From Law to Grace: A New Relationship in Christ

 

Summary

In today's message, we explored the Apostle Paul's use of the marriage relationship as an illustration to explain the relationship between humanity and the law of God. This analogy is particularly effective because it highlights the binding nature of the law and the transformation that occurs when we move from being under the law to being under grace. The Apostle emphasizes that, just as a wife is bound to her husband until death, humanity is bound to the law until a death occurs. This death, in the spiritual sense, is the death of our old selves through Christ, which frees us from the law's dominion and allows us to enter into a new relationship with grace.

The Apostle Paul uses this illustration to show that the law is not abolished but fulfilled in Christ. The law's purpose is not to save us but to guide us in living a life that bears fruit for God. The ultimate goal of this new relationship with Christ is to produce fruit unto God, which is only possible when we are no longer bound by the law but are instead united with Christ. This union with Christ empowers us to fulfill the righteousness of the law, not as a means of salvation, but as a reflection of our new life in Him.

Furthermore, the Apostle warns against the dangers of both legalism and antinomianism. Legalism binds us to the law as a means of salvation, while antinomianism dismisses the law entirely. Instead, we are called to a balanced understanding where the law is respected and upheld as a guide for holy living, empowered by the grace of Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The marriage analogy illustrates our relationship to the law: Just as a wife is bound to her husband until death, humanity is bound to the law until a spiritual death occurs through Christ, freeing us to enter a new relationship under grace. [14:11]

- The law is not abolished but fulfilled in Christ: Our new relationship with Christ empowers us to fulfill the righteousness of the law, not as a means of salvation, but as a reflection of our new life in Him. [27:49]

- The ultimate goal of our union with Christ is to bear fruit for God: This is only possible when we are no longer bound by the law but are instead united with Christ, who empowers us to live a life that reflects His righteousness. [29:48]

- Beware of legalism and antinomianism: Legalism binds us to the law as a means of salvation, while antinomianism dismisses the law entirely. We are called to a balanced understanding where the law is respected and upheld as a guide for holy living. [43:03]

- The law remains a guide for holy living: While we are no longer under the law as a means of salvation, it still serves as a guide for living a life that honors God, empowered by the grace of Christ. [48:27]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[13:57] - Introduction to Marriage Analogy
[14:11] - Relationship of Humanity to the Law
[15:00] - Authority and Subordination in Marriage
[17:33] - Feminism and Biblical Teachings
[19:17] - Biblical Basis for Marriage Roles
[21:16] - Universal Law and Mankind
[23:10] - Binding Nature of Marriage
[25:21] - Death and New Relationships
[28:02] - Legality of New Union in Christ
[30:05] - Loosed from the Law
[32:17] - Death as the Only Breaker of the Law
[34:00] - Application of the Illustration
[39:10] - Dead to the Law, Alive in Christ
[43:03] - The Role of the Law in Christian Life
[49:16] - Conclusion and Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. Romans 7:1-6
2. Genesis 3:16
3. Ephesians 5:22-24

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Observation Questions:

1. How does the Apostle Paul use the marriage relationship to illustrate humanity's relationship to the law of God? ([14:11])

2. What does Paul mean when he says that humanity is "bound" to the law, similar to how a wife is bound to her husband? ([16:12])

3. According to the sermon, what is the ultimate goal of our union with Christ? ([29:48])

4. How does the sermon describe the dangers of legalism and antinomianism? ([43:03])

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Interpretation Questions:

1. In what ways does the marriage analogy help clarify the transition from being under the law to being under grace? How does this analogy deepen our understanding of spiritual transformation? ([14:11])

2. How does the sermon explain the fulfillment of the law in Christ, and what implications does this have for Christian living? ([27:49])

3. What does it mean to bear fruit for God, and how is this connected to our relationship with Christ? ([29:48])

4. How does the sermon suggest we maintain a balanced understanding of the law, avoiding both legalism and antinomianism? ([43:03])

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own life: Are there areas where you feel bound by legalism or where you might be dismissing the law entirely? How can you find a balance that respects the law while living under grace? ([43:03])

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of bearing fruit for God. What specific actions can you take this week to ensure your life is producing fruit that reflects your relationship with Christ? ([29:48])

3. Consider the analogy of marriage used in the sermon. How does this perspective change your view of your relationship with Christ? What steps can you take to deepen this relationship? ([14:11])

4. How can you apply the concept of being "dead to the law" in your daily life, ensuring that you live in the freedom and grace offered by Christ? ([39:10])

5. The sermon warns against the dangers of both legalism and antinomianism. How can you guard against these extremes in your personal faith journey? ([43:03])

6. In what ways can you honor the law as a guide for holy living, while also embracing the grace of Christ? Identify one area of your life where you can apply this balance. ([48:27])

7. How can you use the teachings from this sermon to encourage others in your community to live a life that reflects the righteousness of Christ? ([49:16])

Devotional

Day 1: Bound to the Law, Freed by Grace
The Apostle Paul uses the analogy of marriage to illustrate the relationship between humanity and the law. Just as a wife is bound to her husband until death, humanity is bound to the law until a spiritual death occurs through Christ. This spiritual death signifies the end of our old selves and the beginning of a new life under grace. Through Christ's sacrifice, we are freed from the dominion of the law and enter into a transformative relationship with grace. This new relationship allows us to live a life that reflects the righteousness of Christ, empowered by His grace. [14:11]

Romans 7:4 (ESV): "Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God."

