“I’m Keeping the Law Anyway!”

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Well we got just one week left in the month, and you know what that means. It means only one week left to make sure to request your copy of "Forgiven Forever." When you give your gift this month to the grace message, make sure to check the box. And once again, here's just a little bit about that new resource. Are you forgiven of all your sins, or are you being progressively forgiven? You know, like paying off your car, paying off your mortgage? Are you forgiven daily, even hourly, as you ask God? The great news of the gospel is it is way better than that. It's all about the finished work of Jesus. I'm excited about this new resource. It is called "Forgiven Forever." And that's the truth of Hebrews chapter 10. By one sacrifice, you've been made perfect for all time. So make sure to request your copy of "Forgiven Forever." When you give your gift this month, in the month of August, we're giving it away to each and every donor. It's our way of encouraging you, and the love and grace of God. It's our way of reminding you that you are forgiven forever. Yes, it is our way of reminding you, encouraging you. So make sure to request your copy "Forgiven Forever." That's the title you can find out more at AndrewFarley.org. Well, I wanted to start out tonight's broadcast by sharing with you a truth and a lie. And of course, we're going to start with the lie tonight. The lie is that you need the law to restrain sin. Have you ever heard that? Oh, grace is wonderful for salvation. But you need the law to restrain sin in your life daily. Well, that might sound good to you when you first hear it, but the Scriptures, well, they make it clear that that's a lie, and the truth is so much better. The truth is that the law actually arouses sin.

You can expect more sin, not less, under the law. And it's God's grace that trains us, that teaches us to say no to sin. So let's talk about this. We see it in Romans chapter 7, of course. it says that sinful passions are aroused by the law. Do you hear that? Sinful passions aroused by the law? What does that mean? Well, it means the law arouses sinful passions. Very straightforward. How about three verses later? In Romans 7, it says, "I would not have known about coveting, unless the law said you shall not covet. And then what happened? It says, under the law, sin produced in me, coveting of every kind. So what can you expect under the law, sinning of every kind?" And then in Romans 7, 9, it says, "When the commandment came into Paul's life, sin became alive. Is that what we want? Do we want sin to be alive in our life?" Well, of course, the reality is apart from the law, sin is dead. That's what we want in our lives. We want sin to be dead. And that only happens apart from the law. And so Paul continues in Romans 7, he says, "The commandment which I thought was going to result in life for me, it actually proved to result in death for me. I thought I was going to live through the ten commandments. I thought the law was going to give me life. And it actually did nothing but kill me." It says in Romans 7, 11, "Sin deceived me and through it, through the law, killed me." Well, how about Romans 5, 20? Here's a zinger. I mean, this is a pretty big one. The law came in so that the offense would increase. What happens when you bring the law in? Does sin decrease? No, it increases. When the law comes in, sin increases, not decreases. Now, here's one that you haven't maybe hung from your rear view mirror lately as a memory verse. 1 Corinthians chapter 15, verse 56. It says, "The power of sin is the law." So if you want to give sin some power in your life, then just grab hold of the law, put yourself under the law. And then next thing you know, sin has power. Why? Because the power of sin is the law. Now, if you're thinking, "Well, I agree with that to a point." I mean, I agree with that for the ceremonial law, the sacrificial law. You know, all of the laws and Leviticus that are just tedious and super detailed, sure. I agree with that. But not the ten commandments. Come on, give me my ten. Give me the big ten, would you? Well, we've got to be careful because Jesus is enough. And we don't need Moses to motivate us when we have Jesus Christ living inside

