Full Transcript for The Moral Law Forever Binds All

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WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.240 So, I certainly see wisdom on the part of the framers of the 1689 Baptist Confession. 00:00:09.240 --> 00:00:17.019 ! In the 19th chapter on the law of God, they speak of God's moral law in paragraph 2, and 00:00:17.019 --> 00:00:22.440 then in paragraphs 3 and 4 they deal with both the ceremonial and judicial law, and in both 00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:29.440 cases they teach that those aspects of the law have either been fulfilled or essentially nullified. 00:00:29.440 --> 00:00:36.320 The ceremonial law was fulfilled in Christ, and the judicial law ceased to be binding after 00:00:36.320 --> 00:00:43.539 old covenant Israel ceased to exist. But after all of this talk about the law being no longer 00:00:43.539 --> 00:00:49.540 binding on Christians, we might mistakenly draw the conclusion that the moral law is no longer 00:00:49.540 --> 00:00:54.460 binding on Christians. And this is where I see wisdom on the part of the framers, because in 00:00:54.460 --> 00:01:02.679 paragraph 5, they return to the moral law to stress the fact that it is binding. So, let 00:01:02.679 --> 00:01:03.980 me read this paragraph for you. 00:01:05.340 --> 00:01:13.079 The moral law forever requires obedience of everyone, both those who are justified as well 00:01:13.079 --> 00:01:20.840 as others. This obligation arises not only because of its content, but also because of the authority 00:01:20.840 --> 00:01:28.400 of God the Creator who gave it. Nor does Christ in any way dissolve this obligation in the gospel. 00:01:28.920 --> 00:01:38.400 Instead, He greatly strengthens it. Now, I don't know of anyone who would come right out and say that God's 00:01:38.400 --> 00:01:45.640 moral law is no longer binding. However, there are many, and I'm talking about Christians here, 00:01:45.640 --> 00:01:54.780 who indirectly teach or practically live as though the moral law is not binding. And there are many 00:01:54.780 --> 00:02:02.920 versions of this. On the progressive side of so-called Christianity, we might hear someone attempt to 00:02:02.920 --> 00:02:08.979 justify sinful behavior by saying something like, God just wants me to be happy. 00:02:08.979 --> 00:02:16.659 I've heard this from married people attempting to excuse their decision to divorce their spouse and 00:02:16.659 --> 00:02:22.539 pursue a romantic relationship with someone else. I've heard it used by professing Christians who fell 00:02:22.539 --> 00:02:31.599 into the sin of homosexuality. And when they really want to give their behavior an air of biblical 00:02:31.599 --> 00:02:38.659 authority, they might even cite the Apostle Paul who said, we are not under the law, but under grace. 00:02:38.979 --> 00:02:49.379 We can find a similar kind of thinking among even conservative Christian circles. So let's say 00:02:49.379 --> 00:02:55.819 someone makes a profession of faith and then wanders away from the church and away from Christ. And then 00:02:55.819 --> 00:03:02.139 one day, maybe they're admitting their guilt to a friend and the friend, thinking he's being helpful, 00:03:02.139 --> 00:03:09.899 doesn't encourage this person to repent, but instead urges him to focus on forgiveness. 00:03:11.259 --> 00:03:19.159 Maybe he says something like, don't dwell on your sin. That's legalism. Just remember that you're forgiven. 00:03:19.159 --> 00:03:27.139 And I could give you several more examples, but all of it really amounts to the same thing. This is what we call 00:03:27.139 --> 00:03:37.039 antinomianism, which is a big word that simply means against the law. It is this sad and destructive 00:03:37.039 --> 00:03:40.879 idea that God's law doesn't ultimately matter. 00:03:40.879 --> 00:03:49.439 Now, before we scoff at the idea that someone would ever believe that the law doesn't matter or assume 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:55.419 that it belongs exclusively to, you know, this idea belongs exclusively to people out there somewhere, 00:03:56.359 --> 00:04:01.479 this kind of thinking does creep into otherwise sound reformed churches. 00:04:01.479 --> 00:04:09.659 In fact, I originally come from one of them. In the early 20th century, my former denomination held to the 1689 00:04:09.659 --> 00:04:13.859 Baptist Confession of Faith, the same as us, but over the course of that century, 00:04:14.120 --> 00:04:17.420 they fell into a form of antinomianism. 00:04:18.060 --> 00:04:24.740 They believe strongly that we are saved by the sovereign grace of God, and if we are saved by grace, 00:04:25.379 --> 00:04:29.180 and if no one can be cast out, as the Bible teaches, then 00:04:29.180 --> 00:04:32.540 obedience to the moral law doesn't ultimately matter. 00:04:33.720 --> 00:04:38.000 Sure, they would say the law is still good, and they would say that we should obey it, 00:04:38.680 --> 00:04:40.139 but if we don't, 00:04:41.639 --> 00:04:42.879 nothing ultimately changes. 00:04:44.360 --> 00:04:47.600 For them, sanctification is a bonus. It's not necessary 00:04:47.600 --> 00:04:49.800 or inevitable. 00:04:52.399 --> 00:04:53.480 You see, as I 00:04:53.480 --> 00:04:56.519 talked about at the very beginning of this study, 00:04:57.079 --> 00:04:59.019 we have to be very careful because 00:04:59.019 --> 00:05:04.479 the New Testament contains statements that can seem contradictory when taken out of context. 00:05:05.399 --> 00:05:06.319 For example, 00:05:07.060 --> 00:05:08.259 in Romans 6.14, 00:05:09.339 --> 00:05:11.599 Paul says that Christians are not under the law, 00:05:12.139 --> 00:05:13.180 but under grace. 00:05:14.699 --> 00:05:16.139 In Romans 3.28, 00:05:16.319 --> 00:05:18.680 he says that a person is justified by faith 00:05:18.680 --> 00:05:20.899 apart from works of the law. 00:05:21.620 --> 00:05:22.519 And yet, 00:05:22.740 --> 00:05:23.579 the same apostle 00:05:23.579 --> 00:05:26.439 commands Christians not to commit adultery, 00:05:26.439

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--> 00:05:27.480 to murder, 00:05:27.480 --> 00:05:27.899 to steal, 00:05:27.899 --> 00:05:28.459 to covet, 00:05:28.459 --> 00:05:28.740 to covet, 00:05:29.139 --> 00:05:30.899 and that's in Romans chapter 13, 00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:32.439 so in the same letter. 00:05:33.579 --> 00:05:36.100 He continues to describe God's law 00:05:36.100 --> 00:05:37.899 as holy and good 00:05:37.899 --> 00:05:38.720 in that letter. 00:05:39.459 --> 00:05:39.980 So, 00:05:40.060 --> 00:05:41.860 how do we reconcile these statements? 00:05:41.980 --> 00:05:43.759 If we are no longer under the law, 00:05:43.899 --> 00:05:45.959 why does Paul insist that Christians 00:05:45.959 --> 00:05:47.439 must obey it? 00:05:47.439 --> 00:05:51.439 Well, I believe the answer begins 00:05:51.439 --> 00:05:53.839 with making a clear distinction 00:05:53.839 --> 00:05:55.000 between the law 00:05:55.000 --> 00:05:57.360 as a means of 00:05:57.360 --> 00:05:59.180 obtaining righteousness 00:05:59.180 --> 00:06:00.079 before God 00:06:00.079 --> 00:06:01.939 and the law 00:06:01.939 --> 00:06:03.519 as the revelation 00:06:03.519 --> 00:06:05.639 of the righteousness 00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:06.759 that God requires. 00:06:09.100 --> 00:06:10.300 Now, maybe hearing that, 00:06:10.379 --> 00:06:10.620 you think, 00:06:10.680 --> 00:06:11.399 what's the difference? 00:06:11.980 --> 00:06:13.079 Well, I hope to make this clear 00:06:13.079 --> 00:06:13.720 as we continue. 00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:15.900 First of all, 00:06:16.260 --> 00:06:18.320 let's turn to Matthew chapter 5. 00:06:24.300 --> 00:06:25.760 In Matthew 5, 00:06:26.000 --> 00:06:26.980 Jesus is delivering 00:06:26.980 --> 00:06:28.460 His Sermon on the Mount. 00:06:29.760 --> 00:06:30.980 And I want to begin reading 00:06:30.980 --> 00:06:32.580 at verse 17. 00:06:35.260 --> 00:06:36.400 Here's what He says. 00:06:38.080 --> 00:06:39.380 Do not think 00:06:39.380 --> 00:06:40.360 that I have come 00:06:40.360 --> 00:06:41.660 to abolish the law 00:06:41.660 --> 00:06:42.380 or the prophets. 00:06:42.379 --> 00:06:44.019 I have not come 00:06:44.019 --> 00:06:45.180 to abolish them 00:06:45.180 --> 00:06:46.959 but to fulfill them. 00:06:48.100 --> 00:06:49.420 For truly I say to you, 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:50.379 until heaven and earth 00:06:50.379 --> 00:06:51.180 pass away, 00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:52.219 not an iota, 00:06:52.459 --> 00:06:53.259 not a dot 00:06:53.259 --> 00:06:54.740 will pass from the law 00:06:54.740 --> 00:06:56.300 until all is accomplished. 00:06:57.680 --> 00:06:58.120 Therefore, 00:06:58.399 --> 00:06:59.639 whoever relaxes 00:06:59.639 --> 00:07:00.459 one of the least 00:07:00.459 --> 00:07:01.279 of these commandments 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:02.879 and teaches others 00:07:02.879 --> 00:07:03.699 to do the same 00:07:03.699 --> 00:07:04.939 will be called least 00:07:04.939 --> 00:07:06.100 in the kingdom of heaven. 00:07:06.980 --> 00:07:08.319 But whoever does them 00:07:08.319 --> 00:07:09.180 and teaches them 00:07:09.180 --> 00:07:10.259 will be called great 00:07:10.259 --> 00:07:11.399 in the kingdom of heaven. 00:07:11.399 --> 00:07:13.199 For I tell you, 00:07:13.279 --> 00:07:14.399 unless your righteousness 00:07:14.399 --> 00:07:15.620 exceeds that 00:07:15.620 --> 00:07:16.479 of the scribes 00:07:16.479 --> 00:07:17.259 and Pharisees, 00:07:17.339 --> 00:07:18.219 you will never 00:07:18.219 --> 00:07:19.560 enter the kingdom 00:07:19.560 --> 00:07:20.339 of heaven. 00:07:22.039 --> 00:07:23.159 So evidently, 00:07:23.539 --> 00:07:24.579 Jesus is correcting 00:07:24.579 --> 00:07:25.419 some potential 00:07:25.419 --> 00:07:26.639 misunderstandings 00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:27.959 among the people 00:07:27.959 --> 00:07:28.500 at the time. 00:07:28.579 --> 00:07:29.060 You'll notice how 00:07:29.060 --> 00:07:30.039 He begins by saying, 00:07:30.259 --> 00:07:31.399 do not think 00:07:31.399 --> 00:07:33.259 as though He expects 00:07:33.259 --> 00:07:34.179 some people are going 00:07:34.179 --> 00:07:34.679 to be prone 00:07:34.679 --> 00:07:35.539 to think this way. 00:07:35.540 --> 00:07:37.680 And that's not 00:07:37.680 --> 00:07:38.500 too surprising 00:07:38.500 --> 00:07:40.600 because over and over 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:41.260 again throughout 00:07:41.260 --> 00:07:41.939 the Gospels, 00:07:42.080 --> 00:07:42.980 we see Jesus 00:07:42.980 --> 00:07:44.379 coming into conflict 00:07:44.379 --> 00:07:45.560 with the spiritual 00:07:45.560 --> 00:07:46.620 leaders of the people, 00:07:46.740 --> 00:07:48.480 namely the Pharisees. 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:50.780 And most of those 00:07:50.780 --> 00:07:52.120 conflicts were over 00:07:52.120 --> 00:07:53.060 the Pharisees' 00:07:54.180 --> 00:07:54.860 misunderstanding 00:07:54.860 --> 00:07:55.840 of God's law. 00:07:57.240 --> 00:07:58.160 Just to give you 00:07:58.160 --> 00:07:58.759 one example, 00:07:58.920 --> 00:07:59.939 in Matthew 15, 00:08:00.140 --> 00:08:01.960 Jesus confronts 00:08:01.960 --> 00:08:03.620 their extra-biblical 00:08:03.620 --> 00:08:04.220 traditions, 00:08:04.680 --> 00:08:05.879 and He does so 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:06.660 very directly, 00:08:06.819 --> 00:08:07.480 asking them, 00:08:07.660 --> 00:08:08.600 why do you break 00:08:08.600 --> 00:08:09.819 the commandment of God 00:08:09.819 --> 00:08:10.579 for the sake 00:08:10.579 --> 00:08:11.459 of your tradition? 00:08:12.840 --> 00:08:13.800 And that's a very 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:14.759 revealing question. 00:08:15.540 --> 00:08:16.139 In the minds 00:08:16.139 --> 00:08:16.980 of the Pharisees, 00:08:17.319 --> 00:08:17.980 and in the minds 00:08:17.980 --> 00:08:19.100 of most people, 00:08:19.899 --> 00:08:21.199 the Pharisees held 00:08:21.199 --> 00:08:22.100 God's law 00:08:22.100 --> 00:08:23.040 in high regard. 00:08:24.660 --> 00:08:25.519 No one

