Old Llantrisant Hill
Introduction
- Popular sayings in the Bible repeated by non-Christians
- Example of ‘judge not’
- Example of ‘do unto others as you would have people do unto you
- Verses that can be easily misunderstood and taken out of context
- Preachers must not take this verse out of context
- "Therefore" – in the light of all that Jesus has been saying
- A summary teaching of all the Law and the Prophets – the Old Testament
- A wonderful harmony between the Old Testament and New Testament
- Overview:
- How not to misunderstand the text
- How the text applies to me – our duty
- How the text summarises our entire duties to others – an emphatic conclusion
How not to misunderstand the text
- Context – in prayer
- In light of your relationship with God – be like Him
- Be like your heavenly Father
- Jesus is primarily teaching His disciples – Matt 5:11
- Jesus is teaching the Christian
- Jesus teaches about the spirituality of the law – examples
- To believers – ‘do unto others as you would do yourselves’
- Not just a moral teaching or a good ethic
- It is not possible to obey this without knowing God
- Unforgiveness hinders prayer
- Example of from the Lord’s prayer
- Emulate the Lord your God
How the text applies to me – our duty
As a Christian
- A command of King Jesus
- The Royal Law of Love
- James 2:12 – a law by which we will be judged
- The Christian will be judged innocent in the blood of Jesus Christ
- There will also be a judgment of works – 1 Cor 3
- Practically
- How do you want others to treat you?
- Listen to and include others
- Understand and be gracious
- Honestly (and speaking the truth in love)
- What helps, strengthens and encourages you?
- Not a law of exact equivalence
- Discernment and the grace of God
- Forgiveness and love
- The Golden Rule
- We must pray for wisdom in obeying
The non-Christian
- Cannot accomplish this rule
- Because the natural inclination of human nature is selfish
- Examples
- We often live to please ourselves – even though we might had high ideals
- An unbeliever has no power to obey the law of God
- The Christian can obey the law of God, in the power of Christ
- Love without Christ is often about ourselves
- Love with Christ is often about others
- Explanation of the work of Jesus Christ
- God gives the Christian a new heart
- The unbeliever must come and accept the finished work of Christ
- The law of God will then be fulfilled in them by the Holy Spirit
How the text summarises our entire duties to others – an emphatic conclusion
- "for this is the Law and the Prophets"
- Such a concise summary of the teaching of the Old Testament
- Lev 19 is summed up in this
- So many truths of the Old Testament summarised in this law of Love
- The second tablet of the Ten Commandments
- Reading Romans 13:8-10
- Examples
- The law of love means we want the best for our neighbour – salvation
Closing Remarks
- Quote from JC Ryle
- Not legalistic law but a royal law of love
- A big principle that helps us fulfil the details
- Lord help us to think what is most beneficial to others, most loving and pleasing to God