GREAT GRACE & FREEDOM #7: THE LAW: ON BACON, SHRIMP AND TATTOOS
INTRO TO SPEAKER: Love for the church – Jesus (Eph. 5:25), Paul (2 Cor. 11:28) and me. Love for my family. Liza and I are celebrating 18 years of marriage with four great children!
INTRO TO TOPIC: How many of you have ever read through the Old Testament? How many of you have been confused by what you have read? You’re not alone. Consider these questions:
• Is it okay for Christians to eat bacon or shrimp? (Leviticus 11 says eating those animals is forbidden). I don’t know about the rest of you, but I love bacon and shrimp!
• Is it okay for Christians to get tattoos? (see Leviticus 19:28).
• Is it okay for Christians to work on Sundays? (see Exodus 20:10).
• Should Christians lobby for the death penalty in Canada? (see Exodus 21:12).
THE BIG IDEA: God’s primary way of relating to His people is through His covenant of promise. The law was given to show us how guilty we are, not to make us right in God’s sight.
1. THE COVENANT OF PROMISE:
“15 Dear brothers and sisters, here's an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or amend an irrevocable agreement (covenant), so it is in this case. 16 God gave the promise to Abraham and his child. And notice that it doesn't say the promise was to his children, as if it meant many descendants. But the promise was to his child -- and that, of course, means Christ. 17 This is what I am trying to say: The agreement God made with Abraham could not be canceled 430 years later when God gave the law to Moses. God would be breaking his promise. 18 For if the inheritance could be received only by keeping the law, then it would not be the result of accepting God's promise. But God gave it to Abraham as a promise.” (Gal. 3:15-18, NLT).
• The Bible is full of promises made by a faithful, promise-keeping God:
• “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.” (Psalm 103:2-5).
2. THE PURPOSE OF THE LAW:
“19 Well then, why was the law given? It was given to show people how guilty they are. But this system of law was to last only until the coming of the child to whom God's promise was made. And there is this further difference. God gave his laws to angels to give to Moses, who was the mediator between God and the people.” (Gal. 3:19).
• What do we learn about the law in this passage? What is the purpose of the law?
• 1. The law was to show people how guilty they are.
“20 Now a mediator is needed if two people enter into an agreement, but God acted on his own when he made his promise to Abraham. 21 Well then, is there a conflict between God's law and God's promises? Absolutely not! If the law could have given us new life, we could have been made right with God by obeying it. 22 But the Scriptures have declared that we are all prisoners of sin, so the only way to receive God's promise is to believe in Jesus Christ.” (Gal. 3:20-22).
• 2. The law cannot give us new life or make us right with God.
• The law is like a mirror that helps us see our ‘dirty faces’ (see James 1:22-25), but you don’t wash your face with a mirror. It’s God’s grace – faith in Jesus – that cleanses us.
• The only way to receive God’s promise is through faith in Jesus.
“23 Until faith in Christ was shown to us as the way of becoming right with God, we were guarded by the law. We were kept in protective custody, so to speak, until we could put our faith in the coming Savior. 24 Let me put it another way. The law was our guardian and teacher to lead us until Christ came. So now, through faith in Christ, we are made right with God. 25 But now that faith in Christ has come, we no longer need the law as our guardian.” (Gal. 3:23-25).
• 3. The law was temporary until the coming of Jesus.
• 4. The law was to show us our need for a Saviour.
How then does the Old Testament law apply to our lives as Christians?
• Jesus said, “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.” (Matt. 5:17).
A. THE THREE ASPECTS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW: Do big chart in colors.
• Ceremonial Law - the ceremonies of the Jewish religion that pointed to Jesus.
• Civil Law - the laws God gave for Israel’s civil government.
• Moral Law - the principles that dictate what is right or wrong for all people.
“You are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:14b). What does that mean?
• We are not under the ceremonial law because Jesus fulfilled it through His death. Most of these laws it is pretty easy to figure out (sacrifices, laws for Levites, etc).
• We are not under the civil law because that was given to the nation of Israel. These were laws that dictated how to punish certain crimes. We are to obey the laws in our country.
• We are not under the condemnation of the moral law because we are forgiven.
• However – as Christians, we are still obligated to keep the moral law – not as a means of earning our salvation, but as a part of walking in the Spirit – Christian living.
B. WHAT ABOUT BACON AND THE SABBATH?
“1 Accept Christians who are weak in faith, and don't argue with them about what they think is right or wrong. 2 For instance, one person believes it is all right to eat anything. But another believer who has a sensitive conscience will eat only vegetables. 3 Those who think it is all right to eat anything must not look down on those who won't. And those who won't eat certain foods must not condemn those who do, for God has accepted them. 4 Who are you to condemn God's servants? They are responsible to the Lord, so let him tell them whether they are right or wrong. The Lord's power will help them do as they should. 5 In the same way, some think one day is more holy than another day, while others think every day is alike. Each person should have a personal conviction about this matter. 6 Those who have a special day for worshiping the Lord are trying to honor him. Those who eat all kinds of food do so to honor the Lord, since they give thanks to God before eating. And those who won't eat everything also want to please the Lord and give thanks to God.” (Romans 14:1-6, NLT).
• If you have to work on Sunday, that’s okay, as long as you take another Sabbath.
• If you want to eat bacon or shrimp, you can do so! Just don’t judge others on these things.
C. WHAT ABOUT TATTOOS? How does this command apply to us today?
• Some of the Old Testament laws are harder to determine if they apply to us today.
• Here’s a good principle to follow if you’re in doubt:
“But if people have doubts about whether they should eat something, they shouldn't eat it. They would be condemned for not acting in faith before God. If you do anything you believe is not right, you are sinning.” (Romans 14:23, NLT).
• Because of the Holy Spirit inside of us, He helps us make decisions too:
“This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds I will write them.” (Heb. 10:16, NKJV).
D. A SUMMARY OF THE OLD TESTAMENT LAWS:
“Jesus said, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matt. 22:37-40, NKJV).
• Jesus said the whole Old Testament is summed up with: Love God and people.
• When in doubt, just ask yourself – does this action show love for God and people?
• Also, several OT laws (all of the Ten Commandments) were repeated in the NT.
3. THE CHILDREN OF GOD:
“26 So you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27 And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have been made like him. 28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male or female. For you are all Christians -- you are one in Christ Jesus. 29 And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and now all the promises God gave to him belong to you.” (Gal. 3:26-29, NLT).
• Paul sums up his teaching in this section by reminding us we are children of God.
• In Christ, people of all races, economic standings and sexes are equal.
• As Christians, we are Abraham’s true children, and heirs to the promises of God.
CLOSING STORY: (Charles Spurgeon, The Doctrines of Grace do not Lead to Sin).
There is the story of half-a-dozen boys who had severe fathers, accustomed to beat them within an inch of their lives. Another boy was with them who was well beloved by his parents, and known to do so. These young boys met together to hold a council of war about robbing an orchard. They were all anxious to get about it except the favored youth, who did not enjoy the proposal. One of them cried out, "You need not be afraid: if our fathers catch us at this work, we shall be half-killed, but your father won't lay a hand upon you." The little boy answered, "And do you think because my father is kind to me, that therefore I will do wrong and grieve him? I will do nothing of the sort to my dear father. He is so good to me that I cannot vex him.
• We don’t keep the moral law to get God to love us, but because He is good!
Beausejour Community Church Website: www.beausejourchurch.ca
Pastor Chris Jordan’s Blog: http://pastorchrisjordan.wordpress.com/
