From Law to Grace: Understanding Our Need for Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Law as a Mirror Reflecting Our Need for a Savior

The law given through Moses serves as a mirror, reflecting our sinfulness and our need for a savior. It is not to be dismissed, as it plays a crucial role in leading us to the grace offered by Christ. The law's primary function is to remind us of our relationship with God, pulling us out of self-centeredness and directing our focus towards the Almighty. It reveals God's holy and just nature, demanding holiness from us because we are His people. The law's demands, encapsulated in the Ten Commandments, are not obsolete; they are as relevant today as they were when first given. They remind us to love God with all our being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. [05:30]

"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways has the law revealed your need for a savior? How can you allow this awareness to deepen your relationship with Christ today?

Day 2: The Law Directs Our Focus Towards God

The law reminds us of our relationship with God, pulling us out of self-centeredness and directing our focus towards the Almighty. It reveals God's holy and just nature, demanding holiness from us because we are His people. The law's demands, encapsulated in the Ten Commandments, are not obsolete; they are as relevant today as they were when first given. They remind us to love God with all our being and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This redirection of focus is essential for spiritual growth and alignment with God's will. [06:18]

"And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul." (Deuteronomy 10:12, ESV)

Reflection: How can you shift your focus from self-centeredness to God-centeredness in your daily life? What practical steps can you take today to love God and your neighbor more fully?

Day 3: The Law Exposes the Depth of Our Sinfulness

The law exposes the depth of our sinfulness, defining sin not just as actions, but as thoughts and desires. This revelation is crucial because it is only when we see the true nature of our sin that we can fully appreciate the grace of God in Christ. The law convicts us, showing us our need for the cleansing blood of Jesus. It brings us to the realization of our need for grace, as it defines sin and makes us aware of our transgressions and our inability to meet God's standards on our own. [30:07]

"For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander." (Matthew 15:19, ESV)

Reflection: What thoughts or desires have you been holding onto that need to be surrendered to God? How can acknowledging these help you appreciate God's grace more deeply?

Day 4: The Law Convicts Us and Points Us to Grace

The law convicts us, showing us our need for the cleansing blood of Jesus. It brings us to the realization of our need for grace, as it defines sin and makes us aware of our transgressions and our inability to meet God's standards on our own. This awareness is not meant to lead us to despair but to drive us to Christ, who offers grace and truth, freeing us from the condemnation of the law. The Apostle Paul emphasizes that the law cannot save us; it was never intended to. Instead, it brings us to the realization of our need for grace. [23:41]

"For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh." (Romans 8:3, ESV)

Reflection: How has the conviction of the law led you to seek God's grace? What steps can you take today to embrace the freedom offered by Christ?

Day 5: The Law Drives Us to Christ

The law, by defining sin, makes us aware of our transgressions and our inability to meet God's standards on our own. It is through this awareness that we are driven to Christ, who offers grace and truth, freeing us from the condemnation of the law. The transition from the Old Covenant, represented by the law, to the New Covenant, embodied in grace and truth through Jesus Christ, is a profound distinction. The law serves as a guide, leading us to the grace offered by Christ, where we find true freedom and redemption. [41:07]

"For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:2, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways has the law driven you to seek Christ's grace and truth? How can you live in the freedom that Christ offers today?

Sermon Summary

In the Gospel of John, chapter 1, verse 17, we find a profound distinction: "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." This verse encapsulates the transition from the Old Covenant, represented by the law, to the New Covenant, embodied in grace and truth through Jesus Christ. The law, given through Moses, serves as a mirror reflecting our sinfulness and our need for a savior. It is not to be dismissed or disregarded, for it plays a crucial role in leading us to the grace offered by Christ.

The law's primary function is to remind us of our relationship with God, pulling us out of self-centeredness and directing our focus towards the Almighty. It reveals God's holy and just nature, demanding holiness from us not for its own sake, but because we are His people. The law's demands, encapsulated in the Ten Commandments, are not obsolete; they are as relevant today as they were when first given. They remind us to love God with all our being and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

However, the law also exposes the depth of our sinfulness. It defines sin, not just as actions, but as thoughts and desires, revealing the exceeding sinfulness of sin. This revelation is crucial because it is only when we see the true nature of our sin that we can fully appreciate the grace of God in Christ. The law convicts us, showing us our need for the cleansing blood of Jesus.

