Tonight, we are
studying a subject
00:00:34.54\00:00:36.46
which has caught up
many in the web of deception
00:00:36.49\00:00:40.12
and that is the
place of the law,
00:00:40.15\00:00:42.90
the commandments in the born
again Christian's experience.
00:00:42.93\00:00:46.68
You know, some will
tell us that as Christians
00:00:46.71\00:00:48.52
we are to keep the law
00:00:48.55\00:00:50.74
while others will
stress that we are released
00:00:50.77\00:00:53.04
from obligations
to its requirements.
00:00:53.07\00:00:55.99
And we want to know in other way
00:00:56.02\00:00:57.80
what does the
Bible actually teach?
00:00:57.83\00:01:01.65
Well, we have
to face it tonight.
00:01:01.68\00:01:04.40
We live in an age in
which honesty and integrity
00:01:04.43\00:01:07.27
are all too
often a rare commodity.
00:01:07.30\00:01:10.98
All around this
we find moral values
00:01:11.01\00:01:12.99
been undermined
or simply ignored.
00:01:13.02\00:01:15.71
And some years ago I
picked up this article
00:01:15.74\00:01:18.04
that really
illustrates a little bit of
00:01:18.07\00:01:19.55
what we're talking about,
00:01:19.58\00:01:20.61
as if you need an
illustration of this.
00:01:20.64\00:01:22.78
But I picked to the
part of the newspaper.
00:01:22.81\00:01:25.10
It was entitled honesty,
00:01:25.13\00:01:26.96
"honesty brings
repayment, ridicule."
00:01:26.99\00:01:29.43
And it was reported at
Ridgecrest, California.
00:01:29.46\00:01:32.25
And this is how it read,
00:01:32.28\00:01:33.95
"Two auto repairman say
00:01:33.98\00:01:35.74
all that they got for their
honesty was a lot of ridicule.
00:01:35.77\00:01:39.87
Clifford Don and John Thatcher
00:01:39.90\00:01:41.74
this week found
more than $30,000
00:01:41.77\00:01:45.32
stuffed inside a used tyre
00:01:45.35\00:01:47.29
that they were getting
ready to sell for $17."
00:01:47.32\00:01:50.49
Well, that would be
a fine, wouldn't it?
00:01:50.52\00:01:52.77
"And so they turned the
money over to the police
00:01:52.80\00:01:55.68
and signed affidavits
swearing they did not know
00:01:55.71\00:01:58.85
who owned the money.
00:01:58.88\00:02:00.13
Under California law
they must wait 19 days
00:02:00.16\00:02:03.30
advertise the find in
the newspaper for one day
00:02:03.33\00:02:08.45
and wait another week
to see if anybody answers.
00:02:08.48\00:02:11.63
And if no one does
they get the money."
00:02:11.66\00:02:14.91
I never saw a follow up to this,
00:02:14.94\00:02:16.29
so I don't know if
they got the money or not.
00:02:16.32\00:02:17.97
But anyway it went on to say
00:02:18.00\00:02:20.38
"the main result of
their find so far said the two
00:02:20.41\00:02:23.25
has been congratulations
for their honesty
00:02:23.28\00:02:25.77
but ridiculed
from their friends."
00:02:25.80\00:02:28.73
You see, it all--
it seems like all too
00:02:28.76\00:02:32.35
often the prevailing
attitude is be honest,
00:02:32.38\00:02:35.02
if you think somebody is
looking off your shoulder
00:02:35.05\00:02:37.05
but if not, don't sweat.
00:02:37.08\00:02:41.62
Does that seem to be
the attitude of many today?
00:02:41.65\00:02:45.00
And some of these
kids awfully close at home.
00:02:45.03\00:02:47.52
I remember hearing
about a classmate of mine
00:02:47.55\00:02:49.36
from my college days,
00:02:49.39\00:02:50.89
who sat in her pastor's study
00:02:50.92\00:02:54.30
and said of her living
situation with her boyfriend
00:02:54.33\00:02:57.23
that it was holy
and blessed of God
00:02:57.26\00:02:59.11
and this
inspired with the teaches
00:02:59.14\00:03:00.89
about fleeing fornication.
00:03:00.92\00:03:04.36
And we could go on
and on, couldn't we?
00:03:04.39\00:03:06.95
Sad to say even
among professed Christians
00:03:06.98\00:03:09.74
we find the same trends as
we see in the world around us.
00:03:09.77\00:03:13.36
What was once called sin
00:03:13.39\00:03:15.05
is no longer
considered to be so today.
00:03:15.08\00:03:17.56
And I ask you the
question, has God changed?
00:03:17.59\00:03:20.16
Has He changed?
What do you think?
00:03:20.19\00:03:23.34
No, maybe we've changed
but God has not changed.
00:03:23.37\00:03:27.25
Why is it that we see these
things happening all around us?
00:03:27.28\00:03:31.39
My friend, the answer lies
00:03:31.42\00:03:32.91
in the disregard
of the commandments,
00:03:32.94\00:03:34.99
a departure from
God's appointed way.
00:03:35.02\00:03:38.89
If you see the general
Christian teaching today,
00:03:38.92\00:03:41.45
is that the law has
been done away with?
00:03:41.48\00:03:43.88
We are no
longer under obligation
00:03:43.91\00:03:45.71
to its requirements.
00:03:45.74\00:03:47.42
And in thus undermining
00:03:47.45\00:03:49.03
the bulwark of
God's moral standard
00:03:49.06\00:03:51.90
and thus failing to
uphold those eternal principles
00:03:51.93\00:03:54.17
of righteousness in
our Christian witness,
00:03:54.20\00:03:57.07
we have suddenly
seized that a born fruit
00:03:57.10\00:03:59.14
in the disregard
for our moral values.
00:03:59.17\00:04:03.19
So let's really find
out what the Bible teaches
00:04:03.22\00:04:05.39
about this matter
of the commandments.
00:04:05.42\00:04:07.06
Take your
Bibles and turn with me
00:04:07.09\00:04:08.79
to 1 Corinthians 7, the
New Testament, page 133,
00:04:08.82\00:04:13.59
New Testament, page 133
00:04:13.62\00:04:15.81
and its 1 Corinthians 7:19.
00:04:15.84\00:04:21.42
First Corinthians 7:19,
00:04:21.45\00:04:23.48
Paul is writing to the believers
in the church in Corinth.
00:04:23.51\00:04:27.81
This is--
Corinth was a major city
00:04:27.84\00:04:31.49
in what we call Asia Minor.
00:04:31.52\00:04:34.75
And this is what he had
to say to the Corinthians.
00:04:34.78\00:04:36.73
Again it's 1
Corinthians Chapter 7
00:04:36.76\00:04:39.47
and we want to look
at verse 19, verse 19.
00:04:39.50\00:04:44.46
What he says,
"Circumcision is nothing,
00:04:44.49\00:04:46.92
and uncircumcision is nothing,
00:04:46.95\00:04:49.29
but what matters is the keeping
of the commandments of God."
00:04:49.32\00:04:54.00
My friend, whenever you find
00:04:54.03\00:04:55.06
that kind of a phrase
in the Bible what matters,
00:04:55.09\00:04:58.52
you know, what follows
has to be significant, right?
00:04:58.55\00:05:03.02
And so Paul says it right here
in his letter to the Corinthians
00:05:03.05\00:05:07.34
that what matters is the keeping
of the commandments of God.
00:05:07.37\00:05:11.53
And so right off we see
00:05:11.56\00:05:13.06
written in the New
Testament an indication
00:05:13.09\00:05:15.47
that the commandments
haven't really been done away
00:05:15.50\00:05:17.98
with though there're
many even among Christians
00:05:18.01\00:05:20.36
who are teaching that,
that's exactly what has happened
00:05:20.39\00:05:22.58
the commandments
were done away with.
00:05:22.61\00:05:24.24
They were nailed to
the cross when Jesus,
00:05:24.27\00:05:26.68
you know, when Jesus
came and lived on this earth
00:05:26.71\00:05:28.85
and He lived the perfect life
00:05:28.88\00:05:30.56
He eliminated our need to be
00:05:30.59\00:05:32.82
concerned about
the commandments.
00:05:32.85\00:05:35.00
And we have a word in the world
of theology for this teaching,
00:05:35.03\00:05:40.02
this idea that the commandments
were done away with,
00:05:40.05\00:05:43.29
we call this antinomianism.
00:05:43.32\00:05:46.04
It comes from the
Greek word, nomos,
00:05:46.07\00:05:48.22
that we translate commandments.
00:05:48.25\00:05:51.00
So antinomianism is an
anti-law is teaching again
00:05:51.03\00:05:55.74
that the commandments
have been done away with.
00:05:55.77\00:05:58.89
And my friend, again we
want to be clear, don't we?
00:05:58.92\00:06:01.73
We want to be
absolutely clear and sure
00:06:01.76\00:06:05.88
that what we
believe is in keeping
00:06:05.91\00:06:08.02
what the Bible teaches.
00:06:08.05\00:06:10.13
And that's exactly
what we're gonna find
00:06:10.16\00:06:11.88
as we go further into our study.
00:06:11.91\00:06:14.41
Take a look at Matthew 5,
00:06:14.44\00:06:16.90
the New
Testament page 3, page 3.
00:06:16.93\00:06:19.97
Matthew 5:17-19.
00:06:20.00\00:06:23.67
Let's take a look at what Jesus
00:06:23.70\00:06:25.55
said about this matter.
00:06:25.58\00:06:26.83
It's a part of the
Sermon on the Mount
00:06:26.86\00:06:28.39
and we will remember in
the Sermon on the Mount,
00:06:28.42\00:06:30.94
Jesus is establishing the
principles of His kingdom.
00:06:30.97\00:06:35.40
And you know
something about Jesus too,
00:06:35.43\00:06:37.14
when it came to the
established traditions,
00:06:37.17\00:06:39.97
of the religious
leaders of His day.
00:06:40.00\00:06:42.69
My friend, He did
really give very much regard
00:06:42.72\00:06:44.62
at all to their
religious traditions.
00:06:44.65\00:06:48.26
He just kind of ignored them
00:06:48.29\00:06:49.75
and you know, that's important
00:06:49.78\00:06:51.64
why He got in so
much trouble with them.
00:06:51.67\00:06:54.17
And I think that here
as you look at this passage
00:06:54.20\00:06:57.80
Jesus is seeking
to make it very clear
00:06:57.83\00:07:00.78
in regards to where He stands
00:07:00.81\00:07:02.79
when it comes to
the commandments.
00:07:02.82\00:07:04.17
At last there will be some
00:07:04.20\00:07:05.51
who were conclude
that as Jesus did,
00:07:05.54\00:07:08.54
you know, did--
not did consideration
00:07:08.57\00:07:10.69
to the traditions of the elders
00:07:10.72\00:07:12.77
that maybe He didn't really
believe in the commandments
00:07:12.80\00:07:15.35
to keeping them as well.
