Bible verses referenced
Genesis 3:22–24- “And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
Luke 15:11–32 (Prodigal Son – referenced content) Note: Pastors quoted and explained this entire story. Since no single verse was directly read word-for-word, the full text is included for accuracy:
“And he said, A certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry. Now his elder son was in the field, and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, Thy brother is come; and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound. And he was angry and would not go in; therefore, his father came out and entreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends: But as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou hast killed for him the fatted calf. And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and is found.”
Galatians 5:4 (Referenced)- “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.”
2 Corinthians 5:17- “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Galatians 2:20-"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”
Romans 6:4-5- “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.”
Romans 7:1–4 (Referenced conceptually)
Note: Because the pastors discussed the marriage analogy, the full relevant passage is included:
“Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? For the woman who hath a husband is bound by the law to her husband so long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead, she is loosed from the law of her husband. So then if, while her husband liveth, she be married to another man, she shall be called an adulteress: but if her husband be dead, she is free from that law; so that she is no adulteress, though she be married to another man. Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God.”
John 14:6 (Referenced verbally: “I am the way, the truth, and the life”)
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
John 10:10 (Referenced verbally: “life and life more abundantly”)
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
Ephesians 1:4- “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.”
Teaching notes
Shortcut Summary
This sermon teaches that grace and law cannot coexist—there is no allowance for mixture. Pastor Leonard explains that Jesus finished all the work, so the believer’s only “labor” is to enter into rest. Using Luke 15 and Genesis 3, they show that God never wanted man to live by the do-it-yourself system of law, but only by the Tree of Life—grace through Jesus Christ. The flaming sword does not block people from God; it symbolizes dying to the law so one may live fully in the newness of life in Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, God’s intention has always been grace, rest, and sonship.
Table of Contents
- Introduction: Greeting and Identity of the Saints
- The Message of “No Allowance for Mixture”
- Entering God’s Rest: No More Toiling
- The Radical Clarity Found in Luke 15
- Understanding the Two Sons and the Law
- The Father’s Response to the Returning Son
- Reading the Old Testament Through the Filter of Christ
- God Never Intended the Law as His Covenant
- Genesis 3:22–24 and the Two Trees
- You Cannot Eat From Both Trees
- The Flaming Sword and Dying to the Law
- New Covenant Identity Through Death and Resurrection
- God’s Heart Revealed From Genesis to Christ
- Closing Encouragement: Rest and Receive
Introduction: Greeting and Identity of the Saints
Pastors Leonard and Lori begin by greeting the viewers warmly, expressing love and appreciation for them. They remind the audience of their identity: saints, blameless, holy, worthy, righteous, and God’s hand extended. This sets the tone for the message, emphasizing who believers already are in Christ—not through works but by grace.
The Message of “No Allowance for Mixture
Pastor Leonard explains that the Sunday message was titled “There’s Life in Death,” connected to the ongoing theme of grace. The Lord continues placing them in this lane: teaching that grace cannot be mixed with law. They emphasize that mixture destroys understanding, joy, and freedom in Christ.
Entering God’s Rest: No More Toiling
The pastors clarify that the believer’s work, effort, and striving is “none.” Jesus completed all the labor. The only “labor” Scripture allows is laboring to enter rest. They stress that God longs for His people to enter His rest because all the work has already been done by Jesus.
The Radical Clarity Found in Luke 15
Pastor Leonard tells how God gave him a simple filter to discern whether a teaching is grace: He explains the story in detail, referencing the full passage:
Luke 15:11-32 (Full KJV passage provided above) Jesus shows the heart of the Father toward both sons, revealing grace versus law most clearly.
Understanding the Two Sons and the Law
The older son believed he deserved everything because he obeyed, worked, and earned it. This represents the law. The father corrected him, saying all he had was the son’s because he was a son, not because he worked for it.
The younger son did not claim he earned anything; he simply asked for his portion because he wanted it. Pastor Leonard explains that his attitude shows he was not obedient or deserving—yet the father still restored him fully.
This becomes the measure of grace: Any teaching that adds work, effort, earning, or qualifying is not grace.
The Father’s Response to the Returning Son
The father never punished the prodigal. He did not lecture him or impose conditions. Instead, he restored him completely—robe, ring, shoes—explained by the pastors using the Scripture:
Luke 15:22- “But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.” Grace restores instantly without prerequisites.
Reading the Old Testament Through the Filter of Christ
They explain that much of what we call the New Testament was still under the Old Covenant. Therefore, believers must read the Old Testament through the filter of Jesus Christ:
Where is Jesus here?
Where is the Father’s heart revealed? Grace must always be the lens.
God Never Intended the Law as His Covenant
Pastor Leonard notes that Hebrews 8 and 10 repeatedly emphasize that God never wanted the law, was not pleased with it, and did not take pleasure in it. It was never His heart. The law is a do-it-yourself system—exactly what God did not want for His children.
Genesis 3:22–24 and the Two Trees
Pastor Lori reads the key passage:
Genesis 3:22–24
“And the Lord God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: Therefore the Lord God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.”
Leonard teaches that the two trees represent grace (Tree of Life) and the do-it-yourself law system (Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil).
You Cannot Eat From Both Trees
God did not want man to eat from both trees. It is either one or the other. Pastor Leonard connects this to Paul’s teaching:
Galatians 5:4- “Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.” Living by both law and grace is impossible—they cancel each other out.
The Flaming Sword and Dying to the Law
The pastors explain that the flaming sword was not meant to keep man out but to keep the way to the Tree of Life. The sword symbolizes death—death to the old system—which leads into New Testament truths:
2 Corinthians 5:17- “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”
Galatians 2:20- “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me…”
Romans 6:4–5- “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death…”
“…we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection.”
Then the marriage analogy is recalled:
Romans 7:1–4-“…ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another…”
Death to the law is required before union with the Tree of Life—Jesus.
New Covenant Identity Through Death and Resurrection
Pastor Leonard teaches that the sword signifies the death of the old man, so one may live in the newness of Christ. God’s intention is always to keep His people in the way of the Tree of Life, not away from it.
They reference Jesus’ own words:
John 14:6- “I am the way, the truth, and the life…”
And His purpose:
John 10:10- “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
God’s Heart Revealed From Genesis to Christ
Pastor Lori points out that this grace theme flows from Genesis onward, matching Paul’s revelation:
Ephesians 1:4- “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world…” God’s plan from the beginning was life, grace, rest, and love—not law.
Closing Encouragement: Rest and Receive
The pastors close by reminding viewers that God’s desire is simple:
Rest.
Rest in Him.
Rest and receive.
They emphasize God’s love and promise to return with another message soon.
We hope this article has blessed you. Share this teaching with others who need to understand the beauty of resting fully in Jesus with no mixture of law. May the grace of God continue to reveal His heart to you more each day.