Hymn number 565, the tune is
Zion, 775. Rejoice and let Christ be thy
song, for he is thy all and in all. He leads my soul safely
along in spite of world sin or thrall. Though poor in myself,
yet in him have riches immense and divine. nor can I be brought
guilty in, for Jesus my Lord paid the fine. Hymn 565, Tune
Zion 775. Christ be thy Son, Christ be
thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son,
Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ
be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son,
Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ
be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ
be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be
thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be
thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son,
Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ
be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be
thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ be thy Son, Christ
be thy Son, Christ be In spite of vouchsafes and oaths wrong,
Thine alabas are so heav'nly born. I pray Jesus, how can I? How
can I be put to faith? ? My Lord made the kind. ? ? Once I was in the lofty bed,
? ? I wondered what heaven could say. ? I shall dance in the water's
grace, That I, my Lord, may know my place. God of my soul, help me not in
pain, and help me not, help me in grace. which make me pierced by faith
in the limits of my distress. ? I look to that low post of heaven
? ? And hope its own mercy would shine ? ? That earth might stop
trembling ? O'er the ramparts we watched,
were so gallantly streaming? to help me sin to come nigh,
and speak just as good as it may, nor did I expect a reprieve. But while I stood trembling with
fear, The Saviour of sinners came in,
first bowed and said, Be of good cheer, I surely will say painful things
I'm Jesus, the first and the last My debts have been chosen to
be The future, the present, and past let us read together from the
holy word of god in the paul's epistle to the galatians and
chapter five The Epistle to the Galatians,
Chapter 5. Stand fast therefore in the liberty
wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again
with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I, Paul, say unto you,
that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For
I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he
is a debtor to do the whole law. Christ is become of no effect
unto you. Whosoever of you are justified
by the law, you are fallen from grace. For we, through the Spirit,
wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ
neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision,
but faith which worketh by love. Ye did run well, who did hinder
you, that ye should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh
not of him that calleth you. A little leaven leaveneth the
whole lump. I have confidence in you, through
the Lord, that you will be none otherwise minded, but he that
troubleth you shall bear his judgment, whosoever he be. And I, brethren, if I yet preach
circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offence
of the cross ceased? Or would they were even cut off
which troubled you? For brethren, ye have been called
unto liberty, only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh,
but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled
in one word, even in this, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one
another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.
This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfil
the lusts of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against
the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh, and these are contrary
one to the other, so that you cannot do the things that you
would. But if you be led of the Spirit, you are not under the
law, Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these,
adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft,
hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
envyings, murders, drunkenness, revelings and such like, of the
which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that
they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, meekness,
temperance, Against such there is no law. And they that are
Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let
us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying
one another. May the Lord bless thee. reading
of his own precious word and grant unto us a spirit of real
prayer. Almighty, most merciful and eternal
God, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, we bow before thy glorious majesty
and we keep in mind that wonderful word that we recently meditated
on, whatsoever ye ask in my name, I will do it. We pray for more
faith, more solid faith, more confidence in thee. We pray for
grace to lay aside every weight and the sin that does so easily
beset us, and that we might run with patience the race that is
set before us. Looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before
him endured the cross, despising the shame thereof, and is now
set down at the right hand of the majesty on high. O Lord,
may we be enabled to lift our eyes to Jesus. May we be able
to consider him which endured such contradiction of sinners
against himself. We just read together, Lord,
in thy word, that the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit
against the flesh, and the one is contrary to the other. And Lord, we find that battle
within ourselves, that when we would do good, then evil is present
with me. Oh Lord, we pray for an overcoming
faith in the glorious person of our Lord Jesus Christ, We
pray that this afternoon we may touch the hem of his garment,
that we may draw from that sacred fullness that is in him, that
we may know the truth by the living power of the Spirit of
God in our hearts, and that the truth may set us free, that we
may see no man save Jesus only. Oh, do hear us, Lord, we humbly
pray thee. and give us a Jesus-only religion,
and help us to lay aside everything else, we do humbly beseech thee. We find, O Lord, what various
hindrances we meet when coming to the mercy sea. But, Lord,
we approve the worth of prayer, and we approve the power of prayer,
and we pray that we may prove it again. that we may be found
looking unto Jesus, that we may be found following him. Lord,
we pray that this afternoon hour we may be led of the Spirit of
God. For as many as are led by the
Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. And may we know, Lord,
that God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. Crying,
Abba, Father, O, do hear us, Lord, we pray thee. Grant us
that sacred sense and realisation of the spirit of adoption, and
that our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. We pray, most gracious Lord,
that thou in thy precious mercy would deliver us then from the
temptations of the enemy, deliver us from the power and dominion
of sin and the workings of it in our nature. And though sin
lives in us, may we not live in sin, but may we live to him
that died. May we be surrendered to the
crucified one. O gracious God, to incline thine
ear we do humbly beseech thee. Thou hast promised in thy word
that when the enemy comes in like a flood, the spirit of the
Lord will lift up a standard against him. Oh, we pray, Lord,
that it may be so. For we do not have the strength,
the wisdom, or the inclination, Lord, in our flesh. For in our flesh there dwelleth
no good thing. And we prove it continually.
