Law vs. Grace and Truth

Temple Baptist Church - 8-31-2022

John 1:15-18

Introduction:

 

A.  I said that I was going to “speed up” preaching on the Gospel of John, but – as a pastor – I see so many things that are pertinent to the doctrinal foundation of the church.

 

B.  In John 1, we find many contrasts.  In our verses for tonight, we find the contrast between law and grace-truth.  It is one of the major theological differences that we face in our day as most denominations and churches teach salvation a mixture of grace and law, i.e., personal merit. 

 

C.  In our text, we find that the Law came by Moses.  Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.  These things draw a contrast in both their person and biblical order.  Law always comes before grace and grace always “trumps” law.

 

D.  When I critique other churches, I want you to understand that I am not being critical in a wrong way.  Their teachings are between them and God.  I am not their pastor but, as a Biblicist, I place God’s Word over any and all who correct it.  The Bible is the final authority on all issues of both faith and practice.  Agree with it or disagree with it, you cannot change it!

 

E.  Tonight, I want to look at three things concerning the Law that I feel need to be addressed.

 

1.  The Person of the Law.  Moses, not Christ Jesus.  In verse 17, we find Moses and Christ Jesus contrasted.  Moses was a very special man as God chose him to deliver the children of Israel from the bondage of Egypt and to take them into the Promised Land of Canaan.

 

Moses brought them to Mount Sinai where he trembled and quaked in the Presence of God

 

Christ Jesus brought them to Mount Sion, where the people rejoiced in the Presence of God.

 

Hebrews 12:18-21  For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest,  (19)  And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more:  (20)  (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:  (21)  And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake:)

 

Hebrews 12:22-23  But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,  (23)  To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

 

Moses could not take Israel into the Promised Land.

 

Christ Jesus will take His people into the Eternal Promised Land.

 

Deuteronomy 34:4-6  And the LORD said unto him, This is the land which I sware unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, saying, I will give it unto thy seed: I have caused thee to see it with thine eyes, but thou shalt not go over thither.  (5)  So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD.  (6)  And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.

 

Moses was faithful IN his house.

 

Christ Jesus was faithful OVER His house.

 

Hebrews 3:5-6  And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;  (6)  But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end

 

Moses was a Servant of God whose deliverance was Temporal.

 

Christ Jesus was the Son of God whose deliverance was Eternal.

 

Revelation 15:3  And they sing the song of Moses the servant of.God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 

 

2.  The Purpose of the Law. 

 

The Law was a perfect standard whereas the sinner could not be perfect.

 

The Law was our Schoolmaster to bring us to faith in Christ whereas Christ was our Saviour who delivered us from the penalty of the Law.

 

Galatians 3:22-26  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.  (23)  But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.  (24)  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.  (25)  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.  (26)  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

 

Galatians 4:1-7  Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;  (2)  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.  (3)  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:  (4)  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,  (5)  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.  (6)  And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.  (7)  Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

 

3.  The Perversion of the Law.  In the perversion of the Law, people “cherry pick” which sins are either permissible or looked over and which sins cause the eternal judgment of God to damn the sinner or saint.

 

Personal Merit is necessary in Salvation.

 

Galatians 3:10-13  For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.  (11)  But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.  (12)  And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.  (13)  Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

 

Ephesians 2:8-9  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

 

Personal Merit is necessary in Security of Salvation.

 

Galatians 3:1-3  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?  (2)  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  (3)  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?