The title of my message this
morning is Living Under Grace. Now the implication of that subject
is clearly the doctrine of Holy Scripture. In Jesus Christ, God's
people are totally, totally free from the law. There is absolutely
no sense in any way, to any degree, that the believer may be said
to be under the law, obliged to the law, or live by the law. Today I'm calling for you who
know God to devote yourselves. I'm calling for us to devote
ourselves. in unrestrained commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ, to
live in this world for the glory of God. And the basis of my appeal,
as throughout the New Testament, is free grace. I offer no rewards
if you will do what you ought to. I present no threats if you
refuse. God's people do not live by the
law. They are not motivated by the
law. God's people are neither mercenaries nor are they forced
servants. But rather I make my appeal on
the basis of the fact that in Christ we live by grace, we live
under grace, and we live because of grace. The Apostle says we
are dead to the law. Dead to the law. Christ is the
end of the law. The law was our schoolmaster
to bring us to Christ. But now that we've come to Christ,
the schoolmaster no longer has any power over us. Therefore,
the Apostle urges us to stand fast in the liberty wherewith
Christ has made us free. And be not entangled again with
the yoke of bondage. Those who live by the law are
those of whom the Apostle Paul says, I fear for you. I'm concerned
lest I had bestowed great labor upon you in vain. I fear for
you because somebody has beguiled you. Somebody bewitched you. Somebody has cast a spell over
you. You are attempting to walk before God Almighty on the basis
of legal acceptance. You're attempting to gain peace
with God. You're attempting to gain sanctification
before God. You're attempting to gain the
smile of God by something you do. I fear for you. I fear you
have missed Christ altogether. Now let's begin this morning
with Romans chapter 6 and verse 11. Let me bring you up to this
passage. In chapter 3, beginning at verse
19, the apostle declares to us that we are justified freely
by the grace of God without the works of the law. And he continues
that all the way through the fifth chapter. He gives us example
after example of justification, argument after argument for free
justification by the shed blood of Jesus Christ alone, by the
obedience of Christ unto death alone. As we died by the disobedience
of one man, Adam, and were brought unto the sentence and curse of
spiritual death by the sin and fall of one man, Adam, So all
who live before God live by God's grace in perfect righteousness
through the obedience of the second man, Adam, the Lord from
heaven, the last Adam, the Lord of glory, our Lord Jesus Christ. As we became sinners by Adam's
transgression without doing anything, so God's elect are made righteous
by Christ's obedience without us doing anything. Freely we
are justified by the grace of God. Then in the first four verses
of chapter six, the apostle tells us that we as believers have
professed that we are indeed righteous before God. In Believer's
Baptism, we have acknowledged our confidence in the fact that
when Christ died, we died. When he was buried, we were buried. When he arose, we arose with
him. And Paul argues in verses 5,
6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 of chapter 6 that we who have made this
profession have now declared that we live henceforth unto
God and we walk with Him in the newness of life. Now, look at
verse 11. Likewise, reckon ye also yourselves
to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God. Now this is what
it says. Rex Bartley, God Almighty reckons
you dead to sin. Dead to sin. Dead to it. Dead to it. He reckons that your
sin, as far as his law is concerned, has got nothing to do with you.
Dead to it. And he reckons you alive to God.
I lied to God by Jesus Christ the Lord. And you professed that
you are. I remember when it happened. You professed that you died,
that you were buried, that you rose again. You professed that
you walked with him in the newness of life. Now it says you reckon
just like God reckons. Reckon that you are indeed dead
to sin. and alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Verse
12. Let not sin therefore reign in you. Now this is his explanation. This is the inspired explanation
of this reckoning. I reckon I'm dead to sin. I reckon
I'm alive to God because God says so. Therefore, let not sin
reign in your mortal body. That you should obey it in the
lust thereof. Verse 14. For sin shall not have dominion
over you. Sin shall not have dominion over
you. No longer boss. No longer rule you. No longer
dominate your life. No longer control you. It doesn't
say sin shall not be in you. He doesn't say sin will be eradicated
from you. He doesn't say that the power
and lust and violence and corruption of your heart will somehow be
diminished. It will not. What He does say
is don't let it rule you. Don't let it rule you. Don't
let it rule you. How come? Because you're not
under law. Oh, what a motive. What a motive. It's never going to condemn you.
