The Law is no more effective for evangelism or sanctification 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. 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. U N D E R S T A N D IN G T H E R O L E O F T H E L A W IN T H E L IF E O F T H E B E L IE V E R
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The believer has no obligation to the Law whatsoever. Both believers and unbelievers have obligation to morality. Morality is not rooted in the Law, therefore being free from the Law does not free mankind from morality. The Law fully served its purpose of protection of Israel through 2,500 years of waiting for the Messiah. With Messiah’s arrival and the establishment of the Dispensation of Grace, morality is neither policed by the Law nor motivated by the Law. The believer lives under Grace as a rule of life.
Law and Grace | Session 4 | August 19, 2015 A M O R E C O M M O N V IE W : T H E L A W A S M O T IV A T O R •
John MacArthur presents a common view of the Law— “And then the law makes us feel guilty. That's its purpose. To show us God's standard, to demand that we keep it, to exacerbate our sinfulness so it's inescapable and then to make us feel the weight of shame and sin because of our condition. That's the function of the law. …When you get a good look at the law, you know you can't save yourself, right? When you get a good look at the law, you see God's perfect standard. You see that He's prescribed that you maintain that perfect standard. You see instead of keeping that perfect standard, you are excited to a greater and greater violation of it. You then feel heaps of guilt upon yourself and shame and remorse and anxiety for such a violation. You feel conviction. And as a result, you realize that through the law comes only cursing and, therefore, you are driven to Christ that you might be justified by what? By faith and faith alone.”1 – John MacArthur
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My response-o The Law is often used to make us feel guilty, but this is not its purpose. o The Christian world has been made to believe that it is our job (using the Law), to make people “feel the weight of shame and sin,” in order to bring them to Christ. The New Testament gives no such instruction. o The Law never has and never will drive people to Christ. This is a misuse of the Law. A N IN C R E A S IN G L Y C O M M O N V IE W : T H E L A W A S O B L IG A T O R Y
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The following question was posed by Douglas Hamp, a popular Bible teacher who has adopted the “Hebrew Roots” movementWhat do you think Yahweh meant when He said: "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it. (Deut 12:32) A: Don't ever add or take away...God makes the laws, we should obey. B: Do until I send Paul to tell you otherwise C. Do until some random preacher (Scofield?) comes along and brings you a doctrine called "Dispensationalism," then ditch everything and claim God's grace!!! D. None of the above
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1
The rejection (even mockery) of dispensationalism has caused an increasing number of very conservative believers to become Judaizers. This kind of “logic” is very appealing, but does not withstand scrutiny. Discernment to catch the fallacy of the logic only comes when you question the assumptions.
http://www.gty.org/resources/print/sermons/80-178
Law and Grace | Session 4 | August 19, 2015 P R A C T IC A L A P P L IC A T IO N : T H E L A W IN C H R IS T IA N L IV IN G • • •
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Every time a particular law is pulled aside as a standard for Christian practice, harm is done to the rule of Grace. Under what hermeneutical principle do we pick and choose which part of the Law is normative for the Christian life? Examples of portions of the Law often used as a rule of life for Christians: – Sabbath keeping • Which part of the Sabbath Laws shall we keep? • If we are to keep the Sabbath Laws, how should we punish Sabbath breakers? (Exodus 31:15) • Scripture clearly releases believers from Sabbath laws (Galatians 2:16) – Dietary Law • Should we eat pork? • Scripture clearly releases believers from dietary laws (Acts 10:15) – Other Laws • Tassels on the corner of the garments (Numbers 15:38) • To say a blessing after the meal (Deuteronomy 8:10) • To provide a newly married couple one-year off from duty to enjoy themselves (Deuteronomy 24:5) • Do not forget what Amelek did (Deuteronomy 25:17) What if these Laws pre-date the Law? – So did sacrifice (Cain & Abel) – So did unclean animals (Noah) C O N C L U S IO N
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Law and Grace are so mixed together in the average church that believers o …are unable to find any assurance of salvation o …are unsure of the message of the Gospel, thus unable to witness freely o …are burdened with confusion and guilt A key foundational issue to understanding Law and Grace is to understand the truth of Hebrews 1:1-2: God spoke in portions. The victorious Christian life is impossible without recognizing that the Dispensation of Law is passed, and that the world today is free from the Law, in totality. o o o o o
Romans 6:14 – “…you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 7:6 – “…we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound…” Galatians 2:16– “a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but through faith…” Galatians 3:3 – “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Galatians 3:10 – “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse…”
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.” T H E P U R P O S E O F T H E L A W | A D IS P E N S A T IO N A L V IE W •
• •
•
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.” o Now that faith has come, Israel is reprimanded for her “desire to be enslaved all over again” by the Law (Galatians 4:4-11). o The Law enumerated sin but never drove Israel to Christ. The Law was never effective in leading Jewish individuals to Salvation, since this was not its purpose. The Law is no more effective for evangelism or sanctification 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. 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. U N D E R S T A N D IN G T H E R O L E O F T H E L A W IN T H E L IF E O F T H E B E L IE V E R
• • • • •
The believer has no obligation to the Law whatsoever. Both believers and unbelievers have obligation to morality. Morality is not rooted in the Law, therefore being free from the Law does not free mankind from morality. The Law fully served its purpose of protection of Israel through 2,500 years of waiting for the Messiah. With Messiah’s arrival and the establishment of the Dispensation of Grace, morality is neither policed by the Law nor motivated by the Law. The believer lives under Grace as a rule of life.