Reflection: In what areas of your life do you feel bound by old habits or legalistic thinking? How can you invite Christ to bring transformation and freedom in these areas today?


Day 2: Fulfillment of the Law in Christ
The law is not abolished but fulfilled in Christ. Our new relationship with Christ empowers us to fulfill the righteousness of the law, not as a means of salvation, but as a reflection of our new life in Him. This fulfillment is not about adhering to rules for salvation but living a life that naturally reflects the righteousness of Christ. The law serves as a guide, showing us how to live in a way that honors God, but it is through Christ that we find the power to live out this righteousness. [27:49]

Matthew 5:17-18 (ESV): "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished."

Reflection: How does understanding that Christ fulfills the law change your perspective on obedience and righteousness? What steps can you take to live out this fulfillment in your daily life?


Day 3: Bearing Fruit for God
The ultimate goal of our union with Christ is to bear fruit for God. This is only possible when we are no longer bound by the law but are instead united with Christ, who empowers us to live a life that reflects His righteousness. Bearing fruit is a natural outcome of our relationship with Christ, as we are transformed by His grace and empowered to live in a way that honors God. This fruitfulness is not about striving but about allowing Christ to work in and through us. [29:48]

John 15:4-5 (ESV): "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing."

Reflection: What does it mean for you to abide in Christ daily? How can you cultivate a deeper connection with Him to bear fruit in your life?


Day 4: Avoiding Legalism and Antinomianism
The Apostle warns against the dangers of both legalism and antinomianism. Legalism binds us to the law as a means of salvation, while antinomianism dismisses the law entirely. Instead, we are called to a balanced understanding where the law is respected and upheld as a guide for holy living, empowered by the grace of Christ. This balance allows us to live in freedom, guided by the law but not enslaved by it, as we rely on Christ's grace to lead us. [43:03]

Galatians 5:1 (ESV): "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you lean towards legalism or antinomianism? How can you seek a balanced understanding of the law and grace in your walk with Christ?


Day 5: The Law as a Guide for Holy Living
While we are no longer under the law as a means of salvation, it still serves as a guide for living a life that honors God, empowered by the grace of Christ. The law provides a framework for holy living, showing us how to live in a way that reflects God's character. However, it is through Christ's grace that we find the strength and ability to live out this holy life, as we are transformed by His love and empowered to follow His ways. [48:27]

Psalm 19:7-8 (ESV): "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes."

Reflection: How can you use the law as a guide for holy living without falling into legalism? What practical steps can you take to ensure that your life reflects God's character through the empowerment of His grace?

Quotes


The Apostle Paul uses this illustration to show that we are no longer under the law but under grace. This illustration of marriage brings out very clearly the relationship that subsists between man as he is in sin to the law of God. [00:14:11]

The whole of mankind is under the law of God. He made it explicit and plain and clear in the case of the Jews by giving the law as he gave it through Moses, but God's universal law for the whole of mankind obtains. [00:22:16]

The illustration also brings out the binding character of the relationship. You notice his term: the woman that has a husband is bound by the law to her husband. Now he puts this in the perfect tense, and therefore we are entitled to translate it like this: the woman which has a husband is permanently bound by the law to her husband. [00:23:10]

Death does end the relationship. Now we shall see how he works that out. It is a relationship which is permanent; it is a relationship which is ended and can be ended by death. He chose his illustration to bring that point out. [00:25:21]

The ultimate object of marriage is not to gratify lust; it is that the Earth may be replenished as God told men at the very beginning. Let me read to you Genesis 1:28: "And God blessed them, the men and the women, and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply." [00:29:48]

While we are married to the law, we can never bring forth this fruit unto God. It is only as we are married to the Lord Jesus Christ that that becomes possible. So there has got to be a dissolution of the first relationship, and we must enter into the second relationship. [00:30:05]

We are not under law, but we are under grace. How does that happen? Here's the illustration, and it's a very wonderful illustration, I think you'll agree. [00:30:05]

The law is still there, so he cannot say that the law has died. But the important thing is that we are in the position because of a death which has taken place that we are no longer bound to the law. We are no longer under the dominion of the law. [00:38:02]

The Christian's got nothing to do with the law at all. He need never think of it again. He need never read it. He need not be concerned about it at all. I want to try to show you that that is a grievous error. [00:40:03]

We are no longer trying to justify ourselves by works or by conformity to a law. Christ is the end of the law for justification to everyone that believeth. [00:42:03]

The whole purpose of salvation is to enable us to keep God's holy law. Let me give you some examples. Take, for instance, what we are told in Hebrews 8 in that great quotation from Jeremiah 31 of what is the great characteristic of the New Covenant that God has made with believers in Christ Jesus. [00:43:03]

Beware of antinomianism, my friends. It is in a sense in order that we might be enabled to live according to the law and thereby bear fruit unto God that Christ came and died for us and rose again. [00:48:27]

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Transcript
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