Alright, Romans chapter 5 again. Romans chapter 5, Paul has stated
in verse 19, For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners,
so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. As I
begin to check What Paul actually wrote, he
says, the many. For as by one man's disobedience,
the many were made sinners. So by the obedience of one shall
the many be made righteous. Same number. It's the number
of representation. All men were made sinners in
Adam, but that's not what Paul's talking about in verse 19. He's
talking about the many who were made sinners. That same many
shall be made righteous by Jesus Christ. But then he says these
words in verse 20. Moreover, the law entered that
the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace
did much more abound. As I read this, to begin to prepare
for it, that struck me of the importance of words. When you read this verse, moreover,
the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded,
grace did much more abound. And I am sure that you, being
much like me, When you think of words, you think of law, grace,
abound. Important words, right? Important
words, no doubt. These words stand out in the
text. They're meant to stand out. But
often, if you're like me, I pass over other things, other words,
and really don't see the significance of them. because he says, moreover
the law entered, that the offense might abound. But where? You see that? W-H-E-R-E. But where? But where? That is vital. But where sin abounded, grace
did. Notice the next one. Did. You read a did, you go right
back. Right? But where sin abounded, grace
did. I shall. Grace did. Now, you're probably brighter
than I am when it comes to this. You know that did means something
that's in the past. Right? So read it again. Moreover, the law entered that
the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace
did much more abound. Let's hear the law in this matter. Hear about hearing the law. Listen
to what Paul said, even in this same epistle, Romans chapter
2. He says in verse 11 of that chapter,
For there is no respect of persons with God. What you are in this
world and who you are in this world does not matter to God. Years ago I was taught this means
that God cannot show favor to one without intending favor to
another. That's not what this is talking
about. How much we are lied to by false
Christianity. For there is no respect of persons
with God. For as many as have sinned without
law, shall also perish without law. And as many as have sinned
in the law, shall be judged by the law. For, now here it is,
hear about hearing the law. For not the hearers of the law
are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. It doesn't matter how much you
hear it, If justification is sought by
the law, you've got to do it. You've got to do it. That's what the Word says about
the hearing of the law. Countless thousands think because
they put the law up on a wall or on some plaque that they're
honoring God's law. It has nothing to do with honoring
God's law. To honor God's law, you've got
to do it. It's not the hearers of the law only, but the doers
of the law. Hear the magnitude of the law.
Paul gives us the magnitude of the law in another epistle. In
Galatians, he says these words, Galatians chapter 3. Listen to
what he says in verse 10. For as many as are of the works
of the law are under the curse. Now these two passages are not
contradictory. One is simply taking the law
to its true magnitude. It's not the hearers of the law
only that are just before God. It's the doers of the law. But
now Paul clearly makes it clear, if you're going to do the law,
you've got to do it perfectly. For as many as are of the works
of the law are under the curse, for it is written, Cursed is
everyone that continueth not in all things which were written
in the book of the law to do them. We as human beings like
to pick and choose what parts of the law we like. Something to us that seems vague
and antiquated, that really don't matter. What about the abolishing
of debts ever so many years? What about the releasing of all
captives ever so many years? What about all these things?
It all matters. Cursed is everyone that continueth not in all things
which were written in the book of the law. To what? He hasn't
forsaken them. To do them. Do them. Here's number three. Hear the voice of the law. Same
epistle as we're in this morning. Romans chapter 3. Hear the voice
of the law. Verse 19 of Romans 3. Now we
know that what thingssoever the law saith, Hear the voice? Here it is. It saith to them
who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all
the world may become guilty before God. Therefore, by the deeds
of the law there shall be no flesh justified in his sight,
for by the law is the knowledge of sin. So then, Paul has written
here, that the law entered, that the offense might abound. Isn't that what he says? Now
I ask, in spite of hearing about hearing the law, men hear the
law and yet continue to tout their doing. When it says, it's
not the hearers of the law, but the doers, they say, well I've
done, you remember the rich young ruler, all these things that
I've done from my youth up. What? He was a liar. He was a
liar. He hadn't done all these things.
