Oct 15 2017 Love Overcomes the Rules

Lord, help us right now – we are all dealing with stuff – help us calm our hearts and give us peace that we might know and experience Your grace and mercy and presence in our lives right now. There are many events and issues and struggle sand troubles that we find ourselves in – so help us to see You and find Your strength and comfort.

I’m going to do some clarification from last week – I tried, at the end of last week’s message, to squeeze about 12 minutes into about 2 - it starts in verse 6 – it is important to understand this as we move through 1 Timothy – but if you look at the letters of Paul and the Letter to the Hebrews – about 30% have to do with the Law and how it relates to us as Christians.

First – when we talk about The Law – the simplest way is to say the Ten Commandments - but it may refer to as many as 634 Laws in the Old Testament.

6 Some have strayed from these and turned away to empty discussion. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not understand what they are saying or the things they insist on so confidently. 8 But we know that the law is good if someone uses it legitimately,

Our concern today about the Old Testament laws are different than Paul’s concerns and his audience. It is not directly connected, so the application – everything has application – what kind of people do we need to become in light of this – our application will be indirect. When we think about it – and I have had numerous discussions on this – There are two questions - one primary, one secondary. – and as a pastor, I hear this all the time -

When Paul talks about the Law – and not being under the Law – we think this question – “Has the standard of morality/holiness changed because of Jesus?” The Law is the standard of God’s holiness. That is the question that is most likely asked. And what people are really asking is – has it been lowered? And the simple answer is No! It has not. In fact - In the New Testament, when you read Jesus and Paul – it seems that it was elevated. It was not elevated, it was clarified.

With all that is going on in the world today, some of us would like to breathe a sigh of relief. But I would say, don’t breathe too deeply! There is a lot more to be said about that. The Jewish leaders – the Pharisees - had a high view of the Law – and either they fell short or they went overboard. The reality is – we will do the same thing – if we don’t learn how to live ‘not under the law.’ Christians are in the greatest danger of having this literalistic view like the Pharisees. You fall short of your own personal morality – and you go overboard in imposing your morality on others.

Here are two examples – one we looked last week –

Jesus said – You have heard it said – you shall not murder – but if you have anger in your heart – it is the same.

You anger creates in you a desire to harm that person – and if unchecked will result in murder.

Matthew 5:27 - 27 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

It all starts in the heart. You may not have done the deed but you did it in your heart. Not to discourage us, but this is the reality for all of us at some point.

These Jewish leaders looked solely at the action.

What is going on in your heart is actually more important than the actual action. We think – I never did that activity – so I am superior to others. But Jesus is saying – not so fast – because you did it in your heart.

Like the woman caught in adultery in the book of John – The Jewish leaders bring this woman before Jesus – “we caught this woman in the VERY ACT. And the Law says she should be stoned - What say you?” Jesus bends down and writes in the sand – then he gets up and Jesus replies – let the one of you who has not sinned cast the first stone. When he gets up again, they are all gone. It is almost a comedy – it is moving, but it is hysterical – they put this woman in front of them – they say – she was caught in the very act -

We all know – adultery takes two people – where was the other person? It may have been one of their friends, or even one of them.

We all fall far short in our hearts.

Paul is concerned about this attitude.

1 Tim. 1:9 realizing that law is not intended for a righteous person,

Paul said it, not me! They were using the Law to tell non-Jewish people that they needed to follow all 634 of the laws. Paul says, no – it is not for righteous people – those who have come into relationship with Jesus – they are not for you – but that does not mean that the standard has been lowered. The Law cannot bring us into right relationship with God.

Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law.

Gal. 2: 16 We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Gal 2:16 ESV)

but for lawless and rebellious people, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 sexually immoral people, practicing homosexuals, kidnappers, liars, perjurers– in fact, for any who live contrary to sound teaching. This accords with the glorious gospel of the blessed God that was entrusted to me.

We think that trying hard will get us right with God – and Paul and Jesus and God say, No – you come by faith. He takes the worst of us by faith. We cannot earn our way into a relationship with God. We cannot earn forgiveness. We cannot get better before God welcomes us into His family. We do not have to STOP doing something first. This is radical grace – and should turn our view upside down.

I am going to zip through some of these verses. Paul is contrasting living under the Law and living under the Law of the Spirit. If you live the one, you will not live the other.

Some of the small groups are going through the book of Romans – and there are a lot of questions.

So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, (Rom 7:4 NET)

But now we have been released from the law, because we have died to what controlled us, so that we may serve in the new life of the Spirit and not under the old written code. (Rom 7:6 NET)

The old written code is the Ten Commandments

For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (Rom 8:2 NAU)

For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Rom 10:4 NAU)

But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. (Gal 5:18 NAU)

Life in the Spirit is what we are looking for. Life in the spirit is a life of resurrection and transformation. Life under the Law brings about death.

