11/05/06 - “The Law and the New Testament – Part 2” - 45L - FM
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Hello!  This is Richard Vaughn

This Week: “The Law and the New Testament – Part 2”
(Before we begin let us invite God’s presence)
Father, again today we ask for Your special guidance to help us to understand the truth as to the law revealed in the New Testament. Give us we pray the Holy Spirit so that we may increase our knowledge and understanding, as we ask in Jesus Name, Amen.”
Right now, I continue to keep my pledge, to cry aloud and spare not, to lift up my voice like a trumpet and to show God’s people where they are transgressing God’s law.

Last week in Part 1, we clearly showed that the law that was nailed to the cross was the Law of Moses; which were actually many laws and ordinances pertaining to sacrifice and religious ceremonies. But God’s moral Law, embodied in the Ten Commandments, were to stand till heaven and earth pass away.

Obviously the Law of Moses pointed to Christ and ended at the cross. So what is the purpose of God’s Law?
To point out sin. Romans 3:20, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”   Romans 7:7 “What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”  

Question- What then is SIN? The Bible clearly defines what sin is and what the penalty for sin is. The Definition:  1 John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”  Sin is breaking God’s law
The Penalty: Romans 6:23,  “For the wages of sin is death;…”
James 2:10 tells us, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”  Breaking one we break all ten. We know James was speaking of the Ten Commandment law by reading the next verse 11. In verse 12 James calls the 10 Commandments the law of liberty. One is truly free who keeps God’s law, not to be saved, but because they are saved.
The REMEDY for sin: John 1:29 “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”  Does this mean we do not have to obey the law? NO!  Verse 15 answers that, “What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.”

Question- What does it mean to be “under the law?” Romans 3:19 “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”
Those who choose to sin, transgress the law, are under the condemnation of the law, which is the penalty of death, and are therefore guilty before God and in need of a Savior. Those who are obedient to the law are not under the law, but are covered in Christ’s righteousness and are therefore innocent before God.

Consider how foolish it would be to believe God’s moral law; the Ten Commandments were done away with. Since sin is the transgression of the law, if the law were abolished, then there would be no sin. If there were no sin, we would not need a Savior. Paul makes it clear that the Ten Commandments have not been done away with for he states in Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” And that includes every man from Adam to the end of probation when Jesus makes the pronouncement in Revelation 22:11. He further states in Romans 3:31, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”

Question- What has Jesus taught us regarding the Ten Commandments? Matthew 5:17-19, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.  Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”  

Rephrasing Jesus tells us He did not come to destroy or do away with the law or the prophets. The law is eternal and the prophets prophesied His first advent. He did come to fulfill the righteous requirements of the law, and as our example, proved that we can keep it. He is so specific that until heaven and earth pass (that has not happened yet) not one jot (dotting of an i) or one tittle (crossing of a t) will pass from the law. Then He warns that whoever breaks one or teaches that it is okay to break any one of the ten, will be called the least in heaven, which means that person will not be there. 

Obedience to God’s law is a matter of love to God. It was Jesus on Mt. Sinai that wrote them and said in the second commandment Exodus 20:6 “…And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”
And it was Jesus in John 14:15, 21 who said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” “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.”

Paul said in Romans 2:13, “For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”  

John stated in Revelation 22:14   Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”  

Question- How important is it to keep the commandments? Our eternal life hinges on who we believe. God has made the matter very clear. Satan would have us believe we can’t keep the law. Jesus kept the Ten Commandments in His humanity and daily sought the power from above to meet that days temptations. He did not use His divinity for His own benefit. He is our example in all things and daily we can seek that same power to overcome every temptation.
Jude 24 states, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.”  

The most powerful statements regarding our obligation to keep God’s commandments were made by John in    1 John 2:3, 4, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”   

God’s remnant people of the last days will be commandment keepers.
Revelation 12:17; 14:12  “And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”  “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Comparison of God and His Law

	GOD IS:	THE LAW IS:
Good	Luke 18:19	1 Timothy 1:8
Holy	Isaiah 5:16	Romans 7:12
Perfect	Matthew 5:48	Psalm 19:7
Pure	1 John 3:2, 3	Psalm 19:8
Just	Deuteronomy 32:4	Romans 7:12
True	John 3:33	Psalm 19:9
Spiritual	1 Corinthians 10:4	Romans 7:14
Righteousness	Jeremiah 23:6	Psalms 119:172		
Faithful	1 Corinthians 1:9	Psalms 119:86
Love	1 John 4:8	Romans 13:10			
Unchangeable	James 1:17	Matthew 5:18

God’s Law is a transcript of His very character.

Well the clock says we’re out of time for this week. We will continue this study next week. Remember, you are always welcome to worship with us each seventh day Lord’s Day at the Victory Seventh Day Adventist Church located at 117 W. Danville Street in the center of South Hill, VA.

Next Week: “Waking Up A Sleeping Christian World -  Part 1” This may be the most important message I have ever delivered as probation on this old world is nearly over.

Until next week, Jesus said in John 5:39, “Search the Scriptures, for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me”. Come Lord Jesus.