was more 00:08:25.519 --> 00:08:26.439 careful to follow 00:08:26.439 --> 00:08:26.939 God's law 00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:27.720 than the Pharisees, 00:08:27.780 --> 00:08:27.959 right? 00:08:29.379 --> 00:08:30.019 And yet, 00:08:30.100 --> 00:08:30.420 Jesus, 00:08:30.620 --> 00:08:31.240 He does not 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:32.240 accuse them 00:08:32.240 --> 00:08:32.600 of being 00:08:32.600 --> 00:08:33.659 too concerned 00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:34.560 about God's law. 00:08:34.700 --> 00:08:35.120 It's actually 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:36.060 the opposite of that. 00:08:37.000 --> 00:08:37.940 He accuses them 00:08:37.940 --> 00:08:38.899 of violating 00:08:38.899 --> 00:08:39.820 God's law 00:08:39.820 --> 00:08:40.460 in order to 00:08:40.460 --> 00:08:41.080 preserve their 00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:41.680 own traditions. 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:44.920 So here in 00:08:44.920 --> 00:08:45.680 Matthew 5, 00:08:45.840 --> 00:08:46.560 Jesus makes it 00:08:46.560 --> 00:08:47.300 clear to everyone 00:08:47.300 --> 00:08:48.879 that He has not 00:08:48.879 --> 00:08:50.200 come to abolish 00:08:50.200 --> 00:08:50.920 the law 00:08:50.920 --> 00:08:52.100 or the prophets. 00:08:52.240 --> 00:08:52.899 No, He has come 00:08:52.899 --> 00:08:54.159 to fulfill them. 00:08:55.600 --> 00:08:56.080 However, 00:08:56.220 --> 00:08:56.860 in this case, 00:08:56.899 --> 00:08:57.700 we need to recognize 00:08:57.700 --> 00:08:58.899 that Jesus is referring 00:08:58.899 --> 00:09:00.680 not just to the law, 00:09:00.759 --> 00:09:01.639 but to the law 00:09:01.639 --> 00:09:02.399 and the prophets, 00:09:02.580 --> 00:09:03.720 which is really 00:09:03.720 --> 00:09:04.439 an expression 00:09:04.439 --> 00:09:05.779 encompassing the 00:09:05.779 --> 00:09:06.840 entirety of 00:09:06.840 --> 00:09:07.379 Old Testament 00:09:07.379 --> 00:09:07.840 scriptures. 00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:09.960 So He's not 00:09:09.960 --> 00:09:11.220 speaking exclusively 00:09:11.220 --> 00:09:12.019 about the Ten 00:09:12.019 --> 00:09:12.620 Commandments. 00:09:13.039 --> 00:09:13.879 Yes, as we've 00:09:13.879 --> 00:09:14.259 discussed, 00:09:14.379 --> 00:09:15.080 He fulfilled 00:09:15.080 --> 00:09:16.319 the ceremonial 00:09:16.319 --> 00:09:17.279 aspects of the law, 00:09:17.360 --> 00:09:17.799 but He also 00:09:17.799 --> 00:09:18.960 fulfilled the 00:09:18.960 --> 00:09:19.740 prophecies that 00:09:19.740 --> 00:09:20.259 spoke of Him. 00:09:21.559 --> 00:09:22.399 And there's a 00:09:22.399 --> 00:09:23.059 sense in which 00:09:23.059 --> 00:09:23.720 He fulfilled 00:09:23.720 --> 00:09:25.419 God's moral 00:09:25.419 --> 00:09:26.159 law, 00:09:26.419 --> 00:09:27.379 those righteous 00:09:27.379 --> 00:09:28.600 demands of God, 00:09:28.919 --> 00:09:29.639 through His 00:09:29.639 --> 00:09:30.460 perfect obedience. 00:09:30.980 --> 00:09:31.840 That's also true. 00:09:33.340 --> 00:09:33.860 Romans 5,

00:09:33.899 --> 00:09:34.620 19 says, 00:09:34.720 --> 00:09:35.500 For as by the 00:09:35.500 --> 00:09:36.159 one man's 00:09:36.159 --> 00:09:37.000 disobedience, 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:37.639 the many were 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:38.259 made sinners, 00:09:38.500 --> 00:09:39.340 so by the 00:09:39.340 --> 00:09:40.220 one man's 00:09:40.220 --> 00:09:40.720 obedience, 00:09:41.600 --> 00:09:42.220 the many will 00:09:42.220 --> 00:09:42.779 be made 00:09:42.779 --> 00:09:43.299 righteous. 00:09:44.899 --> 00:09:45.419 So, 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:46.220 all of these 00:09:46.220 --> 00:09:46.939 things belong 00:09:46.939 --> 00:09:47.460 to this 00:09:47.460 --> 00:09:48.799 fulfillment of 00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:49.559 the law and 00:09:49.559 --> 00:09:50.120 the prophets 00:09:50.120 --> 00:09:50.699 that Christ 00:09:50.699 --> 00:09:51.419 speaks of here, 00:09:51.539 --> 00:09:52.639 but He's 00:09:52.639 --> 00:09:53.299 particularly 00:09:53.299 --> 00:09:54.080 concerned with 00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:54.840 something else. 00:09:54.840 --> 00:09:55.440 righteousness, 00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:56.519 and that is 00:09:56.519 --> 00:09:57.240 the true 00:09:57.240 --> 00:09:59.280 meaning and 00:09:59.280 --> 00:09:59.840 the real 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:01.680 demands of 00:10:01.680 --> 00:10:02.180 righteousness. 00:10:03.500 --> 00:10:04.360 How do we 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:04.840 know that? 00:10:05.259 --> 00:10:06.340 Well, we know 00:10:06.340 --> 00:10:07.360 because what He 00:10:07.360 --> 00:10:08.040 says next, 00:10:08.160 --> 00:10:09.019 after the passage 00:10:09.019 --> 00:10:09.600 I've read, 00:10:10.580 --> 00:10:11.560 He goes on to 00:10:11.560 --> 00:10:12.600 explain how God's 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:13.040 commandments, 00:10:13.300 --> 00:10:14.060 namely the Ten 00:10:14.060 --> 00:10:14.639 Commandments, 00:10:15.139 --> 00:10:16.340 reach beyond 00:10:16.340 --> 00:10:17.740 outward behavior 00:10:17.740 --> 00:10:19.440 and even into 00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:20.460 our thoughts and 00:10:20.460 --> 00:10:21.560 our desires and 00:10:21.560 --> 00:10:22.460 our motives. 00:10:22.460 --> 00:10:25.400 but before we 00:10:25.400 --> 00:10:25.759 get there, 00:10:25.840 --> 00:10:26.340 look again at 00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:27.019 verse 18. 00:10:27.540 --> 00:10:28.560 For truly I say 00:10:28.560 --> 00:10:29.000 to you, 00:10:29.060 --> 00:10:29.740 until heaven and 00:10:29.740 --> 00:10:30.780 earth pass away, 00:10:30.840 --> 00:10:31.639 not an iota, 00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:32.480 not a dot, 00:10:32.900 --> 00:10:33.519 not a jot, 00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:34.139 not a tittle, 00:10:34.480 --> 00:10:35.480 will pass from 00:10:35.480 --> 00:10:36.180 the law until 00:10:36.180 --> 00:10:37.060 all is 00:10:37.060 --> 00:10:37.660 accomplished. 00:10:38.920 --> 00:10:39.620 So, an iota 00:10:39.620 --> 00:10:40.379 and a dot are 00:10:40.379 --> 00:10:41.500 extremely small 00:10:41.500 --> 00:10:42.420 elements of the 00:10:42.420 --> 00:10:43.080 written language. 00:10:43.240 --> 00:10:43.600 Think of a 00:10:43.600 --> 00:10:44.560 small period or 00:10:44.560 --> 00:10:45.220 a punctuation 00:10:45.220 --> 00:10:45.600 mark. 00:10:46.680 --> 00:10:47.340 So, everything 00:10:47.340 --> 00:10:48.639 written in the 00:10:48.639 --> 00:10:49.300 Old Testament 00:10:49.300 --> 00:10:50.920 will be 00:10:50.920 --> 00:10:51.400 accomplished. 00:10:51.740 --> 00:10:52.400 Not even the 00:10:52.399 --> 00:10:53.419 smallest part of 00:10:53.419 --> 00:10:54.319 it will fail. 00:10:55.379 --> 00:10:56.100 And more than 00:10:56.100 --> 00:10:56.980 that, all of it 00:10:56.980 --> 00:10:57.699 will find its 00:10:57.699 --> 00:10:59.179 fulfillment in 00:10:59.179 --> 00:11:00.199 Jesus Christ. 00:11:02.500 --> 00:11:03.399 So, let me 00:11:03.399 --> 00:11:03.939 stop here and 00:11:03.939 --> 00:11:04.840 ask, what is 00:11:04.840 --> 00:11:06.860 Jesus not 00:11:06.860 --> 00:11:08.000 teaching here? 00:11:09.159 --> 00:11:09.899 And I think 00:11:09.899 --> 00:11:10.480 this is worth 00:11:10.480 --> 00:11:11.279 addressing because 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:12.000 of the various 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:12.840 ways I've heard 00:11:12.840 --> 00:11:13.600 this passage 00:11:13.600 --> 00:11:14.620 interpreted or 00:11:14.620 --> 00:11:15.779 misinterpreted, 00:11:15.899 --> 00:11:16.179 perhaps. 00:11:17.620 --> 00:11:18.460 Well, first of 00:11:18.460 --> 00:11:19.279 all, Jesus is not 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:20.039 teaching the 00:11:20.039 --> 00:11:20.980 the perfect 00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:22.199 preservation of 00:11:22.199 --> 00:11:22.879 a perfect line 00:11:22.879 --> 00:11:23.259 of Bible 00:11:23.259 --> 00:11:23.759 manuscripts 00:11:23.759 --> 00:11:24.360 throughout all 00:11:24.360 --> 00:11:24.620 time. 00:11:25.839 --> 00:11:26.480 Those who 00:11:26.480 --> 00:11:27.159 hold a King 00:11:27.159 --> 00:11:27.860 James only or 00:11:27.860 --> 00:11:28.419 sometimes a 00:11:28.419 --> 00:11:28.860 textus, 00:11:28.959 --> 00:11:30.360 receptus position 00:11:30.360 --> 00:11:31.599 will use this 00:11:31.599 --> 00:11:32.579 passage to teach 00:11:32.579 --> 00:11:33.099 the perfect 00:11:33.099 --> 00:11:34.219 preservation of 00:11:34.219 --> 00:11:35.639 Bible manuscripts. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:37.519 Well, even if 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:38.259 you could stretch 00:11:38.259 --> 00:11:39.579 it to mean the 00:11:39.579 --> 00:11:40.379 perfect preservation 00:11:40.379 --> 00:11:40.980 of the Old 00:11:40.980 --> 00:11:42.779 Testament, Jesus 00:11:42.779 --> 00:11:43.620 says nothing here 00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:44.039 of the New 00:11:44.039 --> 00:11:45.939 Testament, but in 00:11:45.939 --> 00:11:46.740 context, I think 00:11:46.740 --> 00:11:47.439 it's rather clear 00:11:47.440 --> 00:11:48.140 that

