DR. LAW AND DR. GRACE

DR. LAW AND DR. GRACE

The doctrinal of law and grace presents one of the greatest truths in the Bible.
There is an unbreakable relationship between law and grace.
This is an allegorical message presented in Scripture and Sermon and Song.
What we will discover is our Standing and Security in Christ.
Grace is the free and undeserving favor of God.
Grace is God paying a debt that we could never in a million years pay.

I – THE SCRIPTURES - on Law and Grace:
Ephesians 2:8-9 “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:13, “For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law.”
Here the word imputed means to charge. The law was given to charge man as being sinful. If a criminal is guilty but declares he is innocent the judge will pose the maximum sentencing on him. But, if he admits his guilty then the judge can show mercy.
Romans 5: 20 - 21, “Moreover the law entered, that the offense (disobedience, lies, pride) might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
That as sin (that is man’s chronic and fatal spiritual disease) hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Romans 7:5, "For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sin, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
The Law reveals our diseased proud and selfish life – v 5.
6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held: that we should serve in newness of spirit and not in the oldness of the letter. Dr. Grace does what Dr. Law can not do.
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin (or sinful)? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Dr. Law reveals our standing with a holy God. We are lost!
That terrible chronic and fatal disease man has called sin was not known to me until God’s Law revealed it to me. In other words, I thought I was OK until the Law of God showed me what I really was.
9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.”
In other words, before I met Dr. Law, I thought I was alive. I thought I was OK. I didn’t know that I was dead.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Galatians 3: 22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
II -THE SERMON -- on Law and Grace:
g Years ago I was having some serious problems but I just didn’t know exactly what my problem was. I was unhappy. I was lonely. I was cantankerous, angry, and just down right miserable.
Was it physical or mental, I don’t know? Things bothered me and people bothered me.
Anyway, I had a neighbor that was always joyful and peaceful in life. He had a light, a love, a kindness about him I couldn’t explain.
I asked him for advice. He talked to me but I couldn’t understand what he was saying. Finally he said, “Go see my doctor.”
So, I ask him who his doctor was. He said, “If you want help you have to first go to “Dr. Law.” Then he said, “You really ought to go and see him, he was the only one that could help me.”
I said, “Where is he located? He said, “Take the road called “Strait” to the corner of OT Blvd and NT Drive.
He said, “Dr. Law is located in the Romans building, floor 3 and room 23.” And his associate is located in an adjoining building called the Ephesians Building on floor 2 in rooms 8-9.
“Now listen,” he said, “Down the street from them on the road called “Broadway,” there are many MEDICAL PRACTICES. They are phonies. They look good, sound good but they won’t get to your root problem.”
“They will offer as many remedies as the people want and change many times to satisfy their patients.”
Well I, like most men postpone going for a while but it seem that whatever it was inside of me was growing and growing and I got kind of scared.
Finally, I went down to OT Blvd to the Romans building, floor 3 and room 23 and went inside.
-As I walked in his office, I noticed that it was quite old fashion.
-I didn’t see anything new in there; everything was just old.
-Even the music was in a minor key playing.
-I said to the secretary, I would like to see Dr. Law.
With a cold stare she handed me I guess a survey paper or something and said fill this out.
It said something like this: “Have you realized that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God? I answered “No, I didn’t really know what it meant.”
The second question was: “Have you realized All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way?” Again I answered, “No.”
The third question was, “Do you realize There is none that doeth good, no, not one.” because “There is none righteous, no, not one.” Again I said, “No.”
I handed the paper back to her and without a smile she said, “Go on in you need help.”

I stepped inside his office and started to tell him how I had been feeling and he stopped me before I could get started.
“I will not need your help,” he said.
I said, “Do you think you can diagnose what is wrong with me without me telling you my symptoms?”
And he said, “Yes, sir, I KNOW what is wrong with you.
You have heart trouble. You’re just like all the rest of my patients.”

