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Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s word on Bibleline, here God’s truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida, clearly declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio and the internet. Your regular prayers and monthly support make it possible for Bibleline to continue on the You can reach us toll-free at 1-800-576-3771. Online donations may be made by clicking on the donations link on the Bibleignmenistries.org homepage. We pray that you will enjoy our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ, and that today’s first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

We’re talking about the book of Galatians. So, if we’re studying a book of Galatians, What book should we turn to? Romans, right now. No, go to the book of Galatians, Galatians and chapter two, Galatians and chapter two. Now we’re going to start there in verse 17. We covered verse 16 last week when we talked a little bit about justification and what it means to be justified. But here in verse 17, but if, if, and no, this is a if.

Then verse 18 that’s also an if, if. But verse 17 says, but if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners. Is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. And in order if you’re still seeking to be justified, then you’re still found sinners, you’re still lost. And if you’re still lost, that means you’re still out of the law. So Christ never really did die to redeem you from the curse of the law.

So that means you never were really saved. You can go all kind of ways with this. You really can. But when He makes a statement here in verse 18, He says, for if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. In other words, you’re placing me alive back underneath the law. So there’s a lot lot of illustrations that used in scripture about what the law is and how you’re supposed to try to explain it.

But it’s sometimes the difficult thing trying to explain all these things. Trusting Christ is Savior. That’s so easy. I just trust the Lord. And He gives me eternal life. And there’s all kinds of things that happen to me the day I got saved, but I don’t remember any of them. I didn’t feel any of them. I thought it was a total dud. But believe it or not, when I trusted Christ as my Savior, a lot of things happened to me.

I didn’t find it out till later that all these wonderful things had happened to me. And so I’ll show you a little bit of that in just a moment. But remember when he says, if I build again the things which I destroyed, it means all hope in the law, all hope in my work. All my hope must be in the law if I’m placed back under law. hope must be in the law and me keeping the law. Well, if they couldn’t keep the law for fifteen hundred years, do you think we can do it?

So that’s why Peter made the statement in Acts chapter 15, why should we put a yoke of iron upon their neck which we nor our fathers were able to bear? In other words, they never kept them. So how are we going to keep the law? The law never saved anybody. The law never justified anybody. So why would we want to put people on law? Do you know there’s seven-day Adventists today? They’re trying to put people under the law. It’s exactly what they’re doing.

And so he says in verse 19, for I threw the law and dead to the law. And the reason I’m dead to the law is because see, it executed me. See, the law condemns you and then you’re executed. What would mean be executed? You’re dead. But if I’m dead, how can I be put back underneath the law? I paid the laws debt in Christ. So sometimes trying to explain all of that is a little on the difficult side. Or it’s easy to say, but not always the easiest thing to understand or to believe.

Now, in your notes there, you’ll notice in letter A right in the middle of the page there, in Galatians chapter 2 verse 17 to 21, you look there at number four, let’s look at the justification of Abraham for salvation. in your look in Romans chapter 4. So Abraham was justified. For salvation, Romans 4, and also Galatians in chapter 3, because Abraham believed God, and it was counted in him for righteousness. So by faith alone, God gave him his righteousness.

That’s for salvation. Then the number five there, let’s look at the justification of Abraham for service. Two different things, according to James chapter 2. And then this is not talking about when Abraham believed God. This is talking about later, about 13, 14 years later, when Abraham offered up his son Isaac as a sacrifice. And lo and behold, he didn’t have to kill his son, but he was willing to do so because he believed that God’s able to raise him back from the dead.

And so when we’re talking about for service, we know that in the eyes of God, God will reward us, but in the eyes of man, they can see our faith by our works. But that doesn’t mean that without these works you’re not saved and you can be saved and not have any works whatsoever. But then you have a very interesting verse mentioned here. You see there in verse 20 when it says, I am dead to the law and the reason I am dead to the laws because I’ve been crucified.

I have been executed. I have died and paid for my sins. Now it’s so difficult to try to explain that somebody. Well, I’m dead, but I’m really alive. I paid for my sins on the cross, but I really wasn’t on the cross. And I’m really not really dead, but I’m supposed to live like I was really dead. Now, some people can get confused on that. I’m glad y’all aren’t. But now, look what happens to you in verse 19 and 20 in your notes there.

At salvation, we are seen by God as having been crucified as though we were actually hung on the cross with Christ. So I was crucified, but I really wasn’t. I was buried, but I really wasn’t buried. And I was raised from the dead, but I really wasn’t raised from the dead. And I was forgiven. And I was forgiven as though I had paid for all of my own sins. Now how did that happen? Well because of what Christ did it in my place.

