Mt. Sinai,
00:00:16.11\00:00:18.29
a mountain that tradition says
is in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.
00:00:18.73\00:00:22.69
A mountain that Biblical
history says was the backdrop
00:00:22.75\00:00:25.38
for the day that God
met with his chosen people
00:00:25.68\00:00:28.31
and shared with them the laws
00:00:28.48\00:00:30.38
that would guide a
nation of former slaves.
00:00:30.42\00:00:33.35
These laws have come to
be internationally recognized
00:00:33.39\00:00:35.77
by many individuals and
governments around the world
00:00:35.80\00:00:38.15
as the basis for
morality and social order.
00:00:38.46\00:00:42.15
But is the
Decalogue still binding today?
00:00:42.77\00:00:45.73
Didn't Jesus come to
abolish the Ten Commandments
00:00:46.07\00:00:48.53
nailing them to the cross,
eliminating their requirements?
00:00:48.57\00:00:51.88
Shouldn't the
judges of the Supreme Court
00:00:52.20\00:00:53.82
have this moral code
chiseled off the wall,
00:00:54.23\00:00:56.21
door and entrance
of that institution?
00:00:56.87\00:01:00.07
Hello, I'm Karen Byrd and these
are just some of the questions
00:01:00.61\00:01:03.62
we'll be considering
today as we visit Mt. Sinai
00:01:03.96\00:01:06.28
and look into what
the Bible really teaches
00:01:06.75\00:01:09.88
on the subject
of God's moral law.
00:01:09.91\00:01:11.57
Let's join Charles
00:01:12.03\00:01:13.22
as we go in search for
the answer to the question,
00:01:13.26\00:01:15.56
Are they Still in Stone?
00:01:15.95\00:01:18.94
So, what do you think?
00:01:57.64\00:01:59.09
Are God's laws still in stone?
00:01:59.36\00:02:01.44
It doesn't seem so when
you look at American society.
00:02:01.89\00:02:05.05
Violent crime continues
to be a serious problem
00:02:05.28\00:02:07.45
in the United States.
00:02:07.60\00:02:09.07
Every 3 and a half minutes
a violent crime, a murder,
00:02:09.11\00:02:12.84
forcible rape, robbery or an
aggravated assault is reported.
00:02:13.02\00:02:17.23
John DiIulio,
00:02:17.55\00:02:18.57
a leading crime researcher
at Princeton University
00:02:18.84\00:02:21.40
reported that of the nearly 2
million violent crimes reported,
00:02:21.58\00:02:25.44
there are only 641,000 arrests
00:02:25.73\00:02:29.40
and of that only
165,000 convictions.
00:02:29.63\00:02:33.91
In the end,
00:02:33.94\00:02:34.94
about 100,000
convicts go to jail,
00:02:35.24\00:02:37.91
where they serve, on average,
about half their sentences.
00:02:38.12\00:02:41.42
Moreover, the actual time served
by the average violent felon
00:02:41.65\00:02:44.92
is a mere 43 months.
00:02:45.17\00:02:48.00
Murderers set free often serve
less than six years behind bars.
00:02:48.18\00:02:53.07
This is outrageous!
00:02:53.52\00:02:55.24
Who is responsible for
these depressing statistics?
00:02:55.46\00:02:58.87
Who is to be blamed
00:02:59.08\00:03:00.94
for this outrageous
lack of responsibility?
00:03:01.19\00:03:04.33
I am, and so are YOU.
00:03:04.63\00:03:07.31
Yes, we are
personally responsible
00:03:07.64\00:03:09.79
unless we always uphold the law.
00:03:10.13\00:03:13.99
If we violate any part of
God's law or any other good law,
00:03:14.27\00:03:17.91
we destroy confidence in the law
00:03:18.27\00:03:20.08
and actually
encourage criminal behavior.
00:03:20.43\00:03:23.34
Crime stalks the land today,
00:03:23.70\00:03:25.76
and things will
keep getting worse
00:03:25.80\00:03:27.89
unless we do something about it.
00:03:27.93\00:03:29.99
There is only one hope for this
undisciplined state of affairs:
00:03:30.36\00:03:33.73
We will have to take seriously
the formula for human happiness
00:03:34.15\00:03:37.74
given by God -
the Ten Commandments.
00:03:38.10\00:03:43.49
Today we're on the
mountain of Moses, Mt. Sinai.
00:03:43.82\00:03:48.92
We got up at 2 in the
morning and traveled by camel
00:03:49.25\00:03:53.06
and then got to
watch the sun rise
00:03:53.66\00:03:56.14
here on the peak with
a lot of other pilgrims.
