Lifeless Law
The sermon emphasizes the importance of understanding our freedom from the law and living by the Spirit, as taught in Romans 6 and 7.
Miles J. Stanford emphasizes the freedom believers have from the fallen Adam, explaining how Romans Six and Seven illustrate our liberation from Adamic sin and law. He highlights that our liberty was secured on the Cross but is manifested in our daily lives through the work of the Holy Spirit in us and our union with Jesus Christ. Stanford urges ministers and teachers to focus on the themes of death and resurrection with Christ, where grace reigns over the law and the Spirit guides believers' hearts and lives, despite Satan's opposition.
Text
"For if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law" (Galatians 3:21).
Paul devoted two full chapters to establish our freedom from the fallen Adam. Romans Six sets forth our freedom from the dominion of Adamic sin; Romans Seven explains our freedom from Adamic law.
Whereas our liberty was won on the Cross, it is worked out in our daily life and experience by the Holy Spirit. On the Cross, by the Spirit, in the Lord Jesus Christ.
"If ministers and teachers of God's Word would set saints free and establish them in the Gospel, let their preaching and teaching be based upon the sixth and seventh of Romans, the central theme of which is our union with the Lord Jesus in death and burial; and our resurrection and ascension with Him into newness of life; where not the law, but grace, reigneth; where not the letter but the Spirit, moveth the heart and life of the believer. Satan will fight most fiercely against such teaching, but no other will establish the Lord's people."
"If God has declared that we died, we did die. If God has declared us discharged from the law, we are discharged and are hereby God's free children, 'new creatures,' 'created after God in righteousness and true holiness.'
"Our longing for conformity to the image of God's Son shall be confirmed and fulfilled by the Holy Spirit who hath been given unto us. No man can believe he has a right to walk freely and fully in the Spirit until he believes himself to be free from the law." -W.R.N.
"Law cannot give eternal life, nor have, therefore, any control over it." -L.S.C.
"But now we have been discharged from the law, having died to that wherein we were held" (Romans 7:6, ASV.).
Sermon Outline
- The Law Cannot Give Life
- Our Freedom from the Law
- The Holy Spirit Works Out Our Liberty
- The Importance of Teaching Freedom
- The Result of Our Freedom
- Discharged from the Law
- New Creatures in Christ
Key Quotes
“If ministers and teachers of God's Word would set saints free and establish them in the Gospel, let their preaching and teaching be based upon the sixth and seventh of Romans, the central theme of which is our union with the Lord Jesus in death and burial; and our resurrection and ascension with Him into newness of life; where not the law, but grace, reigneth; where not the letter but the Spirit, moveth the heart and life of the believer.” — Miles J. Stanford
“Law cannot give eternal life, nor have, therefore, any control over it.” — Miles J. Stanford
Application Points
- We must believe ourselves to be free from the law in order to walk freely and fully in the Spirit.
- Our longing for conformity to the image of God's Son will be fulfilled by the Holy Spirit.
- Ministers should preach and teach based on Romans 6-7 to establish believers in the Gospel.