Using the Law of God Lawfully: Why We Need the Ten Commandments Today (Exodus) )
1 Timothy 1:8 (ESV) 8 Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully,
The Mosaic Law takes up a large portion of the Old Testament and was of vital importance to the Hebrews of old. Even though we who are in Christ are no longer under the Law (Galatians 5:18), there is much we can learn from this part of God’s Word. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful” (2 Timothy 3:16).
I). Live By the Spirit and Fulfill the Law of God
Galatians 5:16–26 (ESV)
16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Paul is telling us, in general, that because we who are born again have the Holy Spirit we are not under the Law because the Holy Spirit will lead us to obey God’s Law through love and not through a list of do’s and don’ts. If we are in step with the Spirit we are obeying God’s Law. Obedience becomes more automatic for Christians than it was for the OT worshipper. The HS manifests his fruit within us and when we are led by the Spirit we are manifesting…22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
Let me say it simply like this for now…if you are led by the Spirit and He is manifesting Himself in your life and you are becoming more loving, kind and patient with others, you’re probably not going to kill them. Thou shalt not kill is so removed from us when we are loving and kind to others.
We must remember that Jesus’ work is not “to abolish the Law or the Prophets…but to fulfill them” (v. 17). The Messiah’s coming does not render the Old Testament obsolete. “To fulfill” is not to dissolve the authority and application of the old covenant revelation; rather, “to fulfill” means to fill up the Law’s intent and show the goal to which it leads. Jesus is saying that He achieves the purpose of the Law and the Prophets in the inauguration of the kingdom in His life and ministry and in its consummation at His return. The Law is valid under the new covenant when used “lawfully” (1 Tim. 1:8), but it cannot be followed rightly apart from Christ.
How does Jesus fulfill the Law?
The True Gospel Came Not from Man but from God Galatians 1:11-24
Truth Taught- The Gospel Paul preached did not originate with man but has divine origin.
The Glorious Gospel Paul Preached:
Romans 8:1–4 (ESV)
8 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
The message of Christ is that now, in Christ, there is no condemnation. Jesus Christ has set of free from the condemnation of the Law. God has done it. In Christ we are saved and God maintains His holiness. Jesus lived the Law of God for us and God is also free to forgive us while still maintaining His glory and holiness. Praise be to God for His glorious Gospel of Grace…
The opponents of Paul in the Churches in the region of Galatia were what we will call from now on, Judaizers. They were Judaizing the Christians. They were calling the Christians in Galatia to believe the Gospel and add Jewish tradition to it. Believe it and also include works. For them, the formula went like this: the Gospel + Works = Salvation
In order to gain followers after their twisted version of the Gospel they had to convince those in the Churches that Paul was not really an Apostle which would then limit his authority and with limited authority what he said held no more power than what they were saying. They told the Churches that Paul was just out to make a showing for himself that what he preached originated either with him or he received his message second hand, from man. They were also out to convince the Churches that he was just a people pleaser and was out for his own gain. Paul wanted to be rich and famous and really didn’t care for them but he was only out for himself.
Please Stand for the Reading of God’s Word
Galatians 1:11–24 (ESV)
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.
18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.
1. Christ’s Gospel is What Paul Preached (1:11-12)
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.
I would have you know- Very forceful language. Paul is calling the Galatians to take notice and to fully understand something. Listen Up!
We are going to see his wonderful argument and proof that what he’s teaching is directly from Jesus Christ and not from man.
Here is Paul’s thesis statement or his declaration. We will see how he proves it to them and to us.
The consequence of his apostleship is that if Paul is an apostle, what he writes is God’s absolute Word. It is authoritative and binding on mankind. The Galatians are called to obey it since it is God’s Word and so are we.
Let’s examine his claim…
His claim is, the Gospel he preached is not his Gospel or not man’s Gospel. He tells us it was not according to (KATA) man nor was it (PARA) from man. He did not receive this message from the other apostles nor did he receive it from Ananias who baptized Paul. He did not make it up, invent it. His message has nothing to do with man. It has not been touched by man’s hands or formulated by man’s wisdom.
