S1: I'm crucified with Christ. Nevertheless I live yet not I,
S1: but Christ lives in me, and the life I now
S1: live in the flesh. I live by the faith of
S1: the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself
S1: for me. I'm under love, not under law.
S2: You're listening to Treasure Truth with pastor and author James Ford,
S2: junior senior pastor of Christ Bible Church in Chicago. I'm
S2: Steve Harland. Glad that you've joined us. Pastor, that often
S2: takes me back several days ago where we talked about
S2: how Paul seemed to, you know, what's he trying to
S2: say here? Is he, you know, struggling to get a
S2: point across, and now he's saying, boy, if we truly
S2: know Christ, then he lives within us. But what difference
S2: does that make as it relates to us living under
S2: love versus the law?
S3: Uh, well, it's a different motivating factor. It's a different
S3: motivating force. Yeah, because if my wife demands that I
S3: do something. Oh, I'll do it. Yeah, right. My attitude
S3: won't be right. But no, if the truth be known,
S3: I've been married to her for 45 years. You know,
S3: I met her when she was eight. And the first
S3: day I met her, you know, I told her that
S3: I was going to marry her. She couldn't even spell
S3: the word. And, you know, and I was in seventh grade.
S3: She was in third. And I know what you're thinking
S3: out there in the audience. You robbed the cradle? Yes.
S3: But I kept what I stole. Amen. And so and so.
S3: Why do I do what I do for her? Because
S3: I'm motivated by love. Yeah. And she's motivated by love.
S3: And guess what? It's not difficult.
S2: Yeah.
S3: Right. When you have the right motivation, you.
S2: Want.
S3: To. I want to do it. As a matter of fact,
S3: there are four levels. Here they are. There's discipline, duty,
S3: delight and devotion in that order. discipline. You do what
S3: you do because you have to. Duty. You do what
S3: you do because you ought to. Delight you do what
S3: you do because you want to. But devotion, which is love.
S3: You do what you do because you love Jesus. You
S3: love your spouse, your children. I want to protect. I
S3: want to provide. I just love doing that. You see,
S3: because that's the proper and the highest motivation. Remember, we
S3: said it for God. So what? Love loved the world.
S3: I'm so glad for that. Agape unconditional love.
S2: Well, we began looking at Galatians chapter three last time
S2: and what it means to live consecrated to God's Word.
S2: And that's what we're going to continue to look at
S2: in today's broadcast. So I do hope you open your
S2: Bible and join us in Galatians three as we continue
S2: the message. Here is Pastor Ford.
S1: He says, for when we were.
S3: In the flesh, the motions of sin which were by
S3: the law did work in our members to bring forth
S3: fruit unto death. You know what he's saying there. The
S3: law can't save you. Want to know why? It instigates
S3: you to sin. Okay, okay. I know I'm the only one.
S3: When I was a matriculating Moody Bible Institute, we used
S3: to go out witnessing. And so we had a little
S3: park that was right on. Um, I can't remember the
S3: name of the street. Uh, but it was, uh, LaSalle.
S3: And then as you go east, the next street, they
S3: got a little park there, and they went in and, uh,
S3: we went over and we were witnessing there were four
S3: of us and, uh, uh, we went in different directions
S3: to get different people. There weren't very many people there
S3: because you had to stand up because all the benches
S3: had been painted. And so as we were getting ready
S3: to go back, I said, man, did anybody do what
S3: I did? Look at that. All four of us had
S3: green paint on our fingers. The sign said, don't touch
S3: the paint. Why would you touch it?
S4: To see if it was still wet? That's it.
S3: I like what I like. What, uh, what's his name?
S3: Doctor Phil Williams. Here's what he says. He says the
S3: law is a great mirror, but a terrible washcloth. He
S3: said the law is the light that reveals how dirty
S3: the room is. Not the broom that sweeps it clean
S3: so that we understand that. Then we know that our
S3: Christianity is not based on obeying a set of rules
S3: and regulations. And how many churches are in bondage because
S3: they're given a set of rules and regulations. Don't do
S3: this and don't do that and don't do this. That's
S3: not what the gospel is all about. Remember, we already
S3: saw it. The law says, do this and live. And
S3: Grace says, what? Let's go and do this. And so
S3: he says, listen, you need to understand that and notice
S3: what he says that we are those it was added
S3: because of transgression. Uh, and, and that's why the law
S3: was given. Here's the second, here's the second one. Here's
S3: the second one. Uh, it not only exposes our sin,
S3: it exalts our promise. Verse 19 B and 20, it
S3: exalts our promise. So he's saying, when you look at
S3: what the law has done, the promise is superior to
S3: the law. So notice what he says. Let me read it.
