Participants: Geoff Youlden
Series Code: FGW
Program Code: FGW000007
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00:27 I'm going to read you two texts today
00:31 that seem to contradict one another. 00:34 Now we know the Bible doesn't contradict itself 00:38 because it just doesn't do that. 00:41 But these two texts do seem to contradict one another. 00:45 Let me read the first one to you. 00:47 Come over to the book of Ephesians the 2nd chapter - 00:51 at the back of the Bible, the book of Ephesians - 00:54 chapter 2 and verse 15. 00:58 Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 15. 01:01 Paul writes this statement: 01:22 Now here Paul is saying that a law contained in commandments, 01:28 the commandments contained in ordinances, 01:30 has been done away with. 01:32 It's been nailed to the cross. 01:34 So are we clear on that? 01:37 All right. Well maybe you won't be so clear when we read 01:40 the next verse. Come over to the book of James now 01:43 chapter 2 at the back of the Bible. 01:45 James chapter 2 01:49 and here James makes a very interesting statement... 01:54 the opposite statement. 01:56 James 2 02:00 and we'll have a look at verse 10. 02:33 Now this seems to contradict exactly what Paul was 02:38 talking about in Ephesians because Ephesians says 02:41 the law contained in ordinances has been done away with 02:44 whereas James says 02:48 we're going to be judged by the law. 02:51 How do you reconcile those two apparently contradictory 02:55 statements? One that says the law has been done away with; 02:59 the other that says we're going to be judged by it. 03:04 Now that's a serious problem and many Christians have 03:08 stumbled over this very point. 03:10 You see the word law in the Bible is a very, very broad 03:15 term... the same as we use it today. 03:18 For example, if I came to you and I said: "Today 03:21 I broke the law" 03:24 what would your next question to me be? 03:28 Yeah. Which law? 03:30 Because we all understand the word law can mean many things, 03:34 doesn't it? It just doesn't mean one thing. 03:37 I might have broken the road laws, 03:40 the health laws, the marriage laws. 03:42 There's a whole lot of laws that we could break 03:46 and they're all different. 03:49 And the word law in the Bible is a very broad term 03:54 and it's only the context that makes it clear 03:57 which law it's talking about. 03:59 So when we go back to Ephesians and Paul says there 04:03 that the law contained in ordinances has been done away 04:06 with, that is not the same law that James is talking about 04:11 when he says that we're going to be judged by that law. 04:15 Because you remember that James is talking about the 04:18 Ten Commandments because he quotes from the Ten Commandments 04:21 doesn't he? There in verse 11. 04:25 Whereas the law that Paul is talking about 04:30 is the law contained in ceremonies and ordinances. 04:34 And the two things are very, very different. 04:39 And it's because many Christians have not noticed the clear 04:44 distinction between these two laws 04:48 that we have an absolute hotch potch 04:52 in the Christian church today. 04:55 But it's a very simple thing. Once you understand 04:57 the difference, most of the problems that people raise 05:01 against the law and the Sabbath in particular disappear. 05:09 Let me read you some more verses. 05:11 Just come over to the book of Hebrews now. 05:13 Hebrews chapter 7 which is just back one book. 05:16 Hebrews 7 and verse 12. 05:19 Hebrews chapter 7 and verse 12 05:24 where again Hebrews says in verse 12: 05:37 So here Hebrews is pointing out that when the priesthood 05:42 was changed... that is, the priesthood was changed 05:46 from the earthly priesthood to the heavenly priesthood 05:50 that Jesus is engaged in today... 05:53 When that priesthood was changed there was made a necessity 05:57 to change the law, too, 06:01 because there was a law which governed the earthly priesthood. 06:05 And when that came to an end that was changed. 06:11 Have a look at Hebrews 5:1 which is just back another page. 06:16 Hebrews the 5th chapter and verse 1 06:20 where again Hebrews says: 06:38 In other words, because people sinned 06:42 and broke one of the Ten Commandments 06:45 then another law came into being 06:49 which stated and specified 06:52 what sacrifice was to be offered 06:57 for the broken law of the Ten Commandments. 07:01 Can you see the point? 07:02 So the second law - that is, the law of the Jews, 07:05 the law of ceremonies that Ephesians is talking about - 07:09 specified the specific gift or sacrifice 07:15 that was to be offered when people sinned 07:19 and broke one of the Ten Commandments. 07:22 And that's what Hebrews here is talking about. 07:25 And so that's why as Christians we do not involve ourselves 07:30 in the major ritual of the Jews: 07:32 because that came to an end when Jesus died on the cross. 07:38 The purpose of the ritual of the Jews, the ceremonies and 07:41 the ordinances that were associated with the Jewish 07:43 religion, all really pointed forward to the time when 07:47 Jesus was going to come in one form or another. 07:52 Because as you can imagine living back in the Old Testament 07:56 it was very hard to visualize the idea of Jesus 08:00 coming to die for us. 08:01 And so God had to make that a visual representation 08:06 like a kindergarten lesson 08:08 so that they could understand clearly that one day 08:13 Jesus was going to come. 08:15 And all of those sacrificial lambs and goats 08:18 and bulls and all the things that were done - the ritual 08:21 of the Old Testament - really the purpose of it was 08:25 to point those peoples' minds to the time that one day 08:30 Jesus was going to come and die for us. 08:33 And obviously, when Jesus did come and die for us 08:38 that ritual came to an end. 08:41 And that's what much of the New Testament is talking about 08:45 because once again, when you had had these rituals 08:50 for 1,500 years, they were going to die pretty hard 08:56 in the minds of the people that had been used to engaging 08:59 in this type of service for all of those long years. 