SERVITUDE OR GRATITUDE
THE CHRISTIAN’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE LAW
ROMANS 7:1-6
Are the Ten Commandments binding on us today? Are Christians obligated to keep the law? Why make a big deal about modes of baptism or place an emphasis on tithing? Isn’t that simply legalism? Aren’t we under grace and not under the law? Does it really matter as long as one’s heart means well? After all, isn’t what matters is the heart not what one says or does? I mean God looks at the heart while man looks at outward appearances. What is my relationship to the laws of God?
I. What is the law?
A. One of the words translated “law” in our Bible is the Hebrew word “Torah” and is used to refer to the Pentateuch, the five books of Moses or to the Decalogue, the Ten Commandments.
B. Within the Torah are contained by the ceremonial law given to Israel by God through Moses and the moral laws of God which are summarized in but not limited to the Ten Commandments.
C. The law is sometimes referred to the entire will of God.
D. Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
II. What is legalism?
A. There are two forms of legalism.
B. There is legalism which teaches that salvation is in some way connected to works of the law, either keeping the Ten Commandments, being baptized, engaging in religious rites, or performing commendable actions.
1. Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
2. Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you are saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
3. Those who believe that a person is a Christian as a result of living a certain kind of life or going through certain rituals is illustrated in the amusing story of two farmers who had a talk about Christianity. One of them said to his friend, "I hear that you’re a Christian." "That’s right," the other replied. "Well, what does it mean to be a Christian?" the curious farmer asked. "Well, I don’t drink, smoke, or run around with women." "In that case," the friend responded, "my mule must be a Christian too, because my mule doesn’t drink, smoke, or run around with women!" That’s legalism in a nutshell, and that’s how it makes Christianity sound to many a sinner. - Michael L. Brown, Go and Sin No More, p. 151, © Regal Books.
C. There is a legalism that says while we are saved by grace, we must keep the law in order to receive God’s continued love, earn His favor, or gain reward.
1. We can’t do anything at all to earn God’s favor
2. Galatians 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?
3. Galatians 3:11-12 ...no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, the just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, the man that does them shall live in them.
D. The very purpose of the law was to show man his inadequacy to save Himself or to please God. The Law makes it abundantly clear that we all fall short and need the salvation that Jesus offers by faith.
E. A number of years ago on I-5 in Washington, a man was traveling the wrong way on the divided highway. When the state troopers finally got him stopped they asked him if he knew he was going the wrong way. He stated that he did know this, and so they asked why he didn’t get off at one of the off ramps and get on the right side of the highway. He said that he started to do this several times but every time he started to do this he saw a sign that said, Wrong Way, do not enter. He wanted to obey the law even though he was disobeying it. But, every time he tried to do something to obey the law he found that he was unable to do that which he wanted to do. In our own strength we are all unable to obey God’s law. The indwelling Christ makes this possible, however, when we get saved.
III. The Christian has been freed from the Law
A. In Romans 7 Paul illustrates the believer’s relation to the law like that of the relation between a husband and wife. As long as both are alive they are bound by the laws of marriage. But when a man dies, and the connection between him and his wife is dissolved, the marital law ceases to be binding on the wife. In like manner for the Christian a severance has occurred with the Law. In their dying with Christ they have become dead to the law.
B. 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.
C. Jesus Christ by His sacrificial death on the cross brought to an end the necessity of the observance of the CEREMONIAL AND SACRIFICIAL laws as they merely point to the work that Christ would do on the cross.
D. Ephesians 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace.
E. Galatians 3:24-25 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
F. The law is the light that reveals how dirty the room is, not the broom that sweeps it clean. - copied
G. Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under Law, but under grace.
H. Free from the law, oh happy condition, Jesus has bled and there is remission.
Cursed by the law and bruised by the fall, grace hath redeemed us once for all. – P.B. Bliss
I. Paul asks in Romans 6:15, What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace?
J. If we are free from the law can we not do as we please?
IV. The Christian has a Higher Law to which He is to be obedient
A. Consider the moral law of God.
1. Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
2. The moral law of God is God’s righteous standard. They exist whether written on tablets of stone, are hanging on the wall of a courtroom, or arer as Romans 2:15 states are written in the heart. They represent the will and way of God.
3. According to Malachi (Malachi 3:6) God does not change. His standards therefore do not change. What was morally wrong in the Old Testament is still morally wrong today regardless of what our culture might say. Drunkenness was and still is contrary to God’s will. Adultery was and still is iniquity. Homosexuality was and still is offensive to God. Lying was and still is a violation of the God of Truth’s righteous standard. Stealing was and still is sin. God still expects children to honor their parents. God still demands that nothing be placed in priority to Him.
B. Consider the Lordship of Christ
1. According to Romans 10:9 one of the conditions of salvation is acknowledging Jesus Christ as Lord – that is as having absolute right to rule over you, to become his subject.
2. Romans 6:13, 16 (MKJV) Do not yield your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but yield yourselves to God, as one alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God... Do you not know that to whom you yield yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves to him whom you obey; whether it is of sin to death, or of obedience to righteousness.
3. 1 Peter 2:16 As free, and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as THE SERVANTS OF GOD.
4. "Servant" in our English New Testament usually represents the Greek doulos (bond slave). Sometimes it means diakonos (deacon or minister); this is strictly accurate, for doulos and diakonos are synonyms. Both words denote a man who is not at his own disposal, but is his master’s purchased property. Bought to serve his master’s needs, to be at his beck and call every moment, the slave’s sole business is to do as he is told. Christian service therefore means, first and foremost, living out a slave relationship to one’s Savior.
5. If God be God over us, we must yield him complete obedience in everything.
C. Consider the Love of God and our Love for God
1. 2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constrains (compels) us
2. We not only obey out of servitude but also out of gratitude and love. When we consider how much He loved us in redeeming us, how can we not desire to yield universal obedience to the Merciful One who redeemed us by His marvelous grace?
3. Experiencing the depth and passion of His love constrains us to pure obedience to His will. Christ’s love compels us to serve Him.
4. "We should obey God because we love Him. We obey because He has done so much for us and we have done so little for Him. We obey because love is never content to accept but must always give. Jesus said, ’If you love Me, you will do what I command’ (John 14:15) - copied
D. Consider the Leadership of the Spirit.
1. Romans 8:2 NKJV For the LAW OF THE SPIRIT of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
2. The Holy Spirit will never lead you to violate God’s will and way. God never acts contrary to His Word. The Holy Spirit of God inspired ALL Scripture and illuminates our understanding. He teaches us to obey all that Jesus commanded, and confers to us grace and power to live out the Word of God in daily life.
3. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God; they are the sons of God.
CONCLUSION: The Law reveals are need for a Savior. Jesus Christ came to do what we could not – meet the righteousness demanded by God. No works of the law by us will ever get us in heaven or keep us in God’s good graces. If you do not know Christ personally as both Lord and Savior you need to come to Him today. If Christ is your Savior you are not under the Law but saved and kept by grace. As such you owe Him unquestionable obedience to His will and way out of servitude and gratitude through the leadership of the Holy Spirit of God.
