Participants: Chris Shelton (Host), Kenny Shelton
Series Code: BTLP
Program Code: BTLP000073A
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00:42 Hello, I'm Chris Shelton
00:43 and welcome to "Behold the Lamb Presents." 00:46 Today's message is the second message of a five part series 00:50 that we have appropriately entitled 00:52 "The Sabbath, a Test of Faith." 00:56 And a test of faith it is. 00:58 In today's world 00:59 we find a tremendous amount of information 01:02 that is written about whether we, as Christians, 01:05 are to worship on Sabbath or on Sunday. 01:09 And we find it easy to research various arguments 01:12 for against Sabbath worship in our technological age, 01:16 simply by just a few clicks on our web devices. 01:20 Many of us, who are searchers for the truth, 01:22 love these easy-to-use tools 01:24 to very quickly and conveniently 01:26 look up information. 01:28 But just as all books 01:30 that are written are not the truth, 01:32 all web searches are not truth as well. 01:36 All GPS guided location finders do not always lead you 01:40 to the correct desired address either. 01:43 They are all great much of the time 01:45 but they are not guaranteed to work correctly 01:48 all of the time. 01:50 And certainly, it wasn't the internet 01:52 that God preserved for instruction 01:54 to lead us to salvation. 01:57 As difficult and as simple as it may sound, 02:00 I challenge you as a searcher for truth, 02:03 to use the only guide 02:05 that has been preserved through all the ages for us to use 02:09 and that simply being the Bible. 02:12 Our salvational studies 02:14 are not to be left to human guidance. 02:16 But rather prayerfully open God's book. 02:20 Studying only the scriptures 02:21 and not man-supplied study helps. 02:24 Reading line upon line, precept upon precept, 02:28 here a little and there a little 02:30 and you will find truth. 02:31 In fact, the truth will illuminate your mind 02:33 through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 02:36 And that, my friends, 02:38 is just what we are going to do today. 02:41 Today's message is the second in our series, 02:44 "The Sabbath, a Test of Faith," 02:46 and it is entitled "The Law and Grace." 02:50 The Law and Grace have been so chisled away by man 02:54 that they are taught to mean 02:56 and say something that is totally foreign 02:59 to what is given in the Holy writ, the Bible. 03:01 So by God's grace, Pastor Kenny Shelton 03:04 will be presenting this subject in a way 03:07 that it was meant for us to understand 03:09 and to interpret from God's point of view, 03:12 as he follows scripture 03:14 and then lets the scripture interpret itself. 03:17 Every single one of us as God's children, 03:20 we all need to learn to do this very same thing 03:23 as we study the Bible. 03:25 Allow scripture to interpret scripture. 03:28 Then it all fits together as a beautiful portrait 03:32 of God's will for our lives. 03:34 But first, we are blessed to listen to a song 03:37 that is entitled "What a Friend" 03:39 as sung by our dear friend 03:41 Pastor John Lomacang from the 3ABN Worship Center. 03:58 What a friend we have in Jesus 04:08 All our sins and grieves to bear 04:17 What a privilege to carry 04:26 Everything to God in prayer 04:36 Oh, what peace we often forfeit 04:46 And, oh, what needless pains we bear 04:55 It's all because we do not carry 05:05 Everything to God in prayer 05:20 Are we weak and heavy-laden? 05:29 Are we cumbered with a load of care? 05:39 Precious Savior 05:43 Still my refuge 05:49 Take it to the Lord in prayer 05:59 Do thy friends despise 06:03 Forsake thee 06:07 So take it to the Lord in prayer 06:18 In His arms He'll take 06:23 And shield thee 06:31 Thou wilt 06:34 Find a solace there 06:48 Take it to the Lord in prayer 07:02 Thanks for joining us here once again at Behold the Lamb. 07:04 I'll tell you what I studied today, 07:06 you won't want to miss it. 07:07 This is the second part of our five-part series. 07:10 And we're going to be talking about Law and Grace, 07:13 a subject that many times missed, 07:15 people are studying they just miss the whole point. 07:19 And I don't want you to miss it today. 07:21 We're going to be looking 07:22 at Law specifically and its function. 07:24 We're going to be looking at Grace and its function. 07:27 Is it possible for both of them to work together 07:30 or does one void out the other? 07:34 You won't want to miss this 07:35 because, I'll tell you in the Christian world today, 07:37 oh, there is so much misunderstanding. 07:39 But you know, we are going to misunderstand here 07:42 if we don't pray first. 07:43 And we always have that habit and it's a good habit. 07:46 And I know, you are gonna pray along with me 07:48 so I'm going to kneel down and have prayer 07:50 and ask God to bless us as we read His word. 07:53 Remember when you're studying at home, 07:55 never open the Bible, 07:56 never those beautiful pages of life 08:00 and try to read them 08:01 without asking for the power of the Holy Spirit, 08:03 like we are doing right now. 08:04 Let's pray together, shall we? 08:08 Kind loving heavenly Father, we approach your throne, 08:10 not because of who we are 08:12 but because of Jesus Christ, our Lord. 08:14 We come boldly, we ask for divine help. 08:18 You said we could do it. 08:19 You said in your word, 08:21 we can count on you to send your Holy Spirit, 08:23 that you'll illuminate these beautiful truths, 08:25 shall open our minds and our hearts 08:27 and pray that you bless everyone of your children 08:29 around the world today, 08:30 who is striving to be like Jesus, 08:32 striving to put sin and the world behind them 08:35 and to look forward to spending eternity with you. 08:38 Lord, help us to understand this vital subject 08:42 and again, we are going to thank you in advance 08:44 as you send Your Holy Spirit to completely, 08:46 completely wrap your arms and your heart around 08:48 each and everyone of us 08:50 and I thank you in Jesus' name, Amen. 08:53 Ain't it nice to be able to go to God in prayer 08:55 and just know when you've prayed, 08:58 that He's heard you and He's going to answer? 09:01 Oh, that is so wonderful. 09:02 Again, we appreciate your cards and your letter 09:04 and questions that you have. 09:06 Keep calling in. 09:07 These series are so important, 09:09 you can just get one or two or three. 09:10 It's five parts. 09:11 You are going to need them all 09:13 because they all fit together like a glove 09:15 and it will help you in your study. 09:17 And I can guarantee you this. 09:18 It will help you 09:19 when you're looking for souls to win for the kingdom. 09:22 'Cause people will have these questions. 09:24 Have your Bible, I know that you do, pencil and paper. 09:26 I want you to turn with me at the book of Titus. 09:28 Titus, Chapter 1, Titus Chapter 2, 09:31 we're gonna read several verses here. 09:33 So kind of bear with me, I'll just take a moment. 09:35 Titus chapter 2, 09:37 we're going to be reading verses 11 through 15. 09:39 You have your Bible? Good. 09:40 Let's read, Titus Chapter 2, verses, starting verse 11. 09:45 Now let's read, shall we? It says, notice this. 09:47 "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation 09:50 hath appeared to all men." 09:53 Oh, this is beautiful. 