00:07:15.38\00:07:17.51
Take a look at Matthew 5:17,
00:07:17.54\00:07:19.98
Jesus said, "Do not think,
00:07:20.01\00:07:23.24
that I came to abolish
the law or the prophets,
00:07:23.27\00:07:25.80
I did not come to
abolish but to fulfill."
00:07:25.83\00:07:30.47
So the first
thing we take note of
00:07:30.50\00:07:32.30
from the New
Testament, the words of Jesus,
00:07:32.33\00:07:34.96
He did not come to
abolish the law, right.
00:07:34.99\00:07:38.87
That's pretty clear.
00:07:38.90\00:07:40.85
He didn't come to
abolish but to fulfill.
00:07:40.88\00:07:43.51
And did Jesus fulfill the law?
00:07:43.54\00:07:46.02
Did He?
00:07:46.05\00:07:47.21
And how did He?
00:07:47.24\00:07:49.52
He kept it perfectly, didn't He?
00:07:49.55\00:07:51.65
And again the phrasing there is,
00:07:51.68\00:07:54.03
"I did not come to
abolish but to fulfill."
00:07:54.06\00:07:56.81
So this idea that when
Jesus fulfilled the law
00:07:56.84\00:08:00.39
that He released us
from keeping the commandments
00:08:00.42\00:08:02.80
is so contrary to
the statement of Jesus.
00:08:02.83\00:08:06.14
He said don't you think
that in fulfilling the law
00:08:06.17\00:08:08.54
that I abolished it, right.
00:08:08.57\00:08:11.90
That's what it says.
00:08:11.93\00:08:13.22
And then verse 18,
00:08:13.25\00:08:14.28
He says, "For truly I say to you
00:08:14.31\00:08:16.13
until heaven and earth pass away
00:08:16.16\00:08:18.09
not the smallest letter
or stroke shall pass away
00:08:18.12\00:08:21.29
from the law until
all is accomplished."
00:08:21.32\00:08:25.10
I've got a question for you,
is heaven and earth still here?
00:08:25.13\00:08:29.63
I know, feels
pretty solid under my feet.
00:08:29.66\00:08:33.68
So what does that say
about the integrity of the law?
00:08:33.71\00:08:37.19
And in furthermore
Jesus said here in verse 18,
00:08:37.22\00:08:40.41
"Not the
smallest letter or stroke
00:08:40.44\00:08:42.49
until all is accomplished."
00:08:42.52\00:08:45.78
While has all been accomplished?
00:08:45.81\00:08:48.52
Well, much has been accomplished
00:08:48.55\00:08:51.73
among the significant
things that been accomplished,
00:08:51.76\00:08:53.59
Jesus has come to this earth,
00:08:53.62\00:08:55.69
His died for our redemption
00:08:55.72\00:08:58.94
but my friend,
00:08:58.97\00:09:00.34
Jesus is yet to
return in power and in glory.
00:09:00.37\00:09:04.75
The eternal kingdom
is yet to be established.
00:09:04.78\00:09:08.70
We have yet to see
00:09:08.73\00:09:09.76
the elimination
of sin and rebellion
00:09:09.79\00:09:11.92
so not all has
been accomplished.
00:09:11.95\00:09:13.52
And again what does that say
about the integrity of the law?
00:09:13.55\00:09:17.28
What Jesus said, and
not the smallest letter
00:09:17.31\00:09:20.14
or stroke that's
like a crossing of a "T"
00:09:20.17\00:09:24.33
has been
eliminated from the law.
00:09:24.36\00:09:27.02
And then finally verse 19,
00:09:27.05\00:09:28.55
He says, "Whoever then annuls
00:09:28.58\00:09:29.90
one of the least
of these commandments,
00:09:29.93\00:09:31.61
and teaches
others to do the same,
00:09:31.64\00:09:33.58
shall be called least
in the kingdom of heaven
00:09:33.61\00:09:36.08
but whoever keeps
and teaches them,"
00:09:36.11\00:09:39.21
and by
implication the least of them,
00:09:39.24\00:09:41.96
"he shall be called great
in the kingdom of heaven."
00:09:41.99\00:09:46.34
So my friend, we are in--
00:09:46.37\00:09:48.42
on solid New
Testament foundations
00:09:48.45\00:09:51.13
and we are perfect accord
with the teachings of Jesus here
00:09:51.16\00:09:56.35
to have the night
in which we talk about
00:09:56.38\00:09:58.75
the importance
of the commandments
00:09:58.78\00:10:01.46
and they are important.
00:10:01.49\00:10:02.96
You know, this has
become an issue in recent years.
00:10:02.99\00:10:06.53
I mean, you know
something about this,
00:10:06.56\00:10:08.36
I-- you know,
going back to who was it,
00:10:08.39\00:10:11.29
there was a chief
justice of Alabama back in 2003.
00:10:11.32\00:10:15.45
I think his name
was Roy Moore remember,
00:10:15.48\00:10:17.79
he had erected a 2.5 ton
replica of the commandments
00:10:17.82\00:10:24.62
in the state
house there in Alabama
00:10:24.65\00:10:30.04
and this became,
this became an issue
00:10:30.07\00:10:32.59
that went before
the Supreme Court
00:10:32.62\00:10:34.60
of the state of Alabama.
00:10:34.63\00:10:37.12
And remember the
Supreme Court said,
00:10:37.15\00:10:38.78
you got to take
out that religious,
00:10:38.81\00:10:42.36
that religious object
out of this the courthouse.
00:10:42.39\00:10:46.65
And you could
see the picture here
00:10:46.68\00:10:48.18
where they're
removing it because of that.
00:10:48.21\00:10:51.48
And this thing eventually--
00:10:51.51\00:10:53.32
this whole issue
eventually worked its way up
00:10:53.35\00:10:56.46
to the Supreme Court
of the United States.
00:10:56.49\00:10:59.93
Do you remember this in 2005,
00:10:59.96\00:11:01.97
they finally
made the determination
00:11:02.00\00:11:04.88
because there was an issue
again in a very similar way
00:11:04.91\00:11:08.17
they have
posted the commandments
00:11:08.20\00:11:10.15
in the courthouse of Kentucky
00:11:10.18\00:11:13.36
of the Supreme Court
of Kentucky and of Texas.
00:11:13.39\00:11:17.15
And the Supreme Court said
you got to get those replicas
00:11:17.18\00:11:20.79
of the commandments
out of those courthouses.
00:11:20.82\00:11:25.59
And yet, you know this is
down in the Bible about it.
00:11:25.62\00:11:29.67
And there are many
actually who are teaching
00:11:29.70\00:11:31.94
that commandments were
done away with and yeah
00:11:31.97\00:11:33.91
this was stirring people,
00:11:33.94\00:11:35.93
this idea of the commandments
being done away with.
00:11:35.96\00:11:39.87
Well, Jesus said in John 15:10,
00:11:39.90\00:11:41.98
again coming back to how Jesus
related to the commandments.
00:11:42.01\00:11:45.12
He said, "I have kept
My Father's commandments,
00:11:45.15\00:11:48.36
and abide in His love."
00:11:48.39\00:11:51.26
Jesus gave us an
example, didn't He?
00:11:51.29\00:11:53.81
And notice the connection
00:11:53.84\00:11:55.22
between His
keeping the commandments
00:11:55.25\00:11:57.06
and His
relationship to the Father.
00:11:57.09\00:12:00.97
He says,
keeping the commandments
00:12:01.00\00:12:02.74
and I abide in His love.
00:12:02.77\00:12:05.39
And so it is in our
relationship with Jesus Christ,
00:12:05.42\00:12:08.79
when we love the
Lord Jesus Christ,
00:12:08.82\00:12:10.90
we will see a similar
pattern in our own lives
00:12:10.93\00:12:15.32
is what the Bible indicates.
00:12:15.35\00:12:17.50
But then do you recognized
this fellow right here?
00:12:17.53\00:12:21.49
That's Ted Turner,
yes. You got it, Ted Turner.
00:12:21.52\00:12:24.64
And Ted Turner
had something to say
00:12:24.67\00:12:26.97
about this matter
of the commandments.
00:12:27.00\00:12:28.58
Back in 19-- I think it was '89,
00:12:28.61\00:12:30.72
he determined that
00:12:30.75\00:12:32.04
the Ten
Commandments were obsolete.
00:12:32.07\00:12:34.01
Oh, wonderful they have
that commentary from Ted Turner.
00:12:34.04\00:12:37.47
So he put into place
00:12:37.50\00:12:39.62
his 10 voluntary initiatives
is what he called them,
00:12:39.65\00:12:43.58
voluntary initiatives to
replace the Ten Commandments.
00:12:43.61\00:12:47.39
I bet you, you never even
heard of that thing, you know.
00:12:47.42\00:12:51.71
So people being
tampering with this matter
00:12:51.74\00:12:53.76
but take a look at
what the Bible says
00:12:53.79\00:12:55.58
in Psalm 111:7, 8.
00:12:55.61\00:12:58.97
It says, "The works of His
hands are verity and judgment,
00:12:59.00\00:13:02.97
all His commandments are sure.
00:13:03.00\00:13:05.67
They stand fast for--" how long?
00:13:05.70\00:13:09.16
"for ever and ever,
00:13:09.19\00:13:10.81
and are done in
truth and uprightness"
00:13:10.84\00:13:13.94
is what the Bible
teaches about the commandments.
00:13:13.97\00:13:16.96
And then I want to
take you on the Matthew 19,
00:13:16.99\00:13:18.93
the New Testament page 16.
00:13:18.96\00:13:21.55
Page 16, Matthew 19.
00:13:21.58\00:13:24.61
Now there's
something deeply spiritual
00:13:24.64\00:13:26.44
about this whole matter
00:13:26.47\00:13:28.12
that we want to get
to sooner than later.
00:13:28.15\00:13:33.00
You know in almost any
subject there are gonna be well,
00:13:33.03\00:13:35.90
I call the nuts and bolts,
00:13:35.93\00:13:37.52
that's when you're getting
down to the essential teachings
00:13:37.55\00:13:41.56
or what is
actually being taught.
00:13:41.59\00:13:43.60
And it's easy to miss
00:13:43.63\00:13:45.15
the deeper spiritual
implications of the teachings
00:13:45.18\00:13:48.21
that we don't take
time to take note of them.
00:13:48.24\00:13:50.72
So here we are as
we come to Matthew,
00:13:50.75\00:13:54.91
Matthew 19, to
begin with verse 16.
00:13:54.94\00:13:57.88
It's the story of
the rich young ruler.
00:13:57.91\00:14:01.18
And this what it says,
00:14:01.21\00:14:02.32
"And someone
came to Him and said,
00:14:02.35\00:14:04.64
'Teacher, what
good thing shall I do
00:14:04.67\00:14:06.75
that I may obtain eternal life?'
00:14:06.78\00:14:08.65
And He said to him,
00:14:08.68\00:14:10.05
'Why are you asking
me about what is good?