09:04 And so the New Testament clearly talks about the abolition 09:09 of the law of the Jews or the law of ceremonies. 09:13 The law of ordinances, the laws of sacrifices. 09:17 Now the Bible makes a very clear distinction between 09:20 these two laws. Let me read it to you. 09:22 Come back to Deuteronomy at the beginning of the Bible - 09:24 Deuteronomy chapter 33 - and you'll see very clearly 09:28 how the Bible distinguishes between these two laws. 09:31 Deuteronomy chapter 33 09:36 and we'll have a look at verse 2. 10:01 What law was that? That fiery law that came on Mt. Sinai? 10:05 And the Bible says God gave that law because 10:09 He loved the people. What law was that? 10:11 That's the Ten Commandments. Correct! 10:14 Couldn't disagree with that because the Bible's so clear 10:17 on it. That's the Ten Commandments. 10:19 And remember this: that God gave the Ten Commandments 10:22 because He loves us. 10:25 You know, you parents will understand this analogy. 10:29 We make laws in our home, we have rules in our home, 10:33 to knock and to be a hindrance to our children? 10:37 Is that the reason we make laws in our home? 10:39 No! It's because we love the children 10:43 and we understand that when they're growing up 10:45 and they haven't had a lot of experience in life 10:48 unless they have rules and regulations 10:52 they could do themselves a lot of harm 10:54 and get themselves into a lot of trouble. 10:56 So as wise parents because we love them 11:00 we make some rules. 11:03 Now God is exactly the same. 11:05 God gave us the Ten Commandments not to restrict us 11:09 but because He loves us 11:11 and He knows that without rules like we understand with our 11:15 children without rules they would just go berserk 11:19 and would grow up very, very warped personalities. 11:24 And so God knew the same thing. 11:26 That's why He gave us the Ten Commandments: 11:28 because He loves us. Now, have a look at verse 4 11:31 because it goes on to say: 11:37 You see how the Bible makes a distinction between what God 11:40 gave and what Moses gave? 11:43 Let me give you another illustration. 11:45 Come over to II Kings. 11:46 II Kings chapter 21. 11:50 II Kings chapter 21 and we'll pick up here 11:55 verse 8. 11:58 Chapter 21 of II Kings and we'll read verse 8. 12:26 Can you see how the Bible makes a very clear distinction 12:29 between what God gave when He says "I commanded them 12:32 and what my servant Moses commanded them? " 12:36 So all through the Bible there's a very, very clear distinction. 12:42 Now I'm going to read you a statement by Mrs. Booth. 12:46 Now I'm sure that many of you know who Mrs. Booth was. 12:50 She was a very famous lady. 12:51 She was the wife of Mr. Booth 12:55 or General Booth who was the founder of the Salvation Army, 13:00 and she was a mighty preacher in her own right... 13:03 probably a better preacher than her husband. 13:05 And she made this statement in one of her books 13:08 on Romans chapter 8. 13:10 Listen to what she says: 13:22 Let me just pause here for a moment to explain that big word 13:25 antinomianism. 13:27 It's not a word that you probably use today. 13:29 But it simply means to be anti-law. 13:33 When a person is anti the law 13:35 they are antinomian. 13:37 Comes from a number of Greek words. 13:40 And so when we read this statement 13:42 she said "there has come to be a spirit of antinomianism" 13:45 or there has come to be a spirit of being against the law. 13:49 Opposed to the law. 13:51 Let's read on: 14:48 Now can you see what Mrs. Booth is saying? 14:52 She was saying back in her day there was a spirit of 14:55 antinomianism or anti law. 14:56 I don't know what she would say if she was alive today. 14:58 But... because it's become a lot worse 15:02 today than it was back in her day! 15:04 But that spirit was evident when she was alive. 15:07 And she said there has come a spirit of confusion 15:10 between the moral and the ceremonial laws. 15:13 Now what would be the moral law do you think? 15:17 Yeah, that's the Ten Command- ments because it deals with 15:19 moral principles and the ceremonial law which deals with? 15:22 Ceremonies and ordinances and rites and sacrifices. 15:27 And she said in her day in theological circles 15:31 in the church there was a great confusion between those 15:35 two laws. And she said: "Be very careful. 15:39 Make sure when you read the Bible 15:41 that you are clear which law is being spoken about. " 15:47 Whether it's the great moral law which never can be changed 15:50 or the ceremonial law which in Christ was done away with. 15:56 And she said: "Because there has come a confusion... " 16:00 She calls it a "hotch potch. " 16:02 Real total confusion in the church today 16:05 because people don't understand the difference between 16:09 the Ten Commandments and the law of the Jews. 16:12 But the Bible makes a very, very clear distinction. 16:15 Now in order to make it clear, I've got a little sheet 16:18 that I'm going to ask the ushers if you wouldn't mind 16:20 just handing out to everybody 16:22 which clearly makes the difference very obvious. 16:27 So they are just going to hand that out 16:29 and then we are going to read it together 16:31 because you'll find it to be very, very helpful. 16:35 Extremely helpful. 16:37 And it sets out the difference between these two laws. 16:41 So you'll all get one of these. 16:43 And those of you who are watching will be able to see it 16:46 on the screen. 16:48 But these are the two major divisions 16:53 of the divine law. First of all 16:56 on the left-hand side you'll see the moral precepts. 