Sermon Tone Analysis
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The narrator of the video said something toward the end that caught my attention… and it’s where I want us to start this evening.
He stated, “His law is an invitation into a better community… into a better life.”
And my question to you is… have you ever viewed God’s law or commands in this way?
First off, I do believe we need to start off by talking about something very important.
GOD’S LAW MATTERS TO BELIEVERS TODAY.
Many like to try to dismiss the OT in light of the NT and yes… a transition did in fact take place.
However, Jesus made a couple of things very clear to the people in His day.
First off, Jesus spoke of this transition in His Sermon on the mount.
Secondly, Jesus speaks of the importance of applying God’s laws and commands to our lives.
Now, interestingly enough… neither one of these is a possibility UNTIL Jesus paid the ultimate price.
The law required payment for sin.
The wages of sin is death.
And we know the law made provision for the sins of the people to be atoned for through a sacrificial system.
We also know that the Pharisees… they missed it.
They missed the heart behind the purpose of God’s law.
Christ wasn’t calling His people to be like the Pharisees, He was calling them to be something better.
To receive the heart of the law from the heart of God Himself
To be made righteous through the death and resurrection of the One who came to make forgiveness of sin a possibility.
I say all this to make this quick point: Jesus is the key.
He alone could fulfill the law.
He alone is the source of our righteousness.
The key in living out God’s commands is simple… FOLLOW JESUS.
For in Christ, we are justified meaning we are made righteous in the eyes of the Father and in Christ, the heart of God in His law is truly revealed.
So let’s get back to the statement… His law is an invitation to a better community and a better life.
Much of the world would view “laws” in a different light, but stop and think about this statement.
Why do we have laws in our land?
What purpose do they serve?
Laws of the land simply set forth a standard on how communities operate.
They help to maintain the civility of a community.
For the most part, communities agree upon the laws and abide by them as “good citizens” or members of said community.
When a person steps outside of this law, they are coming against the standard of that community.
They are bringing harm to that community.
The jeopardize the safety and security of that community.
As God gave Moses the Ten Commandments, He was building up a people that would know Him and make Him known to this world.
God’s values and attributes are all over the ten commands that were etched into the stone tablets.
God could be known through His law… and His law looked completely different from anything else in this world meaning the world could see God through the people who lived by His law.
But we know what happens… before Moses could return from this mountain top experience with God, the people… decided to do things their way.
They became impatient, complacent, and rebellious.
So what did they do?
They made for themselves an idol to worship.
And we often look at this story with judgmental eyes and think, “After all God had brought them through, how could they do such a thing?”
And yet people - specifically believers - do this all the time.
We become impatient with God - so we take matters into our own hands
We become complacent with God - so we lean on our own understanding
We become rebellious with God - so we make excuses and let go of faith.
So often we look just like the Israelites.
We may not build a golden calf, but we run to other “idols” when we lose sight of faith.
Idols such as money, hobbies, sports, bottles, you name it - things that pull us away from the community God is trying to build.
I recently read a Facebook post of a person who posted a prayer for their kid.
The prayer was for God to protect and provide for the kid.
The prayer was for God to guide and direct the kid.
And as I read this post and I know the family… I yelled at my computer screen, “If you want God to do these things for your child, then make the effort to get your child to church!”
The reality is… people want what God has to offer, but they choose to remain outside His community!
Again, the answer to this problem is very simple… FOLLOW JESUS!
In Christ God’s law is fulfilled.
In Christ, the heart of God’s law can be known.
And why do I keep placing emphasis on that last point… because like the pharisees… too often people miss the heart of God’s law.
People see the law as legalistic, religious motions that are lifeless and restrictive.
Yet, the heart behind it is quite the opposite.
God wants you to experience HIS BEST in your life!
But His best will only be found living life HIS WAY!
And His way… is simple.
His way is not complicated.
His way… is summed up by two very simple commands.
Jesus sums up all the law and prophets in two commands that we know very well.
We find this summation in Matthew 22:37-40
That’s it… all the law is right there… because if you truly live by these two commandments, the rest will be naturally followed.
LOVE is at the heart of God’s law which makes perfect sense because as 1 John 4:8 points out
Tonight, I want us to focus in on these two commandments.
I want us to realize that God is inviting all people to be a part of the community… the kingdom He is building.
His kingdom looks different and sounds different from the rest of this world.
His kingdom is built upon His standards and truth… and His standards and truth are given from a position of love.
God truly wants the best for us… do you believe that?
But His best… can only be found as we choose to follow Jesus.
Love God
Simple and straight forward.
The first and most important command is to love God.
Jesus broke this love down into three different parts.
He said to love God:
With all your heart - with your emotional self.
With your feelings and your passions.
With all your soul - with your spiritual self.
With your innermost being.
With all your mind - with all your intellectual self.
With your thoughts, dreams, and understanding.
Jesus purposely hits on these points as He gives this command.
Why?
Because it incorporates the entire person.
Jesus says we are not to love with just a part of who we are, we are to love Him in ALL that we are.
Our love for God should be evident in all that we say and do… not just part of the time, but all of the time.
Loving God should be priority one in our lives.
But how is it… that a person comes to love God?
In context, Jesus gives this answers to the Pharisees.
One of these guys who was an expert in the law… tested Jesus with this question.
Now… I find something to be very interesting regarding the description of the guy that asks the question regarding the greatest commandment: It says he was an expert in the law.
This guy knew what the law said and being an expert, I hope he also lived it out.
he was all about doing what the law said to do… which sounds pretty good, right?
But in this moment… we know HE COMPLETELY MISSED IT.
How can I make such a claim?
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