And I get credit for it as though I did it. But I really didn’t do it. He did it for me. And when you begin to see that, then it helps you to understand, God sees you this way. And so God sees me as coming back from the dead. And God sees me seated in the heavenlies. So that’s a done deal. It’s all over. That’s how secure you are in Christ. So in Christ I hung on the cross. And in Christ I was buried in Christ.

I was raised from the dead. And in Christ I’m seated in the heavenlies in Christ. Cause that’s my position. That’s how God sees me. And I know you understand that perfectly. Because you’re in Christ. Now, page two, the top of the page, I have been sanctified and I am being sanctified in my life. I am glorified in God’s eyes. It’s a done deal. I am going to be in glory. This is my perfection. I am going to be with the Lord in heaven, and that’s going to be a wonderful thing.

And seated as though I’m seated with Christ right now. Now this is not a complete list. The longest list I’ve ever seen at one time whenever I was at Florida Bible College was in English-Perichaeffer’s book on systematic theology. Anybody ever seen that book before? Isn’t that a wonderful book? little study so easy to hollow. It’ll rack your brain, but there’s some good stuff in him and there’s some other stuff you have to watch out for. But anyway, you died but not really.

You were buried but not really in. You were resurrected but not really. So trying to explain this is interesting. Now the reason that I can’t be under the law and under Christ at the same time is because you cannot mix law in grace. And where in the world does it say in the Bible that you’re not under the law? I’m not under the law. Now go to Romans in chapter 3 and look in verse 19. Romans chapter 3 and verse 19.

And you’ll notice in verse 19 it says, now we know that the, what things so ever the laws say at that safe to them who are and see those next words under the law. He says that every mouth may be stopped, all the world may become guilty before God, so it looks like everybody must be under the law, and everybody must be guilty, and everybody must be condemned, and that’s not such good hope. So this is our position. It’s where we were.

We were under the law. And the law condemns everybody that’s not perfect. So who gets to be condemned? Everybody. And so when you read this, you can see our context. condemnation how that no man can save himself. So if a man can’t save himself, then he has to be saved by somebody else. Now look what he says in Romans in chapter 6. Romans chapter 6. And look in verse 14. And verse 14 it says this, for sin shall not have dominion over you.

That means that sinful nature that you have, for ye are not, what’s those three words, under the law. Now, in verse 19 of chapter 3, we were all under the law. So how did we get from under the law? I was under the law in chapter 3. In chapter 6, I’m not under the law. Something must have happened in between, wouldn’t you say? The possibility? So in chapter 4 it keeps telling you how we are justified, even Romans chapter 3 verse 28 says that we’re justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

So we put our faith in what Christ did for us. So in starting chapter 3 and verses 24 and 25 and all, then it says we’re justified freely by his, what? By his grace through the redemption that is in Christ because of the payment that He made, He has redeemed us from the curse of the law and removed us from the law. So now the Bible says, I’m not under the law. Why would a person in their right mind want to go back under the law?

But that’s what the legalistic Judaism’s was trying to do to these believers, put them back under the law. What to put them back under the law means that you’re condemned again. It means you’re lost again. It means that you are not saved again. You’re not justified and you got to seek it By your works. Well, if you couldn’t do it the first time what makes you think you can do it the second time Why are you returning back to something like that?

well This is why you have these chapters laid out the way there because they’re really laid out beautifully Explaining how that we’re justified by faith So when you look in chapter 5 of Romans and chapter 5 in verse 1, where he says, therefore being justified by what? Law, works, faith. You’re justified by your faith in what Christ did on the cross for you. And that’s explained in verse 24 and 25 in the previous chapter. Because chapter 4 verse 24 and 25 says, but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on Him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead who was delivered for our transgressions or offense and was raising in for our justification.

So that’s the death, burial and resurrection of Christ. Now He did that for us. So He had redeemed us from the curse of the law. Now there’s people who want to put you back on the law. It’s the same thing as saying, we want to make you lost again and let you earn your way. The something’s wrong with this picture. Now the Scriptures does give us a good explanation on how to understand it. Because when you get into law and grace it can be a little confusing.

But I believe that God has given to us a beautiful illustration. I’ve used it many times. When I used to travel on the road I would always do this. I came here I think it might have been one of my first sermons that I did. Oh, Mr. Law and Mr. Love. Anybody remember Mr. Law, Mr. Love? One person? That’s all that remembers that sermon. I’m gonna to preach it again. That was nine years ago and he just walked in the back door and he remembered because I used him as a flesh and I didn’t.