16:59 For example, James says it is called "the royal law" 17:03 or "the law of liberty. " 17:06 Whereas on the other side the ceremonial is called 17:10 "the law of commandments contained in ordinances. " 17:14 The second point is that the Ten Commandments 17:18 were spoken by God Himself 17:21 whereas the law of Moses was given by Moses. 17:26 That's why it's called The Law of Moses. 17:28 Moses was told by God what to say 17:31 but it was still given through Moses. 17:33 Whereas the Ten Commandments remember were written by 17:36 God's finger on stone. That's the third point. 17:39 God never even trusted Moses to write the Ten Commandments down. 17:43 And when the first lot were broken, 17:45 God wrote them down the second time with His own finger 17:48 on stone. That's how sacredly 17:51 God regards the Ten Commandments. 17:53 Whereas on the other side 17:56 the law of Moses was written by Moses in a book... 18:00 in the book of the law. 18:02 On the other hand, the Ten Commandments were placed inside 18:06 the ark. Now we're not talking about Noah's ark here. 18:10 This is the ark of the covenant in the sanctuary. 18:14 And whereas the law of Moses was placed in a little pocket 18:18 on the side of the ark in the sanctuary. 18:22 A very clear distinction. 18:24 One was inside; the other was on THE side of the ark. 18:29 The Ten Commandments existed before sin... 18:32 otherwise there would be no sin 18:34 because it's the Ten Command- ments which define what sin is. 18:38 And if you don't have a definition of sin 18:42 there would be no sin. 18:45 Whereas the law of Moses was given after man had sinned. 18:51 The Ten Commandments the purpose was to reveal sin. 18:55 It was to point out what sin is. 18:57 Whereas the law of Moses the purpose was 19:02 to reveal the remedy for sin 19:04 through the ordinances and through the ceremonies. 19:08 The Ten Commandments were a complete, perfect, holy, just, 19:13 and good the New Testament says in Romans. 19:15 Whereas the law of Moses was subject to change 19:20 and the Bible says it made nothing perfect 19:23 because it pointed forward to the perfection that was to come 19:27 in Jesus. The Bible says the moral law or the 19:30 Ten Commandments was eternal 19:32 and it was established by the gospel. 19:34 Whereas the law of Moses was temporary 19:38 and abolished at the cross. 19:40 So I just thought that you would be pleased to get 19:43 that clear distinction because 19:45 that makes us clear in our minds of the distinction 19:49 that the Bible makes between the two. 19:50 Now by the way, this distinction is not something 19:54 which Sabbath-keepers have come up with. 19:58 Do you know that every church has taught the clear 20:01 distinction between the ceremon- ial law and the moral law? 20:05 This is not just something that I have thought about. 20:09 All churches have taught that. 20:12 In fact, those of you who have been brought up in the 20:15 Anglican church or Episcopalial church 20:19 and the Methodist church, Uniting church, 20:22 will remember that as the minister reads each one of the 20:27 Ten Commandments the people stand up and they say 20:33 "Lord, incline our hearts to keep this law. " 20:39 And that's good Biblical teaching. 20:42 I commend the churches for doing that because that's 20:47 good Biblical teaching. 20:50 But it's interesting that the same prayer book out of which 20:54 you - the congregation - read their response 20:57 as the minister reads each one of the Ten Commandments 21:00 the same prayer book makes this statement. Listen: 21:30 So the Anglican prayer book clearly points out 21:33 that there... while nobody has to keep the law of ceremonies 21:37 now everybody is obliged to be obedient 21:42 to the commandments which are called moral: 21:46 the Ten Commandments. 21:48 That's good Biblical teaching 21:50 and it happens to be good Anglican teaching. 21:53 It's pretty good teaching just about from every church 21:56 that's taught that. But you see, a problem arose... 22:01 and the problem was this: 22:03 when Sabbath-keepers came to town and they said: 22:05 "Look, we agree with you good Christians 22:08 in upholding the Ten Commandments. 22:10 We believe, too, with you; we are all united in believing 22:14 that the Ten Commandments are eternally binding. " 22:17 But Sabbath-keepers said: 22:20 "Why is it then that you do not observe the fourth commandment 22:25 which says the seventh day is the Sabbath 22:28 not the first day of the week? " 22:31 That was a deep embarrassment to these people. 22:35 And do you know what they did? In order to get around that 22:37 difficulty they then picked up verses in the Bible 22:42 that apply against the law of ceremonies and ordinances 22:46 and sacrifices and they then applied that against 22:50 the Ten Commandments and the Sabbath in particular. 22:55 And because the average person doesn't read their Bible 22:58 too much, they just read that the law was done away with 23:04 and they presumed because that was what the church 23:07 was telling them... they just presumed then that that meant 23:10 that the law of God, the Ten Commandments and the Sabbath 23:13 in particular, was done away with. 23:15 Now can you see why Mrs. Booth says "there has come about 23:20 a hotch potch in the church today? " 23:22 An absolute confusion. 23:26 Because there are no verses... there's not one verse 23:29 in all the Bible that ever talks about the abolition of 23:32 the Ten Commandments or any one of the Ten Commandments. 23:34 Not a single verse anywhere. 23:36 But there are many verses which talk about 23:40 the abolition of the law of Moses... and rightly so! 23:44 And that's why Mrs. Booth says we ought to check up 23:48 to make sure in the context which law is being referred to 23:53 when we... when we read about the law. 23:57 You know, it's interesting that if you go over to the book 24:00 of Isaiah in the middle of the Bible, 24:03 Isaiah the 30th chapter... Just turn with me 24:05 to Isaiah chapter 30, would you? 24:07 Isaiah chapter 30 and verse 8. 