but oh that the new man of grace may get the upper hand, may rule
over our spirits, that the spirit of the Lord may fill our hearts,
that the Lord Jesus may be made exceedingly precious, that the
love of God may be shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost,
that we may be made more spiritually minded, that we might know that
sacred union and communion with our Lord Jesus Christ, that we
might be able to say, my beloved is mine, and I am his, and feel
the sanctifying effect of that in our hearts, we do humbly beseech
thee. O Lord, look upon us as a church,
as a congregation. Remember our beloved brethren,
the deacons, and bless them indeed. and give them all needed grace,
wisdom, and help in all their responsibilities here and elsewhere. And gracious God, we do pray
that thou would remember each one of our brethren and sisters
in church fellowship. Remember our dear brother and
sister in Holland, and do bless them there, and the churches
of God there. And remember, Lord, we pray thee,
each one of our congregation from the youngest to the eldest.
We gather them all together, we commend them to thee. Remember
those not able to be with us today, and Lord, this afternoon,
bless them. And remember the prodigals that
have wandered away and cause them to return, that we might
have that wonderful rejoicing over one sinner that repenteth.
Hear us, O Lord, we pray thee. And bless us indeed, we humbly
beseech thee, and work mightily, powerfully, and effectually.
And Lord, send the glory and light of the gospel into this
village, and the surrounding villages and hamlets. And bring
our sons from far, and our daughters from the ends of the earth. We
read in thy word, it encourages us, and they shall come. Lord,
we watch for that day when they shall come. Thou hast promised,
I will abundantly bless her provision, I will satisfy her poor with
bread. And thou hast said that thou
would increase them with men like a flock. Lord, fulfil these
wonderful promises in the day in which we live and turn back
the tides of iniquity and wickedness and evil. The spirit of Antichrist
is so prevalent in our societies. O Lord, we do pray that thou
wouldst arise, that thou wouldst hear the cries of thy little
remnant, and that thou wouldst turn back these great powers. May we ever remember that beautiful
word, yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. Lord
Jesus, we thank thee that thou dost sit king forever. Lord,
remember the little ones and the children. Richly bless them. Put the fear of the Lord in their
hearts, an unctuous light to all that's right and a bar to
all that's wrong. Remember the young friends and
bless them. Bless them with living faith
in Jesus Christ. Bless them with that grace to
follow thee in thy ways and in thy truth. And Lord, we do pray
that thou wouldst graciously guide and direct them in all
the things of providence. And those, O Lord, that desire
a partner in life's journey, we pray that thou wouldst grant
that petition, that thou wouldst hear prayer. We often think of
thy wonderful acts in the Word of Truth, in bringing a Rebekah
unto Isaac and in bringing a Ruth unto Boaz. Lord, thou art able
to do those things today. Lord, we pray that thou wouldst
hear our prayers and our entreaties. And Lord, maybe there's one here
that perhaps of a long season has prayed, prayed for something
they so yearn over, prayed over a promise that seems to, as it
were, remain in their hearts. We pray that thou wouldst Hasten
the day when that will be performed, that even as thou didst to thy
handmaiden Hannah, thou didst hear her prayer and answer her
petitions. Lord, we pray that it may be
so among us here. We pray, most gracious God, that
thou wouldst remember all in the midst of the journey of life
and each one, wherever they may be, Remember parents who give
them wisdom and grace to bring up their children in the nurture
and admonition of the Lord, and that we may not, as it were,
stumble them by the things that we allow. Lord, do hear us, we
pray thee. And that we pray, most gracious
Lord, that thou wouldst make us more spiritually minded. The
carnal mind is enmity to God. is not subject to the law of
God, neither indeed can be, but oh, to be spiritually minded,
to follow after Christ, to love him, to serve him, and to follow
him in our day and in our generation. Remember those of us that are
now in the evening time of life's journey, prepare us for that
great change which must come. and graciously grant us an abundant
entrance into thy heavenly kingdom. We pray that thou would remember
those who have been bereaved. We think of those even in this
past week. We would gather them together.