So if he wasn’t taught it by man and if he didn’t fabricate it himself then where did the Gospel that he preaches come from?
Disciple Hour: Exodus 19:7–25
There are two words that depict God here in Chapter 19 of Exodus that I’d like to highlight.
Transcendence and Immanence
Transcendence- God’s greatness and holiness and His distance from His creatures. It is His otherness how He is infinitely glorious and set apart from His creation. To transcend is to literally, go beyond. God in every way is infinitely beyond us.
The other word, Immanence means to be near to or to relate to. This when used of God means to be in a close relationship with or close personal involvement.
So, one is the great distance God is far and above us and the other is how close God desires to be with His people.
Over the centuries, the Church seems to have highlighted one of these aspects of God over the other. In times past God’s transcendence had been emphasized at the expense of His Immanence. Today, however, it seems in Christian circles that God’s Immanence is emphasized at the expense of His Transcendence. God is viewed as a friend more so than the Most High God.
This attitude toward God can greatly affect our worship of Him. We can get too comfortable with God. We can approach worship with a lack of awe and wonder if we focus too much on God with us. It’s important that we keep these both in balance if we are to have a correct view of God. He is high and lifted up and He is God with us.
The Golden-Calf-Gospel Galatians 1:6-10
Truth Taught-The true Gospel of Christ must be proclaimed and maintained if God is to be glorified and people are to be saved.
Introduction
Today we are looking at the section of the Book of Galatians where Paul usually expresses his thanksgiving for the recipients of the letter.
Romans 1:8 (ESV)
8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.
1 Thessalonians 1:2 (ESV)
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers,
Even to the Corinthian Church who had so much wrong and so many trials within the Church, Paul gave thanks for them…
1 Corinthians 1:4 (ESV)
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,
Paul does not give thanks for the Galatian Churches. Why does he thank God for the Corinthians but not for the Galatians? The Corinthians were struggling with sin, that’s for sure. The Corinthians had immorality within the Church, they had court cases among Christians, they were misusing their gifts, they were picking sides and favorites, and there was disunity within the Church…but they had a rock-solid foundation that they could build upon and would not crumble under them…they had the true Gospel. They knew and believed the Gospel. All the other stuff could be fixed because they were trusting Christ alone. Not so with the Galatians. They were turning away from the Gospel of grace to a works religion that cannot save. What good is it if a church is in unity if its union is the wrong Gospel?
The devil wishes to lure the Church into sin and into error. In many ways error can do more damage than even sin can. This is why Paul could address the Corinthians with thanksgiving but not the Galatians. Turning from the true Gospel is the unpardonable sin. It is willfully saying the truth is not the truth even though it has been made evident by the Spirit. The consequence of this willful rejection of what one knows to be true is a hardening of the heart. It forfeits all possibilities of salvation and seeks to get God’s glory.
Let’s look together to the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ together and see all the wonders it accomplishes within the believer.
Disciple Hour: Exodus 19:1–9a
1. Israel At Mount Sinai (19:1-6)
19 On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. 2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain, 3 while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
Exodus 19:1-2 shows us that it has been three months since the Israelites had left Egypt. Upon leaving, they headed directly into the wilderness to be tested by God to see if they would walk in His ways…they failed. The Israelites fail to walk in God’s commands.
God brings Moses and Israel back to the mountain where Moses began. God kept His Word.
Exodus 3:12 (ESV)
12 He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
God has brought the Israelites to the promised mountain of God and here He will give them the Mosaic Law.
In Chapter 19 of Exodus, we are brought to see the covenant God is making with the Israelites. Moses will serve as the mediator of the covenant…He will speak to the people on God’s behalf to tell them what the stipulations are for their continued blessings and protection.
God first reminds them all He has done for them.
