WHAT IS THE BELIEVERS RULE OF LIFE?

What Part and Place does the Law have in Sanctification?

Is the Key to Living the Christian Life Found at Mount Sinai or at Mount Calvary?
What is the believers rule of life? By what rule should I live? How is the Christian life to be lived? What rule should I follow and what should be my focus? How should I walk as a believer? What is the key to living the Christian life? What must I do to live a life that is pleasing to God? How can I live a holy life? How can I walk down Gods chosen path for me the path of holiness and sanctification? !For this is the will of God, even your sanctification! "# $hess% &'()% $hese are important *uestions and they have been answered in at least two different ways% +ome insist that the believers rule of life is the ,-W% When they say !,-W! they are thinking especially of Gods moral law as set forth in the $en Commandments% How am I to live? $heir answer would be this' !I am to live by Gods law% I am to live by the $en Commandments% $his is my rule of life% $he key to living the Christian life and the key to walking in holiness is to strive to obey Gods holy law especially the $en Commandments which the ,ord .esus summed up in two great commandments' to love God with all your heart and to love your neighbor as yourself%! Compare /atthew 00'(12&3% $his all sounds good but the problem is simply this' $he more we try to keep Gods holy law the more we fail% 4ven as regenerate believers we cannot of ourselves measure up to Gods perfect standard of righteousness% $he problem is not with the law because !the law is holy and the commandment holy and 5ust and good! "6omans 7'#0)% $he problem is with the believer' !8or I know that in me "that is in my flesh ) dwelleth no good thing' for to will is present with me9 but how to perform that which is good I find not! "6omans 7'#:)% $his is similar to the problem the Israelites had when they first were given Gods holy law% $heir response to the commandments was as follows' !-ll that the ,;6< hath spoken we will do%! $hey were sincere in their desire to obey but as we know they failed miserably to keep Gods commandments% $hey did not understand their own weakness' $his oral response of the people is commended by the ,;6< in <eut% ='0720:' !$hey have well said all that they have spoken%! $heir subse*uent history however shows that they had failed to reali>e their own spiritual and moral weakness and the infinite perfection of the divine law which they so easily were engaging themselves to obey% +ee Gods lament in <eut% ='0?' !; that there were such an heart in them that they would fear /e and keep all /y commandments always%! @8ootnote A#22+ee the note in the NEW SCOFIELD REFERENCE I LE given under 4Bodus #?':%C

Where does a person need to go to find Gods rule for living the Christian life? $hose of a legal persuasion would point the person to /ount +inai the place where /oses received the law from God% $hey would say !/ount +inai is where you need to go% /ount +inai is where you will find the key to living the Christian life%! $his is a popular view among Bible believers% $his is one of the ma5or thrusts of what is called 6eformed $heology% @8ootnote A022+ee the document entitled Problems with Reformed TheologyC 6eformed covenant theologians say that believers are under the law as a rule of life% $o help you and guide you in living the Christian life they will send you directly to /ount +inai% It is to their credit that they do not do this when it comes to 5ustification% When it comes to how a person is saved and how a person is 5ustified they will send you to /ount Calvary where the +aviour died for hell2deserving sinners% $hey will rightly point you to .esus Christ and Him crucified as the sinners only hopeD /ount +inai can never save a person it can only condemn him% !By the law is the knowledge of sin! "6omans ('03) and /ount +inai serves a very useful purpose in showing a person his sin and showing him that he is condemned before a holy God% $he law can never save' !Enowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by the faith of .esus Christ even we have believed in .esus Christ that we might be 5ustified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law' for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified! "Galatians 0'#1)% $he law can never 5ustify% It can only show a person how FG.F+$ and FG6IGH$4;F+ he really is% $he law is Gods /I66;6 that shows a person his true condition% +ee $he Hurpose of the ,-W%

THE REFORMED POSITION

When it comes to 5ustification those in the 6eformed tradition would say !Ies the key to salvation is to go to /ount Calvary% Christ and Him crucified is the sinners only plea%! When it comes to the process of sanctification and how a believer can live a set apart and holy life it is then that they will send a person back to /ount +inai% $his is illustrated in the following three *uotes given by well known 6eformed theologians' !$he Christian must never say farewell to the law% $hank God we are no longer under it as a way of salvation9 but we are to keep it we are to honor it we are to practice it in our daily life%! J <6% /-6$IG ,,;I<2.;G4+ !Is the disciple to be above his /aster the servant superior to his ,ord? Christ was Kmade under the law "Gal% &'&) and lived in perfect submission thereto and has left us an eBample that we should Kfollow His steps "# Heter 0'0#)% ;nly by loving fearing and obeying the law shall we be kept from sinning%! J -6$HF6 HIGE @8ootnote A(22Cited in!"E CO#$LE!E GREEN LE!!ERS "Londervan) by /iles +tanford p% 01(%C !Genuine sanctification will show itself in habitual respect for Gods law and habitual effort to live in obedience to it as a rule of life% $he Holy +pirit will always lead him "the believer) to a spiritual use of the law in the pursuit of sanctification%! J .%C% 6I,4 @8ootnote A&a22Cited in !"E CO#$LE!E GREEN LE!!ERS "Londervan) by /iles +tanford p% 01(%C !$hey @6eformed men! devote even more attention to the law in connection with the doctrine of sanctification% $hey stand strong in the conviction that %elievers are still under the law as a rule of life! @8ootnote A&b22,% Berkhof Syste&atic !heolo'y &th ed% "Grand 6apids' 4erdmans #?77) 1#(2#= italics added)%

What are these men actually saying? ,loyd2.ones says that we are not under the law as a way of salvation but he implies that we are under it as a means of sanctification% $he idea is this' !We dont need the law for salvation but we need it for daily living%! He says we must never say farewell to the law% @Gote that Haul says that the believer has become dead to the law by the body of Christ "6om% 7'&) and that the believer has been delivered or released from the law having died to that by which he was once bound "6om% 7'1) whereas ,loyd2.ones says that we must never say farewell to the law%C -rthur Hink in the above *uote reveals his own misunderstanding of dispensational truth% We recogni>e that the ,ord .esus was under the law because He lived in the dispensation of the /osaic law which did not end until His own death at Calvary% He was !made of a woman made under the law! "Gal% &'&)% Because the ,ord .esus was under the law does not mean that Christians living in the present dispensation of grace are under the law% Indeed Haul declares the very opposite' !8or sin shall not have dominion over you' for ye are not under the law, but under grace! "6omans 1'#&)% Hink also insists that the way a Christian can be kept from sinning is by loving fearing and obeying the law% He thus brings the believer to /ount +inai% Haul in 6omans chapter 1 does not do this% Instead Haul brings the believer to /ount Calvary and sets forth the glorious fact of our identification with Christ in His death unto sin and in His resurrection unto life% .%C% 6yle says that we are to make every effort to obey the law !as a rule of life%! $o him the law has a !spiritual use! as a means of sanctification% $he West&inster Confession of Faith agrees' !-lthough true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works to be thereby 5ustified or condemned9 yet it is of great use to them%%%as a rule of life! "Chapter MIM +ection NI)% ,% Berkhof says that 6eformed men stand strong in the conviction that believers are still under the law as a rule of life% $hus according to Berkhof /t% +inai provides the key to sanctification and holy living% @8ootnote A=22We are not saying that 6eformed men never point believers to /ount Calvary when it comes to holy living and sanctification% $he cross is prominent in much of their teaching on sanctification and for this we are thankful% When it comes to sanctification as well as 5ustification let us 5oin Haul in saying !8or I determined not to know any thing among you save .esus Christ and him crucified! "# Cor% 0'0)%C 8or more information on 6eformed $heology see Hroblems with 6eformed $heology%