00:03:56.51\00:04:01.36
It was on this mountain
that Moses met with God.
00:04:05.70\00:04:08.42
Came up,
00:04:08.81\00:04:09.78
spent 40 days and 40 nights
in God's personal presence.
00:04:09.99\00:04:14.02
It was here, on this mountain
00:04:14.41\00:04:15.98
that God chose
for time and eternity
00:04:16.02\00:04:18.82
to put his character in stone
as He wrote with His finger
00:04:19.21\00:04:22.77
the Ten Commandments.
00:04:23.32\00:04:25.45
It was here that Moses met
with God and took those stones,
00:04:25.86\00:04:29.85
and there are a lot of stones
God could have picked from,
00:04:30.20\00:04:33.07
down to the people
in the valley below.
00:04:33.10\00:04:36.31
And that's why
in the Bible today
00:04:36.60\00:04:38.21
we still have
those Ten Commandments
00:04:38.25\00:04:39.71
that are kept by many
people all around the world.
00:04:39.75\00:04:42.77
What are the Ten Commandments
and where did they come from?
00:04:42.81\00:04:46.42
The story of
the Ten Commandments
00:04:46.66\00:04:48.16
is recorded in the book
of Exodus and goes like this.
00:04:48.47\00:04:51.66
God chose to make the
descendents of Abraham
00:04:52.04\00:04:53.95
to be his chosen people. Why?
00:04:54.28\00:04:57.16
While I'm sure that
there are different reasons,
00:04:57.45\00:04:59.86
to my knowledge there
is only one stated reason
00:04:59.89\00:05:02.63
and it's found in
the book of Genesis.
00:05:02.87\00:05:05.42
"For I know him,
00:05:05.71\00:05:06.90
that he will
command his children
00:05:07.28\00:05:08.96
and his household after him,
00:05:08.99\00:05:10.55
and they shall keep
the way of the LORD,
00:05:10.59\00:05:13.06
to do justice and judgment;
00:05:13.09\00:05:14.68
that the LORD may
bring upon Abraham
00:05:14.72\00:05:16.94
that which he
hath spoken of him."
00:05:16.97\00:05:19.25
Listen to what God
says about Abraham.
00:05:19.28\00:05:21.53
He is a man of
"justice and judgment."
00:05:21.86\00:05:25.53
God likes that.
00:05:25.80\00:05:27.24
He likes it when people
are just, fair, and firm
00:05:27.34\00:05:31.15
when it comes
to right and wrong.
00:05:31.19\00:05:32.89
God said Abraham
would "command his children
00:05:33.23\00:05:35.88
and his household after him."
00:05:36.21\00:05:37.88
God saw that Abraham would
teach his family the right way
00:05:38.15\00:05:41.16
and fully expect them to
also be just and righteous.
00:05:41.45\00:05:45.30
Do you know why
this is important to God?
00:05:45.59\00:05:48.02
Because His kingdom
is built on justice,
00:05:48.38\00:05:50.70
right judgment, mercy and love.
00:05:51.10\00:05:54.68
The Bible records that
Abraham was so much like this
00:05:55.09\00:05:58.06
that "he was
called the Friend of God."
00:05:58.32\00:06:01.83
In both the Old
and New Testaments
00:06:02.06\00:06:04.05
friendship with God is
always based on obedience
00:06:04.20\00:06:06.92
to the God who loves
you enough to die for you.
00:06:07.21\00:06:10.24
This is why God
chose Abraham's descendents
00:06:10.27\00:06:13.27
as His chosen people.
00:06:13.55\00:06:15.52
Years pass, and now there
are millions of descendants.
00:06:15.87\00:06:19.29
They are slaves in Egypt.
00:06:19.55\00:06:20.99
And God, through powerful signs
and wonders convinces Pharaoh,
00:06:21.31\00:06:25.47
the king of Egypt,
to let his people go.
00:06:25.69\00:06:28.03
And off they go.
00:06:28.40\00:06:30.07
First to the Red Sea that parts
before them at the hand of God
00:06:30.37\00:06:33.79
and they pass
through on dry land.
00:06:34.18\00:06:36.68
After three days they
are almost out of water
00:06:36.96\00:06:38.82
but begin
complaining as if they had none.
00:06:39.17\00:06:41.57
They finally come to Marah
00:06:41.82\00:06:43.30
where the waters
are too bitter to drink
00:06:43.34\00:06:45.94
but God shows Moses a tree,
00:06:45.97\00:06:47.92
that when cast into
the water makes it sweet.