24:12 I wish this verse actually wasn't in the Bible, but 24:14 it is and we need to read it 24:17 because it doesn't show Christians up in a good light. 24:20 But Isaiah chapter 30 and verse 8 makes this statement 24:24 where Isaiah is told: 24:34 God wants us never to forget this. 24:38 What does He want us never to forget? 24:40 Verse 9: 25:03 You know, what a commentary on the honesty 25:06 of Christians today 25:09 as it was a commentary on people back in Isaiah's day 25:14 who professed to be followers of God. 25:17 They said to their preachers and to their leaders 25:20 "Look, we want to hear anything from you. You can tell us 25:24 deceits. You can tell us lies. You can preach anything to us 25:29 but don't preach the law of God to us. 25:31 We don't want to hear the law of God. 25:36 Tell us lies if you want. 25:38 Tell us anything... 25:40 but don't preach the law of God. " 25:44 I want to tell you friends, that's a very sad indictment 25:46 against people, isn't it? 25:47 When God can write up that that's what people want. 25:52 Until today about the only thing that you ever hear 25:56 people say about the law, unfortunately, is that it's 25:59 done away with. And I've seen it. 26:00 Whenever I run a series of meetings I have people come 26:03 to me and they say: "Geoff, we have never heard 26:05 the Bible explained as simply and as clearly as you 26:08 are doing. " But some of those same people 26:13 when we talk and read from the same book 26:16 about the commandments and the Sabbath in particular 26:18 I couldn't shoot them out of the room quicker 26:22 if we had a machine gun. 26:24 Now why is that? 26:26 Well, it's because as the Bible says that people will not 26:30 be interested in the law of God. 26:34 They're not interested in hearing the standards 26:37 that God has. And if there's ever a generation 26:40 that is alive on this earth it's the generation alive now 26:44 that hardly knows the difference between right and wrong 26:47 and if ever a time in human history when we need to 26:50 be upholding the Ten Commandments it's now! 26:54 Because we've got a generation growing up that doesn't know 26:59 what is right. 27:04 And in fact, if you go to people today and you say 27:07 "Well this is what the Bible says" or "Well, this is 27:10 the right thing to do" they almost say that you're a bigot 27:13 or you're narrow-minded. 27:17 And our generation today is summed up with that song 27:21 that Frank Sinatra popularized many years ago 27:24 when he said: "I Did It My Way. " 27:26 That's the attitude of people today. 27:30 They want to do what's right in their own eyes. 27:35 But the Bible says there is a standard of right and wrong 27:38 and that standard is summarized in the Ten Commandments. 27:42 And instead of the church upholding the Ten Commandments 27:44 they are crying out for union 27:47 because they see people are dwindling away from the church. 27:52 And friend, I tell you what people want today: 27:54 they want to hear the Word of God. 27:58 I will beat a path to a man's door that can preach 28:02 it up and unfold the Bible to me 28:06 but I'm not interested in going along to a church 28:09 and just listening to what some person thinks is right. 28:13 Nor are millions of others. 28:14 That's why they're leaving the church. 28:19 The Bible says here in Isaiah that in the last days 28:22 people will not be interested in hearing the law of God. 28:26 And you and I see prophecy fulfilled before our very eyes 28:31 today. 28:32 I don't have to prove that to you. 28:34 And if you haven't yet heard people talk against the 28:36 Ten Commandments, you haven't talked to them much about 28:39 the Sabbath and so forth. 28:40 When you do, let me tell you, you'd better be prepared 28:43 because that's what they're going to tell you. 28:49 Now there are a couple of verses that my friends who 28:52 oppose the Sabbath always want to quote, 28:56 and I want to have a look at one or two of those now. 28:58 Come over to the book of Galatians. 29:00 In fact, I've had people say to me: 29:01 "The way to fix up you Sabbath- keepers is just simply 29:05 to read Galatians. " 29:06 "Galatians will soon put you straight. " 29:09 Well friend, I have never had anyone who wanted to stay 29:11 in Galatians very long at all 29:14 when you simply point out 1 or 2 little things to them. 29:16 But let me read you the verses that are often quoted to me. 29:22 When I say "to me" I mean "against me 29:25 and against what I'm teaching. " 29:27 This is the first verse... Galatians 5 and verse 1: 29:41 And they say: "That's you! You are putting a yoke of 29:45 bondage on the people 29:48 by teaching them to keep the Sabbath 29:52 and upholding the Ten Commandments. 29:54 You've got this yoke of bondage on them. " 29:59 But you know, friend, they never read the next verse 30:01 because the next verse explains what the yoke of bondage is. 30:05 But they only ever read that first verse. 30:09 What does the next verse say? Have a look at verse 2: 30:21 What was the problem? 30:23 Well, it was simply this: 30:25 that back in those days the Jews who had become Christians 30:30 were teaching the Christians or those who were pagans 30:34 who wanted to become Christians they said: "Look, 30:36 in order to become a Christian you've got to become a Jew first 30:39 before you can become a Christian 30:42 and you have to be circumcised. " 30:43 Because being circumcised was the outward evidence 30:47 of being a Jew back in the Old Testament. 30:49 That was correct. 30:51 And they were continuing teach- ing this in the New Testament 30:55 after Jesus had come. 30:57 And Paul is thundering against that teaching 31:01 because he says: "In Christ that has been done away with. " 31:06 And you can understand, friend. 31:08 We must not be too intolerant of these Jewish Christians 31:12 because we've got to understand that the tradition 31:15 of circumcision had been in the church - 31:17 or the Jewish church - for over 1,500 years. 