Here is a wonderful sermon by Lester Roloff.

Text of forwarded message follows:


>~~~
>DR. LAW AND DR. GRACE
>
>The following was probably the most famous sermon of the late 
>Evangelist Lester Roloff of Texas. I heard him preach many times in 
>his inimitable fashion before his death in a plane crash in 1982.
>_______________________
>
>"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all 
>men. teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we 
>should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 
>looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the 
>great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; who gave Himself for us, that 
>He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a 
>peculiar people, zealous of good works." Titus 2:11-14
>
>If I could use the Empire State Building for my pulpit and somebody 
>would build for me a public address system that would reach around 
>the world so that I could have nearly three billion people for my 
>audience and God would grant me the wisdom or sufficient 
>interpreters to speak every language and dialect and I could only 
>bring one message, it would be this message of "Dr. Law and Dr. 
>Grace," the greatest doctors that ever lived. Satan has done a good 
>job confusing the people about the plan of salvation. Salvation is 
>not a foot race between man and the devil, but it is the gift of God 
>through the Lord Jesus Christ.
>
>Let's make just a brief visit now to these two doctors Dr. Law and 
>Dr. Grace -- the most unusual doctors the world has ever known, in 
>the first place, because they have never lost a case and never made 
>a charge. They are unusual in that they never have a consultation 
>with any other doctor. They are unusual because they never recommend 
>an external treatment. They are unusual because they never ask the 
>patient for his advice or about any of the signs or symptoms in his 
>case. They speak with authority. They are unusual in the fact that 
>though they have recorded one hundred per cent success with every 
>patient most people have refused to go to them for help.
>
>THE SCRIPTURAL BASIS OF THIS ALLEGORY
>
>Part 1: From the Book of Romans
>
>Now let us come to the Scripture. Romans 5:13, "For until the law 
>sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law." 
>Verses 20 and 21, "Moreover the law entered, that the offense might 
>abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: That as 
>sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through 
>righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 7, 
>beginning at verse 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. 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. What shall we say then? Is the 
>law sin? 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. 
>But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all 
>manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. For I was 
>alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin 
>revived, and I died." That's the death we need to die as a sinner.
>
>"And the commandment which was ordained to life, I found to be unto 
>death. For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and 
>by it slew me. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, 
>and just and good Was then that which is good made death unto me? 
>God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me 
>by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become 
>exceeding sinful. For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am 
>carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I 
>would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that 
>which I would not I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then 
>it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know 
>that in me (that is, in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing: for to 
>will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not."
>
>Verse 24. "a wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the 
>body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So 
>then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh 
>the law of sin."
>
>Then in chapter 8, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them 
>which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after 
>the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath 
>made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the 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 the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in 
>us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they 
>that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they 
>that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit For to be 
>carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and 
>peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not 
>subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that 
>are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but 
>in the Spirit if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if 
>any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His. And if 
>Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is 
>life because of righteousness."
>
>Part 2: Other Scripture References
>
>Galatians 2, beginning at verse 16. "Knowing that a man is not 
>justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, 
>even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by 
>the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law: for by the 
>works of the law shall no flesh be justified. But if, while we seek 
>to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is 
>therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build 
>again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 
>For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto 
>God. 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. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness 
>come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain."
>
>Then in chapter 3, beginning at verse 10, "For as many as are of the 
>works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is 
>every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the 
>book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law 
>in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by 
>faith. And the law is not of faith: but The man that doeth them 
>shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the 
>law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every 
>one that hangeth on a tree."
>
>Verses 22 - 26, "But the Scripture hath concluded all under sin, 
>that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them 
>that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, 
>shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. 
>Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that 
>we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are 
>no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God 
>by faith in Christ Jesus."
>
>Ephesians 2:8-10, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that 
>not of your selves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any 
>man should boast For we are His workmanship. created in Christ Jesus 
>unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."
>
>A MEETING WITH DR. LAW
>
>The greatest message in the Bible and the theme of the whole Bible 
>is grace. Now grace is the free and unmerited favor of God and there 
>is an unbreakable relationship between law and grace. With that in 
>mind, let me be the sinner because all have sinned and come short of 
>the glory of God "All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned 
>every one to his own way..." "There is none that doeth good, no, not 
>one." "There is none righteous, no, not one."
