THREE LAWS- TWO CONDEMNATIONS -
& FREEDOM THROUGH A THIRD LAW

Reading: Rom 7:15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
Rom 7:16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
Rom 7:17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
Rom 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Rom 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
Rom 7:21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
Rom 7:22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
Rom 7:23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Rom 7:24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Rom 7:25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Intro: After telling of his personal inner conflict because of the laws working in his own body and mind and his victory through Christ, Paul proceeds to explain to us that the same laws are active toward us unless we find the way to escape their condemnation.

I.The Law of Sin and Death.
Ezek 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
John3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
Rom5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

II.The Law of Holy Living as pictured in the LAW OF MOSES.
Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
This is God’s plan for those who are IN CHRIST.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

III.Condemnation under the law of sin and death.
Gen 2:17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
James 1:15 Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
Final judgment pronounced.
Rev 20:11 And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
Rev 20:12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
Rev20:13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
Rev20:14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
Rev20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

IV.Condemnation [sentence of judgment under the law of Holy living]
A. 1 Cor 3:12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver,precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
1Cor 3:13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
1Cor 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1Cor 3:15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

B. 1 John 2:28 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

C. Luke 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
Luke13:28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

V.The Law of the Spirit of Life.
Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

A.Operative words; IN CHRIST.
2Cor 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

B. John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

C. How do we get there?
John3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

VI.This same Law of Life can enable us to LIVE for him.
A. Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

B. .John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

C. If we could call up ,as witnesses, those involved in the events of John 6, which would say today, “you should follow MY example”?
John 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.
John 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away?
John 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

VII. NO CONDEMNATION!
A. No eternal death IN CHRIST.
John 5:24 Verily,verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

B. No sentence of loss for those who walk after the Law of the Spirit of Life.
Mat 25:19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
Mat 25:20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Mat 25:22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
Mat 25:23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
Mat 25:24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord,I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed:
Mat25:25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
Mat25:26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed:
Mat25:27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
Mat25:28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
Mat25:29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
2 John 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
1 Cor 3:14 If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
1 Cor 3:15 If anyman's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

WHY SEEK YE THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD?

Text: Luke 24:5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

Intro: This question comes, not from Christ, but from the angels ABOUT Him. If this question is faced honestly, it will turn men from error to the shining light of truth.
They came to do a burial service for a dead Jesus and left worshipping a living Christ!

I He had indeed truly died!
1. The soldiers who were no strangers to death knew it.
John 19:33 But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already,they brake not his legs:
2.They pierced his side and provided absolute, medical proof of death.
John 19:34 But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
3.Mary and the other women knew it.
4.The priests recognized it.
5.Joseph of Aremathea knew it.
6.The earth and all nature experienced the death of the creator. (Darkness and earthquake.)

II.Yet He Lives! His promise is fulfilled.
John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down,and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
He proved that neither governmental power, religious edicts, military might nor even death itself, could bind the Prince of Life!.

Where he CANNOT be found today.
1.In the world’s sin-cursed search for self-satisfaction.
2.In false religions and rituals.
Prov 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
a.Why the ‘shroud of Turin ‘ can’t be his.
John 20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre,and seeth the linen clothes lie,
John 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. The face couldn’t have been impressed on the shroud if the head was wrapped separately.
3.Not in a system of works for salvation.
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
4.Not in a disobedient life of a child of God.

B.Where he can be found..
The lost can still find him at the cross. It is the power of God unto salvation.
In scriptural service for the saved.
At the throne of Grace where he sits as our advocate.
Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with thefeeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as weare, yet without sin.
Heb 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that wemay obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
In clouds of glory at the resurrection.
On David’s throne in the millennial reign.

III.What the living Christ means to mankind.
A.He is the assurance of our resurrection.
Rom 4:25 Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.
It means his presence in our services.
Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
We have a High Priest.
Heb 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;
Heb 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.
Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Our eternal life is assured.
John 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.