Law or Love?

Pastor Keith Hassell

Foundation Scripture:            Exodus 20:1-17; Matthew 22:37-40

I.          The Law of Moses

            A.        Two Parts of the Law of Moses

                        1.         First Tablet were laws concerning God

                        2.         Second Tablet were laws concerning others

B.         Common Phrase:          “Thou shall not”

II.        What is the Purpose of the Law?

            A.        The Jews sought to get righteousness by the law (Romans 10:1-5)

            B.         Is the Law sin?  (Romans 7:7-13)

C.        The Law is not made for a righteous person (I Timothy 1:8-11)

            1.         Why do we write contracts?  To make people keep their word!

            2.         Righteous people can operate on the basis of their word.

            3.         True love needs no law.  It always does what is right.

4.         When we strive against the law, we are motivated by selfishness rather than by love.

            D.        Purpose of the commandment is Love (I Timothy 1:5-6; Galatians 5:13-15)

III.       What is Love?

            A.        Love is not a feeling, although it can affect our emotions.

B.         Love is not lust.

            C.        Love is not a contract

            D.        Love is not based on performance

            E.         Love is a decision

                        1.         Man and God

2.         Husband and wife

                        3.         Parent and a child

                        4.         Brothers and sisters in Christ

            F.         Love is keeping His commandment (John 14:15)

G.        Love is our motive (I Timothy1:5)

H.        Love is unconditional (Romans 8:37-39) (However, fellowship is conditional)

I.          Love is laying down our lives (John 15:13)

            1.         Laying down our life involves laying down our lifestyles

2.         Laying down our life involves laying down our rights in order to serve another

J.          Love covers a multitude of sins

                        1.         Love does not ignore sin

2.         Love covers the sins of those being restored (James 5:19-20)

K.        Love is God (I John 4:7-11)

IV.       How do we move from Law to Love?

            A.        Death to Self (Romans 7:1-6)

                        1.         The Law will dominate your life (verse 1)

                        2.         A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives

a.         If she tries to marry another without the first dying, she commits adultery

b.         If you try to have a relationship with God without first dying to the law (crucified with Christ), you commit spiritual adultery

                        3.         Death severs the covenant

                        4.         We die to the Law through the Body of Christ

                        5.         Now we can be married to another

            B.         Trade in the Law life for the Love life

                        1.         Allow Jesus to express His unconditional love through you

                        2.         Obey God because you love Him, not because you fear Him

                                    a.         Love is the higher law

b.         You can obey God because you fear Him, or you can obey God because you love Him.  Love is the higher law.

                        3.         Give Him everything

                                    a.         Matthew 6:24               You cannot love two

b.         Matthew 22:37-40       Love Him with ALL of your heart, all of your soul, and with all of your mind.”

V.        Invitation

            A.        Are your relationships based on law or love?

                        1.         Your relationship with God?

                        2.         Your relationship with your spouse?

                        3.         Your relationship with your children?

                        4.         Your relationship with your brothers and sisters in Christ?

            B.         Its time to trade in law for the higher principle of love