Tuesday, October 23, 2007

The Law Of The Spirit Of Life (14 oct 2007)
Pastor Peter Tsukaira


God called Israel to be his special nation
Ex19:3-6 - "Then Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain and said, "This is what you are to say to the house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: 'You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.' These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites."

God was the king of Israel, so...
How did God rule His kingdom?

- He called Moses and spoke with him the laws
- God's rule is in the first 5 books of the bible
- Our king (God) rules the kingdom by law; usually the other kings rule their kingdom without a law as they keep on changing the rules
- God's word is a strong tower
- God's law covered all areas of society
- When jesus rules your life, the Kingdom of God is inside you
- God is king in every area of our lives
- God's grace does not take the place of God's law

Matt 7:21-23 (NASB) - "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' "

- If we live without laws then we have no share in the Kingdom of God

Matt 5:17 - "Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill."

- Whoever keeps the commandments and teaches them, he will be the greatest in the Kingdom of God

What does Jesus mean by keeping the law?

- The letter of the law kills but the Spirit gives life
- We have been set free from the letter of the law to follow the Spirit

Examples...

Matt 5:21-22 - "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell."

- We shall not commit murder but whoever is angry with his brother is guilty.
- We fall short of this commandment but Jesus will help us. He will give us His grsce, and forgive us and give us His Spirit to help us obey this law.

We need grace because the requirement of the law is too high!

Matt 5:27 - "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery.' "

- We should not commit adultery but whoever lusts for a woman has already commited adultery in his heart
- We can only obey those commands by relying on Jesus and letting Him help us. That is grace.

- Mercy only has meaning when there is justice.
- The bible says: Mercy triumphs over justice but does not take over it.
- It is the same as grace. grace helps us to obey the law.

Rom 8:1-4 - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit."

- God knows that the law is too high a requirement for us.
- God did not condemn us but condemned sin

Rom 8:4 (NASB) - "so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

- Walk in the Spirit by faith.
- We have a great inheritance so we must accept the Grace of God to fulfil his requirements to enter into His Kingdom.

http://www.fcbc.org.sg/audio/oct14_e.mp3