It's never going to be charged to you. God's never going to
punish you for it. You're not under law. You're
not under law. But under grace. What then, shall
we sin? This is the second time Paul
raises this question because it is a question commonly raised
by legalists, commonly raised by self-righteous men, commonly
raised by people who still really think somehow by what they do
they will maintain God's good favor and their good standing
with Him. Oh, you can't tell people that.
Don't tell people they're not under the law. Don't tell people
God will never charge them with sin. Don't tell people God will
never be less gracious to them if they sin. Don't tell people
that God will never deal with them on the basis of their sin.
Don't do that! Because if you do, they'll say, let us sin that
grace may abound. What? What then? Shall we sin? Because we're not under the law,
but under grace. Boy, that's the most absurd thing
I ever heard tell of. God forbid, God forbid. Verse 17, but God
be thanked that you were, that reads a little
awkward to us, but he's saying that though you were, though
you were the servants of sin, and you were. Every last one
of us, no exceptions. We walked according to the course
of this world, according to the lust of our
flesh. Among the children of disobedience,
among whom we also had our conversation in the times past in the lust
of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the
mind, and we were just like everybody else by nature, children of wrath. All of us. chose the high road of moral
uprightness and self-worth and ambition and respectability,
wanting men to see us for what we think we are, wanting men
to see us for what we make of ourselves, the high road, the
lust of your flesh. Same thing. As far as God Almighty
is concerned, there is absolutely no difference in setting your
heart as a young boy to pursue being President of the United
States or setting your heart as a young boy to be head of
the mob. No difference at all. As far as God Almighty is concerned,
there's absolutely no difference in setting your heart to be a
missionary and spend all your days preaching and teaching the
Bible and religion, and setting your heart to be a harlot, a
pimp, or a pusher. We walk after the lust of our
flesh, every last one of us. Men approve of one and disapprove
of the other. Men smile at one and frown at
the other. God Almighty frowns at the lust of our flesh. Among
whom we were ourselves the willing servants of sin. But, oh, because God stepped
in. Because God broke the iron chains
of our bondage. Because God stopped us in our
madness. Because God brought us to an
end of ourselves. Now you have obeyed from the
heart. And that's what conversion is,
Bobby. It's obedience from the heart. No father can give it to a son.
No mother can give it to a daughter. If that were possible, we'd all
give it to our sons and daughters and keep it from yours. Because
that's just exactly the kind of folks we are. But you, by the grace of God,
you who believe, you have obeyed from the heart. Look at it. That
form of doctrine. which was delivered to you. Oh,
thank God for good doctrine in a good form. That form of doctrine
is the gospel of God's free and sovereign grace preached to you
in the gospel. That gospel preached to you constantly
as Christ is declared. And he is set before you in a
sound form of doctrine. I despise dead, dry, cold, calculated
theological opinion men call doctrine. I despise dead doctrine. But oh, how I delight in that
form of doctrine revealed in this book in the form of a man
who is himself God, Jesus Christ the Lord. which was delivered to you. You've heard the gospel, been
preached, you obeyed it from the heart. Now then, look at
verse 18. Being then made free from sin,
you became the servants of righteousness. We were the servants of sin.