31:20 And suddenly Christ comes along and the New Testament teaching 31:26 comes along. Paul starts to teach them 31:28 it's all done away with. Now you can understand that 31:30 that was very unsettling to them. Can you see the point? 31:33 And they really struggled coming to grips with this. 31:36 And so many of them wanted to go back to their old ways 31:40 and they wanted to accept Christ but they wanted to 31:42 hang on to the old as well 31:44 and they wanted to link them together. 31:46 And the purpose of the book of Galatians 31:48 is to thunder against that misteaching. 31:53 In fact, if you read through... 31:56 and once you point this out, of course, to people 31:58 they want to get out of Galatians pretty quickly. 32:00 Because I have simply said to people: "You show me 32:03 one reference in the book of Galatians to the Sabbath. " 32:06 There's no references to the Sabbath in Galatians. 32:09 Not talking about the Sabbath; 32:11 it's talking mainly about circumcision. 32:14 In fact, circumcision is mentioned over 13 times 32:17 in the book of Galatians and there's only six chapters! 32:21 In fact, if you have a look... Let me just read it to you... 32:24 Have a look at verse 3 of chapter 2. 32:27 Chapter 2 verse 3: 32:36 Verse 4: 32:46 And then if you go down to verse 7 32:50 you'll notice that circumcision is mentioned again. 32:54 Verse 8... circumcision. All through these verses. 32:59 The subject is circumcision 33:02 because they were wanting to teach the people 33:05 that you have to be circumcised or to become a Jew first 33:08 and follow the ceremonies of the Jewish religion 33:11 and THEN you can become a Christian. 33:13 And Paul writes Galatians to say: "Nothing doing 33:17 because you're taking us back into bondage. 33:21 Now Christ has come and set us free from that! " 33:26 So friends, that's not saying... God is not saying 33:29 that set us free from the Ten Commandments. 33:31 There's no reference to that anywhere in Galatians. 33:34 It's circumcision which is the subject of Galatians 33:37 or the major emphasis in Galatians. 33:40 Have a look at chapter 5 again in verses 3 and 4. 33:45 And Paul says here in verse 3: 33:54 Tell me... is that logical? 33:56 "If you're going to follow circumcision, " Paul says, 33:58 "you have to do everything. " 34:00 You have to become a debtor to the whole law... 34:02 which is logical. Verse 4: 34:17 So the issue here was over circumcision. 34:23 In fact, let me read you again chapter 3 of Galatians. 34:26 Just back a page. 34:27 The third chapter of Galatians and verse 10 where Paul writes: 34:36 And I say that's you... talking to me. 34:39 You're putting a curse upon the people 34:42 in what you're preaching. 34:44 So hang on, let's just continue to read: 35:00 What was written in a book? 35:02 The law of the Jews. We noticed that before. 35:07 In fact, if you come down to verse 19 35:11 again Paul makes it clear when he says... 35:15 Because you see after arguing against the law of ceremonies - 35:19 the law of circumcision - you could ask the question 35:22 that is asked in verse 19: 35:24 "What purpose then does the law serve? " 35:26 If it's done away with, what purpose did it have? 35:31 Well he adds: 35:43 So the Bible makes it very clear that this law - 35:47 the law of the ceremonies - was for a temporary period. 35:51 "Until the Seed should come. " 35:54 Who was the Seed? 35:55 That's Jesus! 35:57 And when Jesus came, that law was done away with. 36:02 And you can understand, friends, that people don't want to stay 36:05 in Galatians very long 36:06 once you point out one or two of those things. 36:09 Galatians is not a difficult book at all. 36:11 As I said, the major emphasis in Galatians is over the... 36:16 over circumcision. That's what occurs over and over 36:19 and over again. 36:21 Now another verse that is terribly misunderstood 36:25 by many Christians is found back here in Romans 36:28 chapter 6 and verse 14. Let me just read this to you. 36:31 Romans chapter 6 and verse 14. 36:36 And I'm sure you've heard this verse. 36:38 You only ever hear half the verse, 36:41 but it's half the verse which is quoted over and over again. 36:44 Romans chapter 6 and verse 14 where Paul writes: 36:58 See, they say "You're no longer under the law 37:01 because you've been saved by grace. " 37:04 And people think that that verse teaches that the 37:07 Ten Commandments have been done away with. 37:10 Well let me illustrate. 37:11 Let's say I'm driving my car around town 37:14 and I'm thinking about the meeting and so forth, 37:18 I'm not worrying about the speed. 37:20 I should be concentrating, but my mind's on other things. 37:23 And suddenly I see a blue light and a red light 37:27 flashing in my rear vision mirror. 37:30 Pull over. 37:31 So I pull my car over, and whenever that happens 37:35 I always get out of the car. I never have the policeman 37:37 look at me through the window. 37:38 I always get out and look him straight in the eye. 37:40 You can see I've had a bit of experience with this. 37:43 And so I get out, and he said: 37:48 "Can I see your license? " 37:50 "Is there any reason that you were doing 80 kilometers an hour 37:54 in a 60 zone? " 37:56 "Well, I really haven't got an excuse. " 37:59 And with that he gets into his pocket and gets out the book. 38:04 The book goes back, and he gets his pen out 38:08 and then I know things are pretty serious now. 38:11 And he begins to write. 38:14 And I object, you see, a bit. 38:15 "Well, " he said, "if you want to object, you can go down 38:18 to the court. " So, that's what I do. 38:21 When it comes up an opportunity I go down to the court. 38:25 And the magistrate says when my name is called up: 38:28 "How do you plead? " I say: "Look, your honor, 38:30 I plead guilty with extenuating circumstances. " 38:35 "Oh? What are those circumstances? " 38:38 Well I explained that my mind wasn't on things 38:41 and I was going to a meeting to teach the people 38:43 to keep the law... and here I am breaking it myself! 