We would commend them to thee, to the word of thy grace, which
is able to build them up, put the arms of thine everlasting
love around them, give them to feel, to know Jesus Christ, the
same yesterday, and today, and forever. He who has helped me,
hitherto, will help me all my journey through. O gracious God,
do hear us in heaven, thy holy and thy blessed dwelling place,
and when thou hearest, O Lord, forgive. Remember all thy servants
as they labour in word and doctrine upon the walls of Zion. Set them
free, set them at liberty, those who are shortly to commence pastorates,
to grant that thou would go before them and graciously bless them. And we pray thee, the great Lord
of the harvest, to send true labourers into the harvest and
yet to plant pastors among the churches and to grant a reviving
a renewing, a replenishing. Hear us, O Lord, we pray Thee
for Thy great namesake. Lord, we do pray that Thou in
Thy precious mercy would remember our government and give wisdom
and guidance and direction. We do humbly beseech Thee and
remember us as a nation. and do turn back the tides of
iniquity and wickedness and evil, bring to naught the counsels
of the ungodly in this solemn day in which we live, when iniquity
abounds on every hand and the spirit of Antichrist is so prevalent
in the society in which we live. O thou great God, we do pray
that thou wouldst hearken and hear have mercy upon us and be
with us as we turn to thy holy word and come and touch one's
lips with a live coal from off the heavenly altar. We ask for
Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Let us now sing together hymn
number 697. The tune is Benediction 627. O thou lovely loving Saviour,
bless us with a solemn frame. Teach us now henceforth and ever
to adore thy matchless name. Give us Blessed Jesus, give us
a sweet glimpse of thy sweet face, from all cark and care
relieve us, fill us with thy boundless grace. Hymn 697, tune
benediction 627. ? With you, with you, with you,
with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you,
with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you,
with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with
you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you,
with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you,
with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with
you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you, with you Give us this day our daily bread,
and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass
against us. ? Merry Christmas and a happy New
Year! ? ? Let me answer the reflection
? ? Stuck on every conscience question ? ? Give us power to
be free ? O'er the land of the free and
the home of the brave? ? Tell us, Lord, and make us see
? ? We're all your help and mine ? ? Take me to them ? Watered with life like a river's
joy, ? And as in that great revolution
? ? I atonement make whole again ? ? With thy presence, Lord, and
gracious ? Greatly feeling to need the Lord's
gracious help, I direct your attention to the fifth chapter
in the epistle to the Galatians. and we'll read verse 18 for our
text. Paul's official, Paul's letter
to the Galatians, chapter 5, verse 18. But if ye be led of
the Spirit, ye are not under the law. but if you be led of the Spirit
you are not under the law. There were in the church at Galatia and we find that in the early
church this was quite a common thing because there were many
believing Jews in the early church And there were those teachers
that had risen up in Galatia that were teaching the people
to follow the law. They were seeking that believers
should be circumcised. And the apostle, and they were
saying that we're still under the law. One of the aspects of
the error that was in Galatia is that they were teaching that when the believer is brought
into Christ, they are then capable of fulfilling the law. The apostle
immediately saw that this was a gross error. Even though we're
believers, we are not capable of fulfilling God's law. And you might say, why not? Because
we have the old man of sin. We've read it together. Verse
17, For the flesh lusteth against the spirit, and the spirit against
the flesh. These are contrary the one to
the other, so that we cannot do the things that we would. And that is the battle and the
warfare that is in every true believer. as a battle against sin. Now, with the believer, though
sin lives in us, and it does, yet we do not live in sin. There's a big difference there,
friends. Sin lives in us. And the believer feels it very
painfully, the corruption of our nature. But the believer
does not live in sin. What a difference there is. There
is a battle that goes on. Just as we've read here, the
dear apostle saying that the flesh lusteth against the spirit
and the spirit against the flesh. It's part of this warfare. And
in Romans chapter 7, he speaks of the same warfare, of the flesh
lusting against the spirit. That which I would, I do not.