00:14:10.08\00:14:12.16
There is only one who is good,
00:14:12.19\00:14:14.50
but if you wish
to enter into life,
00:14:14.53\00:14:16.18
keep the commandments.'"
00:14:16.21\00:14:18.54
Just a minute.
00:14:18.57\00:14:21.20
What did He say?
00:14:21.23\00:14:23.02
If you'd enter into life, what?
00:14:23.05\00:14:25.89
Keep the commandments.
00:14:25.92\00:14:28.36
You know,
putting aside, if we did
00:14:28.39\00:14:30.20
we've to consider
that Jesus was saying this
00:14:30.23\00:14:32.57
and I think it was more
than it was in the Bible.
00:14:32.60\00:14:35.21
If anybody else had
answered that question,
00:14:35.24\00:14:38.15
what must I do to
inherit eternal life?
00:14:38.18\00:14:40.19
And they said,
"Keep the commandments."
00:14:40.22\00:14:42.75
I would bet that some of
us would very quickly say,
00:14:42.78\00:14:46.57
if ever that was a legalistic
answer to that question
00:14:46.60\00:14:50.12
of what we must do to inherit
the eternal life, that's it.
00:14:50.15\00:14:54.36
Where in the world do
you come up with this idea
00:14:54.39\00:14:56.37
that we keep the
commandment, enter into life.
00:14:56.40\00:14:59.12
It comes out of the personal
commitment of the Jesus Christ.
00:14:59.15\00:15:02.75
Is that what some
of us would be saying?
00:15:02.78\00:15:05.96
But yet Jesus said it, if
you want to enter the life,
00:15:05.99\00:15:09.88
keep the commandments.
00:15:09.91\00:15:11.35
Now we're gonna see
00:15:11.38\00:15:12.41
how this relates
to the relationship
00:15:12.44\00:15:14.92
and then it's gonna
make it abundantly clear
00:15:14.95\00:15:17.69
that Jesus was not confused
about this matter of salvation.
00:15:17.72\00:15:21.39
We'll never accuse
Jesus of being confuse
00:15:21.42\00:15:23.63
about the matter of
our redemption, would we?
00:15:23.66\00:15:26.47
But nevertheless
it has an importance
00:15:26.50\00:15:29.44
as Jesus would not have
responded the way that He did.
00:15:29.47\00:15:32.07
Verse 18, "Then he said to Him,
00:15:32.10\00:15:35.17
'Which ones? Lord, which ones?'
00:15:35.20\00:15:37.57
And Jesus said, 'You
shall not commit murder,
00:15:37.60\00:15:39.84
you shall not commit
adultery, you shall not steal,
00:15:39.87\00:15:42.58
you shall not
bear false witness,
00:15:42.61\00:15:44.10
honor your father and mother
00:15:44.13\00:15:45.97
and you shall love
your neighbor as yourself.'"
00:15:46.00\00:15:48.51
Clearly, Jesus was talking
about the Ten Commandments,
00:15:48.54\00:15:51.39
he quoted them.
00:15:51.42\00:15:52.67
These are the ones
that we are to keep,
00:15:52.70\00:15:54.45
if we are to enter in the life.
00:15:54.48\00:15:57.08
And so we have to again
ask ourselves the question
00:15:57.11\00:16:01.51
not only should we keep
them, are they relevant?
00:16:01.54\00:16:05.58
Well, let's take a look at
this matter of the commandments
00:16:05.61\00:16:08.52
as we look at the record of it,
00:16:08.55\00:16:09.98
as we find it in
the Book of Exodus
00:16:10.01\00:16:11.81
beginning actually in Exodus 19
00:16:11.84\00:16:15.28
and then in Exodus 20 of course,
00:16:15.31\00:16:16.73
we find the record
of the Ten Commandments
00:16:16.76\00:16:18.79
but among the
things that we take note,
00:16:18.82\00:16:20.83
we take note that
the children of Israel
00:16:20.86\00:16:22.47
are there at Mount Sinai.
00:16:22.50\00:16:24.63
They spend a whole
year at this mountain.
00:16:24.66\00:16:27.38
Moses is going up
into the mountain,
00:16:27.41\00:16:29.07
he's in communion with God.
00:16:29.10\00:16:32.19
And it's in that context
00:16:32.22\00:16:33.54
that he receives
the commandments.
00:16:33.57\00:16:35.11
But first of all we
take note in Exodus 19
00:16:35.14\00:16:38.52
that God called
for all of His people
00:16:38.55\00:16:41.61
to gather around the
base of that mountain.
00:16:41.64\00:16:45.44
And then He spoke to
them directly, audibly.
00:16:45.47\00:16:50.13
It is one of the most unique
things recorded in scripture
00:16:50.16\00:16:53.65
that God spoke to His people.
00:16:53.68\00:16:55.80
And what was it that He said?
00:16:55.83\00:16:58.80
Well, my friend,
00:16:58.83\00:16:59.86
He gave them the
Ten Commandments.
00:16:59.89\00:17:03.19
And so again for those
who would just very casually
00:17:03.22\00:17:06.88
would do it away
with the commandments,
00:17:06.91\00:17:08.77
my friend, here it's God Himself
speaking from the mountain,
00:17:08.80\00:17:14.49
giving the commandments.
00:17:14.52\00:17:15.78
That says they are important,
00:17:15.81\00:17:18.22
they were important
enough for God to come down
00:17:18.25\00:17:20.41
and to give them, right.
00:17:20.44\00:17:22.17
And then furthermore
we take note that He--
00:17:22.20\00:17:24.79
that He wrote them on tablets
of stone with His own finger
00:17:24.82\00:17:29.71
and still there
are those who say
00:17:29.74\00:17:31.98
that the commandments
have been done away with.
00:17:32.01\00:17:34.49
Well, again, let's
take a look at them.
00:17:34.52\00:17:36.98
As it recorded in
Exodus Chapter 20,
00:17:37.01\00:17:38.92
looking at the
relevancy of the Bible way
00:17:38.95\00:17:41.91
there is a preamble
to the Ten Commandments
00:17:41.94\00:17:44.82
that's often overlooked.
00:17:44.85\00:17:46.72
It's right here on
the screen, Exodus 20:2,
00:17:46.75\00:17:51.37
where God declares,
"I am the Lord your God,
00:17:51.40\00:17:55.19
who brought you out
of the land of Egypt,
00:17:55.22\00:17:57.07
out of the house of slavery."
00:17:57.10\00:18:00.58
So the first thing
we take note of before
00:18:00.61\00:18:02.32
we really get to
the Ten Commandments,
00:18:02.35\00:18:03.85
God declares, I am
the Lord, I am your God.
00:18:03.88\00:18:08.32
And what else?
00:18:08.35\00:18:10.54
I've delivered you out
of the house of bondage,
00:18:10.57\00:18:14.64
out of the house of slavery.
00:18:14.67\00:18:17.13
My friend, He
still is in the business
00:18:17.16\00:18:20.85
of releasing
slaves, slaves to sin
00:18:20.88\00:18:26.46
from their bondage. Amen.
00:18:26.49\00:18:28.72
He is still in the
business of delivering
00:18:28.75\00:18:31.64
us from the bondage.
00:18:31.67\00:18:33.99
And so this is
really a vital point
00:18:34.02\00:18:37.01
to understand and to appreciate
00:18:37.04\00:18:38.73
before we get it down
to the thou shalt not.
00:18:38.76\00:18:42.95
They understand who God is,
and how He has related to us.
00:18:42.98\00:18:48.17
Our Lord, our Savior, our
Redeemer He is all of that.
00:18:48.20\00:18:52.81
So again, we're
going to be looking
00:18:52.84\00:18:54.20
at the relevancy
of the commandments
00:18:54.23\00:18:55.80
as we began with the very first
one of them where God says,
00:18:55.83\00:18:58.82
"You shall have no
other Gods before Me."
00:18:58.85\00:19:03.25
Oh, was that relevant
00:19:03.28\00:19:05.13
in the day and
age that we live in?
00:19:05.16\00:19:07.23
Oh, come on, we
are sophisticated,
00:19:07.26\00:19:09.57
we are just too sophisticated
in western culture, right?
00:19:09.60\00:19:12.48
We don't have Gods.
00:19:12.51\00:19:14.33
Maybe in ancient
times, maybe in primitive,
00:19:14.36\00:19:18.24
you know, civilizations
00:19:18.27\00:19:20.79
but not in ours
western civilization or do we?
00:19:20.82\00:19:25.24
Do we have our
Gods? What is it God?
00:19:25.27\00:19:28.40
My friend, anything that we
put first place in our lives
00:19:28.43\00:19:33.44
we effectively have made up it
00:19:33.47\00:19:36.26
or that someone a God.
00:19:36.29\00:19:39.93
Can we make an individual God?
00:19:39.96\00:19:43.10
Can we make a husband, a wife,
00:19:43.13\00:19:45.77
can we make a
child, a friend a God?
00:19:45.80\00:19:51.67
We can do this
with relationships.
00:19:51.70\00:19:54.15
That is where this relationship
is more important to us
00:19:54.18\00:19:57.43
than our relationship to God.
00:19:57.46\00:19:59.93
And by the way, I
am here to assure you
00:19:59.96\00:20:01.70
whenever we put God in
first place in our lives
00:20:01.73\00:20:04.86
because we love Him
and we appreciate the fact
00:20:04.89\00:20:07.41
that He loves us,
00:20:07.44\00:20:09.38
whenever God is in
first place in our lives
00:20:09.41\00:20:12.82
all the other
relationships are enriched.
00:20:12.85\00:20:17.17
They are.
00:20:19.52\00:20:21.00
The marriage
relationship is enriched
00:20:21.03\00:20:23.92
when God has first
place in our lives.
00:20:23.95\00:20:26.99
The family
relationships are enriched
00:20:27.02\00:20:30.44
when we make God first.
00:20:30.47\00:20:33.30
Do you see that?
00:20:33.33\00:20:36.52
And then we move on
into the second commandment
00:20:36.55\00:20:39.30
where it says,
"You shall not make
00:20:39.33\00:20:41.16
for yourself a graven image,
00:20:41.19\00:20:42.95
or any likeness of anything
that is in heaven above,
00:20:42.98\00:20:45.16
or that is in the earth beneath,
00:20:45.19\00:20:46.99
or that is in the
water under the earth
00:20:47.02\00:20:48.66
you shall not bow down
to them or serve them."
00:20:48.69\00:20:52.26
He's talking
about graven images.
00:20:52.29\00:20:54.87
And again we ask the question,
00:20:54.90\00:20:56.34
is it relevant, does
it relate to the times--
00:20:56.37\00:20:59.38
of the times
that we are living in?
00:20:59.41\00:21:01.61
And my friend, when we realize
00:21:01.64\00:21:02.95
how materialistic we really are,
00:21:02.98\00:21:06.85
we began to see that
really is a connection here.
00:21:06.88\00:21:10.71
Are we
worshiping things above God?
