Broadstreet Church of Christ
1213 Broad Street Phenix City, Alabama
Schedule of Services
Sunday:
Bible Study
10:00 A.M.
Morning Worship
11:00 A.M.
Evening Worship
5:00 P.M. (winter)
6:00 P.M.
(summer)
Wednesday:
Bible Study
7:30 P.M.
All times
Eastern
Morning Worship
New Year’s Sermon
Never give up
57
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ.
58
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding
in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in
vain in the Lord.
35
Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of
reward.
36
For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye
might receive the promise.
37
For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not
tarry.
Hab
2:3
38
Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall
have no pleasure in him.
Hab
2:4
39
But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that
believe to the saving of the soul.
E very opportunity for good use
9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if
we faint not.
10
As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially
unto them who are of the household of faith.
16
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Walk closer with the Lord
16
This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the
flesh.
16
And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and
upon the Israel of God.
2
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world,
according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh
in the children of disobedience:
3
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of
our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by
nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by
grace ye are saved;)
6
And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places
in Christ Jesus:
7
That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in
his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is
the gift of God:
9
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which
God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
17
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not
as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
12
That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and
glory.
1
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus,
that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye
would abound more and more.
12
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have
lack of nothing.
Yield not to temptation
12
Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is
faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but
will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to
bear it.
27
But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any
means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
5
Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against
the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the
obedience of Christ;
Enjoy the Christian life
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.
20
According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be
ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be
magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
21
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
16
Rejoice evermore.
Always be thankful
17
Pray without ceasing.
18
In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you.
21
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither
were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish
heart was darkened.
11
Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us
thanksgiving to God.
13
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received
the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men,
but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in
you that believe.
Rise to a higher plane of living
19
Quench not the Spirit.
20
Despise not prophesyings.
21
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22
Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole
spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
24
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
25
Brethren, pray for us.
26
Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.
27
I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy
brethren.
28
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
1
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where
Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
2
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
3
For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
4
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with
him in glory.
5
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication,
uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness,
which is idolatry:
6
For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of
disobedience:
1
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told
you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you
unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4
And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5
Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we
know the way?
6
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me.
The Goodness of God's Law
Do we appreciate the valuable thing that God's law is?
Psalm 19:7,8
7
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the
LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of
the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Introduction
A. Since the creation of Adam and Eve, human beings have been accountable to
God's law
16
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou
mayest freely eat:
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.
B. Christians are no longer under the law of Moses, God's special law for
Israel
23
But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith
which should afterwards be revealed.
24
Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we
might be justified by faith.
25
But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
14
For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle
wall of partition between us;
15
Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments
contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so
making peace;
14
Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was
contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
c. but they are under a law of God nevertheless
19
For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all,
that I might gain the more.
20
And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them
that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are
under the law;
21
To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God,
but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
I. WHAT LAW IS?
A. A law is "a rule laid down for the guidance of an intelligent being, by
an intelligent being having power over him" (John Austin):
1. Ideally, laws are made by those who understand what is best for those
under their authority. We can be certain that God's law is always in man's
best interests
5
Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he
shall live in them: I am the LORD.
Rom
10:5
Gal
3:12
2. Notice also that, according to this definition, law is made for the
guidance of intelligent beings
B. Law is made up of three components:
1. Command -- the expression of a particular desire
2. Duty -- the obligation to pursue a certain course of conduct
3. Penalties -- the punishments for disobedience
C. In the Old Testament (for example,
Psalm 119) several words are used to
speak of God's law:
1. Examples: law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commands, judgments
2. All of these terms refer to God's rules for human conduct
II. THE USE AND MISUSE OF GOD'S LAW:
A. Misuse
3
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God
sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned
sin in the flesh:
1. Use of the law as a means of justification, righteousness, forgiveness,
salvation
16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the
faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might
be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by
the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
11
But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident:
for, The just shall live by faith.
Hab
2:4
Rom
1:17
28
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of
the law.
3
For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish
their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the
righteousness of God.
4
For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that
believeth.
9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law,
but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of
God by faith:
2. Mere outward, mechanical performance of the law
23
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint
and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law,
judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave
the other undone.
24
Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel.
25
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the
outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion
and excess.
26
Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter,
that the outside of them may be clean also.
27
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited
sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of
dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness.
28
Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full
of hypocrisy and iniquity.
3. Obeying some laws, while disregarding others
8
If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
Lev
19:18
Matt 5:43
Matt 19:19
Matt 22:39
Mark 12:31
Rom
13:9
Gal
5:14
9
But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the
law as transgressors.
10
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is
guilty of all.
Deut 27:26
Gal
3:10
11
For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if
thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of
the law.
Exod 20:14,13
12
So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
11
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his
brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the
law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.
B. Proper use
8
But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9
Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the
lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and
profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
1. Recognition of the true purpose of law: to restrain and guide
23
For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of
instruction are the way of life:
1. Obedience from the heart, as well as outward obedience
22
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and
sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better
than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
Mark 12:33
34
But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence,
they were gathered together.
35
Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him,
and saying,
36
Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37
Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
Deut
6:5,
Deut10:12
Mark 12:30
Luke 10:27
38
This is the first and great commandment.
39
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Lev
19:18
Matt 5:43
Matt 19:19
Mark 12:31
Rom
13:9
Gal
5:14
Jam
2:8
40
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
8
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another
hath fulfilled the law.
9
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt
not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if
there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying,
namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Ex
20:13-17
Lev
19:18
Matt 5:43
Matt 19:19
Matt 22:39
Mark 12:31
Gal
5:14
Jam
2:8
10
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of
the law.
2. Obedience to the spirit as well as the letter of the law
20
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into
the kingdom of heaven.
32
But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the
cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall
marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.
A. When we come to have a proper perspective on God's law, we will see it as
a very valuable thing.
III. THE VALUE OF GOD'S LAW
7
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the
LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of
the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9
The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD
are true and righteous altogether.
10
More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter
also than honey and the honeycomb.
11
Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is
great reward.
12
Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have
dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the
great transgression.
14
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in
thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.
A. God's law reveals the good path to follow
7
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the
LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of
the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Ab. God's law restrains us from sin
11
Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is
great reward.
12
Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.
13
Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have
dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the
great transgression.
Ac. God's law restores our soul
7
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the
LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Ad. God's law rejoices the heart
8
The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of
the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Conclusion
A. God's law is good because of the beneficial restraint and guidance it
furnishes man.
B. Without it, man would be incapable of directing his own life
23
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that
walketh to direct his steps.
May we have a deeper appreciation for the goodness of God's law and make up
our minds to submit gladly to its controls on our lives