No one has. There's not a just man upon the
face of the earth that doeth good and sinneth not. You hear the magnitude of the law
again. Cursed is everyone that continue with not in all things
Do you still tout you're doing when you hear that some men do?
don't they You could quote that verse to them. They still tout
they're doing Well, I give it my best shot the law doesn't
demand your best shot the law demands perfection perfection
hear the voice of the law, that all the world, that every mouth
may be stopped and the whole world become guilty before God. Yes, some still tout their doing.
Right? If it were merely the declaration
of the truth of the law, then everyone would shut up about
what they're doing in God's sight. Right? They would shut up. Now I ask, has the offense abounded
to all without exception? The law entered that the offense
might abound. Has it abounded? Most people, at least most in
my experience, and I feel the testimony of the scripture certainly
declares this. Most, when hearing the law, rather
than shutting up before God, they begin to spout forth of
how much they do, of their efforts, of how good at least they try
to be. Has the law's entering increased the offense to every
son and daughter of Adam? Has it abounded? Has the offense
abounded? No. No. Religion doesn't want
to deal with these things. They want to read over, hit the
high points like grace, abound, law, and simply pass through
it. And then give man something to
do under grace, which is nothing more than legalism. And give
man or woman something to do under grace, or something to
do to get God's grace, and they just pass right on through it.
So we can ask, has the laws entering increased the offense? Made it
abound to all without exception? To every son and daughter of
Adam? May God give us the proper perspective
here this morning. First of all, sin is sin in God's
sight. Law or no law. Go back and read. Those that
sin without law still will perish. Without law, but they'll still
perish. Right? Because sin is sin. The law didn't
make sin. Sin was in the world even before
the law came along. So much so that God drowned the
whole world save eight human souls at one time because of
it. And sin abounded even in the
plains. where the cities of Sodom and
Gomorrah were, where God rained fire down from heaven. There
was no law then, but God wiped those people out, didn't he? Sin is sin in God's sight, law
or no law. Look at it, verse 13 of our chapter. For until the law, sin was in
the world, but sin is not imputed where there is no law. Nevertheless,
death reigned. May it be we get the proper perspective. What is Paul talking about here?
What he's talking about is the law entered. Now it's the same
word entered used throughout the scripture where it means
simply to come into. But Paul here not talking about
the giving of the law at Sinai. I'm not talking about the giving
of the law of Sinai. He says the law entered that the offense
might abound. It means the law entered, it's
the word to supervene additionally, that's over and above, and to
do so stealthily. unawares. As a matter of fact,
there are two other places that this word, most of the places
you read the word enter, there's a regular Greek word for it.
It's a part of this word, but this word has more to it than
that. It simply means to come into being, to enter or to come
into, to be brought into. But here's the word. Let's read
the other two passages and maybe you'll get a little idea of what
I'm talking about. Look at Galatians chapter two, Verse 4. And that, because of false brethren,
unawares brought in, who came in privily, secretly, stealthily. Do you see it? In other words,
this was something that wasn't manifestly visible. You see? That's the word. Privilege. Despite
our liberty, which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might
bring us into bondage. It's not something that's evident
to everyone. It's secret. It's under the covers. Here's another one. Turn to Jude. Jude in verse 4. For there are
certain men crept in unawares. There's the same word. Crept
in Unawares no granted those are two negative uses of the
word are they not Paul uses it here though as a positive Use
of the law moreover the law entered do you see it? It's supervened
over and above But it comes in stealthily What is he talking about here
The law entered that the offense might abound. Now listen, I'm
going to say it right now. I have said before that God does
the law work in a man's heart. That's not so. Because the law entered that
the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace
did. did even before the law entered. And the law cannot even enter
until grace has already abounded. You see it? Where sin abounded,
grace did. It must not work when God teaches
you the law. If it were that, if it's a law
work, then why aren't we preaching the law? Why don't we preach the law if
it's about law work? Because it ain't about law work. It's
about grace work. We don't like to hear when we've
been wrong. Well, I believe I've heard that
all my life. Then you heard wrong. I've held to that all my life.
