The message that I am giving you today should be extremely helpful to you in understanding the "big picture" of how we are to live our Christian lives. It gives you insights in to what God expects of you.
Title:
“Getting the Proper Law Degree”
Jesus was asked by a rich young ruler in Matthew 19, "What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal
life?" Jesus responded... "keep the law." Confused, the young man asked, "Which law?"
That is the topic of this message, "Which Law am I Under?"
There are three laws that God has laid down for mankind. Each law, higher than the other law. Have you
"graduated" to the higher law? Let me explain.
Law Number One: "The Law of Nature"
There is a law that God has placed within nature and within the conscientiousness of man.
The Apostle Paul was called to be a missionary to enlighten the eyes of the Gentiles. Although the
Gentiles were considered "heathens." They were not without the law.
(Rom 2:14,15) For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the
law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which show the work of the law written in their
hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing
one another;)
God has placed his law in nature. The wages of sin is death both for the Jew and the Gentile alike. A lost
man is governed by this law. He may not believe in it. He may not respect it, but this law will govern his
life.
The Law of nature cannot save a man. The point of this law is to point man to a higher law! The lost
man should come to this conclusion as he observes the natural law, "There must be a God."
Although the natural law cannot save a man, if he rejects it, it leaves a man "rebellious."
The Law of Nature makes man Rebellious
Law Number Two: "The Law of Moses."
God came to Moses in the burning bush. For the next forty years God continued to enlighten Moses with
a higher moral law. The purpose of this law was, again, to point him to the need of a yet "higher law."
When Moses came down from the mountain with the tablets of stone, the Hebrew people with one voice
promised, "All that God has said, we will do."
God knew better. He implemented atonement through the blood sacrifice.
Read (Gal 3:24)
"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."
Before a man will come to Christ for salvation, he must first begin to understand his need for a redeemer.
The Law of Moses could not save. Any man who attempts to keep the entirety of Law of Moses will live
in utter frustration. "For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God." (Romans 3:23)
Although the Law of Moses could not save him, it did "school" him in his need for Christ. A Pharisee
will use the Law of Moses to become his outward garment of religion. But in the sight of God this
religion is merely "filthy rags." God looks upon the heart.
The Law of Moses makes man Religious.
Law Number Three: "The Law of Christ."
One of the most insightful verses in the Bible in found in Gen 49:10. Jacob prophesied:
"The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and
unto him shall the gathering of the people be."
Note that the eternal law that men were to live "under," did not come from the seed of Levi. (Moses)
Jacob promised that a "Lawgiver" would come from the line of Judah! David was from the line of Judah.
God would establish another law, a higher law. Jesus is from the line of Judah. He is to be the
“Lawgiver” of the Born again Christian! Jesus is to be our King.
What is the "Law of Christ" that should govern our hearts? You will be amazed by its simplicity!
(Gal 6:2) "Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ."
There is much confusion about this.
Much of the confusion of the Book of Acts 15, dealt with this very topic? The first Christians asked,
"Under what "law" were the New Testament Gentiles to follow?"
The answer to this question is detailed for us in Paul’s epistle to the Galations.
What does it mean to frustrate the grace of God? (Gal 2:21) "I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if
righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
A born again Christian can fall in to one of three areas. What does it mean to “Fall from Grace?”
Perhaps the new born babe in Christ thinks that, because he has been set free from “the Law of Sin and
Death,” he no longer is governed by any law, and, therefore, can he can live his life in liberty. (Without
Law.) This thinking will only cause the existing laws to reinsert themselves.
Although, a saved man is "saved," from the eternal consequences of his sin, a rebellious saint will soon
find himself with an empty life and an early grave.
The second area that a new born babe in Christ could fall into is not in understanding nor accepting the
diploma given to him by Christ. Jesus kept every jot and tittle of the Natural Laws and the Laws given to
us by Moses. On graduation day, Christ proclaimed, "It is finished!" He took removed the guilt stain of
sin from us, and handed to us his diploma of righteousness!
Too many Christians live in guilt. They are attempting to become "religious." The Law of Christ was not
given to us to make us religious. Christ died to make us righteous.
Righteousness is God’s ability to be right with God and to be right with others. We can now have
fellowship with God and fellowship with one another.
Illustration:
My Son, Jonathan, is in his final year of College. He is studying to become a Chemical Engineer. After
sixteen years of studying in "Books," a few weeks ago, he took a "J Term." A "J Term" is a field study.
Jonathan took a trip to the Florida Everglades. It was time to put his "book learning" into practice. He
loved riding in the big fan driven boat, observing the laws of nature within nature. He was finally "free"
to practice what he had been learning about for sixteen years! You, too, have been set free to follow
Christ!
God has given us a practical righteousness. Do you "love your neighbor?"
Which Law governs your life?
My professor is not a tree (Nature). My professor is not Moses. My professor is Christ. He is the divine
teacher of my life. He guides me with the wisdom of the inner witness of the Holy Spirit.
Do you have a "Proper Law Degree?"
The Law of Christ Makes a Man Righteous!
I am not religious, I am righteous!
