THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL

by Frank L. Gosden

Preached at Galeed Chapel, Brighton,

on Lord's Day evening 3 April 1946

"Great peace have they which love thy law: nothing shall offend them." (Psalm 119:165)

The law in the text is the gospel. The law of Moses is a good law, holy and just; but it is not a law that sinners love. They reverence it, but it is an authority which can only curse them because they continue not in all things commanded, and shuts them up in prison; it can make nothing perfect; it leaves a sinner where it finds him; it brings him under its condemning power.

But the law of the text is the law of the gospel. The apostle James speaks of it as 'the perfect law of liberty.' It is perfect because it makes the comers thereunto perfect and because the Lord Jesus, Who is the sum and substance of it, is perfect-made perfect through suffering. The law of Moses was a perfect law of bondage- the perfection of the Mosaic law is the perfection of the justice of God exercised in the condemnation of sinners. The law of the gospel is the perfection of liberty.

'Great peace have they which love thy law.' There is a blessedness in this description of the gospel as being 'a law', for where there, is a law there is authority; and Oh, the blessedness of the authority of the gospel as contrasted with the terribleness of the authority of the law. The gospel is greater than the law-not by its abrogation or destruction, but in its fulfillment; its authority abounds over the law, for 'where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.' The apostle speaks of it in this way: 'For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free, from the law of sin and death.' He then goes on to speak of what the law, could not do. So that we see there are three laws, three authorities, three powers, three dominions spoken of. First, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus is the law of the gospel making one free, from the law of sin and death; secondly, the dominion of sin in our members. Then there is thirdly, the law of Moses, that is the ten commandments; and what this 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.' That is the authority, the power of the gospel. The apostle -said, 'I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ': it is the power or the authority of God in a particular direction and to a blessed end; it is the power of God unto salvation in them that believe. Therein is the righteousness of God revealed, the righteousness of faith.

Great peace have they that love thy law.' I do desire that the Holy Spirit may lead us to consider this law. The Lawgiver is God Himself. The gospel is a law because it is the prescribed method of salvation; it is the only authority that can secure that end which will satisfy divine justice. It contains in it the authority, the power and the properties which can effect the deliverance of man from hell, from sin and death; and a blessed authority it is. In a law there is the authority of a sovereign: the gospel is a sovereign law and this authority is in Christ. It is first of all in the covenant. The gospel in all its completeness, its fullness and its sufficiency was contrived in the covenant of grace:

'Hail sacred love that first began

The scheme (that is, the law) to

rescue ruined man.'

Oh, my friends, have you ever by faith traced to the covenant of grace all the blessed gospel? There the eternal plan was made vast settlements of grace on millions of the human race: there was the eternal purpose of God contrived in the gospel as to how mercy should flow to rebellious man. In the covenant of grace the Lord Jesus Christ was set up as the Head of the Church: there it was that He condescended, though he was rich, rich as God, rich in eternity, rich as He was equal with God, possessing all things, yet in the covenant He condescended voluntarily to become the Head of the Church, to take human nature: to take flesh and blood as the children had: condescended to assume the relationship to His dear people that would unite them unto God in Christ; condescended to make an ineffable union between the Church and Himself between husband and wife. Here is the gospel in all its authority and power, centering in the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ. There would be no power, no validity in this law of the gospel except it were vested in the Person of the eternal Son of God: it is His person which gives to the gospel both its authority and its dignity, its power and its glory.

'Great peace have they which love it': sinners love it, bankrupts love it. It is very blessed to follow the description of the gospel as a law: it is particularly emphasized in the text and I would look at it as such. You can perceive the authority of this law in every part of the work of grace: you can see this in it, that it was a law; there was a law in this part (I would speak with reverence) in that what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, it had not the authority to do it, The law of' Moses had no authority to give liberty to captives, to build up the broken-hearted: the law was weak through the flesh. But in God sending His own Son there was authority, the authority of His divine person, Emmanuel. Had He been other than He was, He would not have been holy, harmless, undefiled. The merits of' Christ give the validity to the whole of the gospel. I am persuaded that those of you who love this law and who know something of' its authority in your hearts, will be sweetly compelled again and again to trace every movement in your soul up to the blessed Source and Fountain of the Person of Christ. The fulfillment of the law of Moses was required; the two laws run together: Christ said, I am come not to destroy the law but to fulfill it' and blessed be God the authority and law of the, gospel supersedes the law of Moses; it does not destroy it; rather it exhausts it in the fulfillment of it. The apostle speaks of it in writing to the Corinthians: 'But we all with open face beholding as in a glass (that is the gospel) the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.' Look at the different parts of the gospel and you will see this authority in it. I think it is, Mr. Hart who speaks of what is needed with respect to a righteousness in which a sinner may stand before God:

Righteousness to full perfection

Must be brought, lacking nought,

Fearless of rejection.'