09:54 "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly," what? 09:58 "Lusts, we should live soberly," 10:01 the Bible says, and what? 10:03 "Righteously, and godly, in this present world." 10:07 Notice verse 13, "Looking for that blessed hope, 10:11 that glorious appearing of our great God 10:15 and our Savior Jesus Christ." 10:18 Verse 14, the Bible said, "Who gave himself for us, 10:21 that he might redeem us from all inequity," 10:24 don't read that too quickly, 10:26 "that he might redeem us from all iniquity" 10:30 and then he goes on to say, 10:31 "and to purify unto himself a peculiar people, 10:36 zealous of good works." 10:38 Oh, I just need to read verse 15. 10:39 Stay with me, notice, 10:41 "These things speak, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. 10:47 Let no man despise thee." 10:49 All these words, we could just go on 10:51 for a long time with them but you know, 10:53 we have to move on in this subject 10:55 if law and grace. 10:56 And just a quick thought here 10:57 about Paul, what he was saying, 10:59 Paul, Paul looking in these verses 11:02 from, for the recovery from sin. 11:05 We've fallen in the sin. Paul sinned. 11:06 Oh, there's some hope here that we can recover from sin. 11:10 And you know, it's a powerful example 11:12 of divine grace that God applies 11:15 and gives to us in our life. 11:17 Isn't it powerful? 11:18 Isn't it wonderful to know that God doesn't just talk 11:22 about a free grace that winks at sin? 11:27 It's a little more heavy duty than that. 11:30 He talks about here in Paul and his writing, 11:32 he talks about a grace that delivers man 11:35 from the bondage of sin. 11:38 Isn't that what you're looking for today? 11:39 Some of you, your bound, you are in chains. 11:42 Whether it's circumstances, 11:44 whether it's things in your heart in your life, 11:46 things that you are putting before God, 11:48 I'm telling you dear friends, you are in bondage. 11:50 Notice the ministry of healing in a little book page 115. 11:55 It gives some real good thoughts, 11:56 just a couple of lines. 11:57 Listen carefully what it says, 11:59 "It is His grace," His grace "that gives man power to obey" 12:04 oh, that's beautiful, but obey what? 12:06 "Obey the laws of God. 12:09 This is the only power that can make him 12:12 and keep him steadfast in the right path." 12:17 What is it? It's God grace. 12:19 He gives us, help us to be steady, 12:22 help us to walk in the path that God has marked out for us. 12:25 This is the only way it can be done. 12:28 Now does law and grace then fit together. 12:31 We addressed that just a little bit. 12:33 But does it really fit together or are they really separated 12:37 or how can we put 'em together 12:39 or must we eliminate one or the other. 12:44 Is it all law? Is it all grace? 12:48 Well, that's how we getting into the word of God 12:50 when we begin to study 12:51 and we begin to show our self approved. 12:53 We might find out that both have a function 12:56 that they can work together. 12:58 Ain't that wonderful? 13:00 Have you would've notice that the- 13:01 you know, when you are working 13:02 may be around the house or you're on you're job, 13:04 how nice it is to have some body 13:06 that will work along with you. 13:08 Not against you, 13:10 not trying to eliminate this or eliminate that. 13:12 But simply cooperating together, working together, 13:15 you'll find as much easier, don't you? 13:17 Now so, in order to understand your position, 13:20 see I don't know your position. 13:21 But you know what? 13:23 You're going to know mine before this is over. 13:25 In order to understand your position on this subject, 13:28 law and grace now, we have to ask just a simple question. 13:32 Are you ready for this question? 13:34 Is the law of God opposed to grace? 13:38 It's simple. 13:39 Is the law of God opposed to grace? 13:41 Many is going to say right quick, 13:42 "Oh, yeah, oh, it is. 13:44 We've been thought that in our church." 13:45 But is that the right answer? 13:48 Is it really correct? 13:50 Is it really Biblically correct, 13:52 is it theologically correct? 13:55 That's what we have to chunk, line upon line. 13:57 Is this what the Bible said 13:58 or is it what the church is teaching? 14:00 Hmm, well, I can, can see, 14:04 it's kind of easy and don't say that lightly but pay attention. 14:08 It's kind of easy to see 14:09 why many people answer this way. 14:12 They answer because they see the subject of law 14:16 and they see the subject of grace as, 14:19 listen carefully, as like a billboard would read out side 14:23 when you pass it by and you see a little advertisement 14:27 that which says, "Muhammad Ali versus Foreman. " 14:32 Wow. 14:34 Do you remember those, years ago, 14:35 so many of you are older but notice the word, 14:37 just an illustration, "versus" now what does that mean? 14:41 See that's how people view law and grace, 14:43 one versus the other. 14:44 One's against the other. 14:46 There's only one who's going to come out standing 14:48 when the fight is all said and done. 14:51 Well, you know when you have versus, one, 14:54 you have number one, you have the legalist view, 14:57 you have the, you call that the law camp 15:00 and then you have the grace camp 15:02 which says you don't have to worry about 15:04 being obedient, there's no laws, 15:06 you are just under grace. 15:08 That's it. 15:09 Well, first let's check something. 15:11 First of all, law is a Biblical principle. 15:16 We find that all through scripture. 15:17 Grace is a Biblical principle. 15:21 So we find quickly 15:22 that the battle is not between two, the two principles, 15:26 but it's between how the law is abused 15:29 and how grace is abused. 15:31 And let me tell you some of you 15:33 who would believe in grace only. 15:34 You're abusing grace 15:36 and some of you who believe in just law, 15:39 yeah, you are abusing that too. 15:41 But I believe there is a way. 15:42 That is, we look at scripture that we can balance the two 15:46 and we balance it not by how man thinks 15:48 or man's words he prints but by the word of God. 15:52 It's only when, the law, let's take that first, 15:56 only when the law is used as a means of salvation 16:00 does it hit on with grace. 16:03 Did you get it? 16:04 When we use law out of this position 16:07 that god has it in 16:08 all of the sudden it begins to hit grace, 16:10 if you take grace and now this position 16:12 hit on with the law. 16:13 And so sometimes we do that not really meaning too. 16:17 Remember, these two principle work together. 16:21 They are a team. Now what? 16:23 Oh, yeah, each, having its own job to do. 16:27 There's nothing more frustrating 16:28 maybe in the world today as when you know, 16:30 two God's people are working 16:32 and this guy is always trying to your job. 16:35 He is not doing on his own but he's messing around 16:37 trying to do what you do in messing you up. 16:40 And so he's kind of out of his sphere. 16:41 He needs to be. 16:43 So let's look at it kind of that way. 16:44 Let's make this clear 16:46 and I think it's very important that we do to begin with. 16:48 The law was never meant, the law was never made, 16:55 the law was never, never, never designed to save. 17:00 Wow, interesting thought. 