S3: He says, till the seed. Who's that? Jesus. How do
S3: we know that? Because he just told us that earlier
S3: in the chapter. He said, verse 16, Now to Abraham
S3: and his seed were the promises made. He saith not,
S3: and to seeds as of many, but as of one.
S3: And to thy seed, which is Christ. So he's telling
S3: us then, what was the job of the law? The
S3: law was a guide to direct us. What did the
S3: law do? Let me read some things. Don't try to
S3: take notes on this. Just let me read some things here.
S3: Here's here's here's what he wants us to understand. That
S3: the law then was given to us to show God
S3: had a standard we couldn't reach. Therefore, it demonstrated or
S3: showed to us the need for God's grace through the
S3: promise that he gave, which would be fulfilled in Jesus Christ.
S3: So the law then was designed to put on us
S3: guilt and shame. And to have an external witness that
S3: would would activate that internal witness that had been silenced
S3: because there was no sign that said how fast you
S3: could go. So if you go to Germany, they have
S3: they have the Autobahn. Now some of them have speed
S3: limits on. But but from what I understand, if the
S3: if the Google was right, there are about 18 of
S3: them that have no limit. Uh huh. Yeah. Because some
S3: of them go 120 miles an hour. So there's no sign.
S3: But all of a sudden now people start getting killed
S3: because if you're going 75 and I'm going 120, uh,
S3: you're like a wall. Yeah. And so people were being killed,
S3: so they start putting speed limits and they said, suggested
S3: speed limit 131km, which I believe is about 80 miles
S3: an hour, you see. Now, as long as there were
S3: no signs, were you wrong if you went 20? No,
S3: but but if you were going 120, you got you
S3: was kind of feeling like, you know, you're close to
S3: Jesus right now. You know, like, wow. But when they
S3: put up the sign now, now, you know you're a violator.
S3: Now you know you're a violator. So he says, then,
S3: that this law showed us that we needed grace and
S3: we were unworthy of it, that the law put on
S3: us guilt and shame. Why? Because there was no way
S3: we could live it to its fullest. And that's why
S3: I don't understand how law observers can think that they
S3: are able. Because, see, once you break one part of
S3: the law at any time, you've already broken the law.
S3: Where is the forgiveness? Where is the restoration from the law?
S3: The law says you should die. So the Israelites, they
S3: didn't even know it. They said in Deuteronomy, the blessing
S3: and the curse, if you do this, you know. And
S3: they said, we will do it. And then what happened?
S3: A couple of months later, they said they weren't going
S3: to do it. They said what they were going to do,
S3: what they ended up doing, doing it. Is there anybody
S3: here that said they wasn't going to do it and
S3: they did it? Amen.
S4: Amen.
S3: Thank God for grace. Because if it was law, we
S3: should be stoned. We should be killed. We should go
S3: to hell. But the law was just a guide to
S3: direct us because we're saying, wait, wait a minute, wait
S3: a minute. Oh, man, I thought that thought, you know,
S3: I did that deed. I've already broken it. So it's
S3: just taking us to Jesus because we couldn't handle it
S3: our selves. We can't pay our own debt. We need
S3: a savior. So the law shows us God's perfection. And
S3: it shows us our own inner perfection. Now, now, when
S3: you look at what he says and he says, then, uh,
S3: so it was ordained by angels in the hand of
S3: a mediator. But what do you what do you mean
S3: by that? he's saying, I want you to think about this.
S3: God appeared to Abraham personally, but the law was given
S3: through two mediators angels and Moses. What do you think
S3: he's trying to do? He is trying to get them
S3: to see that when God gave that promise, he did
S3: it face to face. That has more impact than something
S3: that has a mediator, and he's trying to get them
S3: to see. Listen, God did this thing. Personally, I believe
S3: he's going back to Genesis 15, but we're not going
S3: to argue about that. So what would the law do?
S3: Restrained us until the son came. Matthew 517 through 20.
