Understanding Law and Grace in Christ

 

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 serves as a key to understanding not only the prologue of John's Gospel but also the entirety of the Christian message. The core issue facing humanity today is a failure to recognize what God has accomplished through Jesus Christ. The Christian Church's role is to focus on God and His Son, not on humanity. We can only truly appreciate others when we view them through the lens of God's holy law.

The law, given through Moses, is crucial for understanding salvation and sanctification. Without recognizing our condemnation under the law, we cannot fully appreciate the grace offered through Jesus Christ. The law reveals the depth of sin, and dismissing it leads to spiritual peril. This message is not just for the Church but for the entire world. The neglect of God's law has led to a state of apostasy, where humanity no longer centers its life on God. This apostasy results in self-worship, pride, and inevitable conflict, as each person sets themselves up as their own god.

The consequences of turning away from God are evident in the world's false views on life, history, and human greatness. People have shifted from valuing life and heroism to merely existing, prioritizing survival over principles. This shift is a direct result of ignoring God's law. Furthermore, the separation of morality from religion has proven disastrous. The belief that one can retain biblical ethics without faith in God has led to moral decay. Without a divine standard, society is left with subjective opinions, leading to chaos and lawlessness.

The law is essential because it provides a standard and authority. It is not enough to preach grace and truth without acknowledging the law. The world suffers from a false view of love and grace, neglecting the righteousness and holiness of God. The belief that man is inherently good and that love alone can solve the world's problems is flawed. True transformation comes only when individuals recognize their sinfulness and turn to the grace offered through Jesus Christ.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Law and Grace: Understanding the law given through Moses is essential for appreciating the grace and truth that come through Jesus Christ. Without recognizing our condemnation under the law, we cannot fully grasp the depth of God's grace. The law reveals the sinfulness of humanity, making the need for grace evident. [02:57]

2. Apostasy and Self-Worship: The world's current state of apostasy stems from neglecting God's law, leading to self-worship and pride. When humanity turns away from God, it sets itself up as its own authority, resulting in inevitable conflict and chaos. This self-centeredness is the root of many societal issues. [07:54]

3. False Views of Life and History: Ignoring God's law leads to a distorted view of life, where existence is prioritized over meaningful living. The loss of heroism, idealism, and purpose in history is a tragic consequence of turning away from God. True greatness is found in aligning with God's purpose. [10:37]

4. Morality and Religion: The separation of morality from religion has led to moral decay. Without a divine standard, society is left with subjective opinions, resulting in chaos and lawlessness. True morality is rooted in a relationship with God and adherence to His law. [17:33]

5. The Need for Authority and Sanctions: The law provides a necessary standard and authority. Without it, society descends into chaos. God's law carries sanctions, and His authority ensures justice. Recognizing the need for divine authority is crucial for maintaining order and righteousness. [32:39]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to John 1:17
- [00:31] - The Key to Understanding the Gospel
- [01:02] - The Role of the Christian Church
- [01:53] - The Importance of the Law
- [02:57] - Grace and Condemnation
- [03:53] - The Law's Message to the World
- [05:18] - Consequences of Neglecting God's Law
- [07:54] - Apostasy and Self-Worship
- [10:37] - False Views of Life and History
- [14:43] - Morality and Religion
- [17:33] - The Need for Authority and Sanctions
- [24:53] - The Progression to Lawlessness
- [32:39] - The Role of Authority in Society
- [43:44] - Call to Action for Christians

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
- John 1:17: "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

#### Observation Questions
1. What distinction does John 1:17 make between the law and grace? How does this distinction serve as a key to understanding the Christian message? [00:31]
2. According to the sermon, why is it important for the Christian Church to focus on God and His Son rather than humanity? [01:02]
3. How does the sermon describe the consequences of humanity turning away from God's law? [05:18]
4. What are some examples given in the sermon of how ignoring God's law has led to a distorted view of life and history? [10:37]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the sermon explain the relationship between the law given through Moses and the grace offered through Jesus Christ? Why is it important to understand both? [02:57]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that apostasy and self-worship are connected to neglecting God's law? How does this lead to societal issues? [07:54]
3. The sermon mentions a separation of morality from religion. How does this separation contribute to moral decay according to the sermon? [17:33]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the need for authority and sanctions in maintaining order and righteousness in society? [32:39]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your understanding of the law and grace. How does recognizing your own sinfulness under the law help you appreciate the grace offered through Jesus Christ? [02:57]
2. The sermon discusses the dangers of self-worship and pride. Can you identify areas in your life where you might be placing yourself as your own authority? How can you realign your focus on God? [07:54]
3. Consider the sermon’s point about the false views of life and history. How can you ensure that your life is aligned with God's purpose rather than merely existing? [10:37]
4. The sermon highlights the importance of a divine standard for morality. How can you incorporate God's law into your daily decision-making to avoid subjective opinions? [17:33]
5. Reflect on the role of authority in your life. How do you respond to God's authority and the sanctions that come with His law? How can this understanding impact your interactions with others? [32:39]
6. The sermon warns against a false view of love and grace. How can you ensure that your understanding of love includes God's righteousness and holiness? [34:14]
7. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle with discipline. How can you apply the principles of God's law to bring order and righteousness to that area? [41:22]

Devotional

Day 1: The Law as a Mirror to Our Sinfulness
The law given through Moses serves as a mirror, reflecting the sinfulness of humanity and highlighting the need for grace. It is through the law that we recognize our condemnation and understand the depth of God's grace offered through Jesus Christ. The law reveals the depth of sin, and without acknowledging it, we risk spiritual peril. This understanding is crucial not only for the Church but for the entire world, as neglecting God's law leads to a state of apostasy. By recognizing our sinfulness, we can fully appreciate the grace and truth that come through Jesus Christ. [02:57]

"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 have you seen the law reveal areas of sin in your life, and how can this awareness lead you to a deeper appreciation of God's grace today?