17:04 The law never opposes grace. Never. 17:09 So what is the law designed to do? 17:13 What is the law supposed to show us? 17:18 See, these are the things that questions our legitimate 17:20 and we need ask our self. 17:22 The answer is simply this. 17:24 From the word of God, what is the law designed to do? 17:27 To show us, what is sin. 17:30 Very interesting, what do I mean? 17:32 It's simply the law is designed to show us right and wrong. 17:37 Oh, wow. Good and bad. 17:40 Well, that's interesting. 17:41 The Bible defines sin and if you don't know this, 17:45 it's going to mess you all up 17:47 and many don't because many churches, 17:48 they just don't want to talk about 17:50 what the Biblical definition of sin is. 17:53 Well, you can read in the Bible, verse John 3:4. 17:56 Bible is very clear. 17:58 "Sin is the transgression of God's law. 18:01 Oh, well, you don't what that tells me, 18:04 it tells me that the law is in operation. 18:07 You'll say, well, no, 18:09 we've been told that the law has done away. 18:10 That tells me sin is the transgression of God's law. 18:13 It says right then that God's law is in operation 18:16 and let me just prove that 18:17 because in the book of Romans Chapter 4, verse 15, 18:21 here's what the Bible said. 18:22 It tells us, "For where no law is, 18:26 there is no transgression." 18:29 So if there is no law there is no transgression. 18:32 If the law has done away with, 18:33 we can do anything we want to do. 18:35 What a messed up world. 18:36 Mostly world's doing that anyway 18:38 and you see what a messed up world we live in. 18:40 What did the Bible say? 18:42 Where there is no law, there is no transgression. 18:44 So when you are one of those for god sake 18:45 the law is been done away with, 18:47 my mean, you mean every thing goes. 18:50 You need to re-think that, 18:51 don't you, don't you believe it. 18:52 And then Romans 5 verse 13 says this. 18:56 It helps, it helps to build this case. 18:58 "But sin" notice, 19:00 "is not imputed where there is no law." 19:04 Sin is not what? Imputed. 19:06 It's not put to your account. That's what it means. 19:09 Sin is not put to my account when there is no law. 19:13 But then I read the Bible. 19:15 It simply says in Romans 6:23 that talked about 19:17 "the wages of sin is death" wow. 19:20 Wages of sin. 19:22 But you know, praise God. The works goes on. 19:24 For some of you who are just clawing and digging 19:26 and not really sure 19:27 and when you wanted to make a decision 19:29 but sin has dominion over you. 19:32 The verse goes on. 19:33 You say, "All I hear about is sin brings down." 19:35 Read the verse on "but the gift of God 19:39 is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." 19:43 Oh, huh, wonderful news. 19:47 But may I just kind of stir you a little bit 19:49 but how many have sinned? 19:51 I'll do it just two or three times as we study. 19:53 But how many have sinned? 19:54 Well, the Bible is very clear in Romans 3:23. 19:57 The Bible says, "all have sinned" and what? 20:00 We've "come short of the glory of God" 20:02 So some of you who are self righteous, 20:04 ooh, be careful. 20:06 You need to get over it. Hmm. 20:08 All have sinned. 20:10 Some of you think you own a little boat over there. 20:11 We're on the same boat. 20:12 We're going down 20:14 unless we ask Jesus to come in help us. 20:16 I hope that makes sense to you. 20:18 And then the Book of Romans, Chapter 5 verse 12, 20:20 even makes it clear, the Bible says, 20:24 "Wherefore," notice this, 20:25 "as by one man sin entered into the world" 20:29 and the Bible says, "and death" by what? 20:31 "By sin." 20:33 Wow, "so death then passed" 20:35 notice, "upon all men for all have sinned." 20:40 Wow. What I have thought. 20:43 Let, get your thinking cap on, get your thinking cap on 20:45 'cause you can go in a lot of different directions here. 20:47 But I think it's imperative by the power of the Holy Spirit 20:50 now we think this through. 20:51 If I go back to the beginning, Genesis, Chapter 1, verse 28, 20:56 we find that the dominion of this world, 20:59 when God create the world, 21:00 created, created Adam and Eve, 21:02 He gave the dominion of this world to Adam and Eve. 21:05 Is that true? Somebody said, "Amen" good. 21:08 Listen, listen very carefully, 21:11 if just oh, Lord, help it, 21:13 if just one of those two 21:18 had been faithful, had been faithful to God, 21:23 this world would've been lost. 21:25 But notice, they weren't faithful to God. 21:28 But in order for sin to have dominion 21:31 over the world, they both had to fall. 21:35 And they did. Wow. 21:39 They changed leadership. 21:42 If just one, 21:45 what a paradise it would still be. 21:48 You see this is important. 21:50 Found this in Review and Herald, 21:51 in little magazine in June 10th. 21:54 Now notice this, it is written in 1890. 21:56 Listen, truth back then 21:58 and is still just too much truth 22:00 today maybe even more so for us. 22:03 Said, "He, Christ, He met Satan, 22:05 he met Satan's attacks again and again," 22:10 how did he meet the Satan's attack? 22:11 "With, 'It is written.'" 22:12 Do you remember Matthew chapter 4. 22:14 This is how Jesus defeated the enemy with 22:17 "It is written" notice. 22:19 What happened? 22:20 Satan left as soon as He begin to quote, 22:22 Jesus begin to quote scripture. 22:25 Now notice. 22:26 This article says 22:28 "he left the field of conflict a conquered foe." 22:32 Jesus always conquered enemy because He knew the word. 22:34 He had the word of God in his heart 22:36 that he might not sin against His Father. 22:39 But notice how deep this goes. 22:42 Notice it, notice. 22:44 "Christ has redeemed," 22:46 no, "Christ has redeemed 22:50 Adam's disgraceful fall." 22:53 Christ came to this earth to redeem", 22:56 notice this, "the disgraceful fall of Adam," 23:00 and he in his, and he developed a perfect character, 23:04 please pay attention. 23:05 "A perfect obedience" and what did Jesus do? 23:09 "He left us an example" that we should what? 23:12 Follow in his footsteps. 23:13 He "left us an example for the human family, 23:16 that they may," the article says, 23:18 "they may imitate the Pattern." 23:21 Now listen carefully. 23:22 Had Jesus "failed on one point, in one point, 23:27 in reference to the law of God, 23:30 he would not have been a perfect offering." 23:35 "If he failed in one," one what? 23:37 In one point only. 23:39 Now notice what, you say oh, no, no wait there. 23:42 Listen, how many points did Adam fail? 23:46 One and the world was lost, interesting thought. 23:51 But-Then I'd say well, that makes sense. 23:55 Because we cannot have one unconfessed sin 23:58 and think we're going to make it to heaven. 24:01 Adam and Eve, one transgression, 24:03 they were out. 24:05 Jesus could not in one instance, have sinned 24:08 or he could not be my savior, 24:11 couldn't have won the world back. 24:12 What a mess that would've been. 24:15 And then I look it up in the Bible 24:16 in James, chapter 2 and 10 through 12, 24:19 we can read them all, especially verse 10. 24:22 It said, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law," 24:26 notice, "and yet offend in one point, he's guilty of all." 24:31 Oh, I want you to see how that it adds up please. 