Law and Grace pt.1

10:25 Greg offers our guests to grab coffee and snack (if available—pointing to the lobby doors) announcing we will start worship in 5 min.

10:28 Concord Worship is in place before Host takes the stage

10:30 Music begins promptly at Host says...

Good Morning Church! Covenant Members, would you join me in welcoming all of our first time and returning guests? ( energetic applause) So good to see all of you and to be here. I hope you have been made to feel welcome today. This church is about walking out this life together in the RADICAL GRACE of JESUS CHRIST. It’s our heart that here a Concord, that you are made to feel “Know, Loved, and that you Belong.”

Scripture tells us:‌

(ESV) but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

That means you don’t have to get it all figured out before you come. You come and we figure it out together. Whatever season you are in, we know the struggles of this sinful world…but we also know that our God is bigger than our circumstances.

Keep it upbeat— Also, for our Guests we want to connect with you! With that said, I hope you received a program this morning you’ll notice in that program there’s more info about who we are and what we offer as a church. There you will find information about various ministries for the whole family. Also inside the program, along with the insert, there is a connect envelope. Later on in our service we will worship through a time of offering together. During this offering time we will give all of you a moment to fill out the connect envelopes (and they also serve as a place you can give any money or financial gift that you would offer to the Lord). During that time you will have an opportunity to connect and give and it’s really simple. Joe, our lead pastor will walk you through the steps.We desire to connect with you and help you get plugged in.

Now Covenant Members, if you will grab the insert inside your program and take it out, it is promoting some awesome things that we want to highlight so please take a look at that and see how you can get plugged in the various ministry opportunities we have.

Coming soon...

New Beginnings Sunday, September 9th at 9am

check last box on giving envelope for more info or go to our website at concordchurch.tv and register there.

First Saturday (every month)-Men’s breakfast at Jack’s in Calera at 8am. For more info grab Zach Lewis (behind you on acoustic guitar)

Encourage anyone who is planning on taking New Beginnings in Sept, or has taken it in the past to jump in to Spiritual Disciplines this Wed.

Ask Congregation to stand and to read this as you lead them, (together).Read SLOWLY—establish a good rhythm for followers

Psalm 119:9–16 ESV

9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! 11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. 12 Blessed are you, O Lord; teach me your statutes! 13 With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. 14 In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. 15 I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. 16 I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.

Cole, immediately start playing the days worship song as you take over

Greg exits the stage

Let’s get after the Lord this morning church!!!

quickly interact with Cole to hand it off...Greg exits stage

Slide Team: Make sure Scriptures are ready to cue up as Cole says, “Romans 8:1-2 says.” not before or too far after…please be alert. All slides must be changed when the reader moves to the next verse (no delay). Total focus! We don’t want the congregation distracted or reading the screen premature to the verse be read, nor waiting on the right verse to show up. Encourage your team to pursue this will excellence. Cole, says:

Romans 8:1–2 ESV

There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

1 Song of Pardon - Concord Worship

Song of Pardon:

Cole prays: Thanking God for His presence through His Holy Spirit and how He reveals Himself through the person on Jesus who is “the Word.” Ask Him to anoint the service as we continue to worship through His Holy Spirit inspired Scripture and song.

Band exits stage

As Cole prays Covenant Member will make his or her way to the stage.

Scripture Reader take the Stage during Cole’s Prayer (uses White labelled Mic) and then reads the Script

_______________________________________________________

says:

Good morning church, and guests. Welcome to Concord. My name is, ___________. I serve Concord as a _________ ... Me and my family have been covenant members here for ___ years.

My family and I are extremely excited to share the good news of Jesus and how at Concord our vision and mission make Him known in this community.

This is our Mission here at Concord:

We exist to connect people through loving community as we introduce them to Jesus and help them follow Him.

This morning I have the honor of sharing God’s Word with you.

Only mention the first verse so people won’t read ahead

This morning we’ll be reading from the book of our Title series, the Gospel of John, chapter 1, starting in verse 1.

And if you don’t own a Bible, consider that our free gift to you. We will even provide you with the page number on the screen to help you find our texts throughout our worship service.

If you are joining us this morning and you do not have a Bible, you should see a White Paperback one lying around under your seats, feel free to use that one. And if you don’t own a Bible, consider that our free gift to you. We will even provide you with the page number on the screen to help you find our texts throughout our worship service.

take a moment and a nice slow breath — count to 3 in your head — then READ: Book, Chapter, Verse, then Scriptures.