00:06:48.18\00:06:51.49
On to Rephidim where Amalek
attacks them from the rear
00:06:51.79\00:06:54.96
but Moses, with the
help of Aaron and Hur,
00:06:55.24\00:06:57.66
stands on a hill overlooking
the battle and prays and prays
00:06:57.91\00:07:01.44
and God gives
Joshua the victory.
00:07:01.84\00:07:04.31
On through the desert
wastes God leads the people,
00:07:04.56\00:07:07.20
supplying water from
rocks, manna from the skies,
00:07:07.46\00:07:10.33
a pillar of cloud by day
00:07:10.64\00:07:11.88
to shade them
from the scorching sun
00:07:12.25\00:07:14.40
and a pillar of fire by
night to light their dwellings.
00:07:14.67\00:07:17.92
And now they are camped
at the foot of Mt. Sinai.
00:07:18.16\00:07:20.65
God is about to do something
he has never before done.
00:07:20.88\00:07:24.04
Talk to humanity en masse.
00:07:24.34\00:07:27.08
Not just to one
prophet, but to a whole nation!
00:07:27.35\00:07:30.60
Whatever He is about to
say must be very important.
00:07:30.95\00:07:34.45
There in the
hearing of all the people
00:07:34.83\00:07:37.51
He proclaims the
qualities of His character,
00:07:37.79\00:07:40.29
the nature of
His kingdom. His law.
00:07:40.59\00:07:43.86
Then God calls Moses up into
the mountain for forty days.
00:07:44.27\00:07:47.81
"And when He had made
an end of speaking with him
00:07:48.15\00:07:50.50
on Mount Sinai,
00:07:50.72\00:07:51.98
He gave Moses two
tablets of the Testimony,
00:07:52.31\00:07:55.15
tablets of stone,
written with the finger of God."
00:07:55.44\00:07:59.45
"Now the tablets
were the work of God,
00:07:59.71\00:08:01.80
and the writing was the writing
of God engraved on the tablets."
00:08:02.05\00:08:07.49
This law written on stone was
designed by the God of creation
00:08:07.74\00:08:10.92
to be a wonderful guide.
00:08:11.13\00:08:12.86
No longer do we have to wonder
if we are pleasing God or not,
00:08:13.11\00:08:16.51
if we are living
acceptable lives or not.
00:08:16.83\00:08:19.54
It is like the fence on a farm.
00:08:19.86\00:08:21.52
It clearly marks
where the pasture ends
00:08:21.77\00:08:23.51
and the cornfield begins.
00:08:23.77\00:08:25.74
It's like the lines on the road,
00:08:26.04\00:08:27.22
clearly marking the
right and the left hand lanes.
00:08:27.52\00:08:30.66
This is the law God
uses to define what sin is.
00:08:30.98\00:08:35.39
"Sin is the
transgression of the law."
00:08:35.65\00:08:39.28
Sin is disobedience to
the clearly marked will
00:08:39.59\00:08:42.56
of your Creator.
00:08:42.91\00:08:44.42
Do you know why
God gave us the Law?
00:08:44.64\00:08:46.93
Because "Happy is
he who keeps the law."
00:08:47.21\00:08:50.41
That's all.
00:08:50.66\00:08:51.73
He wants everyone to be happy.
00:08:52.01\00:08:53.84
Being run over because
someone crossed the yellow line
00:08:54.22\00:08:56.91
doesn't bring happiness.
00:08:57.20\00:08:58.78
Finding your spouse
in the arms of another
00:08:58.82\00:09:01.08
doesn't bring happiness.
00:09:01.11\00:09:02.67
Going to jail
doesn't make people happy.
00:09:02.94\00:09:05.75
So God calls us
from His holy mountain.
00:09:06.04\00:09:08.74
"My son, do not forget my law,
00:09:09.16\00:09:12.04
but let your
heart keep my commands;
00:09:12.30\00:09:14.90
for length of days and long life
00:09:15.16\00:09:17.34
and peace they will add to you."
00:09:17.65\00:09:20.92
I know there are many
people who have misused the law.
00:09:21.14\00:09:23.93
They have used it as a
club to beat and wound.
00:09:24.29\00:09:27.07
But do you know what
the context is for this law,
00:09:27.41\00:09:29.64
these Ten Commandments?
00:09:29.85\00:09:31.80
If you loose this context,
00:09:32.13\00:09:33.83
the law is just a
set of do's and don'ts.
00:09:33.96\00:09:36.73
For many that law has
been taken out of context
00:09:37.02\00:09:39.78
and I think it would
help if you could see the law
00:09:40.05\00:09:42.33
in its proper light.
00:09:42.36\00:09:43.91
The context for giving the
law is a covenant relationship.
