Establishing the Law Through Christ's Sacrifice

 

Summary

In our exploration of Romans 3:31, we delve into the profound truth that the gospel of Jesus Christ does not nullify the law but rather establishes it. This passage is a cornerstone of understanding salvation, emphasizing that it is through faith in Christ's atoning sacrifice that we are justified. The Apostle Paul articulates three key characteristics of this salvation: it eliminates human boasting, abolishes distinctions between people, and upholds the law. The gospel, far from rendering the law obsolete, affirms its significance by demonstrating God's righteousness and holiness through Christ's life and sacrificial death.

The law, as given through Moses, reveals God's holiness and our sinfulness, highlighting our need for a savior. Christ's active and passive obedience—His perfect life and His sacrificial death—fulfill the law's demands, showcasing God's justice and mercy. This fulfillment is not about abolishing the law but about revealing its true purpose and depth. The law's role in pointing out sin and our inability to achieve righteousness on our own is crucial, as it leads us to the necessity of faith in Christ.

Modern interpretations that dismiss the law or the necessity of Christ's blood sacrifice miss the essence of the gospel. The law's moral and ceremonial aspects find their completion in Christ, who embodies the ultimate sacrifice, fulfilling the types and shadows of the Old Testament. This understanding is vital for maintaining the integrity of the gospel message, which has been the foundation of the church's power and revival throughout history.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Gospel Establishes the Law: The gospel does not abolish the law but fulfills it through Christ's life and sacrifice. This fulfillment reveals God's holiness and righteousness, demonstrating that salvation is not by human effort but through faith in Christ's atoning work. [06:43]

2. Christ's Obedience and Sacrifice: Jesus Christ's perfect obedience to the law and His sacrificial death on the cross uphold the law's demands. His life and death reveal the seriousness of sin and the necessity of a perfect sacrifice, affirming the law's role in God's redemptive plan. [21:05]

3. The Law's Role in Revealing Sin: The law exposes human sinfulness and our inability to achieve righteousness on our own, pointing us to the need for a savior. This understanding is crucial for grasping the depth of the gospel and the necessity of Christ's sacrifice. [29:03]

4. Modern Misinterpretations: Contemporary views that dismiss the law or the necessity of Christ's blood sacrifice undermine the gospel's power. The law's fulfillment in Christ is essential for maintaining the integrity of the gospel message, which has been the foundation of the church's power and revival throughout history. [44:34]

5. The Spiritual Nature of the Law: The law is not merely about external actions but about a spiritual relationship with God. It calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, a call that is fulfilled in Christ and empowers us to live in obedience to God's will. [33:05]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:12] - Introduction to Romans 3:31
[01:11] - Boasting Removed by Salvation
[02:01] - Abolishing Distinctions Among People
[03:05] - The Gospel Establishes the Law
[04:48] - Rhetorical Questions and Strong Assertions
[06:43] - Establishing the Law Through Christ
[11:28] - Mosaic Law and Its Fulfillment
[14:12] - Misinterpretations of Justification
[19:20] - Christ's Fulfillment of the Law
[23:04] - The Cross and God's Holiness
[26:52] - God's Wrath Against Sin
[29:03] - The Law Reveals Sinfulness
[31:37] - The Necessity of Blood Sacrifice
[33:05] - Spiritual Nature of the Law
[36:23] - The Heart of the Gospel
[44:34] - Modern Misinterpretations and Their Dangers
[47:50] - Conclusion and Call to Hold Fast to the Gospel

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 3:31
- Matthew 5:17-18
- Galatians 4:4-5

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Romans 3:31, how does the gospel establish the law rather than nullify it? [03:39]

2. What does Jesus mean in Matthew 5:17-18 when He says He came to fulfill the law and the prophets?

3. How does Galatians 4:4-5 describe Jesus' relationship to the law and His purpose in coming to earth?

4. In the sermon, what are the three key characteristics of salvation that Paul highlights? [00:54]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of Christ's active and passive obedience help us understand the fulfillment of the law? [23:04]