Jesus is 00:11:48.140 --> 00:11:48.900 not speaking 00:11:48.900 --> 00:11:49.440 about the 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:50.540 preservation of 00:11:50.540 --> 00:11:52.360 written Bible 00:11:52.360 --> 00:11:52.880 manuscripts. 00:11:55.500 --> 00:11:56.820 Second, Jesus 00:11:56.820 --> 00:11:57.780 is not teaching 00:11:57.780 --> 00:11:59.100 that every Old 00:11:59.100 --> 00:12:00.180 Testament command 00:12:00.180 --> 00:12:00.940 should be 00:12:00.940 --> 00:12:02.720 practiced precisely 00:12:02.720 --> 00:12:03.720 the same way 00:12:03.720 --> 00:12:04.100 today. 00:12:05.880 --> 00:12:07.560 Clearly, something 00:12:07.560 --> 00:12:08.400 changes here. 00:12:09.540 --> 00:12:10.680 On the one hand, 00:12:10.760 --> 00:12:11.480 he does say that 00:12:11.480 --> 00:12:12.360 he did not come to 00:12:12.360 --> 00:12:13.240 abolish the law, 00:12:13.540 --> 00:12:14.160 but on the other 00:12:14.160 --> 00:12:15.140 hand, he says he 00:12:15.140 --> 00:12:16.300 came to fulfill 00:12:16.300 --> 00:12:16.940 that law. 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:18.380 Well, what does 00:12:18.380 --> 00:12:18.780 that mean? 00:12:20.640 --> 00:12:21.880 Well, consider what 00:12:21.880 --> 00:12:22.740 Paul writes in 00:12:22.740 --> 00:12:24.320 1 Corinthians 7.19. 00:12:25.300 --> 00:12:25.920 He says, 00:12:27.020 --> 00:12:27.360 For neither 00:12:27.360 --> 00:12:29.180 circumcision counts 00:12:29.180 --> 00:12:30.940 for anything, nor 00:12:30.940 --> 00:12:33.280 uncircumcision, but 00:12:33.280 --> 00:12:34.640 keeping the 00:12:34.640 --> 00:12:35.320 commandments of 00:12:35.320 --> 00:12:35.620 God. 00:12:37.220 --> 00:12:38.460 So, according to 00:12:38.460 --> 00:12:39.280 Paul, the Old 00:12:39.280 --> 00:12:40.440 Testament commands 00:12:40.440 --> 00:12:42.380 have changed. 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:44.960 Circumcision is no 00:12:44.960 --> 00:12:45.860 longer required of 00:12:45.860 --> 00:12:46.280 Christians. 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:46.339 Christians. 00:12:47.339 --> 00:12:47.899 And at the same 00:12:47.899 --> 00:12:48.659 time, notice what 00:12:48.659 --> 00:12:49.279 he says in the 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:49.899 latter part of 00:12:49.899 --> 00:12:50.439 that statement, 00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:51.879 what does matter 00:12:51.879 --> 00:12:53.799 is keeping God's 00:12:53.799 --> 00:12:54.159 commands. 00:12:56.019 --> 00:12:57.100 And that leads us 00:12:57.100 --> 00:12:57.860 to the third thing 00:12:57.860 --> 00:12:58.620 Jesus is not 00:12:58.620 --> 00:12:59.220 teaching here. 00:12:59.860 --> 00:13:00.819 He is not teaching 00:13:00.819 --> 00:13:02.179 that the moral law 00:13:02.179 --> 00:13:03.419 has been fulfilled 00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:04.899 so that Christians 00:13:04.899 --> 00:13:05.919 are no longer 00:13:05.919 --> 00:13:07.199 obligated to obey 00:13:07.199 --> 00:13:07.519 it. 00:13:08.620 --> 00:13:09.519 What does he say 00:13:09.519 --> 00:13:09.819 here? 00:13:09.820 --> 00:13:12.200 therefore, whoever 00:13:12.200 --> 00:13:13.680 relaxes one of the 00:13:13.680 --> 00:13:14.300 least of these 00:13:14.300 --> 00:13:15.080 commandments and 00:13:15.080 --> 00:13:15.920 teaches others to 00:13:15.920 --> 00:13:16.879 do the same will be 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:18.220 called least in the 00:13:18.220 --> 00:13:18.879 kingdom of heaven. 00:13:19.560 --> 00:13:20.640 But whoever does 00:13:20.640 --> 00:13:22.040 them and teaches 00:13:22.040 --> 00:13:23.200 them will be called 00:13:23.200 --> 00:13:25.080 great in the kingdom 00:13:25.080 --> 00:13:25.500 of heaven. 00:13:27.540 --> 00:13:28.780 So, even the Old 00:13:28.780 --> 00:13:29.980 Testament has 00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:30.860 something to say to 00:13:30.860 --> 00:13:31.620 Christians today. 00:13:31.720 --> 00:13:32.500 It has something to 00:13:32.500 --> 00:13:33.720 be taught and it has 00:13:33.720 --> 00:13:35.400 something to obey. 00:13:35.399 --> 00:13:38.279 And then comes 00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:38.899 verse 20. 00:13:39.139 --> 00:13:39.799 Jesus says, 00:13:39.939 --> 00:13:40.720 for I tell you, 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:42.279 unless your 00:13:42.279 --> 00:13:43.519 righteousness exceeds 00:13:43.519 --> 00:13:44.480 that of the scribes 00:13:44.480 --> 00:13:45.139 and Pharisees, 00:13:45.340 --> 00:13:46.379 you will never 00:13:46.379 --> 00:13:47.340 enter the kingdom 00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:47.980 of heaven. 00:13:49.980 --> 00:13:51.259 Now, keep in mind 00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:52.459 that when Jesus 00:13:52.459 --> 00:13:54.699 or Jesus' first 00:13:54.699 --> 00:13:55.639 century Jewish 00:13:55.639 --> 00:13:56.720 audience would have 00:13:56.720 --> 00:13:57.259 heard this, 00:13:57.419 --> 00:13:57.939 they would have 00:13:57.939 --> 00:13:59.419 immediately thought, 00:13:59.740 --> 00:14:00.840 how can anyone 00:14:00.840 --> 00:14:02.600 possibly be more 00:14:02.600 --> 00:14:04.500 righteous than the 00:14:04.500 --> 00:14:05.379 scribes and Pharisees? 00:14:05.399 --> 00:14:07.579 The scribes, 00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:09.220 they carefully studied 00:14:09.220 --> 00:14:09.939 and interpreted 00:14:09.939 --> 00:14:10.399 scripture. 00:14:10.559 --> 00:14:11.720 The Pharisees were 00:14:11.720 --> 00:14:12.519 known for their 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:13.720 religious discipline. 00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:15.419 How could anyone 00:14:15.419 --> 00:14:16.699 possibly surpass 00:14:16.699 --> 00:14:17.779 their righteousness? 00:14:20.220 --> 00:14:21.480 Well, let's continue 00:14:21.480 --> 00:14:22.079 reading here. 00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:23.340 Let's see where Jesus 00:14:23.340 --> 00:14:24.159 goes with this. 00:14:24.299 --> 00:14:24.840 Verse 21. 00:14:26.639 --> 00:14:27.699 You have heard that 00:14:27.699 --> 00:14:28.539 it was said to those 00:14:28.539 --> 00:14:30.059 of old, you shall 00:14:30.059 --> 00:14:31.120 not

murder and 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:32.159 whoever murders will 00:14:32.159 --> 00:14:32.960 be liable to 00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:33.299 judgment. 00:14:33.299 --> 00:14:33.439 judgment. 00:14:34.979 --> 00:14:36.259 But I say to you 00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:37.599 that everyone who 00:14:37.599 --> 00:14:38.579 is angry with his 00:14:38.579 --> 00:14:40.199 brother will be 00:14:40.199 --> 00:14:41.139 liable to judgment. 00:14:42.299 --> 00:14:43.579 Whoever insults his 00:14:43.579 --> 00:14:44.439 brother will be 00:14:44.439 --> 00:14:45.319 liable to the 00:14:45.319 --> 00:14:46.179 council and whoever 00:14:46.179 --> 00:14:47.399 says, you fool, 00:14:47.979 --> 00:14:49.120 will be liable to the 00:14:49.120 --> 00:14:49.679 hell of fire. 00:14:50.679 --> 00:14:51.799 So if you are offering 00:14:51.799 --> 00:14:52.519 your gift at the 00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:53.479 altar and there 00:14:53.479 --> 00:14:54.259 remember that your 00:14:54.259 --> 00:14:55.079 brother has something 00:14:55.079 --> 00:14:56.079 against you, leave 00:14:56.079 --> 00:14:57.139 your gift there before 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:58.059 the altar and go. 00:14:58.059 --> 00:15:00.439 first be reconciled to 00:15:00.439 --> 00:15:01.959 your brother and then 00:15:01.959 --> 00:15:03.079 come and offer your 00:15:03.079 --> 00:15:03.459 gift. 00:15:04.239 --> 00:15:05.259 Come to terms quickly 00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:06.539 with your accuser while 00:15:06.539 --> 00:15:07.679 you are going with him 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:08.699 to court lest your 00:15:08.699 --> 00:15:10.139 accuser hand you over 00:15:10.139 --> 00:15:10.959 to the judge and the 00:15:10.959 --> 00:15:12.339 judge to the guard and 00:15:12.339 --> 00:15:13.359 you be put in prison. 00:15:14.079 --> 00:15:15.159 Truly I say to you, 00:15:15.359 --> 00:15:16.879 you will never get out 00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:18.299 until you have paid the 00:15:18.299 --> 00:15:19.359 last penny. 00:15:20.939 --> 00:15:22.139 So the first thing 00:15:22.139 --> 00:15:24.119 Jesus does is take us 00:15:24.119 --> 00:15:24.759 back to the Ten 00:15:24.759 --> 00:15:25.359 Commandments. 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:27.180 You shall not murder. 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:29.159 But then he takes 00:15:29.159 --> 00:15:30.700 this moral command, 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:32.000 this moral obligation 00:15:32.000 --> 00:15:32.800 a bit deeper. 00:15:34.000 --> 00:15:35.360 He says, a person who 00:15:35.360 --> 00:15:36.139 has never murdered 00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:38.779 anyone may nevertheless 00:15:38.779 --> 00:15:40.720 harbor hatred toward 00:15:40.720 --> 00:15:41.159 his brother. 00:15:42.419 --> 00:15:43.759 He may speak about 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:44.899 another person with 00:15:44.899 --> 00:15:46.519 deliberate contempt or 00:15:46.519 --> 00:15:47.980 perhaps cultivate 00:15:47.980 --> 00:15:49.139 resentment that grows 00:15:49.139 --> 00:15:50.060 stronger with

each 00:15:50.060 --> 00:15:50.680 passing day. 00:15:50.720 --> 00:15:51.340 And he says that 00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:52.399 these attitudes are 00:15:52.399 --> 00:15:54.220 not morally harmless 00:15:54.220 --> 00:15:55.800 simply because no one 00:15:55.800 --> 00:15:56.500 has been physically 00:15:56.500 --> 00:15:56.879 injured. 00:15:58.759 --> 00:15:59.920 And then he goes even 00:15:59.920 --> 00:16:00.259 further. 00:16:01.620 --> 00:16:02.759 Suppose you are bringing 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:03.940 your gift to the altar 00:16:03.940 --> 00:16:05.060 and you remember that 00:16:05.060 --> 00:16:05.680 your brother has 00:16:05.680 --> 00:16:06.519 something against you. 00:16:07.200 --> 00:16:08.519 There's a rift between 00:16:08.519 --> 00:16:08.779 you. 00:16:09.920 --> 00:16:11.480 Jesus tells us to go 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:12.759 and seek reconciliation. 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:15.139 And notice this 00:16:15.139 --> 00:16:15.500 progression. 00:16:15.700 --> 00:16:17.279 First, he forbids 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:17.720 murder. 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:17.779 murder. 00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:21.399 Then he exposes the 00:16:21.399 --> 00:16:23.240 anger and contempt 00:16:23.240 --> 00:16:24.399 from which murder 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:25.220 could arise. 00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:27.440 And then he goes 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:28.060 even further. 00:16:28.200 --> 00:16:29.360 He directs our minds 00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:30.440 toward the positive 00:16:30.440 --> 00:16:31.660 duty of seeking 00:16:31.660 --> 00:16:33.379 peace and reconciliation. 00:16:33.840 --> 00:16:34.879 So what is he doing 00:16:34.879 --> 00:16:35.139 here? 00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:36.540 Is he adding to 00:16:36.540 --> 00:16:37.100 God's law? 00:16:39.259 --> 00:16:41.060 No, he's expounding 00:16:41.060 --> 00:16:42.360 upon God's law. 00:16:42.500 --> 00:16:44.100 He's showing us the 00:16:44.100 --> 00:16:45.300 true meaning of God's 00:16:45.300 --> 00:16:45.460 law. 00:16:45.460 --> 00:16:46.440 We might say that 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:47.840 he's explaining the 00:16:47.840 --> 00:16:48.759 spirit of the law. 00:16:48.860 --> 00:16:49.680 Not just the letter 00:16:49.680 --> 00:16:50.160 of the law. 00:16:51.019 --> 00:16:51.840 But the spirit of the 00:16:51.840 --> 00:16:51.980 law. 00:16:52.060 --> 00:16:52.879 And he goes on to do 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:53.940 this as well with 00:16:53.940 --> 00:16:54.639 other commandments. 00:16:56.620 --> 00:16:57.720 So when he says 00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:58.620 your righteousness 00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:00.240 must exceed that of 00:17:00.240 --> 00:17:00.980 the scribes and 00:17:00.980 --> 00:17:03.000 Pharisees, well he's 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:03.900 essentially calling the 00:17:03.900 --> 00:17:04.940 scribes and Pharisees 00:17:04.940 --> 00:17:05.779 hypocrites. 00:17:07.460 --> 00:17:08.840 A person may appear 00:17:08.840 --> 00:17:10.319 to be obedient to the 00:17:10.319 --> 00:17:12.259 law while remaining 00:17:12.259 --> 00:17:14.180 inwardly proud or 00:17:14.180 --> 00:17:16.220 bitter or lustful or 00:17:16.220 --> 00:17:16.900 selfish. 00:17:18.000 --> 00:17:19.060 Jesus teaches that 00:17:19.060 --> 00:17:19.960 true righteousness 00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:21.920 includes both conduct 00:17:21.920 --> 00:17:23.420 and character. 00:17:24.039 --> 00:17:25.460 Both outward obedience 00:17:25.460 --> 00:17:27.340 and those inward 00:17:27.340 --> 00:17:28.080 motivations. 00:17:28.340 --> 00:17:29.200 Not to mention love. 00:17:32.080 --> 00:17:33.519 Now with that in mind 00:17:33.519 --> 00:17:35.740 let's step back and ask 00:17:35.740 --> 00:17:37.160 what does Jesus say 00:17:37.160 --> 00:17:38.279 about the moral law 00:17:38.279 --> 00:17:38.539 here? 00:17:38.860 --> 00:17:39.920 What is he really saying? 00:17:40.019 --> 00:17:40.920 When we take everything 00:17:40.920 --> 00:17:42.480 he says in context 00:17:42.480 --> 00:17:44.920 is he suggesting God's 00:17:44.920 --> 00:17:46.180 moral commands have 00:17:46.180 --> 00:17:46.980 become irrelevant? 00:17:48.680 --> 00:17:49.319 No. 00:17:49.519 --> 00:17:50.700 It's actually far from 00:17:50.700 --> 00:17:50.819 it. 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:52.539 He is insisting upon 00:17:52.539 --> 00:17:53.740 their authority over 00:17:53.740 --> 00:17:55.860 us and he reveals the 00:17:55.860 --> 00:17:58.360 depth of the obedience 00:17:58.360 --> 00:17:59.460 they really require. 00:17:59.599 --> 00:18:00.860 He's not loosening the 00:18:00.860 --> 00:18:01.920 standard of righteousness 00:18:01.920 --> 00:18:02.299 here. 00:18:03.099 --> 00:18:03.660 Not at all. 00:18:03.720 --> 00:18:04.759 If anything he's making 00:18:04.759 --> 00:18:06.819 it more difficult for us 00:18:06.819 --> 00:18:08.319 to hide behind the 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:09.740 outward appearances of 00:18:09.740 --> 00:18:10.240 obedience. 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:11.140 In other words he 00:18:11.140 --> 00:18:13.759 exposes how thoroughly 00:18:13.759 --> 00:18:15.420 God's moral demands 00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:16.680 concern the whole 00:18:16.680 --> 00:18:17.140 person. 00:18:19.780 --> 00:18:21.100 Now someone might be 00:18:21.100 --> 00:18:22.040 tempted to think that 00:18:22.040 --> 00:18:22.940 this is Jesus. 00:18:23.480 --> 00:18:24.860 He's speaking before his 00:18:24.860 --> 00:18:25.640 death and resurrection. 00:18:25.880 --> 00:18:26.700 So maybe things have 00:18:26.700 --> 00:18:27.660 changed since then. 00:18:29.240 --> 00:18:29.720 Okay. 00:18:30.540 --> 00:18:31.700 Well let's turn over to 00:18:31.700 --> 00:18:32.860 Romans chapter 13. 00:18:33.860 --> 00:18:34.720 And let's see what the 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.880 apostle Paul has to say 00:18:35.880 --> 00:18:36.300 about it. 00:18:36.299 --> 00:18:40.500 Now just as a reminder 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:41.859 throughout

