When Law Is No Longer Necessary
Pastor Erickson teaches on law and grace from John 1:17 and Galatians 5, showing that God gave his law for our good but that only grace and the Spirit can change a heart. He calls the church away from legalism and condemnation to walk in the Spirit, grow the fruit of the Spirit, love one another, and trust a God whose goodness and mercy pursue them.
The message in 6 points
The law was given for our good
God's commandments were not given as punishment but for our good, so his people would know how to worship him, how to live and how to treat one another. Jesus said he did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it.
38:37The law cannot change a heart
Even keeping every commandment would not change a heart full of greed, hate or lust, and Jesus raised the standard to our thoughts and motives. Grace is what helps us keep God's law, because law says you can never get there on your own, but grace says follow me and I will take you there.
43:13The opposite of legalism is love
Paul was furious that people were blending the gospel with the law of Moses, and people still add their own filters to the Bible. He says the answer to legalism is not a license to sin but love, obeying God for a different reason, the way grown children honor their parents out of love and not fear.
49:05Led by the Spirit
If we are led by the Spirit we are not under the burden of the law, because the Spirit leads us in a way that makes the law unnecessary. He warns that keeping outward standards without holiness inside leads people to throw the door wide open once the rules are gone.
1:00:56The side effects of righteousness
The works of the flesh are the side effects of sin, while the fruit of the Spirit brings a life with no law against it. Like a farmer who shares his best seed corn with his neighbors, we must add value to the lives around us and bear one another's burdens.
1:14:51Goodness and mercy will hunt you down
God's love is proactive, and his yoke is easy, so he is not an angry God waiting to punish his children. Goodness and mercy follow us like hunting dogs, and he calls people to leave condemnation behind, walk in the Spirit and receive new mercy every morning.
1:26:57
In his words
“Law says you can't get there on your own, but grace says, if you follow me, I can take you there.”
“The opposite of legalism is not license. It's not a license to sin or license to make your own rules. The opposite of legalism is love.”
“I don't care what you do, I don't care how you do it, I don't care where you go to do it. My God is a God of love, and he's looking for people who are straying, who are wayward.”
Taken word for word from the video, with punctuation added.
Scripture
He reads
John 1:17
17For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
King James Version.
Galatians 5:18
18But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
King James Version.
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
12And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, 13To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
King James Version.
Romans 7:12
12Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
King James Version.
Matthew 5:17
17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
King James Version.
Matthew 5:27-28
27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: 28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
King James Version.
Romans 6:14-15
14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
King James Version.
Romans 5:20
20Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
King James Version.
Galatians 5:11-17
11And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased. 12I would they were even cut off which trouble you. 13For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. 14For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 15But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another. 16This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
King James Version.
Galatians 5:19-26
19Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, 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. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
King James Version.
Galatians 6:1
1Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
King James Version.
Galatians 6:3-10
3For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5For every man shall bear his own burden. 6Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things. 7Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
King James Version.
Matthew 11:30
30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
King James Version.
Psalms 23:6
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
King James Version.
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