John 1:1–18 ESV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

John 1:1-18

This is the Word of the Lord.

Put Mic in stand behind you and Exit stage

__________________________________________________________________

Good morning Church!

John 1:17 ESV

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

*Understanding the relationship between law and grace is critical to salvation.

John 1:17 ESV

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

*Relationships are complicated, if there accomplished value and purpose together is misunderstood.

Hear me…

I want us to define some terminology, just so we are all tracking along together through today’s teaching…

You are going to hear the terms Law and Grace used a great deal throughout the next several weeks. And what my goal today is to first define each of those terms and then show you how they work together, in harmony, in relationship, Biblically as God design then and revealed them to humanity. And then I’ll give you a beautiful quote from my boy Augustine of Hippo to tie it together then I’m going to deconstruct it again so we can put it back together.

So, this is critical teaching and I’m taking it serious as a matter of fact this subject alone will consume weeks of this series. It’s that important. And my prayer is that today and, in the weeks, to come you are strengthened by its truth and set straight where others have confused you.

So, let’s define the two terms in which we are going to unpack how they work in relationship together (not opposed to one another) all for the glory of God. Let’s do work…

The Law—When we are talking about the Law most people automatically think of the Ten Commandments, which is the O.G. law…but, the 10 C’s were just 1 part of the law, the served as the moral law. There were three other parts to God’s law given to the Jew. So we have the moral law, the judicial law, and the ceremonial law. So in this case when we refer to the law we are referring to the whole law (OT). Which Moses recorded in his writings of the first five books of the Bible, specifically the books containing the law would be Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. So, God gave the law to the Jews to set them apart from other nations. “The Jews’ laws and their obedience to them distinguished them from other nations and people groups”[1]

Grace—is undeserved, unmerited favor; it is not earned, is given freely; it is a gift. (Through Christ introduced in the NT)

Here’s what my boy Augustine says about Biblical idea of the relationship between law and grace (and how it ties into what John taught us about us needing the LIGHT of Christ, how “In darkness, knowledge and instruction can’t help you escape the grips of sin; you need the Light; you need Jesus) so let’s see how all of that comes together here in the words of Augustine…

Neither the knowledge of God’s law, nor nature, nor the mere remission (meaning a lessing) of sins is that grace [that’s not grace] which is given to us through our Lord Jesus Christ; [here’s where the relational aspect kicks in…] but it is this very grace [through Jesus Christ] which accomplishes the fulfilment of the law, and the liberation of nature, and the removal of the dominion of sin.”—Augustine of Hippo[1]

[1] Augustine of Hippo, “A Treatise on Grace and Free Will,” in Saint Augustin: Anti-Pelagian Writings, ed. Philip Schaff, trans. Peter Holmes, vol. 5, A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church, First Series (New York: Christian Literature Company, 1887), 455.

John 1:17 ESV

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

*Jesus is where the relationship of law and grace meet, and where we find our fullness in Him.

In this series on the Gospel of John that we’ve titled “The True LIGHT” we’ve been considering how we as Christians aren’t rejoicing as we should be. Therefore, we are failing to show the glory, the wonder and the power that’s in the Gospel.

We give the world the impression that to be a Christian is to be miserable and it’s more about what you have to give up than it is you gain in the process. THE PERCEPTION then is that “the world” seems “happier” than the church—so wrong—especially to those who TRULY UNDERSTAND the gospel.

Now over the past couple of weeks we’ve been unpacking some deep and serious themes in which the, Apostle John, is addressing in some strongly “pointed” sub-divisions of the text. And today we are going to keep basting in those previous teachings (the hope there is to keep pushing into our heart instead of letting them escape in the fog of Monday morning water-cooler talk), and we are going to even proceed to excavate into deeper areas that again, we need to be reminded of or for even many just explained, because you may have never heard it taught in church before no matter if you are a Jedi church attender or merely a pad-a-wan learner…my point we all need to hear this, believe this, marvel at this, confess our blindspots to it, repent and seek after the Lord in a ferocious way!

The First Challenge John has dealt with for us to consider is how inadequate our view of the person of Jesus Christ, Himself, may be. That may seem foreign to “believers”- or “church-going people”—but if we are REAL—as absurd of a consideration it may seem—if we mine the depth of our hearts deep enough, you will strike oil and know that it’s true. Though we are Christians , somehow we seem to forget, that the Son of God has literally come into this world in order to SAVE US and TO GIVE US SHARE in this GREAT SALVATION.