00:09:44.17\00:09:49.00
For example,
00:09:49.30\00:09:50.27
as you are about to join
your life in holy matrimony
00:09:50.36\00:09:52.59
the preacher says,
00:09:52.94\00:09:54.11
"Will you take this man to
be your lawfully wedded husband,
00:09:54.38\00:09:57.46
to have to hold
and to cherish...
00:09:57.73\00:10:00.70
forsaking all others
keep yourself only for him
00:10:00.95\00:10:03.69
so long as you both shall live?"
00:10:03.94\00:10:06.03
At that moment
suppose she falters.
00:10:06.38\00:10:09.16
Suppose she looks
away from this man
00:10:09.44\00:10:10.96
who has already
promised himself to her
00:10:11.16\00:10:12.93
and looks at an old boyfriend.
00:10:13.22\00:10:15.85
Do you see the problem?
00:10:16.01\00:10:17.44
The rule of keeping
yourself only for one person
00:10:17.78\00:10:20.58
is not a burden if
you truly love each other.
00:10:20.84\00:10:24.08
Keeping God's law, all
ten of the commandments,
00:10:24.41\00:10:27.56
is not a burden
unless you don't love Him,
00:10:27.82\00:10:30.55
unless you don't know Him.
00:10:30.79\00:10:33.21
The rules,
00:10:33.46\00:10:34.43
the laws to commitment
00:10:34.59\00:10:35.85
are not a straightjacket
for the one who loves.
00:10:36.07\00:10:38.95
Here is the context for
God's law given at Mt. Sinai.
00:10:39.29\00:10:43.71
"I am the God of your fathers,
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,
00:10:44.09\00:10:48.29
the God who delivered
you from Egyptian bondage,
00:10:48.54\00:10:51.32
the God who with might and power
brought you through the desert
00:10:51.59\00:10:54.75
and sustained you.
00:10:54.96\00:10:56.34
Based on my
justification, my love for you,
00:10:56.59\00:10:59.59
my gift of salvation, will
you choose to be my people?
00:10:59.84\00:11:03.97
Will you choose to enter into a
covenant relationship with me?"
00:11:04.22\00:11:08.16
The people en masse cry out,
00:11:08.43\00:11:10.09
"all that the
Lord says we will do."
00:11:10.33\00:11:14.16
Poor Moses.
00:11:14.38\00:11:15.54
All the people
had heard the law.
00:11:15.79\00:11:17.69
All the people had
agreed to keep the law.
00:11:17.96\00:11:20.39
But as he came down from
the mountain of God's presence,
00:11:20.62\00:11:23.62
the people had
already broken the rules.
00:11:23.91\00:11:27.02
They had made a golden
calf in direct disobedience
00:11:27.27\00:11:30.31
to the second commandment.
00:11:30.34\00:11:32.25
How it must have grieved
the heart of God and Moses
00:11:32.29\00:11:35.42
to see how quickly we
choose to forget God's love
00:11:35.46\00:11:38.56
and His blessings.
00:11:38.79\00:11:40.36
Some have honestly
misunderstood the law of God
00:11:40.56\00:11:42.74
and why He gave it to us.
00:11:43.13\00:11:44.84
They have taken
it out of the context
00:11:45.10\00:11:47.16
of a loving relationship.
00:11:47.19\00:11:48.77
They have thought that
if they worked hard enough,
00:11:48.81\00:11:50.94
kept His law well enough
God would have to save them,
00:11:51.20\00:11:54.52
and take them to heaven.
00:11:54.77\00:11:56.27
But, can anyone be
saved by keeping the law?
00:11:56.53\00:12:00.17
Let's let the apostle
Paul answer that question.
00:12:00.43\00:12:03.50
"Therefore by
the deeds of the law
00:12:03.77\00:12:05.28
shall no flesh be
justified in His sight."
00:12:05.50\00:12:09.01
No, Paul is clear.
00:12:09.24\00:12:11.45
Keeping the law doesn't save us.
00:12:11.69\00:12:14.03
On the other hand you can't be
saved without keeping the law.
00:12:14.40\00:12:18.10
You could look at it this way.
00:12:18.32\00:12:19.76
The 7th commandment says,
00:12:19.98\00:12:21.66
"You shall not commit adultery."
00:12:21.91\00:12:23.80
Now, does not committing
adultery make me married?
00:12:24.09\00:12:27.50
No.
00:12:27.88\00:12:28.85
But will committing
adultery keep me married?
00:12:28.87\00:12:31.51
Probably not.
00:12:31.85\00:12:33.58
Keeping the law
will not make you saved.
00:12:33.83\00:12:36.33
But breaking the law
may cause you to be lost.
