11-06-05 - “When Grace Becomes Disgrace– Part 1” 32L
Victory Ministries International presents:
Awesome Truths and Amazing Facts  
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Hello!  This is Richard Vaughn

Today’s subject – “When Grace Becomes Disgrace– Part 1”

Before we begin today’s program, shall we reverently seek God’s presence. Heavenly Father we ask for divine guidance as we open the word and study this subject of Your grace and how modern Christians unaware, have turned it into disgrace. In Jesus name Amen.

I continue to keep my pledge to lift up my voice like a trumpet and to show God’s people where they are going against God’s Will.

I must preface today’s broadcast with this statement about the health of Christianity today. In the eyes of most people it would seem as though it has never been better. We see big churches and adoring congregations swinging and swaying with all the upbeat contemporary music. We hear talented preachers stimulating the faithful with powerful sermons that cause the emotions to reach a fever pitch. New light seems to be coming on the scene and prophecies appear to be unfolding according to the present day interpreters of the mysteries of Revelation and Daniel.
So what does God have to say through His Word and just what are the words of Jesus in these regards. Let’s look at Matthew 7 and we will be looking at verses 21-23. Now Jesus was not talking about the secular world. He was addressing only the Christians who call Him Lord. Listen carefully, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” 
 Why were all these religious people lost?  Jesus tells us it was for one simple reason: They were not doing the will of the Father, which is in heaven. In searching the Scriptures to find out just what the will of God is, the Scriptures revealed that God’s will is to obey Him and to keep His commandments. 
You have some people who say, “Well, you don’t have to keep the commandments of God, that was nailed to the cross.”  Other people say, “You’re under grace, not under the bondage of that law anymore.” And still others say, “Jesus fulfilled the law, therefore we don’t have to obey it.” Sincere Christians wonder, “What do these two or three texts, that seem to say God’s law is done away with, mean in relation to all the other texts in the Bible that clearly establish God’s law as something we should love and obey?”
To gain an understanding of this, I want to bring out these two sides.  The one side - “God’s law is done away with” ... the other side, - “No, God’s law is established.  If we love Jesus we’ll keep His commandments.”  So we’re going to go through eight Bible texts to find the real truth.
First we’ll read the four texts that are always used to do away with God’s law. After talking to many people (and ministers) on this subject, I’ve found they always use the same few texts to try to do away with God’s holy law.  We’ll look at them together, and also the texts on the other side. That way we’ll begin to understand why this issue exists in today’s world.
Let’s begin now in Colossians 2:14.
This is the text that’s always used on this side to do away with the law of God.  
 “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.” And many times, people say “the handwriting of ordinances was the Ten Commandments and therefore it was nailed to the cross and done away with.” 
Let’s compare that to James 2:10-12. 
 “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.  For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill.  Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.”
That clearly establishes God’s law.  We must keep it, we can’t even break one.  If we do, we break them all. All right, that’s our first set.

Now let’s look at Ephesians 2:15. And here we have our second text that’s always used to do away with the law of God.  
“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.” 
So notice, here we have a law contained in ordinances and clearly the Bible says it was abolished; and some people think that law contained in ordinances was the Ten Commandments.
Now we will compare that with Matthew 5:17-19, which again establishes the law of God.  Jesus said, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. 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.” Now that again very clearly establishes God’s law.  Again, we shouldn’t even break one, and if we do, we break them all.      
All right.  We’ve covered our first half of the 8 scriptures
Now let’s look at Romans 6:14. And here we have our third text which again is always used to say we don’t have to keep the commandments anymore because we’re under grace, not under the bondage of the law.  “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”  Many times they’ll say, “See, we’re not under that law, we don’t have to keep it anymore because we’re under grace today.”
Our third text establishing the law of God is Revelation 14:12.
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”  Again that’s very clear establishing God’s law. 
And now we’re going to go to the last text that is usually used to try to do away with the law of God and that’s in the book of Galatians 3:23-25.   
“But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 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.”  

However now we find in 1 John 2:3,4 that the scripture  establishes the law.  
“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.”  Again, that’s very clear establishing the law.  
Now you can see one reason why this difference exists in today’s Christian world, why some people say adamantly, “The law is done away with!”  And other people are saying, “No, you must love Jesus and keep His commandments.”  
A correct understanding of these scriptures is so important because the Bible does not contradict itself. The only contradiction is in the mind of the person who does not understand what has been read. This is going to be one of the most important things you will ever learn in your Christian study, because you’re going to meet up with these arguments over and over again in the future.  
Would you agree that we have sin in the world?” Everybody knows we have sin.  And therefore, we read in 1 John 3:4 that sin is the transgression of the law.  Therefore, the very fact that we have sin in our world tells us there has to be law.  Because if there is no law, there would be no sin, and anybody could go to heaven and we know that isn’t the case.  
Today, I’m going to read you a quote from a great preacher that I think many of you love and respect. This is from Evangelist Billy Graham. 
Here was the question given in his newspaper column, and I’m quoting, “Some religious people I know tell me that the Ten Commandments are part of the law and do not apply to us today.  They say that as Christians we’re free from the law.  Is this right?” That was the question.  
Now listen to Billy Graham’s answer.  And I quote, “No, it is not right, and I hope you will not be misled by these false opinions.  It is very important to understand what the New Testament means when it says that Christians are free from the law.  
It certainly does not mean that they are free from the obligations of the moral law of God and are at liberty to sin.  You see, the word law is used by the New Testament writers in two senses.  
Sometimes it refers to the ceremonial law of the Old Testament which is concerned about ritual matters and regulations regarding food and drink and things of that kind.  
The ceremonial law was of a passing character and was done away with when Christ came.  From this law Christians are indeed free.  
But the New Testament also speaks of a moral law which is of a permanent, unchanging character and is summarized in the Ten Commandments. This law sets forth God’s demands in human life, and man’s duty to God and his neighbor.  
That it definitely applies to the Christian is made clear in Romans 13:8-10.” Of course, it is quite true that the Christian is not saved by his efforts to keep the law. But as one who is saved by God’s mercy through faith in Christ, he is under an obligation to obey God’s law.   
As it has been said, in Christ we are free from sin, but not free to sin. ‘If you love me’ He said ‘keep my commandments’ (John 14:15.” 
Dallas–Times Herald  July 14, 1955.

When asked which of the Ten Commandments still apply to us today, Billy Graham replied, “The Ten Commandments are never out-of-date. They express the unchanging will of God in our lives, regardless of changes in society.” He then goes on to say that the first four deal with our relationship to God, while the others deal with our relationship with people. Then stating, “Our lives would be happier if we followed God’s prescription for sound living.”    
He said God’s Ten Commandments are never out-of-date. Now Billy Graham has the right answer, but he got it from the Word of God.  He says, “There are two laws spoken of in the Bible.”  I have found out when Christians get this concept and this truth in their minds, it will change their whole outlook on the Word of God.  

Be listening next week as we continue studying the awesome truths in God’s word, our subject, “When Grace Becomes Disgrace– Part 2”. 

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”. Even so, Come Lord Jesus.