00:21:10.74\00:21:15.65
Things?
00:21:15.68\00:21:17.95
You know, I really
had a wonderful father,
00:21:17.98\00:21:21.08
he was not a Christian but
boy, did he love his things
00:21:21.11\00:21:25.67
and he never did
anything half way.
00:21:25.70\00:21:28.68
I remember the period of time
00:21:28.71\00:21:30.08
that he decided to
get into the tropical fish
00:21:30.11\00:21:32.68
and he didn't do it
in just a small way.
00:21:32.71\00:21:35.90
In fact this is
almost like Washington.
00:21:35.93\00:21:38.43
He took and put
into my sister's bedroom,
00:21:38.46\00:21:41.49
my sister's bedroom
now a 100 gallon tank.
00:21:41.52\00:21:46.75
He was raising tropical
fish and selling them off
00:21:46.78\00:21:50.48
to the local pet stores.
00:21:50.51\00:21:53.54
I remember and one
Christmas after you know,
00:21:53.57\00:21:56.00
grandchildren were coming along
00:21:56.03\00:21:58.27
and we were coming
home for Christmas,
00:21:58.30\00:22:01.21
we came home to find
that he had put together
00:22:01.24\00:22:04.54
the tracks for a train
that went under you know,
00:22:04.57\00:22:08.80
through the pres--
00:22:08.83\00:22:09.92
he stack the presents
underneath the Christmas tree
00:22:09.95\00:22:12.90
and we had the train.
00:22:12.93\00:22:14.51
Before the year--
the next year so was out
00:22:14.54\00:22:17.72
he had taken over my bedroom,
00:22:17.75\00:22:21.04
of course-- you
know, I left home by now
00:22:21.07\00:22:22.10
but he took over my
bedroom and he had--
00:22:22.13\00:22:25.08
I mean, he had about
nine different trains
00:22:25.11\00:22:28.86
and all these different tracks.
00:22:28.89\00:22:30.83
You had to crawl
into that bedroom of mine
00:22:30.86\00:22:33.91
to find this little
hole that you can come up
00:22:33.94\00:22:36.35
and where you
could play engineer.
00:22:36.38\00:22:40.14
And I remember
too, when my dad--
00:22:40.17\00:22:44.16
when VCRs first came
out, this is the 1970s.
00:22:44.19\00:22:48.31
And you know they
were $1500 back then
00:22:48.34\00:22:50.93
and they were
these huge machines.
00:22:50.96\00:22:53.28
Well, my dad again,
00:22:53.31\00:22:55.21
he didn't have just
one he had several of them.
00:22:55.24\00:22:57.76
He had TVs in the living room,
00:22:57.79\00:22:59.75
the family room and the bedrooms
00:22:59.78\00:23:02.26
and he'd gone under the house
00:23:02.29\00:23:03.78
and he had drilled
holes through the floor
00:23:03.81\00:23:06.98
and he had all of those TVs
00:23:07.01\00:23:08.83
and all of those
VCRs interconnected.
00:23:08.86\00:23:13.07
Anything of interest
that would come on TV
00:23:13.10\00:23:15.31
that he possible
would want to record
00:23:15.34\00:23:16.80
he could do it and
he had this big library.
00:23:16.83\00:23:20.50
And you know, I like
to tell you about cars,
00:23:20.53\00:23:23.86
my dad had this
love affair with cars.
00:23:23.89\00:23:26.19
He love Cadillacs, everybody,
every year or less sometimes
00:23:26.22\00:23:30.84
we were going
through another automobile.
00:23:30.87\00:23:33.86
And then it was RVs, you know.
00:23:33.89\00:23:37.61
He went through
a series of about
00:23:37.64\00:23:39.30
three or four motor homes
00:23:39.33\00:23:41.19
and each time they
kept getting bigger
00:23:41.22\00:23:43.87
and more
elaborate until he ended up
00:23:43.90\00:23:46.24
with this 35 food motor home
00:23:46.27\00:23:50.02
and he like to
do all of this work.
00:23:50.05\00:23:52.03
I want to tell
you, he spent so time
00:23:52.06\00:23:54.11
because he'd like to do his
own mechanical work, you know.
00:23:54.14\00:23:57.84
Save a few bucks and
he enjoyed doing that,
00:23:57.87\00:24:00.03
except something go right.
00:24:00.06\00:24:02.01
And so he would be
spending all of this time
00:24:02.04\00:24:06.13
and all of these things
00:24:06.16\00:24:09.73
and we can end up doing
the same things, can't we?
00:24:09.76\00:24:12.83
And we end up finding out
00:24:12.86\00:24:14.75
that we spent so
much time on things
00:24:14.78\00:24:16.81
that we've been
serving things, right?
00:24:16.84\00:24:20.94
We can do that.
00:24:20.97\00:24:23.31
You know, we are blessed
00:24:23.34\00:24:24.78
but we need to keep these things
in proper perspective, don't we?
00:24:24.81\00:24:28.69
And then there's--
00:24:28.72\00:24:29.75
well, there's another
commandment by the ways,
00:24:29.78\00:24:31.03
as we go through the
third commandment where it says,
00:24:31.06\00:24:32.83
"You shall not take the name
of the Lord your God in vain,
00:24:32.86\00:24:36.26
for the Lord will
not hold him guiltless
00:24:36.29\00:24:38.34
who takes His name in vain."
00:24:38.37\00:24:40.77
And I ask you the
question, what is in the name?
00:24:40.80\00:24:44.61
Well, what's in the name
is what the name stands for,
00:24:44.64\00:24:47.17
it stands for the person,
it stands for the character.
00:24:47.20\00:24:50.41
And the name of God
stands for His holy--
00:24:50.44\00:24:54.11
He's God, He is holy,
He's just, He's righteous,
00:24:54.14\00:24:57.63
He's loving, compassionate,
He's all of those things.
00:24:57.66\00:25:03.53
And yet, I guess, there are many
even among professing Christians
00:25:03.56\00:25:09.84
who evidently have decided,
this commandment is irrelevant
00:25:09.87\00:25:12.53
the way that the name of Jesus,
00:25:12.56\00:25:14.31
that holy name of Jesus
and that holy name of God
00:25:14.34\00:25:17.74
is taken upon ones lips today.
00:25:17.77\00:25:21.42
You know, those of us have
been around for a little while,
00:25:21.45\00:25:25.42
I think many of us have observed
00:25:25.45\00:25:27.13
that our culture has
increasingly through the decades
00:25:27.16\00:25:32.01
has become more and more crude.
00:25:32.04\00:25:36.52
Have you noticed that?
00:25:36.55\00:25:38.23
It's become more and more crude.
00:25:38.26\00:25:41.05
And so we have
the third commandment.
00:25:41.08\00:25:44.72
And then we come to
the fourth commandment,
00:25:44.75\00:25:46.48
it's the longest of
them all but it says,
00:25:46.51\00:25:48.01
"Remember the
Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
00:25:48.04\00:25:50.37
Six days you shall
labor and do all your work,
00:25:50.40\00:25:52.81
but the seventh day
00:25:52.84\00:25:53.87
is the Sabbath to
the Lord your God.
00:25:53.90\00:25:56.02
In it you shall do
you shall not do any work,
00:25:56.05\00:25:58.94
you, or your
son, or your daughter,
00:25:58.97\00:26:02.11
or your manservant,
or your maidservant,
00:26:02.14\00:26:04.22
or your cattle, or your stranger
00:26:04.25\00:26:06.02
who is within your gates.
00:26:06.05\00:26:07.79
For in six days the Lord
made the heavens and the earth,
00:26:07.82\00:26:10.50
the sea, and
all that is in them,
00:26:10.53\00:26:12.18
and rested the seventh day.
00:26:12.21\00:26:13.72
Therefore the Lord
blessed the Sabbath day
00:26:13.75\00:26:15.76
and hallowed it."
00:26:15.79\00:26:18.62
So again, living in
the times that we are,
00:26:18.65\00:26:22.48
is that
commandment is called to rest?
00:26:22.51\00:26:26.43
This idea that God
would take the seventh day
00:26:26.46\00:26:29.57
and once a week He would--
00:26:29.60\00:26:31.84
and He counsels us to
cease from all our work.
00:26:31.87\00:26:36.42
Is that relevant today?
00:26:36.45\00:26:39.24
My friend, absolutely.
00:26:39.27\00:26:42.16
I mean, we keep-- you know,
00:26:42.19\00:26:43.79
we keep squeezing up
more and more productivity
00:26:43.82\00:26:47.36
out of the average worker.
00:26:47.39\00:26:48.93
What happened to
the 40 hour week--
00:26:48.96\00:26:52.39
work week anyway for some of us?
00:26:52.42\00:26:55.64
What's happened?
00:26:55.67\00:26:58.14
My friend, we're stressed out,
00:26:58.17\00:27:00.48
we're over-- many
times over worked.
00:27:00.51\00:27:03.48
And God is saying, listen,
00:27:03.51\00:27:05.71
you know, for your own
interest you need to rest.
00:27:05.74\00:27:10.91
And He does that
out of love, doesn't He?
00:27:10.94\00:27:13.55
And then we move on
to the next commandment,
00:27:13.58\00:27:15.82
"Honor your
father and your mother,
00:27:15.85\00:27:17.60
that your days may
be long in the land
00:27:17.63\00:27:19.45
which the Lord
your God is gives you."
00:27:19.48\00:27:21.52
Who of us wants to say that,
00:27:21.55\00:27:22.67
that commandment
is inconsequential,
00:27:22.70\00:27:25.14
has no relevance in
the time that we're living?
00:27:25.17\00:27:28.05
And this is
getting into the heartbeat,
00:27:28.08\00:27:29.97
you know, of
the family structure
00:27:30.00\00:27:31.94
which is at the foundation
of any society of any culture
00:27:31.97\00:27:37.02
and those relationships
are vital, aren't they?
00:27:37.05\00:27:40.14
They truly are.
00:27:40.17\00:27:42.39
And then we move to
the next one where it says,
00:27:42.42\00:27:45.20
"You shall not
kill." You shall not murder.
00:27:45.23\00:27:49.66
I think all of us would be--
00:27:49.69\00:27:51.19
of course that
would be relevant.
00:27:51.22\00:27:53.80
But you know in
the Sermon of the Mount
00:27:53.83\00:27:55.57
Jesus even went back--
went deeper into the motives
00:27:55.60\00:27:59.21
behind some of
these commandments.
00:27:59.24\00:28:01.10
He said, if you are
angry with your brother
00:28:01.13\00:28:03.52
you have already
committed murder in your heart.
00:28:03.55\00:28:07.86
That's getting down
the motivation, isn't it?
00:28:07.89\00:28:10.56
You've already
committed murder in your heart.
00:28:10.59\00:28:13.67
And then we come to
the Seventh Commandment,
00:28:13.70\00:28:15.64
"You shall not commit adultery."
00:28:15.67\00:28:18.22
Adultery?