00:12:36.66\00:12:39.97
You see, salvation
comes only through grace,
00:12:40.30\00:12:43.06
as a free gift
from Jesus Christ,
00:12:43.32\00:12:45.21
and we receive this
gift by faith, not by works.
00:12:45.52\00:12:49.34
Well, then we don't
need the law then right?
00:12:49.61\00:12:51.71
Wrong. Okay, I thought so.
00:12:51.94\00:12:55.31
You see, what
we've been trying to do
00:12:55.58\00:12:58.05
is pit one vital
thing against another.
00:12:58.09\00:13:00.43
For example,
00:13:00.73\00:13:01.94
what is more important,
the heart or the blood?
00:13:02.17\00:13:05.00
You can't get by
without either of these
00:13:05.22\00:13:07.44
and we can't get by
without His grace or His law.
00:13:07.73\00:13:11.73
Another example,
00:13:12.00\00:13:13.48
what makes the car go,
the engine or the wheels?
00:13:13.71\00:13:17.24
Well, the answer is... BOTH!
00:13:17.46\00:13:19.41
Do the tires and the
engine function the same?
00:13:19.71\00:13:22.09
No.
00:13:22.34\00:13:23.75
But they do work together
to accomplish the same purpose.
00:13:23.99\00:13:27.29
Does the engine
do what the tires do?
00:13:27.60\00:13:30.03
No.
00:13:30.33\00:13:31.36
Since the tires don't
function like an engine,
00:13:31.76\00:13:33.74
I would be wise not
to use them that way.
00:13:34.04\00:13:36.52
But I still use both of them!
00:13:36.80\00:13:39.73
The same is true with the law.
00:13:40.06\00:13:42.50
The law does not clean us up.
00:13:42.82\00:13:45.43
That's what the
water of God's grace does.
00:13:45.64\00:13:48.23
But the law is still important
00:13:48.53\00:13:50.43
just as the mirror in
the bathroom is important.
00:13:50.68\00:13:53.98
I don't use the mirror to shave.
00:13:54.01\00:13:56.14
I use the foam, the
water, and the razor.
00:13:56.41\00:14:00.70
But I still use the mirror.
00:14:01.06\00:14:03.14
It becomes the sounding board,
00:14:03.44\00:14:05.58
the visual
yardstick or counselor
00:14:05.94\00:14:08.14
as to whether my face has been
groomed properly for the day.
00:14:08.44\00:14:12.92
Listen carefully to
this New Testament doctrine.
00:14:13.23\00:14:16.34
"The law is good, if
a man use it lawfully."
00:14:16.65\00:14:21.18
What is a lawful or appropriate
use of God's commandments?
00:14:21.24\00:14:25.13
The same author tells us,
00:14:25.34\00:14:26.90
"For by the law is
the knowledge of sin."
00:14:26.94\00:14:30.13
The law is a teacher.
00:14:30.49\00:14:31.90
The law teaches us what sin is,
00:14:32.13\00:14:34.39
teaches us what
God wants for us.
00:14:34.65\00:14:37.05
And what does
God expect from us?
00:14:37.28\00:14:40.02
"Let us hear the
conclusion of the whole matter:
00:14:40.24\00:14:43.10
Fear God, and
keep His commandments:
00:14:43.38\00:14:46.18
for this is the
whole duty of man."
00:14:46.47\00:14:49.67
That's clear.
00:14:50.01\00:14:51.30
Keeping God's commandments
is the WHOLE DUTY OF MAN.
00:14:51.53\00:14:55.51
And yet so many of us
seem to daily fall short.
00:14:55.79\00:14:59.21
Suddenly we find ourselves
00:14:59.42\00:15:00.92
like the dinosaur in
Toy Story crying out,
00:15:00.96\00:15:04.85
"Oh, now I have
guilt." Now watch out.
00:15:04.88\00:15:08.74
The devil will
take full advantage
00:15:09.02\00:15:11.09
of your feelings of
guilt if you're not careful.
00:15:11.12\00:15:13.47
Remember how we are saved?
00:15:13.68\00:15:15.35
Through grace by
faith in Jesus Christ.
00:15:15.62\00:15:18.75
What enables a
truly converted Christian
00:15:19.07\00:15:21.31
to follow the
pattern of God's law?
00:15:21.52\00:15:23.86
To stand before
the mirror clean?
00:15:24.13\00:15:26.54
To win the race
against sin and self?
00:15:26.78\00:15:30.43
That same grace that comes to us
by placing our faith in Jesus.
00:15:30.47\00:15:35.56
Isn't that what
Paul meant when he said,
00:15:35.81\00:15:37.73
"I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me."?