That which I would not, I do. I find a law within my members
that when I would do good, then evil is present with me. Now to the true child of God,
they can't just brush that off. think well i'm sinful etc no
it causes much conflict much conflict in the heart of
the true believer now just as they were teaching obviously
it was a error that was so strong amongst them that the apostle
had to write to them about it He says to them, he says in the
second chapter, and we who are, verse 15, we who are Jews by
nature and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man
is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith
of Jesus Christ. Even we have believed in Jesus
Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ and not
by the works of the law. You see they were saying that
a believer can be justified by the works of the law. For by
the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. Not even
the Christian believer. But if while we seek to be justified
by Christ We ourselves also have found sinners, that's under the
law. Is therefore Christ the minister
of sin? God forbid. For if I build again
the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For though, for I through the
law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless
I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. And the life which
I now live in the flesh, I live by faith of the Son of God, who
loved me and gave himself for me. I do not frustrate the grace
of God, for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ
is dead in vain." He goes right to the very heart of this error
that was in the church at Galatia, that we could be justified as
believers under the law, that we're capable as believers of
fulfilling God's holy righteous law and adding to the righteousness
of Christ. Listen how strongly He commences
chapter 3, O foolish Galatians, who have bewitched you, that
you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ
hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? Now, you
come to the heart of the problem here, this only would I learn
of you. Received you the Spirit, that's the Holy Ghost, by the
works of the law or by the hearing of faith? Here again, the very
heart of the problem, are you so foolish, having begun in the
Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? He was saying this
cannot be so. Have you suffered so many things
in vain, if it were yet in vain? He therefore that ministereth
you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth it by the works
of the law, or by the hearing of faith? even as Abraham believed God
and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Abraham's faith
was in Christ. He believed God and it was accounted
unto him for righteousness and that's the only righteousness
that will stand my beloved friends in that great day. None of our
righteousness will stand. only the righteousness of Christ.
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the
children of Abraham. Now, again, the apostle emphasizes
this in the epistle to the Romans, that the Christian believer,
just as Abraham received that gift of faith, before the giving of the law, and the promise of eternal life
before the giving of the law, and the scripture foreseeing
that God would justify the heathen through faith, preach before
the gospel unto Abraham saying, in thee shall all nations be
blessed. Why? Because Christ would be
born of the seed of Abraham. in thee shall all nations be
blessed so then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful
Abraham now listen to what he says here for as many as are
of the works of the law are under the curse you can't separate
the law from the curse as many as of the works of the law are
under the curse for it's written curse it is everyone that continues
not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do
them but that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God,
it is evident. For the just shall live by faith. You know, Martin Luther, they
were the words that were made so precious to him when he went
on a pilgrimage to Rome and it was said that as a penance you
had to do this and that and the other and then he would be granted
justification and freedom and peace. And as he was, one of
the penances was, as he was in St. Peter's, he had to kiss each
step as he went up the steps. And it was this word that was
beamed into his heart by the Holy Ghost. The just shall live
by faith. And it delivered him. He no longer
needed to see the Pope. He no longer needed justification. He'd found it in our Lord Jesus
Christ. And he turned around and went
back home. You see, the just shall live by faith. That is
actually a quotation from the prophet Habakkuk. The law is
not of faith. But the man that doeth them shall
live in them. If you and I live and die under
the law, We're condemned forever and ever.
But the Word of God declares there is now therefore no condemnation
to them that are in Christ Jesus. And notice it's to them that
are in Christ Jesus. Christ hath redeemed us from
the curse of the law, being made a curse for us. For it is written,
cursed is everyone. This is a quotation from the
The book of Leviticus curses everyone that hangeth on a tree.
Christ made a curse for us. Christ bared the sin of many.