S3: What did Jesus say? Matthew 517 through 20. Let me
S3: read that to you. Matthew 517 through 20. What did
S3: he say? Think not that I am I'm come to
S3: destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come
S3: to destroy it, but to fulfil it. For verily I
S3: say unto you, till heaven and earth pass away, one
S3: jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from
S3: the law, till all be fulfilled. So Jesus came to
S3: fulfill the law. Wherefore whosoever shall break one of these
S3: least commandments, and shall teach men to do so, he
S3: shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But
S3: whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be
S3: called great in the kingdom. For I say unto you,
S3: that except your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the scribes
S3: and the Pharisees, you shall no wise enter into the
S3: kingdom of heaven. So Jesus saying, look, we no longer
S3: have to keep the law. Why? He kept the law,
S3: and now we are in him. That's what he's going
S3: to talk about. In verse 27 he said, we've been
S3: baptized into Christ. That is the, the, the reason we
S3: have the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit, because the
S3: baptizing work of the Holy Spirit is the spiritual operation
S3: by which God allows us to share in the death, burial,
S3: and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Wait wait wait wait wait
S3: wait wait wait. What do you mean? What happened to
S3: you spiritually when you became a believer that the Holy
S3: Spirit entered into your human spirit and you were born again,
S3: you were born again. You were regenerated. You were made
S3: alive again. Why? Ephesians two one through four. Dead in
S3: trespasses and sin, depraved in our morality, darkened in our
S3: minds in comprehension. And so he, he, he made us alive.
S3: And what was that process? He. He crucified the old man.
S3: And then he buried us spiritually and raised us in
S3: a newness of life in Jesus Christ, so over 3000
S3: times in the New Testament of Christ in Christ, it
S3: speaks of the baptizing work of the Holy Spirit, that
S3: spiritual operation of the Spirit of God, whereby he takes
S3: us out of the old Adam, where there is death,
S3: and puts us in the new Adam, Jesus, where there
S3: is life now. Galatians chapter two, verse 20. Again remember it.
S3: Key verse to the whole book I am crucified with Christ.
S3: Nevertheless I live yet not I, but Christ lives in me,
S3: and the life I now live in the flesh I
S3: live by the faith of the Son of God, who
S3: loved me and gave himself for me. I'm under love,
S3: not under law. And so that love is to be
S3: a catalyst. Now, like the officer was a catalyst for
S3: me obeying the sign. Jesus is our catalyst, our motivation,
S3: and our power for Living the way we ought to live.
S3: So now it's not based on a duty. It's based
S3: on devotion.
S2: Or it is so important for us to understand that difference,
S2: isn't it? You're listening to Treasure Truth with Pastor Ford.
S2: A message called live consecrated to God's Word. It's from
S2: Galatians chapter three. And if you're maybe listening and a
S2: question comes to mind, you want to get more about
S2: what Pastor Ford is talking about. You can always come
S2: to our website and ask your question. We just might
S2: answer that in a future broadcast. Come to treasure Truth Radio.
S2: Click on the contact link. You can also give us
S2: your feedback that way. Let us know where you listen,
S2: why you listen, and what difference it's making in your life. Again,
S2: come to treasure truth radio org and click on contact.
S2: Back to the message. Here's Pastor Ford.
S3: I might have told you this story. I'm gonna tell
S3: it again because it really illustrates what I'm talking about.
S3: A woman had been married to a man that most
S3: of you women would have killed. Black women wouldn't have
S3: put up with that. He'd tell her stuff like she's
S3: married to him for ten years. He say, when I
S3: come home, my food better be ready. My clothes better
S3: be washed. And you said already my clothes better be washed.
S3: My house better be clean. My kids better. You know
S3: you better. And so for ten years, she labored under
S3: that duty. When he died, she got married again. Ten
S3: year anniversary. She said. Wait a minute. I'm doing what
S3: I used to do. I'm cooking for him. Cleaning for him.
S4: What's the difference?
S3: Oh, that former husband demanded that I do it. It
S3: was a duty. This one just loves me. And I
S3: love to do things for him. That's it. The law says.
S5: You better do this. Don't you do this. You do this.
S5: Don't you do this. Us.
S3: And Jesus says, if you love me, keep my commandments.
S3: Come on. What would you rather live under? Love not law.
S3: So here's what he's saying now. Here's what. Here's what
S3: Paul was doing. He is teaching dispensational truth. What's he teaching?
S3: Dispensational truth. Now we won't be agreed about how many
S3: dispensations there are. Some teach two. Some teach three. Some
S3: teach four. Five. We teach seven because it's God's number
S3: for perfection. Uh, but what's he doing? He's showing that
S3: the law gave way to the dispensation of grace now. So, yeah.
S3: It's dis. Oh, let me just put it up. Dispensation.
S3: And so there are seven dispensations, and, uh, it'd be
S3: good if you, you, you know, you can even Google it.
S3: It'll come up on your phone. So let me get
S3: to the practical thing so I can say some time now.
S3: Here's what I want us to see. Here's what I
S3: want us to see. It's a little early. I didn't
S3: give you the other two points. Let me give you
S3: the other two points. And then, you know, you'll be
S3: able to look at it comprehensively. Verses 21 and 22.
