Title: Under the Law of Christ
Text: 1 Corinthians 9: 21
Date: January 6, 2012
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
1 Corinthians 9: 21: To them that are without
law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to
Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
In
verse 19, in the parenthesis, Paul says, “(being not without law to God, but
under the law to Christ.)” A better
translation is “under the law OF Christ.”
What is the law of Christ?
The law
of Christ is the gospel of his grace. It
is the gospel of God the Father’s electing grace—we did not choose him, he
choose us—unto salvation in Christ. The
law of Christ is the gospel of redemption accomplished by Christ. Blood-atonement has been accomplished by
Christ, in whom God is just and the justifier of all who believe. To have our sin put away, to be justified, to
be robed in Christ’s righteousness means our sin is gone and the law says we
are righteous. Christ is the end of the
law for righteousness to all who believe.
The law of Christ is the gospel of the necessity of the regenerating
work of God the Holy Spirit. God the
Holy Spirit gives life to helpless, dead, sinners, as well as the gift of faith
and repentance and the fruit which makes up the new man.
Galatians 5: 22 But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, 23 Meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law.
The law
of Christ is the law of the everlasting, unchangeable, covenant, ordered in all
things and sure by Christ, which is written on the heart in the new birth.
Jeremiah 31: 31
Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made
with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them
out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an
husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33
But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of
Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward
parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be
my people. 34: And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every
man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the
least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive
their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.
Because
the everlasting covenant is made in our hearts when God gives us faith to rest
in Christ, the law of Christ is called the law of faith.
Romans 3: 27: Where is boasting then? It is
excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
Because
the law of Christ frees us from the law of sin and death it is called the law of
the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.
Romans 8: 2: For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ
Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
Because
the law of Christ frees us from the bondage of the law of Moses, the law of
Christ is called the law of liberty in
James 1: 25.
The law
of Christ is NOT the law of Moses given at Mt. Sinai?—“this do and live” It is
the gospel given by Christ from Mt. Zion: which says “the just shall live by
faith”, “faith which worketh by love”
Isaiah 2: 4:…for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and
the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.
This is
heavenly Zion, heavenly Jerusalem. “Jerusalem which below is in bondage with
her children, but Jerusalem which is above is free which is the mother of us
all who believe”—this is heavenly Zion, certainly not Mt. Sinai.
John 1: 17 For the
law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 12: 18: For ye are not come unto the mount that
might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness,
and tempest,…20 (For they could not
endure that which was commanded,)… 22
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the
heavenly Jerusalem,…to God the Judge of all,…24: to Jesus the mediator of the
new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than
that of Abel. 25: See that ye refuse not him that speaketh.
Believers
are the only ones who establish the law and the only ones who teaches others to
establish the law. We do so declaring it
is impossible for a sinner to establish the law by his obedience. It is by the obedience of Christ that the law
is established. And we establish the law
through faith in him. Those who would say otherwise, may pretend a zeal for the
law, but they are breaking the law and teaching others to break it when they
lower the demands of the law and claim believers can keep it.
Yet,
there are some—who vainly imagine that being under grace means we dare not
preach about character or conduct. When
they hear the preacher quote precepts which the Lord Jesus or his apostles
gave, it is as if they think the preacher made up when it is clearly what the
Lord Jesus taught. But character and
conduct do matter—“the believer’s body is not our own we are bought with a price,
therefore we are to glorify God in our body and our spirit which are the
Lords.”
Proposition:
Christ did give his church ordinances and precepts we are to try to observe
while we are in this earth. Christ said,
John 14: 15: If ye love me, keep my commandments.
And
Christ used his apostle to teach us. He told them to go forth preaching the
gospel, baptizing those who believe,
Matthew 28: 20: Teaching them to observe all things
whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the
end of the world. Amen.
He is
speaking of what Christ himself taught as he walked this earth. These are the Masters words to his servants,
to believers—who are not under the law, but under his grace. Everything written by Christ’s apostles in
the New Testament is what Christ, either in person or through the Holy Spirit,
commanded them to teach us. It is not
the letter of the law of Moses, it is grace and truth, it is the spirit of
faith which works by love. Believers do these things. But because we have Light from our Savior and
see our sin as greater than our faithfulness, we really don’t personally see
ourselves as doing these things.
Remember the sheep on the Lord’s right hand, say, “Lord when did we do
those things.” The goats on the left will
say, “when did we not?” There is different spirit and regard toward self in the
believer and in the self-righteous. What
are some of the precepts of the law of Christ?
I. CHRIST TAUGHT US TO PREACH THE GOSPEL AND
AVOID CONTENTIONS AND STRIVING ABOUT THE LAW.