24:35 Think of what Christ's obedience means to me. 24:39 Think about it, a lost sinner. No hope for me. 24:43 So what does Christ's victory, 24:45 his obedience mean to us today, all of us? 24:48 You know what it means? 24:50 It means that in His strength, I may obey His requirements. 24:54 Through His strength, I may obey. 24:57 And some of you out there 24:59 fooling around with this subject 25:00 bless your heart when you say we don't have to be obedient. 25:03 We don't have to gain victory over sin in our life. 25:05 You, need to re-think this questions. 25:08 You need to get back in the word of God. 25:09 That's the devil putting those thoughts in your mind. 25:13 I want to put your cap on once again. 25:16 Because you know, Christ overcame the enemy 25:19 and He overcame the enemy not because He needed to 25:22 but He did in my behalf. 25:23 He did it in your behalf. And when did he do it? 25:27 Christ came to this earth 4000 years, 25:32 4000 years after Adam. 25:35 And then when He came to this earth, 25:36 listen to this article 25:38 The Review and Herald on July 28, 1874, 25:40 listen, it says, "the human family was departing 25:45 every successive generation farther and farther 25:50 from the original purity and wisdom and knowledge 25:53 which Adam possessed in the garden. 25:56 Christ bore the sins, the infirmities of the race 26:01 as they existed when he came to this earth to help man." 26:06 Notice that, "with the weaknesses 26:08 of fallen man upon him, 26:11 he was to stand the temptations of Satan upon all points 26:15 where with man would be assailed." 26:18 My Bible says, and I read, Hebrews 4, verse 15, 26:21 "but He was tempted in all points," 26:23 the Bible said as we are yet without sin. 26:26 Oh, how wonderful. What good news. 26:28 What kind of news would you want today? 26:31 This is wonderful news. 26:33 He came, He lived a perfect life, 26:35 and He offers it to me. 26:37 He says now, "Because I did it, 26:38 I offer you, you can do it too." 26:40 By his grace, by his strength. 26:42 You see, we got to be careful and not try to replace 26:47 the law with grace or replace grace with the law. 26:51 Be careful how you juggle, you mess with it, 26:54 you try to erase one, 26:56 build one up and leave the other. 26:57 The Bible does not do that. They are both valid. 27:00 Yes, they are different, 27:02 have different functions but they are valid. 27:04 Why? 27:05 My Bible makes it very clear 27:07 in Romans Chapter 8 verse 4, the Bible says, 27:10 we've- here's where we find the righteousness of the law, 27:13 notice this, in this passage 27:14 and we find the power of grace here. 27:18 So what do we find? 27:20 The righteousness of the law and we find the power of grace. 27:23 Let's read Romans 8, verse 4. 27:25 The Bible says, 27:27 "The righteousness of the law might be fulfilled" where? 27:30 "In us who walk not after" what? 27:33 Oh, "not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." 27:37 The righteousness of the law. 27:39 Don't anyone come and start saying, 27:40 "Well, the law is no good." 27:42 The Bible says it's righteous. 27:45 Wow, the righteousness 27:46 of the law might be fulfilled in me 27:49 who, if I won't walk after the spirit, 27:51 you the world, but if I walk after the spirit. 27:54 Oh, how wonderful that is. 27:56 You remember, it said, it might be fulfilled. 27:58 The word fulfills simply means, it might be, 28:01 it might be realized in my life. 28:04 It means that it might be met in my life 28:07 if I let the things of the world go, 28:09 let go the hand of the devil 28:11 and put my hand in the hand of Jesus Christ. 28:13 I walk after the spirit. 28:15 You see grace here in this verse 28:17 enables us to walk after the spirit. 28:20 Isn't that beautiful? Grace enables me. 28:24 I don't deserve it. 28:26 Grace allows me to walk after the spirit. 28:29 Praise God. 28:31 How about a little food for thought? 28:33 Some of you are going to say, 28:34 "Well, I've got too much to think about already 28:36 but a little more food for thought. 28:39 Remember, those of you who say, 28:40 "Well, the law of God has done away, 28:41 we won't have to worry about all of that anymore." 28:43 God did not give his son in order to change 28:47 or to abolish in any way for more fashion his law 28:51 or to release us from the necessity 28:55 of building a perfect character. 28:57 Wow, perfect obedience. 29:01 Wow. 29:03 Christ came to make it possible. 29:05 Listen, my brothers and sisters, 29:06 Christ came to make it possible for men 29:09 to render perfect obedience. 29:12 You know what that means. 29:14 That means the law fulfilled in us. 29:17 Wow. The law fulfilled in us. 29:21 And let me say for you doubting Thomases 29:23 that you are not getting it because you are fighting it. 29:25 Listen, then Cross of Calvary, 29:29 proves beyond the shadow of a doubt 29:31 that the law of God cannot be changed. 29:33 It cannot be done away with. Please keep that in mind. 29:37 Thank God for grace clearly seen in both 29:40 the Old Testament and the New Testament. 29:43 Let's take a few moments, shall we? 29:44 To cut it, just to dissect the law and dissect grace. 29:49 Oh, I could go on and on 29:50 and many of you have different thoughts on it 29:52 but just maybe this will give you some food for thought 29:54 and you can dig in for your self. 29:56 And then we need to follow the Bible 29:58 and rightly divide the word of God. 30:01 Have you read that in 2 Timothy 2:15? 30:03 And then we add a little bit more here in 2 Timothy 2:5, 30:06 the Bible said, It tells us this, 30:09 "And if a man also strive for masteries, 30:13 "is anyone striving for the mastery? 30:16 And "yet he is not crowned," 30:17 oh, he's striving but he can't the crown. 30:20 He can't win. 30:22 Look what it says, "except" "except he strive lawfully. 30:27 What does that mean? 30:28 You're trying to get a crown, you want to go to heaven. 30:30 You don't have to strive. 30:32 But you can't get that crown of victory unless you, 30:35 what does this Bible says, "unless you strive lawfully." 30:39 And the Greek word, nominals, is what that Greek word is. 30:42 You know what that means, 30:44 that means he agrees 30:45 or he is agreeable to the list of rules. 30:50 Huh, the man that strives, the man that wins the victory, 30:54 is because he's agreed to the list of rules 30:57 that God has set up not man. 31:00 Interesting, huh. 31:02 The man once said, he said that the crying need of our times, 31:08 the crying needs, it ain't just the needs of our times, 31:10 he said the crying and certainly, 31:12 maybe with tears, the crying need of our time, 31:14 is a deep conviction of sin 31:18 and if this is ever going to take place, 31:21 if it's ever going to be brought about is that he said, 31:24 it must be by the religious teachers being led to study. 31:28 Notice this, study the law and the gospel. 31:34 You see, we can miss out on something 31:36 if we rule one out 31:37 or if we don't believe that we should. 31:39 You know, law or grace or grace or law. 31:43 Wow, what a revival we need in this subject. 31:46 Let's look at the law shall we and see what part it plays? 31:49 And that only might jump off your seat just yet 31:51 because the law plays a part in our salvation. 