The Second Challenge, which was emphasize in the 4th verse...

Though we are Christians , somehow we seem to forget, that the Son of God has literally come into this world in order to SAVE US and TO GIVE US SHARE in this GREAT SALVATION.

John 1:4 ESV

4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

John

…but we also see this in verse 5...

John 1:5 ESV

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

So even though the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us—the world did not recognize him or receive him (in John’s context the Jews in our context, fill in the blank).

John 1:11 ESV

11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him.

John 1:

Then last week John helped reveal to us that this has happened because of the darkness, the darkness in which they dwelt and the darkness that was in them. This is still a problem for us today and is cause to the extent to which you or I are failing to recognize him or receive his glory and to realize what he has done for us and to rejoice in it—And that my friends is how we measure how much of the darkness remains in us.

Are you rejoicing? Are you in awe of what Christ has done? Are you fleshing that out? And what I mean by that is ARE YOU LIVING THAT OUT AMOUNG the people in the arenas where you do life? If so how? How is the reality of God’s grace to grant your salvation being shown (a light cutting through the darkness) like, outside of this arena (church service—the safe place—where the majority believe what you believe), and let’s be real, is it even being manifested here? Do the skeptics who are here among us today even want this Jesus you claim to know because of how we rejoice? —Gut Check!

3. So while you’re choking on that chunk of truth, just keep chewing…let the bigness of that reality get deep inside of you, so you have to deal with it. But while you’re digesting that, let me serve up the third course. The Third Challenge that John is dealing with as it pertains to our lack of rejoicing he does so in a different theme. However, it is another fundamental problem —it’s not merely why the world doesn’t recognize Jesus, but WHY WE (XIANS) Don’t.

3.

Why is the church not filled with life and power and boldness and joy and thanksgiving and praise?

We’ve looked at the 2 reasons mentioned, but now we look to the 3rd Reason, which is our falilured to see what Christ has done for us in terms of he law. That is the very thing John deals with in

John 1:17 ESV

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

John 1:17

*Jesus is where the relationship of law and grace meet and we find our fullness in Him.

*Relationships are complicated, if there accomplished value and purpose together is misunderstood.

*Jesus is where the relationship of law and grace meet and we find our fullness in Him.

Chpt 1 is like a prologue. This is where themes are introduced,, which later in his Gospel will be worked out in great detail, and that’s exactly what John does.

ONE OF THE MAJOR THEMES OF HIS GOSPEL IS OUR FAILURE TO REALIZE WHAT THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD, THE ETERNAL WORD, HAS DONE FOR US IN TERMS OF THE LAW OR OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE LAW.

The first thing we do is look at our text and make quite certain that we are CLEAR as to it meaning.

John 1:17 ESV

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

“The law is “just” (), and therefore heartily approves goodness, and unsparingly condemns badness; but, save Jesus of Nazareth, the law never saw a man righteous through obedience. Grace, on the contrary, is not looking for good men whom it may approve, for it is not grace, but mere justice, to approve goodness, but it is looking for condemned, guilty, speechless and helpless men whom it may save through faith, sanctify and glorify.”- R. A. Torrey

.

Neither the knowledge of God’s law, nor nature, nor the mere remission of sins is that grace which is given to us through our Lord Jesus Christ; but it is this very grace which accomplishes the fulfilment of the law, and the liberation of nature, and the removal of the dominion of sin. Being, therefore, convicted on these points, they resort to another expedient, and endeavour to show in some way or other that the grace of God is given us according to our merits. For they say: “Granted that it is not given to us according to the merits of good works, inasmuch as it is through it that we do any good thing, still it is given to us according to the merits of a good will; for,” say they, “the good will of him who prays precedes his prayer, even as the will of the believer preceded his faith, so that according to these merits the grace of God who hears, follows.” - Augustine of Hippo

John 1:17 ESV

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Ok, look right at me… you need to know this—This is a verse that is often misunderstood, and the first thing we emphasize , our first principle, under this new theme, is that this statement is not meant to depreciate the law, or to dismiss the law, as if it had no value. Yet many interpret this verse this way. “We don’t need the law we have grace.” But that is not what this verse means!

Another common misunderstanding is the idea of that the contrast that is in the verse is an absolute contrast. There are those who interpret it as a meaning that there was no grace in the law given by Moses, there is not truth, and it is only inJesus that we have grace and truth. They press the antithesis, the contrast that the apostle is making to that extreme limit.

So why would I say that it’s wrong to through out the law?