Purpose of the Law: What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, "You shall not covet." (Rom 7:7 NAS)

What the Law does – the main purpose – is to show us that we are sinners and that we break the Law – and that we cannot do it on our own. We fail. To make us say, I am not there yet. I messed it up… at least within my heart.

Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. (Gal 3:24 NAU)

We break the Law – we realize we need a savior – and we realize we need Jesus. So many people today are trying it on their own and it is not working. It is falling apart all around us. It is not about us getting better, it is about us turning to Jesus and allowing Him to do His work in our lives. So setting that aside – what does it look like practically.

Love – we looked at this last week – the goal of our instruction is love.

For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Gal 5:14 NAS)

The WHOLE LAW – 634 rules and regulations – fulfilled in this statement. How did He do it? By dying on the cross.

Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. How do we do that? Love.

How did Jesus fulfill the Law? By loving us wholly. Sacrificially.

8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another, for the one who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, "Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not covet," (and if there is any other commandment) are summed up in this, "Love your neighbor as yourself." 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. (Romans 13:8)

Agape Love - Active response to God’s grace expressed in sacrificial action on the behalf of others.

That is the way God loves us. God is the only source of this kind of love. It is through our connection with God – and our relationship with Him – that we are able to love people the way we ought.

God wants us to live our lives focused on Him – and through Him – to focus on loving others in such a way that their good is more important than our own.

God has given us families to test all of this. And marriage – so that every morning it stares you in the face. But it is the way to live – everything else is death – comes to ruin. It is when we learn to live in relationship with God based on what He did for us – and that learning – we think we have sacrificed enough in a relationship – ‘time for the other to sacrifice’ –

We all just need to learn that – it won’t happen overnight. We will make small progress throughout our lives – but we can do that.

When you love like God loved, there are no rules! Think of the freedom! God wants radical freedom in our faith. I keep putting myself under constant pressure. But that is all gone in Christ.

Paul gives his testimony – because he wants us to understand we are not the only ones who struggle.

1 Timothy 1: 12 I am grateful to the one who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he considered me faithful in putting me into ministry, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I was treated with mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and our Lord's grace was abundant, bringing faith and love in Christ Jesus. 15 This saying is trustworthy and deserves full acceptance: "Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners"– and I am the worst of them!

So the great apostle Paul says – you think you were bad?! I was worse! We think he had a halo, but Paul knew himself. He was willing to say he was an arrogant man.

We look at ourselves sometimes and think he was better than us – but no, Paul is saying – effectively – we are ALL the worst. GRACE and MERCY – for Paul’s lousiness – it is not just what we say before a meal – but grace is receiving what we do not deserve. It is receiving God’s favor, forgiveness, and love – but we have not earned it. Mercy – on the other hand – is NOT receiving what we DO deserve. Paul understood that all us deserve God’s judgment – but God in His mercy does not give that to us.

Paul’s response to grace and mercy is extraordinary. Sometimes we make it LESS than what it is – GRACE expects and demands a response

The best picture of grace I can come up with – after Jesus on the cross – is this:

Cinci is my son Tony’s and daughter-in-law Janelle’s dog – this dog was a rescue – Janelle was in vet school – Cinci had been abused, burned, malnourished and had all these diseases – and Janelle and Tony – mostly Janelle – loved and nursed this dog back to health – and this dog is fiercely loyal and allegiant – he is GRATEFUL. Fiercely. That should be our response to God’s love and mercy – if we really connect with God’s grace and mercy – we will be fiercely loyal. This dog is unbelievably obedient.

Look at Paul’s response – he is grateful. I want that picture in our mind – so that we can be fiercely loyal and obedient.

1 Timothy 1:16 But here is why I was treated with mercy: so that in me as the worst, Christ Jesus could demonstrate his utmost patience, as an example for those who are going to believe in him for eternal life. 17 Now to the eternal king, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen.

Paul knows his problems – and knows that God has saved him and rescued him – that Paul’s greatest ministry and capacity to help others will flow out of places we have received mercy and grace. All of us have received mercy in our lives in areas where we deserved God’s judgment – and we did not get what we deserved, but received what we did not deserve. We need to ask – where did God rescue me? Where was He merciful to me? If it weren’t for His mercy – who knows where we would have ended up – and it is in those things where God wants you to serve others.

2 Cor. 3:17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled faces reflecting the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another, which is from the Lord, who is the Spirit.