But now we have become the servants of righteousness. And that's
not a suggestion, Rex. That's a statement of fact. The difference between the whole
religious world, be it Reformed or Fundamentalist, Protestant
or Papist, and the gospel of God's grace is the whole religious
world says you ought to be the servants of righteousness. The
gospel declares those who know God are. They were the servants
of sin. Now they are the servants of
righteousness. Let me see if I can illustrate
it for you. It's not original with me. Nothing is. Thomas Boston
illustrated it like this. He said the believer is a man
or a woman who is found in a dark, dark dungeon with shackles. chains, manacles,
and filth, pollution, corruption, serving a horrible master, Satan,
Apollyon, the serpent, the devil, and loving it. Loving the filth,
loving the chains, loving the manacles, Loving the bondage. Loving the darkness. Loving the
corruptions he serves. And the Lord God comes in almighty
grace. Comes into the dark dungeon where
he is. And he breaks the chains and
the manacles. And he turns on the light. Causes
the light of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ to
shine in his heart. And he takes that prisoner of
darkness and translates him into the kingdom of God's dear son.
And now, here's the believer free! No chains. No bondage. No manacles. No darkness. No
corruption. Free in Jesus Christ. Loving to serve his master. But his old heart's still the
same. His old flesh is still corruption. He no longer lives
in that dark dungeon called the flesh. He lives rather in the
kingdom of light called the spirit. But his flesh is still flesh.
And his flesh still loves the darkness, the dungeon, and the
manacles, and the chains, and the corruption. And his old master
comes and bids him come over and serve in my dark dungeon.
And the believer says no. Oh no, I don't have to do that
no more, you're no longer my master. And I no longer serve you. But
his old master never gives up. He keeps bidding him, sometimes
openly, sometimes silently. He keeps bidding him, come over
and serve in my dungeon. And the believer says no. Sometimes
he finds himself gathering up his tools, heading back away.
I'm not your servant. And sometimes before he knows
it, He finds himself back in the dungeon, in the darkness,
in the corruption, trying his best to put the manacles and
chains back on. And his master comes, and he
says, you don't belong there. You're my servant. Walk in light. The believer is one who has become
now the servant of righteousness, willingly, gladly, because he's
been set free by Christ. Now knowing that I'm dead to
sin, freed from the law, saved by the free grace of God in Jesus
Christ, I have one question that weighs heavily on my heart. One question that constantly
has been the driving force of my life for 33 years. One thing that motivates me.
as a governing principle of life in every relationship I have
with you, my friends, my brothers and sisters in Christ, with the world around us, with
that dear lady, with our family over in Lexington,
every relationship. And yet at the same time, this
is the most troublesome heavy burden I deal with every day. Now here's the question. How
can I, how can I live in this world for the glory of God? Nothing is of greater concern.
I hope nothing is of greater concern to you. This is the question I want to
try to answer in this message, and I'll be brief, but I've found
the answer in the scriptures. And I know when I get done, there'll
be plenty of room to say a lot more, and I'll probably have
more to say on it another time, but I hope when I get done, this
will be more burdensome to you than it's ever been before, every
one of you, including the preacher. You see, there is nothing in
the life of a believer there is nothing in the life of the
believer there is nothing in the life of the believer so important
as the will of God and the glory of God how can I illustrate that make
you hear me you have some idea how much I cherish this lady
here compared to the will of God and
the glory of God she's nothing and if she interferes with it
she must be counted an enemy and she understands that and
the same is true of her whether therefore you eat or drink Whatsoever
you do, do it to the glory of God. Whatsoever you do in word
or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God and the Father by Him, that God in all things may be
glorified. How can I live here for the glory
of God? Number one. Turn to Colossians
2. Colossians 2. Answer this question, we've got
to start at the beginning. The only way on this earth you can
live here for the glory of God is to live by faith in Christ. Religion is the most frustrating
thing in this world. It's the most frustrating thing
in this world. You know what preachers all over the country
are doing? All over the world. Religion for 2,000 years. Throughout the history of man.
