{"id":6075,"date":"2021-06-03T07:11:14","date_gmt":"2021-06-03T07:11:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6075"},"modified":"2021-06-03T07:11:14","modified_gmt":"2021-06-03T07:11:14","slug":"bulletin-edition-may-2021-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/?p=6075","title":{"rendered":"Bulletin Edition May 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\u201cChrist Is The End Of The Law\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOW AND TO\nWHOM?                \nRomans 10:4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing something of the just severity and strict demands of\nGod\u2019s holy law, –Knowing that the law demands, \u201cThe soul that sinneth it shall\ndie\u201d, –Knowing that the law demands, \u201cIt must be perfect to be accepted\u201d,\n–Knowing the utter terror of the law, – When I read this great and glorious\nstatement, \u201cChrist is the end of the law,\u201d I immediately want to know, How and\nto whom? Don\u2019t you? The Holy Spirit tells us exactly how Christ is the end of\nthe law, and to whom he is the end of the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HOW?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is Christ the end of the law? Hear what God says. \u2013 \u201cChrist\nis the end of the law for righteousness.\u201d Fallen man cannot obtain\nrighteousness of any kind, of any merit before God by the works of the law\n(Gal. 2:21). But God requires perfect righteousness in and from us all (Matt.\n5:20; Heb. 12:14). It is written, \u201cIt must be perfect to be accepted.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though we have no righteousness of our own, and we have no\nability to produce righteousness (Isa. 64:6), we are not without hope. The Lord\nJesus Christ, the Son of God, our Surety, Representative, Mediator, and\nSubstitute has established righteousness which fully meets and satisfies all\nthe law\u2019s demands (Phil. 3:8-10). And that righteousness demanded by the law is\nfound only in Christ. \u201cChrist is the end of the law for righteousness.\u201d Christ\nis made of God unto us righteousness, both for justification and for\nsanctification (1 Cor. 1:30).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TO WHOM?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To whom is Christ the end of the law? \u201cChrist is the end of the\nlaw for righteousness to everyone that believeth.\u201d Do you see the stress of the\ntext? It is just this – \u201cTo everyone that believeth.\u201d This is one issue of\nvital importance – \u201cDost thou believe on the Son of God?\u201d If you believe,\nChrist is the end of the law to you. If you do not believe, you are yet under\nthe curse of God\u2019s holy law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we would be saved we must submit to the righteousness of God.\nWe must trust Christ alone for righteousness. Our sins cannot be put away\nexcept by his blood atonement. We cannot be made holy before God except by Christ.\nAll who refuse to submit to the righteousness of God in Christ, must forever\nperish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHAT NOW?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

           \nBeing convinced that \u201cChrist is the end of the law to everyone that believeth,\u201d\nwhat now must we do? We must never attempt to serve God upon a legal principle.\nAll legal religion is banned by the express statements of Holy Scripture (Col.\n2:16-23). We must never allow anyone to bring us back into bondage, no not for\na moment (Gal. 5:1). We must never trust our own righteousness (Gal. 5:2). Self-righteousness\nsticks to human flesh like leaches. Shake it off. Flee from it. Cling to Christ\nalone for all your hope before God. He is \u201cThe Lord our Righteousness.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don Fortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though you are a worm<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

(John MacDuff, “The Thoughts of God”)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Do not be afraid, worm Jacob; I will help you! says the\nLORD, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.” Isaiah 41:14<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Worm Jacob!” What weakness, insignificance,\nunworthiness! Yet it is this helpless, groveling “worm,” which\noccupies the thoughts of God \u2014 receives His sympathy, and has the assurance of\nHis almighty aid!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Believer, beaten down it may be, with a great fight of affliction,\nor trembling under a sense of your unworthiness and guilt \u2014 mourning . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  the coldness of your faith,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  the lukewarmness of your love,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  the frequency of your backslidings,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  the fitfulness of your best purposes,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  the feebleness of your best services \u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

your God draws near to you \u2014 He remembers that though you are a\nworm \u2014 still you are “worm Jacob,” \u2014 His own beloved, covenant one;\nand He tells you that the thoughts which He thinks towards you, are\n“thoughts of peace, and not of evil.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mark His message of comfort, “Do not be afraid!” Mark\nHis promise, “I will help you!” The guarantee which He gives for the\nfulfillment of that promise, is His own great name; “says the Lord, your\nRedeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I Myself will help you!” Yes, poor, weak, trembling\none, “Jehovah”, “your Redeemer”, “the Holy One of\nIsrael” \u2014 in other words, Omnipotence, Love, and Righteousness, are all\nembarked on your side, and pledged for your salvation!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He loves to draw near to His people in the extremity of their\nweakness. “He will not break the bruised reed; He will not quench the\nsmoking flax.” Man would do so. Man would often crush the writhing worm\nunder his feet \u2014 bid the trembling penitent away; but He whose thoughts are not\nas our thoughts, says, “Neither do I condemn you!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Be it mine to go in the strength of the Lord God. “I will\nhelp you!” is enough for all the emergencies of the present; and all the\ncontingencies of an untried, and, it may be, a dark future. “But happy are\nthose who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord\ntheir God.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, and here alone<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