My old flesh got a little hot and it didn’t make sense to me that every one of his patients would have the same disease.
He handed me a piece of literature to read. It said, “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
He asked me if I understood that and I said, “No.” Then I said, “Dr. Law I’m going to tell you my symptoms because I don’t think you understand me.
f I’m having trouble with my HANDS. I take things that aren’t mind. My fingers like to throw the dice and they deal a good poker hand. They even deal off the bottom of the deck. These hand like to fight. They reach for money. My hands are giving me trouble. I can’t control them.” Sometimes I would like to strangle people. I need to know how to control my hands.
Dr. Law placed his big hand on mine and looked at my hands for a few moments and said, “Son, you have heart trouble.
I said, “Doc, I don’t know about that. I’m going to have to argue with you. You may be a doctor, but still you don’t understand me.
f Let me tell you more. I’m having trouble with my eyes. It’s nothing for me to sit three or four hours in one night and watch Hollywood and another hour read worldly magazines and newspapers.
I like those girly magazines. Matter of fact every thing I see my eyes want; a new gun, a new golf club, a new fishing pole, a new car, a new wife.
I think it is my eyes. They are never satisfied. I must be having eye trouble.”
Dr. Law took a light and looked into my eyes with his deep dark eyes and said, “Son it is plain to see.” I said, “What?” He said, “You have heart trouble.
f I glared at him for a moment then said, Doc be reasonable about this thing. Let me tell you something else. I’m having trouble with my tongue.
It says things that are sharp and ugly and critical and uncontrollable.
It says things like, “I hate him and I would like to kill her and it loves to argue.
It say things to my wife I shouldn’t say. I find myself condemning and sarcastic. I believe there is something rotten about my tongue.
Please examine my tongue.” Dr. Law rubbed his chin with his hand and took out a little popsicle stick and said open up. He looked at my tongue and said, “Yep, hum, just what I thought.” I said, “What, Doc?” He sighed and said, “Son, you have heart trouble.”
f By this time, I felt like he just wasn’t listening to me. I was getting angry. I said, Dr. Law maybe it is my ears. Sometimes my neighbor tells me stories about the Bible and I can’t hear him. I mean it doesn’t make sense. I can’t understand a thing he is saying. But when my friends gossip and tell dirty smut I understand it all.
On the radio, I can’t understand that “Christian music stuff. I don’t even like to listen to it but I love my rock and rap. It really moves my flesh. I love to hear things that give me a better opinion of myself.
Dr. Law took that little light and looked in my ears and groaned a little. I said, “What is it doc?” Do know what he said to me? Yep! “Heart Trouble.”
f Then I said, “Doc do you think it might be my feet. They take me into bars and dance halls and place I know I shouldn’t go. They get me in trouble. I think something is wrong with my feet.
Dr. Law never raised his eye brows. He never smiled. He only looked at me. He took a deep breath and with his base voice said, “Son, O Son, you have heart trouble.”
f Well, doc, I have one more symptom and maybe this will help you diagnose what is wrong with me. There is something wrong with my taste. I really like the taste of liquor and intoxicating beverage and even dope. I think there must be some way you can change my taste.”
And Dr. Law said, “That will be taken care of when your heart is fixed.”
g I blew up, “You’re a quack, a nut.” I said. In anger I said, “Dr. Law, I’m going to another doctor,” to which he said, “The woods are full of them, but you’ll never get well until your heart is made right.”
I said to Dr. Law, “Could you recommend any other doctor for a consultation?” He said, “There is only one doctor I would recommend and if you won’t listen to me, you won’t listen to him.”