The answer is that the law, after all, is God’s law. It isn’t human law. It was not Moses’ law but was simply give to by Moses, through Moses. It was not the same thing that he conjured up, There are people who believed that, I know, but John did not, and neither do we.

*Understanding the relationship between law and grace is critical to salvation.

*Relationships are complicated, if there accomplished value and purpose together is misunderstood.

*Jesus is where the relationship of law and grace meet and we find our fullness in Him.

We believe the Scriptures, which tells us that God gave the law to Moses. Moses was taken up on to the mountain and he was given the law in all its details. Not only that, but we are told very plainly in multiple places in the Scriptures that the law was mediated by angels. God used angels to give the law to Moses.

The Apostle Paul says this, writing about the law:

Galatians 3:19 ESV

19 Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary.

Gal

*Understanding the relationship between law and grace is critical to salvation.

*Relationships are complicated, if there accomplished value and purpose together is misunderstood.

*Jesus is where the relationship of law and grace meet and we find our fullness in Him.

WE MUST NOT DEPRECIATE THE LAW! ‘

The giving of the law was God dealing directly with his servant through instruments of his glorious creation; the angels. And Moses, having received the law in this way, passed it on to the people.

The author of Hebrews points to this same truth when he cautions the people to heard on to the things they have heard. He says it this way:

Hebrews 2:2–3 ESV

2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard,

That was his way of referring to the law—it was “the word spoken by angels” and it was steadily directed. WHY? Because the law mediated by angels, was God’s law. So don’t mess around and speak lightly of it. The last thing the Apostle John tried to do was dismiss the law or speak lightly of it.

But check this out, it’s not just for those reasons alone, because the law itself has an element of grace and truth.

What was the meaning of the burnt offerings and the sacrifices and all the ceremonial law that was given by God to Moses for the people? What was the meaning of the tabernacle and the temple, all the furniture, all the dress and all the symbolism? Why was a lamb slain morning and night? Why the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer?

There’s ONE answer: and that is the element of grace.

These were all shadows pointing forward to the coming of the great Messiah, the Christ, the Deliverer.

You must not say there is no grace in the law. Because there is. There is grace and truth in the law. It was meant to reveal that. We must never press the opposite, the contrast, to a ridiculous extreme. Come on! That isn’t what John meant. John’s not trying to bring down the law or devalue it, he’s trying to show the superiority of it, the greatness, the glory and all-sufficiency of this blessed One who has come, our Lord and Savior.

So John contrasts Moses with Jesus Christ. The law is simply different between the partial and the complete, between the preparation and the fulfillment. The law was given; grace and truth came in all their fullness in and through the Son of God.

*Understanding the relationship between law and grace is critical to salvation.

*Relationships are complicated, if there accomplished value and purpose together is misunderstood.

*Jesus is where the relationship of law and grace meet and we find our fullness in Him.

In other words John is echoing the author of Hebrews who introduces his theme in the same way:

Hebrews 1:1–2 ESV

1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

It is God who spoke in those “divine manners” and in different times and different and forms and ways. That’s important! Don’t lose that truth! IT IS ALWAYS GOD SPEAKING! Then he spoke in that way [to Moses], but now he has spoken once and for ever and perfectly in his Son. But that doesn’t mean that we can devalue the former vessel (the servant—the instrument of God’s choosing), nor can we despise it. What John calls us to do is to realize that when the fulness has come, we do not remain with the shadow and with the “type of” savior. That’s John’s first reason for contrasting the law with the grace and truth of Jesus Christ.

John had a second reason and that is to correct the misuse of the law, a misuse of which the Jews, in particular were so guilty. The problem with the Jews and their main reason for rejecting the Son of God. They rejected him because the held on to the law and somehow felt that He [Jesus] was violating it. They were blind! Darkness. Ignorance. Focused on past tradition instead of future hope and redemption. John knows that. To the Jews the real stumbling block to faith in Christ was the law, the law of God. But here’s the thing, they misunderstood it, they misinterpreted it.

This is John’s urgency that they should get their minds right in regards to the law, what it was meant to do, its function and purpose and its whole relationship to the gospel and this new administration of grace and forgiveness.

So he takes up the whole question of the law that was given through Moses and the grace and truth that came by the Lord Jesus Christ.

In that, is the meaning of the text. And now having defined its terms, let me go on to the second principle: the importance and value of all of this for you and I.