You've held wrong. Even where Paul talks about being
brought into bondage before the spirit of adoption, he said,
for God hath not given us the spirit of bondage again to fear.
Not the law. God does this work. And He does
the law work. That law work, what people call
it. He does His work with His law secretly. Stealthily. If it's not so, then preach the
law. preach to men how bad they are in light of the law. That
ain't the point. Because you can preach the law
to them and what do they do? They tout their doing. They tout
how good they are. But we're seeing, no sorry, moreover
the law entered that the offense might abound. That's a work of
grace. That's a work of grace. the law
entered that the offense might abound. This is not a general
statement of God's giving of the law. This is talking about
God Almighty proving to any individual man or a woman how corrupt they
are in His sight. And it takes not law to do that,
it takes the work of God's grace to do that. The law entered that the fence
might abound, but where? See it? Where? Sin abounded. Wherever it abounds, wherever
sin abounds, grace what? Did. Do you see it? Mac, I've
read this for years. I've been trying to preach the
gospel for almost 31 years now. Hadn't seen that but just past
year or so. Hadn't seen it. We take what
men say. People ain't me. Don't take what
I say and say, boy, that sound as a good message. Am I preaching
what the book says? You can still preach the truth,
but still twist things unintentionally, David. Picking up on somebody. It was a nice phrase. I like
the law work. It ain't a law work. It's a grace work. It's
a God work. That's what it's all about. where
sin abounded, grace did much more abound, and nowhere else.
You hear what I said? Oh, I know there's election,
predestination. That's grace in Christ before
the world began. But he ain't talking about before
the world began here. He's talking about as an Adam.
He's talking about after the fall. That's what he's talking
about. And the law entered. It comes in stealthily. Who does
that work? God does. God does that work. Moreover, the law entered that
the offense might abound, but where sin abounded, grace did
much more abound. So again, I say, where sin abounded,
grace did much more abound, and nowhere else. When men and women
see the offense abounding, there is where God's grace did, not
will, superabound. Right? Moreover, the law entered
that the offense might abound, but where sin abounded, grace
did much more abound. I tell you what, this book, this
chapter, there has been so much false, so many false words and
doctrines given, and they claim it's right here in this book,
but if they simply seen what Paul says, Wipe out everything
you think you know, and what does Paul say? Because he was
moved by the Spirit of God to write exactly what God meant. He that hath ears to hear, let
him hear what God says. I know us preachers are not supposed
to do that. But when I have been wrong, and
I realize I have been wrong, I will tell you where I have
been wrong. Because that's what it's all about. This pride that's
within us. I just don't see it that way.
That's your problem. You don't see. I don't care if you're a
believer. You just don't see. Well, God ain't revealed it to
me. That's exactly right, but don't blame Him. Don't blame
Him. One, you have the Spirit of God
in you, if you're His. Two, it's right here in black
and white, as you've already pointed out, Joe, translated
into our own language. It's right there. The problem
is this. We still like to fight against God. There's that flesh
in there that's fighting against God no matter what. That's what
it's about. But where, I love this, but where's
sin abounded? Grace did. Did. Past tense. The law will never
enter, so the offense might abound where grace ain't already first.
Much more about it. Do you see what he's saying there
now? This is not, well God gave the law, and now since we see
the law, we see how bad we are, and then God gives us grace.
