Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. There's nothing at all
wrong with the law, for it is holy, just, and good. The problem
is that this sinful flesh, which plagues us even now, is not subject
unto the law, but is at odds with it and cannot keep it. But
God, who is rich in mercy towards His own, has provided a remedy
and a relief for them. For what the law could not do,
in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son
in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin condemned sin in
the flesh, that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled
in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
What Christ Jesus did for us in condemning sin in the flesh
is threefold in nature. Primarily, he has made atonement
for his people by his redemptive work in taking their guilt upon
himself and imputing his righteousness to their account in satisfying
the claims and condemnation of the law which they had broken
with impunity. Yet there's another benefit which
he has purchased for those elect children. He has condemned sin
in the flesh by causing the principle of grace to become operative
in them. who all of their lives were subject unto the law of
sin and death. Now, because of the gift of His Spirit creating
in them a new man, they are described as those who have the righteousness
of the law fulfilled, that is, demonstrated in them, because
the righteous principle of the law is written in their hearts
and minds and not just applied externally. What no amount of
duty preaching, guilt trips, or promises of reward could accomplish,
the Lord Jesus Christ, in one act of redemption, has wrought
and can never be overturned. He has made his children delight
in his word. The flesh still whispers from
time to time about duty and responsibility, and even lays the law quite heavily
upon their conscience. But the flesh has no more power
now to perform the law of God than it did before the new birth.
In fact, it has grown weaker. But oh, the glorious truth is
that now we have a performer who works in us both to will
and to do of his good pleasure. 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 the 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. We do not expect that the blessings
of God shall come upon us in relation to our obedience. Neither
do we look for a reward for walking in his truth. We can now plainly
see that the blessings of God are upon those who are made to
delight in his truth. The reward of the sons of God
is walking in his way. There's no greater blessing for
the sons of God than for them to be found keeping his testimonies
and seeking him with their whole heart. Then the third benefit
to the sons of God, which is conferred upon them by the redemptive
work of Christ, is the adoption. And not only they, but ourselves
also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves
grown within ourselves waiting for the adoption, to wit, the
resurrection of our body. It is pleased the Lord Jesus
Christ to impute righteousness to us, to demonstrate his righteousness
in us in these mortal bodies, and then to glorify himself in
the raising of these mortal bodies from a corruptible state, into
an incorruptible one. Now this I say, brethren, that
flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, neither doth
corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I show you a mystery.
We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment,
in the twinkling of an eye, the last trump, for the trumpet shall
sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be
changed. Death is swallowed up in victory.
He is the first fruits of those that sleep, because he arose
from the dead. He has demonstrated his intent
to raise the bodies of all of his saints and has given them
the blessed hope of his resurrection, saying, I am the resurrection
and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet
shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth
in me shall never die. Believest thou this? He is the
author and finisher of our faith. I am, says Christ, your glorious
head, may we attention give, the resurrection of the dead,
the life of all that live. By faith in me the soul receives
new life, though dead before, and he that in my name believes
shall live to die no more. The sinner sleeping in his grave
shall at my voice awake, and when I once begin to save, my
work I'll ne'er forsake. Fulfill thy promise, gracious
Lord, on us assembled here, put forth thy Spirit with the Word,
and cause the dead to hear. For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.