The best way I can show you that this subject is extremely relevant to us is to point to how in Christ there is absolute fulness, and you and I are meant to be receiving this fulness. That’s the way to live in this world. The only people who have ever conquered this world and mastered life are the people who can say with John:

John 1:16 ESV

16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

Do you get that? In case there’s a struggle, if you are failing to understand, or if you are unhappy and defeated, I want to show you that it is because somewhere or another you are getting messed up and confused —wires are getting crossed—about this whole business of the law. Listen to me their is nothing more practical than this issue. It was practical when John was writing about it 2000 years ago, and it’s practical now.

Let’s look at it this way: Why is it that we are not more thankful to God for what He has done for us in the Lord Jesus Christ? Why is it that we are not always filled with a sense of praise and thanksgiving? What is the matter?

Here’s my proposal: Maybe it’s because of a failure on our part to realize truth of the text that we are now considering.

The First Group [danger], the first tendency on our part, always is the one we’ve already talked about…to dismiss the law and not allow it to do its work in and upon us. So for the believer (the Evangelical) this is where we can find the danger and cliff of misunderstanding… because in the Evangelical world (of which I tend to lean…I want to see people saved to the Good News of Jesus and I am willing to do just about anything short of sin—or at least purposeful sin, to do it—so if you are like me listen up); in the Evangelical there is a tension to dismiss the law that applied to all those who came before Jesus. We easily like to justify, “We don’t like the law, that’s condemnation. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. We live in the New Covenant times; the times of grace.” Remember what we’ve been saying a little bit of truth mixed in with some misunderstood and misinterpreted thoughts; even teaching (false doctrine—sounds sexy because it’s less judgment, less calories, but also less filling when it comes to fulness of Jesus). Let’s just tease out the falseness of this dangerous misunderstanding in this line of thinking: it is the terrible falseness of regarding grace as something that dismisses the law altogether.

Look right at me...

Understanding the relationship between law and grace is critical to salvation.

The First Group [danger], the first tendency on our part, always is the one we’ve already talked about…to dismiss the law and not allow it to do its work in and upon us. So for the believer (the Evangelical) this is where we can find the danger and cliff of misunderstanding… because in the Evangelical world (of which I tend to lean…I want to see people saved to the Good News of Jesus and I am willing to do just about anything short of sin—or at least purposeful sin, to do it—so if you are like me listen up); in the Evangelical there is a tension to dismiss the law that applied to all those who came before Jesus. We easily like to justify, “We don’t like the law, that’s condemnation. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. We live in the New Covenant times; the times of grace.” Remember what we’ve been saying a little bit of truth mixed in with some misunderstood and misinterpreted thoughts; even teaching (false doctrine—sounds sexy because it’s less judgment, less calories, but also less filling when it comes to fulness of Jesus). Let’s just tease out the falseness of this dangerous misunderstanding in this line of thinking: it is the terrible falseness of regarding grace as something that dismisses the law altogether.

Relationships are dangerous, if there accomplished value and purpose together is misunderstood.

*Jesus is where the relationship of law and grace meet and we find our fullness in Him.

GRACE WAS NEVER MEANT TO DISMISS THE LAW, AND IT MUST NEVER BE EVEN THOUGHT OF AS AN OPTION. BECAUSE THAT’S HERESY AND CONTRARY TO SCRIPTURE.

Now I’ve got some weight behind me to back up such a bold statement…it’s on good authority too, the words of the Apostle Paul. If there was ever a preacher that preached grace it was Paul. You see Paul was a Pharisee for the Jews—Religious Pedigree alone would have made him the Gen. Patton of the Jews—He was acting as JUDGE, JURY and EXECUTIONER using the authority of God’s law, handed down to Moses, to destroy followers of Jesus, right up until, he hit the holy right hook of Christ Himself and got knock into darkness so hard it made him see light. So even if you are like me, with a past and have been redeemed from some dark stuff, know Paul pressing desire to help people see the hope and grace of Christ, makes our little personal crusades of freedom look like child’s play (not trying to rob you of anything that you’ve overcome, because there’s nothing personal in that statement anyway because YOU haven’t overcome anything. Christ overcame it for you, to glory of His Father alone and now stands in your place).

GRACE WAS NEVER MEANT TO DISMISS THE LAW, AND IT MUST NEVER BE EVEN THOUGHT OF AS AN OPTION. BECAUSE THAT’S HERESY AND CONTRARY TO SCRIPTURE.

In the first three chapters of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, he deals with the whole problem of the law. He must deal with it in connection with both the Jews (the law was everything) and the Gentiles (who had no part in the law whatsoever).

