Temple Baptist Church - 9-7-2022
John 1:17; Hebrews 12:18-24
Introduction:
A. Last week, we saw that the Law came through Moses but grace and truth by Jesus Christ. Here we find the importance of “grace and truth.” Without truth, law and grace are misunderstood by many.
2 Timothy 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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:
Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ!
B. Why the Law?
1. The Law was God’s perfect standard by with man’s sinfulness is measured.
Romans 7:5-8 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. (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. (7) What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. (8) But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.
2. The Law was God’s schoolmaster by which man was pointed to Christ Jesus.
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.
C. The Law (Mount Sinai) and Grace and Truth (Mount Sion) contrasted:
D. This contrast is starkly made through the mention of two Mountains, Sinai, and Sion. Both mountains were important to the Nation of Israel.
1. Mount Sinai, where God met with His people in the wilderness and gave to Moses the Law. The establishment of the Old Covenant.
2. Mount Sion, where the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world paid the price for the sins of mankind. The establishment of the New Covenant.
E. In Hebrews 12, we see the stark contrast between Law and Grace.
Hebrews 12:18-24 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:) (22) 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, (24) And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.
Verse 18, “For ye are not come” – Mount Sinai
Verse 22, “But ye are come” – Mount Sion
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
1. Grace and Truth – Mount Sion - A Better Place – Sinai vs. Sion
a. A Place of Fear and Trembling – “and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest”
b. A Place of Joyfulness and Happiness – “the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem”
2. Grace and Truth – Mount Sion - A Better Word – Audible vs. Written
a. God Speaking Audible Word – “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”
b. God Speaking through the Written Word – “2 Peter 1:17-19 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. (18) And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount. (19) We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:”
3. Grace and Truth – Mount Sion - A Better Position – Israel vs. the Church
a. The Nation of Israel – Isaiah 46:13 I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.
b. The General Assembly and Church – Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (27) That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
4. Grace and Truth – Mount Sion - A Better Sacrifice – Abel’s Sacrifice
a. The Blood of Abel – Hebrews 11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
b. The Blood of Christ – 1 Peter 1:18-20 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with ‘corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; (19) But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: (20) Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
5. Grace and Truth – Mount Sion - A Better Mediator – Moses vs. Christ
a. Moses – Romans 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.
b. Christ – 1 Timothy 2:5-6 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (6) Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
6. Grace and Truth – Mount Sion - A Better Covenant – Old vs. New
John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
a. The Old Covenant of the Law – Acts 13:38-39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: (39) And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
b. The New Covenant of Grace – Romans 8:1-3 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (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:
7. What the Law Could not do:
a. The Law could not make man a Child of God. It took grace and truth through propitiation.
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.
b. The Law could not justify or make man acceptable to God. It took grace and truth through imputation.
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.
Romans 4:2-5 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. (3) For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. (4) Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. (5) But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
c. In the eyes of the Law, we remain unjustified and condemned in our sin. It took grace and truth through mediation.
1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
d. The Law was never to meant to save mankind. It was to bring about conviction and to bear witness that man desperately needs the righteousness of God. It took grace and truth through sanctification.
Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; (22) Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
e. The Law could never bring comfort and confidence as it brought only conviction and condemnation. 2 Corinthians 3:9 called the Law “the ministration of condemnation.”
Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Galatians 3:20-29 Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. (21) Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. (22) 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. (27) For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (29) And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
Conclusion: The Law came by Moses and we that are saved love the Law as we are not lawless and have need of both the moral and civil laws. By the same token, I am glad that we are no longer under the ceremonial law as Christ fulfilled the Law its entirety. We are under grace and truth in our day.
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