Peter continued our series on Exodus, looking at the law and grace.
1. Why did they need the law?
Exodus 20. Where was Israel in their relationship with God?
Seas parted, we'd be better off dead or back in Egypt.
We are hungry, why don't you provide? We don't like quail and manna.
The presence of god came visibly and they made a golden calf.
Missed the point of worship.
Poor relationship with God. But they were his chosen people.
You are not living with me. You are not connecting with me, so I need to give you some parameters to live by.
2. What did the law say?
10 commandments we all know.
All countries laws based on them.
It told you what do in all parts of your life.
What you should eat, when, and how.
What to do about mildew.
Whether you could have tattoos or how to wear your hair.
Leviticus, numbers and Deuteronomy
Do’s in the law are to do with worship. Worship the Lord your God…. Rules re temple, sabbath etc.
Thou shalt not’s all to do with personal conduct, how to live life.
Impossible to keep the law.
Was it ever god's intention that we would get to heaven through the law?
He has always been about relationship.
The rest of the old testament after the law are stories about how people struggled to keep the law, and not being in relationship with God.
God repeatedly asks Israel, where are you? Why have you deserted me?
He repeatedly tells Israel worship me, I am the solution, but they focused on the law and not on God.
All the law had been broken in Israel's short history
3. What did Jesus say about the law?
If you look at a woman you commit adultery.
If you call someone a fool you as good as kill them.
Galatians 3:21, 23-25
4. What did Jesus do to the law?
He blew it out of the water! There is now no condemnation
Romans 5:17
Rom 10:14
1 John 5:13
Under the old covenant they had a relationship with the law.
Under the new covenant we are adopted and have a relationship with God.
5. What about us and the law?
World sees the law as the church.
A do not church, with a thou shalt not god.
Because…… The law we set ourselves to try to get closer to God. Read more, pray more, do more, drink less, laugh less.
We create ourselves a new law to live under…. Rather than operate in freedom
Rom 7 the law is like a husband, but we have been set free from the law
How do people act when they get out of a bad marriage? They have fun….
The law tells us do not covet etc, but it does not enable us to do it.
So why did god give us the law?
Public speak, no pick nose, make sure clothes right
Child queen for day, rights of the monarchy and do everything right.
Prime minister, know computer watched, everything you say monitored.
Except if you are trump!
We would live differently in these positions.
So as a Child of the king…….
1 John 5:2-3
Mark Driscoll The common portrait of god is that he must be manipulated and coerced into blessing people. Who do you think you are? P43
If I……. Then God will……
We create our own law all over again.
Law for the non believer. 1tim 1vv8-9
Law shows believers what is sinful. Rom 7v7
You will never reign in life and be free from the clouds of condemnation if you do not wholeheartedly embrace the free gift of righteousness. You need to enjoy the glorious liberty of being a child of God, thoroughly accepted, not on the basis of your present performance as a law keeper but thoroughly on the basis of his gift of righteousness of Christ fully reckon to your account.
P29 God's lavish grace, Terry Virgo.
6. Sinfulness, righteousness, and sanctification by Grace.
Rom 6:14 you are not under law but under grace.
First part, sin shall not be your master....
Grace sets you free. Free to live. Free not to sin.
How so?
It's all a matter of identity
"The meaning of life, the wasted years of life, the poor choices of life. God answers the mess of life with one word: 'grace.'"--Max Lucado
Tullian Tchividjian Contrary to what we would naturally conclude, the antidote