You know what religion tries to do? Religion tries to get
folks to act like they've got what they don't. It tries to
get folks to act like they are what they're not. Religion tries
to get everybody to be a movie stage actor. A hypocrite. The
most frustrating thing on this earth is to try to live the Christian
life without Christ. Most frustrating thing on this
earth is to try to live for Christ and not know Him. And that's
what religion does. You remember how cleverly and
simply Brother Bruce Crabtree described it in his message here
on the Maniac of Gadara during our conference? No, it wasn't
here. It was up in Scottsbridge. You didn't hear that. He said
that maniac, the folks tried to make him better by putting
chains on him. And he will hold the matter.
And that's what religion does. Religion comes and puts you in
chains. And that just makes you worse.
But our Lord comes and says, loosen him. Let him go. Set him
free. Now, if you would live for Christ,
you've got to live by faith. Colossians 2 verse 6. As you have therefore received
Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in Him. Walk in the Spirit, we're
told. Galatians chapter 5. And you
shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. What on earth is that
talking about? Walk in the Spirit. Oh, that
means we live the higher life, a deeper life. Folks are so confused
they don't know what's higher or deeper. But you've got to
do something. Do something to make yourself
feel spiritual. Do something to make yourself
feel humble. Do something to make yourself feel pious. Do
something to make yourself feel close to God. Do something to
make yourself appear to be spiritual. No! Walking in the Spirit, Bob's
walking by faith. We no longer live in the flesh,
we live in the Spirit. Be filled with the Spirit. To
be filled with the Spirit is to live under the rule and dominion
of the Spirit of God. Living by faith in Christ. And
you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. How did you receive
Christ Jesus the Lord? How did you first receive Him? If Skip Bradfelter and Don Fortner
have received Christ, this is how we received Him. We came
to Him as empty-handed, bankrupt, naked, helpless sinners with
not one thing to offer God. I mean not a feeling, not even
an emotion, not a shred of righteousness, not a thread of goodness, nothing,
nothing, nothing, nothing with which to commend myself to God.
Now walk in Him, just like that, just like that. But preacher,
surely you don't, yes I do, I mean exactly that, with nothing to
commend yourself to God. And I promise you, West Rose
Bloom, if somewhere along the way you pick up something that
will commend you to God, you haven't yet received Him. That's exactly right. As you
receive Christ Jesus, how do you receive Him? If I have received
Him, I've bowed to Him as my Lord and Master. I've lost my life to Him. That's
what it is to receive Christ. It's not walking down an aisle,
it's not saying I believe in Jesus, it's not saying the sinner's
prayer, it's not learning the right doctrine. Those things
may be involved in those things, at least believe in Him may be
involved in those things and is involved in that. But faith
in Christ is nothing more or less than willingly Bow Him to
His dominion as your Lord and Master. He's Lord. He's Lord. And His
people want it that way. Do what you will. I'm yours.
I'm going to worship you and serve you no matter what you
do. And I'm going to worship you
for doing it. How did you receive him? I'll
tell you how we received him. If we received him, Larry would
come to him like a bride comes to her husband. But not just
any bride. Can you imagine how Gomer received
Hosea? When he found her in her naked
degradation. and corruption, and shame, and
filth. And he came and said, I bought
you with the silver of my sweat and the gold of my blood, and
I betrothed you to me. And I've given myself to you.
