Ishmael is the one baby that must be thrown out with the bath water. — There is no room for law in the house of grace!

Before the Day Star Knew Its Place — Don Fortner
(Tune: #497 — When I Can Read My Title Clear — CM)

1. Before the sun in heav’n was placed,
Or angel’s voice could sound,
God’s saints in bonds of sov’reign grace,
Were one with Jesus found.

2. In all Christ Jesus did on earth,
His chosen did in Him; —
From the obedience of His birth,
Through death in darkness grim!

3. For His elect He tasted death;
All glory to his name!
Triumphant in His dying breath,
With Him we overcame!

4. With Christ our Savior on the tree
We met the law’s demands;
“I am in them. They are in me.”
And thus our union stands!

5. Since Jesus slept among the dead,
He saved us from death’s fear;
For with our suff’ring gracious Head,
We’ve been triumphant there.

6. When from the tomb we see Him rise,
Triumphant o’er our foes,
He bore His members to the skies,
And with Him we arose!

7. This union cannot be dissolved,
By which all things are ours,
Long as eternal years revolve,
Or Deity endures!

Shelby and I are scheduled to leave for meetings in Ireland and England this afternoon. The Lord willing, we will return on April 30. In my absence, you will be privileged to hear the gospel from several faithful, gifted preachers of the gospel, beginning tonight with Bro. Ron Wood. I know you will give them a good hearing. Pray for those men as they preach the gospel to you.

Shelby and I ask you to pray for us as well. I am scheduled to preach fourteen times in thirteen days. We will be traveling many miles between meetings. It is our prayer that our God will be honored and that he will be pleased to use the gospel preached for the salvation, consolation and edification of his elect. Shelby has printed copies of my daily itinerary while we are in Great Britain for you. They are posted and can be picked up in the foyer.

It is not possible for any mortal to comprehend the full scope of those three words, but here are ten statements that might help to enlarge our understanding of them. After you have read this brief article, carefully study each statement, asking God the Holy Spirit to seal these words to your heart — “Christ is all!”

1. Christ is all to be known (John 17:3; Philippians 3:10). If you know Christ, you know enough, even if you are ignorant of other things. If you do not know Christ, it is nothing to have all other knowledge.
2. Christ is all to be chosen (Matthew 13:44-46). There is no way to obtain this Treasure and purchase this Pearl, but by selling all that you have. If you would save your life, you must lose it to Christ.
3. Christ is all to be trusted (John 3:36). His blood is atonement. His righteousness is acceptance with God. His advocacy is our assurance. His grace is preservation. His providence is our provision.
4. Christ is all to be loved (Luke 14:26). All other loves must be burned upon this altar, so that nothing and no one comes between my heart and my Savior.
5. Christ is all to be desired (Isaiah 26:8). Seek Christ to the exclusion of all else; and you will find everything you need in him, supplied from his fulness.
6. Christ is all our joy (Philippians 3:3). If a person has that which he desires above all else, he rejoices in it; and all who know Christ rejoice in him.
7. Christ is all to consume our thoughts (Philippians 4:6-8). If you must think of other things, think not on them. Think on Christ; and think of all things in the light of the knowledge of him.
8. Christ is all to be followed (John 13:15). The rebel must be ruled by law. The mercenary is motivated by reward. The believer is ruled by love. “The love of Christ constraineth us.”
9. Christ is all in the house of God (Colossians 3:11). In preaching, praise and prayer, “Christ is all!” He is all our beauty, all our attraction and all our entertainment. All our activities serve him. All our ordinances remember him and proclaim allegiance to him.
10. Christ is all our hope before God (1 Timothy. 1:1). His obedience is the basis of our hope, his coming its fulfillment, his presence its satisfaction, and his likeness its consummation. “Christ is All!”

Legalists everywhere denounce me as “a vile antinomian,” and “a promoter of licentiousness,” because I dare to assert from the pulpit and in print that which is plainly stated in Holy Scripture: — “Christ is the end of the law.” Every time I declare that statement in a sermon or an article, some work-monger is sure to warn, “You must not carry that too far. Paul’s statement in that place must not be taken out of context.”

I fully agree. We must not carry that statement too far. In fact, I insist that if you carry it any further than Paul did, or do not carry it as far as Paul did, your doctrine is utterly false. How far does Paul carry the statement? — To the “end.” “Christ is the end of the law.” That is to say, “Christ is the finishing, or the termination of the law.” I also agree that the statement must be understood in its context. — “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness.” The law now has no connection with righteousness!

God’s people are not inclined to give up their liberty, or be brought into bondage simply because they are denounced by religious pigmies, for whom they have nothing but contempt. God forbids it (Colossians 2:16). How our hearts rejoice to read these words of inspiration, — “Christ is the end of the law.” The Spirit of God had no fear that believers would twist his meaning into an excuse for sin. He simply declares, “Christ is the end of the law!” Take those words as they stand in the text. Let no one persuade you that the Holy Spirit meant to say, “Christ brings men into the bondage of the law.” God always says what he means and means what he says. “Christ is the end of the law!” That means Christ is the fulfillment of the law’s types, the accomplishment of the law’s prophecies, the fullness of the law’s requirements, the satisfaction of the law’s justice, and the end of the law’s dominion. Go in any direction from this point, go as far as you can, and you will not stretch the text too far. — “Christ is the end of the law!”

“Christ is the end of the law for righteousness.” — God’s holy law cannot require greater righteousness than God’s elect have in Christ; and the law cannot require any additional righteousness from us. Jesus Christ is “THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.” And we have been made the righteousness of God in him (Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16; Romans 5:19; 2 Corinthians 5:21). The law gives us no justifying righteousness. The law gives us no sanctifying righteousness. And the law gives us no glorifying righteousness. Christ alone is the righteousness of his people! The law of God is not a motive for righteousness, a basis of righteousness, or a rule of righteousness to God’s saints in this world. Christ is!

“Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth!” Unbelievers are under the law. Believers are not. Unbelievers are under the curse. Believers are not. Unbelievers must have the law to make them behave. Believers do not require it (I Timothy 1:9). If you would be free from the law’s just curse, condemnation and guilt, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. If you trust the Lord Jesus Christ, you are no longer under the galling, terrorizing yoke of the law; and never again can be. Thanks be unto God! In Christ we are free!