People were getting confused about the law and grace and Paul shows them that they are now saved by grace. He then paints the picture as if imagining a Jew saying, “Ok, so you are saying that the law was of no value, that it was a mistake and didn’t do any good?” And Paul replies as if the question had been asked, like this:

Now, let me press you into the sweetness of seeing this mingling of relationship between law and grace in one Scriptures’ greatest teaching moments ever. The best example I could point you to is captured in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 7 (turn there with me-it’s the book right before John-short hop).

Now I’ve got some weight behind me to back up such a bold statement…it’s on good authority too, the words of the Apostle Paul. If there was ever a preacher that preached grace it was Paul. You see Paul was a Pharisee for the Jews—Religious Pedigree alone would have made him the Gen. Patton of the Jews—He was acting as JUDGE, JURY and EXECUTIONER using the authority of God’s law, handed down to Moses, to destroy followers of Jesus, right up until, he hit the holy right hook of Christ Himself and got knock into darkness so hard it made him see light. So even if you are like me, with a past and have been redeemed from some dark stuff, know Paul pressing desire to help people see the hope and grace of Christ, makes our little personal crusades of freedom look like child’s play (not trying to rob you of anything that you’ve overcome, because there’s nothing personal in that statement anyway because YOU haven’t overcome anything. Christ overcame it for you, to glory of His Father alone and now stands in your place).

ESV

In the first three chapter’s of Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, he deals with the whole problem of the law. He has to deal with it in connection with both the Jews (the law was everything) and the Gentiles (who had no part in the law whatsoever).

People were getting confused about the law and grace and Paul shows them that they are now saved by grace. He then paints the picture as if imagining a Jew saying, “ Ok, so you are saying that the law was of no value, that it was a mistake and didn’t do any good?” And Paul replies as if the question had been asked, like this:

Romans 3:31 ESV

31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Rom

So let’s put that into context… After Paul has outlined the great way of salvation, he says:

Romans 3:27–31 ESV

27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Look right at me… Grace through Faith justifies and establishes (fulfills) the Law in Christ’s finished work on the cross.

Let me put it like this—and this is the real meaning found in unpacking . GRACE CAN ONLY BE MEASURED TRULY IN TERMS OF THE LAW. YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THE REAL VALUE AND MEANING OF GRACE UNTIL YOU HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE TEACHING CONCERNING THE LAW.

31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Maybe another way to say it is like this:

So let’s put that into context… After Paul has outlined the great way of salvation, he says:

ESV

27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.

Let’s look at it this way: Why is it that we are not more thankful to God for what He has done for us in the Lord Jesus Christ? Why is it that we are not always filled with a sense of praise and thanksgiving? What is the matter?Now, let me press you into the sweetness of seeing this mingling of relationship between law and grace in one Scriptures’ greatest teaching moments ever. The best example I could point you to is captured in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 7 (turn there with me-it’s the book right before John-short hop).

Let me set this up....Between the verses of , Luke tell the story of our Lord being invited into the house of a Pharisee to have a meal. He was sitting (reclining) at the table when a woman, a great known sinner in the town, came in and began to grovel at his feet, and actually began to wash His feet with her tears. And then she begins to wipe his feet with her hair, then this harlot starts kissing his feet, and anointing them with oil (which was a big deal in Jewish customs and the oil was expensive.

You and I will never know what the grace of God in the the Lord Jesus Christ has really done for us until we realize deeply that it has saved us from the condemnation of the law. That is the only way to measure grace. We can’t appreciate grace except in terms of our understanding of our position under the law.

The self-righteous Pharisee (Simon) was amazed at this and said to himself:

Now, let me press you into the sweetness of seeing this mingling of relationship between law and grace in one Scriptures’ greatest teaching moments ever. The best example I could point you to is captured in Luke’s Gospel, chapter 7 (turn there with me-it’s the book right before John-short hop).

ESV

Let me set this up....Between the verses of , Luke tell the story of our Lord being invited into the house of a Pharisee to have a meal. He was sitting (reclining) at the table when a woman, a great known sinner in the town, came in and began to grovel at his feet, and actually began to wash His feet with her tears. And then she begins to wipe his feet with her hair, then this harlot starts kissing his feet, and anointing them with oil (which was a big deal in Jewish customs and the oil was expensive.

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

The self-righteous Pharisee (Simon) was amazed at this and said to himself:

The Lord realized what was in his thoughts and said: “Simon, let me tell you a story...