this letter 00:18:41.859 --> 00:18:44.339 Paul has explained that 00:18:44.339 --> 00:18:47.680 all have sinned and 00:18:47.680 --> 00:18:49.019 justification comes 00:18:49.019 --> 00:18:50.500 through faith in Jesus 00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:52.940 Christ apart from works 00:18:52.940 --> 00:18:53.700 of the law. 00:18:55.440 --> 00:18:56.980 And then he described the 00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:58.419 believers union with 00:18:58.419 --> 00:19:00.079 Christ our freedom from 00:19:00.079 --> 00:19:01.659 condemnation and our life 00:19:01.659 --> 00:19:02.359 in the spirit. 00:19:02.639 --> 00:19:03.759 Then in Romans 12 he 00:19:03.759 --> 00:19:04.799 begins applying those 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:05.899 truths to the Christian 00:19:05.899 --> 00:19:06.259 life. 00:19:07.259 --> 00:19:09.460 He appeals to believers 00:19:09.460 --> 00:19:10.940 by the mercy of God to 00:19:10.940 --> 00:19:11.980 present themselves as 00:19:11.980 --> 00:19:13.159 living sacrifices. 00:19:13.159 --> 00:19:14.799 Holy and acceptable to 00:19:14.799 --> 00:19:15.119 God. 00:19:16.180 --> 00:19:17.680 So he makes it very 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:20.599 clear that we do not 00:19:20.599 --> 00:19:23.379 obtain God's mercy by 00:19:23.379 --> 00:19:24.079 obeying him. 00:19:26.019 --> 00:19:27.519 Instead he appeals to 00:19:27.519 --> 00:19:28.759 believers on the basis 00:19:28.759 --> 00:19:31.039 of the mercy they have 00:19:31.039 --> 00:19:32.019 already received. 00:19:32.019 --> 00:19:33.480 In other words their 00:19:33.480 --> 00:19:35.099 obedience is a response 00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:37.200 to God's grace not some 00:19:37.200 --> 00:19:38.839 kind of merit for God's 00:19:38.839 --> 00:19:39.180 grace. 00:19:40.940 --> 00:19:42.299 And then beginning in 00:19:42.299 --> 00:19:44.799 Romans 12 9 he describes 00:19:44.799 --> 00:19:46.740 what genuine love looks 00:19:46.740 --> 00:19:47.139 like. 00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:51.180 It abhors evil and holds 00:19:51.180 --> 00:19:52.559 fast to what is good. 00:19:52.680 --> 00:19:53.759 It shows brotherly 00:19:53.759 --> 00:19:55.299 affection, contributes to 00:19:55.299 --> 00:19:56.200 the needs of others, 00:19:56.379 --> 00:19:58.379 blesses persecutors, and 00:19:58.379 --> 00:19:59.720 refuses personal vengeance. 00:19:59.720 --> 00:20:03.220 Then in Romans 13 00:20:03.220 --> 00:20:05.319 starting at verse 8 00:20:05.319 --> 00:20:06.120 here's what he says. 00:20:08.120 --> 00:20:09.539 Oh no one anything 00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:12.240 except to love each 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:13.440 other for the one who 00:20:13.440 --> 00:20:16.160 loves has fulfilled the 00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:16.440 law. 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:19.019 For the commandments you 00:20:19.019 --> 00:20:20.200 shall not commit adultery, 00:20:20.579 --> 00:20:22.039 you shall not murder, you 00:20:22.039 --> 00:20:23.240 shall not steal, you 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:24.799 shall not covet, and any 00:20:24.799 --> 00:20:26.059 other commandment are 00:20:26.059 --> 00:20:27.420 summed up in this word, 00:20:27.420 --> 00:20:28.680 you shall love your 00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:29.920 neighbor as yourself. 00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:32.480 Love does no wrong to a 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:34.160 neighbor, therefore love 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:36.460 is the fulfilling of the 00:20:36.460 --> 00:20:36.740 law. 00:20:38.600 --> 00:20:40.820 So here we have one of 00:20:40.820 --> 00:20:42.500 Christ's apostles writing 00:20:42.500 --> 00:20:45.000 to presumably justified 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:48.860 believers after the Lord's 00:20:48.860 --> 00:20:51.140 death and resurrection, and 00:20:51.140 --> 00:20:52.519 he's telling them that there 00:20:52.519 --> 00:20:54.660 is a debt they still owe. 00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:57.680 In fact, they will always 00:20:57.680 --> 00:20:58.940 owe this debt, and what 00:20:58.940 --> 00:20:59.580 is that debt? 00:21:00.480 --> 00:21:02.420 It is to love one another. 00:21:03.980 --> 00:21:05.040 And notice how quickly 00:21:05.040 --> 00:21:06.920 Paul runs right back to the 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:09.000 Decalogue and cites several 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:09.900 of the Ten Commandments. 00:21:10.100 --> 00:21:11.660 If you want to know what it 00:21:11.660 --> 00:21:12.820 looks like to love your 00:21:12.820 --> 00:21:14.720 neighbor, look no further 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:15.920 than the Ten Commandments, 00:21:16.060 --> 00:21:17.740 God's moral law. 00:21:17.740 --> 00:21:22.279 So the same apostle who 00:21:22.279 --> 00:21:23.640 taught justification by 00:21:23.640 --> 00:21:26.279 faith apart from works of 00:21:26.279 --> 00:21:28.339 the law, the same apostle 00:21:28.339 --> 00:21:30.039 who said there is now no 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:31.700 condemnation for those in 00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:34.299 Christ, is the same apostle 00:21:34.299 --> 00:21:35.779 who teaches Christians to 00:21:35.779 --> 00:21:37.180 keep the Ten Commandments. 00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:40.039 And much like Jesus, Paul 00:21:40.039 --> 00:21:41.000 argues that the commandments 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:43.740 require not merely avoiding 00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:47.200 negative action, like murder 00:21:47.200 --> 00:21:48.660 or theft, but also doing 00:21:48.660 --> 00:21:49.579 positive action. 00:21:51.319 --> 00:21:53.099 Look back at Romans 12, 00:21:53.440 --> 00:21:54.640 verses 9 through 21. 00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:57.019 Paul describes love as 00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:58.500 patient and generous and 00:21:58.500 --> 00:21:59.759 hospitable, humble, 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:01.460 sympathetic, peaceable. 00:22:02.440 --> 00:22:04.420 So both Jesus and Paul 00:22:04.420 --> 00:22:06.599 expect us not only to avoid 00:22:06.599 --> 00:22:08.120 murdering another person or 00:22:08.120 --> 00:22:09.460 stealing from another person 00:22:09.460 --> 00:22:10.980 and so on,

but also going 00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:13.980 out of our way to care about 00:22:13.980 --> 00:22:16.079 our neighbor's welfare or 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:17.400 help someone when there's a 00:22:17.400 --> 00:22:19.819 need or seek reconciliation 00:22:19.819 --> 00:22:21.360 when a relationship has been 00:22:21.360 --> 00:22:21.759 damaged. 00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:25.480 So Paul even retains Jesus' 00:22:26.400 --> 00:22:28.460 deeper understanding of what 00:22:28.460 --> 00:22:30.460 it means to keep God's moral 00:22:30.460 --> 00:22:32.500 law than perhaps many of the 00:22:32.500 --> 00:22:33.740 Jews recognized at the time. 00:22:35.740 --> 00:22:37.720 In other words, the gospel 00:22:37.720 --> 00:22:40.440 does not eliminate the 00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:42.259 Christian's obligation to keep 00:22:42.259 --> 00:22:43.820 the moral law, not in the 00:22:43.820 --> 00:22:44.140 least. 00:22:45.660 --> 00:22:46.840 Yes, we could 00:22:46.840 --> 00:22:48.420 rationalize our 00:22:48.420 --> 00:22:50.580 antinomianism by taking 00:22:50.580 --> 00:22:52.039 a handful of verses out of 00:22:52.039 --> 00:22:53.400 context, but the whole of 00:22:53.400 --> 00:22:54.700 Scripture, and specifically the 00:22:54.700 --> 00:22:56.220 New Testament, does not 00:22:56.220 --> 00:22:57.820 support that doctrine. 00:22:59.900 --> 00:23:01.460 And there's one very 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:04.820 simple, clear reason that the 00:23:04.820 --> 00:23:06.380 moral law continues to be 00:23:06.380 --> 00:23:09.039 binding, and that is because 00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:13.059 the lawgiver from whom the 00:23:13.059 --> 00:23:14.839 moral law emanates and 00:23:14.839 --> 00:23:18.420 reflects does not change. 00:23:21.079 --> 00:23:22.500 Now let me show you this in 00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:23.420 James chapter 2. 00:23:24.039 --> 00:23:25.299 So if you want to turn over 00:23:25.299 --> 00:23:26.259 there, you're welcome to. 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:29.359 James chapter 2, James is 00:23:29.359 --> 00:23:31.079 addressing a very practical 00:23:31.079 --> 00:23:32.940 problem within the church where 00:23:32.940 --> 00:23:34.720 wealthy visitors were receiving 00:23:34.720 --> 00:23:36.379 special attention while poor 00:23:36.380 --> 00:23:38.100 visitors were treated 00:23:38.100 --> 00:23:38.980 dishonorably. 00:23:40.440 --> 00:23:42.860 And James condemns this kind of 00:23:42.860 --> 00:23:44.640 partiality because it reveals 00:23:44.640 --> 00:23:46.200 that the church is judging people 00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:47.520 according to outward appearances 00:23:47.520 --> 00:23:50.160 rather than loving them as God 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:50.600 commands. 00:23:52.100 --> 00:23:54.300 So here's what he says, starting at 00:23:54.300 --> 00:23:54.880 verse 8. 00:23:54.880 --> 00:23:59.940 If you really fulfill the royal law 00:23:59.940 --> 00:24:01.200 according to the Scripture, you 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:02.280 shall love your neighbor as 00:24:02.280 --> 00:24:04.680 yourself, you are doing well. 00:24:05.540 --> 00:24:08.000 But if you show partiality, you are 00:24:08.000 --> 00:24:10.340 committing sin and are convicted by 00:24:10.340 --> 00:24:12.220 the law as transgressors. 00:24:12.980 --> 00:24:15.060 For whoever keeps the whole law but 00:24:15.060 --> 00:24:17.120 fails in one point has become guilty 00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:17.760 of all of it. 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:20.600 For he who said, do not commit 00:24:20.600 --> 00:24:23.800 adultery, also said, do not murder. 00:24:23.799 --> 00:24:26.700 If you do not commit adultery but do 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:28.779 murder, you have become a 00:24:28.779 --> 00:24:30.220 transgressor of the law. 00:24:32.379 --> 00:24:34.700 So here we have yet another author 00:24:34.700 --> 00:24:37.460 of the New Testament appealing to 00:24:37.460 --> 00:24:40.180 the Ten Commandments, God's moral 00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:40.519 law. 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:43.619 Now at first glance, it may seem that 00:24:43.619 --> 00:24:46.240 James is arguing that every sin is 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.500 exactly the same. 00:24:47.779 --> 00:24:49.299 They all have equal consequences. 00:24:49.799 --> 00:24:51.740 But there's actually another issue 00:24:51.740 --> 00:24:52.039 here. 00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:56.099 And that is the unity of God's law 00:24:56.099 --> 00:24:59.480 and the authority behind it. 00:25:00.359 --> 00:25:02.779 Look carefully at verse 11. 00:25:03.819 --> 00:25:06.359 James doesn't merely appeal to the 00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:07.500 commandments themselves. 00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:13.160 He says, he who said the one 00:25:13.160 --> 00:25:16.579 commandment also said the other 00:25:16.579 --> 00:25:17.059 commandment. 00:25:17.059 --> 00:25:22.039 The reason the law carries any weight 00:25:22.039 --> 00:25:24.980 at all is because of the one who 00:25:24.980 --> 00:25:26.139 gave the law. 00:25:27.460 --> 00:25:28.759 God is the lawgiver. 00:25:29.759 --> 00:25:31.960 And all of his commandments possess 00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:33.960 authority because they come from him. 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:37.940 And if the lawgiver does not change 00:25:37.940 --> 00:25:41.220 and his will for us does not change, 00:25:41.559 --> 00:25:44.039 then it stands to reason that our 00:25:44.039 --> 00:25:47.200 moral obligations to obey that law 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:49.399 do not change. 00:25:49.480 --> 00:25:50.920 In fact, that's essentially what James 00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:51.960 says in verse 12. 00:25:52.099 --> 00:25:54.940 So speak and so act as those who are to 00:25:54.940 --> 00:25:57.579 be judged under the law of liberty. 00:25:59.339 --> 00:26:01.519 And I love how James refers to the 00:26:01.519 --> 00:26:04.279 moral law as the law of liberty. 00:26:05.279 --> 00:26:07.779 Most would not associate laws with 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:08.079 freedom.

