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Chuck Smith

Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013). American pastor and founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, born in Ventura, California. After graduating from LIFE Bible College, he was ordained by the Foursquare Church and pastored several small congregations. In 1965, he took over a struggling church in Costa Mesa, California, renaming it Calvary Chapel, which grew from 25 members to a network of over 1,700 churches worldwide. Known for his accessible, verse-by-verse Bible teaching, Smith embraced the Jesus Movement in the late 1960s, ministering to hippies and fostering contemporary Christian music and informal worship. He authored numerous books, hosted the radio program "The Word for Today," and influenced modern evangelicalism with his emphasis on grace and simplicity. Married to Kay since 1947, they had four children. Smith died of lung cancer, leaving a lasting legacy through Calvary Chapel’s global reach and emphasis on biblical teaching
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Sermon Summary
Chuck Smith discusses the relationship between Christ and the Law and Prophets, emphasizing that Jesus came to fulfill the prophecies and the Law, which includes moral, judicial, and ceremonial aspects. He explains that while the Law cannot make one righteous or forgive sins, it serves to reveal sin and our helplessness, ultimately leading us to Christ. Smith also highlights that grace empowers believers to uphold the Law, as God writes His laws on our hearts, transforming our nature to desire Him. The sermon underscores the importance of understanding the Old Testament in light of Christ's fulfillment and the believer's ongoing relationship with the Law.
Scriptures
Matthew 5:17
"LAW AND PROPHETS" Intro: Some views toward Old Testament. I. CHRIST RELATIONSHIP TO LAW AND PROPHETS. A. Prophets and prophesies. "He came to fulfill." 1. 300 prophetic details of His Life completely and literally fulfilled. a. Birth, life - death. b. "I have come as it is written of me in the volume of the Book." c. "Search the scriptures." B. Law - Moral, Judicial, Ceremonial. 1. Moral 10 Commandments. He lived up to them completely. 2. Judicial (Laws to a particular nation applied for time and place. 3. Ceremonial - Sacrifices and offerings for sin. a. Here lies understanding of cross. b. Christ was making atonement. c. Note - vial rent - Temple and altar destroyed. II. BELIEVERS PRESENT RELATION TO LAW AND PROPHETS. WHOLE CANON OF OLD TESTAMENT. A. Read and believe. 1. Some have difficulty believing only because of their limited concept of God. B. Relationship to law. 1. Does Grace eliminate Law? a. Grace gives power to keep law. b. Jeremiah saw the day when God would write law on fleshly tables of our heart. By this is meant. 2. Believers and 10 Commandments. 3. Believers and Judicial Law. 4. Believers and Ceremonial Law. III. WHAT THE LAW CANNOT DO NEVER INTENDED TO DO. A. Make one righteous. B. Forgive sins. IV. PURPOSE OF LAW. A. Reveal sin. B. Reveal our helplessness. C. Lead us to Christ. V. CHRIST IN TURN GIVES US A NEW NATURE WITH DESIRE TOWARDS HIM. A. "Work nut your own salvation." B. Rom.8:3,4 What the Law could not do because of weakness of flesh. Righteous of law fulfilled by us who walk not after the flesh, but after the spirit.
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Chuck Smith (1927 - 2013). American pastor and founder of the Calvary Chapel movement, born in Ventura, California. After graduating from LIFE Bible College, he was ordained by the Foursquare Church and pastored several small congregations. In 1965, he took over a struggling church in Costa Mesa, California, renaming it Calvary Chapel, which grew from 25 members to a network of over 1,700 churches worldwide. Known for his accessible, verse-by-verse Bible teaching, Smith embraced the Jesus Movement in the late 1960s, ministering to hippies and fostering contemporary Christian music and informal worship. He authored numerous books, hosted the radio program "The Word for Today," and influenced modern evangelicalism with his emphasis on grace and simplicity. Married to Kay since 1947, they had four children. Smith died of lung cancer, leaving a lasting legacy through Calvary Chapel’s global reach and emphasis on biblical teaching