THE DISPENS TION L POSITION

In contrast to 6eformed theology is <ispensationalism% <ispensationalism says that to find the believers rule of life you must go not to /ount +inai but to /ount Calvary% /ount +inai is powerless to 5ustify a person and /ount +inai is also powerless to sanctify a person% $he law is not the believers rule of life% +omething else is% $he +cofield Bible states this position very clearly' !$he test of the gospel is grace% If the message eBcludes grace or mingles law with grace as the means of 5ustification or sanctification or denies the fact or guilt of sin which alone gives grace its occasion and opportunity it is Kanother gospel and the preacher of it is under the anathema of God%! @8ootnote A122$his is the note in theSCOFIELD REFERENCE I LE under Galatians #'1%C $he early dispensationalists understood this well% Consider the following *uotations given by pioneer dispensationalists'

I learn in the law that God abhorred stealing but it is not because I am under the law that I do not steal% -ll the Word of God is mine and written for my instruction9 yet for all that I am not under law but a Christian who has died with Christ on the Cross and am not in the flesh to which the law applied% I have died to the law by the body of Christ "6omans 7'&)% J .;HG <-6BI @8ootnote A722Cited by /iles +tanford ":&3 Nindicator <r% A### Colorado +prings C; :3?#?) in the paper entitled ()R#INI*S, !O C)L+IN, !O $)*L, #)N, L)W, OR C"RIS!CEN!ERED.(C +ome good men who in grievous error would impose the law as a rule of life for the Christian mean very well by it but the whole principle is false because the law instead of being a rule of life is necessarily a rule of death to one who has sin in his nature% 8ar from a delivering power it can only condemn such9 far from being a means of holiness it is in fact the strength of sin "# Cor% #='=1)% J WI,,I-/ E4,,I @8ootnote A:22Cited in !"E CO#$LE!E GREEN LE!!ERS "Londervan) by /iles +tanford "p% 01=)%C We are fully convinced that a superstructure of true practical holiness can never be erected on a legal basis9 and hence it is that we press # Cor #'(3 upon the attention of our readers% It is to be feared that many who have in some measure abandoned the legal ground in the matter of !righteousness ! are yet lingering thereon for !sanctification%! We believe this to be the mistake of thousands and we are most anBious to see it corrected% It is evident that a sinner cannot be 5ustified by the works of the law9 and it is e*ually evident that the law is not the rule of the believers life% -s to the believers rule of life the apostle does not say !$o me to live is the law9! but !$o me to live is Christ! "Hhil% #'0#)% Christ is our rule our model our touchstone our all% We receive the $en Commandments as part of the canon of inspiration9 and moreover we believe that the law remains in full force to rule and curse a man as long as he liveth% ,et a sinner only try to get life by it and see where it will put him9 and let a believer only shape his way according to it and see what it will make of him% We are fully convinced that if a man is walking according to the spirit of the gospel he will not commit murder nor steal9 but we are also convinced that a man confining himself to the standard of the law of /oses would fall very short of the spirit of the gospel% J C%H% /-CEIG$;+H @8ootnote A?22!"E #)C/IN!OS" !RE)S*R0, #ISCELL)NEO*S WRI!INGS 0 C1"1#ac2intosh p% 10: 1=(21=&C% /ost of us have been reared and now live under the influence of Galatianism% Hrotestant theology is for the most part thoroughly Galatiani>ed in that neither the law or grace is given its distinct and separate place as in the counsels of God but they are mingled together in one incoherent system% $he law is no longer as in the divine intent a ministration of death "0 Cor% ('7) of cursing "Gal% ('#3) or conviction "6om% ('#?) because we are taught that we must try to keep it and that by divine help we may% Gor does grace on the other hand bring us blessed deliverance from the dominion of sin for we are kept under the law as a rule of life despite the plain declaration of 6omans 1'#&% J C%I% +C;8I4,< @8ootnote A#322 Cited in !"E CO#$LE!E GREEN LE!!ERS "Londervan) by /iles +tanford "p% 01=)%C When the sinner is 5ustified by faith does he need the law to please God? Can obedience to the law produce in him the fruit of holiness unto God? What is the relation of the 5ustified believer to the law? Is he still under the dominion of the law or is he also delivered from the law and its bondage? $hese *uestions are answered in this chapter @6omans 7C% !Wherefore my brethren ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ9 that ye should be married to another even to him who is raised from the dead that we should bring forth fruit unto God% But now we are delivered from the law that being dead wherein we were held9 that we

should serve in newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter! "6omans 7'& 1)% J -6G; C% G-4B4,4IG @8ootnote A##22G)E ELEIN3S CONCISE CO##EN!)R0 ON !"E W"OLE I LE p%?37%C Believers today are not under law either as a means of 5ustification or as a rule of law but are 5ustified by grace and are called upon to walk in grace% Hrimarily here @in 6omans 7'#&20=C we have a believing .ew struggling to obtain holiness by using the law as a rule of life and resolutely attempting to compel his old nature to be sub5ect to it% In Christendom now the average Gentile believer goes through the same eBperience9 for legality is commonly taught almost everywhere% $herefore when one is converted it is but natural to reason that now @thatC one has been born of God it is only a matter of determination and persistent endeavor to sub5ect oneself to the law and one will achieve a life of holiness% -nd God Himself permits the test to be made in order that His people may learn eBperimentally that the flesh in the believer is no better than the flesh in an unbeliever% When he ceases from self2effort he finds deliverance through the +pirit by occupation with the risen Christ% J H%-% I6;G+I<4 @8ootnote A#022!"E CON!IN*)L *RN! OFFERING see under +eptember #:9 and RO#)NS p% :?%C $he Word of God condemns unsparingly all attempts to put the Christian believer Kunder the law% $he Holy +pirit through the -postle Haul gave to the church the book of Galatians for the very purpose of dealing with this heresy% 6ead this 4pistle over and over noting carefully the precise error with which the writer deals% It is not a total re5ection of the gospel of Gods grace and a turning back to total legalism% It is rather the error of saying that the Christian life having begun by simple faith in Christ must thereafter continue under the law or some part of it "Gal% ('02()% J -,N- /cC,-IG @8ootnote A#(2$his last *uote by -lva .% /cClain is taken from his book L)W )ND GR)CE p% =#2=0% $his book in its entirety is highly recommended% It is published by B/H Books Winona ,ake IG &1=?3%C

8or more information on <ispensationalism see St!dies on Dis"ensationalis#$

IS THE %ELIE&ER 'NDER THE L W S LIFE?

