BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

Christians are no longer under Law but they are under grace.

And we are no longer under the law because the Law is incapable of righteousness in us whether we are unconverted or not.

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace

Hon Herbert Hughes Chief Minister

Osbourne Fleming Former Chief Minister

Romans 3:19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

Romans 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.  

Under Law does not mean under condemnation. However, if you are a sinner under the Law the law condemns you.

OBEY AND LIVE DISOBEY AND DIE!!

God knows because he gave it and so to help in our salvation and justification and restoration, he has placed us under grace.

Is Paul against Law?

Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?  

Romans 7:1 Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?  

The Law is binding only during a person’s life.

Romans 7:2 For the woman which hath an husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.  

Romans 7:3 So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man.  

Who does the woman represent Who is the husband? Who is the Man?

1 John 3:4 … for sin is the transgression of the law. Anyone who is born is sin is born married to the Law. 1 John 3:4 … for sin is the transgression of the law.

The Law represents her first husband.

And she cannot run from him because he knows where to find her. She tries to poison him but he is still alive. And she cannot run from him because he knows where to find her.

Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, …, and just, and good. And the first husband is a good man. Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, …, and just, and good.

Is there a problem in this marriage? YES!!

Her husband cannot sympathize with her weakness. Her Husband (The Law) cannot help the wife to meet his demands.

Romans 8:3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

All the Law is capable of is judging her harshly anytime she falls. He cannot die

He is a beast! BUT HE IS A GOOD MAN

The only way is to kill him but he cannot die. And so she has found this wonderful second man but she cannot marry him until the first marriage is terminated. The only way is to kill him but he cannot die.

The second man fully sympathizes with her weakness. The second wonderful thing about this man is this: He is capable of helping her.

What the 1st man wants the wife to do and what the 2nd man wants the wife to do are the same thing. The difference is that the first man does not know how to sympathize but the second one knows how to help.

The third wonderful thing about this man is this: He does not condemn the woman every time she falls.

If I am living under grace then I am living under Jesus. I do not become unjustified anytime I fall. If I am living under grace then I am living under Jesus.

And be it known that a Christian under grace does not have the freedom to live as he or she pleases.

How can this woman liberate herself from this first marriage? Bad News! She cannot! Matthew 5:18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.

Good News! God has a solution. And in finding a solution He does not do away with the Law because it is good.

Putting the wife to death!! What is the solution? Putting the wife to death!! Because death ends the marriage, if either party dies.

And so if the woman represents us, then God is telling us to die by ourselves. And I will join you to my son, so that when He dies you will die. Then I will raise you up no longer married to the Law.

Romans 7:5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.

Romans 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

Romans 7:6 But the Law no longer rules over us Romans 7:6 But the Law no longer rules over us. We are like dead people, and it cannot have any power over us. Now we can serve God in a new way by obeying his Spirit, and not in the old way by obeying the written Law.

First marriage is one of fear but the second marriage is one of LOVE!!

Jesus came under the Law so that I can live under grace.  Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Grace Pardons Grace forgives Grace understands

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. Romans 6:15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Matthew 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.

You let your light shine when in obedience to the Law of God you live under grace.

“We evangelical know how to preach the good news but we failed miserably to live the good life and this is because we have done away with the Law.”

Living under grace, gives us victory.