Titus 3: 5: Not by works of righteousness
which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; 6: Which he shed on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Saviour; 7: That being justified by his grace, we
should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8: This is a
faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they
which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things
are good and profitable unto men. 9: BUT avoid foolish questions, and
genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are
unprofitable and vain. 10: A man that is an heretick after the first and second
admonition reject;
The Jews
and later those who claimed to believe Christ but kept trying to bring the
believer back under the law always asking foolish questions, trying to find
some way to glory in the flesh. Such
become contentious when they hear the gospel.
They stumble and strive about the law trying to keep sinners bound,
whipped, motivated by law. All striving
with such vain men is unprofitable and vain—“A man that is an heretick after
the first and second admonition reject.”
Believers
are not motivated by law, we do nothing from a legal principle but from faith
which worketh by love. So Paul said what
Christ said, “Preach the gospel constantly, maintaining that salvation is not
by works of righteousness we have done but by his mercy, and this will cause
his people to be careful to maintain good works. The Lord said,
John 14:21: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth
them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my
Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
Those
constrained by the love of Christ serve him not by the will and wisdom and
fleshly constraints of men—but by the constraint of his love and sufficiency of
God’s grace.
2 Corinthians 9: 8: And God is able to make all grace
abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may
abound to every good work:
II. CONCERNING THIS WORLD THE LAW OF CHRIST
TEACHES US
Do Not Love the World
1 John 2: 15: Love not the world, neither the things that
are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not
in him. 16: For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the
lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the
world. 17: And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth
the will of God abideth for ever.
Do Good to Your Enemies
Matthew 5: 43: Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou
shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44: But I say unto you, Love
your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and
pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45: That ye may be
the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise
on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46: For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the
publicans the same? 47: And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than
others? do not even the publicans so? 48: Be ye therefore perfect, even as
your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Romans 12: 17: Recompense to no man evil for evil.
Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18: If it be possible, as much
as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19: Dearly beloved, avenge not
yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is
mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20: Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed
him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of
fire on his head. 21: Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Ephesians 6: 5: Servants, be obedient to them that are your
masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your
heart, as unto Christ; 6: Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the
servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7: With good will
doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8: Knowing that whatsoever good
thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be
bond or free. 9: And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing
threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there
respect of persons with him.
III. IN OUR FAMILIES
Colossians 3: 18: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own
husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. 19: Husbands, love your wives, and be not
bitter against them. 20: Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is
well pleasing unto the Lord. 21: Fathers, provoke not your children to anger,
lest they be discouraged.
IV. IN THE CHURCH
Worship
and Serve God in Spirit and in Truth
This is opposed to looking to the exterior, to
ceremony, trying to find a sign as to a man’s faith by how he measures up to
you.
John 4: 23: But the hour cometh, and now is, when the
true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the
Father seeketh such to worship him. 24: God is a Spirit: and they that worship
him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
Philippians 3: 2: Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers,
beware of the concision. 3: For we are the circumcision, which worship God in
the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.
Do Not Exalt Self
Matthew 23: 8: But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is
your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. 9: And call no man your
father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. 10: Neither
be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.
Christ
teaches us that to be the greatest is to be the least—“he that is least among
you all shall be great.”
1 Peter 5: 5…Yea, all of you be subject one to another,
and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to
the humble. 6 Humble yourselves
therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he
careth for you.
Keep the Ordinances: the Lord’s Supper and Baptism
Do All for the Purpose of Edifying
1 Corinthians 14: 26: How is it then, brethren? when ye
come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue,
hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto
edifying…33: For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all
churches of the saints. 34: Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it
is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under
obedience, as also saith the law. [it means “so saith the old testament
scriptures”—Gen 3: 16-after the fall, God said to Eve, "thy desire shall
be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee".] 35: And if they will
learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for
women to speak in the church….40: Let all things be done decently and in order.
Do Not Forsake Hearing the Gospel
We are
to provoke one another to love and good works by continuing to gather to hear the
preaching of the gospel.
Hebrews 10: 24: And let us consider one another to
provoke unto love and to good works: 25: Not forsaking the assembling of
ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so
much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
Be of One Mind and Love as Brethren
John 13: 34: A new commandment I give unto you, That ye
love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. 35: By
this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to
another.
1 Peter 3.8: Finally, be ye all of one mind, having
compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
Concerning Personal Offenses
Be as a
child, try not offend. (Mt 18: 1-14) If offended be longsuffering. (Mt
18:15-17) Then forgive without ceasing. (Mt 18: 21-35)
Believe Christ, Love and Bear One Another’s
Burdens
Galatians 5: 6: For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision
availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Galatians 6: 2: Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so
fulfil the law of Christ.
1 John 3: 23: And this is his commandment, That we should
believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave
us commandment.
Amen!