Christ lived a life that was holy, pure, and righteous altogether,
fulfilling, magnifying, honoring that righteous, holy law of God. And here he says that the blessing
of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ,
that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith,
the Holy Ghost that is. You see, brethren I speak after the man
of men, though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed,
no man disanalith or aditherunto. Now to Abraham and his seed where
the promise is made. He saith not unto seeds as of
many, but as of one, and to thy seed, which is Christ. This is
what the ancient church of the Jews and the patriarchs before
them, this is what they were looking for, this is what Abraham
was looking for. They were looking for the coming
of the Messiah, the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God
to be manifest in the flesh. And they lived by faith. And
they died in faith, hoping for that eternal life. And this I say that the covenant
that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which
was 430 years after, cannot disanon, that it should make the promise
of none effect. For if the inheritance be of
the law, It is no more a promise, but God gave it to Abraham by
promise. You see, he says here, wherefore
then serveth the law? And these are natural questions
to ask. Wherefore then serveth the law?
It was added because of transgressions till the seed should come to
whom the promise was made. And it was ordained by the hand,
by aim, ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator. Now a
mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one. Is the law
then against the promises of God? God forbid. Is there been
a law given that could have given life? It's actually called in
the word of God, the law of sin and death. Very righteousness should have
been by the law. But the scripture has concluded
all under sin, every one of us, that the promise by faith of
Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. You see how
closely the apostle argues these particular points. But before
faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up under faith,
which should afterwards be revealed, where for the law, was our schoolmaster
to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Now, I would like to just point this out, to bring us is in italics. And that means it was not in
the original Greek. If you miss the, to bring us
out, wherefore the law was our schoolmaster unto Christ, that
we might be justified by faith. But after that faith has come,
we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of
God by faith in Jesus Christ. For as many of you have been
baptized into Christ, have put on Christ, there is neither Jew
nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male
nor female, for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you be
Christ's, then are you Abraham's seed and heirs according to the
promise. But if you be led of the Spirit,
you're not under the law. What a mercy if we're not under
the law. If we're still under the law,
we are still under its curse. that applies to every single
unbeliever. They're still under the curse,
the curse of God. He goes on in chapter four, he
uses here this teaching that the heir as long as he is
a child differs nothing from a servant though he be lord of
all but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the
father even so we When we were children, we're in bondage under
the elements of the world. Then we have these wonderful
words of grace. But when the fullness of time was come, God
sent forth his son, made of woman, made under the law to redeem
them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption
of sons. That's where it is. It's in Christ. And because you are sons, God
has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying,
Abba, Father. And because you are sons, because
you were chosen in Christ, because the Eternal Father chose
you before the foundation of the world, and because you are
sons, it's not the other way around. The Arminians say, God
knew who would believe. But here it doesn't say that.
Because ye are sons, those people that were believed were foreordained
unto that believing in Jesus Christ. And because ye are sons,
God has sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts,
crying, Abba, Father, my God, my Father, blissful name. May
I call thee mine. Wherefore thou art no more a
servant but a son. And if a son and an heir of God
through Christ, you see my beloved friends, these things are beautiful
and clearly set out by the Spirit here in the Word of God. And there were those that had
fallen away from this, as he says, they were fallen from grace.
He says in verse nine, but now after have known God or rather
are known to God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly
elements? He means now under the Levitical dispensation or
until you desire again to be in bondage. You observe days
and months and time and years. I'm afraid of you lest I have
bestowed upon you labour in vain. You see how his heart yearned
over that He yearned over them. He'd seen them receive the truth.
