Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

We have looked at all of the ten commandments.

Before we move on I want to conclude with a sermon that wraps up or summarizes the ultimate lessons we should take from our study of the moral law.

Three points:

The Purpose of the Law

The Heart of the Law

The Fulfillment of the Law

The Purpose of the Law

The law shows us our sin and our inability to keep it.

Romans 7:7 “ if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin.

”

Baptist catechism 87,

Q. Is. any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?

A. No mere man since the fall is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but does daily break them in thought, word, or deed.

Tim Chester -

the sobering fact is that we have not kept any of God’s Ten Commandments

James 2:10 “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.”

The law reveals our need for a savior.

Baptist catechism 89

Q.

What does every sin deserve?

A. Every sin deserves God’s wrath and curse, both in this life and that which is to come.

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Hell - Mt. 25:41 ““Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.”

The law points us to Jesus as that Savior

Our guardian until Jesus came Galatians 3:23-24

Baptist catechism 90,

Q.

What does God require of us that we may escape his wrath and curse, due to us for sin?

A. To escape the wrath and curse of God due to us for sin, God requires of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption.

The Heart of the Law

Obeying God is more than outward conformity to His law.

Our problem is not the law, it is our hearts.

It is not the things we do that defiles us.

Our hearts are evil and defiled:

Jer.

17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can trust it?”

The law is spiritual and concerns our thoughts and affections as well as our words and actions.

Example in the 10th - Coveting

Rom.

7:14, “For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.”

Mt. 5:21-22 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’

But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”

Matt.

5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’

But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

The law calls us to love

The Law is fulfilled through love, so it calls us to love - Rom. 13:8-10

The summary of the law.

Loving God

Loving our neighbor

How? 1 John 4:7-11

Since the law is an internal matter God alone judges correctly.

1 Sam.

16:7, “man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

The Fulfillment of the Law

Matthew 5:17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”

How did Jesus fulfill the law?

He accomplished the purpose of the law

He perfectly obeyed the law

He received the curse that His people deserved for their disobedience of the law.

He is the fulfillment of the types and figures of the Ceremonial and Civil law.

He perfectly loved God and others.

Ernest Reisinger, says of Jesus, “He explained the law’s meaning, He expressed its character, He embodied its duties, and He endured its penalty.”

Jesus fulfilled each of the ten commandments

Phil Ryken,

“Jesus worshiped God alone, honored God’s name, kept the Sabbath holy, obeyed his parents, loved his enemies, told the truth, and did everything else God commanded him to do...We are idolaters, rebels, liars, and cheats, and thus we could never be saved by our own obedience.

But everything Jesus ever did counts for everyone who trusts in him.

By faith in Christ we offer perfect obedience to God’s law.”

Our only hope of fulfilling God’s commandments is our dependence on Jesus’ righteousness.

Anthony Salvaggio,

Jesus lived for our salvation as much as he died for it.

Without the life and death of Jesus, the law that came through Moses could only bring condemnation and death to us.

But by Jesus’ perfect obedience imputed to us and by his perfect sacrificial death on our behalf, Jesus accomplished what the law never could—he made his people righteous and holy

Fulfilled in us (in Christ)

We read in Rom.

8:1-4

Application

We do not come to the law to be justified.

John Murray,

“Law can do nothing to justify the person who in any particular has violated its sanctity and come under its curse.

Law, as law, has no expiatory provision; it exercises no forgiving grace; and it has no power of enablement to the fulfillment of its own demand.

It knows no clemency for the remission of guilt; it provides no righteousness to meet our iniquity; it exerts no constraining power to reclaim our waywardness; it knows no mercy to melt our hearts in penitence and new obedience.

It can do nothing to relieve the bondage of sin; it accentuates and confirms the bondage.”

Walk in obedience, not to be justified, but because you are justified.

Eph 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”

Salvation precedes obedience.

The law teaches us how to live in a way that honors God.

Praise God that Christ came to fulfill the law that we could not.

That in Christ we are declared righteous even though we have sinned and fallen short.

Praise God for such a Savior.

Closing Hymn: 486 God, Be Merciful to Me

Benediction: Now, grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.

Amen.