Luke 7:39 ESV

39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.”

Luke 7:

Then Jesus began to speak about two debtors—this is the most important teaching, which is ofter misunderstood. Let’s read vv.41-44

The Lord realized what was in his thoughts and said: “Simon, let me tell you a story...

ESV

Then Jesus began to speak about two debtors—this is the most important teaching, which is ofter misunderstood. Let’s read vv.41-44

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

Luke 7:41–44 ESV

41 “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair.

Luke 7:

Then Jesus proceeds to draw a contrast between Simon and the woman. Simon had invited our Lord to a meal but had not received him with the customary politeness. He had not anointed his head with oil, and he had not given him water to wash his feet, or welcomed him with a kiss. But the woman, there she was, kissing his feet, washing them with her tears, wiping them with her hair and then anointing the with the most precious oil. THIS IS AN AMAZING CONTRAST!

What is this contrast due to? Jesus tells us:

ESV

Luke 7:47

Luke 7:47 ESV

47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.”

What does he mean???? It kind of looks at first as though he’s saying that the more you sin, the better it is, because the more sin, the more will be forgiven you, and the more you are forgiven, the more you will love.

Jesus basically turns to Simon and tells him (Brantley translation) “this woman is treating me like this and in a manner so different from you because she realizes the greatness of my forgiveness to her. You have treated me as you have done because you do not realize my great love to you in the forgiveness of your sins.” So is Jesus putting a premium on sinning? Is he saying that it is a good thing for us to sin heavily and deeply in order tha we shall have more forgiven, and therefore love more?

Of course not. No, what Jesus is teaching that is the realization of the need for forgiveness of sins that matters. The woman saw her need and realized she had been forgiven, but Simon, being a proud Pharisee (religious elite), did not see any need for forgiveness. You see Simon had never led the adulterous life of this woman; he had been a very good and respectable man. But Simon, not having seen the need, had not received forgiveness, and so he did not love.

BUT, that does not mean that he did not need to be forgiven; it does not mean that he was not a sinner, because he was. We all are no matter how good and respectable you are (or think you are).

Romans 3:23 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

BUT, that does not mean that he did not need to be forgiven; it does not mean that he was not a sinner, because he was. We all are no matter how good and respectable you are (or think you are).

ESV

Actually, Simon was a greater sinner than the woman because of his spiritual pride, which is the greatest sin of all. His failure to realize his sinfulness, that is the trouble, the Lord was in effect saying by his teaching. “People do not love me because they do not know realize what I have done for them.”

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Here’s the whole point: What is the state of your love and mine for the Lord? Do we love him? Do we rejoice in Him? Can we say with Peter:

Actually, Simon was a greater sinner than the woman because of his spiritual pride, which is the greatest sin of all. His failure to realize his sinfulness, that is the trouble, the Lord was in effect saying by his teaching. “People do not love me because they do not know realize what I have done for them.”

1 Pet

1 Peter 1:8 ESV

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

Here’s the whole point: What is the state of your love and mine for the Lord? Do we love him? Do we rejoice in Him? Can we say with Peter:

This blessed Savior, the Word who was made flesh and died for us—to what extent do we love him?

ESV

The answer is: to the extent to which we realize the greatness of the forgiveness that we receive in Him and through Him. And what makes us realize the depth and the greatness of this forgiveness? There is only one answer. It is our consciousness of our sinfulness and of our need of forgiveness. And the thing that gives us that is the law! Nothing else.

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,

*Jesus is where the relationship of law and grace meet and we find our fullness in Him.

This blessed Savior, the Word who was made flesh and died for us—to what extent do we love him?

So we will never appreciate grace until we have understood the teaching of the law and have seen ourselves under the law. Those who dismiss the law will never know much about grace.

The answer is: to the extent to which we realize the greatness of the forgiveness that we receive in Him and through Him. And what makes us realize the depth and the greatness of this forgiveness? There is only one answer. It is our consciousness of our sinfulness and of our need of forgiveness. And the thing that gives us that is the law! Nothing else.

*Jesus is where the relationship of law and grace meet and we find our fullness in Him.

So we will never appreciate grace until we have understood the teaching of the law and have seen ourselves under the law. Those who dismiss the law will never know much about grace.

We all talk about loving the Lord, we repeat the phrases, but I am asking, my friends, are we not a little convicted at how little weight are words carry? That are words are not even coming from the very depth or our heart, but more evolved and drifting like vapor from our mouths like, uncaring pleasantries that are expected in our Southern “polite” up-bringing. Have we ever known sorrow for sin? Have we ever known the plague of our own hearts?