31:55 Oh, that's going to scare some of you. 31:56 But let's see how the Bible defines that. 31:58 Bible says, let's begin with in Psalms 19:7, 32:01 you know it well. 32:03 It says, "The law of the Lord" or the law, 32:05 it means the doctrines, the teachings of the Lord, 32:07 they said, they are "perfect," they are "converting." 32:10 Did you notice that? 32:12 Converting means, it's the "restoring the soul." 32:15 "The testimony or the witness of the Lord is sure, 32:19 making wise the simple." 32:21 Well, there's a lot, 32:22 oh, I'm going to be careful of this one. 32:23 There's a lot of us simpletons running around. 32:26 Somebody with me? 32:27 Lot of us are simple but praise God, 32:29 He's promised, the what? 32:31 His word, His law, His teaching, 32:32 His doctrine is to convert me, it can restore me, 32:35 it can bring me back... 32:38 and it makes the simple wise. 32:41 Praise God for that. 32:43 And of course, if you got time, 32:44 read all of Psalms 19 especially 7 through 14. 32:49 Read those verses. 32:51 Here's what you'll find quickly in a nut shell 32:52 what the Psalmist writes down. 32:55 He says, you know, that the law of God 32:58 in the natural world is what we are looking at, 33:01 He connects them together. 33:02 The laws in the natural world 33:04 with the laws given to His created beings. 33:08 He's connected them together. 33:10 Wow, so what's the bottom line here? 33:13 You're going to take-- do a lot of reading, 33:14 is simply obey the voice of God. 33:17 You say, "Yeah, but wait, 33:19 we were not taught in our church to be obedient. 33:22 1 Samuel 5 isn't it? 33:23 15:22 says it is better "to obey than to sacrifice." 33:29 As you read the Books of Acts, chapter 5, 33:32 you read here in verse about what? 33:34 32, it says "The Holy Spirit 33:36 is given to those who obey him." 33:38 If you are obeying him 33:39 you cannot have the Holy Spirit. 33:41 You can say all you want. 33:42 The Bible said, 33:44 the Holy Spirit is given to those who obey God. 33:46 If you are disobeying you are lead by another spirit. 33:48 Somebody needs to fasten up here. 33:50 We need to get down to it right now 33:52 because some of you are not. 33:53 You are playing church... 33:56 you are going to be caught 33:58 one of these days brothers and sisters. 33:59 We don't want to be caught. 34:00 Does the law play a part in helping us? 34:03 Think with me, does the law play a part in helping us? 34:06 Let's do point one quickly jot it down. 34:08 Roman's 3:20 says, in fact it gives us the answer, 34:12 it says "for by the law is the knowledge of sin." 34:16 So quickly, we get down. 34:17 What is that-- what's the function 34:19 of God's Ten Commandment law? 34:20 The Bible says, 34:21 that "By the law is the knowledge of sin" 34:24 so therefore I will know what is wrong. 34:26 I will know what I should not do. 34:28 I will know, I know what's-- might hurt me, 34:30 hurt my family, hurt the world, 34:32 hurt my brothers and sisters, hurt God. 34:34 That's the function of it. Paul makes it perfectly clear. 34:39 The law points out sin and then he goes on in Romans 7:7. 34:44 It's even clearer. 34:45 He said, "What shall we say then? 34:48 Is the law sin? God forbid." 34:51 He says, "Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law." 34:55 He said, I wouldn't know what was sin. 34:57 I didn't know what was right or wrong, 34:58 except the law pointed it out. 35:00 Oh, there's a function there, isn't there. 35:02 So what if he's all done way with, 35:04 would you know, what's right or wrong. 35:05 Would you? 35:06 I don't think so. 35:08 Paul goes on, he said, "for I had not known lust, 35:12 except the law had said," what? 35:14 "Thou shalt not covet. 35:16 Wow. So it makes sense. 35:19 If there was not a law 35:22 how would we know right from wrong? 35:25 You see, so how many have, that devil has this. 35:30 He has full, bless your heart, you would not know what sin is, 35:34 you wouldn't know what a transgression is, 35:37 if it wasn't for the law. 35:38 There's a purpose. Please keep that in mind. 35:40 Point number two. 35:42 The law brings a sense of guilt. 35:47 The law brings a sense of guilt. 35:49 In other words, I look and I read and nothing, 35:50 whoa, oh, boy hmm, I missed that one. 35:53 So sense of guilt. 35:55 Now notice, in other words, the Lord speaks to us. 35:59 Have you thought, when we read the word of God, 36:00 it speaks to us. 36:02 Romans 3, verse 19, Lord have mercy. 36:05 Now let's see what it says, "Now we know that 36:07 what things soever" notice, "the law saith, 36:11 it saith to those who are under the law" 36:15 or in the law or subject to the law, 36:18 or maybe some of those who are saying, 36:20 we keep the law, oh, boy we're going to be saved. 36:23 Hmm, and to every mouth the Bible says, 36:26 "may be stopped, 36:28 all the world may become guilty," 36:30 that means what? 36:31 Accountable "before God." 36:34 These are heavy duty passages I wish we had more time 36:36 to talk about them but we don't. 36:38 Some of you say, "Yeah, but law and grace 36:40 and if you just kind of look at the Old Testament, 36:43 let's just say it quickly here, 36:45 just food for thought and we just move on. 36:46 The Old Testament was divided into three sections 36:50 as most of you know. 36:51 It was divided into the law, 36:53 into the profits, and in the Psalms 36:56 okay, and notice, especially, Paul was talking to those 37:00 whom this was given and he's talking to us today. 37:04 Wow. 37:05 You mean, he's speaking to the New Testament church? 37:07 Absolutely. 37:09 Once again, Romans Chapter 3, verse 23. 37:11 Notice what does the Bible say? 37:13 "All have sinned, 37:15 "wow, we've "come short of the glory God." 37:17 So what does the Law do once again? 37:18 I'm going to go over and over. 37:20 The law simply points out sin 37:23 it tells us that man has sold out. 37:25 He's sold his self out to the enemy. 37:28 And there is no way he can get back. 37:30 He's off course, he can't get back on his own, 37:33 there is no way he can get back on his own. 37:35 He's going to need some help. 37:37 His only help is in Christ you know that. 37:40 Point number three: Now notice, what is says? 37:44 I know, it's kind of-- you know, 37:45 I know we have to think 37:47 and we need to be jotting these down. 37:48 Point number 3: The law acts as a spiritual mirror. 37:51 You've read this many times, I know. 37:53 James brings this out. 37:54 I'm telling you rather you know, nicely. 37:57 It is clear. We can't miss it. 37:59 So you have your Bible or pencil and paper, 38:01 just jot down, 38:02 James Chapter 1 and read verse 23, 24 for right now. 38:06 The Bible says, notice this in James, 38:08 "if any man be a hearer" of what? 38:11 "Hearer of the word, and not a doer, 38:14 he is like a man" okay, so we got a man here. 38:18 He is hearing but he is not a doer. 38:20 There's a lot of Christians sitting in the pews today, 38:21 you are hearers but you are not a doer, 38:23 it's not acceptable to God. 38:25 Let's get down to it. 38:27 Let the Bible define what's going on here. 38:28 Not me, not we, I'm not judging you. 38:30 I don't know you. 38:32 But let the Bible speak to us. 38:35 He says like this man, 38:36 he "beholding" his self in a "natural" 38:39 his "face in a glass" "he beholdeth himself, 38:43 and then he goes away," the Bible says. 38:45 "And straightway, he forgetteth 38:48 what manner of man he was." 38:49 Why? 38:50 Because he's not looking into that glass. 