00:26:08.079 --> 00:26:12.439 But following God's moral law truly is 00:26:12.439 --> 00:26:12.879 freedom. 00:26:13.039 --> 00:26:15.179 This is how we were made to live by our 00:26:15.179 --> 00:26:16.220 creator, right? 00:26:16.879 --> 00:26:18.439 This is how we thrive. 00:26:18.559 --> 00:26:19.980 You might think of someone who has spent 00:26:19.980 --> 00:26:23.240 years enslaved to dishonesty, 00:26:24.039 --> 00:26:26.199 constantly lying, trying to protect 00:26:26.199 --> 00:26:28.819 himself or to conceal his failures or 00:26:28.819 --> 00:26:30.220 manipulate others. 00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:32.740 Now he may believe that lying gives him 00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:35.319 freedom because it allows him to escape 00:26:35.319 --> 00:26:38.659 the possible uncomfortable consequences 00:26:38.659 --> 00:26:39.460 of his lies. 00:26:39.919 --> 00:26:42.819 But in reality, he has become trapped 00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:43.879 by his own deception. 00:26:45.119 --> 00:26:47.539 He has to remember all of the lies 00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:49.279 that he has told people. 00:26:49.399 --> 00:26:51.379 He has to invent new lies, new 00:26:51.379 --> 00:26:52.059 explanations. 00:26:52.319 --> 00:26:54.879 He has to live in constant fear of 00:26:54.879 --> 00:26:55.839 being found out. 00:26:57.599 --> 00:27:00.700 So truthfulness would not be bondage 00:27:00.700 --> 00:27:01.279 for that man. 00:27:01.359 --> 00:27:02.759 It would be a form of freedom. 00:27:02.759 --> 00:27:06.500 Freedom from the sin that currently 00:27:06.500 --> 00:27:07.359 controls him. 00:27:09.799 --> 00:27:11.740 Now James, writing to believers, 00:27:12.019 --> 00:27:14.980 said we should speak and act as those 00:27:14.980 --> 00:27:17.099 who are to be judged by this law. 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:20.279 And this raises a fundamental question. 00:27:20.460 --> 00:27:23.319 If everyone must obey God's moral law, 00:27:24.319 --> 00:27:26.539 how are Christians different from 00:27:26.539 --> 00:27:27.039 unbelievers? 00:27:28.940 --> 00:27:30.960 What does our justification by faith 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:32.180 actually change? 00:27:34.700 --> 00:27:36.299 Well for that, we're going to turn again. 00:27:36.819 --> 00:27:38.059 I want to go back to Romans, 00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:39.759 this time chapter 3. 00:27:43.019 --> 00:27:45.200 It's in Romans 3 that Paul, 00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:48.460 in verse 28, says that a person is 00:27:48.460 --> 00:27:50.720 justified by faith apart from 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:51.960 works of the law. 00:27:52.340 --> 00:27:54.220 But I want to consider that statement 00:27:54.220 --> 00:27:56.160 in context because Paul is making 00:27:56.160 --> 00:27:58.200 a crucial distinction between 00:27:58.200 --> 00:28:00.580 what God's law requires 00:28:00.580 --> 00:28:03.779 and what the gospel provides. 00:28:06.259 --> 00:28:07.519 So in verse 19, 00:28:07.940 --> 00:28:10.019 Paul says that the law speaks 00:28:10.019 --> 00:28:12.120 so that every mouth may be stopped 00:28:12.120 --> 00:28:14.160 and the whole world may be held 00:28:14.160 --> 00:28:15.319 accountable to God. 00:28:16.500 --> 00:28:17.000 And then he says, 00:28:17.120 --> 00:28:18.120 for by works of the law, 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:19.799 no human being will be justified 00:28:19.799 --> 00:28:21.380 in God's sight, 00:28:21.819 --> 00:28:23.120 since through the law 00:28:23.120 --> 00:28:25.000 comes knowledge of sin. 00:28:25.000 --> 00:28:28.019 Now, here we see the problem. 00:28:28.299 --> 00:28:30.319 And it's not that there's something 00:28:30.319 --> 00:28:31.619 wrong with God's law. 00:28:33.319 --> 00:28:34.740 Even here in this epistle, 00:28:35.000 --> 00:28:37.400 in Romans 7, 12, 00:28:37.519 --> 00:28:39.519 Paul explicitly says that the law 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:42.119 is holy and good and righteous. 00:28:43.359 --> 00:28:44.700 The problem is not the law. 00:28:45.539 --> 00:28:47.920 The problem is with us. 00:28:48.319 --> 00:28:49.980 The problem is that the law 00:28:49.980 --> 00:28:53.339 reveals what our holy God requires 00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:56.679 but we've all failed to obey. 00:28:57.259 --> 00:28:58.480 We've all failed to keep it. 00:28:59.659 --> 00:29:01.199 Because we've broken God's law, 00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:03.399 that same law exposes our guilt. 00:29:03.559 --> 00:29:05.559 Paul says that it stops every mouth. 00:29:05.679 --> 00:29:06.720 There's absolutely nothing 00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:08.639 we can say in our defense. 00:29:09.819 --> 00:29:11.559 We cannot stand before God 00:29:11.559 --> 00:29:13.579 and argue that we've earned 00:29:13.579 --> 00:29:14.359 His acceptance 00:29:14.359 --> 00:29:16.559 through keeping the law 00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:18.659 or through our obedience 00:29:18.659 --> 00:29:20.799 because we have all fallen short. 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:24.019 But then in verse 21, 00:29:24.259 --> 00:29:25.960 he turns to the good news 00:29:25.960 --> 00:29:26.579 of the gospel. 00:29:26.819 --> 00:29:27.740 And here's what he says. 00:29:29.619 --> 00:29:30.460 But now, 00:29:31.460 --> 00:29:32.819 the righteousness of God 00:29:32.819 --> 00:29:33.940 has been manifested 00:29:33.940 --> 00:29:35.119 apart from the law. 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:37.019 Although the law and the prophets 00:29:37.019 --> 00:29:38.000 bear witness to it, 00:29:38.440 --> 00:29:40.099 the righteousness of God 00:29:40.099 --> 00:29:42.079 through faith in Jesus Christ 00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:43.659 for all who believe. 00:29:44.500 --> 00:29:45.599 For there is no distinction 00:29:45.599 --> 00:29:46.419 for all have sinned 00:29:46.419 --> 00:29:48.000 and fall short of the glory of God 00:29:48.000 --> 00:29:50.839 and are justified by His grace 00:29:50.839 --> 00:29:51.700 as a gift 00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:53.440 through the redemption 00:29:53.440 -->

00:29:55.160 that is in Christ Jesus. 00:29:57.220 --> 00:29:58.299 So the law 00:29:58.299 --> 00:30:01.539 certainly requires righteousness from us. 00:30:02.460 --> 00:30:04.299 But we cannot produce 00:30:04.299 --> 00:30:06.000 the righteousness necessary 00:30:06.000 --> 00:30:08.099 to justify ourselves before God. 00:30:09.440 --> 00:30:10.079 Yet, 00:30:10.559 --> 00:30:12.539 through Jesus Christ, 00:30:13.539 --> 00:30:16.440 God provides the righteousness we lack. 00:30:16.440 --> 00:30:16.500 faith. 00:30:17.700 --> 00:30:18.880 As Paul says 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:20.320 in Philippians 3, 9, 00:30:20.420 --> 00:30:22.360 his desire is to be found in Christ. 00:30:22.960 --> 00:30:23.240 He says, 00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:24.360 not having a righteousness 00:30:24.360 --> 00:30:25.400 of my own 00:30:25.400 --> 00:30:27.279 that comes from works of the law, 00:30:27.420 --> 00:30:28.519 but that which comes 00:30:28.519 --> 00:30:30.559 through faith in Christ. 00:30:32.580 --> 00:30:33.820 So the only way 00:30:33.820 --> 00:30:35.080 for us to be justified, 00:30:35.420 --> 00:30:36.980 to be declared 00:30:36.980 --> 00:30:38.480 not guilty 00:30:38.480 --> 00:30:39.920 by God the judge 00:30:39.920 --> 00:30:43.080 is for our standing 00:30:43.080 --> 00:30:44.920 to rest upon 00:30:44.920 --> 00:30:46.259 Christ 00:30:46.259 --> 00:30:48.420 and His perfect obedience, 00:30:48.880 --> 00:30:50.120 His perfect righteousness, 00:30:51.000 --> 00:30:52.580 not our personal record 00:30:52.580 --> 00:30:53.060 of obedience. 00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:55.980 Now, 00:30:56.080 --> 00:30:57.220 here's what's crucial in this. 00:30:57.320 --> 00:30:58.100 You'll notice that 00:30:58.100 --> 00:30:59.620 even though God 00:30:59.620 --> 00:31:00.820 has provided a way 00:31:00.820 --> 00:31:01.440 of salvation, 00:31:02.440 --> 00:31:04.360 He does not lower 00:31:04.360 --> 00:31:05.500 His moral standards, 00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:06.660 not in the least. 00:31:06.660 --> 00:31:09.680 He does not decide 00:31:09.680 --> 00:31:10.759 that sin 00:31:10.759 --> 00:31:11.660 no longer matters. 00:31:11.900 --> 00:31:12.720 He does not simply 00:31:12.720 --> 00:31:13.620 ignore the fact 00:31:13.620 --> 00:31:14.279 that we have all 00:31:14.279 --> 00:31:15.259 broken His law. 00:31:15.420 --> 00:31:16.700 His law still stands 00:31:16.700 --> 00:31:18.100 just as it always has. 00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:20.400 Verse 25, 00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:22.519 God put forward Christ 00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:24.320 as a propitiation 00:31:24.320 --> 00:31:25.540 by His blood 00:31:25.540 --> 00:31:26.720 to be received 00:31:26.720 --> 00:31:27.300 by faith. 00:31:28.540 --> 00:31:29.420 This was to show 00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:30.240 God's righteousness 00:31:30.240 --> 00:31:31.500 because in His divine 00:31:31.500 --> 00:31:32.240 forbearance, 00:31:32.279 --> 00:31:33.080 He had passed over 00:31:33.080 --> 00:31:33.900 former sins. 00:31:33.900 --> 00:31:35.000 It was to show 00:31:35.000 --> 00:31:35.620 His righteousness 00:31:35.620 --> 00:31:36.860 at the present time 00:31:36.860 --> 00:31:39.360 so that He might be just 00:31:39.360 --> 00:31:42.060 and the justifier 00:31:42.060 --> 00:31:42.680 of the one 00:31:42.680 --> 00:31:43.980 who has faith in Jesus. 00:31:45.560 --> 00:31:46.620 So God 00:31:46.620 --> 00:31:48.780 doesn't forgive sinners 00:31:48.780 --> 00:31:50.880 by pretending 00:31:50.880 --> 00:31:51.519 their sins 00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:52.180 weren't evil 00:31:52.180 --> 00:31:54.340 or by lessening 00:31:54.340 --> 00:31:55.220 His standards. 00:31:55.340 --> 00:31:55.640 Instead, 00:31:56.100 --> 00:31:57.580 He still holds us 00:31:57.580 --> 00:31:58.780 accountable to the law, 00:31:58.900 --> 00:31:59.700 but the good news 00:31:59.700 --> 00:32:00.340 of the gospel 00:32:00.340 --> 00:32:01.620 is that He allows 00:32:01.620 --> 00:32:02.700 His Son 00:32:02.700 --> 00:32:04.700 to suffer our punishment 00:32:04.700 --> 00:32:05.519 and satisfy 00:32:05.519 --> 00:32:06.759 those terms of justice. 00:32:08.920 --> 00:32:09.740 And that's why 00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:10.440 Paul can say 00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:11.140 though He is 00:32:11.140 --> 00:32:12.740 the justifier 00:32:12.740 --> 00:32:13.680 of the one 00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:14.819 who has faith in Jesus, 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:16.420 He also remains 00:32:16.420 --> 00:32:17.380 just. 00:32:20.799 --> 00:32:22.140 Now, having said that, 00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:23.640 let's think about 00:32:23.640 --> 00:32:24.279 what this means 00:32:24.279 --> 00:32:24.799 regarding 00:32:24.799 --> 00:32:26.500 our relationship 00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:27.340 to the moral law. 00:32:28.840 --> 00:32:29.319 Obviously, 00:32:29.819 --> 00:32:30.559 justification 00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:32.839 changes our standing 00:32:32.839 --> 00:32:33.639 before God, 00:32:34.119 --> 00:32:35.919 but it does not 00:32:35.919 --> 00:32:36.980 change God's 00:32:36.980 --> 00:32:38.200 standard of righteousness. 00:32:39.879 --> 00:32:41.079 Even in the gospel, 00:32:41.419 --> 00:32:41.960 God's law 00:32:41.960 --> 00:32:43.039 is still enforced. 00:32:43.779 --> 00:32:43.779 00:32:44.440 --> 00:32:46.019 what this means 00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:46.879 is that even though 00:32:46.879 --> 00:32:48.119 we may be justified, 00:32:49.480 --> 00:32:50.819 what was sinful 00:32:50.819 --> 00:32:52.559 before our justification 00:32:52.559 --> 00:32:54.139 remains sinful 00:32:54.139 --> 00:32:55.480 after our justification. 00:32:55.480 --> 00:32:57.000 what changes 00:32:57.000 --> 00:32:57.960 is that the believer 00:32:57.960 --> 00:32:58.940 is no longer 00:32:58.940 --> 00:32:59.599 condemned 00:32:59.599 --> 00:33:01.000 by his transgressions 00:33:01.000 --> 00:33:01.680 because Christ 00:33:01.680 -->