00:28:18.25\00:28:20.03
Oh, that really is old fashion,
00:28:20.06\00:28:22.04
this idea of adultery
for some people evidently.
00:28:22.07\00:28:25.54
My friend, the
Seventh Commandment
00:28:25.57\00:28:26.84
is a call to sexual purity.
00:28:26.87\00:28:30.14
And my friend, we
ought to take note,
00:28:30.17\00:28:31.83
I assume most of us understand,
00:28:31.86\00:28:34.41
it is God that
made us male and female,
00:28:34.44\00:28:36.91
it is God
therefore that created sex.
00:28:36.94\00:28:41.33
You know it's interesting
what we talk about publicly
00:28:41.36\00:28:43.66
and in church
00:28:43.69\00:28:45.40
today you know, on a way that
00:28:45.43\00:28:47.76
we probably wouldn't have
done 20, 30, 40 years ago.
00:28:47.79\00:28:51.66
You know things have
become so much more open
00:28:51.69\00:28:53.73
but you know God created sex.
00:28:53.76\00:28:56.66
It is a good thing
within the framework
00:28:56.69\00:28:58.95
in which God created it, right?
00:28:58.98\00:29:00.75
And what
framework did He created in?
00:29:02.98\00:29:05.71
My friend, He
created it in the framework
00:29:05.74\00:29:08.28
of a committed relationship,
a married relationship.
00:29:08.31\00:29:13.41
Look at Hebrews 3:5
00:29:13.44\00:29:16.67
where we are
instructed and counsel
00:29:16.70\00:29:18.26
that we ought to
hold marriage in honor.
00:29:18.29\00:29:21.19
And yet, you know,
00:29:23.30\00:29:26.10
how just this last
year Eliot Spitzer,
00:29:26.13\00:29:28.90
the former governor,
00:29:28.93\00:29:30.21
now the former
governor of New York
00:29:30.24\00:29:32.24
got caught spend $80,000
on call girls had to resign
00:29:32.27\00:29:39.32
from his
governorship of New York
00:29:39.35\00:29:40.89
and here he is in the
press conference announcing it.
00:29:40.92\00:29:44.85
And I look at
the face of his wife
00:29:44.88\00:29:47.40
and I just wondering
00:29:47.43\00:29:48.46
what in the world
did he take her through,
00:29:48.49\00:29:50.84
what in the
world is she thinking
00:29:50.87\00:29:54.39
having this
come out so publicly?
00:29:54.42\00:29:59.07
My friend, God still
calls for sexual purity.
00:29:59.10\00:30:02.69
He does, and then his
Lt. Governor that took over,
00:30:02.72\00:30:06.23
David Patterson in
his press conference,
00:30:06.26\00:30:10.57
God, he better did
it right out up front
00:30:10.60\00:30:13.19
that he had been guilty--
00:30:13.22\00:30:14.79
he and his wife had
both been guilty of affairs.
00:30:14.82\00:30:18.42
You know where this
all began in our culture?
00:30:23.21\00:30:26.97
This all began
down in The Bay Area.
00:30:27.00\00:30:32.41
It all began in San Francisco
with the summer of love.
00:30:32.44\00:30:39.20
Now for some of you
that's just gonna be
00:30:39.23\00:30:40.70
kind of ancient history.
00:30:40.73\00:30:42.81
But those of us
who are little older,
00:30:42.84\00:30:44.06
we're going to remember
the summer of love is not 1968,
00:30:44.09\00:30:47.35
it's a part of
the hippy movement,
00:30:47.38\00:30:49.48
the anti-establishment movement
00:30:49.51\00:30:53.62
and the determination of
the anti-cultural movement
00:30:53.65\00:30:58.00
of that period of the '60s.
00:30:58.03\00:31:00.04
That one was not
gonna be obligated
00:31:00.07\00:31:02.75
to the moral restrictions,
00:31:02.78\00:31:06.40
inhabit the restrictions
that had been largely,
00:31:06.43\00:31:11.43
you know, a part of other
culture that period of time.
00:31:11.46\00:31:16.59
And then we began to see people
beginning to live together.
00:31:16.62\00:31:21.82
I remember
little bit about this.
00:31:21.85\00:31:24.44
You know, it was kind of a shock
00:31:24.47\00:31:25.77
when this first
began to take place
00:31:25.80\00:31:28.59
and then over time it
has become almost the norm.
00:31:28.62\00:31:33.84
You know, people living together
00:31:33.87\00:31:36.13
outside of a married
committed relationship.
00:31:36.16\00:31:41.08
It has undermined the
institution of marriage,
00:31:41.11\00:31:44.45
hasn't it?
00:31:44.48\00:31:45.88
It has.
00:31:45.91\00:31:47.73
And, but my friend,
though it is the norm,
00:31:47.76\00:31:52.05
some what the norm today
it was not always that way.
00:31:52.08\00:31:56.80
Those of you who may
remember the pre-1960s,
00:31:56.83\00:32:00.81
it was not the norm.
00:32:00.84\00:32:02.13
Did it happened?
00:32:02.16\00:32:03.31
It happened, yes, on
occasion it did happened
00:32:03.34\00:32:06.39
but it was frowned upon.
00:32:06.42\00:32:07.72
It was not, it was
not looked upon favorably
00:32:07.75\00:32:11.90
and now we just
hardly brink and eye.
00:32:11.93\00:32:13.62
I tell you,
there's been a lot of stuff
00:32:13.65\00:32:15.01
coming out of San Francisco.
00:32:15.04\00:32:17.39
I mean, just a year or two ago
00:32:17.42\00:32:19.48
they started in
with homosexuality,
00:32:19.51\00:32:23.88
you know, gay people marrying.
00:32:23.91\00:32:27.45
I tell you, what's
going on in the Bay Area.
00:32:27.48\00:32:31.94
My friend, look
at it historically.
00:32:31.97\00:32:34.93
And some of the things we
have come to accept today.
00:32:34.96\00:32:39.02
Again, let's go to
the next commandment,
00:32:39.05\00:32:40.68
the eight one which
says, "You shall not steal."
00:32:40.71\00:32:43.30
Certainly living in
a materialistic society
00:32:43.33\00:32:46.62
we will all say that you know,
00:32:46.65\00:32:48.05
we ought to respect
the property of others.
00:32:48.08\00:32:51.47
Of course, not
everybody agrees to that ideal,
00:32:51.50\00:32:55.82
that moral value.
00:32:55.85\00:32:58.06
I was holding a
series in Portland, Oregon
00:32:58.09\00:33:00.27
I send some years ago in the--
00:33:00.30\00:33:01.92
oh, could be six, seven,
eight years ago and down in,
00:33:01.95\00:33:08.04
I would say Glisan area.
00:33:08.07\00:33:09.34
Glisan, is that a
part of Portland, Glisan?
00:33:09.37\00:33:12.02
Anyway, I was there
00:33:12.05\00:33:13.30
and I was in an RV
right next to the church
00:33:13.33\00:33:16.01
and outside was
parked my Ford Aerostar.
00:33:16.04\00:33:19.04
I got up one
morning and went out jogging
00:33:19.07\00:33:21.81
and when I came
back it was only then
00:33:21.84\00:33:23.58
that I noticed it was missing.
00:33:23.61\00:33:26.24
Well, I just had noticed it
00:33:26.27\00:33:27.46
when I went out
because during the night
00:33:27.49\00:33:29.67
somebody had come
and stolen my Aerostar.
00:33:29.70\00:33:33.46
I reported it to
the police of course,
00:33:33.49\00:33:35.59
I just couldn't believe.
00:33:35.62\00:33:36.81
I was sleeping
within feet of that vehicle
00:33:36.84\00:33:40.15
then somebody would come
in the middle of the night
00:33:40.18\00:33:41.81
and steal it.
00:33:41.84\00:33:44.07
And within a couple
of days they found it.
00:33:44.10\00:33:47.09
They had taken
out the transmission
00:33:47.12\00:33:49.50
and some other things
00:33:49.53\00:33:51.66
and they have
done a lot of damage
00:33:51.69\00:33:53.37
but it was not quite totaled.
00:33:53.40\00:33:55.08
If they were going to do it
00:33:55.11\00:33:56.20
I wish they'd
totaled it, you know.
00:33:56.23\00:33:58.44
But anyway I had
to get it repaired,
00:33:58.47\00:34:00.51
I just, you know, I
just you couldn't believe
00:34:00.54\00:34:03.87
that somebody would do that.
00:34:03.90\00:34:06.00
And then the Ninth Commandment,
00:34:06.03\00:34:07.21
"You shall not bear a false
witness against your neighbor."
00:34:07.24\00:34:10.16
False witness, we call that lie.
00:34:10.19\00:34:12.30
That's misrepresenting
our neighbor, the reputation.
00:34:12.33\00:34:16.98
We have another word for
this, we call this backbiting.
00:34:17.01\00:34:20.52
Backbiting is a
part of this idea,
00:34:20.55\00:34:22.47
misrepresentation people.
00:34:22.50\00:34:24.93
And my friend,
it's a horrible thing,
00:34:24.96\00:34:26.33
if you have ever gone
through that vicious gossip
00:34:26.36\00:34:29.88
that can
destroy ones reputation.
00:34:29.91\00:34:33.10
I know how important it is,
00:34:33.13\00:34:35.60
this idea that we ought to
guard the reputation of others
00:34:35.63\00:34:39.93
and to misrepresent others,
00:34:39.96\00:34:43.14
to lie it's just really
not a part of the moral values
00:34:43.17\00:34:47.01
that as Christians we
really ought to hold to.
00:34:47.04\00:34:49.96
And then we come to the
last of the commandments,
00:34:49.99\00:34:51.97
the tenth one which says,
00:34:52.00\00:34:53.24
"You shall not covet
your neighbor's house,
00:34:53.27\00:34:55.44
you shall not covet
your neighbor's wife,
00:34:55.47\00:34:58.03
or his manservant,
or his maidservant,
00:34:58.06\00:35:00.22
or his ox, or his ass,"
00:35:00.25\00:35:02.08
or his Cadillac or
his boat or his house.
00:35:02.11\00:35:06.04
You could go got in
the list, can't you?
00:35:06.07\00:35:09.10
"Or anything that
is in your neighbors."
00:35:09.13\00:35:12.01
Now it's one thing to admire
00:35:12.04\00:35:14.00
something that somebody has,
00:35:14.03\00:35:16.38
but it's
something else to covet.
00:35:16.41\00:35:19.94
Covet is one step
away from stealing.
00:35:19.97\00:35:23.27
Coveting is not only I
like it but I got to have it,
00:35:23.30\00:35:28.07
I've got to make it mine
00:35:28.10\00:35:30.28
and that really is getting
into the intent of the heart,
00:35:30.31\00:35:32.74
isn't it?
00:35:32.77\00:35:33.85
this matter of covetousness?