R'LE OF

$he Word of God declares plainly that the Christian believer is not !under the law%! $he Gew $estament declares this important truth four times' "#) 6omans 1'#&9 "0) 6omans 1'#=9 "() Galatians ='#:9 "&) # Corinthians ?'03 "see the G-+B or the Gew +cofield 6eference Bible)% $he preposition !under! "hu4o) means !sub5ect to the power of any person or thing to be under the power of something to be under the rule or sovereignty of something%! -n eBcellent illustration may be found in /atthew :'? where the 6oman centurion says !8or I am a man under "hu4o) authority having soldiers under "hu4o) me%! .ust as the centurion was absolutely under 6oman military authority both as to its laws and its penalties so also were his soldiers under his authority% $o be under the law in the Biblical sense is to be under the law of GodJ the entire /osaic legal system in its indivisible totalityJ sub5ect to its commands and liable to its penalties% @8ootnote A#&22+ee L)W )ND GR)CE by -lva /cClain pp% &#2&(%C $he Bible makes it clear that a person is not under the law as a way of salvation or 5ustification% $he law and the works of the law "trying to keep the law) can never 5ustify "see 6omans ('039 Gal% 0'#19 -cts #='72##9 -cts #('(:2(?9 6omans ('0720:)% - man is saved by grace through faith apart from any works of the law%

$he Bible also makes it very clear that a person is not under law as a rule of life% $he law and the works of the law "trying to keep the law) can never +-GC$I8I "produce holiness)% $he law is holy "6om% 7'#0) and the law can convict us and condemn us "by revealing how unholy we are) but it cannot make us holy% 6omans chapter 1 makes it clear that sanctification is not by the works of the law% +anctification is by faith in the crucified and risen Christ and in the fact of our identification and union with Him% $he book of Galatians "see especially Galatians ('02() makes it very clear that sanctification is not by the works of the law% +anctification is by faith in the crucified and risen Christ and in the fact of our identification and union with Him% $he book of Galatians "see especially Galatians ('02() makes it very clear that sanctification is not by the works of the law% In 6omans 1'#& Haul declares that the believer is not !under the law but under grace%! What did Haul mean by this? Was he saying that we are not under the law with respect tojustification "the believers right standing before God in Christ) or was he saying that we are not under the law with respect to sanctification "the believers progress in holiness)? Haul earlier in 6omans made it clear that a person is not .F+$I8I4< by the works of the law "6omans ('039 ('0:)% In 6omans chapter 1 the sub5ect is that of sanctification or holiness "see 6omans 1'#? 00) not 5ustification "the sub5ect of 5ustification was dealt with previously in chapters (2=)% It is clear from 6omans 1'#& that Haul is talking about being free from sins dominion and power and authority which is what sanctification is all about% We conclude then that Haul in 6omans 1'#&2#= set forth the great truth that the believer is not under the law as a rule of life and as a means of sanctification% $he key to living the Christian life is not /ount +inai it is /ount Calvary% $he emphasis of 6omans 1 is upon /ount Calvary "and the believers relationship to /ount Calvary in light of our identification with Christ and our position in Christ)% $o go back to /ount +inai is to go back to bondage%

THE %ELIE&ER(S R'LE OF LIFE WH T S ITH THE S)RIPT'RES?

What is the believers rule of life? By what rule should I live? How should I walk? How can I live a holy life that is set apart and dedicated to the service of .esus Christ? <o I go to /ount +inai or do I go to /ount Calvary? +ince we are seeking to find the rule of life for those living in this present dispensation we must go to the Gew $estament 4pistles% $he Christians rule of life is not to be found in the ;ld $estament nor is it to be found in the Gospels or in the +ermon on the /ount% $he 6F,4 for living the Christian life is to be found in the Gew $estament 4pistles% It is there that we must find our answer% How did Haul live? What was his rule of life? <id he live by the works of the law? <id he find his rule of life at /ount +inai? Gotice what the great apostle says !I am crucified with Christ' nevertheless I live9 yet not I but Christ liveth in me' and the life which I now live in the flesh I LIV !" T# $%IT# &$ T# '&( &$ )&* who loved me and gave Himself for me! "Galatians 0'03)% $his is how Haul livedD He lived !by faith of "in) the +on of God%! @Gote that in Galatians ('0 Haul contrasts faith with the works of the law%C Hauls life was centered upon the Herson of .esus Christ with Whom he had been co2crucified% $he focus of Galatians 0'03 is upon /ount Calvary% $he cross is central% Haul was able to live becausehe had died+ He was able to live because .esus Christ was HI+ ,I84' !8or to me to live is ,hrist! "Hhil% #'0#) !8or ye died and your life is hidden with Christ in God Christ -#& I' &.R LI$ shall appear then shall ye also appear with Him in glory! "Col% ('(2&)% Ies .4+F+ CH6I+$ is the believers rule of lifeD $here is one place in the Gew $estament where Haul specifically sets forth the believers 6F,4 ;8 ,I84% $his passage is Galatians 1'#&2#1 !But God forbid that I should glory