Those who have are the people who love the Lord. That is what our Lord taught in the story that he told at Simon’s house: “But he who is forgiven little, loves little” ().

*Jesus is where the relationship of law and grace meet and we find our fullness in Him.

And I repeat that nothing gives us a realization of how much has been forgiven us except us seeing ourselves under the condemnation of the law of God.

John 1:17 ESV

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

We all talk about loving the Lord, we repeat the phrases, but I am asking, my friends, are we not a little convicted at how little weight are words carry? That are words are not even coming from the very depth or our heart, but more evolved and drifting like vapor from our mouths like, uncaring pleasantries that are expected in our Southern “polite” up-bringing. Have we ever known sorrow for sin? Have we ever known the plague of our own hearts?

John 1:17 ESV

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Do not dismiss the law given through Moses. You will never know much about grace if you do.

John 1:17 ESV

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

*Jesus is where the relationship of law and grace meet and we find our fullness in Him.

Those who have are the people who love the Lord. That is what our Lord taught in the story that he told at Simon’s house: “But he who is forgiven little, loves little” ().

“But he who is forgiven little, loves little” (Luke 7:47b).

The law and grace find there perfect point of completion in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Look right at me...

I don’t know where you are in the wake in the pull of this realization…but in case your heart is heavy be reminded:

Understanding the relationship between law and grace is critical to salvation.

Romans 8:1 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Relationships are dangerous, if their accomplished value and purpose together is misunderstood.

Let’s pray...

*Jesus is where the relationship of law and grace meet, and where we find our fullness in Him.

The altar is open, I pray your hearts are as well. Because Jesus will meet you in messiness of the crash site where law reveals your sin and His grace forgives you eternally. So now…you know love.

___________________________________________________________________

Grace through Faith justifies and establishes (fulfills) the Law in Christ’s finished work on the cross.

Responsive Worship || worship pastor || Cole Pevey

Let me put it like this—and this is the real meaning found in unpacking . GRACE CAN ONLY BE MEASURED TRULY IN TERMS OF THE LAW. YOU WILL NEVER KNOW THE REAL VALUE AND MEANING OF GRACE UNTIL YOU HAVE UNDERSTOOD THE TEACHING CONCERNING THE LAW.

song 1

Maybe another way to say it is this way:

song 2

You and I will never know what the grace of God in the Lord Jesus Christ has really done for you until you’ve realized deeply that it has saved you from the condemnation of the law.

› Joe leads congregation in a time of response through: connection, generosity and prayer

That is the only way to measure grace. We can’t appreciate grace except in terms of our understanding of our position under the law.

Connect and Offering Moment

So, we will never appreciate grace until we have understood the teaching of the law and have seen ourselves under the law. Those who dismiss the law will never know much about grace.

John 1:17 ESV

17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

› BAND leads instrumental during 1-2 min time of prayer

ESV

› Joe comes back up front…the ushers come forward Joe prays over the offering

› Praise Songs for Generosity || Concord Worship

Do not dismiss the law given through Moses. You will never know much about grace if you do.

Sending Out

*Jesus is where the relationship of law and grace meet, and where we find our fullness in Him.

And again, I repeat: Nothing gives us a realization of how much has been forgiven except us seeing ourselves under the condemnation of the law of God.

The law and grace find their perfect point of completion in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I don’t know where you are in the wake of the pull of this realization…but in case your heart is heavy be reminded:

Romans 8:1 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

ESV

Let’s pray...

The altar is open, I pray your hearts are as well. Because Jesus will meet you in messiness of the crash site where law reveals your sin and His grace forgives you eternally. So now…you know love.

___________________________________________________________________

song 1

song 2

› Joe leads congregation in a time of response through: connection, generosity and prayer

› BAND leads instrumental during 1-2 min time of prayer

› Joe comes back up front…the ushers come forward Joe prays over the offering

› Praise Songs for Generosity || Concord Worship

Sending Out

Law and Grace pt.1

Welcome || Host Time || Covenant Member || Greg Neil

guest connection:

covenant connection:

Call to Worship || Preparatory Reading of Scripture

FORGIVEN || worship leader || Cole Pevey

Scripture Reading || Covenant Member || John Brothers

Sermon || lead pastor || Joe Brantley

Introduction

Responsive Worship || worship pastor || Cole Pevey

Connection and Offering Moment