Pastor Kyle outlined three things that every Christian needs to know about the Ten Commandments. The first is that God (Creator and Sustainer of everything) wants to be “Number One” everywhere to those who love Him and keep His commandments. Isaiah 45:18 says, For thus says the Lord, Who created the heavens, Who is God, Who formed the earth and made it, Who has established it, Who did not create it in vain, Who formed it to be inhabited: “I am the Lord, and there is no other.” No false gods. Deuteronomy 32:39 ‘Now see that I, even I, am He, and there is no God besides Me; I kill and I make alive; I wound and I heal; Nor is there any who can deliver from My hand. Only Creator God is worthy of the worship and praise of His people.
No craven images. Leviticus 26:1 says, “You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the Lord your God.” This is what Isaiah 44:13-20 is saying. Neither does the One True Creator God want His people to create an image of Himself to worship to. The wrath of God has been born into every person born due to the inherited sin of mankind in this fallen world, but we also all make the choice to sin all by ourselves. There has only lived one person who has ever lived a sinless life – Jesus Christ. The covenantal Law of God set healthy boundaries and outlined restoration of relationship with God when the cross the line in sin.
Psalm 111:7-9 “The works of His hands are truth and [absolute] justice; All His precepts are sure (established, reliable, trustworthy). They are upheld forever and ever; They are done in [absolute] truth and uprightness. He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name—[inspiring reverence and godly fear].”
Do not take God’s name in vain (misused, flippantly, disrespectfully, without honor, non-reverential or as a swear word). In Matthew 6:9 Jesus said, “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.” Think before you speak and put God first in thoughts, words and actions. In Matthew 15:18 Jesus said “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.” When God is not “Number One” in our life, then everything else feels off-kilter, off-foundation and unsteady. Usually, we find that we are setting ourselves (desires and needs) first.
Secondly, the Sabbath is the only Commandment that isn’t repeated in the New Testament. This Commandment is posed in a positive and beneficial sense for us. The late Pastor D. James Kennedy explained that Jesus taught us that the Sabbath was made for our good. Indeed, we do better when we rest for a day. The Sabbath day is a “day of sacred assembly,” according to Leviticus 23:3. As much as is possible, we should set aside the Lord’s day for worship and for rest. As you do, I’m certain you’ll discover the Sabbath is a blessing of renewal and rest, for God’s glory and your good. Physical and spiritual rest of His people is important to God then and now. On biblical grounds, holy rest and worship of God have to be together. Catch the spirit of the Law.
Love your father and your mother. Genesis 1:27-28 says, “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply.” The creation, our Creator created procreation through the family unit and by nature family love and mutual respect for each other as immediate family relations.
Thirdly, Believers are called to obedience as a life-style in the life journey with God. As a response to our creation and salvation is a life of worship and obedience. God’s Commandments number 6-10 deal with living a holy and obedient life before the eyes of the Lord, our God. Do not murder. Do not commit adultery, Do not steal. Do not lie. Do not covet. These are the building blocks from which everything else in your faith and life are built. God’s Commandments, Laws, and Statutes were never meant to be a ladder that His people were to climb to reach salvation. The Apostle Paul says in Romans 7:7, “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” God’s law served as a yardstick that made it obvious to God’s people that “fallen humanity” does not and cannot measure up to God’s holy standards. Therefore, Galatians 3:24-26 says, “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” Jesus said in Matthew 5:18-19 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.”
We need a salvation that is apart from our own righteousness. To the Old Testament Israelites, it was the sacrifice of a lamb without blemish. For the Christian today, it was the “Once and for all” sacrifice of our sinless Savior Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, on the Cross for our sins.
Let's continue Pastor Kyle's message on the Ten Commandments in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
No comments:
Post a Comment