of us. Here's what 2 Corinthians 3 says. It says that there was a ministry engraved on stone. Now, what would that be? Well, the only part of the law that was written on stone was the ten commandments. And what does 2 Corinthians 3 say? It says it's a ministry of condemnation and death and that there's a greater ministry today, greater than the ten commandments, the ministry of God's Spirit inside of you and me, the ministry of righteousness. So, next time you got a coveting problem, a stealing problem, a lying problem, don't look to tablets of stone. Look to God's Spirit living inside of you. Why? Because apart from the law, sin is dead. And if you're led by the Spirit, you are not under the law, Paul says. So, even those rules that we think are going to help us, you know, do not handle, do not taste, do not touch. Colossians 2 says they have no value in restraining sin. So, how do we say no to sin? Well, Titus 2 makes it clear. The grace of God has appeared, Paul writes, and he says, "The grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness and to live upright lives in this present world." How about Romans 6, 14? Sin will not be your master. Why? Because you're not under law, you're under grace. So, should we be scared of grace? Apparently, like being scared of too much victory. Too much victory over sin. Don't be scared of grace. Embrace God's grace. How about Romans 6? Our old self was crucified with them and then Galatians 5. If you're led by the Spirit, you're not under the law. So what can we count on? How about the fruit of the Spirit? If we're led by the Spirit, how's he going to lead us? He'll lead us into the fruit of the Spirit, which includes self-control. And it includes love and love covers a multitude of sins. I can't love you and steal from you. I can't love you and take your life. I can't love you and cheat on you. Do you see how love in your life? Love covers a multitude of sins. And so when the Holy Spirit is producing that love and that self-control inside of you, you don't need to go grab tablets of stone. Who needs Moses when we got Jesus to inspire us in every moment? Well, I hope that's helpful to you, my friends, encouraging to you as we dispel the religious lies. And we trust Jesus just a little deeper in some brand new ways with everything we say, everything we do. Christ is our life and he is enough. All right, well, we're going to go out to Pennsylvania for our very first call tonight. We'll talk with Stephen. Hi, Stephen. What you got for us tonight? Oh, hello. It was, you guys were talking yesterday, I believe, about the babies and you know, when they die and, you know, I still baffled about like what happens. Yeah. And when, you know, at what point, you know, the quote, age of reason, I know there's no number, but

like what is the whole deal with this? Like it's also depression to me at all. Like everything life anymore is depressing to me the morning. Yeah. Okay. Well, listen, I mean, don't let it depress you because ultimately, I mean, Stephen, if you're concerned about it, and I know you are, and I'm concerned about it, how much more can we trust the heart of God who's concerned about the hair on every head of every person who's concerned about every child? If you want to know what God is like, what do you do? Well, you look to the exact representation of God, Hebrew says, and that's Jesus. So what did Jesus say? Well, Jesus welcomed little children and said the kingdom belongs to such as these. How about Matthew 19 permit the children to come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of heaven belongs to these? Wow. That's pretty cool. So can we trust the heart of God with kids? Yeah. And we don't have chapter and verse beyond maybe the one I just quoted and also how about 2 Samuel 12? You remember David, I mean, David's child, his baby dies. And what does David say? Well, in an inspired scripture in 2 Samuel 12, here's what he says, and I quote, "I will go to him, but he will not return to me." So David believes that he will go to be with his child who is passed away. Now, why would David, a man after God's own heart, say, "I will go to be with him?" Well, obviously he believed they would be reunited. And there it is smack dab in the middle of scripture encouraging us. So if you've lost a child, oh my goodness, it's heartbreaking and it's confusing and bewildering at times and you're asking all kinds of questions, how could this happen and where is he or where is he? Well, again, we fall back on the heart of God. I know we're concerned. Of course we are. But how much more can we trust the big heart of our heavenly Father? And when Jesus says, permit the children to come to me, don't hinder them. The kingdom of heaven belongs to these. Well, we just got to trust that God knows what he's doing and he's a good God. So God's justice is never cold or cruel and Genesis even says that. Genesis chapter 18, what does it say? Shall not the judge of all the earth deal justly so as far as you know age of accountability age of reason Whatever you want to call you're right. We're not going to find some chapter and verse about that But we do find all kinds of things about the nature of our God His heart his desire to save anyone and everyone Genesis 18 says he'll deal justly Matthew 19 says the kingdom of heaven belongs to children Second Samuel 12 David thinks he's going to be reunited with his child. All of this is extremely comforting

So I hope that helps Steven. I sure appreciate your call there in Pennsylvania and call us back anytime. We want to hear from you Okay, let's go to Lubbock, Texas now and we'll talk with Craig. Hey Craig Hey Hey, I saw you yesterday and yeah, you know, we talked about me baptizing my daughter, but I got Since I got home, I got a message my sisters Grandson and this is kind of a segue from where you came from Was just killed on a Polaris yesterday He's a 11 11 years old and I'm just kind of wanting to see if maybe we could get the body of cross Maybe to pray for my my brother-in-law my sister and her daughter's peace. They're struggling. So okay Yeah, absolutely Craig. Well first. Let me say it was great to see you yesterday I can't wait for us to be able to celebrate with that baptism and I am so sorry my friend What an awful awful tragedy and so if folks out there want to be praying for Craig for Craig's brother-in-law Craig's sister the whole family their daughters Please keep that family the family of Craig and his his sister and brother-in-law Keep them in your prayers and why don't I take just a moment right now father? we put this family in in your arms and you've already got them and Sometimes horrible painful awful things happen and it brings up questions But at first it just brings up Incredible grief and so we ask that you would minister to that family in a powerful way By your word by your spirit living in them by the hugs and handshakes and comfort of those around them Father we entrust them to you and to your goodness that you are the comforter and the counselor We love you father and we trust you we believe in you in Jesus name amen Craig thanks for bringing that to our attention and I do encourage our our church audience of course But our entire radio audience that if you would pray for Craig and Craig's family there his brother-in-law and his sister and their daughters That would mean a lot to him. I know so Thanks again my friend, and I look forward to seeing you in West Texas real soon Okay, let's go now