00:15:37.77\00:15:42.57
Some might be
tempted at this point to say,
00:15:42.81\00:15:45.48
"But wasn't the law
fulfilled in Christ?
00:15:45.51\00:15:48.15
Isn't that good enough?"
00:15:48.18\00:15:50.48
The answer is a simple "no".
00:15:50.51\00:15:52.78
Look what Paul
told us in Romans 8.
00:15:53.05\00:15:55.86
"...God sending his own Son in
the likeness of sinful flesh...
00:15:56.10\00:15:59.73
condemned sin in the flesh:"
00:16:00.08\00:16:02.23
Now don't miss this next part,
00:16:02.49\00:16:04.37
"That the righteousness of the
law might be fulfilled in us,
00:16:04.41\00:16:09.21
who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit."
00:16:09.47\00:16:12.92
Where is the righteousness
of the law fulfilled?
00:16:13.14\00:16:15.86
IN US!
00:16:16.24\00:16:18.14
Christ not only
pardons repentant sinners,
00:16:18.45\00:16:20.96
but He restores in
them the image of God.
00:16:21.26\00:16:23.98
He brings them into
harmony with His law
00:16:24.26\00:16:26.58
through the power of
His indwelling presence.
00:16:26.78\00:16:30.04
"Thou shalt not"
then becomes a promise
00:16:30.27\00:16:33.45
that the Christian will
not steal, not lie, not murder
00:16:33.70\00:16:38.05
because Jesus lives
inside and is in control.
00:16:38.32\00:16:42.05
God could not change His law,
00:16:42.36\00:16:44.48
but He made a blessed
provision through Jesus
00:16:44.77\00:16:47.29
to change the sinner
00:16:47.59\00:16:49.11
so that the sinner
can measure up to the law.
00:16:49.41\00:16:52.40
The enduring nature of
the rocks, here on Mt. Sinai,
00:16:52.63\00:16:56.37
are an apt symbol
of the enduring nature
00:16:56.64\00:16:59.89
of the character of God.
00:17:00.10\00:17:02.34
The character that was
written with His own hand
00:17:02.69\00:17:04.99
to let us know what He is
like, what He expects of us.
00:17:05.26\00:17:08.48
Perhaps this is what
Jesus had in mind when He said,
00:17:08.90\00:17:11.72
'till heaven and earth pass away
00:17:12.01\00:17:14.68
not one jot or one tittle shall
in any wise pass from the law
00:17:15.02\00:17:18.62
'til all is fulfilled."
00:17:19.01\00:17:21.83
The law hasn't
been fully fulfilled
00:17:22.13\00:17:23.43
in your life or in mine.
00:17:23.68\00:17:25.29
But Jesus wants it to be.
00:17:25.54\00:17:27.27
And that's why He's promised
to send us the Holy Spirit
00:17:27.69\00:17:30.50
to convict us of sin to
convict us of righteousness
00:17:30.75\00:17:34.43
to guide us into all truth
00:17:34.46\00:17:35.83
so that when He
comes we will be like Him.
00:17:35.98\00:17:39.77
Some may be asking right now,
00:17:40.00\00:17:41.69
"But I heard that a
Christian who has faith
00:17:41.97\00:17:44.54
and is living under grace
is freed from keeping the law."
00:17:44.80\00:17:48.24
In this world
you might hear that
00:17:48.54\00:17:51.24
and many other things that
aren't according to the Bible.
00:17:51.48\00:17:54.40
So let's go to the Bible
and read it for ourselves.
00:17:54.72\00:17:58.69
"For sin breaking
God's law," says 1 John 3:4,
00:17:58.95\00:18:02.99
"shall not have
dominion over you,
00:18:03.35\00:18:06.48
for you are not under
the law but under grace."
00:18:06.78\00:18:11.01
What then?
00:18:11.31\00:18:12.28
Shall we sin because we are
not under law but under grace?
00:18:12.35\00:18:16.06
Certainly not!
00:18:16.34\00:18:18.76
Paul had already driven
this point home in chapter three
00:18:19.05\00:18:22.17
when he wrote,
00:18:22.42\00:18:23.39
"Do we then make void
the law through faith?
00:18:23.71\00:18:26.16
Certainly not! On the
contrary, we establish the law."
00:18:26.42\00:18:32.19
So when it says,
"Not under the law,"
00:18:32.55\00:18:35.09
what does it mean?
00:18:35.42\00:18:37.00
It means that we
are not held captive
00:18:37.24\00:18:39.62
to our old disobedient natures.
00:18:39.84\00:18:42.12
It means we are free
from the penalty of the law.
00:18:42.34\00:18:45.10
Remember the penalty?
The wages of sin is death.