38:52 He's not looking into that mirror on a regular basis. 38:56 So he looks. 38:57 Some of us who look in the mirror you know, 38:59 everyday and you're getting cleaned up or whatever, 39:01 you don't like what you see, 39:02 think about if you didn't look in the mirror. 39:04 Now we are talking about just the looking glass. 39:06 But how about using that as a spiritual. 39:08 You are not opening the Bible, you are not reading 39:09 the word of God and pursuing you're not reading it, 39:11 you are not looking into and you go your way pursuing 39:13 and you forget what kind of man you are. 39:15 You think you are right. 39:17 When God says "You know what? 39:18 It's all wrong" Then James Chapter 1 verse 25, 39:21 oh, he answers that question. 39:23 What kind of a man is he? What is he? 39:26 Bible says "whosoever," "whosoever looketh 39:29 into the perfect law of liberty, 39:31 and continueth therein" oh, "he being not just 39:36 a forgetful hearer, but he's a doer of the work, 39:40 this man shall be blessed in his deed." 39:43 God said, if we continue to look in this mirror, 39:45 in this glass, he's going to bless us 39:47 and we become a doer, not just a hearer. 39:50 Now what is this? 39:51 We're talking about this glass. This mirror. 39:54 Oh, the Bible is clear. 39:56 It's the perfect law of liberty. 39:58 Let no one tell you in an any church 40:00 that the law of God puts you into bondage, 40:02 it handcuffs you. 40:04 Ties your feet together. 40:05 You can be a Christian as do and don't. 40:07 My Bible says the law of God is the perfect law of liberty. 40:12 Liberty wherein I know is I walk with God. 40:15 I'll know if I got off the path, 40:16 I'll know if I stayed on the path 40:18 by the grace of God. 40:19 Lay your head down tonight knowing your having wilfully 40:21 broken any of His commands. 40:23 Of course James goes on and says 40:24 about this perfect law of liberty. 40:27 Chapter 2, 10 through 12. 40:29 It's going to be used in the judgment. 40:32 God's righteous Ten Commandment Law 40:34 will judge every man. 40:37 Wow, shouldn't we be looking at it now? 40:39 Shouldn't we? Absolutely we should. 40:42 Bible says that it's a Holy Law of God. 40:45 The Holy Law of God is the mirror. 40:48 But notice this, that mirror can only point out 40:52 the defects in my character. 40:54 It can only point out that dirt which is in my life. 40:57 It can only point out where I've failed. 40:59 It can only point out these dirty spots, 41:02 maybe no one else sees them 41:03 but God sees them and when I look in that mirror, 41:06 it points them out to me. 41:08 But it can't take them away. 41:09 The law of God can't take away that sin and that stain. 41:14 You might say, well, 41:15 "Hey, I'm not worrying about all that, man. 41:17 I'm a New Testament believer. 41:20 I live by grace alone, I live by faith alone." 41:24 Is that possibly true? 41:25 Is that the way the Bible really teaches? 41:27 Well, if I look at my Bible in Romans Chapter 3, verse 31, 41:31 it tells me, 41:33 "Do we then make void the law through faith? 41:36 You said, "Oh, I'm just living by faith." 41:37 Do we make void the law through faith? 41:39 The Bible says, "God forbid: we establish the law." 41:42 Well, I can't do there. 41:44 We're going to have to re-think the issue. 41:46 Please again, what? Is the purpose of the mirror? 41:51 Can it take away my sins? 41:54 Can it take away my spots? No. 41:57 Hmm, it can only point out 42:01 that you, me, that we all have spots. 42:04 And then I'm going to need some attention. 42:07 I'm going to have something done 42:09 that's going to eat me up. 42:11 And you know what that law does? 42:14 'Cause I see all of this here and I need some help. 42:16 It points me to Jesus Christ, who is my only help. 42:21 Let's look quickly at what the law cannot do. 42:24 Can we do that? 42:25 Uh, couple of little things here. 42:27 Notice what the law cannot do. 42:29 We've looked at several already. 42:31 The law cannot bring forgiveness, 42:34 or it cannot bring justification, 42:36 which is forgiveness. 42:37 Justification, the law cannot do that. 42:41 Romans 3:20 reveals, "By the deeds of the law," 42:45 notice this, "there shall no flesh be justified." 42:49 That clears it up for me, by what? 42:51 By the deeds of the law, that no flesh can be justified. 42:55 I cannot have forgiveness through the law. 42:57 Notice that. 42:58 The law says, "Kenny you are a sinner, 43:01 you are under the condemnation of the law." 43:03 There is no forgiveness in that law. 43:05 There's no justification in that law. 43:08 So it must be, there's a function for the law. 43:11 There is a function for grace. 43:13 Number two: The law cannot provide. 43:16 Listen carefully. 43:17 The law cannot provide power over sin 43:20 or the life of sanctification. 43:22 It cannot. It's clear. 43:24 The Bible said the law is holy. 43:26 It's just, it's good, it's spiritual 43:28 but it cannot be done away with 43:31 and it cannot be just changed or replaced. 43:34 But, listen, it cannot 43:37 and it cannot change the sinner. 43:40 The law cannot change, the Ten Commandment Law of God, 43:42 even holy, just, good, spiritual, 43:44 it cannot change the sinner. 43:46 The sinner is hopeless. He now sees the dirty spots. 43:49 He now sees the sin. 43:51 He sees he's weak, he sees there's no help. 43:53 Not anywhere else, he just needs to look to someone 43:55 who one can help him and begins to look up. 43:57 He begins to look to Jesus. 44:00 Sinner needs this thing called grace. 44:05 See there would be no need for grace if there wasn't sin. 44:08 All you New Testament believers, grace, grace, grace, 44:10 you wouldn't need grace if there wasn't sin 44:12 and you can't have sin unless there's a law. 44:14 Wow, something must be in effect here for us. 44:19 I need it. 44:20 I've come to Him and I need this thing called grace. 44:23 Quickly let's look everything that we enjoy. 44:26 Bless your heart just Christians. 44:28 Every experience is because of the matchless grace of God. 44:33 Everything you experience, everything you read in it 44:36 praise God for that grace. 44:38 Galatians Chapter 1, verse 5, the Bible, 44:40 talks about grace. 44:41 It said, "We are called into His grace." 44:43 Praise God. 44:45 Acts Chapter 18, verse 27, the Bible is clear. 44:47 It says, "We even believe through His grace. 44:50 And then we dig a little bit deeper in Titus 3:7, 44:53 when the Bible said, "We are justified by His grace. 44:56 Notice, and 1 Corinthians 15, verse 10. 45:01 Do you remember Paul said, "I am what I am." 45:04 What, "Because of God' grace I am what I am." 45:08 You are what you are in your walk with Jesus 45:10 because of grace. 45:12 Friends, don't ever forget that. 45:14 It has a function. 45:16 And of course Ephesians 2, verses 5 and 8 45:18 really brings it on down, 45:20 "We are saved by grace not by keeping a law. 45:23 We're saved by grace. The Bible says that. 45:26 And I looked at the meaning of grace 45:28 and there are so many different meanings, 45:29 it's just, it goes over my head. 45:31 But I tell you when I say, grace. 