That expresses this part of the gospel, the righteousness of Christ: There is law in it: there is method in it: a standard which alone is acceptable to God which is a perfect righteousness equal with His character and holiness. There is an authority in Christ's righteousness because of its perfection; and its perfection is a consequence of His divine and blessed Person. You will need it and you will love this law as you see it has the authority of a Substitute. The gospel is a prescribed law, the character of God is the standard of it; the gospel is equal unto the holiness and glory of God. And who has the authority, the power, the virtue or the merits to fill a gospel with such perfections other than Christ Himself? And who needs it? He needed it not: it is for sinners. 'This man receiveth sinners and eateth with them.'

Again: this law contains the authority of a Mediator. A mediator is one between two parties and one who has authority with both. There is one God, terrible, holy, glorious, the eternal God: that is one party. The other party is a sinner, self-ruined, self-destroyed, hell-deserving, no remedy in himself: in the world, no price that can purchase his redemption: at an infinite distance from God as hell is from heaven. Oh, the blessed authority of this divine Mediator between God and men, Who, by His own precious work, His own righteousness and perfect obedience, His own satisfying of the law in all its demands, makes up everything that is wanting! He has everything for the sinner to make him acceptable to God. 'The apostle says, 'Ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.' There is a law and an authority in the gospel which sinners love; the law of the gospel is in the Lord's death: the method of salvation is there: 'without shedding of blood is no remission' 'and I, if I be lifted up from the earth will draw all men unto me.' 'And as Moses lifted tip the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.' He must he lifted up.

But where do we need this law, this authority, this kingdom? In our hearts. Oh, for Christ to be made precious in all His divine power in our souls! What will that law do there? It is expressed as a kingdom: 'the kingdom of God is within you.' This kingdom is the gospel. It is called the gospel of the kingdom, the gospel of Christ, the everlasting gospel. It brings in everlasting blessings: by it is set up in the heart the kingdom of

God and all the authority of the gospel exercised in the soul. Oh, that we might be brought into this, and that this law might be brought into us so 'that as sin has reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness.' That is the law grace reigning--not through naked Omnipotence, but Omnipotence exercised through sovereign love: Therefore 'if God be for us, who can be against us?' There must be a righteousness, and if grace reigns, it reigns through the righteousness of Christ the authority of His life, of His perfections, the authority of the merits of His Person, His sufferings and the perfection of His obedience. Therefore grace reigns through righteousness unto eternal life. Do you love this law? As you look at it sometimes does your heart respond as you feel your ruin and consider your mortal decay? Do you find your heart respond and say "Thy kingdom come'-blessed Kingdom: erect thy throne within my heart and 'reign without a rival there.' Would you not take delight in feeling the authority of this blessed law in your heart exercised in the fulfillment of that promise, 'sin shall not have dominion over you.' Why? 'For ye are not under the law but: under grace,' That is, under the law of the gospel: under the authority of Christ, of His death, the authority off His person. 'Great peace have they which love thy law,' I do wish He would exercise His authority in my heart. It is the only power that will subdue sin within us: the only power- by which we shall be made overcomers to sit with Him at last in His throne. It is the only authority that enabled that host to stand upon the sea of glass, having got the victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark and over the number of his name.

'Grace all the work shall crown.' It is the law of Christ; it is the law of love, free, immutable love; invincible and eternal grace- it is the law of mercy, enduring mercy; for His mercy endureth for ever; a law of divine power, of infinite wisdom. 'We speak the wisdom of God in a mystery.' This law has no effect on the wicked. The gospel is hidden from the wise and prudent. It is solemn and yet marvelous, to see how some of the greatest intellects in the world are absolutely ignorant and blind and unaffected by this divine law. It is the secret of the Lord which is with them that fear Him. 'Great peace have they which love it.' Do you love it? Gadsby did, for he said, 'the gospel, I love it, 'tis perfectly free.' It is the water of life: 'Let him that is athirst come and whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.' And so we might go on. It is a law because it had conditions. Before sinners could be accepted with God, made suitable for heaven, there were conditions; and the Lord Jesus met these conditions. He was the Father's Servant: He is the Church's Servant: 'I am among you as one that serveth.' He serves as a Surety, as a Mediator, as the Redeemer and Saviour. Look at Him in that service, and follow this law through. Great peace have they which love thy law.' I sometimes feel myself to be in such a ruined state that I just lie prostrate before God in all my unworthiness, feeling how greatly I need and desire the Lord to bring this law of the gospel and to exercise His divine power over me and in me: that He would 'For me work and in me too Guide me right and bring me through.'

This law extends to the grave. Why will the people of God be raised from the dead to a glorious resurrection unto eternal life? Because of the law of the gospel which involves the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The law of the gospel was there: authority was in Christ's grave, the authority of His person, His work, His sinless life and His sufferings, the fulfilling of the law. He could not be holden of death. That is the law of the gospel; and by that law His people will be raised again. The same power which was exercised at the resurrection of Christ is the same power that resurrects a sinner from the grave of sin and death into a life in Christ. It is the authority of the work of grace in the heart, where all the power of Christ is brought in its consequences and effects into the heart by the Holy Ghost.

