Playlist:

playlist Go to the Law as Guide (topic) playlist

Filter by Categories

God's Law Is Eternal

Sermon by Martin G. Collins

God's law serves as a permanent, perpetual, and eternal guide for moral and spiritual conduct, reflecting the expectations set for Israel and the church. It is designed to enable His people to live as He created them to live. The law, described in Psalm 119 through terms such as testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, ordinances, ways, and word, is portrayed as a source of delight, joy, and meditation. It acts as a counselor, a song, an object of love, and a lamp to illuminate one's path. The emphasis falls on its divine origin, its intention for human benefit, its reliability as a guide to living, and its ability to enlighten understanding. The law of God is not temporary or subject to change; it remains steadfast until heaven and earth pass away. Jesus Christ Himself affirmed its enduring authority, stating that not even the smallest part of it would perish. He did not come to abolish the law but to explain and fulfill it, demonstrating how it should be kept in both letter and spirit. Through His teachings, He clarified its deeper, spiritual character, revealing that even thoughts and desires fall under its governance. By embodying the law in His life, He showed perfect obedience, setting an example for all to follow. The law defines sin and reveals human shortcomings, acting as a mirror to show deviations from righteousness. It is not meant to be altered or diminished to accommodate human weakness, for doing so would undermine its power to convict and guide. Instead, it stands as a perfect standard, pointing to the need for grace through faith in Jesus Christ. The law's purpose is not for salvation by works but to lead individuals to recognize their dependence on Him. Its eternal nature ensures that it will be fully fulfilled, ultimately conforming believers to God's will through His Spirit.

The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Fourteen)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The law of God remains a vital component of the New Covenant, as it is written in our hearts through the work of Jesus Christ. This process requires obedience, coupled with forgiveness, the receipt of God's Spirit, Christ's continual intercession, and access to God's presence. The law serves as a guide for living, providing direction on how to conduct oneself and prepare for Christ's return or one's death. It is not merely a set of rules but encompasses an entire way of life, essential for those who seek to live and function in God's Kingdom and Family. Without the law, individuals would flounder in confusion, lacking clear guidance on how to live righteously. The law of God, in its broadest sense, offers practical benefits to the godly, revealing the specifics of God's nature, character, and purpose far beyond what creation alone can teach. It is described as perfect, complete, and whole, meaning that nothing can be added to improve it as a guide to conduct, and removing any part renders it less than perfect. The law converts the soul, reviving and restoring, turning a person from sin and trouble to a life of holiness. God's law, including statutes, commandments, and judgments, is fair, just, and pure, free from any imperfection or corrupt tendency. It enlightens the eyes, providing light to navigate life's path without stumbling or straying. It cleanses and makes one holy, acceptable in God's presence, and endures forever as an eternal guide. The law illuminates duties and consequences of disobedience, humbling individuals by revealing their errors and sins, leading to repentance and a deeper relationship with God. Scripture emphasizes that all of God's Word, including the Old Testament, is profitable and purposefully written for the church's learning, offering examples of obedience and disobedience, hope, and deterrence from sin. The law of Moses, often cited as authority in the New Testament, continues to hold relevance for Christians, demonstrating that it is not done away with but remains a guide for conduct. Jesus Himself affirms that He did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill its spiritual intent, connecting good works with law-keeping and righteousness. The law must be preached to bring conviction of sin, showing individuals their true state and leading them to humility before God. Without it, pride would prevail, and the path to receiving God's Spirit and being created in His image would be obstructed. Even duties from former ages that are no longer required retain their spiritual principles, magnified by Jesus to be more personal and binding, ensuring that the essence of the law endures as a guide for life.

Our Need for God's Law

Sermonette by Austin Del Castillo

God's law serves as the essential guide for His people in their journey toward eternal life in His kingdom as priests and kings under Jesus Christ. Despite the prevailing societal decay and the rejection of law and order, the importance of adhering to God's law remains paramount for those seeking to grow in grace and knowledge. The notion that God's law was abolished with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is a misguided belief that has infiltrated many congregations, promoting the idea that grace alone suffices for salvation without the need for personal transformation or adherence to divine commandments. This rejection of law, often rooted in philosophies like Gnosticism, undermines the process God established for attaining salvation, suggesting that His laws are invalid or subject to human manipulation. Scripture consistently upholds the enduring authority of God's law throughout both the Old and New Testaments. Jesus Christ Himself affirmed the continuity of the law, as seen in His teachings and His battle against satan in the Judean desert, where He relied exclusively on Old Testament scriptures to triumph. The entirety of Scripture, inspired by God, provides all necessary truth for salvation, demonstrating that the Old Testament remains vital and will even be reinstated in the future for all nations to follow. Jesus explicitly taught that adherence to the commandments is required for eternal life, reinforcing that God's law is not done away with but stands as the guide to producing holy fruit in this life. As His people, the commitment to obey His law, despite frequent failures, is crucial to taking the intended place in the Father's kingdom.

Paul: Grace, Law, and Obedience

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

The function of God's law is not to justify or save, for it has never justified a single person before God. Instead, law serves to guide us along a path of life, defining righteousness, love, and sin, while setting standards of conduct. It educates us on a line of behavior that pleases God, but it cannot clear guilt or align us with His standard after we have broken it. Obedience to God's law, though essential, does not accomplish spiritual salvation; its purpose is to direct us safely toward God's purpose. Everyone who is saved will be a keeper of God's laws, as they detail the path He desires for us to follow in preparation for His Kingdom. Breaking these laws, as seen from the beginning with Adam and Eve, has led to trouble with God, necessitating Christ's sacrifice to pay the penalty. Following forgiveness, obedience to God's laws glorifies Him and provides evidence that we have learned our lessons, striving to avoid falling into the same traps again. Paul remains consistent that the law's function is never done away with at any point in a person's life; it always serves to guide one along a safe path to the goal of God's purpose.

'But I Say to You' (Part One): The Spirit of the Law

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Our righteousness must exceed the that of the Pharisees, keeping God's law in the spirit rather than in the letter, replacing the law of death with the law of life.

Liberty Under the Law

Sermon by Mark Schindler

We must discipline ourselves to live within the hedge of God's law, knowing that His Spirit provides the motivation to stay free by submitting to that law.

The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

God has given us His Law, which shows us the way of sanctification and holiness. God is in the process of reproducing His kind — the God-kind.

The Covenants, Grace, and Law (Part Twenty-Six)

Sermon by John W. Ritenbaugh

Christ will empower us, but will not live our lives for us. The marching orders for our pilgrimage derive from God's Word, containing His holy law.

The Bible Does Not Have All the Answers!

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

While the Bible does not contain all knowledge, it does contain foundational principles, enabling people to live in a godly, spiritual manner.

Who Claimed Works Justify?

Sermonette by Craig Sablich

Martin Luther, feeling 'God's' (the Catholic church's) standards were too hard to obey, found solace in Romans 1:17 and the idea of 'faith alone.'

Psalms: Book Five (Part Five): Psalm 119 (Part Two)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Even though keeping the law does not justify us, it does point out to us what sin is. The law is a guide keeping us within moral and ethical boundaries.

Psalms: Book Five (Part Six): Psalm 119 (Part Three)

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

The keeping of the law is a practical response to God, providing us with principles for our lives, establishing our character and implanting God's values.

'But I Say to You' (Part Two): Murder and Anger

Sermon by Richard T. Ritenbaugh

Murder originates in the heart. Nothing from the outside defiles a man but originates in the heart governed by carnal human nature.