Sermon Cloud

Intro:  A-Rod’s admission.  He didn’t know it was wrong.  How do we know right from wrong?

Context: Paul continues to explain why we are saved by grace thru faith in Jesus Christ instead of by keeping the Law.

Main Idea: God prepares us to receive the gracious promise by faith thru the Law.

-         The Promise had a chronological & theological priority over the Law.

-         The promise was given first.  God’s covenant w/Abraham was not nullified by the Law.

-         Unlike contracts now, covenants & Greek wills could not be changed.  Ill. NFL vs. MLB

-         Theologically: The Promise is gracious- undeserved- rather than earned.

-         What was promised is given to all who believe in Jesus as Messiah (Eph. 2:8).

-         “Because of transgressions”- to make our rebellion visible, tangible.  Ill. Drug test

-         Its purpose is to expose us for what we really are.  “Who’s God to say …”

-         The Law was not given as a way to earn salvation.  It can’t impart life or make you good.

-         “Locked up”- the Law imprisons people, condemning them for breaking it.  Ill. Seinfeld

-         “Pedagogy”- slave who brings kids to school- a disciplinarian.  It beats us!

-         God’s Law is His hammer, shattering the illusion of self-righteousness, of goodness in us.

-         With Jesus’ first advent, a huge shift occurred.  Ceremonial law was obsolete. 

-         The moral law’s function is to lead us to Messiah who is the only one who can save us!

²⁹ “Is not my word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces? Jeremiah 23 (NIV)

“…the law illuminated God’s promise and actually made it indispensable.”  John Stott

“The function of the law was not to bestow salvation, however, but to convince men of their need of it.”  John Stott

Transition:  If we misunderstand the Law, we’ll misuse it, missing salvation.

A. What does this say about God?  He is patient & gracious!

-         God gave the Law nearly 600 years after the Promise- 430 of them in Egypt.

-         God works slowly- through generations, centuries and millenniums.

-         God works out His purposes as we wait for Jesus’ return.  2000 year so far (2 Peter 3).

-         We expect God to act quickly when He moves much more slowly.  Ill. Fruit trees

-         Church growth can take years: spiritual maturity decades.  He’s in no rush.  Ill. wine

-         “In His grace gave” => “showed Himself gracious”: reveals His nature (Exodus 34).

-         He wounds us because He loves us and seeks to heal our sin-sick hearts (Prov. Is. Job).

-         He reveals His gracious character in both the Promise & preparing us to receive it.

-         How we view God determines how we interact with Him.  Do you view Him accurately?

⁹ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3 (NIV)

⁶ And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, … Exodus 34 (NIV)

¹⁸ For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.  Job 5 (NIV)

… when the LORD binds up the bruises of his people and heals the wounds he inflicted.  Isaiah 36:26 (NIV)

⁶ Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.  Proverbs 27 (NIV)

Transition:  If we focus on the Law, we see God as strict but the breadth of history helps us.

B. What does this say about us?  We must be brought low to be lifted up.

-         People think too highly of themselves: basically good, better than most.

-         The Evil One & flesh pervert the Law (Piper): self-righteous, proud, defensive, deceitful.

-         God humbles those He intends to save by granting them awareness of their sinfulness.

-         Some know they are corrupt, morally bankrupt, but despair- seeing God as Judge.

-         See the graciousness of God => Christ crucified to lift us out of the sewer, out of prison.

-         Jesus frees those imprisoned by guilt & shame when they cry out to Him.  Ill. Newton

-         Brought low, God now exalts them.  Great sinners, but a greater Savior.  Ill. Luther

-         The gospel you live is the gospel you give!  Law or grace, which do you live?

 “Satan would have us to prove ourselves holy by the law, which God have to prove us sinners.”  Andrew Jukes

“The flesh turns the law into a ladder to climb to heaven.”  John Piper

“God is the God of the humble, the afflicted, the oppressed, and of those who are brought even to nothing; and His nature is to exalt the humble, to feed the hungry, to give sight to the blind, to comfort the brokenhearted, to justify sinners, to quicken the dead, and to save the lost.”  Martin Luther

“Where there is no fear of God, there can be no thirsting for grace or life.”  Martin Luther

Conclusion: The Law was not given to work our way into God’s good graces.  God gave the Law to prepare us to receive His gracious promise, but revealing how much we need that promise.  He reveals how helpless and corrupt we really are- that we might cling to Jesus by faith and receive all that He offers to us in Jesus.