00:35:33.88\00:35:35.70
Again, as we look
at the principles,
00:35:35.73\00:35:37.79
my friend, they are practical,
00:35:37.82\00:35:40.25
they cross cultural
lines, they are universal
00:35:40.28\00:35:45.12
and then we're
reminded that what Paul says
00:35:45.15\00:35:46.86
in Romans 13 and
what is in verse 10.
00:35:46.89\00:35:49.61
He says, love is the
fulfilling of the law.
00:35:49.64\00:35:52.83
The basic fundamental
principal of the law is love.
00:35:52.86\00:35:58.50
The first four
commandments described for us
00:35:58.53\00:36:01.19
what it means to
have love for God,
00:36:01.22\00:36:03.82
the love Him supreme.
00:36:03.85\00:36:04.88
You won't have other gods,
00:36:04.91\00:36:06.41
your reverence His
name, et cetera et cetera.
00:36:06.44\00:36:08.70
The last six
commandments define for us
00:36:08.73\00:36:11.36
what it means to
love one another.
00:36:11.39\00:36:14.32
I mean, if you love somebody
you are gonna be caring them
00:36:14.35\00:36:17.04
and if you love somebody
00:36:17.07\00:36:18.10
you are not going to
be committing adultery
00:36:18.13\00:36:20.14
and et cetera, et cetera, right.
00:36:20.17\00:36:22.50
This is what love is all about.
00:36:22.53\00:36:25.81
And my friend,
they're more spiritual
00:36:25.84\00:36:27.58
than sometimes we
give then credit for.
00:36:27.61\00:36:30.65
But the problem is with us.
00:36:30.68\00:36:33.32
You know always
natural feel that,
00:36:33.35\00:36:35.06
naturally feel that way.
00:36:35.09\00:36:36.46
Take a look at James 2,
The New Testament, page 178.
00:36:36.49\00:36:42.06
James 2 and let's
look at verses 10-12.
00:36:42.09\00:36:47.16
I haven't really
00:36:50.19\00:36:51.49
gotten into the
deeper spiritual side of this
00:36:51.52\00:36:55.47
and but we will.
00:36:55.50\00:36:57.74
Here in James 2, and
beginning with verse 10,
00:36:57.77\00:37:00.45
this is what we find
written in the scriptures.
00:37:00.48\00:37:04.22
It says, "For
whosoever keeps the whole law,
00:37:04.25\00:37:06.79
and yet stumbles in one point,"
00:37:06.82\00:37:09.08
is doing really pretty good.
00:37:09.11\00:37:10.62
I mean, one out of ten,
breaking one out of ten,
00:37:10.65\00:37:13.28
you are getting
90% of them right.
00:37:13.31\00:37:15.81
Okay, 90%
depending on how your teacher
00:37:15.84\00:37:19.99
would grade the curve
00:37:20.02\00:37:22.09
would get you almost
an "A" to an "A," right?
00:37:22.12\00:37:27.01
So one out of ten, you know.
00:37:27.04\00:37:29.21
But that's not the way the
Bible looks at this or God.
00:37:29.24\00:37:32.08
"For whosoever
keeps the whole law,
00:37:32.11\00:37:33.61
and yet stumbles in one point,
he has become guilty of all."
00:37:33.64\00:37:38.23
We have transgressed all
00:37:38.26\00:37:39.56
because the
fundamental principal
00:37:39.59\00:37:41.81
really comes down to
our relationship to God
00:37:41.84\00:37:44.37
and our respect
for His authority
00:37:44.40\00:37:47.08
when it comes to this
matter of moral values.
00:37:47.11\00:37:51.45
Because verse 11 he said,
00:37:51.48\00:37:52.69
"For he who said,
do not commit adultery,
00:37:52.72\00:37:54.71
also said, do not commit murder.
00:37:54.74\00:37:56.92
Now if you do
not commit adultery
00:37:56.95\00:37:58.73
but do commit murder,
00:37:58.76\00:38:00.14
you have become a
transgressor of the law,
00:38:00.17\00:38:02.36
you have broken it."
00:38:02.39\00:38:03.71
And then verse 12, and remember,
00:38:03.74\00:38:06.45
are we in the Old
Testament or New Testament?
00:38:06.48\00:38:09.51
We are in the New
Testament, it says,
00:38:09.54\00:38:10.91
"So speak and so act as those
00:38:10.94\00:38:13.36
who are to be judged
by the law of liberty."
00:38:13.39\00:38:18.51
We are to speak and act
as those who will be judged.
00:38:18.54\00:38:22.35
My friend, it doesn't make sense
if something's been done away
00:38:22.38\00:38:24.83
with that we
find in text it says,
00:38:24.86\00:38:26.43
we would be judged by it.
00:38:26.46\00:38:28.21
And notice it say,
it's the law of liberty.
00:38:28.24\00:38:30.48
It doesn't describe
as the law of bondage
00:38:30.51\00:38:32.66
it's a law that gives liberty.
00:38:32.69\00:38:34.65
And who is really,
00:38:34.68\00:38:36.08
who is really
experiencing liberty?
00:38:36.11\00:38:38.99
The transgressor or the one who
by the grace of Jesus is seeking
00:38:39.02\00:38:42.50
to live in harmony
with the commandments?
00:38:42.53\00:38:46.03
My friend, it's the one that
is seeking to live in harmony,
00:38:46.06\00:38:49.74
that's not
breaking the commandments.
00:38:49.77\00:38:51.05
The one who is
breaking the commandments
00:38:51.08\00:38:52.82
is really experiencing bondage,
00:38:52.85\00:38:57.58
bondage to sin.
00:38:57.61\00:39:00.52
And then we come
to James 1:23-25.
00:39:00.55\00:39:04.28
In a moment I am gonna
take you through several texts
00:39:04.31\00:39:06.09
that will lay
down the parameters
00:39:06.12\00:39:08.61
of this matter
of the commandments.
00:39:08.64\00:39:11.31
You know the
limitations of the commandments.
00:39:11.34\00:39:14.03
But look at this,
James 1:23, where it says,
00:39:14.06\00:39:17.46
"For if anyone is a hearer
of the word and not a doer,
00:39:17.49\00:39:21.78
he is like a man who looks
at his natural face in a mirror,
00:39:21.81\00:39:26.13
for once he has looked
at himself and gone away,
00:39:26.16\00:39:28.42
he has immediately forgotten
what kind of person he was."
00:39:28.45\00:39:35.08
Now I want to ask a question,
00:39:35.11\00:39:36.45
how many of you
looked into a mirror
00:39:36.48\00:39:37.90
before you came down
to the meeting tonight?
00:39:37.93\00:39:39.77
Let me see your hands.
00:39:39.80\00:39:42.95
Okay.
00:39:42.98\00:39:44.15
Some of you have
not raised your hands,
00:39:44.18\00:39:45.68
maybe you should have
looked before you came.
00:39:45.71\00:39:49.86
Maybe you should have looked.
00:39:49.89\00:39:51.73
I did, you know.
00:39:51.76\00:39:55.06
You know I had a
mirror behind and you know,
00:39:55.09\00:39:57.98
it's now little bit hair
so I have to pick the way
00:39:58.01\00:40:00.44
out the little bit to fill
it in and you know, how it is.
00:40:00.47\00:40:04.51
But what would you think of me
00:40:04.54\00:40:06.38
if looking in the mirror
and I found my face was dirty,
00:40:06.41\00:40:09.10
if I took that mirror
and I started you know,
00:40:09.13\00:40:11.30
doing this with it?
00:40:11.33\00:40:13.03
You think I've lost it.
00:40:13.06\00:40:16.33
Now I look in the mirror
00:40:16.36\00:40:18.02
and I see reflected back
to me an image of myself.
00:40:18.05\00:40:23.71
And if my face is dirty,
00:40:23.74\00:40:24.95
I turn the water on
and I reach for the soap
00:40:24.98\00:40:28.19
and you know, I get cleaned up.
00:40:28.22\00:40:30.67
Okay, that's what
we were talking about.
00:40:30.70\00:40:33.73
It continues, "But
one who looks intently
00:40:33.76\00:40:36.39
at the perfect law,
the law of liberty,"
00:40:36.42\00:40:40.37
not burnish the law of liberty
00:40:40.40\00:40:42.19
"and abides by it,
00:40:42.22\00:40:43.78
not having become
a forgetful hearer
00:40:43.81\00:40:45.94
but an effectual doer,
00:40:45.97\00:40:47.46
this man shall be
blessed in what he does."
00:40:47.49\00:40:53.28
My friends, if you want
to be blessed in your life
00:40:53.31\00:40:55.34
by the grace of Jesus
seek to do the right thing
00:40:55.37\00:40:59.32
for the right reason.
00:40:59.35\00:41:01.43
Motivation is very
important with God,
00:41:01.46\00:41:04.35
not
legalistically but out of love.
00:41:04.38\00:41:07.27
Seek to do the right thing
00:41:07.30\00:41:09.41
and you will be
blessed in what you do.
00:41:09.44\00:41:12.15
So the law is talking about
00:41:12.18\00:41:14.02
one who looks
intently at the perfect law,
00:41:14.05\00:41:16.43
the Spirit of God is you know,
00:41:16.46\00:41:19.75
examining our
hearts as we're looking
00:41:19.78\00:41:21.75
at the principles
of the commandments
00:41:21.78\00:41:23.75
and there are
gonna be some points
00:41:23.78\00:41:25.15
in which we're gonna convicted,
00:41:25.18\00:41:26.63
we're gonna be convicted
of sin within our lives, okay.
00:41:26.66\00:41:30.94
And so it's talking
about looking intently.
00:41:30.97\00:41:33.48
We see reflected back
00:41:33.51\00:41:35.77
what sin has done
to the human heart.
00:41:35.80\00:41:39.76
We see how we've been
corrupted and tainted by sin.
00:41:39.79\00:41:44.27
Okay.
00:41:44.30\00:41:45.33
So the law, this is the point
I want to make out of this text,
00:41:45.36\00:41:49.79
the law is diagnostic.
00:41:49.82\00:41:53.76
It's like going to the
doctor when you are sick.
00:41:53.79\00:41:57.39
I mean, it's been about
two years, three years ago
00:41:57.42\00:42:01.50
somebody I've known for a
very long time since 1986,
00:42:01.53\00:42:05.54
a member of my
Bible class at church
00:42:05.57\00:42:10.31
I've know, Sharon, as
I said, a very long time.
00:42:10.34\00:42:13.34
And she had been
ignoring something
00:42:13.37\00:42:15.19
that were going on in her life,
00:42:15.22\00:42:16.57
she was getting
a little bit older
00:42:16.60\00:42:17.94
and you know, she
wasn't feeling quite right
00:42:17.97\00:42:20.48
but she was getting older.
00:42:20.51\00:42:22.48
And she was
ignoring certain symptoms.
00:42:22.51\00:42:26.98
Finally, she went to the doctor
00:42:27.01\00:42:29.26
and went through
all of these tests.
00:42:29.29\00:42:31.01
She went through
the diagnostic process
00:42:31.04\00:42:34.39
and discovered that
she had advance cancer.