38:47 So I said: "It's a great embarrassment to me. " See? 38:50 Well I put up a pretty good case 38:53 and I'm polite to him and he says: "Well, look, 38:55 under these circumstances this time... 38:57 We've checked your record; we'll let you off this time. 39:00 The court is going to extend its grace to you today. " 39:03 Well I'm delighted because that was going to cost me over $200. 39:07 So I'm delighted. 39:09 So I go out of the court and I get into my car 39:12 and I turn the engine on and I rev it up. 39:17 Big throaty motor. 39:19 Rev it up. 39:21 And I speed off and kick the stones out the back 39:25 and I'm driving 'round town. And it's not long before 39:28 I attract the attention of the law again. 39:30 And you wouldn't believe it... the blue light, the red light. 39:33 Pull over, and it's the same policeman if you please. 39:36 He said: "Haven't I met you before? " 39:39 And I said: "Yes, a couple of weeks ago we met. " 39:42 "Well, " he said, "what's the reason you're speeding 39:44 this time? " Well I said: "Listen, officer, " 39:47 I said, "I have been to court since I last saw you 39:51 and I want to explain to you that the court 39:54 extended its grace to me. 39:56 And I want you to understand from this point onwards 40:00 don't ever pursue me again because now I'm under grace. 40:04 I don't have to worry about your law. " 40:09 Tell me, friend, what would happen if I was foolish enough 40:13 to argue like that? 40:14 What do you think would happen? 40:16 When I face up the magistrate the next time 40:19 do you think he's going to extend any more grace to me? 40:21 Absolutely not. He'll throw the book at me! 40:24 Now listen, friends, in real life no one would argue 40:28 such foolish nonsense like that. 40:30 But when it comes to Christianity, that's exactly 40:33 what Christians argue. 40:35 They argue that because we're saved by grace 40:38 that that frees us from being obedient to the commandment. 40:45 But listen! 40:47 The very fact that we need to be saved by grace 40:52 is the greatest evidence that the Ten Commandments 40:55 are still binding. 40:57 Let me illustrate. 40:59 Let's say a policeman comes in here 41:02 and he arrests us all. 41:04 And we all have to go down to court tomorrow morning. 41:07 And the magistrate says, the judge says: "Why have you 41:09 brought all of these people? " And the policeman says: 41:12 "I caught them all studying the Bible. " 41:15 "Well, " the judge says, "I don't think there's any law 41:19 against that. Well, I'll pardon the lot of you. " 41:23 How would you react if the judge said: "I'll pardon you? " 41:28 Would you accept his pardon? 41:31 I see you shaking your head in the negative. 41:33 Why wouldn't you accept his pardon? 41:35 Or why don't you need to accept his pardon? 41:39 We haven't broken any law! 41:41 I only need grace when I've broken the law, 41:46 isn't that right? 41:47 If there is no law, I don't need grace! 41:51 Is that right? Absolutely! 41:55 If there was no law which said you only have to drive 41:59 at 60 in this zone, 42:01 could the officer pull me over for speeding? 42:04 Never. Only because there's a law 42:09 that I will need grace if I break it. 42:12 And the greatest evidence that the Ten Commandments 42:15 is still binding upon us today 42:17 is the fact that we need to be saved by grace. 42:20 I wouldn't need grace if there is no law! 42:26 Well you say: "What does this verse mean: 'you're not under 42:29 the law but you're under grace? ' " 42:31 It simply means when we accept Jesus we are no longer 42:35 under the law's condemnation. That's what it's saying. 42:38 And thank God for that! Aren't you glad of that? 42:42 That when Jesus comes into our life and He atones 42:47 for our sin we are no longer under the law's condemnation. 42:52 That's what Romans is talking about. 42:54 It's not saying the law's been done away with 42:56 because clearly in the book of Romans Paul says 43:00 "Do we do away with the law? " "No, " he says, 43:03 "we establish the law. " Romans 3:31 43:06 and many other verses like that in the book of Romans 43:09 over and over again. 43:12 Now there's another verse, too, that many folk misquote 43:17 and I want to have a look at it with you. 43:19 Come over to the book of Colossians. 43:21 Colossians chapter 2 because 43:24 I want to have a look at these verses because listen 43:27 I can almost promise you that as you get excited about 43:31 these messages... and I know you are 43:33 as I became excited about them when I first heard them... 43:36 and you begin to talk to other Christians about the Sabbath 43:40 and the commandment, I want to tell you these are the texts 43:43 that they're going to bring up to you. 43:45 So that's why I'm going over them 43:47 so that you are familiar with them. Get the idea? 43:49 And you need to pay a lot of attention to this 43:53 because I can promise you these are the verses 43:57 you will meet. And Colossians 2 in particular. 44:01 This is what it says in verse 14: 44:14 So here is something that was nailed to the cross. 44:18 Then verse 16 is the verse that is so often quoted 44:23 but misquoted: 44:40 "Oh, " you say, "it mentions the Sabbath 44:43 which is a shadow of things to come. " 44:46 Yes it does, but I want you to notice the context 44:50 that Paul is talking about here 44:52 because he says here 44:55 that we are not to judge anyone in food or in drink. 44:58 How many foods and drinks are mentioned in the 44:59 Ten Commandments? Are there any? 45:02 No. What about festivals or new moons? 45:05 Any of those mentioned in the Ten Commandments? 45:08 No. 45:09 Are they mentioned in the Jewish law? 45:12 The law of ceremonies? 45:13 Absolutely. Full of them. 45:17 Well you say it mentions the Sabbath. 