save in the cross of our ,ord .esus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world% 8or in Christ .esus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new creature% -nd as many as walk %,,&R*I() T& THIS RULE peace be on them and mercy and upon the Israel of God%! What 6F,4 is Haul speaking of in Galatians 1'#&2#1? It is obvious that Hauls focus is upon /ount Calvary not /ount +inai' !But God forbid that I should glory save in the cross of our Lord /esus ,hrist by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world! "verse #&)% His focus is upon the cross% - comparison of Galatians ='1 @!8or in .esus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision9 but faith which worketh by love!C and Galatians 1'#= @!8or in Christ .esus neither circumcision availeth any thing nor uncircumcision but a new creature!C is helpful in seeing what the real issue is% 8aith is the root and love is the fruit "Gal% ='1)9 and love is the fulfilling of the law "Gal% ='#&9 6om%#('?2 #39 compare 6om% :'&)% ,ove is not produced as the believer tries and struggles to keep Gods moral law the $en Commandments% $he more the believer tries to do this the more he fails "6omans 7'#020=)% ,ove is produced by God the Holy +pirit as the believer walks in the +pirit "Gal% ='#1 0020(9 6om% :'&)% $hus we are to walk not according to any legal code but according to T# ( ,R %T.R R.L "Gal% 1'#=2#1)% We are new creatures in Christ by the grace of God and totally apart from any works of the law "0 Cor% ='#79 4ph% 0':2#39 &'0&9 Col% ('#3)% By faith we are to reckon on the fact that we are new creatures in .esus Christ united with Him in a wondrous union partaking in His death and partaking in His resurrection life% By faith we are to reckon upon what God has already accomplished at the cross "6omans 1)% When it comes to the believers sanctification /ount Calvary is to be the central focus not /ount +inai% /ount +inai has never produced a new creature a new man% It can only condemn the old man% Haul boasted only in /ount Calvary' !But God forbid that I should glory @boastC save in the cross of our ,ord .esus Christ by whom the world is crucified unto me and I unto the world! "Gal% 1'#&)% -nother key passage is Galatians ('#2( where Haul addresses the deadly problem of legalism' !; foolish Galatians who hath bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth before whose eyes .esus Christ hath been evidently set forth crucified among you? $his only would I learn of you 6eceived ye the +pirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? -re ye so foolish? having begun in the +pirit are ye now made perfect by the flesh?! In verse one Haul reminds the Galatians that /ount Calvary had been the focus of the true gospel preaching which they had received' !before whose eyes /esus ,hrist hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you%! $he problem was that false teachers had come in trying to get the Galatians to focus upon /ount +inai with respect to sanctification% Haul reminds them that the Christian life began when they received the +pirit not by the works of the law but by the hearing of faith% Hrogress in the Christian life must come the same way% In Colossians 0'1 we learn that the Christian life is to C;G$IGF4 the same way it C;//4GC4<% .ust as we received Christ by faith "apart from the works of the law) so we are to walk and live by faith "apart from the works of the law)% $he problem with the Galatians was that they C;//4GC4< the Christian life in one way and then they tried to C;G$IGF4 the Christian life in an entirely different way' !$his only would I learn of you 6eceived ye the +pirit by the works of the law or by the hearing of faith? -re ye so foolish? having begun in the +pirit are ye now made perfect by the flesh?! "Gal% ('02()% $hey began their Christian life at /ount Calvary and they tried to continue their Christian life at /ount +inai% $his will never work% $his is totally contrary to $H4 G4W C64-$F64 6F,4D

I DIED TO THE L W I M M RRIED TO NOTHER*

$he believers relationship to the law is made very clear in 6omans 7'#21% $he believer is delivered and released from the law H-NIGG <I4< $; I$% 6omans chapter 1 makes it clear that the believer because of his identification with Christ has <I4< $; +IG% 6omans chapter 7 makes it clear that the believer because of his identification with Christ has <I4< $; $H4 ,-W% Gotice that the result of this is not ,-W,4++G4++ but 86FI$8F,G4++' !Wherefore my brethren ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ9 that ye should be married to %(&T# R even to HI/ who is raised from the dead @our ,ord .esus ChristC that we should bring forth $R.IT unto )od! "6omans 7'&)% Watchman Gee beautifully eBplains the illustration Haul uses in 6omans 7' Gotice first that in the picture by which in 6omans 7'#2& Haul illustrates our deliverance from the ,aw there is only one woman while there are two husbands% $he woman is in a very difficult position for she can only be wife of one of the two and unfortunately she is married to the less desirable one% ,et us make no mistake the man to whom she is married is a good man9 but the trouble lies here that the husband and wife are totally unsuited to one another% He is a most particular man accurate to a degree9 she on the other hand is decidedly easy2going% With him all is definite and precise9 with her all is casual and hapha>ard% He wants everything 5ust so while she takes things as they come% How could there be happiness in such a home? -nd then that husband is so eBactingD He is always making demands upon her% -nd yet one cannot find fault with him for as a husband he has a right to eBpect something of his wife9 and besides all his demands are perfectly legitimate% $here is nothing wrong with the man and nothing wrong with his demands9 the trouble is that he has the wrong kind of wife to carry them out% $he two cannot get on at all9 theirs are utterly incompatible natures% $hus the poor woman is in great distress% +he is fully aware that she often makes mistakes but living with such a husband it seems as though 4N46I$HIGG she says and does is wrongD What hope is there for her? If only she were married to that other /an all would be well% He is no less eBacting than her husband but He also helps much% +he would fain marry Him but her husband is still alive% What can she do? +he is !bound by law to the husband! and unless he dies she cannot legitimately marry that other /an% $he first husband is the ,aw9 the second husband is Christ9 and you are the woman% $he law re*uires much but offers no help in the carrying out of its re*uirements% $he ,ord .esus re*uires 5ust as much yea more but what He re*uires from us He Himself carries out in us% $he law makes demands and leaves us helpless to fulfill them9 Christ makes demands but He Himself fulfills in us the very demands He makes% ,ittle wonder that the woman desires to be freed from the first husband that she may marry that other /anD But her only hope of release is through the death of her first husband and he holds on to life most tenaciously% Indeed there is not the least prospect of his passing away "see /atthew ='#:)% $he law is going to continue for all eternity% If the ,aw will never pass away then how can I ever be united to Christ? How can I marry a second husband if my first husband resolutely refuses to die? $here is only one way out% If # will not die I can die and if I die the marriage relationship is dissolved% -nd that is eBactly Gods way of deliverance from the ,aw% $he most important point to note in this section of 6omans 7 is the transition from verse ( to verse &% Nerses # to ( show that the husband should die but in verse & we see that in fact it is the woman who dies% $he ,aw does not pass away but I pass away and by death I am freed from

the ,aw% @8ootnote A#=22Watchman Gee !"E NOR#)L C"RIS!I)N LIFE pages #372#3? "Chapter ?)%C $he great fact of +FB+$I$F$I;G is that ,hrist died for me0 $he great fact of I<4G$I8IC-$I;G is that I died with ,hrist0 When Christ died I diedD I died to sin "6omans 1) and I died to the law "6omans 7)% But if I died how can I be married to -nother? In Christs death I died but in Christs resurrection I live "compare Galatians 0'03J !I am crucified nevertheless I live!)% $hrough Christs death on the cross and my identification with that death I died to the law' !Wherefore my brethren ye also are become dead @have diedC to the law by the body of Christ9 that ye should be married to %nother even to Him who is raised from the dead that we should bring forth fruit unto God! "6omans 7'&)%