00:42:34.42\00:42:39.00
She survived one year and died.
00:42:39.03\00:42:43.35
Well, it's been
almost a year ago,
00:42:43.38\00:42:45.02
not quite a year ago
00:42:45.05\00:42:47.51
because she had
ignored the symptoms.
00:42:47.54\00:42:50.69
My friend, we can not
ignore the symptoms of sin
00:42:50.72\00:42:56.71
and the law is diagnostic.
00:42:56.74\00:42:59.74
It convicts us and shows us
00:42:59.77\00:43:01.96
where we are out of
harmony with the God
00:43:01.99\00:43:04.62
who loves us and created us
00:43:04.65\00:43:07.90
and long
suspending eternity with us.
00:43:07.93\00:43:12.01
And so the law reveals
to us, it's diagnostic.
00:43:12.04\00:43:14.57
The law is not therapeutic.
00:43:14.60\00:43:18.00
It's like getting an X-ray,
00:43:18.03\00:43:19.57
it's like going
through and getting MRI.
00:43:19.60\00:43:22.30
You discovered there's a problem
and if there's a problem--
00:43:22.33\00:43:25.65
I went through
this, I felt you know,
00:43:25.68\00:43:27.83
had some back
problems, found out
00:43:27.86\00:43:29.49
I had hernia of
disc some years ago
00:43:29.52\00:43:31.53
and I went through the MRI
00:43:31.56\00:43:33.27
and I was
sitting before surgeon,
00:43:33.30\00:43:35.22
he was looking at it, the MRI.
00:43:35.25\00:43:37.86
So you know, I've done
diagnostic thing and he said,
00:43:37.89\00:43:41.30
well, I don't
think you need surgery
00:43:41.33\00:43:43.36
but we're going to get you
some injections, it was painful.
00:43:43.39\00:43:47.06
So it's diagnostic,
it is not therapeutic.
00:43:47.09\00:43:51.26
The law is not therapeutic.
00:43:51.29\00:43:53.36
The law will save no one,
00:43:53.39\00:43:55.34
the law will
change no one, right?
00:43:55.37\00:43:58.86
It just reveals to us
how great our need really is.
00:43:58.89\00:44:03.93
And where do we find
00:44:03.96\00:44:05.11
the therapeutic
process spiritually?
00:44:05.14\00:44:08.37
My friend, it is
in the love and grace
00:44:08.40\00:44:11.07
of God in Jesus Christ.
00:44:11.10\00:44:15.49
It is through the
wonderful plan of salvation
00:44:15.52\00:44:19.37
that we find the
therapeutic process
00:44:19.40\00:44:21.57
that will save us form our sins
00:44:21.60\00:44:24.06
and the consequences
of our transgressions,
00:44:24.09\00:44:27.59
is what the Bible tells us.
00:44:27.62\00:44:30.65
Well, oh, yes, I
got to tell you about
00:44:30.68\00:44:33.69
the fish traders
to the Fiji islands
00:44:33.72\00:44:35.40
who by the way
brought among the things
00:44:35.43\00:44:38.09
to trade with those
local natives, mirrors.
00:44:38.12\00:44:42.34
The queen of the island
00:44:42.37\00:44:43.64
professed to be the most
beautiful women on the island
00:44:43.67\00:44:48.17
until she got to
hold one of those mirrors.
00:44:48.20\00:44:52.36
And what she discovered
she was not so happy about.
00:44:52.39\00:44:56.50
It disturbed her in fact,
00:44:56.53\00:44:58.53
she immediately
acted by declaring
00:44:58.56\00:45:00.98
that they were outlaw.
00:45:01.01\00:45:02.72
She didn't want to see
another mirror on that island.
00:45:02.75\00:45:07.52
And of course that
settle the whole thing,
00:45:07.55\00:45:09.78
didn't it or did it?
00:45:09.81\00:45:13.10
No and my friend,
that sometimes happens
00:45:13.13\00:45:15.42
as we study the Word of God
00:45:15.45\00:45:17.57
as we look at the moral
standard that God has given us.
00:45:17.60\00:45:22.03
Sometimes we in the process
00:45:22.06\00:45:23.90
of the Holy
Spirit working on us,
00:45:23.93\00:45:25.34
we begin to discover
some things about ourselves
00:45:25.37\00:45:28.40
and there is some
pain with the discovery
00:45:28.43\00:45:30.84
how sin has tainted us.
00:45:30.87\00:45:32.64
And there is this
human tendency you know,
00:45:32.67\00:45:35.61
that well, I just
don't look anymore,
00:45:35.64\00:45:38.19
I just gonna get rid of it.
00:45:38.22\00:45:40.50
My friend, that solves
nothing and God never--
00:45:40.53\00:45:43.61
God never points out
our sin without pointing out
00:45:43.64\00:45:48.18
how deeply we need
His saving love and grace.
00:45:48.21\00:45:52.33
He's right there for us
00:45:52.36\00:45:55.29
to help us in our
spiritual need, right?
00:45:55.32\00:45:58.59
Just like that physician,
hopefully he's right there.
00:45:58.62\00:46:01.54
When we've got
problems and it's been diagnosed
00:46:01.57\00:46:04.37
and hopefully he's
got the treatment plan
00:46:04.40\00:46:07.89
that's gonna help
us. It's the same idea.
00:46:07.92\00:46:09.96
Look at Galatians 5,
The New Testament, page 149,
00:46:09.99\00:46:14.56
149, Galatians 5:4.
00:46:14.59\00:46:16.62
I am gonna lay down again
the limitations of the law.
00:46:16.65\00:46:20.22
We've already
taken notice, diagnostic,
00:46:20.25\00:46:22.45
it is not therapeutic.
00:46:22.48\00:46:24.84
And this is what we
find, Galatians 5:4,
00:46:24.87\00:46:28.58
he says "You have
been severed from Christ,
00:46:31.20\00:46:34.20
you who are seeking to be
justified or saved by law,
00:46:34.23\00:46:39.41
you have fallen from grace."
00:46:39.44\00:46:42.73
And my friend, the Galatians
evidently got into legalism.
00:46:42.76\00:46:46.60
They have determined that
00:46:46.63\00:46:47.66
they were gonna
seek to measure up
00:46:47.69\00:46:49.46
to what God required of them.
00:46:49.49\00:46:51.33
They were seeking
to be obedient to that
00:46:51.36\00:46:55.20
which God required to
them-- required of them.
00:46:55.23\00:46:58.85
They sought to do this because
00:46:58.88\00:47:00.33
they thought by being good
00:47:00.36\00:47:03.03
that they would be
saved or justified.
00:47:03.06\00:47:07.49
But my friend, you see,
00:47:07.52\00:47:08.67
that is depending
upon what we can do.
00:47:08.70\00:47:11.14
And if what we can
do could ever save us
00:47:11.17\00:47:14.28
then Jesus never needed to come
2,000 years ago to die for us.
00:47:14.31\00:47:18.08
All we would be
saying and preaching here
00:47:18.11\00:47:20.56
is do the right
thing, do what's right,
00:47:20.59\00:47:23.67
be obedience,
stop doing the things
00:47:23.70\00:47:26.04
that you know that
you shouldn't be doing.
00:47:26.07\00:47:28.42
And my friend, we
would miss the whole point
00:47:28.45\00:47:31.56
because if we were
depending upon what we can do.
00:47:31.59\00:47:35.73
Number one, we are saying
"we don't need the savior,
00:47:35.76\00:47:38.71
we're just going to
do a self improvement--
00:47:38.74\00:47:41.42
get into a self
improvement program
00:47:41.45\00:47:44.01
and that's all we got to do."
00:47:44.04\00:47:47.03
My friend, there is no
self improvement program
00:47:47.06\00:47:50.78
that is gonna save us from sin.
00:47:50.81\00:47:54.83
It's the
relationship with Jesus Christ
00:47:54.86\00:47:57.80
that alone is going
to save us from the sin.
00:47:57.83\00:48:01.58
And the Galatians are depending
upon what they could do
00:48:01.61\00:48:05.68
to be saved had defectively
severed themselves for Christ
00:48:05.71\00:48:09.49
because they were saying,
00:48:09.52\00:48:11.00
"we don't need
Jesus for salvation,
00:48:11.03\00:48:14.32
we just are going
to do what is right."
00:48:14.35\00:48:19.37
And my friend,
it's good to want to do
00:48:19.40\00:48:21.51
what is right but
again, we have to realize again
00:48:21.54\00:48:25.83
that only Jesus can do for us
00:48:25.86\00:48:28.55
what we cannot do for ourselves.
00:48:28.58\00:48:29.87
Take a look at Romans 10,
the New Testament, page 125.
00:48:29.90\00:48:35.44
Romans 10:3-4.
00:48:35.47\00:48:37.97
again, looking
at the limitations
00:48:38.00\00:48:39.69
of this matter of the law.
00:48:39.72\00:48:41.35
Romans 10:3,
talking about God's people,
00:48:44.14\00:48:46.95
talking about the
Israelites, the Jews.
00:48:46.98\00:48:49.77
Paul says of them,
00:48:49.80\00:48:50.83
"For not knowing
about God's righteousness,"
00:48:50.86\00:48:53.09
they were ignorant
about God's righteousness
00:48:53.12\00:48:55.88
"and seeking to
establish their own."
00:48:55.91\00:48:58.49
And they were doing
this by their own obedience.
00:48:58.52\00:49:01.43
"They did not subject themselves
to the righteousness of God."
00:49:01.46\00:49:05.84
And then he says in verse 4,
00:49:05.87\00:49:07.11
"For Christ is the end of
the law for righteousness."
00:49:07.14\00:49:11.83
And some put the
period right there,
00:49:11.86\00:49:13.36
they don't finish the text.
00:49:13.39\00:49:16.06
And if you put the period there
it kind of feeds into this idea
00:49:16.09\00:49:19.69
that the law has
been done away with.
00:49:19.72\00:49:21.00
Don't you know that
Christ is the end of the law?
00:49:21.03\00:49:24.89
No, it says, Christ is the end
of the law for righteousness.
00:49:24.92\00:49:28.11
We do not drive
our righteousness
00:49:28.14\00:49:30.67
from obedience to the law,
00:49:30.70\00:49:32.56
we drive our righteousness
00:49:32.59\00:49:35.21
through our
relationship with God.
00:49:35.24\00:49:39.05
And it says, "To
everyone who believes.
00:49:39.08\00:49:41.31
To the one who has faith."
00:49:41.34\00:49:43.29
And that faith is
speaking of the relationship.
00:49:43.32\00:49:47.77
And my friend, you
and I can not do it.
00:49:47.80\00:49:51.26
We cannot keep the commandments,
00:49:51.29\00:49:53.13
some go further its like
00:49:53.16\00:49:54.77
because you cant
keep the commandment
00:49:54.80\00:49:55.83
you might as well
do away with them.