And I'm going to make you to be mine in righteousness. Yes,
I'm going to make you faithful to me. And she said, oh. That's how we received him. You? You've loved me? You redeemed
me? You called me? Oh, wonder of
wonders. How do we receive Him? Trusting
Him for everything. Walk with Him that way. Trust
Him alone for acceptance with God. Trust His wise and good
providence. He's a good master. Trust in
the Lord with all your heart. In all your ways acknowledge
Him and lean not into your own understanding and He will direct
your paths. Walk in Him. Walk in Him. Follow His example. Do His bidding. Whatsoever he saith unto you,
do it. Just do it. And don't even talk
flesh and blood about it. Just do it. Just do it. I had a letter last week from
a fellow. None of y'all would know him. I'm the only person
here who knows him. Very successful salesman. Strikingly
handsome young man. Got a family. Some woman he works with has
been chasing him. And he wrote and he said, Brother Don, can
you recommend some good stuff for me to read on flesh, dealing
with flesh. And I sat on the letter for two
or three days. I wrote him back while I was
gone this past week. And I said a number of things,
but when all said and done, I said to him, you don't need to read
anything else. All the reading in the world is not going to
change a thing. You can read every article, every puritan,
every rote, every book, every chapter he ever wrote. It's not
going to change anything. You know what's right. Now just do it. Boy, that's not very profound,
is it? Try it. Just do it. Either you will or
you won't. As you've received Christ Jesus,
the Lord, so walk in Him. So walk in Him. Secondly, turn to Romans chapter 12. If we would live in this world
for the glory of God, we must strive to remember what the Lord
God has done for us by his grace I beseech you therefore brethren
by the threat of the law I beseech you therefore brethren
if you would get a good crown in heaven anybody got a bible
that reads like that? I wonder why preachers talk like
that That's not the way God talks. I beseech you therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God. Have you ever experienced the
electing, redeeming, saving, preserving, keeping, forgiving
mercies of God in Jesus Christ? If you have now, I beseech you,
by that present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto
God. Boy, that's asking for a lot.
Read the next line, which is your reasonable service. What on earth could be more reasonable?
What on earth could be more reasonable? What could be more reasonable? that for me to be to that woman
a loving, good, caring husband, everybody tell yourself, that's
just reasonable. She's been a good woman, a good
wife, caring about me. What could be more reasonable
than for this sinner to devote himself to the glory of God? Thirdly, if we would live in
this world for the glory of God, we must seek his will and his
glory above all things. Let me tell you what I don't
mean and what I do mean. Don't ever try to show anybody
that you're a Christian. Don't ever do it. Don't ever
try to show anybody that you're pious. Don't ever try to show
anybody that you're devoted to God. Don't ever try to show anybody
that you don't live like other people do. Don't ever try to show anybody
that you're different. I want the world to know we're
different. You're not. You're just not. I do mean this, we ought to be consumed, utterly
consumed with the love of Christ and love
for Christ. Years ago, true story, years
ago, there was a young man, an upstart preacher, who became
very, very influential very quickly. A lot of people wanted to hear
him. People gathered wherever he came, lots of people to hear
him. And there was an older preacher whom he had known growing up
who was now not able to travel, not pastoring, sort of just waiting
to die. This young preacher took off
one time for a week and had a long drive to go visit the older preacher.
He wanted some counsel. And just before he left, he said
to the old preacher, he said, he said, could you give me one
word of advice that I won't forget, I could take with me and help
me in my life of ministry for Christ. And this is what the
old man said to him. Don't ever lose your sweetheart
love for Christ. Oh, what counsel. If I could take a young man,
a young woman, I'm not much one for counseling, but I could take
a young man, a young woman, think about marriage, They want to
get married, I'd say to them, do everything you can to keep
your sweetheart love for each other. Oh, now grow beyond that,
but don't ever lose that. Grow beyond that, but don't ever
lose that. Sons and daughters of God Almighty, don't ever lose your sweetheart
love for Christ. So that you count all things
but loss for him. Count everything but dung in
comparison with him. That's what it is. That's what
it is. To be found in him. Having his
righteousness and not your own. That you consider everything
else totally insignificant and repugnant. That would stand in
the way of the desire found in these words, oh, that I may know
Him, that I may know Him in the power
of His resurrection, in the fellowship of His sufferings, be made conformable
unto His death. Do you remember when David was driven
from his throne And after Absalom was dead, he
came back and Ziba went out with those others to meet David when
he came back across the brook coming back to Jerusalem. Ziba,
that man who was Mephibosheth's servant, and he deceived Mephibosheth
and deceived David. And David took everything that
belonged to Mephibosheth and gave it to Ziba. When he came
back to Jerusalem, he confronted Mephibosheth. And Mephibosheth
told him, you remember that crippled son of Jonathan, whom David had
fetched from Lodibar and brought into his house, made him as one
of the king's sons. Mephibosheth said, Ziba tricked
me, and I had no man to saddle my ass, I couldn't go meet you.