00:18:45.33\00:18:48.84
The scriptures clearly teach
00:18:49.27\00:18:50.83
that grace is like a
governor's pardon to a prisoner.
00:18:50.87\00:18:53.76
It forgives him,
00:18:54.05\00:18:55.57
but it does not
give him the freedom
00:18:55.82\00:18:57.19
to break one single
law after his release.
00:18:57.23\00:19:00.63
The forgiven
person, living under grace,
00:19:00.87\00:19:03.50
is under double
obligation to keep the law.
00:19:03.54\00:19:06.14
A person who
refuses to keep God's law,
00:19:06.39\00:19:08.76
saying that he is living
under grace, is mistaken.
00:19:09.01\00:19:12.21
He is living under disgrace.
00:19:12.55\00:19:15.87
I have a simple
question for you to consider.
00:19:16.13\00:19:18.45
The inspired book of Revelation
is a New Testament book, right?
00:19:18.69\00:19:22.61
Revelation's author would have
lived in the new dispensation,
00:19:22.92\00:19:25.84
right?
00:19:26.11\00:19:27.54
In this context listen to what
Revelation 12 and 14 tells us
00:19:27.80\00:19:32.00
about God's end time
people, His remnant church.
00:19:32.25\00:19:36.32
"And the dragon [or Satan]
was enraged with the woman,
00:19:36.70\00:19:40.63
and went to make war with
the rest of her offspring,
00:19:40.96\00:19:43.65
who keep the commandments of God
00:19:43.93\00:19:46.26
and have the
testimony of Jesus Christ."
00:19:46.54\00:19:49.33
Don't miss this, the woman, or
the church is making Satan mad.
00:19:49.58\00:19:54.05
Why?
00:19:54.31\00:19:55.28
Because God's true children
00:19:55.29\00:19:56.78
are "Keeping the
commandments of God."
00:19:57.04\00:19:59.71
Many people today
say it is impossible
00:20:00.05\00:20:02.08
to keep the commandments.
00:20:02.34\00:20:03.90
That cannot be
true for if it was,
00:20:04.13\00:20:06.28
then all the promises in
the Bible would be a lie,
00:20:06.32\00:20:08.94
promises like
00:20:09.27\00:20:10.54
"I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me."
00:20:10.58\00:20:14.07
And "You...have overcome them,
00:20:14.36\00:20:16.81
because He who is in you
00:20:16.84\00:20:17.91
is greater than he
who is in the world."
00:20:17.95\00:20:20.41
And this promise,
00:20:20.71\00:20:21.98
"No one who is born of
God will continue to sin,
00:20:22.32\00:20:25.43
because God's
seed remains in him;
00:20:25.74\00:20:27.90
he cannot go on sinning, because
he has been born of God."
00:20:28.25\00:20:33.03
If God's last day people
are keeping the commandments
00:20:33.31\00:20:36.01
in His strength and by His grace
00:20:36.33\00:20:38.45
then this talk of
not being able to obey
00:20:38.74\00:20:41.14
must be inspired
from a different source,
00:20:41.39\00:20:43.63
don't you think?
00:20:43.99\00:20:45.80
Again, notice
this prophetic word.
00:20:46.03\00:20:48.44
"Here is the
patience of the saints;
00:20:48.74\00:20:51.37
here are those who
keep the commandments of God
00:20:51.62\00:20:53.79
and the faith of Jesus."
00:20:54.15\00:20:56.11
The devil hates the
people who uphold God's law
00:20:56.42\00:20:59.44
because the law is the
pattern of right living.
00:20:59.72\00:21:02.47
And if you decide to follow the
pattern outlined in God's law,
00:21:02.72\00:21:05.82
you will feel the
devil's wrath upon you.
00:21:06.11\00:21:08.94
It is not surprising that the
devil hates and bitterly opposes
00:21:09.17\00:21:13.09
all who uphold God's law.
00:21:13.36\00:21:15.32
But it is
shocking and astounding
00:21:15.66\00:21:17.51
to hear
religious leaders denying
00:21:17.79\00:21:19.64
the binding claims
of the Ten Commandments
00:21:19.94\00:21:22.08
while at the same time
upholding the traditions of men.
00:21:22.12\00:21:25.89
No wonder Jesus asked,
00:21:26.18\00:21:27.69
"Why do you break
the command of God
00:21:28.01\00:21:30.31
for the sake of your tradition?"
00:21:30.60\00:21:32.16
Listen to what happens to our
covenant relationship with God
00:21:32.48\00:21:35.84
when we keep
traditions instead of the law.
00:21:36.13\00:21:39.86
"In vain they do worship me,
00:21:40.12\00:21:42.27
teaching for doctrines
the commandments of men."
