John Carter – December 9, 2012 – Various Texts – The Same Gospel From The Beginning
What do we do with the Law?
The Conclusion to: The Same Gospel From The Beginning
A Seven Week Study Through Leviticus by John Carter
1. Why Did Jesus come? To Fulfill and Teach the law
2. What did Jesus teach about the Law? Do it and Live
3. Is Jesus saying that justification comes by works of the law? No
4. Is the law even good then? Yes
5. Why then does the Law not work? Flesh
6. Where then is our hope? Christ
7. What does walking by the Spirit look like? Love
8. Are believers able to obey the law? Yes/No
9. Why the Law then? Shut everyone up under sin
10. Then how should the believer use the law? As a tutor to love
11. What ado we do with the law? Teach it, Don’t Argue, Fulfill the Law of Christ
1. Why Did Jesus come? To Fulfill and Teach the law
Luke
16:16 “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it. 17 But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one stroke of a letter of the Law to fail.
Matthew
5:17 “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
2. What did Jesus teach about the Law? Do it and Live
Matthew
7:12 “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
22:34 But when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered themselves together. 35 One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, 36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” 37 And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the great and foremost commandment. 39 The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.”
Luke
10:25 And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?” 27 And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
3. Is Jesus saying that justification comes by works of the law? No
Romans
3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.
4:13 For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would be heir of the world was not through the Law, but through the righteousness of faith.
4. Is the law even good then? Yes
Romans
12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
5. Why then does the Law not work? Flesh
Romans
7:14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.
21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.
6. Where then is our hope? Christ
Romans
8:3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
7. What does walking by the Spirit look like? Love
Romans
13:8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For this, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
8. Are believers able to obey the law? Yes/No
Galatians
2:19 For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”
9. Why the Law then? Shut everyone up under sin
Galatians
3:19 Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 20 Now a mediator is not for one party only; whereas God is only one. 21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
10. Then how should the believer use the law? As a tutor to love
Galatians
3:23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.
5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.
11. What ado we do with the law? Teach it, Don’t Argue, Fulfill the Law of Christ
Teach It
1 Timothy
1:5 But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, 7 wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.
Don’t Argue
Titus
9 But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.
Fulfill the Law of Christ
Galatians
6:1 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.
What do we do with the Law?
1. Why Did Jesus come? To Fulfill and Teach the law
2. What did Jesus teach about the Law? Do it and Live
3. Is Jesus saying that justification comes by works of the law? No
4. Is the law even good then? Yes
5. Why then does the Law not work? Flesh
6. Where then is our hope? Christ
7. What does walking by the Spirit look like? Love
8. Are believers able to obey the law? Yes/No
9. Why the Law then? Shut everyone up under sin
10. Then how should the believer use the law? As a tutor to love
11. What are some practical tips in regards to the law? Teach it, Don’t Argue, Fulfill the Law of Christ
Musica Theologica 