But I had a little black baby doll. Anybody remember the little black baby doll I had? That was Mike Tyson? Tom, you can’t remember that. You couldn’t see if it was white or black. Yeah, it’s been on the radio. But it’s a good old story. So what I want you to do is take your Bible andnegie the book of Romans in chapter 7. It’s an illustration that the apostle Paul puts right in Cunning Scriptures to help us understand law and grace, or salvation by grace, or salvation by your works.

This is an illustration here as a husband and a wife. And I’m going to tell it just in the Scripture. I’m not going to try to embellish it, to make it magnified or try to diminish its importance. I’ll say it in the way it is. Now in verse 1, of chapter 7. No ye not brethren. So we’re talking to believers. For I speak to them that know the law, how that the, not everybody knew the law. There are some Greeks that would not have understood this illustration as well because they were not, you know, most Greeks and Gentiles.

They were not Jewish and didn’t understand all these things that God is putting in his word and explaining. But he says to them that know the law, how that the law have dominion over man as long as he liveth. So, I was under the law and everybody is born into this world. We’re under the law and God requires perfection, righteousness and who has fulfilled that request from God? Nobody. But we’re all under the law born into this world and how long are we under the law?

Well, look what he says, as long as a man does what? As long as he lives. You and I are under the law as long as we live. And then execution, you’re gonna die. Then you’re free from the law. You don’t have to obey it anymore. Isn’t that wonderful? But you gotta die. They get free from it. Death is the only way to get free from the law. So if Christ is gonna redeem me from the curse of the law, He has to die in my place.

There is no other substitute. The wages of sin is what? So if he wants to redeem me, he has to die. So get this. In verse 2, for the woman which hath a husband is bound to her husband as long as he leveth. Now this is understood that when a man and a woman get married, how long are they supposed to be married? Till one of them is dead. of them is dead. That’s the law. That’s the way God intended it.

That’s the purpose of marriage. And so when a man and a woman get married there to be together until death do they part. Now, that’s the book. It would be wonderful if everybody just obeyed the Lord, but because of sin, it messes everything up. So marriage in the Bible, and I’ve used it many times when I’ve conducted weddings. And I’ll say that, you know, here’s the guy, and here’s MODULE, and they both are supposed to leave mother and father and cleave unto each other, and they too shall be one.

And so the man has to accept the woman, and the woman must accept the man, and so they accepted each other and what God hath joined together let no man do what? Put a sunder. That means to separate them. The judge or anybody else, justice of the peace, no law made by man is to ever separate this. That is not the intention of God. God says he hates divorce and I’m not going to tell you that God loves divorce.

No, God hates divorce and I’m not interested in getting an argument with anybody because I know I’m right. I know the book. Now God hates divorce. People don’t always do everything God says. But it’s to be a union and don’t we often say for better or for worse? Now, why would we say that? I mean, there’s no way it’s going to get worse, right? and sickness and in health, but we’re always gonna be healthy, aren’t we? Richard for poor, well, we’re always gonna get richer, right?

So we always lived with the hope of everything getting better and healthier and more money and tomorrow’s a brighter day. And so sometimes these dreams become nightmares, It kind of reminds me of the guy that went to bed with two bells of hay, and one of the feet is nightmares. Yes. That was pretty bad. That was pretty bad, isn’t it? Don’t clap, David. Got the sound fixed, yet to pick it up. But now get this. If, if the husband be dead, she is loose from the law of her husband.

Now, verse 3, if then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adultress, but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law so that she is no adultress, though she be married to another man. So, well, how would you explain that? I intend to. Now, according to the story, it’s an illustration of Law and Grace. In other words, we are under the law, we’re under the law. Christ comes and demons from the law.

So, I died to the law. So, that means the law hath no more dominion over me. And that’s why in chapter 6 and verse 14 we are not under the law. We’re free from the law. Now here’s Jesus Christ. I can now become His bride. I can be married to Christ. But you can’t have two living wives or two living husbands. You’re not supposed to have two. Two living spouses. In the words, if you’re married, you can’t have two wives, one in my ex and my ex and my ex and my ex.

Or two men, well, there’s my husband. And there’s my ex and my ex and my ex. And then now that’s supposed to be. Now would people, because we don’t do what God says do, and because of sin and hardness of heart, people do pretty much whatever they want to do. They break their vows. So if you understand the illustration God uses, when you and I understand this, here’s a woman. Is he the womanher? She’s married to this man. But she wants to be free from this man.