2. What might Paul mean when he says that the gospel eliminates human boasting and abolishes distinctions between people? How does this relate to the unity of believers? [01:11]

3. How does the sermon address modern misinterpretations of the law and the necessity of Christ's blood sacrifice? What are the potential dangers of these misinterpretations? [44:34]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the law is spiritual and not just about external actions? How does this understanding affect our relationship with God? [33:05]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a time when you might have relied on your own efforts for righteousness. How can you shift your focus to faith in Christ's atoning work instead? [06:43]

2. Consider the ways in which you might unintentionally create distinctions between yourself and others in the church. How can you work towards greater unity and equality among believers? [02:01]

3. How can you ensure that your understanding of the gospel maintains the integrity of the message as described in the sermon? What steps can you take to avoid modern misinterpretations? [44:34]

4. In what ways can you deepen your spiritual relationship with God beyond just following rules? How can you cultivate a heart that loves God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? [33:05]

5. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle to see the seriousness of sin. How can the understanding of Christ's sacrifice on the cross help you address this area? [21:05]

6. How can you incorporate the understanding of Christ's fulfillment of the law into your daily life and decisions? What practical steps can you take to live in obedience to God's will? [19:20]

7. Think about a recent situation where you might have dismissed the importance of the law in your life. How can you realign your perspective to see the law as a guide that points you to Christ? [12:02]

Devotional

Day 1: The Gospel's Fulfillment of the Law
The gospel of Jesus Christ does not abolish the law but fulfills it, revealing God's holiness and righteousness. Through Christ's life and sacrificial death, the law's true purpose is established, showing that salvation is not achieved by human effort but through faith in Christ's atoning work. This understanding is crucial for grasping the depth of the gospel and the necessity of Christ's sacrifice. The law, given through Moses, highlights our sinfulness and need for a savior, pointing us to the necessity of faith in Christ. [06:43]

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes." (Romans 10:4, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you tried to earn your salvation through your own efforts? How can you shift your focus to trusting in Christ's fulfillment of the law today?


Day 2: Christ's Perfect Obedience and Sacrifice
Jesus Christ's perfect obedience to the law and His sacrificial death on the cross uphold the law's demands. His life and death reveal the seriousness of sin and the necessity of a perfect sacrifice, affirming the law's role in God's redemptive plan. This fulfillment is not about abolishing the law but about revealing its true purpose and depth. Christ's active and passive obedience—His perfect life and His sacrificial death—fulfill the law's demands, showcasing God's justice and mercy. [21:05]

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." (Hebrews 4:15, ESV)

Reflection: How does understanding Christ's perfect obedience and sacrifice change your perspective on your own struggles with sin? What steps can you take to rely more on His strength?


Day 3: The Law's Revelation of Sin
The law exposes human sinfulness and our inability to achieve righteousness on our own, pointing us to the need for a savior. This understanding is crucial for grasping the depth of the gospel and the necessity of Christ's sacrifice. The law's role in pointing out sin and our inability to achieve righteousness on our own is crucial, as it leads us to the necessity of faith in Christ. [29:03]

"Therefore the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith." (Galatians 3:24, ESV)

Reflection: What specific sins has the law revealed in your life? How can you bring these before God and seek His forgiveness and transformation?


Day 4: The Danger of Modern Misinterpretations
Contemporary views that dismiss the law or the necessity of Christ's blood sacrifice undermine the gospel's power. The law's fulfillment in Christ is essential for maintaining the integrity of the gospel message, which has been the foundation of the church's power and revival throughout history. Modern interpretations that dismiss the law or the necessity of Christ's blood sacrifice miss the essence of the gospel. [44:34]

"For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough." (2 Corinthians 11:4, ESV)

Reflection: Are there any modern interpretations of the gospel that you have accepted without question? How can you seek a deeper understanding of the true gospel message?