LO&E REL TIONSHIP+ NOT REL TIONSHIP

LE, L

$he believer is married to Christ% It is a ,;N4 64,-$I;G+HIH not a ,-W ",4G-,) 64,-$I;G+HIH% $his love relationship involves being 5oined to Christ and in vital union with Him% $his is what Christianity is all about% Christianity is not a 64,IGI;G it is a 64,-$I;G+HIH to a Herson the +on of God ".ohn #7'()% It is not doing something but it is knowing 'omeone ".ohn #7'(9 # .ohn 0'(2&)% It is not a set of rules and it is not a system of morality "though rules and morality are involved)% It is not a legal system of !$H;F +H-,$! and !$H;F +H-,$ G;$%! In its essence it is a uni*ue and intimate and personal relationship with the only true God and .esus Christ whom He has sent% /any in our day have lost sight of this precious truth% 8or many the Christian life has degenerated into another legalistic religious system% It is common for people to get wrapped up in rules and regulations and re*uirements and duties% ;ne could think that the Christian life is reading the Bible and praying and witnessing and memori>ing +cripture and doing certain things and not doing certain other things% We know how a Christian ought to live% We know how a Christian ought to act and speak and think% We know the kinds of things a Christian ought to do and we know the kinds of things a Christian ought not to do and without reali1ing it the ,hristian life has lost the very thing that makes it different from every other religion or religious system0 We have missed the whole point% C%H% /ackintosh has said it this way' Christianity is a living and divine reality% It is not a set of doctrines however true9 a system of ordinances however imposing9 a number of rules and regulations however important% Christianity is far more than any or all of these things% It is a living breathing speaking active powerful realityO something to be seen in the every day lifeO something to be felt in the scenes of personal domestic history from hour to hourO something formative and influentialOa divine and heavenly power introduced into the scenes and circumstances through which we have to move as men women and children from +unday morning to +aturday night% Christianity is the life of Christ communicated to the believerOdwelling in himOand flowing out from him in the ten thousand little details which go to make up our daily practical life% It has nothing ascetic or sanctimonious about it% It is genial pure elevated holy divine% +uch is Christianity% It is Christ dwelling in the believer and reproduced by the power of the Holy Ghost in the believers daily practical career% @8ootnote A#122$H4 /-CEIG$;+H $64-+F6IJ/I+C4,,-G4;F+ W6I$IGG+ BI CH/ ",oi>eauB Brothers one volume edition #?71) p%7?3%C $o emphasi>e this important truth let us see what the Bible does not say'

#) Hhilippians #'0#J 8or to me to live is reading my Bible, memorizing Scripture, praying at least 15 minutes daily and itnessing at e!ery opportunity" 0) Hhilippians (':J I count all things but loss for the eBcellency of trying to guard my tongue, trying to o!ercome my bad #abits and trying to #a!e my daily de!otions" () Hhilippians ('#3J $hat I may do t#is and a!oid doing t#at and t#at I may $orce mysel$ to itness and a!oid e!ery appearance o$ e!il" &) 6evelation 0'&J Gevertheless I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy daily Bible reading sc#edule and t#ou #ast bro%en t#y &e 'ear(s resolutions and t#ou #ast $ailed to %eep t#e 1) *ommandments" =) 0 Corinthians ='?J Wherefore we labour @lit1, we are ambitiousC that whether present or absent we may atc# our temper, %eep $ollo ing our strict diet, memorize !erses, get enoug# rest, and not atc# too many bad tele!ision s#o s" What do these verses really say? In the above verses the emphasis is upon EG;WIGG and ,;NIGG and H,4-+IGG a P R'&( even the ,ord .esus Christ% 6ead carefully Colossians #'?2#0% Gotice the emphasis of this great prayer' to know His will "v%?) to walk with Him "v%#3) to please Him "v%#3) to increase in my knowledge of Him "v%#3) to be strengthened by Him "v%##) to be 5oyful in Him "v%##) to thank Him "v%#0)D Consider again the illustration of the marriage relationship% $here are many things the husband must do and there are many things the husband must not do% $here are duties he must carry out responsibilities he must meet and obligations he must perform% But why does he do all these things? It is because he has decided to love a person22namely his wife% $he wife does many things as well% +he prepares meals washes the dishes cleans the floor vacuums the rugs washes the clothes etc% Why does she do all these things? Is it because her husband has given her a long list of !$H;F +H-,$s! and !$H;F +H-,$ G;$s!? Hopefully this is not the reason% +he is doing these things because she is responding to the love of her husband% $he marriage relationship is based on love not law% What then is the Christian life all about? $he Christian life is simply knowing a +erson loving #im seeking to please #im walking with #im honoring #im obeying #im thanking#im re5oicing in #im delighting in #im trusting in #im growing in #im talking to #im talking to others about #im abiding in #im learning of #im learning from #im sitting at #isfeet and en5oying #is presence% Gote the emphasis on #im "on a H46+;G)% -s we go through each day are we walking with a Herson and en5oying Him or are we following a religious ritualistic legalistic routine? If we really have that uni*ue intimate personal ,;N4 64,-$I;G+HIH with the ,ord .esus Christ then this will change everything we do% $his will change H6-I46 because H6-I46 is talking to the Herson I love% $his will change BIB,4 +$F<I because I want to get to know this Herson better% $his will change WI$G4++IGG because I want to introduce others to this wonderful Herson% I want others to know the Christ that I know% -re we walking with a Herson or are we working at a religion? !Wherefore my brethren ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ9 that ye should be married to %nother even to Him who is raised from the dead that we should bring forth fruit unto )od! "6omans 7'&)% In light of .ohn #7'( can we each say from our hearts' !I know this Herson as my +aviour as my ,ord as my 8riend as my +overeign /aster as my Helper as my +hepherd as my ever2present Companion as my -dvocate as my Comforter% "+o many more things could be saidD)%!

L WLESSNESS?
$here are many who wrongly think that if a person is not !under the law! then he will be ,-W,4++% - right relationship to .esus Christ will not result in lawlessness but rather fruitfulness "6om% 7'&)% Indeed a right relationship to .esus Christ is the only possible way that the righteous re*uirements of the law will be fulfilled' !$hat the righteousness @righteous re*uirementsC of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the +pirit! "6om% :'&)% !But the fruit of the +pirit is love 5oy peace longsuffering gentleness goodness faith meekness temperance' against such there is no law! "Gal% ='0020()% Gotice carefully that 6omans :'& does not say !by us! but !in us%! $he key to fulfilling the law is ,;N4 "6om% #(':2#3 and Gal% ='#&)% $he key to having ,;N4 is a +pirit2 filled walk "Gal% ='#(20( and 6om% :'&)% In and of myself I am totally unable to fulfill Gods righteous re*uirements' !8or I know that in me "that is in my flesh ) dwelleth no good thing' for to will is present with me9 but how to perform that which is good I find not! "6om% 7'#:)% I in and of myself utterly fail% CH6I+$ IG /4 "Gal% 0'03) never failsD Got being under the law does not mean that the believer in Christ is opposed to the #3 Commandments and is in favor of violating them% God forbidD Gine of the ten commandments are repeated on the pages of the Gew $estament It is never right to take Gods Game in vain or to murder or to steal or to covet% Gods moral standards never change% $he believer who violates any of these commands is guilty and must give account to God% It is essential that we fulfill the righteous re*uirements of the law% But how do we do that? It is important to keep in mind that those who try to put themselves and others under law do not t#emsel!es %eep t#e la , !$or neither they themselves who are circumcised keep the law9 but desire to have you circumcised that they may glory in your flesh! "Gal% 1'#()% !Gow therefore why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear2! "-cts #='#3)% $hose who walk by faith according to the G4W C64-$F64 6F,4 of G6-C4 actually fulfill the law "see 6omans :'&9 #(':9 Gal% ='#& 0020()% In our 5ustification we did not receive the righteousness of God by the works of the law "6om% ('0#200)9 so also in the Christian life we do not fulfill the righteousness of Gods law by the works of the law% $he way to fulfill the law is not by trying to keep the law% It is Gods working in me that counts "Heb% #('0#9 Hhil% ('#()% It is not the production of the flesh but it is the fruit of the +pirit%