45:32 There is something powerful about that word. 45:34 There is something that is abounded about that word. 45:37 There's something that's saving in that word. 45:41 There's something about grace that tells me 45:43 about the love of God that has for me, 45:45 He has it and for you. 45:47 There's something about grace 45:50 that shown towards sinners, that's all of us in this world 45:53 and that grace can be seen, 45:55 that love can be seen in His Son, Jesus Christ. 45:59 How beautiful it is when you look at this. 46:03 As mentioned, "All have sinned 46:04 and come short of the glory of God." 46:06 We are worthy of death. 46:07 But God showed us favor. God shows us pardon. 46:12 And you know what? 46:13 This act of God is Holy undeserved, 46:17 is Holy unmerited by the human race. 46:20 And you say, "Well, well, 46:22 I think I'm pretty-" let me tell you why. 46:23 It's unmerited. You don't deserve it. 46:25 I don't deserve it. Why? 46:27 Because my Bible says, in Romans Chapter 1, verses 21 46:31 and 31 and 32. 46:33 Read them carefully. 46:35 It says, because we were built against God, we've hated Him. 46:38 We've done everything against God. 46:40 That's why we don't deserve it. 46:42 Now Bible even gets clear. 46:43 Romans 1, 18 and verse 25, keep jotting these down. 46:47 Again, the Bible simply says, Romans chapter 1, 46:50 did you jot that down 18 and 25. 46:52 It says we have perverted the truth. 46:55 Sad to live in so what we call it Christian world today. 46:59 And the Christians are perverting the truth. 47:01 It's not the infidels and the unbelievers. 47:03 People sitting in the pews, twisting them, 47:05 maligning scriptures 47:06 so they can live a life for the devil 47:07 and still call themselves a Christians. 47:09 Somebody needs to get with the program today. 47:11 God said, I give you grace, 47:13 Holy, undeserved and you don't deserve it. 47:15 It's unmerited favor. Why? 47:18 Romans 1:23 says, 47:20 we don't want to worship God only. 47:23 We want to have all the other gods. 47:25 Romans Chapter 1, 24 through 27, says, 47:28 we were made in His image and we defaced that image. 47:32 Why does he still love us like he does? 47:34 Romans 2, verse 24. 47:36 He said, we've even come to disappoint. 47:38 We've blasphemed His name. 47:41 Book of Acts, Chapter 7, verse 52, 47:43 it said, we killed His son. 47:46 You think you are deserving of anything that I'm deserving. 47:48 Oh, we're not deserving. 47:49 But let me tell you there's good news for you 47:51 and there is good news for me in Romans Chapter 2, verse 4. 47:54 Because number 1, God continues to love you. 47:58 He continues to love me, 47:59 He continues to show that He loves me. 48:01 He continues to shower loving kindness upon each one of us. 48:04 He extends His grace to me 48:07 when I'm fighting against Him, why? 48:10 Well, Romans 2:4 says why, 48:13 "that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance" 48:18 wow. 48:19 Why is God putting up with us? Because He loves you. 48:22 He's drawing you. His love, the, what? 48:24 Lead you to repentance. That's what he's doing. 48:26 I'm showing you love when you don't deserve it. 48:28 I died for you when you didn't. You didn't deserve it. 48:31 You are worthy of death. I took every thing for you. 48:33 You would've already get beat up, 48:35 you getting beat, nailed to a cross. 48:36 I did it for you and hope say 48:38 that you will someday turn to me. 48:40 Devine grace is called in scripture 48:43 in Romans 5:15, "a free gift" 48:46 In 2 Corinthians, quickly, 12:9. 48:48 We are running out of time. 48:49 The Bible said, God's grace is sufficient. 48:52 How wonderful. 2 Corinthians 4:15. 48:55 It says, its grace is abundant, it's abounding grace. 48:59 There is no limit to His grace. 49:01 However rotten your sin is, how low down your sin is, 49:04 God has more grace to cover that. 49:06 His grace is greater. 49:07 Second Corinthians 9, the Bible says, verse 14, 49:10 he says, it's an exceeding grace. 49:12 You need it. I have to have it. 49:15 God's grace, it's unlimited. 49:18 And it takes everything into account. 49:21 His grace is transforming. 49:22 It's changing hearts and lives and men and women and children 49:25 around the world today. 49:27 And let me just say this quickly. 49:28 God's grace is not merely, 49:30 you know, we talk about grace is not merely 49:31 just God's mercy and His willingness 49:35 to just to forgive us. 49:37 It's more than that. It's deeper than that. 49:40 But it's an energy that he puts inside. 49:43 It's active, it's energizing. 49:46 He puts the power inside of us to save us. 49:49 How wonderful grace is. 49:51 Praise God. Gospel Workers, page 70. 49:54 It says, "Divine grace." 49:56 Listen carefully 49:57 "is the great element of saving power." 50:00 Oh, awesome. 50:02 The grace, listen to this carefully, 50:04 the grace of God is the love of God 50:08 going on every direction. 50:10 It's all over the place. Jump into it. 50:13 Ask him to give it to you. 50:15 Here the Bible says in Acts 13:43, 50:17 "We are to continue in his grace." 50:20 2 Peter, the Bible says, 3:18 "We are to grow in grace." 50:24 Romans 5:2, "We are to stand in grace. 50:27 We are to rejoice in this hope. 50:29 Seven Testimonies, "There is only one power." 50:32 One eighty-nine say, "There is only one power 50:35 that can either make us steadfast or keep us so, 50:39 It's the grace of God," notice this, "in truth." 50:42 Wow. 50:44 Salvation has never been by law. 50:47 It's never been by works. 50:49 Salvation, the Bible said is by grace 50:51 extended to us by Christ. 50:53 Nothing that man has done. Nothing that man will ever do. 50:56 He cannot work his way in. 50:58 It's not away of working his way of salvation. 51:01 Works though are the sure results that you are saved. 51:04 There will be. We're justified by faith. 51:07 The Bible said. 51:08 And we are justified by faith that works. 51:10 Read it back at 2:4. Romans 6: 14, 15. 51:14 Read those verses when you have an opportunity. 51:17 The Bible said, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: 51:20 for you are not under the law," 51:22 now remember that means under the law 51:23 that means as a means of salvation. 51:25 But you are under grace. Verse 15 says, "What then? 51:28 Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, 51:30 but under the grace? 51:32 God forbid." The Bible said. 51:33 Two quick points, we are running out of time. 51:35 I want to, for you new babes, 51:37 those who are coming into the church. 51:38 You are coming to have knowledge of Jesus Christ. 51:40 Don't just come and you know, and just come to him and say, 51:43 "Well, I'm going to-- 51:45 I'm going to work my way into heaven. 51:46 I'm going to have to get busy. 51:48 It had nothing to do with works, does it? 51:51 Yeah, when you are saved there will be works. 51:54 You said, "Well, I've got to work" 51:55 but, you can earn any merit with God. 51:57 Remember, what He gives you, right. 51:59 It's unmerited favor. 52:02 And those who are trying to be holy by keeping the law, 52:06 this is impossible. 52:08 Keep that in mind. 52:09 Holiness is only achieved by faith 52:12 through the grace of Jesus Christ. 