The Ten Commandments Series
Text: Exodus 20:1-3
Theme: The Authority of God
Date: April 07, 2002
Three Stages of Ol Suit.
Today we begin a series of studies on the Ten Commandments. Over the course of the next few weeks we will learn to apply – in practical ways – these God-given rules to our lives.
Some may wonder why we bother to study the Law of God…so often do we hear it said that “the Law has passed away” and is no longer of any importance to believers. But that view is a perversion of Bible teaching.
This is what the New Testament has to say about the Law of God:
- Matthew 5:17-20 (GNB) (Jesus said): “Do not think that I have come to do away with the Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets. I have not come to do away with them, but to make their teachings come true. (18) Remember that as long as heaven and earth last, not the least point nor the smallest detail of the Law will be done away with—not until the end of all things. (19) So then, whoever disobeys even the least important of the commandments and teaches others to do the same, will be least in the Kingdom of heaven. On the other hand, whoever obeys the Law and teaches others to do the same, will be great in the Kingdom of heaven. (20) I tell you, then, that you will be able to enter the Kingdom of heaven only if you are more faithful than the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees in doing what God requires.”
- Romans 3:31 Does this mean that by this faith we do away with the Law? No, not at all; instead, we uphold the Law.
- Romans 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
- 1 Timothy 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully…
The only Law which has “passed away” is that which we call the “ceremonial or religious law” of the Jews. (See comments below for a further discussion of the Jewish civil law.) But the Moral Law, given not by Moses but from God to Moses, will not cease to be a guide and rule to godly living until the world ends.
But…the mistake some folk make is in assuming that we are saved by keeping the law. And this never was the case! Hear again, the words of St. Paul to the Romans:
- Romans 3:19-20 We know that everything in the Law was written for those who are under its power. The Law says these things to stop anyone from making excuses and to let God show that the whole world is guilty. (20) God doesn’t accept people simply because they obey the Law. No, indeed! All the Law does is to point out our sin.
And to the Galatians Paul writes…
- Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
It is clear then that the Law of God reveals the Will of God. Like a schoolmaster, it teaches what God is like and how He wants us to live. And although it cannot save us from sin and hell, it can and does teach us how saved people will live! As Jesus said, it will not cease to do this work until the world ends.
Now, there are many in our day – both preachers and church members – who falsely believe that the Law of God no longer has any purpose for Christians. Put simply, they are wrong and they are deceived for we have just read to you what God’s Word has to say about the subject. When God speaks, that’s the end of the matter to every true Christian. The debate is then over.
But there are many who think that we are “freed from the law”; that now the Christians have no restraints and can do whatever we feel is right. In fact, this is the very doctrine of the Anti-Christ who will one day rise in evil power to war against Christ and His church. Paul says, in…
- 2 Thessalonians 2:3-12 Do not let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day (the return of the Lord) cannot come unless the rebellion takes place first and the man of sin, who is destined for destruction, is revealed. (4) He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god and object of worship. As a result, he seats himself in the sanctuary of God and declares himself to be God. (5) Don’t you remember that I repeatedly told you about these things when I was still with you? (6) You know what it is that is now holding him back, so that he will be revealed when his time comes. (7) For the secret of this lawlessness is already at work, but only until the person now holding it back gets out of the way. (8) Then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will destroy with the breath of his mouth, rendering him powerless by the manifestation of his coming. (9) The coming of the lawless one will be accompanied by the power of Satan. He will use every kind of power, including miraculous signs, lying wonders, (10) and every type of evil to deceive those who are dying, those who refused to love the truth that would save them. (11) For this reason, God will send them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie. (12) Then all who have not believed the truth but have taken pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.
Lawlessness will then, my brothers and sisters, be a sure and certain sign of the coming of the Anti-Christ. And it seems to have made great inroads into the church world, already, for many are living however they wish – without the slightest concern for what God’s Law and Word have to say. This is a tragic mistake and one that – as Paul points out – will damn many souls. Woe to those preachers who do not warn the people by giving them God’s Word. And woe to those people who have such untrustworthy ministers.
As the Lord Jesus again said:
John 12:48-50 “The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has something to judge him: The word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. (49) For I have not spoken on my own authority. Instead, the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and how to speak. (50) And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.”
This is why we will be spending some time in studying the Law and Word of God over these next few weeks. And this is my justification for such a lengthy introduction to the message, today.
And now, let us turn our attention to the first of the Ten Commandments:
You shall have no other gods before me.
Background
1. For four hundred years the Israelites had lived in the middle of a pagan, superstitious culture. Ever since Joseph brought his family into Egypt to escape the famine in their homeland, the Jews had been living in the land of Goshen there – first as honored guests, but as captive slaves at the last.
2. But throughout their time there, idols and false gods have surrounded them. The overwhelming influence of these religions has eroded their understanding of who God is. In fact, we know from the fact that they made a Golden Calf and worshipped it – (while Moses was on the mountain receiving the commandments) – that they freely moved between the worship of the one true God and the false gods they had picked up in Egypt.
3. Now God is calling them into a new kind of relationship with Himself; An exclusive relationship – a covenant – like that of marriage between husband and wife.
God Identifies Himself – “I am the God Who brought you out of Egypt and slavery…”
1. A Double Identification
a. First, He reveals Himself as the one God – among all the so-called gods they know – Who had both the love and the power to set them free. In this, He is unique among all the gods of which they’ve heard.
b. Secondly, by using these words, God is reminding them that He is the God Who had promised Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph that he would bring His people into their own land and establish them as a great nation. He is showing Himself to be the God of their fathers!
The Covenant Rule – An Exclusive Relationship
1. “…No other gods…”
a. Here God sets forth the first condition of the Covenant. He and He alone is to reverenced and worshipped. He and He alone is to be the final authority on every subject. He and He alone is to be given the rule of our hearts, and minds, and bodies. “No other gods…!” Period!
b. It is reported that some years ago noblemen were gathered together in London waiting for the King of Great Britain. They all knew him personally as a friend, yet they all honored him as their king. When he entered, they stood solemnly to their feet. “Take your seats, gentlemen,” he said, “I count you as my personal friends.” And then joking he added, “I am not the Lord Christ, you know!” Immediately one of the noblemen, a Christian, said, “No, sir, if you were our Lord, we would not have stood to our feet; we would have fallen to our knees.”
2. What about us?
a. Can you say with a true and honest heart that Christ has first place in your heart and life? Does He rule without rival in you? Are you absolutely committed to doing whatever His Word and Law command? “Who’s the Boss?”
b. Paul says it this way… (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) “You know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have received from God, don’t you? You do not belong to yourselves, (20) because you were bought for a price. Therefore, glorify God with your bodies.”
This series looks like a keeper. God willing, I’ll be reading all of them.
Hasn’t the Jewish civil law also passed away? (I am by no means suggesting that the moral law has, but wasn’t some of the law civil, rather than ceremonial?)
By: Martin LaBar on April 23, 2009
at 6:07 am
Indeed, it has. That which pertained to the nature of Israel’s theocratic institution would be unique to their nation. But, even there, the laws under which God placed them are highly instructive as pertains to social values and ethical codes of conduct. Thus, while we would not, perhaps, enforce a strict interpretation of the Law of Gleanings, still the principle of a God-given obligation to share our resources with the needy may be derived from it. And so with respect to creation care and the considerate treatment of animals.
It may be useful to note that, by the days of the earthly ministry of Christ, the civil law of the Jewish nation had passed almost out of view and was used nearly exclusively in the sense described above.
By: olsuit on April 23, 2009
at 10:21 am