Great peace have they which love thy law.' The greatness of this peace is this: it is divine peace, God's peace; a peace which is not dependent on circumstances. A natural peace can only be realized where circumstances are such as to provide peace. But this peace can be known in experience when everything concerning our nature, our circumstances and the world may be in an uproar. As the Kingdom of God is not of this world, so this peace is independent of the world. It is peace in the conscience because. The terror of the law is silenced. The law is satisfied and from being a sinner's greatest enemy, the law now becomes his friend, Though by the deeds of the law, as someone, has said no man living shall be justified, yet without the consent of the law we shall never reach heaven. It is in the person of Christ, the law being satisfied, that a sinner is taken to heaven: not because of a destroyed law, but because of a satisfied law and with its full consent. And that is no small authority. There is infinite justice in salvation. This is the peace. 'In the world ye shall have tribulation,' said the Lord Jesus: there is nothing there to do you good: everything there is in opposition to Me and My work, to My grace. There is no divine glory in the world: no life in its riches: the best of it is dead. 'In the world ye shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.' Great peace, eternal peace, peace by His cross has, Jesus made. Oh, that we might know this peace in our conscience: be free from the power and dominion of sin, have peace with God. We do well not to be deceived. A quiet conscience is very different from peace of conscience. A quiet conscience may indicate an evil condition. The devil is very subtle: he may rock you to sleep with a quiet conscience, when sin is still and does not show itself. Calm in your conscience may be the very opposite of that peace which comes through the precious blood, the cross of Christ. I have said this-that the next best thing to having peace in the conscience is to have a troubled one. It is a mercy to have a troubled conscience until this great peace, God's peace, eternal peace, heavenly peace, undisturbable peace is in the conscience, 'Great peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend them.'

'Nothing shall offend them.' When John was in prison his doubts and fears began to rise. It was not long since he had seen the Lord and testified of Him, 'Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.' Yet now while in prison he sent his disciples unto Jesus to ask Him if he really was the One Who should come or should he look for another? And Oh the merciful reply which Christ sent to John: 'Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see, The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk: the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear: the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And (this was the point) blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me,' Not offended in My person: not offended at the treatment that you will receive because of your profession of My name: blessed is he who is not offended in Me when imprisoned for My sake: blessed is he who is not offended in Me when persecuted for righteousness sake. 'Rejoice and be exceeding glad; for great is your reward in heaven; for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.' When this blessed authority of the gospel, with its great peace is in your hearts, you will not be offended at the particular pathway which the providence of God has appointed unto you: you will not be offended at a rough and thorny road in a path of tribulation. How good it is to see the grace of God shine in an afflicted saint, some of them with weak bodies, crooked circumstances: some of them walking in the midst of perplexity, trouble and responsibility: but 'nothing shall offend them.' Why? because they have the end in view: they see the end of their faith, the salvation of their souls. They look to that place to which the divine and heavenly authority will bring them: the authority of their great High Priest for

'With authority He asks

Enthroned in glory now.'

Nothing in this world will offend them. The stones descending upon dying Stephen did not offend him. He was filled with the Holy Ghost. He looked into heaven and saw the Lord Jesus Christ standing at the right hand of God.

'Nothing shall offend them.' The woman who came to the Lord Jesus about her daughter who was possessed of devils had her faith tried. The Lord said to her, 'It is not meet to take the children's bread and to give it unto dogs.' 'Nothing shall offend them.' A discriminating ministry will not offend them, rather the response will be 'Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil which shall not break my head.'

'Nothing shall offend them,' They see the blessedness, the importance of the gospel. Are you offended? How susceptible we are to offence. Look at the saints of old and what they endured. Read the eleventh chapter of Hebrews: Moses was not offended with the afflictions of the people of God. The reproach of Christ will not offend you. Call to rememberance the former days, in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great fight of afflictions; partly whilst ye were, made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions, and partly whilst ye, became companions of them that were so used,' 'Nothing shall offend them,' 'They took the spoiling of their goods.' 'Nothing shall offend them.' Why? Because ye know that in heaven ye have a better and a more enduring substance. 'Nothing shall offend them.' Said the Lord Jesus to His disciples, 'Will ye also go away?' Lord, to whom shall we go?' Where else is there hope" In whom else can we hope? Where else is there any escape from the wrath to come? Where else can we find an exchange for our misery? And where else can we obtain beauty for ashes ? What does it bring us to? Just this: 'Whom have I in heaven but thee?' What other righteousness but Thine" What other beauty but Thine? What other mediator in heaven but Thee? What other Redeemer but Thee? What other High Priest in heaven but Thee? What other Intercessor but Thee? What other Advocate but Thee? 'Nothing shall offend them,' Oh, that all our desires might be gathered up and that our affections might be, so set upon Christ that nothing shall be a stumbling-block here, and that we may endure unto the end.

Please direct your comments to Mike Krall.

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