Day 2: The Dangers of Self-Worship and Apostasy
The current state of apostasy in the world is a result of neglecting God's law, leading to self-worship and pride. When humanity turns away from God, it sets itself up as its own authority, resulting in inevitable conflict and chaos. This self-centeredness is the root of many societal issues, as each person becomes their own god. The consequences of turning away from God are evident in the world's false views on life, history, and human greatness. By centering our lives on God and His law, we can avoid the pitfalls of self-worship and pride. [07:54]

"They exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen." (Romans 1:25, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively resist the temptation to place yourself at the center of your life, and instead, focus on God's authority and guidance?


Day 3: Rediscovering True Greatness Through God's Purpose
Ignoring God's law leads to a distorted view of life, where existence is prioritized over meaningful living. The loss of heroism, idealism, and purpose in history is a tragic consequence of turning away from God. True greatness is found in aligning with God's purpose, rather than pursuing self-centered goals. By understanding and embracing God's law, we can rediscover the true meaning of life and history, and live in a way that reflects His greatness. [10:37]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to align your life more closely with God's purpose and rediscover the true meaning of greatness?


Day 4: The Interconnection of Morality and Faith
The separation of morality from religion has led to moral decay, as society is left with subjective opinions and chaos. True morality is rooted in a relationship with God and adherence to His law. Without a divine standard, society descends into lawlessness. By recognizing the importance of God's law, we can uphold a standard of morality that is grounded in faith and divine authority. This understanding is crucial for maintaining order and righteousness in the world. [17:33]

"Whoever says 'I know him' but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2:4, ESV)

Reflection: How can you ensure that your moral decisions are grounded in your faith and adherence to God's law, rather than subjective opinions?


Day 5: Embracing Divine Authority for Order and Justice
The law provides a necessary standard and authority, and without it, society descends into chaos. God's law carries sanctions, and His authority ensures justice. Recognizing the need for divine authority is crucial for maintaining order and righteousness. By embracing God's law, we can ensure that our lives and society are governed by a standard that upholds justice and righteousness. This understanding is essential for creating a world that reflects God's holiness and love. [32:39]

"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." (Romans 13:1, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you submit to God's authority in your daily life, and how can this submission lead to greater order and justice in your community?

Quotes

"For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. We are continuing our study of this most important and crucial verse because, as I've been trying to explain and to expound, it gives us a kind of key not only to the understanding of this prologue of the Gospel according to St. John but gives us an understanding, in a sense, of the whole of the Christian gospel, the Christian life, and the Christian outlook." [00:27:54]

"The greatest trouble with all of us and with the whole world this morning is our failure to realize what God has done for us in and through his dear son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That's what the Christian church is about. It's about him. He doesn't be able to talk about minutes here to talk about the Son of God who was made many for us men and for our salvation." [00:58:02]

"The law was given by Moses, and what we're trying to do is to see the importance of this law. We have seen its importance from the Christian standpoint very definitely. Our whole conception of the salvation depends upon this in a way. If we haven't known some preliminary law work, well, then our idea of grace is a very defective one." [02:29:35]

"The whole trouble in the world at this moment is due ultimately to neglect of the law of God. Neglect sometimes based upon sheer ignorance, neglect at other times due to the arrogance of unbelief and men's deliberate rejection of this book, which is the Word of God. All the troubles, I say, in the world this morning can ultimately be traced to that one single cause." [04:26:55]

"The world is in a state of apostasy, which means that it no longer lives its life in terms of God, and it no longer believes in God, and its life is no longer centered on God. That is the position of the world. Why? Know that there'll be thousands, perhaps millions, of people in this country today taking part in some sort of a religious service, but most of it will be sheer paganism." [05:31:77]

"What happens when men ceases to believe in God and to worship Him and to live to his glory? Well, what happens is that men begins to believe in himself, and he sets himself up for some kind of God. The devil knows this very well. That was why, you remember, the original temptation was just that." [07:08:29]

"Ignoring God's law leads to a distorted view of life, where existence is prioritized over meaningful living. The loss of heroism, idealism, and purpose in history is a tragic consequence of turning away from God. True greatness is found in aligning with God's purpose." [10:37:39]

"The separation of morality from religion has led to moral decay. Without a divine standard, society is left with subjective opinions, resulting in chaos and lawlessness. True morality is rooted in a relationship with God and adherence to His law." [17:33:53]

"The law provides a necessary standard and authority. Without it, society descends into chaos. God's law carries sanctions, and His authority ensures justice. Recognizing the need for divine authority is crucial for maintaining order and righteousness." [32:39:54]

"The world in a sense is suffering from a false view of love and of grace. The whole trouble of the world is that it's forgotten the first half of our text. It says grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. That's all that's needed. Preach Christ, preach him as an example, preach him as a model teacher." [34:09:37]

"The idea is today, isn't it, that man is fundamentally good. That's why they don't like the biblical teaching about sin. That's why they ridicule some of the hymns. I've told you before, amen, the theologian so-called in this century who ridiculed Charles Wesley's hymn for saying just and holy is thy name." [35:05:19]

"The Bible teaching can be put like this: that until a man comes under grace, you have got to keep him under law. Man is so evil that he's got to be kept under law until he comes under grace. That is why you have such thing as kings and queens and emperors and governments." [39:33:83]

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Transcript
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