J.C.Philpot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Standing then at the cross of our adorable Lord,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

we may see . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  the law thoroughly fulfilled,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  its curse fully endured,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  its penalties wholly removed,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  sin eternally put away,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  the justice of God amply satisfied,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  all His perfections gloriously harmonized,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  reconciliation completely effected,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  redemption graciously accomplished,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  and the church everlastingly saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, and here alone, we see sin in its blackest<\/p>\n\n\n\n

colors, and holiness in its most attractive beauties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, and here alone, we see the love of God<\/p>\n\n\n\n

in its tenderest form, and the anger of God in<\/p>\n\n\n\n

its deepest expression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, and here alone, we see the eternal and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

unalterable displeasure of the Almighty against sin,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and the rigid demands of His inflexible justice, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

yet the tender compassion and boundless love of<\/p>\n\n\n\n

His heart to the election of grace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, and here alone, are obtained pardon and peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, and here alone, penitential grief and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

godly sorrow flow from heart and eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here, and here alone, is . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  sin subdued and mortified,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  holiness communicated,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  death vanquished,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  Satan put to flight, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  happiness and heaven begun in the soul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What a holy meeting-place for repenting sinners<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and a sin-pardoning God! What a healing-place<\/p>\n\n\n\n

for guilty, yet repenting and returning backsliders!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What a door of hope in the valley of Achor for the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

self-condemned and self-abhorred! What a safe<\/p>\n\n\n\n

spot for seeking souls! And what a blessed<\/p>\n\n\n\n

resorting-place for the whole family of grace<\/p>\n\n\n\n

in this valley of grief and sorrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This inward conflict<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

J.C.Philpot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“I know that nothing good lives in me\u2014that is, in<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 is good\u2014but I cannot carry it out.” Romans 7:18<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now it is this which makes the Lord’s people such a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

burdened people\u2014that makes them so oppressed in<\/p>\n\n\n\n

their souls as to cry out against themselves daily,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and sometimes hourly\u2014that they are what they are<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2014that they would be spiritual, yet are carnal\u2014that<\/p>\n\n\n\n

they would be holy, yet are unholy\u2014that they would<\/p>\n\n\n\n

have sweet communion with Jesus, yet have such<\/p>\n\n\n\n

sensual alliance with the things of time and sense\u2014<\/p>\n\n\n\n

that they would be Christians in word, thought, and<\/p>\n\n\n\n

deed; yet, in spite of all, they feel their carnal mind,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

their wretched depravity intertwining, interlacing,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

gushing forth\u2014contaminating with its polluted stream<\/p>\n\n\n\n

everything without and within\u2014so as to make them<\/p>\n\n\n\n

sigh, groan, and cry being burdened, “What a wretched<\/p>\n\n\n\n

man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

   Romans 7:24<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He would not be entangled in these snares for ten thousand<\/p>\n\n\n\n

worlds\u2014he hates the evils of his heart, and mourns over the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

corruptions of his nature. They make the tear fall from his<\/p>\n\n\n\n

eye, and the sob to heave from his bosom\u2014they make him<\/p>\n\n\n\n

a wretched man\u2014and fill him day after day with sorrow,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

bitterness, and anguish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

None but a saved soul, under divine teaching, can see<\/p>\n\n\n\n

this evil\u2014and mourn and sigh under the depravity, the<\/p>\n\n\n\n

corruption, the unbelief, the carnality, the wickedness,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

and the deceitfulness of his evil heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This inward conflict, this sore grief, this internal burden,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

that all the family of God are afflicted with\u2014is an evidence<\/p>\n\n\n\n

that the life and grace of God are in their bosoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 So you see how it is\u2014in my mind I really want to obey<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 slave to sin.” Rom. 7:25<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cChrist Is The End Of The Law.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