f So I went home. My neighbor asked how things went. And I went off on him, “Your doctor is a quack.” I told him I’ll find a more modern doctor that knows modern medicine.
My neighbor said, “I tried the same thing and after many years I found that nothing satisfied me till I listened to Dr. Law.
I said, “Not me, that guy is crazy.” So I went down the road called, “Broadway” and saw this beautiful building. There I found Dr Religion.
I knocked on Dr. Religion’s door and walked in. Everything was so pretty and modern. I like the upbeat music. I related to that.
I then met Dr. Religion. He seems just like me, just a good old Joe and he said, “Come on in here, Roland, I’m glad to see you!”
And I said, “Yes I’m glad to see you. I’ve been up to see old Dr. Law.” To which Dr. Religion said, “Oh, he’s ancient; he’s an antique.
Modern folks don’t go to him. He hasn’t had the latest training.
He doesn’t know anything about the latest approaches to meeting man’s needs.” He leaned over in a whisper and said, “Personally, I don’t like Dr. Law.”
“Well “Dr. Religion,” I said, “I think there is something wrong with me?”
He said, “Why there doesn’t look like there is anything wrong with you.”
I said, “Would you give me a check up anyway?”
He said, “Sure!” After his examination, he said, “Why, there’s nothing seriously wrong with you that going to church wouldn’t fix.”
And I said, ‘Which one?” “Oh,” he said, “just any of them will be all right.
Find one convenient and entertaining.”
So the next Sunday, I went to church and people shook my hand and said how glad they were to see me. Well I felt great but after a while I didn’t think people were treating me right so I went back to Dr. Religion and I said, “Dr. Religion, I don’t believe I’m any better.” He said, “Well, did you start going to church?” I said, “Sure. I’ve been going every Sunday.”
Well he said, “Did you pray the prayer?” I said what prayer? He said you got to pray the prayer. You have to say “Jesus save me.” I said, “Is it that simple?” He said sure. So I prayed the prayer right in his office.
And he told me I was going to heaven. Well that sounded good. I felt better. I believed Dr. Religion. I put my faith in what Dr. Religion told me.
Things went well for a while but then I felt the same again, I felt empty again, so I went back to Dr. Religion. And told him how I felt.
Then he said, “Did you join and get baptized?” “Why,” I said, “no.” He said, “Do that and that will make you feel better.” I said, “I’ll sure do it and get my wife to also.”
So I went down to the church and joined it and got baptized. Well people came by and patted me on the back and called me Brother. And I felt really good for a long time but that same old empty and dark feeling came back.
I went back to Dr. Religion and I said, “Dr. Religion, there’s something wrong I’m not really any better.” “Well,” he said, “have you taken a job in the church and started helping others. Teach Sunday school. Get involved.” And so I did.
At first it was kind of fun having authority and having children look up to me. I got certificates and recognition and I felt really good but it wasn’t long before I just was the same old guy I has always been. It seemed I had never changed.
So I dropped out and only went once a week for a while and then dropped out all together.
g One day on the “Broadway” I saw Dr. Be Good’s church. So I went to Dr. Be Good. He had a kind face and he always smiled.
He told me to “Be Good.” “Be positive.” “Be tolerant of everybody.” “Be happy.” “After all,” he said, “We are all going to heaven.” We don’t want to talk about hell and sin. Because sin isn’t really sin; everything is relative.
So let’s just be good and one day we all will be in heaven.
I thought, well that sounds good. So I’ll just “be good.”
You know what? After a few weeks, I found out I can’t be good. It just isn’t in me to read the Bible. Church and Bible study just wasn’t something I liked. I couldn’t obey God’s word. I couldn’t be a good husband. I couldn’t be a good dad. I couldn’t be a good guy. I felt miserable and my “Be-Good” days ended.
g --So back to the “Broadway” I went. I found Dr. Do Good. As I talked with him, he told me, Roland it isn’t enough to try and be good, you must do good. “Explain that doc?” I said. 1) Give money to various charities. 2) Help the poor. 3) Join a club in your community. 4) Help the kids. He said, “You know what the Bible says, “Do Good and you will feel good!” Well I tried and again it lasted for a while only to leave me high and dry.
g I tried four or five other doctors only to go home one day and sit in my recliner and have the same of symptoms I always had. I wasn’t satisfied in life. Something was missing. There was an empty void in my heart and I didn’t know how to fill it. I decided I’d go back to Dr. Law.
I knocked on his door and the Secretary said, “Come in.” I said I want to see, “Dr. Law.” She said he was waiting for me.
As I walked in he sat there in his chair with the same stern, obstinate look on his face.
I said, Dr. Law I tried them all but none of them could help me. What do you recommend? He looked me straight in the eye and said, “Son, you have heart trouble.” You are a sinner.
“You are right doctor. I agree. I am a sinner. I have heart trouble,” I said, “What do you recommend?”
He said, “You have to have heart surgery. You must have an operation. Your heart will have to come out and a new one put in.”
I said, “Dr. Law, when will you operate?” And he said, “I don’t operate.” To which I said, “You mean I’m going to have to die. Do you mean you can tell me what is wrong but you can’t cure me?” That’s right,” He said. “Then is there no hope?” I cried. Trembling and perspiring I looked at Dr. Law and said, “Can’t you please help me.”
Dr. Law. I said, “I can’t help you from this point on. I will have to recommend you to my associate. His name is Dr. Grace. He does all the operations.
Where is he? “Adjacent to this building is the Ephesians building,” Dr. Law told me. You don’t even have to go back on the street to get to his office.