And David said to Mephibosheth, he said, well Mephibosheth, it's
a little too late, I've already given Ziba everything. Do you
remember his response? He said, let Ziba have everything,
I've got my king. Let him take it all, it doesn't
matter. My lord the king has returned,
and that's all I want. One more thing. If we would live in this world
for the glory of God, let me give you two things. We must
live in this world dealing honestly with ourselves before God. Honestly. Don't come talk to me about what
you are. I don't need to hear it and you don't need to tell
it. But don't ever quit telling God what you are. Don't ever imagine that you have
grown one hair's breadth above sin. Merle Hart, my dear friend and
brother, whom I highly esteem as a man, is nothing but sin. And everything he does is sin,
corruption, and violence. And his pastor, whom he loves
and esteems highly as his pastor, In His best estate is just sin. David, I can't do anything but
sin. Even in my thoughts, just sin. Well, Preacher, what's your hope?
A perfect substitute. I confess my sin. And he's faithful
and just to forgive me my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.
Now, here's the last thing, Ephesians 4. If we would live in this world
for the glory of God, we must simply learn to walk in
love. I can't think of a text in all
the Bible more important than Ephesians 4 beginning at verse
32. Paul's teaching us how to live.
That's the subject matter, isn't it? He's telling us how to live
in this world. This is how you do it. Be ye
kind one to another. Isn't it amazing the meanest
people I've ever met in my life are religious folks? Is that
true? The meanest people I've ever
met in my life are religious folks. If I got in trouble, I'll
be honest with you, if I went out in the world and I got in
trouble, the last people I would want to meet up with are preachers,
deacons, and church folks. Last folks on this earth I'd
want to meet up with. Except for those who know God. Because
they've learned to be kind. Tender hearted. Tender hearted. You know how tender hearted you
are with your own son and daughter? When they're engaged in something
that makes you so mad you'll break their neck? Still tender hearted. Because
they're yours. Because they're part of you.
Because they're only reflecting what you are. Tenderhearted. Forgiving one another. That's
what kindness does, isn't it? Well, I'd forgive him if he'd
straighten up and act right. That's not how God forgave you,
is it? I'd forgive him if he'd turn
around and repent! That's not how God forgave you,
is it? Did God bet on you to do something
before He forgave you? Forgiving one another. How? Boy, that's asking a lot. Not
for a forgiven sinner, it's not. Even as God, for Christ's sake,
has forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of
God. Followers of God. The whole religious
world wants you to follow religion. Dress funny, talk funny, walk
funny, act funny. Followers of God. Well, that
means you don't wear your hair down below your earlobe. That
means you don't wear a beard. That means you don't wear your
skirt a certain length. That means you don't wear shorts. God is Spirit. Frankly, He's less interested
now in what you wear. Well, what's that mean? Followers
of God. Imitators of God. Well, how do you imitate God? Walk in love. As God also has loved us, and
given himself for us, an offering, a sacrifice, a sweet-smelling
Savior. Children of God, do what you
can for Christ. Today and tomorrow and the next
day. Just do what you can. That's
what our Lord said concerning that woman who brought that alabaster
box. That old gal out of whom he cast seven devils. She brought
that alabaster box of ointment and broke it over his head Washed
his feet with her tears, and wiped them with her hairs, and
kissed them, and kissed them, and kissed them. And all the
disciples stood around and pointed the finger. What a waste! A waste! Why, she took a year's wages
and just threw it away! Oh God give me grace to throw
my life away for the honor of Christ. That's what you can do. Do what you can for Christ's
sake. And that's how we must live in
this world for the glory of God. I need thee, oh, I need thee. Blessed Savior, give us grace to honor you. Give us grace to honor you. Amen. All right, let's turn to number
25 in his Songs of Grace book. I think
that's the one I want. Yeah.