March 7, 2010
SOVEREIGN GRACE BAPTIST CHURCH
Of Princeton, New Jersey

James 4: 12: There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?

MEETING LOCATION
Rocky Hill Firehouse, 2nd floor
150 Washington Street, Rocky Hill, NJ 08553

SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Sunday 10:00 AM Bible Class
11:00 AM Morning Service
Thursday 7:00 PM Mid-week Service

WEB ADDRESSES
Be sure to bookmark our website for daily articles, sermon notes and audio messages
http://www.freegracemedia.com/
http://www.sermonaudio.com/source_detail.asp?sourceid=sgbcpnj
http://www.freegraceradio.com/

MAILING ADDRESS
7 Birch Street
Pennington, New Jersey 08534
Phone: 615-513-4464
Email: mailto:clay@sovereign-grace.us

Reminders

Today at 5pm, I will be preaching in PA.

Saturday, March 13: Todd Nibert is preaching in PA.

Thank you to everyone who is helping with the conference. It is a tremendous relief to me (Acts 6:4). If you give toward the conference or to help those who are in need among us be sure to mark the offering "conference" or "brethren."

ONE LAWGIVER
James 4: 11, 12

We are dealing with the offense of usurping God's office, and passing sentence upon brethren. Throughout the churches, weaker brethren who yet observed the law of Moses, presented a trail to those who knew the believer is no longer under the law. At the same time, the liberty in which the stronger brethren walked presented a trial to the weaker brethren. The result was that fleshly lust of using condemning speech one of another over things totally indifferent to the kingdom of God. Paul calls it "doubtful disputing" (Romans 14: 1-4). As God grows brethren in grace, he makes us to know more and more that we are no longer under the law, but under grace. But he does it in his time, not ours. As you wait on him, the word is straightforward and clear: whether true or false, whether behind their backs or to their faces, whether in private or in public, do not speak evil one of another, brethren (Proverbs 31:26).

You Speak Evil of Christ
James 4: 11

Would you speak evil of Christ? James said that it should never be that we use the same tongue to bless God and then curse men, because men are made after God's image (James 3:9, 10). Here, it is even worse because Christ said what you do unto the least of my brethren you have done unto me (Matthew 18:6; 25:40). Aaron and Miriam spoke evil of Moses for marrying an Ethiopian woman. The LORD said to them, "Were you not afraid to speak against my servant, against Moses? (Numbers 12:8). Believers are one in Christ (Ephesians 4:1-6). What we speak of our brethren we speak of him who laid down his life for our brethren.

You Speak Evil of the Law of Christ
James 4: 11

The believer is under the law of grace. Condemning our brethren is speaking evil of the law of our Lord. In his sermon on the mount the Lord Jesus taught brethren not to speak evil one of another (Mt. 7:1). If we do it anyway we judge our Lord's word of grace to be no good. Furthermore, we speak evil of the law when we count that holy which our Lord never made holy or condemn that which God never condemned. Nothing is unclean of itself, but if a brother esteems it to be so, to him it is. Let the stronger not make it a reason for condemning the weaker and let not the weaker make it a reason to condemn those who do not observe as he does. The word of the Lord is, "the kingdom of God is not meat and drink." Believers are made the righteousness of God by the Holy Spirit through the blood of Christ. Christ, our Peacemaker, has made peace for our brethren with our God. The kingdom of God is rejoicing over the great things Christ has done in making us accepted with God (Rom 14: 14-19.) Let us follow our Lord's law of grace, not making things holy which he never made holy; else we speak evil of the Lord's law of love.

There Is One Lawgiver
James 4: 12

Jesus is King, Christ and Head over his church. The authority to fill all in all belongs to him. (Eph 1: 22, 23; Deut 32:39) God the Father has committed all judgment unto the Son (John 5:22). God in Christ is he who alone is able to give his law in the heart (Hebrews 8:10). But that means that our brethren are under the control of Christ our Head more effectually than the members of our own body are under the power of our head. When a brother stumbles, remember that he is Christ's servant, "to his own master he standeth, to his own master he falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand." (Romans 14:4) If we walk after the Spirit we will not fulfill the lust to bite and devour but will rejoice that he whose law discovers the sin of our brethren is the Righteous One who also redeemed our brethren from its curse (Gal 3:13; 5:13-17). He says our brethren shall never be condemned, but have eternal life (John 5:24; Rom 6:10-14; 8:1, 2). O, brethren, rejoice that there is one who is able to give his law in the hearts of his people and constrain us with the law of life which the law of sin and death could never do.

Now Who Are You?
James 4: 12

We have seen Christ whose word we follow. We have seen that he alone is able to give his law in the heart. Now who are you again? What was it you had to say about the one for whom Christ died?

"Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted." One might say, "I understand that restoring my brother is to remind him of what great things Christ has done. But then what must I do about the sin my brother is yet in?" Charge that to your account; take your brother's burden on yourself like Christ did yours. That is the only law your brother and you are under--it is called the law of grace, the law of love, the law of Christ! "Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself." (Galatians 6: 1-3)

SERMONS
After clicking on the following links you will find an option at the top of the page for the audio.
In This Mountain
One Lawgiver

ARTICLE
The Purpose for Trials
Our Brethren the Pharisees?