That's not what he's talking about. That's saying this, if
you see how corrupt you are, whether you understand it, be
it through the law or not, Okay, if you do that's not a work of
the law on you. That's the work of God's grace
in you So again, I say he that hath
ears to hear let him hear I'll present to you three points of
truth here number one One of the first manifestations of God's
grace. I'm talking about a manifestation
remember God's grace is eternal and The elect were given the
grace of God in Christ before the world began, but we don't
see that. We see the effect of that take
place through things in time, what grace did much more about. One of the first manifestations
of God's grace in the soul is that that soul-abounding sin
is known, felt, and acknowledged. I am corrupt before God. If there's no abounding sin,
there is no reigning grace. Do you see what I'm saying now?
Where there's no abounding sin, there's no reigning grace. And
we don't preach law so that sin might abound. The law entered. It comes in stealthily. That's
God's work. Why? Because where sin abounded,
grace did much more abound. But here Paul, the apostle Paul
himself, when he was writing this book, inspired of the Spirit
of God, and he records these words as we have it in chapter
7 verse 24, O wretched man that I am. Why? Because he said when the commandment
came. When it came. Now when did it come? Well, it
originally come back on Sinai, but that's not what he's talking
about. He was born and raised with the law. And then bragged
about what he did for God, didn't he? But he said, but when the
commandment came, sin revived. And I did what? I died. And the commandment I thought
was in the life, this is what he's saying, I found to be in
the what? It's death. Death. That didn't happen through
somebody preaching the law to Paul. No. Go back and read even David,
the sweet psalmist of Israel. In sin did my mother conceive
me. What taught him that? Who taught
him that? God did. God did. Against thee and thee only have
I sinned and done this evil in thy sight. So again I say, remember
the first point here The one, one of the first manifestations
of God's grace in a soul is that in that soul abounding, sin,
sin is acknowledged, it's felt, and it's tasted. We begin to
quit trying to justify sin and acknowledge sin for what it is.
It takes the reigning grace of God to do that. It takes the
reigning grace of God to do that. A soul where abounding sin is,
that's a soul where grace is. Because there's not too many
people that see sin abounding. Now is there? Even if we don't
brag on ourselves, what do we do? We point our finger at somebody
else, but look what you did. And then try to excuse something
we want to hold to. It never works. Not with God.
It might work in your conscience. It might work for other folk.
But you've got to stand before God. Not me. Not preachers. Not men. God. Here's number two. The law does
not cause a man to cry out for mercy. Did you know that? I've
already read it. The law calls you to shut up. Right? The law doesn't call you
to cry out for mercy. The law causes you to shut up. That every mouth may be what?
Stopped! Stopped! The law, when it's done
by a work of God. The law, when it enters by a
work of God, it'll shut your mouth. Before God. Before God. The law does not cause a man
to cry out for mercy. The law forces a man to shut
up and sit still to hear of Christ. That's what it'll do. That's
what it'll do. But only after grace has superabounded
to open a man's eyes to his own inner corruption. In other words,
I say it again, it's a grace work, not a law work. Moreover,
the law entered that the offense might abound, but where sin abounded,
grace did. Already, much more abound. Do you see it now? Now maybe
you've always seen that for a long time. I didn't. David, I was
blind to that. Why? Because I'd already heard
other men say this or say that about it. And rather than look
at it myself, being noble like what was it? the Bereans, to
look and see, are these things really so? Just because a man
says it, don't make it so. Just because he's using scriptural
language, don't make it so. He may use those big words, grace,
law, abound, all that sounds, but what about where indeed? What about where indeed? That's
just as vital, Joe, as the law and the grace and the abounding. It's a grace work, not a law
work. Why moreover the law entered that the offense might abound,
but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. You see,
the fact is, I always knew that by experience. I just had trouble
bowing to it up here in my mind. Because I knew that's how it
took place. That's how it takes place. God will cause a man or a woman
to see their inner corruption by His own stealthy work. Number three. This is kind of
a summary to the other two. The law is not the key here.