The Apostle Paul, in his writings, emphasizes that the law cannot save us; it was never intended to. Instead, it brings us to the realization of our need for grace. The law, by defining sin, makes us aware of our transgressions and our inability to meet God's standards on our own. It is through this awareness that we are driven to Christ, who offers grace and truth, freeing us from the condemnation of the law.

Key Takeaways

1. The law given through Moses serves as a mirror, reflecting our sinfulness and our need for a savior. It is not to be dismissed, as it plays a crucial role in leading us to the grace offered by Christ. [05:30]
2. The law reminds us of our relationship with God, pulling us out of self-centeredness and directing our focus towards the Almighty. It reveals God's holy and just nature, demanding holiness from us because we are His people. [06:18]
3. The law exposes the depth of our sinfulness, defining sin not just as actions, but as thoughts and desires. This revelation is crucial because it is only when we see the true nature of our sin that we can fully appreciate the grace of God in Christ. [30:07]
4. The law convicts us, showing us our need for the cleansing blood of Jesus. It brings us to the realization of our need for grace, as it defines sin and makes us aware of our transgressions and our inability to meet God's standards on our own. [23:41]
5. The law, by defining sin, makes us aware of our transgressions and our inability to meet God's standards on our own. It is through this awareness that we are driven to Christ, who offers grace and truth, freeing us from the condemnation of the law. [41:07]
** [41:07]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction to John 1:17
[00:30] - The Importance of the Prologue
[01:08] - The Christian Life and Its Fullness
[02:30] - Understanding the Incarnation
[03:46] - The Role of the Law
[05:01] - Grace and the Law
[06:00] - The Law and Our Relationship with God
[07:42] - The Two Tables of the Law
[09:45] - Holiness and God's Demands
[11:18] - The Law Before Moses
[12:12] - The Law Written in Our Hearts
[14:40] - The Law's Universality
[17:14] - Loving God and Neighbor
[20:08] - The Law and Our Sinfulness
[23:41] - The Law Defines Sin
[30:07] - The Law and Inner Desires
[33:32] - The Exceeding Sinfulness of Sin
[40:20] - The Law's Condemnation and Grace

Sermon Clips

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. We come back once more to a consideration of this most important verse here towards the end of what is customarily called the prologue of The Gospel According to St John." [00:00:17]

"The law, given through Moses, serves as a mirror reflecting our sinfulness and our need for a savior. It is not to be dismissed or disregarded, for it plays a crucial role in leading us to the grace offered by Christ." [00:04:55]

"The law reminds us of our relationship with God, pulling us out of self-centeredness and directing our focus towards the Almighty. It reveals God's holy and just nature, demanding holiness from us because we are His people." [00:06:03]

"The law exposes the depth of our sinfulness, defining sin not just as actions, but as thoughts and desires. This revelation is crucial because it is only when we see the true nature of our sin that we can fully appreciate the grace of God in Christ." [00:30:07]

"The law convicts us, showing us our need for the cleansing blood of Jesus. It brings us to the realization of our need for grace, as it defines sin and makes us aware of our transgressions and our inability to meet God's standards on our own." [00:23:41]

"The law, by defining sin, makes us aware of our transgressions and our inability to meet God's standards on our own. It is through this awareness that we are driven to Christ, who offers grace and truth, freeing us from the condemnation of the law." [00:41:07]

"The law was given to men to keep them from sin made them sin all the more. How? Oh, it had the effect of stimulating these passions and evil desires that were within them." [00:37:58]

"The law not only shows us the exceeding sinfulness of sin as nothing else can do, it therefore shows us all ultimately to be guilty and condemned before God." [00:40:20]

"The law of God was given to carry that even a stage further and that was to convince us of our terrible sinfulness, to bring our sin right home to us." [00:18:04]

"The law comes to us and it says, 'I've got a number of questions to put to you.' It is indeed like the arm of the law, the policeman coming to us and says, 'Now I've got a number of questions I want to put to you.'" [00:27:22]

"The law alone does that, and you see The Madness of getting rid of law. The law still does that, and it's the law alone that will bring us to this kind of condemnation and show us the truth about ourselves." [00:33:02]

"The law of God is quick and Powerful, dividing even to the separating of the joints of Soul and Spirit and the joints of marrow. There is nothing hidden from him; he is concerned about thoughts and desires." [00:31:10]

Ask a question about this sermon

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?