S3: It says the law enhances the gospel. It enhances the gospel.
S3: How does it enhance the gospel? He's going to explain
S3: to us. The law was our school master 2325. It
S3: escorts us to Christ. So here it is. Number one,
S3: it exposes our sin. Verse 19 A it exalts our promise.
S3: Verse 19 B and 20 it enhances the gospel. Verses
S3: 21 and 22. It escorts us to Christ 23 through 25.
S3: So then, very practically, then what do I need to
S3: ask myself to try? It won't be 100%, but to
S3: try to determine, am I really living by grace or
S3: am I trying to live under the law? Here we are.
S3: Question number one is my motivation to glorify God? First
S3: Corinthians 1031. See the law. What's the catalyst for the law?
S3: Weeping mama, come here quick! Bring me your licking stick.
S3: So some of y'all ain't old enough to remember that.
S3: But anyway. So the law then was something that you
S3: did out of fear. But if your motivation is to
S3: glorify God, that's walking in.
S4: Faith.
S3: That's the antithesis of fear. Number two. Number two, will
S3: this behavior allow me to imitate Christ? Will this behavior
S3: or choice allow me to imitate Christ? First Corinthians 11
S3: one On first John two six. Okay. Number three. Number three.
S3: Will my behavior be profitable for other Christians? First Corinthians 1023.
S3: Number four will this provide a credible gospel witness? Will
S3: this provide the choice to behavior? Whatever it is, provide
S3: a credible gospel witness? First Corinthians 1033. Colossians four five.
S3: Number five will this allow me to be a good example?
S3: Romans 1413. Will this allow me to be a good example?
S3: Romans 1413. 13. Will this allow me to be a
S3: good example? Romans 1413. Number six. Will it impede? Impede?
S3: Will it impede my spiritual growth? Hebrews 12 one. Will
S3: it impede my spiritual growth? Hebrews 12 one. Will this
S3: choice or action impede? Will it slow down or stop
S3: my spiritual growth? Number seven we got we have four more.
S3: Number seven will I be free from the very appearance
S3: of evil? First Thessalonians 522. Will I be free from
S3: the very appearance of evil? I want to comment so bad,
S3: but I just want to give em to you so
S3: I can save some time. Number eight will I be
S3: conformed to the world system? So will that choice, that action,
S3: that behavior, conform me to the world's system. Romans 12 two.
S3: Number nine will it enslave me? First Corinthians 612. Will
S3: it enslave me? Is it something that will bring me
S3: back to an addiction? Whether it's money, prestige, sex, booze, alcohol, drugs,
S3: whatever it is in the last one. Will it spiritually
S3: harm other believers? First Corinthians 813. Will it spiritually harm
S3: other believers? First Corinthians 813.
S2: I hope you got that. But if you ever miss
S2: one of the points that Pastor Ford is preaching on,
S2: maybe a sermon reference, or you just want to go
S2: back and listen to it again, You can always listen
S2: online by coming to our website. It's Treasure Truth radio.org.
S2: We've been listening to a message called Live Consecrated to
S2: God's Word. It's from Galatians chapter three. And if this
S2: program is making a difference in your life, we'd love
S2: to know about that. How Pastor Ford just unpacking God's
S2: Word is helping you grow in your walk with him.
S2: In fact, we recently heard from a listener in Chicago
S2: who writes, I'm blessed by your honest preaching of the word.
S2: Sometimes when I listen to some of the topics, it's
S2: very hard for me to do all of them. But
S2: I know that the grace of God is sufficient for me. Well, Julie,
S2: thanks for letting us know that you're out there, that
S2: you're listening, and that Pastor Ford's teaching is making a
S2: difference in your life. And maybe you've been listening for
S2: some time now, but you've never let us know that
S2: you're out there, that you're listening, and that you're benefiting
S2: from Pastor Ford's teaching of God's Word. We can always
S2: give us your feedback by coming to our website, Treasure
S2: Truth Radio, and clicking on the contact link. Maybe something
S2: Pastor Ford has said has helped you understand what it
S2: means to know Jesus better, or help you fix your
S2: marriage relationship, or even get your finances in order. You
S2: can share your story with us by coming to Treasure
S2: Truth radio.org and clicking on the contact link. Well, everything
S2: that we do here at Treasure Truth is made possible
S2: because of your generosity. Some of you may have given
S2: in the past and if that's the case, a huge
S2: thank you for doing so. But maybe you've never given
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S2: doing that and for listening today. Thanks also to our producer,
S2: Amy Rios for Pastor Ford, I'm Steve Hiller. Treasure truth
S2: is a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody
S2: Bible Institute.