THE FULFILLMENT OF THE\nLAW                         \nRomans 10:4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only is our Lord Jesus Christ the end of the law\u2019s purpose\nand object of it, the One to whom the law points, Christ is also the\nfulfillment of the law (Isa. 42:21). Our Lord said, \u201cI came not to destroy the\nlaw, but to fulfil the law.\u201d The law demands complete obedience, without one\nspot or speck, failure or flaw. The law demands holiness, righteousness,\nperfection. The terms of the law cannot be lowered, not even in order to save\nGod\u2019s elect. The law also demands complete satisfaction. It will settle for\nnothing less than the death of every transgressor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Christ we who believe have all that the law demands (Rom.\n5:19). His righteous life of obedience as our Representative and his\nsin-atoning death as our Substitute are now ours; and we are the righteousness\nof God in him. In Christ we are free from the law\u2019s curse and condemnation\n(Rom. 8:1). In Christ we fulfill the law (Rom. 3:31).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The only way any sinner can possibly fulfill God\u2019s holy law is\nby faith, by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ who has perfectly fulfilled the\nlaw in all its details and demands in the place of his people. When we hear the\ndemands of God\u2019s law and justice, we lift up Christ in the hands of faith, and\nGod is well-pleased!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the termination of the law. Yes, you\nread the sentence right. Christ is the end of the law in the sense that he is\nthe termination of it. Dead is just about as terminated as you can get; and\nPaul tells us that if we are truly married to Christ we are dead to the law\n(Rom. 7:1-4).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christ has terminated the law as a covenant of life – \u201cWe are\nnot under the law, but under grace.\u201d Christ has terminated the law\u2019s curse and\npenalty (Gal. 3:13). In Christ, every believer has a just, righteous claim of\nmerit upon all the blessedness of everlasting glory (Psa. 32:1-2).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do you see the sweet mystery of salvation by the substitutionary\nwork of Christ? The law has no claim upon those for whom Christ died. The curse\nspent itself on our Redeemer. We are dead to the law. We are righteous, justified,\nguiltless, innocent in Christ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The law of God has nothing to do with the believer. We are dead\nto it. Being dead to the law and married to Christ, we must not even think\nabout returning to that former dead husband. Let no man beguile you with the\nenticing words of man\u2019s wisdom. Let no worksmonger bewitch you with the spell\nof legality. Let no one persuade you with \u201ca show of humility in will worship\u201d\nto return to that oppressive yoke of bondage from which Christ has made us\nfree. Child of God, live in the liberty of grace in Christ, and live in peace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don Fortner<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made\nme free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

J.C.Philpot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We by nature and practice are slaves to sin and Satan. We are\nthe sport of the prince of the power of the air, who takes us captive at his\nwill. We are held down also by many hurtful lusts; or, if free from gross sin,\nare slaves to pride, covetousness, or self-righteousness. Perhaps some idol is\nset up in the chambers of imagery which defiles all the inner man; or some\nsnare of Satan entangles our feet, and we are slaves, without power to liberate\nourselves from this cruel slavery. We groan under it, as the children of Israel\nunder their burdens, but, like them, cannot deliver ourselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But sooner or later the truth comes to our aid; the truth as it\nis in Jesus flies to the rescue of God’s oppressed family; the blessed Spirit\nopens it up and seals it upon the heart with a divine power. As, then, under\nhis gracious influences they believe the truth, and feel its power and savor in\ntheir heart, a liberating influence is communicated; their fetters and shackles\nare loosened; the bondage of sin and Satan, and the power and strength of evil\nare sensibly broken, and a measure of holy freedom is enjoyed. There is no\nother way of getting from under the bondage of the law but by the application\nof the gospel, and by believing what the gospel reveals. As the truth, then,\ncomes to the heart as the very word of the living God, power comes with it to\nbelieve; faith is raised up to credit the testimony; and as faith begins to\ncredit the truth of God and receive it in hope and love, there is a sensible\nloosening of the bonds; and then the chains and fetters drop off of themselves.\nIt is with the soul as it was with Peter in prison–when the angel came, and a\nlight shined in the prison, and the angel’s words fell upon his ears, “the\nchains fell from off his hands.” There remained nothing then to bar his\nexit; for “the iron gate that leads unto the city opened to them of its\nown accord.” So whatever chains or fetters may hold the soul, let the\nangel of mercy come; let the message of salvation be revealed, the chains of\nunbelief drop off, the iron gate of hardness gives way, and the truth makes the\nsoul blessedly free (John 8:32).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MERCY!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

J.C.Philpot<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Look upon me, and be merciful unto me.” Ps. 119:132<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When shall we ever get beyond the need of God’s mercy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We feel our need of continual mercy . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  as our sins abound,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  as our guilt is felt,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  as our corruption works,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  as our conscience is burdened,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  as the iniquities of our heart are laid bare,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  as our hearts are opened up in the Spirit’s light.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We need . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  mercy for every adulterous look;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  mercy for every covetous thought;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  mercy for every light and trifling word;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  mercy for every wicked movement of our depraved hearts;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  mercy while we live;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  mercy when we die;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  mercy to accompany us every moment;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  mercy to go with us down to the portals of the grave;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  mercy to carry us safely through the swellings of Jordan;<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  mercy to land us safe before the Redeemer’s throne!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Look upon me, and be merciful unto me.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because I am so vile a sinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because I am so base a backslider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because I am such a daring transgressor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because I sin against You with every breath that I draw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because the evils of my heart are perpetually manifesting\nthemselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because nothing but Your mercy can blot out such<\/p>\n\n\n\n

iniquities as I feel working in my carnal mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I need . . .<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 inexhaustible mercy,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 everlasting mercy,<\/p>\n\n\n\n

 super-abounding mercy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nothing but such mercy as this can suit such a guilty sinner!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\u201cChrist Is The End Of The Law\u201d HOW AND TO WHOM?                 Romans 10:4 Knowing something of the just severity and strict demands of God\u2019s holy law, –Knowing that the law demands, \u201cThe soul that sinneth it shall die\u201d, –Knowing that the law demands, \u201cIt must be perfect to be accepted\u201d, –Knowing the utter terror of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bulletin-editions"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6075","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6075"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6075\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6076,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6075\/revisions\/6076"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shoalhavengospelchurch.org.au\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}