52:13 And point number two: 52:15 It's dangerous for you to come in and say, 52:16 "I want to, I'd just live by faith. 52:18 I'd just, just believe 52:19 and everything is going to be just fine. 52:21 Oh, and "it's going to release me from keeping the law, 52:24 God' law, I'm just, that grace no works." 52:27 Funny when you read a book of James chapter 2: 20 through 26. 52:30 "Faith without works is dead." 52:32 The Bible said and then it goes on and says, 52:34 oh, but the, "By works faith was made perfect. 52:38 We need to re-reading our Bibles. 52:40 Don't you think? Like never before. 52:41 There is a time we really need to study. 52:44 We really need to look at this thing called grace. 52:49 1st Selected Messages 394, 52:51 the Bible, the spirit of prophecy says, 52:53 "Abundant grace has been provided 52:55 that the believing soul may be kept free from sin." 52:59 Wow. 53:00 3 Testimonies 541, "We must have new grace 53:04 fresh strength daily in order to be victorious. 53:08 Wow. 53:12 In order to be victorious, in order be free. 53:16 3 Testimonies 452, 53:17 "God's grace is needed to correct defects of character." 53:22 Grace is the great element in saving power 53:25 and man cannot be saved without it. 53:27 God's grace, let me tell you, 53:29 God's grace can restore you 53:30 mentally and physically and spiritually. 53:34 That's the grace of God. 53:36 Friends, you know in this study 53:38 we need to think about it carefully, in this study. 53:40 We can see that there is no actual conflict, 53:42 oh, no, we just touched a little bit on it. 53:44 But I pray that you can see there's- 53:45 there's no conflict here between grace and law. 53:49 Not at all. Each serves its purpose. 53:53 It serves its purpose in God's plan. 53:55 Grace is not opposed to the law of God, 53:58 which is a standard of righteousness. 54:01 The law is not opposed to grace. 54:03 Each has its place. 54:05 Neither one crossing over on the other. 54:07 Not trying to take the other one's place, 54:09 not trying to void out the other. 54:12 Man's made in the image of God. 54:14 When he was made in the image of God, 54:15 he was sinless. 54:17 Man sinned. 54:18 Now praise God through Jesus Christ, by God's grace, 54:21 man is to be restored back into the image of God sinless. 54:27 Man, I want you to do some study. 54:29 You may have comments, you may have some questions. 54:31 Our time has run out. You feel free to call. 54:34 You need this series. You need them all. 54:36 You need to be calling in right now and say, 54:38 "Oh, I need, I've got to have that." 54:41 My friends need to understand this. 54:42 I need to understand it better. 54:44 If we just had a better understanding, 54:46 how simple this would be to present the gospel. 54:50 God help us to see the importance of it, 54:52 there are souls on the line today. 54:53 Don't you want to help someone? 54:56 You know, song says their souls that are sinking today. 54:59 What are you going to do, 55:00 you're going to throw them a life line 55:01 or you're going to turn your head 55:03 and say "Well, somebody else will do at the pastor." 55:04 Oh, friend, not today. I'm going to pray. 55:05 I've got to pray with you, I always pray before we-- 55:07 before we close. 55:08 Would you pray, that the Holy Spirit will impress us 55:10 to move forward together in the truth? 55:12 Let's pray. 55:14 Merciful, Father, in Heaven, 55:15 we thank you for your sweet spirit. 55:17 Thank you for illuminating our hearts and our minds 55:19 and for opening these beautiful, 55:21 beautiful truths to us. 55:23 Lord it just helps us to love you more. 55:25 We see it clearly through the power of thy spirit. 55:28 Thank you for your grace. 55:29 Thank you for the law that points out sin 55:30 and for the grace that gives us the victory. 55:33 We thank you and we praise you. 55:34 Open hearts, minds of your children everywhere today, 55:37 that we might be more than conquerors 55:39 through you in Jesus' name, Amen. 55:43 Ain't that wonderful to be able to take 55:45 a little bit of time and study the word of God together. 55:47 You know, you make that possible for us 55:50 here Behold the Lamb. 55:51 We can't do it without you. 55:53 Dozens of people say, 55:54 "Well, you know, you really shouldn't do it? 55:56 We have to. We have not because we ask not. 55:59 So you believe these are present truths, 56:00 you believe these are the messages 56:02 that need to be aired, 56:03 and then you are going to help us do it. 56:04 You are going to be sending those love gifts. 56:06 Why? Because it takes it. 56:07 It takes it to get this gospel out. 56:10 I believe Jesus is coming. I believe probation is closing. 56:12 I believe that we are falling apart. 56:14 I believe that we got luke-warmness 56:15 going on all over the place 56:17 and well, I'm praying that God's going to put a fire 56:19 in our bellies that we may finish this work. 56:22 Will you help us? God Bless you. 56:24 We look forward to seeing you next time. 56:28 Hello, once again and welcome back. 56:31 Law and grace, what a beautiful picture 56:33 of a just and a loving God. 56:36 God changes not. 56:38 He's the same yesterday, today and forever. 56:41 His law is a transcript of who He is 56:44 and how His kingdom is to operate in love 56:47 and devotion to Him and to our fellow men. 56:51 As with any law that is broken 56:53 a punishment or a consequence is the result. 56:56 And in this case God's law was broken by men 57:00 and the result was to be eternal death, 57:03 eternal separation from our heavenly Father. 57:06 That's when His grace fully presented itself to us. 57:10 His grace gives us something that we as a person 57:13 who has broken God's law and has thus sinned, 57:17 we don't deserve and yet that forgiveness, 57:21 that forgiveness and the eternal life 57:23 that God has promised, He is giving it to us for free. 57:26 Praise God for grace. 57:28 Grace is available to us through Jesus Christ. 57:32 It is because of His righteousness, 57:34 His righteous life, that grace has extended to all of us 57:39 who choose to accept it. 57:41 There is no hope without Christ 57:43 and the Grace that he alone extends. 57:46 Won't you choose to accept this free gift of Christ 57:49 and His grace today? 57:51 You'll be so glad that you did. 57:53 To help you in this decision, 57:55 we are offering this five-part series 57:57 for a love gift of just $35 or more 58:00 here in the United States. 58:02 This series, "The Sabbath, a Test of Faith" 58:05 contains the following messages. 58:07 The Origin of the Sabbath, The Law and Grace, 58:11 How to Keep the Sabbath, Revelation 14 and finally, 58:15 Avoiding the Mark of the Beast. 58:17 You don't want to miss any of the messages. 58:20 Mailings outside of the United States 58:22 will incur additional shipping fees. 58:25 Simply contact here by calling our Ministry 58:28 at Behold the Lamb Ministries at area code 618-942-5044. 58:35 That's central standard time, or you may write us 58:38 at Behold the Lamb Ministries, PO Box 2030, Herrin, IL 62948. 58:45 Email your order 58:46 at BeholdtheLambMinistries @yahoo.com 58:49 or as always visit us on our website 58:51 at www.BeholdtheLamb Ministries.com. 58:56 My dear friends, until next time, 58:59 may our precious Lord richly bless you and yours. |
Revised 2015-08-06