00:33:02.240 has borne 00:33:02.240 --> 00:33:03.140 his condemnation. 00:33:03.519 --> 00:33:03.599 Right? 00:33:05.039 --> 00:33:06.480 Now, here's the challenge 00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:07.160 for many people. 00:33:08.480 --> 00:33:09.599 Hearing all of this, 00:33:10.120 --> 00:33:11.140 it would be very easy 00:33:11.140 --> 00:33:12.360 to draw the wrong conclusion. 00:33:14.860 --> 00:33:15.940 We might think 00:33:15.940 --> 00:33:16.579 that if Christ 00:33:16.579 --> 00:33:17.120 has borne 00:33:17.120 --> 00:33:18.220 the curse of the law 00:33:18.220 --> 00:33:19.500 and if 00:33:19.500 --> 00:33:21.120 our justification 00:33:21.120 --> 00:33:22.640 rests 00:33:22.640 --> 00:33:24.220 entirely upon 00:33:24.220 --> 00:33:25.220 his righteousness 00:33:25.220 --> 00:33:25.980 rather than 00:33:25.980 --> 00:33:26.779 our obedience, 00:33:27.259 --> 00:33:28.680 then why do we need 00:33:28.680 --> 00:33:29.279 to worry about 00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:30.100 obedience at all? 00:33:31.579 --> 00:33:32.480 If our sins 00:33:32.480 --> 00:33:32.960 are forgiven, 00:33:33.120 --> 00:33:33.480 why not 00:33:33.480 --> 00:33:34.799 live as we please? 00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:35.920 In fact, 00:33:36.120 --> 00:33:36.940 I've heard this 00:33:36.940 --> 00:33:37.600 argued before. 00:33:38.319 --> 00:33:38.940 Wouldn't that 00:33:38.940 --> 00:33:40.440 magnify 00:33:40.440 --> 00:33:41.120 God's grace 00:33:41.120 --> 00:33:41.680 all the more? 00:33:43.259 --> 00:33:44.480 The more we sin, 00:33:44.539 --> 00:33:45.620 the more grace 00:33:45.620 --> 00:33:46.480 God shows us, 00:33:46.519 --> 00:33:46.680 right? 00:33:49.360 --> 00:33:49.880 Well, 00:33:49.920 --> 00:33:50.759 in Romans 6, 00:33:51.120 --> 00:33:51.960 Paul anticipates 00:33:51.960 --> 00:33:52.880 that very argument. 00:33:54.220 --> 00:33:55.460 And in verses 1 and 2, 00:33:55.539 --> 00:33:56.259 here's what he says. 00:33:57.460 --> 00:33:58.600 What shall we say then? 00:33:59.680 --> 00:34:00.559 Are we to continue 00:34:00.559 --> 00:34:01.200 in sin 00:34:01.200 --> 00:34:02.600 that grace may abound? 00:34:03.980 --> 00:34:05.920 By no means. 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:08.019 How can we 00:34:08.019 --> 00:34:09.720 who died to sin 00:34:09.720 --> 00:34:11.400 still live in it? 00:34:13.559 --> 00:34:14.079 Now, 00:34:14.220 --> 00:34:14.860 a lesser man 00:34:14.860 --> 00:34:15.300 than Paul 00:34:15.300 --> 00:34:15.860 might have been 00:34:15.860 --> 00:34:16.519 tempted to 00:34:16.519 --> 00:34:18.240 retreat from 00:34:18.240 --> 00:34:19.500 the doctrine 00:34:19.500 --> 00:34:20.240 of justification 00:34:20.240 --> 00:34:20.900 he has just 00:34:20.900 --> 00:34:21.760 so clearly taught. 00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:24.020 he might be 00:34:24.020 --> 00:34:24.560 tempted to say, 00:34:24.660 --> 00:34:24.760 well, 00:34:24.800 --> 00:34:26.640 maybe I overstated 00:34:26.640 --> 00:34:27.420 the extent 00:34:27.420 --> 00:34:28.340 of God's grace. 00:34:29.980 --> 00:34:30.740 But he doesn't 00:34:30.740 --> 00:34:31.160 do that. 00:34:31.220 --> 00:34:31.540 Instead, 00:34:31.860 --> 00:34:32.620 he points to 00:34:32.620 --> 00:34:33.220 another 00:34:33.220 --> 00:34:34.860 vital aspect 00:34:34.860 --> 00:34:35.780 of our salvation, 00:34:36.340 --> 00:34:37.500 and that is 00:34:37.500 --> 00:34:38.260 our union 00:34:38.260 --> 00:34:39.940 with Jesus Christ. 00:34:41.340 --> 00:34:42.200 He goes on 00:34:42.200 --> 00:34:42.540 to write, 00:34:42.740 --> 00:34:43.640 we were buried, 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:44.180 therefore, 00:34:44.360 --> 00:34:44.760 with him 00:34:44.760 --> 00:34:45.640 by baptism 00:34:45.640 --> 00:34:46.360 into death 00:34:46.360 --> 00:34:47.240 in order that 00:34:47.240 --> 00:34:48.840 just as Christ 00:34:48.840 --> 00:34:49.520 was raised 00:34:49.520 --> 00:34:50.100 from the dead 00:34:50.099 --> 00:34:50.659 by the glory 00:34:50.659 --> 00:34:51.319 of the Father, 00:34:51.719 --> 00:34:52.460 we too 00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:53.860 might walk 00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:54.500 in newness 00:34:54.500 --> 00:34:55.039 of life. 00:34:57.119 --> 00:34:57.839 You see, 00:34:57.920 --> 00:34:58.739 the antinomian 00:34:58.739 --> 00:34:59.699 has to keep 00:34:59.699 --> 00:35:00.079 reading. 00:35:01.380 --> 00:35:02.159 When God 00:35:02.159 --> 00:35:02.759 saves us, 00:35:02.900 --> 00:35:03.480 he does not 00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:05.239 stop at 00:35:05.239 --> 00:35:05.960 declaring us 00:35:05.960 --> 00:35:06.460 not guilty. 00:35:08.139 --> 00:35:09.079 We are also 00:35:09.079 --> 00:35:10.139 united to Christ 00:35:10.139 --> 00:35:11.059 in his death 00:35:11.059 --> 00:35:11.719 and in his 00:35:11.719 --> 00:35:12.279 resurrection, 00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:13.279 and that union 00:35:13.279 --> 00:35:14.739 changes our 00:35:14.739 --> 00:35:15.500 relationship 00:35:15.500 --> 00:35:16.719 to sin itself. 00:35:17.739 --> 00:35:18.679 We're no longer 00:35:18.679 --> 00:35:19.379 the same people 00:35:19.379 --> 00:35:20.079 we once were. 00:35:21.319 --> 00:35:22.119 We've died 00:35:22.119 --> 00:35:22.659 to sin 00:35:22.659 --> 00:35:23.179 in Christ, 00:35:23.239 --> 00:35:23.799 and we've been 00:35:23.799 --> 00:35:25.159 raised with him 00:35:25.159 --> 00:35:25.940 to walk 00:35:25.940 --> 00:35:26.980 in newness 00:35:26.980 --> 00:35:27.500 of life, 00:35:27.579 --> 00:35:28.019 to have 00:35:28.019 --> 00:35:28.699 a new 00:35:28.699 --> 00:35:29.719 life. 00:35:31.699 --> 00:35:32.139 Now, 00:35:32.179 --> 00:35:32.419 we could 00:35:32.419 --> 00:35:33.139 continue reading 00:35:33.139 --> 00:35:33.919 in this chapter, 00:35:34.059 --> 00:35:34.619 but for the sake 00:35:34.619 --> 00:35:34.960 of time, 00:35:35.039 --> 00:35:35.419 let me skip 00:35:35.419 --> 00:35:36.119 down to verse 00:35:36.119 -->

00:35:36.940 14. 00:35:37.799 --> 00:35:38.199 I'm still 00:35:38.199 --> 00:35:38.739 in Romans 00:35:38.739 --> 00:35:39.480 chapter 6. 00:35:40.819 --> 00:35:41.559 Verse 14 00:35:41.559 --> 00:35:42.039 is a verse 00:35:42.039 --> 00:35:42.599 that the 00:35:42.599 --> 00:35:43.239 antinomian 00:35:43.239 --> 00:35:43.919 loves to quote, 00:35:44.019 --> 00:35:44.779 at least in part. 00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:47.059 Paul says, 00:35:47.059 --> 00:35:47.519 what then? 00:35:47.900 --> 00:35:48.699 Are we to sin 00:35:48.699 --> 00:35:49.259 because we are 00:35:49.259 --> 00:35:49.960 not under the 00:35:49.960 --> 00:35:50.539 law but under 00:35:50.539 --> 00:35:50.960 grace? 00:35:52.440 --> 00:35:53.259 In other words, 00:35:53.320 --> 00:35:54.340 we cannot be 00:35:54.340 --> 00:35:55.239 condemned by the 00:35:55.239 --> 00:35:56.400 law because 00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:56.960 Christ was 00:35:56.960 --> 00:35:57.420 condemned on 00:35:57.420 --> 00:35:57.860 our behalf, 00:35:57.940 --> 00:35:58.460 but does that 00:35:58.460 --> 00:35:59.299 give us freedom 00:35:59.299 --> 00:35:59.840 to sin? 00:36:01.299 --> 00:36:01.860 And Paul's 00:36:01.860 --> 00:36:02.679 answer is, 00:36:03.420 --> 00:36:04.299 the most emphatic 00:36:04.299 --> 00:36:05.019 no he could 00:36:05.019 --> 00:36:05.559 reach for, 00:36:05.779 --> 00:36:07.279 by no means. 00:36:08.299 --> 00:36:08.659 Or as the 00:36:08.659 --> 00:36:09.299 old King James 00:36:09.299 --> 00:36:09.639 says, 00:36:09.759 --> 00:36:10.519 God forbid. 00:36:13.639 --> 00:36:14.119 Now, 00:36:14.179 --> 00:36:14.980 as Paul continues, 00:36:14.980 --> 00:36:16.139 he explains 00:36:16.139 --> 00:36:17.679 that we are 00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:18.420 no longer 00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:20.039 slaves of sin, 00:36:20.740 --> 00:36:21.539 but we've 00:36:21.539 --> 00:36:22.079 actually become 00:36:22.079 --> 00:36:22.559 slaves of 00:36:22.559 --> 00:36:23.039 righteousness. 00:36:24.460 --> 00:36:26.179 In verses 00:36:26.179 --> 00:36:27.320 17 and 18, 00:36:27.599 --> 00:36:28.099 he says, 00:36:28.719 --> 00:36:29.400 but thanks be 00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:29.880 to God 00:36:29.880 --> 00:36:31.340 that you 00:36:31.340 --> 00:36:32.219 who were once 00:36:32.219 --> 00:36:33.159 slaves of sin 00:36:33.159 --> 00:36:33.619 have become 00:36:33.619 --> 00:36:34.699 obedient from 00:36:34.699 --> 00:36:35.240 the heart 00:36:35.240 --> 00:36:36.599 to the standard 00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:37.059 of teaching 00:36:37.059 --> 00:36:37.940 to which you 00:36:37.940 --> 00:36:38.420 were committed 00:36:38.420 --> 00:36:39.320 and having been 00:36:39.320 --> 00:36:40.199 set free from 00:36:40.199 --> 00:36:40.539 sin, 00:36:41.159 --> 00:36:41.679 have become 00:36:41.679 --> 00:36:42.900 slaves of 00:36:42.900 --> 00:36:43.340 righteousness. 00:36:43.340 --> 00:36:43.400 righteousness. 00:36:45.079 --> 00:36:45.660 So, 00:36:45.860 --> 00:36:46.880 to be very 00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:47.300 clear, 00:36:48.420 --> 00:36:49.440 Paul describes 00:36:49.440 --> 00:36:50.240 the Christian's 00:36:50.240 --> 00:36:51.460 freedom as 00:36:51.460 --> 00:36:53.180 freedom from 00:36:53.180 --> 00:36:53.640 sin, 00:36:54.240 --> 00:36:55.740 not freedom 00:36:55.740 --> 00:36:57.019 to sin. 00:36:58.100 --> 00:36:58.740 He would 00:36:58.740 --> 00:36:59.300 have never 00:36:59.300 --> 00:36:59.820 used such 00:36:59.820 --> 00:37:00.220 language. 00:37:01.680 --> 00:37:02.019 And the 00:37:02.019 --> 00:37:02.400 second thing 00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:02.760 to notice 00:37:02.760 --> 00:37:03.260 here is that 00:37:03.260 --> 00:37:03.760 Paul says 00:37:03.760 --> 00:37:04.380 believers have 00:37:04.380 --> 00:37:05.720 become obedient 00:37:05.720 --> 00:37:07.140 from the 00:37:07.140 --> 00:37:07.500 heart. 00:37:08.700 --> 00:37:09.300 So, 00:37:09.380 --> 00:37:10.300 Christians who 00:37:10.300 --> 00:37:10.880 are following 00:37:10.880 --> 00:37:11.360 the moral 00:37:11.360 --> 00:37:12.740 law are 00:37:12.739 --> 00:37:13.279 not like 00:37:13.279 --> 00:37:14.019 the Pharisees 00:37:14.019 --> 00:37:14.299 who are 00:37:14.299 --> 00:37:14.699 trying to 00:37:14.699 --> 00:37:15.000 make a 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:15.479 good show 00:37:15.479 --> 00:37:15.859 for other 00:37:15.859 --> 00:37:16.199 people. 00:37:17.259 --> 00:37:17.959 They are 00:37:17.959 --> 00:37:18.519 sincere. 00:37:18.719 --> 00:37:18.959 When the 00:37:18.959 --> 00:37:20.099 Lord saved 00:37:20.099 --> 00:37:20.359 them, 00:37:20.479 --> 00:37:21.299 He actually 00:37:21.299 --> 00:37:22.359 reoriented 00:37:22.359 --> 00:37:23.019 their hearts, 00:37:23.139 --> 00:37:23.639 their minds, 00:37:23.719 --> 00:37:23.959 and their 00:37:23.959 --> 00:37:25.239 will toward 00:37:25.239 --> 00:37:26.459 righteousness. 00:37:28.899 --> 00:37:29.639 In Romans 00:37:29.639 --> 00:37:29.919 8, 00:37:30.000 --> 00:37:30.479 Paul writes, 00:37:30.539 --> 00:37:30.919 for God 00:37:30.919 --> 00:37:31.359 has done 00:37:31.359 --> 00:37:31.719 what the 00:37:31.719 --> 00:37:32.059 law, 00:37:33.019 --> 00:37:33.500 weakened by 00:37:33.500 --> 00:37:33.939 the flesh, 00:37:34.039 --> 00:37:34.439 could not 00:37:34.439 --> 00:37:34.699 do. 00:37:35.759 --> 00:37:36.319 By sending 00:37:36.319 --> 00:37:36.819 His own 00:37:36.819 --> 00:37:37.379 Son in the 00:37:37.379 --> 00:37:37.939 likeness of 00:37:37.939 --> 00:37:38.819 sinful flesh 00:37:38.819 --> 00:37:39.439 and for 00:37:39.439 --> 00:37:39.839 sin, 00:37:40.139 --> 00:37:40.919 He condemned 00:37:40.919 --> 00:37:41.599 sin in the 00:37:41.599 --> 00:37:42.000 flesh. 00:37:42.739 --> 00:37:43.139 In order 00:37:43.139 --> 00:37:43.559 that the 00:37:43.559 --> 00:37:43.919 righteous 00:37:43.919 --> 00:37:44.599 requirement 00:37:44.599 --> 00:37:45.000 of the