But she’s bound can she be free from this man? Well, one is he can die. See how simple that was? Or she can die. So you begin to pray, Lord, take her home. No, no, no. So you can pray that God take this one home, but you don’t feel good about that, would you? No, you wouldn’t. So now, which one is going to die? Whichever one dies the other one can get remarried. And there’s no question. There’s no problem.

Death ends the marriage. And so if a woman is married to this man, she’s bound by her husband until he’s dead. But now when you associate that with the law, and we’re under the dominion of the law, well then how can I ever get free from the law? Well, all I have to do is wait for Mr. Law to die. And when he’s dead, I’m free. But there’s a problem. What is the problem? Mr. Law can’t sin. And if he can’t sin, he can’t.

He can’t die. You’re stuck. He can’t die. How would you like to be married to a man that you’re only way you can be free is it, but he can’t die. And that’s the only way you can be free is Him to die. Wouldn’t that break your little heart? Expect when you see somebody else you want to marry. Duh. And that’s why the Bible talks about do not cover another man’s wife or don’t cover another woman’s husband because you’re desiring something you can’t have.

But anyway we’re gonna move right along into this illustration. So here’s the law and you want to be free from WARNDamage He’s not going to be free from the law and the only way is for him to die, but Mr. Law, he won’t die. So what’s the only other alternative? You have to die. There is no other way. You have to die. So Christ who is Mr. Love, he comes on the scene, lo and behold, and he loves you.

And he sees that you are under Mr. Law and Mr. Law doesn’t love you. And he sees that you’re condemned and you’re going to die because Mr. Your law has… has no compassion. Mr. Law has no forgiveness. He has no grace. Mr. Law has no mercy. He’s law and Mr. Love over here loves you. So what can Mr. Love can’t do anything for you? Ah, An idea. He is going to be born into this world under the law. Fulfill all the righteous demands of the law.

So Jesus comes and lives for 33 years and never offends the law, never breaks the law. And all those things that those Pharisees said, well, he did this on the Sabbath day and he broke this and he ate food without washing his hand nasty nasty nasty. Wait a minute, he never broke the law. He was perfect. So the law can’t touch a perfect man. Mr. Love didn’t have to die. So what he did to satisfy the righteous demands of Mr.

Law, he took all the sins of all the people and placed them up on him and then the law killed him. God smitten his own son. So he paid for the sins of the whole world so that he could redeem us from the curse of the law, but he can’t do it against you will. So Christ comes back again from the dead. And anybody under the condemnation of the law, if they will believe that He did this for them, there’s nothing they have to do.

No promises they have to make. All they have to do is accept the payment He made for them because that payment He made was for their sins. Why was I going to die sins? Why was I going to help? Sins. He did something about the sin problem. So he pays for the sin, satisfies the law, that’s the word propitiation. God was satisfied, the law saw it satisfied, Christ was satisfied, and he wants us to be satisfied. But if you’re not satisfied with what he did, then you’ll try to earn your way by your good works and try to add something to it.

That was wonderful, Jesus, but let me help you out a little bit. No, the payment has already been made. So whenever you accept Christ as your Savior, then his death that he died on the cross became your death. So that’s why Christ says you, when you believe on him, you were crucified with Christ. And once you’re dead, Mr. Law can’t touch you. You are free from the law. so that now because you are free from the law, you can be married to another.

But remember this, under the law, you can’t get this person to promise to turn from his sins. Cause if you’re still under the law, I don’t give which wayiege you turn, you’re still under the law. You don’t gotta get this person to dedicate their life to Mr. Love. Why? Because you can’t commit to another man, You’re married to this one. A woman who’s married to the man has to commit herself only to her husband. She’s not free to love any other man.

She’s trapped, whatever you wanna say. This is the way it is until death do you part. Do you think marriage is a serious business? Marriage is serious, it’s not a game. And so now, that’s why he makes the statement. Look in verse two one more time, verse two. For the woman which hath a husband, bound by the law to her husband as long as lives. But if the husband is dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband.

How can she be free from her husband? He has to what? He has to die. Do you see any other options in here? There aren’t any. Verse three, so then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adultress. But if her husband be dead, she is free from that law so that she is no adultress, though she be married to another man. So if one of them dies, then the other one is free to that.

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And now a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friend, one day it will happen, the trumpet will sound and we will be changed. Cut up to meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day. Believe in that the Lord is coming soon, just keep looking up.