to how about to Oklahoma and we'll talk with Mrs. White hi Mrs. White Hi dr. Farley and I We will the White House will be praying for mr. Craig and his bm. Thank you all of here and Yes, and you said something one time about saving you're safe When someone passes they they're safe from The present hurt or something there was a scripture. Do you remember that off the top of your head? Well, I know that it you know scripture says there's no more sorrow no more tears And when we're experiencing that eternity I mean, there's just no sadness at all and so that's in revelation and it's a really comforting passage because We have so many people that when they pass away we wonder we wonder how they're going to be and so revelation 21 4 It says he'll wipe away every tear no longer any death no morning no crying no pain The first things have passed away. So that's a good one Thank you. Um, Mike. I had another question this evening if um, so I know scripture just because of my upbringing and stuff and I just I'm not trying to follow the law but but I do I mean like I don't want to do any of the things like can have condemned or anything I'm like well I'm so glad I don't want to commit adultery I'm so glad I don't so we're out where's that yeah okay I hear you well you're not really keeping the law I mean I get it you're not killing people and that's great I love that I'm a fan of that I'm not killing people either so the two of us were in the same boat on that apparently the Holy Spirit's not inspiring us to kill people and then you're not taking other people's stuff I love that you're not stealing I'm not stealing either so the Holy Spirit is inspiring you and me and every believer to to not steal other people's belongings and so far so good how about lying I mean that you're not doing a whole lot of lying and that's great I'm not lying and I think that's fantastic we're not deceiving people we're not stealing from them and we're not killing them so that's three I mean that's three laws and you know I would

imagine that we could probably get most of the Ten Commandments covered course the Apostle Paul he couldn't avoid coveting so apparently he didn't even pass he didn't pass the ten because he he had trouble with coveting now here's the issue though Mrs. White is that we're just not even close I mean whether we can keep three or or nine or ten guess how many there are well there's 613 so why don't we take a little Old Testament quiz here with the law I mean do you ever wear any clothing that's made of mixed fabrics have you ever worn polyester well Deuteronomy 22 11 says you can't do that do you ever eat shell fish or anything you know like a sea creature of any kind I don't know shrimp or crab boy Leviticus 11 verse 10 says you can't do that under the law you know do you know anybody who plants a field with two different kinds of seed well we ought to be telling Christian farmers then that under the law Leviticus 19 says they can't have two kinds of seed in the same field you know how about speaking of farmers we better make sure no Christians are running around plowing with both an ox on one side and a donkey on the other because Deuteronomy 22 10 says that's illegal and then we got sideburns I mean don't get me started about hairdos but Leviticus 19 says do not trim the hair at the sides of your head or damage your beard so you got to keep the sideburns real long you got to keep the beard flowing and if you trim it up well you know it's kind of a pagan thing you're doing there Leviticus 19 27 and then we could go on and on but I mean you got to bury your human waste you can't have it inside the camp you don't want to eat fruit of a newly planted tree and make sure you never boil a young goat in its mother's milk so you can see I'm just rattling off six or eight of them but there's 613 so you're not keeping the law I'm not keeping the law I've never met person besides Jesus who would be able to keep the law but God fulfilled it for us and now we we don't have to worry about that we're not under law we're under grace so will the spirit of God cause you to kill and steal it's not in his character and now look at you you're a new creature it's not in your character either for more information on the broadcast ministry of Dr. Andrew Farley please visit Andrew Farley dot org that's Andrew Farley dot

o-r-g join us next time as we invite you to celebrate the grace message with Dr. Andrew Farley this program is sponsored by your generous financial support Hi I'm Andrew Farley I hope you enjoyed today's program and if you have more questions whether it's about a Bible Versa personal struggle or anything on your heart Biblequestions.com is here for you you'll get clear gray space dancers in 10 seconds or less no confusion no judgment just practical truth that meets you right where you are whatever's on your mind you'll find real answers rooted in God's love visit Biblequestions.com that's Bible questions.com you you You [BLANK_AUDIO] you