Law and Grace | Session 4 | August 19, 2015 A M O R E C O M M O N V IE W : T H E L A W A S M O T IV A T O R •
John MacArthur presents a common view of the Law— “And then the law makes us feel guilty. That's its purpose. To show us God's standard, to demand that we keep it, to exacerbate our sinfulness so it's inescapable and then to make us feel the weight of shame and sin because of our condition. That's the function of the law. …When you get a good look at the law, you know you can't save yourself, right? When you get a good look at the law, you see God's perfect standard. You see that He's prescribed that you maintain that perfect standard. You see instead of keeping that perfect standard, you are excited to a greater and greater violation of it. You then feel heaps of guilt upon yourself and shame and remorse and anxiety for such a violation. You feel conviction. And as a result, you realize that through the law comes only cursing and, therefore, you are driven to Christ that you might be justified by what? By faith and faith alone.”1 – John MacArthur
•
My response-o The Law is often used to make us feel guilty, but this is not its purpose. o The Christian world has been made to believe that it is our job (using the Law), to make people “feel the weight of shame and sin,” in order to bring them to Christ. The New Testament gives no such instruction. o The Law never has and never will drive people to Christ. This is a misuse of the Law. A N IN C R E A S IN G L Y C O M M O N V IE W : T H E L A W A S O B L IG A T O R Y
•
The following question was posed by Douglas Hamp, a popular Bible teacher who has adopted the “Hebrew Roots” movementWhat do you think Yahweh meant when He said: "Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it. (Deut 12:32) A: Don't ever add or take away...God makes the laws, we should obey. B: Do until I send Paul to tell you otherwise C. Do until some random preacher (Scofield?) comes along and brings you a doctrine called "Dispensationalism," then ditch everything and claim God's grace!!! D. None of the above
• • •
1
The rejection (even mockery) of dispensationalism has caused an increasing number of very conservative believers to become Judaizers. This kind of “logic” is very appealing, but does not withstand scrutiny. Discernment to catch the fallacy of the logic only comes when you question the assumptions.
http://www.gty.org/resources/print/sermons/80-178
Law and Grace | Session 4 | August 19, 2015 P R A C T IC A L A P P L IC A T IO N : T H E L A W IN C H R IS T IA N L IV IN G • • •
•
Every time a particular law is pulled aside as a standard for Christian practice, harm is done to the rule of Grace. Under what hermeneutical principle do we pick and choose which part of the Law is normative for the Christian life? Examples of portions of the Law often used as a rule of life for Christians: – Sabbath keeping • Which part of the Sabbath Laws shall we keep? • If we are to keep the Sabbath Laws, how should we punish Sabbath breakers? (Exodus 31:15) • Scripture clearly releases believers from Sabbath laws (Galatians 2:16) – Dietary Law • Should we eat pork? • Scripture clearly releases believers from dietary laws (Acts 10:15) – Other Laws • Tassels on the corner of the garments (Numbers 15:38) • To say a blessing after the meal (Deuteronomy 8:10) • To provide a newly married couple one-year off from duty to enjoy themselves (Deuteronomy 24:5) • Do not forget what Amelek did (Deuteronomy 25:17) What if these Laws pre-date the Law? – So did sacrifice (Cain & Abel) – So did unclean animals (Noah) C O N C L U S IO N
•
• •
Law and Grace are so mixed together in the average church that believers o …are unable to find any assurance of salvation o …are unsure of the message of the Gospel, thus unable to witness freely o …are burdened with confusion and guilt A key foundational issue to understanding Law and Grace is to understand the truth of Hebrews 1:1-2: God spoke in portions. The victorious Christian life is impossible without recognizing that the Dispensation of Law is passed, and that the world today is free from the Law, in totality. o o o o o
Romans 6:14 – “…you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 7:6 – “…we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound…” Galatians 2:16– “a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but through faith…” Galatians 3:3 – “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Galatians 3:10 – “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse…”