00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:45.219 law 00:37:45.219 --> 00:37:45.919 might be 00:37:45.919 --> 00:37:46.519 fulfilled 00:37:46.519 --> 00:37:47.819 in us 00:37:47.819 --> 00:37:49.379 who walk 00:37:49.379 --> 00:37:50.139 not according 00:37:50.139 --> 00:37:50.459 to the 00:37:50.459 --> 00:37:50.819 flesh, 00:37:51.619 --> 00:37:52.539 but according 00:37:52.539 --> 00:37:53.019 to the 00:37:53.019 --> 00:37:53.339 Spirit. 00:37:55.339 --> 00:37:56.059 And this 00:37:56.059 --> 00:37:56.699 is precisely 00:37:56.699 --> 00:37:57.919 what God 00:37:57.919 --> 00:37:58.859 promised to 00:37:58.859 --> 00:38:00.259 do long 00:38:00.259 --> 00:38:00.579 ago. 00:38:02.679 --> 00:38:03.539 For instance, 00:38:03.699 --> 00:38:04.179 through the 00:38:04.179 --> 00:38:05.419 prophet Ezekiel, 00:38:05.519 --> 00:38:05.859 he said, 00:38:05.959 --> 00:38:06.399 I will give 00:38:06.399 --> 00:38:06.759 you a new 00:38:06.759 --> 00:38:07.139 heart, 00:38:08.159 --> 00:38:09.819 and a new 00:38:09.819 --> 00:38:10.459 spirit will I 00:38:10.459 --> 00:38:11.179 put within you, 00:38:11.259 --> 00:38:11.679 and I will 00:38:11.679 --> 00:38:12.339 remove the 00:38:12.340 --> 00:38:12.740 heart of 00:38:12.740 --> 00:38:13.420 stone from 00:38:13.420 --> 00:38:14.019 your flesh, 00:38:14.260 --> 00:38:15.000 and give you 00:38:15.000 --> 00:38:15.559 a heart of 00:38:15.559 --> 00:38:15.940 flesh, 00:38:16.220 --> 00:38:16.800 and I will 00:38:16.800 --> 00:38:17.280 put my 00:38:17.280 --> 00:38:18.220 spirit within 00:38:18.220 --> 00:38:18.600 you, 00:38:18.800 --> 00:38:19.300 and cause 00:38:19.300 --> 00:38:19.500 you, 00:38:19.559 --> 00:38:19.900 listen to 00:38:19.900 --> 00:38:20.320 this part, 00:38:21.059 --> 00:38:21.640 and cause 00:38:21.640 --> 00:38:22.720 you to 00:38:22.720 --> 00:38:23.160 walk in 00:38:23.160 --> 00:38:24.000 my statutes, 00:38:24.519 --> 00:38:25.200 and be 00:38:25.200 --> 00:38:25.860 careful to 00:38:25.860 --> 00:38:26.460 obey my 00:38:26.460 --> 00:38:26.820 rules. 00:38:28.640 --> 00:38:28.960 Aha! 00:38:29.559 --> 00:38:29.920 So, 00:38:30.240 --> 00:38:31.079 when the 00:38:31.079 --> 00:38:31.740 antinomian 00:38:31.740 --> 00:38:32.440 argues that 00:38:32.440 --> 00:38:33.019 we are not 00:38:33.019 --> 00:38:33.760 under law, 00:38:33.860 --> 00:38:34.320 but under 00:38:34.320 --> 00:38:34.900 grace, 00:38:35.680 --> 00:38:36.280 as though 00:38:36.280 --> 00:38:37.400 God no 00:38:37.400 --> 00:38:38.160 longer holds 00:38:38.160 --> 00:38:38.760 us accountable 00:38:38.760 --> 00:38:39.220 to His 00:38:39.219 --> 00:38:39.859 moral law, 00:38:39.919 --> 00:38:40.259 or seems 00:38:40.259 --> 00:38:40.859 to care, 00:38:41.939 --> 00:38:42.480 we see the 00:38:42.480 --> 00:38:43.119 opposite is 00:38:43.119 --> 00:38:43.419 true. 00:38:44.819 --> 00:38:45.579 The very 00:38:45.579 --> 00:38:45.939 opposite. 00:38:46.059 --> 00:38:46.739 God continues 00:38:46.739 --> 00:38:47.799 to care so 00:38:47.799 --> 00:38:48.379 much about 00:38:48.379 --> 00:38:48.959 our obedience 00:38:48.959 --> 00:38:49.359 to the 00:38:49.359 --> 00:38:49.959 moral law 00:38:49.959 --> 00:38:51.139 that He 00:38:51.139 --> 00:38:52.539 required the 00:38:52.539 --> 00:38:53.019 death of 00:38:53.019 --> 00:38:53.980 His Son to 00:38:53.980 --> 00:38:55.159 forgive us for 00:38:55.159 --> 00:38:55.739 breaking that 00:38:55.739 --> 00:38:56.059 law. 00:38:56.279 --> 00:38:56.679 Let's start 00:38:56.679 --> 00:38:57.039 there. 00:38:59.039 --> 00:38:59.919 And then He 00:38:59.919 --> 00:39:01.059 went even as 00:39:01.059 --> 00:39:01.679 far as to 00:39:01.679 --> 00:39:02.639 change us from 00:39:02.639 --> 00:39:03.599 the inside so 00:39:03.599 --> 00:39:04.559 that we could 00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:05.799 and would be 00:39:05.799 --> 00:39:06.980 willing to 00:39:06.980 --> 00:39:07.440 keep His 00:39:07.440 --> 00:39:07.739 law. 00:39:10.159 --> 00:39:10.840 And this 00:39:10.840 --> 00:39:11.739 really helps us 00:39:11.739 --> 00:39:12.480 understand what 00:39:12.480 --> 00:39:13.059 the confession 00:39:13.059 --> 00:39:14.679 means when at 00:39:14.679 --> 00:39:15.139 the end of the 00:39:15.139 --> 00:39:15.980 paragraph it 00:39:15.980 --> 00:39:16.340 says, 00:39:16.840 --> 00:39:17.500 nor does Christ 00:39:17.500 --> 00:39:18.360 in any way 00:39:18.360 --> 00:39:19.179 dissolve this 00:39:19.179 --> 00:39:19.799 obligation, 00:39:19.900 --> 00:39:20.259 that is the 00:39:20.259 --> 00:39:21.039 obligation to 00:39:21.039 --> 00:39:21.719 keep the moral 00:39:21.719 --> 00:39:23.759 law in the 00:39:23.759 --> 00:39:24.159 gospel, 00:39:24.900 --> 00:39:25.900 instead He 00:39:25.900 --> 00:39:26.420 greatly 00:39:26.420 --> 00:39:27.559 strengthens it. 00:39:30.380 --> 00:39:31.059 Now this 00:39:31.059 --> 00:39:31.659 happens in a 00:39:31.659 --> 00:39:31.980 couple of 00:39:31.980 --> 00:39:32.360 ways. 00:39:33.139 --> 00:39:33.820 We've seen 00:39:33.820 --> 00:39:34.299 one of those 00:39:34.300 --> 00:39:34.700 ways in 00:39:34.700 --> 00:39:35.320 Matthew 5, 00:39:35.400 --> 00:39:35.700 didn't we? 00:39:36.080 --> 00:39:36.720 When Jesus 00:39:36.720 --> 00:39:37.640 explains the 00:39:37.640 --> 00:39:38.539 fullness of 00:39:38.539 --> 00:39:38.900 the moral 00:39:38.900 --> 00:39:39.200 law. 00:39:40.940 --> 00:39:41.600 But the 00:39:41.600 --> 00:39:42.300 other is 00:39:42.300 --> 00:39:42.740 that, 00:39:43.740 --> 00:39:44.539 well it's 00:39:44.539 --> 00:39:45.039 in what He 00:39:45.039 --> 00:39:45.820 actually does 00:39:45.820 --> 00:39:47.240 in redemption. 00:39:48.500 --> 00:39:49.000 God the 00:39:49.000 --> 00:39:50.620 Father holds 00:39:50.620 --> 00:39:52.000 Christ accountable 00:39:52.000 --> 00:39:52.900 for our 00:39:52.900 --> 00:39:53.660 breaking of