S N)TIFI) TION %- ,R )E*

$he watchword of the 6eformation was !$H4 .F+$ +H-,, ,IN4 BI 8-I$H%! When it comes to sanctification however the slogan of 6eformed $heology is this' $H4 .F+$ +H-,, ,IN4 BI $H4 ,-WD +ome might even say !We live by law and grace%! But as soon as you add law to grace you have destroyed grace "6om% ##'1)% $he entire area of the believers identification with the ,ord .esus in His death and resurrection and ascension is often misunderstood and neglected by 6eformed men% 6eformed theologians rarely set forth the G4W C64-$F64 6F,4 in their writings% 4Bamine what they write% ,ittle is said about the great identification truths in 6omans chapter 1% ,ittle is said about the believers glorious H;+I$I;G in the risen and ascended and seated Christ "0 Cor% ='#79 Col% ('#2&9 4ph% 0'=279 etc%)% /ore needs to be said about the importance of 64CE;GIGG "6om% 1'##)Jcounting on Gods facts by faith% +anctification like salvation is by grace through faith and not by the works of the law% It is based on the finished work of Christ "6omans 1) not on mans feeble law2keeping efforts% $he Christian life is to C;G$IGF4 as it C;//4GC4< "Col% 0'19 Gal% ('#2()% Haul teaches that those who are under the law are under the dominion of sin "6om% 1'#&)% $his is because the flesh cannot keep Gods holy law "6om% :'7)% Grace living is not lawless living

"$it% 0'##2#09 6om% 1'#20 #=9 4ph% 0'#3)% ;nly when Gods grace is given its rightful place in the Christian life can we appreciate the words in the hymn by Hhilip Bliss' !8644 86;/ $H4 ,-WO; H-HHI C;G<I$I;G%! $oday some of the most popular !Christian counseling! books seek solutions by subtly putting believers under the law rather than putting them under the principles of grace% @8ootnote A#722+ee our review of the booklet GODLINESS !"RO*G" DISCI$LINE by .ay -dams% /ay %dams3 Teaching on 'anctificationC Whether knowingly or unknowingly the central focus is on /ount +inai instead of /ount Calvary% /iles +tanford has offered this strong statement' !"6eformed) Calvinism emerged from the dark ages but is still in the twilight22half in the shadow of the law half in the light of the +aviour% It has a fleshly affinity for fetters hence it is the life of the hang2dog heart the wretchedness of 6omans +even%! $he thrust of Hauls 4pistles is to first show the believer what God has done in His grace% $he eBhortations and commands are generally found toward the end of the 4pistles and are based upon what God has graciously done% $he believer is to count on the facts of what God has done and by faith live accordingly% $he emphasis is not !do and thou shalt be blessed! "the legal formula) but it is this' !Iou have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ .esus "4ph% #'() therefore walk accordingly "4ph% &'#)%! How does Gods grace teach us to live "compare $it% 0'##2#0)? ;ne of many eBamples that could be cited is 4phesians =':J !8or ye were sometimes darkness but now are ye light in the ,ord' walk as children of light%! 8irst Haul tells the 4phesians WH; $H4I -64 "by the grace of God not because of their keeping of the law) and then he tells them H;W $; W-,ED !+ince you are children of light walk as children of lightD B4 WH-$ I;F -64D By faith count on the fact of who you are and walk accordinglyD +ee yourself in the ,ord .esus Christ%! @8ootnote A#:22+ee our paper entitled T#e Ric#es o$ His -race--567 !"INGS !")! )RE !R*E OF #E NOW !")! I )# S)+ED1C $he great eBhortation is that we should walk as new creatures "Gal% 1'#=2#1) because that is WH; W4 -64D Gods peace and victory will be upon all those who walk according to this G4W C64-$F64 6F,4 "Gal% 1'#1) based upon the 8IGI+H4< W;6E ;8 CH6I+$ ;G $H4 C6;++ "Gal% 1'#&)D

ROM NS . ND THE NORM L )HRISTI N LIFE

/ost men who are influenced by 6eformed theology insist that 6omans 7'#&20= is to be the normal eBperience of the Christian% $he believer is not to leave 6omans 7 to get into 6omans : but the believer is to stay in 6omans 7 throughout his Christian eBperience% $hese verses describe the conflict of the two natures in the child of God% $hus those of the 6eformed tradition say that 6omans 7 describes the normal God2intended eBperience of a saved person as long as he is in the body% @8ootnote A#?22.ohn /ac-rthur .r% for eBample in his book F)I!" WOR/S presents the view that 6omans 7 ought to be the normal eBperience of a mature believer and that the Christian should never get out of 6omans 7% +ee pages #(#2#(:%C Indeed according to -%W% Hink there is no present deliverance from the carnal nature by the power of the Holy +pirit% @8ootnote A0322Hink wrote this in a tract entitled (!"E C"RIS!I)N IN RO#)NS 81( He was referring to 6omans 7'0& where Haul cries !Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?! Hink insists that there is no present deliverance but that deliverance will come only at the time of !the redemption of the body%! If Hink had only read ( verses further he would have seen that there is deliverance from the law of sin and death even in this life "see 6om% :'0)%C Before being critical of the above view we must recogni>e that there is much truth to it% It is true that in the believer there will be a conflict and struggle between the two natures as long as he is in this body "Gal% ='#7)% $he sin nature will never be eradicated or uprooted% @8ootnote A0#22.ohn /ac-rthur .r% denies that the believer possesses an old sinful nature% He teaches that the believer has but one nature the new nature in Christ% How then does he eBplain sin in the believer? +in must have a source% /ac-rthur teaches

