Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The Lord God Jehovah delivered
a law to the children of Israel by the prophet Moses as they
journeyed to the promised land of Canaan. That law consisted
of many commandments which governed every aspect of their lives,
both as to the manner in which they were to worship God and
also how they were to interact with their fellow man. Much of
it was summed up in what is generally called the Ten Commandments,
though it was far more reaching than this decalogue, since even
the foods which they could and could not eat were spelled out
in great detail. This law also carried with it
a principle which undergirded its every jot and tittle, Do
this and live, disobey and perish. This law could not minister life
unto its hearers, because man's sinful flesh rose up in rebellion
against it, and could not keep it. The law as God gave it was
perfect, just, and holy, and totally above all reproach. When
Israel disobeyed this law, they could not blame God, nor could
they escape the law's condemnation. Men have sought to use these
laws to bind others into religious conformity, or to establish a
standard of righteousness which they have assumed sets them apart
from the heathen. The Pharisees during the time
of Christ's ministry on earth were the epitome of such error.
They delighted themselves in its letter, yet had no regard
to its intent. They were convinced that God
gave these laws to establish righteousness in the earth, but
the main reason that these laws were given was to establish and
demonstrate man's inability and unwillingness to submit himself
to God. This very law brings condemnation
upon all, in that all have sinned and come short of the glory of
God, whether one is a Jew or a Greek. There was a law given
by Moses, but there is a greater one given by Christ, which speaketh
better things than condemnation, and goes beyond the deadly do
this and live, with great power to transform the lives of its
subjects. This is that principle of the
law which Christ has established in the earth and is the fulfillment
of the prophecy. I will put my law in their inward
parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they
shall be my people. Whereas the old law principle
was weak through the flesh, this new principle is not dependent
on the flesh for its fulfillment, but on what Christ has done in
satisfying the claims of the law which were against his elect
and in his power to make them new creatures whose delight is
in the things of God. As the old principle was death
and destruction to those who disobey, the new one centers
on this. There is therefore now no condemnation
to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh,
but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of
life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and
death. We are no longer under a schoolmaster,
but are the Lord's free men. There is a natural enmity in
man's heart against the law of God, yet there is an even stronger
enmity against submitting to him with the whole heart. The
natural man would rather embrace a law principle, which is satisfied
with letter obedience, than he would to submit himself to the
principle which Christ demands. The principle of expediency is
to be our guide rather than lawfulness. For as the apostle says, all
things are lawful to us, but all things are not proper. What
may be permissible under law is not necessarily permissible
under expediency. Because something is lawful does
not mean that it is edifying. This is exactly what the Apostle
Paul is teaching when he points out that the main concern of
the children of God is not whether or not their conduct is lawful,
but if it is useful to the glory of God. There is no law which
holds sway over regenerate men, but the law of love, which is
written not in tables of stone, but on the fleshy tables of their
hearts with the blood of Christ. A man's wickedness may be subdued
for a season by the fear of the law's terror, but only a work
of grace wrought by the Spirit of God can bring a man to a place
of desiring to be conformed to Christ. The law says an eye for
an eye. Expediency says love your enemies
and pray for them who mistreat you. The law says tithe. Expediency
says give. The law says you are allowed
to do this or that. Expediency says, make sure your
action brings glory to Christ and good to your fellow man.
The law says you can eat anything. Expediency says, don't eat anything
that will cause your brother to stumble. For brethren, you
have been called unto liberty. Only use not liberty for an occasion
to the flesh, but by love to serve one another. For all the
law was fulfilled in one word, even this, thou shalt love thy
neighbor as thyself. Do you rejoice in the law of
Christ? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.