00:39:53.660 --> 00:39:53.940 the law. 00:39:54.039 --> 00:39:54.360 He doesn't 00:39:54.360 --> 00:39:55.300 simply forgive 00:39:55.300 --> 00:39:56.019 without any 00:39:56.019 --> 00:39:56.420 penalties. 00:39:58.600 --> 00:39:59.480 And then He 00:39:59.480 --> 00:40:00.080 gives us His 00:40:00.080 --> 00:40:01.519 Spirit so that 00:40:01.519 --> 00:40:02.480 we can finally 00:40:02.480 --> 00:40:03.340 walk according 00:40:03.340 --> 00:40:03.780 to His 00:40:03.780 --> 00:40:04.200 commands. 00:40:04.300 --> 00:40:04.420 forgiveness. 00:40:05.019 --> 00:40:05.519 So even 00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:06.100 after He 00:40:06.100 --> 00:40:06.580 forgives, 00:40:06.660 --> 00:40:07.200 His purpose 00:40:07.200 --> 00:40:08.039 doesn't stop 00:40:08.039 --> 00:40:08.300 there. 00:40:09.580 --> 00:40:10.220 More than 00:40:10.220 --> 00:40:10.640 forgiveness, 00:40:11.480 --> 00:40:12.340 He wants to 00:40:12.340 --> 00:40:13.019 change us. 00:40:13.100 --> 00:40:13.740 He wants to 00:40:13.740 --> 00:40:15.560 bring us back 00:40:15.560 --> 00:40:16.360 into line 00:40:16.360 --> 00:40:17.300 with His 00:40:17.300 --> 00:40:18.100 moral will 00:40:18.100 --> 00:40:18.980 as expressed 00:40:18.980 --> 00:40:19.560 in the Ten 00:40:19.560 --> 00:40:20.180 Commandments. 00:40:22.420 --> 00:40:23.519 In 1 Corinthians 00:40:23.519 --> 00:40:24.680 6, Paul reminds 00:40:24.680 --> 00:40:25.160 us that our 00:40:25.160 --> 00:40:25.740 bodies are 00:40:25.740 --> 00:40:26.720 temples of the 00:40:26.720 --> 00:40:27.360 Holy Spirit. 00:40:27.600 --> 00:40:27.920 And then he 00:40:27.920 --> 00:40:28.180 says, 00:40:28.179 --> 00:40:29.179 you are not 00:40:29.179 --> 00:40:29.699 your own 00:40:29.699 --> 00:40:31.119 for you 00:40:31.119 --> 00:40:31.599 were bought 00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:32.099 with a 00:40:32.099 --> 00:40:32.699 price. 00:40:33.460 --> 00:40:35.099 So glorify 00:40:35.099 --> 00:40:36.119 God in 00:40:36.119 --> 00:40:36.719 your body. 00:40:38.399 --> 00:40:39.199 How do we 00:40:39.199 --> 00:40:40.000 glorify God? 00:40:40.099 --> 00:40:40.960 Well, we glorify 00:40:40.960 --> 00:40:41.899 Him by keeping 00:40:41.899 --> 00:40:42.519 His commandments. 00:40:43.579 --> 00:40:44.000 But you'll 00:40:44.000 --> 00:40:44.859 notice how Paul 00:40:44.859 --> 00:40:45.719 expresses a 00:40:45.719 --> 00:40:46.799 connection between 00:40:46.799 --> 00:40:47.679 our redemption 00:40:47.679 --> 00:40:48.419 and our 00:40:48.419 --> 00:40:48.899 obedience. 00:40:49.460 --> 00:40:51.399 Because Christ 00:40:51.399 --> 00:40:52.000 has purchased 00:40:52.000 --> 00:40:52.899 us through 00:40:52.899 --> 00:40:53.599 His blood, 00:40:53.960 --> 00:40:54.819 we belong to 00:40:54.820 --> 00:40:56.580 Him, and 00:40:56.580 --> 00:40:57.039 because we 00:40:57.039 --> 00:40:57.600 belong to 00:40:57.600 --> 00:40:58.200 Him, we 00:40:58.200 --> 00:40:59.300 are obligated 00:40:59.300 --> 00:41:00.740 to glorify 00:41:00.740 --> 00:41:01.580 Him in 00:41:01.580 --> 00:41:02.120 our bodies. 00:41:04.260 --> 00:41:04.880 And I 00:41:04.880 --> 00:41:05.300 think Paul 00:41:05.300 --> 00:41:05.860 brings this 00:41:05.860 --> 00:41:06.500 together rather 00:41:06.500 --> 00:41:07.260 well in 00:41:07.260 --> 00:41:07.980 Titus chapter 00:41:07.980 --> 00:41:08.420 2. 00:41:09.019 --> 00:41:09.420 Listen to 00:41:09.420 --> 00:41:09.660 what he 00:41:09.660 --> 00:41:10.280 writes starting 00:41:10.280 --> 00:41:10.720 at verse 00:41:10.720 --> 00:41:11.080 11. 00:41:12.760 --> 00:41:13.580 For the 00:41:13.580 --> 00:41:14.059 grace of 00:41:14.059 --> 00:41:14.600 God has 00:41:14.600 --> 00:41:15.039 appeared, 00:41:15.460 --> 00:41:15.760 bringing 00:41:15.760 --> 00:41:16.780 salvation for 00:41:16.780 --> 00:41:17.320 all people, 00:41:18.200 --> 00:41:19.019 training us 00:41:19.019 --> 00:41:20.140 to renounce 00:41:20.140 --> 00:41:21.100 ungodliness 00:41:21.100 --> 00:41:22.120 and worldly 00:41:22.120 --> 00:41:23.300 passions, and 00:41:23.300 --> 00:41:23.640 to live 00:41:23.640 --> 00:41:24.539 self-controlled, 00:41:24.539 --> 00:41:25.440 upright, and 00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:26.400 godly lives in 00:41:26.400 --> 00:41:26.820 the present 00:41:26.820 --> 00:41:27.960 age, waiting 00:41:27.960 --> 00:41:28.380 for our 00:41:28.380 --> 00:41:29.039 blessed hope, 00:41:29.679 --> 00:41:30.139 the appearing 00:41:30.139 --> 00:41:30.800 of the glory 00:41:30.800 --> 00:41:31.519 of our great 00:41:31.519 --> 00:41:32.079 God and 00:41:32.079 --> 00:41:32.779 Savior Jesus 00:41:32.779 --> 00:41:34.019 Christ, who 00:41:34.019 --> 00:41:34.639 gave Himself 00:41:34.639 --> 00:41:35.659 for us to 00:41:35.659 --> 00:41:36.400 redeem us 00:41:36.400 --> 00:41:37.639 from all 00:41:37.639 --> 00:41:38.320 lawlessness, 00:41:38.880 --> 00:41:40.000 and to 00:41:40.000 --> 00:41:40.719 purify for 00:41:40.719 --> 00:41:41.340 Himself a 00:41:41.340 --> 00:41:41.980 people for 00:41:41.980 --> 00:41:42.300 His own 00:41:42.300 --> 00:41:43.079 possession who 00:41:43.079 --> 00:41:43.920 are zealous 00:41:43.920 --> 00:41:44.380 for good 00:41:44.380 --> 00:41:44.860 works. 00:41:46.739 --> 00:41:47.460 Well, that 00:41:47.460 --> 00:41:48.840 pretty well 00:41:48.840 --> 00:41:49.460 sums it up. 00:41:50.559 --> 00:41:51.079 The grace 00:41:51.079 --> 00:41:51.820 of God that 00:41:51.820 --> 00:41:53.019 brings salvation 00:41:53.019 --> 00:41:54.960 also trains 00:41:54.960 --> 00:41:55.340 us to 00:41:55.340 --> 00:41:55.739 renounce 00:41:55.739 --> 00:41:56.300 ungodliness. 00:41:58.380 --> 00:41:59.179 Christ, who 00:41:59.179 --> 00:41:59.880 gave Himself 00:41:59.880 --> 00:42:00.800 for us to 00:42:00.800 --> 00:42:01.360 redeem us, 00:42:01.759 --> 00:42:02.679 well, redeem 00:42:02.679 --> 00:42:03.059 us from 00:42:03.059 -->

00:42:03.360 what? 00:42:03.820 --> 00:42:04.219 All 00:42:04.219 --> 00:42:04.940 lawlessness. 00:42:07.199 --> 00:42:07.759 He 00:42:07.759 --> 00:42:08.259 redeemed us 00:42:08.259 --> 00:42:09.000 to purify 00:42:09.000 --> 00:42:09.500 for Himself 00:42:09.500 --> 00:42:10.179 of people who 00:42:10.179 --> 00:42:10.960 are zealous 00:42:10.960 --> 00:42:11.619 for good 00:42:11.619 --> 00:42:12.099 works. 00:42:12.619 --> 00:42:13.219 So He 00:42:13.219 --> 00:42:13.980 didn't merely 00:42:13.980 --> 00:42:14.579 save us 00:42:14.579 --> 00:42:15.039 from hell. 00:42:16.480 --> 00:42:17.320 He saved 00:42:17.320 --> 00:42:17.860 us from 00:42:17.860 --> 00:42:18.380 sin. 00:42:18.380 --> 00:42:20.280 and He 00:42:20.280 --> 00:42:21.019 saved us, 00:42:21.180 --> 00:42:21.619 we might 00:42:21.619 --> 00:42:22.200 say, to 00:42:22.200 --> 00:42:23.900 keep God's 00:42:23.900 --> 00:42:24.860 moral law, 00:42:25.160 --> 00:42:26.059 or if you 00:42:26.059 --> 00:42:27.619 prefer, to 00:42:27.619 --> 00:42:28.579 be conformed 00:42:28.579 --> 00:42:29.880 to the image 00:42:29.880 --> 00:42:30.280 of Jesus 00:42:30.280 --> 00:42:30.940 Christ who 00:42:30.940 --> 00:42:31.619 kept the 00:42:31.619 --> 00:42:32.680 law perfectly. 00:42:34.000 --> 00:42:34.760 So one 00:42:34.760 --> 00:42:35.500 thing we see 00:42:35.500 --> 00:42:36.820 is that our 00:42:36.820 --> 00:42:38.160 temptation to 00:42:38.160 --> 00:42:38.840 think in 00:42:38.840 --> 00:42:39.480 terms of 00:42:39.480 --> 00:42:40.500 law, Old 00:42:40.500 --> 00:42:40.860 Testament, 00:42:41.180 --> 00:42:41.740 grace, New 00:42:41.740 --> 00:42:43.160 Testament, as 00:42:43.160 --> 00:42:43.680 though there is 00:42:43.680 --> 00:42:44.760 this perfect 00:42:44.760 --> 00:42:45.840 separation between 00:42:45.840 --> 00:42:46.460 the two and 00:42:46.460 --> 00:42:47.440 in the gospel 00:42:47.440 --> 00:42:48.099 and in the 00:42:48.099 --> 00:42:48.619 New Testament 00:42:48.619 --> 00:42:49.420 and in grace 00:42:49.420 --> 00:42:50.539 we leave the 00:42:50.539 --> 00:42:51.179 law completely 00:42:51.179 --> 00:42:52.920 behind, it's 00:42:52.920 --> 00:42:53.460 actually the 00:42:53.460 --> 00:42:54.139 opposite of 00:42:54.139 --> 00:42:55.019 that in many 00:42:55.019 --> 00:42:55.539 respects. 00:42:57.059 --> 00:42:58.000 It is not 00:42:58.000 --> 00:42:58.820 that the law 00:42:58.820 --> 00:42:59.380 is abandoned, 00:43:00.000 --> 00:43:00.920 but that God's 00:43:00.920 --> 00:43:01.760 moral law is 00:43:01.760 --> 00:43:03.139 greatly strengthened, 00:43:03.300 --> 00:43:04.059 it's elevated. 00:43:05.900 --> 00:43:07.360 Look what the 00:43:07.360 --> 00:43:08.320 breaking of 00:43:08.320 --> 00:43:10.000 that law did 00:43:10.000 --> 00:43:10.639 to Christ. 00:43:12.820 --> 00:43:13.539 And then 00:43:13.539 --> 00:43:14.559 consider the 00:43:14.559 --> 00:43:15.340 reason God 00:43:15.340 --> 00:43:15.840 has saved 00:43:15.840 --> 00:43:16.220 us. 00:43:16.460 --> 00:43:17.200 Again, not 00:43:17.199 --> 00:43:17.799 merely to 00:43:17.799 --> 00:43:18.199 save us 00:43:18.199 --> 00:43:18.799 from hell, 00:43:19.679 --> 00:43:20.139 but to 00:43:20.139 --> 00:43:20.460 save us 00:43:20.460 --> 00:43:21.079 from sin 00:43:21.079 --> 00:43:21.439 and to 00:43:21.439 --> 00:43:21.919 save us 00:43:21.919 --> 00:43:22.279 so that 00:43:22.279 --> 00:43:22.699 we could 00:43:22.699 --> 00:43:23.439 finally, 00:43:23.699 --> 00:43:25.000 finally be 00:43:25.000 --> 00:43:25.579 a people 00:43:25.579 --> 00:43:27.099 who obey 00:43:27.099 --> 00:43:27.879 His 00:43:27.879 --> 00:43:29.460 moral law. 00:43:32.259 --> 00:43:32.919 Let's pray. 00:43:35.019 --> 00:43:35.859 Lord, thank 00:43:35.859 --> 00:43:36.739 you for 00:43:36.739 --> 00:43:37.619 being our 00:43:37.619 --> 00:43:38.199 help during 00:43:38.199 --> 00:43:38.639 this Sunday 00:43:38.639 --> 00:43:39.319 school hour. 00:43:39.480 --> 00:43:39.899 Help us 00:43:39.899 --> 00:43:40.439 now to 00:43:40.439 --> 00:43:40.980 take what 00:43:40.980 --> 00:43:41.480 we've seen 00:43:41.480 --> 00:43:41.739 in your 00:43:41.739 --> 00:43:42.480 word and 00:43:42.480 --> 00:43:43.099 to meditate 00:43:43.099 --> 00:43:43.639 on it. 00:43:44.779 --> 00:43:45.500 Again, I'll 00:43:45.500 --> 00:43:46.039 ask that you 00:43:46.039 --> 00:43:46.460 would help us 00:43:46.460 --> 00:43:46.960 to see more 00:43:46.960 --> 00:43:47.720 clearly what 00:43:47.720 --> 00:43:48.079 the Bible 00:43:48.079 --> 00:43:48.679 has to say 00:43:48.679 --> 00:43:49.119 about your 00:43:49.119 --> 00:43:50.000 law and 00:43:50.000 --> 00:43:50.500 all of the 00:43:50.500 --> 00:43:51.059 things that 00:43:51.059 --> 00:43:51.980 we should 00:43:51.980 --> 00:43:52.539 learn from 00:43:52.539 --> 00:43:53.559 it for our 00:43:53.559 --> 00:43:55.039 growth and 00:43:55.039 --> 00:43:56.360 ultimately for 00:43:56.360 --> 00:43:56.960 your glory. 00:43:57.659 --> 00:43:58.760 In Jesus' name, 00:43:58.760 --> 00:43:59.480 amen. 00:43:59.480 --> 00:43:59.580 Amen.

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