that although the sin nature is gone some left2over remnants of sin have somehow survived% In his book F)I!" WOR/S he speaks of !surviving sin! "p% #(=) and !the remnants of sin! "p% #(=) and !this residual fallenness! "p% #(&) and !the vestiges of sinful flesh! "p% ##1)% !We are in short new creationsOholy and redeemed but wrapped in grave clothes of unredeemed flesh! "p%##7)% +ee our paper on /ac-rthurs one nature teachings available upon re*uest%C We would fully agree with 6eformed men that the more we mature in the faith the more we should be conscious of our own sinfulness and wretchedness "v%#: 0&)% $he more we grow in the ,ord the more we should come to know !the plague of "our) own heart! "# Eings :'(:) and our own depravity% -lso we should always be painfully aware of our complete helplessness and inability to do what is right in and of ourselves% We do not have the power to perform that which is good "v%#:)% Without Christ we can do nothing ".ohn #='=) and this shall ever be true% We should always stay in 6omans 7 in the sense of knowing our sinfulness and helplessness and our moment by moment need of a <eliverer who is Christ .esus% What is there about 6omans 7 which is not the God2intended Christian eBperience? 6omans 7 describes a believer who contrary to his own will fails to do what is good and insteaddoes the evil "v%#?)% $his may be a common eBperience of believers but certainly we dare not say that God intends believers to do evil and to be overcome by the old nature% $his would be contrary to all of the +criptures which teach that the believer is responsible not only to will the will of God but also to <; I$ "Hhil% 0'#(9 Heb% #('0#9 # .ohn ('00)% Certainly the normal Christian life which God intends us to have is not one of failure and defeat and frustration% $he purpose of 6omans 7 is to teach that sanctification does not come by the law% $he law is H;,I "6om% 7'#0) but the law cannot make us holy% <eliverance does not come by the law it comes by .esus Christ% When it comes to sanctifying the believer the law utterly fails to do the 5ob% 6omans 7 brings us to the point where we cry out !I C-G$D! but 6omans : gives the victory cry !G;< C-GD! I cant keep the law "6om% 7'0020&) but the law can be fulfilled in me by the power of God "6om% :'&)% $echnically it is not that the believer leaves 6omans 7 to get to 6omans :% It is perhaps better to say that 6omans 7 gets the believer to 6omans :% 6omans 7 teaches us valuable lessons about ourselvesOabout our helplessness and sinfulness and inability to please God in spite of our righteous desires% /ay we never forget these lessons% /any 6eformed men agree with -%W% Hink that there is no present deliverance from the carnal nature by the power of the Holy +pirit% $hey point to the future tense in 6omans 7'0& "!who s#all deliver me!) as indicating that this deliverance shall not be reali>ed until !the redemption of the body! or until believers are glorified% $his would mean that believers would all their lifetime be in bondage to their carnal natures% $his is not what the teBt says% Hauls desperate cry in 6omans 7'0(20& is answered in 6omans :'0% Is there deliverance from the law of sin and death? Indeed there is !8or the law of the +pirit of life in Christ .esus hath made me free from the law of sin and death! "6om% :'0)% Hink and others say that such a deliverance is future% Haul says that it has already been accomplishedD Believers need to claim it by faith% $he God2intended Christian life is not the life of doing the evil which I hate and failing to do the good that I want to do "6omans 7'#?)% $he God2intended Christian life is not a life of captivity and bondage to the law of sin and death "6omans 7'0()% Christ came to set us free ".ohn :'(#2(1)D It is not Gods desire that we should live in perpetual defeat and failure and frustration days without end% Go the God2intended Christian life is set forth in many passages including these' Colossians #'#32#09 # .ohn ('#: 009 4ph% &'#2(9 Hhil% &'#2?9 # Cor% #='#39 Gal% 0'039 ='0020(9 etc% /ay we so walk and live%

.Run, /o#n, run0 T#e La commands0 But gi!es me neit#er $eet nor #ands" 1ar grander ne s t#e -ospel 2grace3 brings, It bids me $ly and gi!es me ings0. J .ohn Bunyan

$oo many believers are trying to run without feet and hands "6omans 7)% By the power and grace of God may we soar "6omans :)D Fsing this illustration the believer in 6omans 7 is saying !I want to run but I have no feet and no hands% I C-G$ <; I$D How to run I find notD Go matter how hard I try I failD Who shall deliver me from this immobile condition?! $his is not the God2intended Christian eBperience% $he God2intended Christian eBperience is that we +;-6 with the wings that God has providedD Compare Isaiah &3'(#J !they shall mount up with wings like eagles%! 8or a more detailed study of 6omans chapter 7 see Romans0

/'ESTIONS FOR THOSE WHO WO'LD P'T 'S 'NDER %OND ,E

Here are so#e 0!estions for those who wo!ld tr1 to #a2e the L W the 3eliever(s r!le of life4
If the law is a !/IGI+$6-$I;G ;8 <4-$H! "0 Cor% ('12?) than how can it be the believers rule of life? If the law has been !done away! "0 Cor% ('##) and !abolished! "0 Cor% ('#(9 4ph% 0'#=) and disannulled "Heb% 7'#:2#?) and !taken away! "Heb% #3'? and compare Heb% :'12#() then how can a believer be under the law as a rule of life? Why do you accuse those who teach that the believer is not under the law of promoting ,-W,4++G4++ and antinomianism? <oes not Haul teach that Gods grace teaches us the very opposite? !8or the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world! "$it% 0'##2#0)% Was not Haul the champion of the doctrine of grace also falsely accused of teaching a doctrine that would promote lawlessness? +ee for eBample 6omans 1'#&2#=% How can you place the believer under the law when the Gew $estament in at least four places declares that the believer is not under the law? +ee 6omans 1'#&9 6omans 1'#=9 Galatians ='#: and # Corinthians ?'03 "G-+B)% If the law is !the strength of sin! "see # Cor% #='=1) how can it be the believers rule of life? If the believer has died to the law and has been delivered and released from the law "6om% 7'#21) then how can the believer be under it as a rule of life? Why did Haul give credit for the success of his Christian life to the grace of God instead of to the law of God "# Cor% #='#3)? Why did he say !I live by the faith of the +on of God! "Gal% 0'03) instead of saying !I live by the $en Commandments!? If the law cannot 5ustify us why should we think that it can sanctify us? If we were saved by the hearing of faith and not by the works of the law then should not progress in the Christian life be made in the same way "see Gal% ('02()? If we were saved at /ount Calvary why should we abandon /ount Calvary and go to /ount +inai for sanctification?

IS THE %ELIE&ER 'NDER O%LI, TION TO 5EEP )HRIST(S )OMM NDS?