>
>Therefore, I know I'm having some serious internal trouble and so I 
>head for Dr. Law, and Dr. Law is always in his office and ready to 
>see the sinner. The secretary told me that he was waiting for me. I 
>stepped inside his office and started to relate my signs and 
>symptoms to which he said, "I will not need your help," to which I 
>said, "Do you think you can find out what is wrong with me?" And he 
>said, "No, sir, I don't have to think; I KNOW what is wrong with 
>you; you have heart trouble. You're just like all the rest of my patients."
>
>My old flesh rebelled and it didn't make sense to me that every one 
>of his patients would have the same disease But after ail, dear 
>friend, the law doesn't make sense to the sinner because . . . "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."
>
>So the flesh gets ready to argue the issue and I say, "Dr. Law, you 
>just don't understand. I'm having trouble with my hands. I spend a 
>lot of time dealing a deck of cards and I've even used them to fight 
>with. My hands are giving me trouble." And Dr. Law said, "No, it's your heart."
>
>I said, "Doc, I'm going to have to argue with you you may be a 
>doctor, but still you don't understand me. I'm having trouble with 
>my eyes. It's nothing for me to sit two or three hours in one night 
>and watch Hollywood and another hour reading magazines and 
>newspapers and my eyes are never satisfied so I must be having eye 
>trouble" The old doctor said, "No, my friend, it's heart 
>trouble--just plain heart trouble."
>
>I said, "Dr. Law, be reasonable about this thing. I'm having trouble 
>with my tongue. It says things that are sharp and ugly and even 
>smutty jokes have come unrehearsed and unplanned and I believe there 
>is something rotten about my tongue. Please examine my tongue." Dr. 
>Law says, "No, it's heart trouble."
>
>By this time, my rebellion had mounted and I tried to tell Dr. Law 
>it was my ears that would listen to ungodly gossip. It was my feet 
>that would dance and carry me to places I ought not to go to which 
>he answered, "You have a bad case of heart trouble." Once more, in 
>desperation, I said, "Dr. Law, surely there is something wrong with 
>my taste. I've even cultivated a like for intoxicating beverage and 
>even dope and there must be some way you can help my taste." And Dr. 
>Law said, "That will be taken care of when your heart is fixed."
>
>In rebellion and desperation 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, 
>"Would 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'll never go to him and I'll never recommend another."
>
>DR. RELIGION AND ASSOCIATES
>
>So I beat it down the street and knock on Dr. Religion's door and it 
>seems like he's a real scout, he's a regular fellow, and he said, 
>"Come on in here, Lester Roloff, 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 proper training. He doesn't know 
>anything about the latest modes of medicine."
>
>Well, that sounded good to me and I said, "I don't like him myself. 
>Dr. Religion, would you just kind of run over me and see what's 
>wrong?" He said, "Sure!" After his examination, he said, "Why, 
>there's nothing seriously wrong with you. I recommend that you start 
>going to church." And I said, 'Which one?" "Oh," he said, "just any 
>of them will be all right."
>
>So the next Sunday, I was in church and the next but I didn't get 
>any better. 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." Then he 
>said, "Did you join and get baptized?" "Why," I said, "no." He said, 
>"Do that, 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, but I 
>didn't feel any better for very long and I went back to Dr. Religion 
>and I said, "Dr. Religion, there's something wrong I'm not really 
>any better." "Well," he said, "are you really working at it? Take a 
>job in the church and start helping others." And so I did.
>
>But I got weary in the struggle and somebody recommended a couple of 
>brothers who were doctors - Dr. Be Good and Dr. Do Good and I went 
>to them, but to no avail. There was no certainty and no assurance of 
>salvation. And then somebody recommended Dr. Hope So. After which I 
>went to Dr. Think So and neither one of them was able to help me. 
>And now -- weary, tired, exhausted, in despair and at the end of 
>self -- I decided I'd go back to Dr. Law.
>
>BACK TO DR. LAW
>
>Dr. Law was waiting for me the same stern, obstinate old doctor with 
>the same diagnosis, "It's your heart" to which I said, "What do you 
>recommend?" He said, "Only one thing will do and that's 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 even 
>though you know what's wrong with me?" "I didn't say" returned Dr. 
>Law, "that you had to die. So far as I'm concerned, you've got to 
>die - I only make the diagnosis. But if you really want to live, 
>I'll tell you what to do"
>
>And so this trembling, perspiring sinner looked into the face of 
>this unrelenting doctor and said, "Please help me!" And he took me 
>by the hand and led me across the hall and knocked on an office door 
>and a handsome, loving, smiling doctor came to the door and Dr. Law 
>said, "Dr. Grace, this is Lester Roloff, and he's got the same 
>trouble all my other patients that I've brought to you have had. 
>He's coming to you for an operation."