He says in verse 15, where is then the blessedness you speak
of? For I bear you record that if it had been possible, you
would have plucked out your eyes and have given them to me. Am
I therefore become your enemy? Because I tell you the truth. See, and he says in verse 19,
my little children, whom I travel in birth again until Christ be
formed in you. I desire to be present with you
now and to change my voice for I stand in doubt of you. He said this error goes right
to the very roots of Christian faith. Tell me ye that desire
to be under the law, do you not hear the law? For it is written
that Abraham had two sons, one by a bondmaid, the other by a
free woman. But he who was of the bondwoman
was born after the flesh, that's Hagar. Sarah gave Hagar her maid unto
Abraham to fulfill the promise of God. Now he said this is an
allegory. One is the bondmaid which is
Hagar, the other the free woman was Sarah whom the Lord had promised
that she would be with child and Isaac would be born of her. But he was of the bond woman
was born after the flesh but he of the free woman was by promise which are allegory He's using
this teaching in the Old Testament to show us a picture. This is
an allegory for these are the two covenants. That's the covenant
of the law and the covenant of grace. The one from Mount Sinai
which gendereth to bondage which is Agar or Hagar. For this Hagar
or Agar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and answereth to Jerusalem which
now is. which is in bondage with their
children. The Israelites, the vast majority
of them did not believe or follow the Lord Jesus Christ. But Jerusalem,
which is above, this is the true gospel church, is free, which
is the mother of us all. The woman of the morning, she's
the mother of us all. my beloved friends these things
are written for our instruction he says now verse 28 now we brethren
as isaac was are the children of promise but as then he that was born
after the flesh persecuted the jews persecuted the early church
as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that
was born after the spirit even so it is so now nevertheless what saith the scripture
and abraham had to cast out hagar cast out the bond woman and her
son for the son of the bond woman shall not be heir with the son
of the free woman so then brethren we are not children of the bond
woman God of the free, the children of promise, by faith in Jesus
Christ, by faith in his precious blood, by faith in his glorious
righteousness, by faith in what he has done. It is Christ that
has made us free. It is Christ that has lived a
life. Upon a life I did not live, upon a death I did not die, hangs
my everlasting awe. life and death and resurrection and ascension
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that is where freedom and liberty
is, that is where peace is found. Stand fast therefore in the liberty
wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again
with the yoke of bondage, that is the law, and he speaks particularly and
they were obviously seeking to have believers circumcised. Behold I Paul say unto you that
if you be circumcised Christ shall profit you nothing. But
I testify again to every man that is circumcised that he is
a debtor to the whole law. Christ is become of no effect
unto you whatsoever Whosoever of you are justified by the law,
ye are fallen from grace. It was a gross and a terrible
error that they had fallen into. For we, through the Spirit, wait
for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ
neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision,
but faith which worketh love, faith which worketh by love,
but if you be led of the Spirit you are not under the law. It says here in verse 16, this
I say then walk in the Spirit and you shall not fulfill the
lusts of the flesh. for the flesh lusteth against
the spirit and the spirit against the flesh and these are contrary
the one to the other so that you cannot do the things that
you would but if you be led of the spirit. We read in the epistle
to the Romans and especially in the sixth chapter of the epistle
to the Romans the apostle again he lays out very clearly these
precious truths and look how he speaks of our Lord Jesus Christ he says in verse 6 knowing this
that our old man is crucified with him and that the body of
sin might be destroyed that henceforth we should not serve sin but he
that is dead is freed from sin Now if we be dead with Christ,
we believe that we should also live with him. Knowing that Christ
being raised from the dead, dieth no more. Death hath no more dominion
over him. For in that he died, he died
unto sin once, but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise
reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but
alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin
therefore reign in your mortal body, speaking here to the believers,
that you shall obey in the lust thereof. No, they yield you,
your members, as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin,
but yield yourselves unto God as those that are alive from
the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness
unto God. And it was particularly this
verse, verse 14, for sin shall not have dominion over you for
you are not under the law but under grace and grace will lead
you away from sin and away from unholiness and unrighteousness
it will lead you unto Christ and unto holiness and like we've
just read faith that worketh by love it will lead you to love
our Lord Jesus Christ It will lead you to love your brethren
and sisters in Christ. That's the effect of grace. That's
the effect of the work of the Spirit. For sin shall not have
dominion over you, for you are not under the law, but under
grace. And now, this is the argument
that is so often brought, but what then? Shall we sin because
we're not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know
ye not that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey,
his servants ye are whom ye obey, whether of sin unto death or
of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked that ye were
the servants of sin, and ye have obeyed from the heart that form
of doctrine which was delivered unto you, being then made free
from sin. How? by the divine work of the
spirit in the heart, by the spirit of faith in Jesus Christ, faith
in his righteousness, faith in his precious blood, faith in
what he has done. Being made free then from sin,
you become the servants of righteousness. The believer is a servant of
righteousness. I speak after the manner of men.