00:21:42.57\00:21:45.97
This is not
merely a church doctrine.
00:21:46.29\00:21:48.64
These were also
the words of Jesus.
00:21:48.93\00:21:51.11
It says all our worship
is vain or worth nothing.
00:21:51.38\00:21:55.53
It's like a young man telling a
girl every evening when he calls
00:21:55.90\00:21:59.23
how much he
loves her, misses her,
00:21:59.54\00:22:00.72
can't wait to marry her
while he is seeing someone else.
00:22:00.76\00:22:04.79
That kind of
love is worth nothing.
00:22:04.82\00:22:08.00
If we want to have a
relationship with God
00:22:08.30\00:22:10.22
then the commandments must
be a living part of our life,
00:22:10.49\00:22:13.35
our country, and
even our national law.
00:22:13.63\00:22:17.03
Even our sixth President could
see the value of God's top ten.
00:22:17.36\00:22:22.41
The law given from Sinai
was a civil and municipal
00:22:22.70\00:22:26.42
as well as a moral
and religious code...
00:22:26.77\00:22:29.01
laws essential to the
existence of men in society
00:22:29.34\00:22:32.68
and most of which have
been enacted by every nation
00:22:33.05\00:22:36.09
which ever
professed any code of laws."
00:22:36.41\00:22:38.96
Some critics say that only
three of the Ten Commandments,
00:22:39.29\00:22:42.20
don't murder,
don't steal and don't lie
00:22:42.50\00:22:44.82
are even enforced in U.S. law
and they are probably correct.
00:22:45.08\00:22:48.99
But Noah Webster,
Mr. Dictionary himself,
00:22:49.23\00:22:51.82
says this is why we
are in such trouble.
00:22:52.21\00:22:55.42
"All the miseries and evils
which men suffer from vice,
00:22:55.68\00:22:59.27
crime, ambition, injustice,
oppression, slavery and war,
00:22:59.58\00:23:03.15
proceed from their despising
00:23:03.47\00:23:05.41
or neglecting the precepts
contained in the Bible."
00:23:05.79\00:23:09.26
Yes, you and I are responsible
for every murder, rape,
00:23:09.62\00:23:13.49
embezzlement, and lie,
00:23:13.84\00:23:15.28
every abuse, war,
kidnapping, and incest.
00:23:15.32\00:23:18.88
Why do I say this?
00:23:18.91\00:23:19.91
Because James tells us that
00:23:20.21\00:23:21.88
"Whoever keeps the whole
law but fails in one point
00:23:22.14\00:23:25.67
has become guilty of all of it."
00:23:25.70\00:23:27.82
Every time we make an excuse
for our sin, our disobedience,
00:23:27.86\00:23:32.40
we are approving, excusing
and encouraging every other sin.
00:23:32.94\00:23:37.00
It doesn't matter what the
Supreme Court does or says.
00:23:37.26\00:23:41.14
God is holding each of us
accountable to keep His law.
00:23:41.17\00:23:45.02
I can hear some of you
00:23:45.28\00:23:46.42
who are honest in
heart saying right now,
00:23:47.11\00:23:49.58
"Then we're doomed."
00:23:49.61\00:23:51.47
Yes, we would be doomed
00:23:51.50\00:23:52.84
if we didn't have this wonderful
promise from God Himself.
00:23:52.88\00:23:56.36
"I will be merciful
to their unrighteousness,
00:23:56.62\00:23:59.76
and their sins and
their lawless deeds
00:24:00.03\00:24:02.08
I will remember no more.
00:24:02.13\00:24:04.28
For this is the covenant that
I will make...after those days,"
00:24:04.55\00:24:08.02
says the Lord,
00:24:08.05\00:24:09.02
"I will put My
laws in their mind
00:24:09.03\00:24:11.03
and write them on their hearts;
00:24:11.06\00:24:13.73
and I will be their God,
and they shall be My people."
00:24:13.76\00:24:17.20
Listen friend.
You can keep the law.
00:24:17.41\00:24:20.59
Not in order to be saved.
00:24:20.78\00:24:22.75
You can keep the law
BECAUSE you are saved.
00:24:23.03\00:24:26.51
Remember where our
salvation comes from.
00:24:26.82\00:24:29.51
"For it is God who
works in you both to will
00:24:29.79\00:24:33.20
and to do of his good pleasure."
00:24:33.45\00:24:36.52
Some people choose
to ignore God's law,
00:24:36.85\00:24:39.24
they choose to say
it doesn't apply to me,
00:24:39.53\00:24:41.42
they spend their
time, all their time,
00:24:41.73\00:24:43.73