Day 5: The Spiritual Nature of the Law
The law is not merely about external actions but about a spiritual relationship with God. It calls us to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, a call that is fulfilled in Christ and empowers us to live in obedience to God's will. This understanding is vital for maintaining the integrity of the gospel message, which has been the foundation of the church's power and revival throughout history. [33:05]

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome." (1 John 5:3, ESV)

Reflection: How can you deepen your spiritual relationship with God today? What practical steps can you take to love Him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength?

Quotes



The gospel this way of Salvation in Jesus Christ and him crucified this way of Salvation which has brought has come been brought to pass because God ha set him forth as a propitiation through faith in his blood because of that I say we deduce this that the gospel establishes the law. [00:03:13]

Far from making the law of none effect we are helping it to stand we are establishing it we are really showing what a wonderful thing it is well now what I want to try to do this evening is to show you that there is nothing which rarely so establishes the law as this doctrine that we are saved by the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus. [00:06:22]

The Lord Jesus Christ by his work and indeed God himself by what he has done in and through Christ confirms and reveals more clearly than ever before what the law says about the Holiness and the righteousness of God now we must never lose sight of that fact one of the primary functions of the law La was to reveal the Holiness and the righteousness of God. [00:24:59]

The law not only demands and obedience the law also pronounces judgment upon failure to keep it and Mankind that sinned all have sinned and have come short there is none righteous know not one and the law is demanding and claiming its penalties and it must be fulfilled in that respect and if this way of Salvation doesn't answer that demand of the law it doesn't establish the law. [00:23:13]

The Lord Jesus Christ by his work and indeed God himself by what he has done in and through Christ confirms and reveals more clearly than ever before what the law says about the Holiness and the righteousness of God now we must never lose sight of that fact one of the primary functions of the law La was to reveal the Holiness and the righteousness of God. [00:25:07]

The business of the law Paul has already told us is this by the Deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight for by the law is the knowledge of sin we know that what things soever the law sayth it sayth to them that are under the law that every mouth may be stopped and the whole world may be guilty before God. [00:29:09]

The Lord Jesus Christ by his work and indeed God himself by what he has done in and through Christ confirms and reveals more clearly than ever before what the law says about the Holiness and the righteousness of God now we must never lose sight of that fact one of the primary functions of the law La was to reveal the Holiness and the righteousness of God. [00:25:07]

The Lord Jesus Christ by his work and indeed God himself by what he has done in and through Christ confirms and reveals more clearly than ever before what the law says about the Holiness and the righteousness of God now we must never lose sight of that fact one of the primary functions of the law La was to reveal the Holiness and the righteousness of God. [00:25:07]

The Lord Jesus Christ by his work and indeed God himself by what he has done in and through Christ confirms and reveals more clearly than ever before what the law says about the Holiness and the righteousness of God now we must never lose sight of that fact one of the primary functions of the law La was to reveal the Holiness and the righteousness of God. [00:25:07]

The Lord Jesus Christ by his work and indeed God himself by what he has done in and through Christ confirms and reveals more clearly than ever before what the law says about the Holiness and the righteousness of God now we must never lose sight of that fact one of the primary functions of the law La was to reveal the Holiness and the righteousness of God. [00:25:07]

The Lord Jesus Christ by his work and indeed God himself by what he has done in and through Christ confirms and reveals more clearly than ever before what the law says about the Holiness and the righteousness of God now we must never lose sight of that fact one of the primary functions of the law La was to reveal the Holiness and the righteousness of God. [00:25:07]

The Lord Jesus Christ by his work and indeed God himself by what he has done in and through Christ confirms and reveals more clearly than ever before what the law says about the Holiness and the righteousness of God now we must never lose sight of that fact one of the primary functions of the law La was to reveal the Holiness and the righteousness of God. [00:25:07]

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Transcript
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