because of the infirmity of your flesh. For as ye have yielded
your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity,
even so now yield your members servants of righteousness unto
holiness. Righteousness unto holiness. O my beloved friends, may we
indeed but if you be led of the spirit you are not under the
law. Now he speaks here of the awful
works of wickedness and evil. He's got a great long list, isn't
he, here in these verses 19 to 21. Now the works of the flesh
are manifest which are these, adultery, fornication, uncleanness,
lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations,
wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envians, murders, drunkenness,
revelings, and such like, of which I tell you before, as I
have told you in time past, that they which do such things shall
not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is
love, or Do we have this evidence in us? But the fruit of the Spirit
is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
meekness. This is the fruit of the Spirit. If you look into 1 Corinthians
chapter 13, he speaks there of these things that are the fruits
of the Spirit. Meekness, temperance, against
such there is no law. And they that are Christ have
crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live
in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be
desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. But if ye be led of the Spirit,
ye are not under the law. And we read in Romans chapter
8, as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons
of God. What a mercy, if we have that
evidence in our walk, in our conduct, that we are the children of God,
by faith, in Jesus Christ and that we bring forth the fruits
of the Spirit in our lives. Love, joy, peace, long-suffering,
be ye kind one to another, forgiving one another, even as God, for
Christ's sake, hath forgiven you. The Spirit of love, the
Spirit of kindness, the Spirit of compassion is the Spirit of
Jesus Christ. The Apostle says in one place,
but ye have the mind of Christ. Do we have the mind of Christ?
Do we have the spirit of Christ? What does he say when he writes
his epistle to the Philippians? Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus. Let this mind be in you, which
was also in Christ Jesus. You know, what an exhortation,
isn't it? And it may be that you feel it
is high, you cannot attain to it. But we mustn't, as it were,
lessen the word of God because of our own corruption. He says in Philippians chapter
2, you see, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ
Jesus, who being in the form of God, thought it not robbery
to be equal with God is the eternal son of God but made himself now
this is the mind of Christ but made himself of no reputation
and took upon in the form of a servant was made in the likeness
of man the son of God the eternal son of the eternal father co-equal
with the father and with the son he made himself of no reputation
and he took upon in the form of a servant and was made in
the likeness of men and being found in fashion as a man now
even as a man not just as God he humbled himself as God but
but being found in fashion as a man he humbled himself and
became obedient unto death even the death of the cross wherefore
God also hath highly exalted him and giving him a name which
is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee
should bow, of things in heaven and things in earth and things
under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. But if you be
led of the Spirit, you are not under the law, but you're under
grace. You're under the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. And
you know the Lord Jesus Christ, he lays out in his teachings,
doesn't he? In the Gospels, he speaks of
the way Christian believers should live. The way that we should
be kind and loving and compassionate, one toward another. You know friends, these things
are written for our instruction in God's holy word of how the
believer should live and the things that the believer should
do. It says in Luke chapter 6 and verse
27, but I say unto you which hear, love your enemies. This
is the spirit of Christ, love your enemies. Do good to them
which hate you. Bless them that curse you, pray
for them that despitefully use it. This is the law of Christ. And unto him that smiteth thee
on the one cheek, offer the other also. Him that taketh away thy
cloak, forbid not to take thy coat also. Give to every man
that asketh of thee, and of him that taketh away thy goods, ask
them not again. And as you would, I always find
this is one of the most comprehensive of the gospel precepts. And as
ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love
you, what thank have ye? For sinners also love those that
love them. If ye do good to them which do
good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners do also do even
the same. And if ye lend to them of whom
ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? For sinners lend to
sinners to receive as much again. but love your enemies. This is
the law of Christ. But love your enemies and do
good, lend, hoping for nothing again and your reward shall be
great and you shall be called the children of the highest for
he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore
merciful as your father also is merciful. But if you be led
of the Spirit, you are not under the law. May the Lord add his
blessing. Let us now sing together hymn
number 564. The tune is Orlington 203. Dear Lord, forbid that we should
boast, save in the cross of Christ. Here may we confidently trust
and solemnly rejoice. Hymn 564, tune Orlington 203.
? We wish you all peace ? ? Stay
with me forever as you once were ? ? May there be love ? ? May
there be trust ? ? And to all a big joy ? God is here displayed. ? In all its glorious hue ? ?
Is the ever-sparing ? ? Ever-champion of all ? His sinners pay, the proud can
live, behold and love Him too. Here we have vowed to be with
God and call the door With pleasure blue, and honor
sheen, and honor ? The shining throne ? ? The sight of God on high ? And soon we'll pull away. Thy path o'er us. And our steadfast pride, Thy
path o'er us, Will carry us way. But when my faith at last
refused, Such is His mighty power. The world and earth unite with
sin. The world and earth unite with
sin. we now may the grace of our lord
jesus christ the love of god the father the sacred fellowship
of the holy spirit rest and abide with us each both now and for
evermore. Amen.