Every government known to man has a law. Law is defined as the system of rules which a particular country or community recognizes as regulating the actions of its members and which it may enforce by the imposition of penalties. So according to the definition law without some kind of penalty is not law at all, it is lawlessness. Today we will be proving that there is a law of God and that God must enforce that law in order to be just and without partiality. Law brings about order, form, and structure to an organization. Just like a skeleton brings form and structure to a body, a law brings form and structure to people. Furthermore, without a binding law you cannot have a society where people flourish. There is no difference for the Kingdom of Heaven. If God did not give us a law to protect the people He would not be a loving God or a just judge! Furthermore, a law is like a wall that surrounds a city. It’s meant to keep out the bad and keep in the good. Without the protection of the wall anything can happen and anybody could walk in at anytime and wreak havoc on that people.
We are under the law of Christ 1 Corinthians 9:19 19For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. (Paul is talking about being prepared unto every good work. He became all things to all men that he might win some. He that wins soul is wise and he was being wise in order to win jews and gentiles alike. We are not under the law of Moses. But we are under the law of Christ.)
God defines a Righteous Christian Believer as someone who keeps His law! Revelation 12:17. It says 17And 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.
Proverbs 28:4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
Proverbs 28:9 9He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Define Righteous:
1. Just; accordant to the divine law. Applied to persons, it denotes one who is holy in heart, and observant of the divine commands in practice; as a righteous man. Applied to things, it denotes consonant to the divine will or to justice; as a righteous act. It is used chiefly in theology, and applied to God, to his testimonies and to his saints.
The righteous in Scripture, denote the servants of God, the saints.
Let us have the heart of David and love God’s law
Psalms 119:97-104 97O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 98Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. 101I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. 102I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. 103How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.
What is the Purpose of the Law in the Kingdom of Heaven?
1. For Law and Order. Judges 21:25 In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes. ( God wants everything done decently and in order. As we were stating above, in order for there to be a kingdom or any kind of government there must be a law to govern the people. Without law there is anarchy and everyone does what is right in his own sight. Proverbs 21:2 says Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the Lord pondereth the hearts. The Lord raises up a standard and the enemy has to flee.)
2. To show the sinner they are guilty and need the forgiveness of God. Romans 3:19-20 (19Now 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. 20Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.)
3. To Convert the sinner Psalm 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. (We know the Law does not save us, but it prepares the soil for His Word. The Law is like a big power tiller breaking up that fallow ground. It humbles those that will be humbled.
1 Timothy 1:9 8But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; 9Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 11According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.
4. To Teach us the Character of God (What He would look like) to know Him and imitate Him
The Law of Moses was given to show you the Character of the Lord Jesus and what He would look like when He came to the earth.
The Law is a school master (Tutor) Galatians 3:22-24 22But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. (Why are we no longer under the school master when Christ comes? It is because we are no longer in sin. If we were still in sin then we would need to go back under the school master until we graduated into true obedient faith.)
The reason why American Christianity is going to hell is because they believe God will not enforce His law.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 11Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.
Romans 3:31 31Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.
Psalm 119:126 126It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law. 127Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold. 128Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.
The Bible teaches that the righteous obey the Law of God
James 2:10-12 10For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11For 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. 12So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
Those who do the works of the flesh shall not inherit the Kingdom
Galatians 5:19-21 19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Revelation 21:7-8 7He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Follow in the footsteps of righteous Abraham Genesis 26:4-5 4And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
John the Baptist Parents Blameless obeying all commandments Luke 1:5-6 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
The Law of God is a Testimony Deuteronomy 31:26-27 26Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee. 27For I know thy rebellion, and thy stiff neck: behold, while I am yet alive with you this day, ye have been rebellious against the LORD; and how much more after my death? (What does the Ark represent? The presence of God in the midst of Israel. What is inside it? The Law, the rod of Aaron, and the manna. Jesus said His Word will judge us on the last day.)
Jesus Taught us to keep the Law Matthew 5:17-20 17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For 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. 19Whosoever 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. 20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. (Then he teaches us that in grace the bar is raised. If we hate someone in our hearts we commit murder. If we lust in our heart we commit adultery. If we have anger towards our brother without cause we are in danger of hell fire. The bar didn’t lower because of grace, it was raised)
So we can conclude, that everything that Jesus and the Apostles told us to observe we observe.
Only the Doers of God’s law are righteous Romans 2:12-16 12For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.) 14For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and theirthoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;) 16In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.
The Law in Evangelism
Evangelism without law vs. Evangelism using the Law is like using a B.B. Gun Versus using a Gatling Gun. The Problem why America is 99 percent false christians is because they have a lawless Gospel. They don't believe God will actually enforce His law and they don't believe that they have to keep it.
Preach Repentance Luke 24:47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. (Jesus said, Repent and Believe the Gospel! Who did He preach that to?)
Jesus Preached the Law to Sinners Matthew 19:16-19 16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Teach people to observe the commandments Matthew 24:19-20 19Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Why Preach Law and Repentance? Preaching law heaps up judgment and wrath upon them in hopes of repentance.
Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life: (The commandment shines light that they are not obeying God and they are on the wrong path. This convicts their conscience and the wrath that abides upon them becomes magnified. They are faced with the fact that they are in rebellion to God and they are enemies of God. They are more responsible once they hear it.)
Sinners storing up wrath by breaking God’s law Romans 2:5-6 5But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; 6Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
The Law Works Wrath Romans 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Romans 7:9-11 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
Isaiah 42:21 The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. (We do not see the Lord making void the Law, we see Him magnifying it.)
Why was the Law of Moses Given? Galatians 3:19 19Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. (Because people were living wickedly God gave them the law in hopes it would cause them to cry out to God for mercy and forgiveness.)
What is the Covenant? Luke 1:72-75 72To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant; 73The oath which he sware to our father Abraham, 74That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear, 75In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
Forsaking the Holy Covenant
How do people forsake the covenant? By Transgression! Hosea 6:7-8 7But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me. 8Gilead is a city of them that work iniquity, and is polluted with blood.
Joshua 23:15-16 15Therefore it shall come to pass, that as all good things are come upon you, which the LORD your God promised you; so shall the LORD bring upon you all evil things, until he have destroyed you from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you. 16When ye have transgressed the covenant of the LORD your God, which he commanded you, and have gone and served other gods, and bowed yourselves to them; then shall the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and ye shall perish quickly from off the good land which he hath given unto you. (How do you transgress the covenant? By serving other Gods: Idolatry)
Deuteronomy 31:16-18 16And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them. 17Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?Ezekiel 17:19-2119Therefore thus saith the Lord GOD; As I live, surely mine oath that he hath despised, and my covenant that he hath broken, even it will I recompense upon his own head. 20And I will spread my net upon him, and he shall be taken in my snare, and I will bring him to Babylon, and will plead with him there for his trespass that he hath trespassed against me. 21And all his fugitives with all his bands shall fall by the sword, and they that remain shall be scattered toward all winds: and ye shall know that I the LORD have spoken it.
2 Chronicles 15:2 And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you.
Deuteronomy 7:9-10 9Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; 10And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.
Daniel 9:4 And I prayed unto the LORD my God, and made my confession, and said, O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keeping the covenant and mercy to them that love him, and to them that keep his commandments;
Exodus 19:4-5 4Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself. 5Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.
Psalms 25:10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies.
1 Corinthians 10:6-12 6Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 11Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
Hebrews 10:26-31 26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. 28He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 30For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. 31It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
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