45:19 Yes it does, and the context here: "which are a shadow 45:23 of things to come. " The things that Paul here 45:26 is talking about that were done away with at the cross 45:29 were those things which were a shadow of things to come. 45:33 Now listen: 45:34 was the seventh-day Sabbath a shadow of anything? 45:40 When was it made? Before Adam and Eve sinned 45:44 or after? 45:45 BEFORE in the Garden of Eden. 45:48 Before the death of Jesus was even necessary 45:50 the Sabbath was made... the same as marriage. 45:54 Both of those gifts that God gave to us were in existence 45:58 before Adam and Eve sinned. Therefore, 46:01 neither of them point forward to Jesus and His death 46:06 because as yet that death wasn't necessary. 46:11 It was only after Adam and Eve sinned 46:14 that Jesus needed to die, isn't that right? 46:17 The seventh-day Sabbath points backwards to creation. 46:21 But you say: "It mentions the Sabbaths here. " 46:24 Yes it does. And what we have to understand 46:27 is that in the Jewish law - 46:32 the law of ceremonies - there were seven annual Sabbaths. 46:37 That is, they were kept once a year. 46:39 There was Pentecost Sabbath. Day of Atonement Sabbath. 46:43 Firstfruits Sabbath. Seven of them all together. 46:47 Passover Sabbath. Seven of them all together. 46:51 And they were kept once a year and they fell on a date 46:55 because like the Passover it commemorated a particular date 46:59 when the angel of death - remember? - passed over. 47:02 And so every year it fell on a different day 47:06 like Christmas does. Christmas falls on a different day 47:08 every year because it's a date, right? 47:11 So these annual Sabbaths - the seven of them - 47:14 fell on different days every year. 47:16 Now sometimes those days 47:21 coincided with the seventh- day Sabbath 47:24 and that's why the New Testament refers to it 47:26 as a "high day" when the two Sabbaths came together: 47:30 the ceremonial Sabbath and the weekly seventh-day Sabbath. 47:35 But this verse is talking about those ceremonial Sabbaths. 47:39 All the things that had to do with the ceremonies. 47:41 The drink offerings... the new moon. 47:47 The food offerings. All of that was associated with 47:50 the ceremonial law... that was done away with 47:53 when Jesus died on the cross. 47:54 And that's what Colossians is talking about. 47:57 It is not talking about the weekly Sabbath. 48:03 And once you understand that, friend, and just apply those 48:06 simple rules then there is no problem at all. 48:08 And that's why in the book of Revelation... If you come over 48:11 to Revelation chapter 14 and verse 12 48:15 John the Revelator makes this statement. 48:18 Revelation 14 and verse 12. 48:30 Those two things go together. 48:32 And it's interesting that the book of Revelation - written for 48:34 the last days - doesn't point out God's people 48:36 as keeping circumcision or the law of the Jews 48:40 but the Ten Commandments and the faith of Jesus 48:43 because those two things go together. 48:45 When we love Jesus we'll keep His commandments. 48:47 And God's people in the last days are going to be a people 48:51 who love Jesus so much that they are willing to do 48:55 all that He asks us to do. 48:57 And then after writing the book of Revelation 49:00 John wrote his epistle of John, that is, the letter of John. 49:04 Let's come back to the beginning of Revelation 49:06 and you'll go back past Jude 49:08 then you will come to I John. 49:11 I, II, and III John. 49:12 We'll have a look at I John chapter 3 and verse 4. 49:17 And here's a very interesting statement. 49:19 Very clear statement. I John chapter 3 and verse 4 49:23 where John writes: 49:34 So if you want a good Bible definition of sin 49:37 it is lawlessness. 49:39 When a person doesn't want to follow the law 49:41 and breaks the law, that's sin. 49:46 Now look... let me illustrate. 49:50 Let's argue the way some Christians argue. 49:56 First of all the Bible tells us if we put this into 49:59 diagrammatic form because there is a law 50:02 and a law that's broken, then there is sin. Is that right? 50:06 You can see that. 50:08 Because we have sinned and we've broken the law 50:12 we need who? A Savior. 50:16 Because we have a Savior we have a gospel. 50:22 And because we have a gospel then we have ministers 50:28 who tell people about that. 50:33 Now let's argue the way some Christians argue: 50:38 that the law's been done away with. 50:39 So let's just for a moment we'll say the law has been 50:43 done away with. 50:44 So as we look at our illustration again 50:47 the law's been done away with. 50:48 And if there is no law, is there any sin? 50:51 Can't be... because only where sin is 50:55 where there is a law... otherwise there would be no sin. 50:59 If there's no sin, do we need salvation? 51:01 No, because we're not sinners. 51:05 If there's no salvation, is there any need of a Savior? No. 51:09 If there's no Savior, is there any such thing as a gospel? No. 51:13 And if there's no gospel, is there any need of these fellows? 51:16 All in the doll queue... social services. 51:20 Can you see when you look at that equation now 51:24 on the screen, what is the devil really trying to aim at 51:27 when he teaches people that the law has been done away with? 51:30 What's he really getting after? 51:32 He's not so much worried about the law as such. 51:35 What's he really after in that equation? 51:38 What's he wanting to minimize in people's minds? 51:42 Yes, sin... and therefore the need of a Savior. 51:45 Isn't that right? He's aiming right at Jesus 51:48 because listen: if I don't think that I've sinned 51:51 why do I think I need to go to Jesus? 51:53 "I'm doing pretty well myself thank you very much. 51:56 I live a good life. " And you hear people say this. 51:59 "Don't talk to me about going to church. 52:01 I pay 100 cents on the dollar. 