Please Stand Turn to Romans 6:14-15 Under Law or Under Grace

Please Use a Pew Bible if you didn’t bring a Bible with you. Pg. 833

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

O UR F OCUS Today we want to clearly identify and communicate what the differences are between being “under the law” and the “under grace.” This is a great advanced discipleship topic

Under the Law Religious people under the Law obey the Law in hopes of being found righteous before God because of their personal obedience to God’s moral and ethical expectations. Religious people under the Law seek to obey the law from a legalistic perspective.

R EGENERATE Spiritual born-again and recreated This is an act of God performed by His Holy Spirit – The get this from John 3, Titus 3:5, 2 Cor. 5:17

Under the LawUnder Grace Religious people under the law obey the Law in hopes of being found righteous before God because of their personal obedience to God’s moral and ethical expectations. Religious people under the Law seek to obey the law from a legalistic perspective. Regenerate people under grace recognize their inability to keep the law and are completely dependent upon God’s mercy and grace through His Son Jesus Christ’s perfect obedience even unto death. Regenerate people under grace study the law to learn more about God.

T HE L AW The law Paul is referring to is the Mosaic Law we know this because of Romans 10:5. Romans 10:5 – For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Old vs. New Under Law Old Covenant God made with Moses when He gave Israel the Law. Under Grace New Covenant God made with all who repent and believe that Jesus is the Messiah.

U NDER THE L AW Everyone made of a woman is born under the law Galatians 4:4 – But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

U NDER THE L AW People “Under the Law” are judged according to the Law and found to be guilty of disobeying God’s moral and ethical standards as outlined in the Mosaic Law and then by Jesus Christ People under the law are supposed to see their need for an alternative

U NDER THE L AW Religious people “under the law” view the law as the means of making themselves righteous before God. They obey the law to make themselves acceptable before God; hopefully, to the point of being worthy of eternal life. – For example: See Mark 10:17

“Under the Law” A Religious Rich Young Ruler Mark 10:17

U NDER THE L AW If a person has not been instructed in the Mosaic Law, Paul says the law of God is written on their hearts. – Thus NO ONE is without excuse. Romans 2:14-15

R OMANS 2:14-15 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

U NDER THE L AW Humans “under the law” are guilty before God because no human being is capable of keeping the law perfectly. See Romans 3:19

R OMANS 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.

G OD ’ S P URPOSE Therefore, we conclude, that God’s primary purpose in putting everyone under the or (a) law from birth is to show them their need for grace. Like the disciples, God purpose is to use the law to show us—that without God’s intervention—it is impossible to be saved!

U NDER THE L AW People under the law need to be “redeemed.” Galatians 4:4-5 – But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

This is the Gospel God sent His Son to redeem people under the law.

NOT “ UNDER THE LAW ” Redeemed people are NOT under the law. – They are freed from the law – They have been delivered from the bondage of sin They are “under grace.”

“U NDER G RACE ” Romans 6:15 but under grace – What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace ? God forbid. One or the other

P OINT #1 Paul makes it clear one is either under the law or under grace. Be very careful in your thinking that you don’t integrate the two together into a new religious philosophy.

A H YBRID Galatians In the book of Galatians, Paul confronts heretics who were creating a hybrid of Christianity (grace) and Judaism (law). Jewish ‘Christians’ were requiring Gentiles to be circumcised to be pleasing to God.

Under the Law is Under the Law Under Grace is Under Grace

Under the Law, I present my obedience and hope it is sufficient. Under Grace, I believe, by faith, in the obedience of Jesus Christ and trust it is sufficient.

Heretical Hybrid Galatians 3:1

O VER -R EACTION Those who get that they are NOT under the law BUT grace overreact and suggest that sinning is a good thing. Romans 6:15 – GOD FORBID! [or BY NO MEANS].

P OINT #2 People “under grace” have been freed from the dominion of SIN. Therefore, they are supposed to sin LESS not more. Turn to Titus 2:11-12

P OINT #3 People “under grace” are led by the Spirit of God who would NEVER lead them to SIN. Galatians 5:18 – But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

P OINT #4 People “under grace” have tremendous freedom, but with this freedom comes greater responsibility. See Galatians 5:13

L IBERTY WITH A WARNING Galatians 5:13 – For, brethren [people under grace], – ye have been called unto liberty; – only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

T HE L AW The purpose of the Law was not to put people in bondage. – The Law reveals the Holiness of God – The Law shows us what it means to be His People – The Law establishes moral and ethical absolutes – The Law points us to our need for a Savior

How do people under grace use the law? We study it to learn how to live under grace. For example…

OLD T ESTAMENT L AW Deuteronomy 22:5 – The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. Let’s ask—what is the application of this rule from God?

U NDER THE L AW Anything remotely characterized as male is prohibited, for example: – A Carolina Tarheel hooded pullover in the Men’s section cannot be worn by a female because it has a tag that says “men’s small”

U NDER G RACE “Holy Spirit of the Living God tell me, does the wearing of this Tarheel sweatshirt make me look like a woman trying to be a male or a male trying to be a woman?”

U NDER G RACE Those under grace are indwelled with the Holy Spirit who leads them in understanding the application of the principle behind the law. In this case, the principle is the maintaining of clearly established God-ordained gender distinctions. – Males are never permitted to wear mini-skirts but everything isn’t that clear.

Under Law or Under Grace? Deuteronomy 21:18-21

How about you? Are you under grace, the law or your hybrid?