!-nd hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep #is commandments% He that saith I know Him and keepeth not #is commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him! "# .ohn 0'(2&)% !If ye love /e keep /y commandments! ".ohn #&'#=)% Ies commandment keeping is essentialD $he believer living under grace whose focus is on /ount Calvary must keep )od3s commands% ;bedience to the Word of God is essential in each and every dispensation% $he key *uestion is this' What commands are we to obey? What commandments has Christ given to believers living in this present dispensation of grace? Here are some eBamples'
o o

!-nd now little children -BI<4 IG HI/9 that when He shall appear we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at his coming! "# .ohn 0'0:)% !-nd be not drunk with wine wherein is eBcess9 but B4 8I,,4< WI$H $H4 +HI6I$! "4phesians ='#:)% !$his I say then W-,E IG $H4 +HI6I$ and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh! "Galatians ='#1)% !,ikewise 64CE;G I4 -,+; I;F6+4,N4+ $; B4 <4-< IG<44< FG$; +IG but alive unto God through .esus Christ our ,ord! "6omans 1'##)% !Geither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin' but II4,< I;F6+4,N4+ FG$; G;< -+ $H;+4 $H-$ -64 -,IN4 86;/ $H4 <4-< and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God! "6om% 1'#()% !-s ye have therefore received Christ .esus the ,ord +; W-,E I4 IG HI/! "Col% 0'1)% !I therefore the prisoner of the ,ord beseech you that ye W-,E W;6$HI of the vocation @the believers high heavenly holy C-,,IGGC wherewith ye are called! "4ph% &'#)% !-nd that ye HF$ ;G $H4 G4W /-G which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness! "4ph% &'0&)% !8or ye were sometimes darkness but now are ye light in the ,ord' W-,E -+ CHI,<64G ;8 ,IGH$! "4ph% =':)% !If ye then be risen with Christ +44E $H;+4 $HIGG+ WHICH -64 -B;N4 where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God! "Col% ('#)% !HF$ ;G therefore -+ $H4 4,4C$ ;8 G;< H;,I -G< B4,;N4< bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of mind meekness longsuffering! "Col% ('#0)% !Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us and ,4$ F+ 6FG WI$H H-$I4GC4 $H4 6-C4 that is set before us ,;;EIGG FG$; .4+F+ the -uthor and 8inisher of our faith9 who for the 5oy that was set

before Him endured the cross despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God! "Heb% #0'#20)% -s believers living under grace we need to have our minds bapti>ed and immersed in the 4HI+$,4+ becoming more and more familiar with the great G6-C42;6I4G$4< C;//-G<+ that are found therein% Ies we are certainly to obey Gods commands but the commands which God has given to us are based upon the believer3s glorious position in a crucified and risen ,hrist% $hese commands do not flow out of /ount +inai they flow out of /ount Calvary%

THE SERMON ON THE MO'NT IS NOT THE MAGNA CARTA FOR )HRISTI N LI&IN,
We acknowledge that the +ermon on the /ount "/atthew chapters =27) is profitable for church age believers in many ways and is of immense spiritual value for our souls "0 $im% ('#12#:) yet we must firmly insist that it is not church truth% @8ootnote A0022$he non2 dispensationally minded .ohn /ac-rthur .r% for eBample teaches that the +ermon on the /ount not only applies to church2age believers but !its primary message is for Christians! and must be considered !truth for today! "!"E GOS$EL )CCORDING !O 9ES*S p% 07 footnote)%CChurch truth is found in the !Fpper 6oom <iscourse! ".ohn #(2#7) and in the Gew $estament 4pistles% $he +ermon on the /ount is legal in character and its purpose was condemnatory% Its primary message was for those living at the time when !the kingdom of heaven! was !at hand%! $he long2promised kingdom was imminent and the people needed to know that they fell far short of the spiritual re*uirements necessary for entrance into that kingdom% $hey were totally unfit and un*ualified for the kingdom lacking the kind of righteousness that was re*uired% $his sermon has nothing to do with the believers eBalted H;+I$I;G in the ,ord .esus Christ the Head of the Church% In this sermon we do not find the believers rule of life% It was a vital message given by our ,ord to .ews who were told that the kingdom was at hand% It was not a message given to Christians% 8or a more detailed study see $he +ermon ;n $he /ount%

IN )ON)L'SION
W%.% Berry in his preface to William Huntingtons classic work on THE BELIE4ER(S RULE 51 LI1E well summed up the problem' It is a divine fact that Christ has delivered absolutely the !redeemed! from all bondage to and conse*uences of all coded law with penalty% $his truth was at first denied by the Hharisees and by some believing .ews% $his denial of the truth might have prevailed had not the issue been immediately settled forever by the apostles% $he essentials of this work is recorded of the conference in .erusalem "-cts #='#2 (=)9 in Hauls correction of Heter9 of the apostles rebuking the Galatian .udai>ers "Galatians)9 his eBposition in the 6oman 4pistle and the final clarification in the letter to the Hebrews% But in spite of these clear declarations from heaven certain men came into the churches and persisted in teaching the same coded laws of /oses% -t the Council of Gicea called by the 6oman 4mperor Constantine his bishops began the first !system! of .udao2Christian coded laws to be eBpanded through the dark ages by Hopes and their hierarchy of bishops9 then modified and continued by the Hrotestant 6eformers J thence in all Christendom to the present day% $he issue is not a *uestion of right and wrong doing but of the relationship under which we serve% -ll under every coded law serve sin to condemnation9 all

who are freed from the law now serve as free sons to righteousness and true holiness "6omans 1'#=20()% William Eelly an early pioneer dispensationalist presented this Biblically balanced position' $here are vast numbers who think that the ,ord .esus besides bringing pardon is simply a means to strengthen them to keep the law% But this is sad and fundamental ignorance of Christianity% Is a believer then at liberty to break the law? God forbidD It is one thing to be a debtor to do the whole law and another that God can make light of any breach of the law% Is there nothing possible between these two conditions22debt to the law and freedom to break it? Geither consists with a Christian% He who is free to do his own will is a lawless wicked man% He who is under the law to do it describes the proper condition of the .ew and nobody else% $he Christian stands on entirely new ground% He is saved by grace and is called to walk in grace% $he character of righteousness that God looks for in him is of another sort altogether9 as it is said in Hhilippians Kbeing filled with the fruits of righteousness22not which are by the law but Kby .esus Christ unto the glory and praise of God "Hhil% #'##)22by the ,ord .esus under grace and not under law% -nd this is not a *uestion solely of 5ustification% $his has to do with the responsibility of the believer to do the will of God9 and the ,ord .esus not the law is the measure and source of the Christian life and walk which makes all the difference possible% /ay our focus be upon the ,ord .esus Christ WH; I+ ;F6 ,I84 "Col% ('#2&)D /ay we rest upon the 8IGI+H4< W;6E of our +aviour not only for 5ustification but also for sanctification "6omans chapter 1)D /ay we glory and boast in /ount Calvary and what was accomplished there "Gal% 1'#&)D /ay the righteousness of the law be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the +pirit "6om% :'&)D /ay we not abandon the G6-C4 ;8 G;< and $H4 C6;++ ;8 CH6I+$D /ay our hearts and minds be saturated with the practical principles for Christian living which are found in the Gew $estament 4pistlesD /ay the grace of God teach us that !denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our +aviour .esus Christ9 who gave Himself for us @when He died at /ount CalvaryC that He might redeem us from all ini*uity and purify unto #imself a peculiar people, 1ealous of good works! "$it% 0'#02#&)%

George Leller @revised 7P?( #3P?& #P??C

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