52:03 I don't do my neighbor any bad turns 52:06 and I live as good a life as anyone else. " 52:08 You ever heard people talk like that? 52:09 Hear it all the time. And you know that when a person 52:12 talks like that they are a long way away from Jesus 52:15 because when you're a long way away from Jesus 52:17 you talk about you're... yes, you feel you're doing well. 52:21 It's only when we get close to Jesus 52:24 that we recognize our sinfulness. 52:29 And that's why Satan is trying to minimize 52:32 the commandments in people's minds. 52:35 Because if they have no great acute sense of what sin is 52:39 they haven't got an acute sense of their need of Jesus. 52:43 And that's the central issue. 52:45 And the purpose of the law is not to save us. 52:49 We're not saved by keeping the law. 52:50 God forbid that anyone would ever think that. 52:52 The purpose of the law is to drive us to Jesus, 52:55 and that's why I want to uplift the Ten Commandments! 52:58 Not as a means of our salvation 53:00 but to drive us to Jesus. 53:03 Because the more I look into the mirror of the law 53:06 as James says... When I go to the bathroom in the morning 53:09 and I look at the mirror... The mirror... I don't wash 53:11 my face in the mirror but the mirror reveals 53:14 how much I needed the soap. 53:16 And that's why James says the law is a mirror. 53:19 Because the purpose of the law is to reveal to me 53:22 how much I need of Jesus. 53:25 That's why the Bible upholds the commandments 53:27 and why it's so necessary. 53:29 Let me just read you I John chapter 5. 53:31 This is a wonderful little book: I John. 53:34 Chapter 5 and verses 2 and 3. Look at this where John writes: 53:53 "For this is the love of God" it says 53:57 "that we keep His commandments. 53:58 And His commandments are not burdensome. " 54:02 When you love the Lord, the commandments aren't a burden 54:05 at all, John says. And it's true. 54:07 Let me illustrate. 54:09 It's about 5 o'clock 54:12 and the boss comes to John. Says: "John, I've got to 54:16 have this parcel taken over the other side of the city 54:19 and delivered to one of our clients. " 54:21 "Oh, right on knock-off time. " 54:24 Well... it's the boss and it's the job. 54:27 So he goes around to get the bus and realizes 54:33 that today there is a bus strike. 54:36 "Bother" he says. Grab the bike. 54:38 So he goes round to the back of the office - the shed 54:41 there - for a few things and a bike, 54:44 but the bike hasn't been ridden for so long 54:47 that the tires are all flat. 54:49 So he drags it out. Goes round to the bike shop. 54:52 But by now it's about quarter past five and the bike shop's 54:55 all shut up for the day and the man's gone home. 54:59 Drag the jolly bike back. Puts it back in the shed. 55:02 Realizes he'll have to walk, and it's one of those hot 55:05 humid days. 55:07 And as he walks and walks over to the other side of the city 55:10 he can feel the perspiration running down the back of 55:12 his neck and he thinks about that boss. 55:14 Thinks Herr Hitler is an exciting comparison. 55:18 But finally he delivers the parcel 55:21 and then he wanders home. 55:23 He gets home, and he's been so tired now after the day's 55:27 work and all this long walk that he just flops into the 55:30 easy chair and it's not long before he's sound asleep. 55:34 And all of a sudden the telephone rings. 55:36 Now I'm sure all of us have been woken up by the telephone 55:40 from a deep sleep and for a moment you wonder 55:41 what's going on. Then he suddenly realized 55:44 it was the telephone. He picks it up. 55:45 Feels like lead he's so tired. 55:47 Puts it up to his ear. 55:49 It's his girlfriend. 55:53 "Come around to tea? " "Sure, yes! " 55:56 "Yes, I know there's a bus strike. 55:58 Look, I'll jog around. That'll be no problem at all. " 56:03 What's made the difference? 56:05 Yes... a little word spelled L-O-V-E. 56:09 And I want to tell you friend, if you and I are struggling 56:12 with the commandments, the problem is not with the 56:16 commandments. Doing away with the commandments is not 56:18 going to solve the problem. 56:20 If I'm struggling with the commandments, what I need 56:23 is more of the love of Jesus in my heart, isn't that right? 56:27 Because when the love of Jesus comes into our hearts 56:30 we naturally want to do what God wants us to do. 56:33 It's not a burden. 56:35 It becomes a delight! 56:38 In fact, our highest delight is to do what God wants us to do 56:44 when we are in love with Him. 56:47 And we can all understand our relationship with love. 56:52 Because when you really love somebody you want to do 56:55 that which pleases that person. 56:57 It's not a burden at all. 56:59 Even washing the fellow's socks is not a problem. 57:04 Not when you love them, see? 57:06 But if there's no love, it becomes an absolute burden. 57:09 And that's why the Bible is talking here about 57:12 when we love Jesus we'll keep His commandments. 57:15 And I trust that God will help us and we will sense 57:20 the wonderful relationship between His commandments 57:23 which reveal to us our need of Jesus 57:26 and it drives us to Jesus to get to know Him better. 57:29 Let's just bow our heads together in prayer. 57:31 Our wonderful Father in heaven, I want to thank you 57:34 again for Jesus, and I want to thank you for 57:37 Your commandments. Not because we're saved by 57:40 keeping the commandments, Lord, but the commandments 57:42 reveal to us how much we need of Jesus. 57:46 They are like the mirror that as we look at the mirror 57:50 it drives us to the soap. And so the commandments 57:52 drive us to Jesus. And so I pray that You will help us, 57:56 Lord, to understand the relationship between 57:58 grace and law. That You'll help us to understand 58:02 that Jesus has given to us the commandments 58:04 because He loves us. 58:06 And so as we go home again today please be with us 58:09 and bring us back as further we study and look into these 58:12 wonderful wonderful truths. 58:14 For I pray for Christ's sake, Amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17