>
>The Operation
>
>By that time, Dr. Law had slipped away and gone 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, will you let Dr. Law or some other doctor help 
>you operate?" And he said, "No, I've never had any help." I said, 
>"Dr. Grace, have you some good nurses?" 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 I want you to know what I did 
>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 lay down on the operating table 
>and the great surgeon, Dr. Grace, took the knife and sliced open my 
>heart section and out came the blackest heart with the most terrible 
>odor -- oh, it was so sickening! And for the first time, I realized 
>that Dr. Law was right it was heart trouble.
>
>In a moment Dr. Grace had thrown that old heart away and brought a 
>new one -- so pure and clean and put it in and closed the incision, 
>not even leaving a scar. I felt the flow of new life, color came to 
>my spiritual cheeks and my tongue began to say, "Now I feel 
>better-fact is, I feel wonderful" 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 a success and this is permanent"
>
>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. Take some good walks through the community, 
>knocking on doors. Exercise your vocal chords in praise."
>
>An Introduction to the Savior
>
>I started out at the door and something inside said, "Go back." I 
>said, "Dr. Grace, you told me you'd introduce me to the Friend who 
>paid my bill," and he said, "I thought you'd come back." And 
>stepping through a door came the loveliest Friend I've ever met. 
>When He raised His hands, I saw nail prints. On His brow were thorn 
>scars. When His lovely robe fell apart, I saw the spear print in His 
>side. Dr. Grace said, "Jesus. I want you to meet Lester Roloff. 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, "It's time to start 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, but was reminded once again to go back to 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 telling me what was wrong with me." I was 
>amazed that Dr. Law looked so handsome and seemed so different and I 
>had sweet fellowship with him and I'll always love him for leading 
>me to Dr. Grace.
>
>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.
>
>A POEM
>
>Here's a poem the Lord gave me ...
>
>I've tried my best to run the race,
>But darkness was all that I saw,
>The world led me a merry chase
>And I ran from Dr. Law.
>
>Religion failed to meet my need,
>My life was just one black lie.
>Sin caused my heart to daily bleed,
>Dr. Law said, "You must die."
>
>The flesh cried for another way.
>Dr. Law said, "There is none."
>The world said, "You'll see a better day."
>Old Dr. Law said, "You're done,"
>
>To medicine I went 'til my money I spent,
>The psychiatrist even examined my head.
>But I would not repent neither relent
>And again Dr. Law said, "You're dead."
>
>I became weary and walked in despair
>Even though I tried to do my part.
>The darkness of night was everywhere,
>Dr. Law said, "You need a new heart"
>
>I replied, "It's my feet that lead me astray,
>My hands make me do what I do,"
>After Dr. Law let me have my say,
>He replied, "Without a new heart, you're through."
>
>But I trudged on down the rebellious road,
>I thought I needed reformation.
>Heavier daily became my load,
>Again Dr. Law said, "A major operation."
>
>My heart would not do -- I knew this was true,
>It was plain I had lost the race.
>Dr. Law said, "It's sin, you'll never win
>Until you go to Dr. Grace."
>
>So I counted the cost if my soul should be lost,
>My soul cried, "What must be done?"
>There stood Dr. Grace with a smile on his face
>Saying, "It's not DO - it's DONE."
>
>For Christ on the cross suffered our loss
>Saying, "Come through Me, I am the Door."
>I cried with loud voice, "I make Thee my choice"
>He said, "Go and sin no more."
>
>So I praise His sweet Name -- He took all my blame,
>For of sin there's not left even a trace
>Since that day I saw blessed Dr. Law
>And he led me to Dr. Grace.
>
>So the war is over -- Now I'm walking in clover
>Honeydew is all over my soul
>He lifted my load I'm on the glory road
>Since Dr. Law and Dr. Grace made me whole.
>
>So sinner, please bow -- come to Jesus now --
>He'll save you from eternal hell.
>He'll take your case and even your place
>Saying, "Now all is well!"
>
>SOME FINAL WORDS
>
>Now friend, if you really want to be saved, down in your heart cry 
>out to the Lord, "God be merciful to me, a sinner, and save me. Wash 
>me in the blood of Jesus. Come into my heart In Jesus' Name, Amen."
>
>
>
>
>
>--
>No virus found in this incoming message.
>Checked by AVG Free Edition.
>Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.7/619 - Release Date: 
>1/7/2007 6:29 PM
End of forwarded message text:

John


-- 
No virus found in this outgoing message.
Checked by AVG Free Edition.
Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.16.7/619 - Release Date: 1/7/2007 6:29 PM