He led me down the hall to the second floor and room 8-9. When he opened the door a light hit me in the face and knocked me to the ground.
I looked up and saw a handsome, loving, doctor smiling as he came to the door. Dr. Law said, “Dr. Grace, this is Roland Shepley, and he’s got the same trouble all my other patients. He has heart trouble and he needs a new heart.
f Dr. Law slipped away and went back into his office and left me standing alone in the presence of Dr. Grace and with fear and trembling, the questions began to come.
First, “Dr. Grace, are there a team of doctors to help you operate?” And he said, “No, I’ve never had any help.”
I said, “Dr. Grace, have you some good nurses or assistants?” He said, “No, sir. I’ve never had a nurse - I do it all.”
I said, “Dr. Grace, will you give me a good anesthetic and put me into a deep sleep?” He said, “No, sir. I never give anesthetics because you must fully know everything I do for you so you can tell the world about it.”
I said, “Dr. Grace, will you let me call my wife and let her come and stand by me?” And Dr. Grace smiled and said, “No, son, this is a personal matter just between me and you. You can tell her after it’s all over.”
I said, “Dr. Grace, I’m scared,” and he said, as he placed his big hand on my trembling shoulder, “You don’t have to be afraid - I’ve never lost a case. This will be a successful operation.”
I said, “Dr. Grace, what about the charges and the expense of this tremendous operation?” He said, “It’s already paid for.” I said, “Who paid for it?” He said, “A Friend of yours.” “Oh,” I said, “I’d like to meet Him.” He said, “After the operation, I’ll let you meet Him, I’ll introduce you to Him.”
I said, “Dr. Grace is it true that you are going to take my old heart out and put in a new one?” He said, “Yes.” I said, “Where are you going to get the new heart?” He said, “You’ll find out after the operation.”
And so just by faith, I surrendered completely to Dr. Grace, Just like I admitted I was a sinner to Dr. Law. I lay down on the operating table and the great surgeon, Dr. Grace, took a two-edged sword and cut my heart out.
f I smelled the foulest odor. I looked and my heart was dripping with filth. It was petrifying. It was sickening to look upon. I saw pride and anger and bitterness and sin.
And for the first time, I realized that Dr. Law was right. I had heart trouble. I was a great sinner.
In a moment Dr. Grace had thrown that old heart away and put a new one within my body. It was so pure and clean.
I felt the flow of a new life. I now had a love for God flowing in my veins.
I had a joy unspeakable and full of glory. I had a peace that passeth all understanding. I had a forgiving heart. I had a love for the brethren. I was a new man.
In a moment with a smile on my face and tears of gratitude coursing down my cheeks, I said, “Dr. Grace, when shall I come back for the check up?” He said, “Son, no check up will be necessary, the operation is permanent”
f I said, “What do you recommend?” He said, “Just take some good exercise each day.” And I said, “Do you have any particular exercises?” To which he said, “Yes, kneeling and even raising your hands and praising God and at times, especially in privacy, stretch out on your face and thank God for what he has done for you.
Take some good walks through the community, knocking on doors and tell others what has happened to you.
And one important thing; all those who have had Heart-operations gather together Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night to show honor to the one who gave them a new heart. Do that the rest of your life and you will be very healthy.
Dr. Grace, “I need to know something. Who gave me my new heart?” “Who sacrificed their life so I could live?”
Dr. Grace took me to a mirror, called the Mirror of God’s Word and as I looked in that mirror I saw the loveliest Friend I’ve ever met. When He raised His hands, I saw nail prints. On His brow I saw scars caused by thorns. When His lovely robe fell apart, I saw the spear print in His side.
Dr. Grace said, “Jesus” I want you to meet Roland Shepley. And as I looked at that scar in His side, I said, “Dr. Grace, I now understand where my new heart came from. He gave me His.”
And I fell on my face and said and started my exercises.” After a season of praise and thanksgiving and adoring the One who died for me, I walked joyfully and victoriously down the sidewalk of life.
I went back to visit the old doctor that I first hated. When I walked inside, he met me with a smile. I extended my hand and his big strong hand gripped mine and I said, “Thank you, Dr. Law, for being my school master and telling me what was wrong with me.”
I was amazed that Dr. Law looked so handsome and attractive. He seemed so different now that I had a new heart and we have had sweet fellowship for many years.
Not only did I have a new heart, but a new song, even praise unto our God.

Song:

Once in the stillness of the late midnight hour
I felt the presence of the Lord’s saving power.
I fell on my knees and I cried to him there,
O merciful Savior, Hear the lost sinners prayer.

Now every hour and every day,
In every moment and in every way,
I’m leaning on Jesus, He’s the rock of my soul.
I’m singing His praises wherever I go.

I’ll never forget, that night on my knees,
Oh the joy of that hour, it never left me,
Of Life’s sweetest memories, time can’t erase,
I’m saved by His mercy, redeemed by Dr. Grace.

Now ever hour and every day,
In every moment and in every way,
I’m leaning in Jesus, He’s the rock of my soul.
I’m singing His praises wherever I go.

Sinner friend, I can now recommend these two great doctors.
Dr. Law will show you where you’re wrong and Dr. Grace will make you right. Commit your case to Dr. Law and Dr. Grace, dismiss all other hopes of being saved and come God’s way.
Now Christian friend, “Do the exercises but be mindful, the exercises are ineffective if you have never received a new heart.”