00:49:55.86\00:49:56.89
No, we wouldn't want
to go there, would we?
00:49:56.92\00:49:58.77
because that's not
what the Bible teach us.
00:49:58.80\00:50:01.53
So and then we
look at Romans 6:14, 15
00:50:01.56\00:50:07.57
where Paul says, "For a sin
shall not be master over you"
00:50:07.60\00:50:10.62
is that a beautiful promise?
00:50:10.65\00:50:11.91
"Sin shall not
be master over you,
00:50:11.94\00:50:13.79
for you are not
under law, but under grace.
00:50:13.82\00:50:16.32
What then? Shall we sin
because we are not under law
00:50:16.35\00:50:19.32
but under grace?
May it never be"!
00:50:19.35\00:50:23.20
And again some
will take this text say
00:50:23.23\00:50:25.40
you know there it is, Romans 6,
00:50:25.43\00:50:26.97
we're not under law,
00:50:27.00\00:50:28.86
but, my friend,
it's not talking about
00:50:28.89\00:50:30.94
not being under the
jurisdiction of the law,
00:50:30.97\00:50:33.52
it's talking about something
quite different than this.
00:50:33.55\00:50:35.55
You see the law is God's perfect
standard of righteousness,
00:50:35.58\00:50:39.06
it convicts us, it
points out our sin,
00:50:39.09\00:50:42.68
it condemns us, it
stands in judgment of us
00:50:42.71\00:50:45.78
because we are out of harmony
with those divine principles.
00:50:45.81\00:50:50.47
But when we come to Jesus,
00:50:50.50\00:50:53.40
and He forgives
us and accepts us,
00:50:53.43\00:50:56.97
we are no longer
under condemnation
00:50:57.00\00:51:00.34
we are under grace, right.
00:51:00.37\00:51:04.41
Being under grace doesn't
do away with the standard.
00:51:04.44\00:51:09.13
It's by grace
by which we fulfill
00:51:09.16\00:51:13.08
that which God requires of this.
00:51:13.11\00:51:14.92
And Romans 8:1
00:51:14.95\00:51:17.06
I mean there's a part
of the whole context here
00:51:17.09\00:51:20.16
that we're talking about.
00:51:20.19\00:51:22.09
It says "that those
who are in Jesus Christ
00:51:22.12\00:51:25.05
are no longer
under condemnation."
00:51:25.08\00:51:28.83
And further more it
says here in Romans 8,
00:51:28.86\00:51:30.84
and I'm gonna look at
verse 3 and 4 with you.
00:51:30.87\00:51:33.51
It says "For what
the Law could not do,
00:51:33.54\00:51:35.64
weak as it was
through the flesh"
00:51:35.67\00:51:37.51
and that's the
limitation, it's us,
00:51:37.54\00:51:41.01
it's because we have been
again deeply affected by sin.
00:51:41.04\00:51:45.86
"For what the Law could not do,
00:51:45.89\00:51:46.92
weak as it was
through the flesh,
00:51:46.95\00:51:48.23
God did sending His own Son
in the likeness of sinful flesh
00:51:48.26\00:51:52.42
and as an offering for sin,
00:51:52.45\00:51:54.16
He condemned sin in the flesh,
00:51:54.19\00:51:56.10
so that the
requirement of the law
00:51:56.13\00:51:58.53
might be fulfilled in us."
00:51:58.56\00:52:02.81
What we can't do,
00:52:02.84\00:52:04.23
God did for us
through his Son Jesus Christ
00:52:04.26\00:52:07.57
so that what again so
that requirement of the law
00:52:07.60\00:52:11.78
might be fulfilled in us.
00:52:11.81\00:52:14.42
And that's deeply
spiritual, isn't it?
00:52:14.45\00:52:18.91
Galatians Chapter 3
the New Testament page 148,
00:52:18.94\00:52:23.50
Galatians 3: 24,
00:52:23.53\00:52:28.22
this is what Paul tells
us here in Galatians 3:24.
00:52:28.25\00:52:31.49
"Therefore the Law has become
our tutor to lead us to Christ,
00:52:31.52\00:52:35.72
so that we may be
justified by faith."
00:52:35.75\00:52:39.76
My friend, anything
that leads us to Jesus
00:52:39.79\00:52:41.41
has to be important, doesn't it?
00:52:41.44\00:52:45.05
But, my friend,
the law is limited,
00:52:45.08\00:52:47.04
the law, the function of the law
the law cannot gives us life,
00:52:47.07\00:52:51.63
it cannot save us
00:52:51.66\00:52:52.96
but it can point
out our need of Jesus
00:52:52.99\00:52:55.04
who yields life to us
and who alone can save us.
00:52:55.07\00:52:59.91
And so it bears
testimony of our need of Jesus
00:52:59.94\00:53:04.42
that's what we find.
00:53:04.45\00:53:05.80
And the beautiful
promise of 1 John 1:9 is,
00:53:05.83\00:53:08.11
"If we confess our sins,
He is faithful and righteous
00:53:08.14\00:53:12.18
to forgive us our sins
00:53:12.21\00:53:13.48
and to cleanse us
from all unrighteousness."
00:53:13.51\00:53:17.31
And my friend, that's
all that He requires of us
00:53:17.34\00:53:19.80
as we come to Jesus
is to confess our sins.
00:53:19.83\00:53:25.56
All right, I want to
share with you two bible texts.
00:53:25.59\00:53:27.99
Matthew 1:21 where it
says and speaking of Jesus
00:53:28.02\00:53:31.86
talk about Mary to began with,
00:53:31.89\00:53:33.70
"And she will bear a Son,
00:53:33.73\00:53:35.08
and you shall
call His name Jesus,
00:53:35.11\00:53:37.11
for it is He who will save
this people from their sins."
00:53:37.14\00:53:41.05
He will do what?
00:53:41.08\00:53:42.84
He will save this
people from their sins,
00:53:42.87\00:53:44.78
that's why we call Him Savior.
00:53:44.81\00:53:46.66
But what is sin that
He came to save us from.
00:53:46.69\00:53:51.83
And what is the New
Testament definition on sin?
00:53:51.86\00:53:54.41
Well, it's I John 3:4.
00:53:54.44\00:53:56.47
"Sin is the
transgression of the law."
00:53:56.50\00:53:59.13
And you put it together.
00:53:59.16\00:54:00.33
My friend, clearly
Jesus came to save us
00:54:00.36\00:54:02.29
from the
transgression of the law
00:54:02.32\00:54:04.25
instead of doing
away with the law,
00:54:04.28\00:54:06.04
my friend, the
death of Jesus shows
00:54:06.07\00:54:07.60
how vitally important
the law is for it required
00:54:07.63\00:54:10.63
the death of God's Son
on the Cross of Calvary
00:54:10.66\00:54:15.24
to atone for the
transgression of the law.
00:54:15.27\00:54:19.72
That doesn't do away with it.
00:54:19.75\00:54:21.39
And then I want to
take you to 1 John 2:3, 4
00:54:24.35\00:54:27.17
the New Testament
page is 185, 1 John 2:3, 4.
00:54:27.20\00:54:34.31
This really puts it together.
00:54:34.34\00:54:36.28
Back here not far
from the Book of Revelation
00:54:36.31\00:54:38.54
a three letters written by John,
00:54:38.57\00:54:40.49
who want the first its
chapter 2 looking again,
00:54:40.52\00:54:43.20
this is 3 and 4.
00:54:43.23\00:54:44.41
It says, "By this we know
that we've come to know Him,
00:54:44.44\00:54:48.32
if we keep His commandments."
00:54:48.35\00:54:50.40
The one who says,
"I come to know Him
00:54:50.43\00:54:52.24
and doesn't I
keep His commandments,
00:54:52.27\00:54:53.51
He's a liar and the
truth is not in him."
00:54:53.54\00:54:57.15
The truth is not in him.
00:54:57.18\00:55:00.54
By this we know
that we come to know Him.
00:55:00.57\00:55:02.22
How does that work?
00:55:02.25\00:55:03.57
What is keeping the commandments
00:55:03.60\00:55:04.73
have anything to do
with now that we know Him.
00:55:04.76\00:55:08.11
My friend, it means this.
00:55:08.14\00:55:10.50
That only the one that knows Him
00:55:10.53\00:55:13.36
is able to keep
His Commandments.
00:55:13.39\00:55:17.01
You see keeping the law is
not the means of our salvation.
00:55:17.04\00:55:21.12
It is the
evidence of our salvation
00:55:21.15\00:55:26.76
and those who would do
away with the commandments,
00:55:26.79\00:55:28.83
my friend, in effect of giving
the Christian a license to sin.
00:55:28.86\00:55:34.17
That's exactly what it means.
00:55:34.20\00:55:35.96
Take a look at 1 John 5,
the New Testament page 186,
00:55:35.99\00:55:39.65
1 John 5:2- 3, where John adds.
00:55:39.68\00:55:44.69
He says, "By this we know
00:55:44.72\00:55:46.13
that we love
the children of God,
00:55:46.16\00:55:47.77
when we love God and
observe His commandments.
00:55:47.80\00:55:50.80
For this is the love of God,
00:55:50.83\00:55:52.14
that we keep His commandments
00:55:52.17\00:55:53.46
and His commandments
are not burdensome."
00:55:53.49\00:55:55.81
My friend, this
is New Testament.
00:55:55.84\00:55:58.15
This comes out of saving
relationship with Jesus Christ.
00:55:58.18\00:56:02.48
As I share with
you the other night
00:56:02.51\00:56:04.41
relationships are powerful
00:56:04.44\00:56:06.00
but this is the most
powerful of them all.
00:56:06.03\00:56:08.46
And when we enter into a
personal relationship with God
00:56:08.49\00:56:12.04
through Jesus Christ
it is transformational.
00:56:12.07\00:56:18.25
And my friend, it goes
to the new birth experience.
00:56:18.28\00:56:20.37
What does it
mean to be born again?
00:56:20.40\00:56:23.82
My friend, it means where as
I haven't dominated by my sins.
00:56:23.85\00:56:30.11
It means that as I come
to Jesus confessing my sins,
00:56:30.14\00:56:33.54
He forgives me, cleanse me,
00:56:33.57\00:56:35.38
He accepts me
and in that process
00:56:35.41\00:56:37.76
I receive salvation and
I receive the Spirit of God
00:56:37.79\00:56:42.32
that works within
me, a transformation
00:56:44.61\00:56:48.24
by which I am born again.
00:56:48.27\00:56:51.68
And my friend, its all
that new birth experience
00:56:51.71\00:56:54.44
that haven't been lost in sin
00:56:54.47\00:56:56.31
that we can began by His grace
00:56:56.34\00:56:58.51
to keep the commandments.
00:56:58.54\00:56:59.57
My last text, John 14:15.
00:56:59.60\00:57:02.98
"If you love Me" Jesus
said, "keep My commandments."
00:57:03.01\00:57:06.94
If you love Me.
00:57:06.97\00:57:08.30