Superabounding grace is the key. Yes. Superabounding grace is
the key. Why? Moreover, the law entered
that the offense might abound. Remember what that word entered
is. The law entered that the offense might abound, but where
sin abounded, grace did much more abound. There's the key. Superabounding grace. And yet,
religion teaches. Well, that's why we do the law.
That's why we hang the law everywhere. This will show people how bad
they are and then they'll flee to God's grace and then do something
to get God's grace. You're just talking about more
law works there. Just because you're using Bible words don't
mean you're teaching the truth of God. I think it was W.E. Best that
almost all Aaron Hersey has just enough truth to make it palatable
to the natural man. Just a few good Bible words in
there. The law is not the key. Superabounding
grace is the key. This is why we preach Christ
and not law. Right? That's why we preach Christ and
not the law. If it were not that way, then
we ought to be preaching the law. But we're not. This is why we preach the gospel
and not enact law. I mean, the natural mind says,
well, what better way to show people how bad they are by setting
up rules, and then when they break them, they'll see how bad
they are. We're so depraved, we'll lie about the very rules. We'll twist them and distort
them to fit our own self. We'll justify ourselves based
upon somebody else that did something maybe just a little bit worse. This is why we preach the gospel,
not the law. Let me just conclude. Four brief
statements and a couple little words about them. Let us define
the law and its purpose. Oh yeah. Let us define the law
and its purpose. Paul does all throughout his
epistles, doesn't he? But let us preach Christ. Let
us preach Christ. Here's the second thing. Let
us express the law's demands. Sure. Let us express the law's
demands, but let us stress the preeminence of Christ. Amen. That's it? Yes. See the difference? That's right. And see how they
are both actually fit together? Yeah, that's it. Right? Let us
define the law and its purpose, but let us preach Christ. Let
us express the law's demands, but let us stress the preeminence
of Christ. Number three, let us acknowledge
the law's glory. Death, that's the law's glory
isn't it? Second Corinthians, look at Paul. The glorious condemnation
of what? Death. We can acknowledge the
law's glory, but let us proclaim Christ's glory. What is that?
Life. Life. The law shows us our unrighteousness. It still today shows me mine.
If I start reading that law, go back in that Old Testament,
start reading that law, I see it all over the place now. I
didn't at one time. And even now today, Mason, when
I read that law, I still miss some of it today. You know what
I mean? You go back and read that same
passage a month later, and all of a sudden, something else will
pop out at you. Huh? Whoa, I missed that. It's right
there. You read the same words. The
law shows us our unrighteousness. Christ is our righteousness. You see what I said? He is He
is our righteousness, because you ain't got none. I ain't got
none. And I show that all too often. I've got none. He is our righteousness. So now let me read. Moreover
the law entered. that the offense might abound,
but where sin abounded. Why is that so? Because grace
did much more abound. That's what he's talking about.
That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign
through righteousness unto eternal life. How? Jesus Christ our Lord
you see he has to start this work. He has to keep this work
up. He has to finish this work Soon you see what Paul's saying
there now What he's saying there now that gives all the glory
to God and nothing nor no one else Not even the law we don't
glorify the law We don't worship the law Joe. We honor it and
We acknowledge it for what it is. Our honor, the honor that
we give, our worship is all directed toward God in the person of Jesus
Christ. He is truly all in all. Is he
not? If you understand what the law
says about you, it's only because grace did much more about it.
That's the only reason. If you understand your corruption,
if you can taste your corruption, it ain't because you got great
insight when you read the law. God Almighty worked a work of
free, sovereign, reigning grace in your soul. And be happy for
that. While you mourn for your sin,
be happy that God showed you that. Because why? Moreover, the law entered that
the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace
did. It's there. That's the evidence. There's
the proof it did much more abound. Father, be with us as we continue
and as we eat. Be with others. Lord, our hearts
and minds are toward them as well, Lord. Lord, forgive us
of our sins. I ask in Christ's name. Amen.