The Sixth Commandment (Q72-74)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Connection:
If life is nothing more than an evolved and randomly collected and arranged group of atoms which forms our cells and our bodies than life is nothing more than a cosmic accident that has no inherent value, dignity, or worth—it just is what it is.
On the other hand, if life is a gift from the God who is Life and Truth Himself, and who has created human beings in a specific and purposeful way as the image of God, body and soul, then life has objective value, dignity, and worth—we are because the living God has made us.
However—when a society abandons the truth about God as Creator, and humans as made in the Image of God—we end up dehumanizing people, justifying murder, and suppressing the truth in our unrighteousness. This is where our modern society is today—in a whirlwind of trying to ground life with meaning when they have tried to kill the God of meaning—leaving us in the storm of relativism and nihilism (no objective standard, and no objective meaning).
By so doing we have brought God’s judgement upon our nation:
You have wearied the Lord with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”
Our rejection of God, meaning, morality, and justice has led us as a nation under the judgment of God.
More than ever—we need to hear God’s Word relating to the Sanctity of Life from Conception to Death—and stand our ground as Christians who take a stand for life, made in the image of God.
Theme:
The Sixth Commandment (Q72-74)
Need:
We need to know the depths of the 6th commandment and how we fail to keep it—so that we would cling to the mercy of Jesus Christ with a greater appreciation of his wonderful salvation—and so that we will stand for life, internal and external, young and old, in all areas of our existence.
Purpose:
The instruct the church in the sanctity of life, to comfort the church in Jesus who is the Author and Redeemer of Life, and to exhort the church to protect life from the sin of murder and unjust anger.
PRAY - PRAY - PRAY - PRAY
Q72. What is the sixth commandment? A72. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill (Ex. 20:13).
Q72. What is the sixth commandment? A72. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill (Ex. 20:13).
Calvin says: The sum of this Commandment is, that we should not unjustly do violence to any one
The Hebrew word for kill here is more akin to murder—unjust killing and violence.
Here we are leaning once again how to live by the second table of the moral law—how to live justly toward our neighbour, with true love and service. Being freed by our sins through Jesus Christ, we become joyfully indebted to lay our lives down in service to God and our neighbour. The sixth word shows us what God forbids, and what God requires relating to the sanctity of life in this world. And the reality is that this commandment is so crucial that it really summarizes the rest of the 10 commandments. One scholar says:
“Each of the last commandment sis an extension of the prohibition of murder: do not assault the image of God by killing another human being. Do not assault the image of God by violating marriage, by seizing another’s property, or by defiling his reputation. When we covet, we desire and do not have, and that makes us Cains, envious murderers who attack God through his image.”
Because our neighbours are made in God’s image—any sin against them is a form of assault and murder against someone who is laced with dignity from God himself—and to assault God’s image is to assault the God who gave it. As we study this commandment may the Lord help us to see the importance of, and the depth of, this Word.
Let’s continue:
Q73. What is required in the sixth commandment? A73. The sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavours to preserve our own life (Eph. 5:28,29) and the life of others (1 Kings 18:4).
Q73. What is required in the sixth commandment? A73. The sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavours to preserve our own life (Eph. 5:28,29) and the life of others (1 Kings 18:4).
In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church,
Here we see the principle of a proper preservation of our own body, in the picture of marriage. A proper view of human life means that we will both take care of the lives of others—and that we will take care of the life that God has given us. We are not to hate our own flesh but to love, nourish, and cherish it.
We are to do good to our bodies. We are to take care of our bodies.
*I’m going to get personal here—and this hits close to home for me*: we are to eat healthy, exercise, and care for our bodies.
I struggle to exercise as much as I ought—this is something I need to grow in. And this is something that this commandment reaches by principle—to neglect life and its wellbeing is to break the principle of preserving life (in ourselves and in others). God help us to esteem the life in our bodies as highly as the Lord does—for our bodies are a gift from God and we are to steward them accordingly via discipline.
But our life isn’t just in our bodies but also in our souls—our mind, will, and affections. To take care of the soul is to feed it with pure and beautiful things that are pleasing to the Lord—to saturate your soul with God’s Word, and the beautiful things of God’s World. God help us to esteem the life in our souls as highly as the Lord does—for our souls are a gift from God and we are to steward them accordingly via discipline.
Not only are we to care for our own bodies—we are to care for the lives of others:
and when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the Lord, Obadiah took a hundred prophets and hid them by fifties in a cave and fed them with bread and water.)
Here we see that wicked Jezebel was on a rampage to kill the prophets of the Lord. But Obadiah righteously sought to protect their lives. He hid them by fifties in a cave, nourished their bodies, and protected their souls.
The sixth commandment requires that we stand up for life when it is threatened. The sixth commandment requires that we seek to protect life when it is threatened. The sixth commandment requires that we put our lives on the line if that means that we can save another life.
Here is a modern application: *John Piper—Puritans—Slavery—Blindspots—Abortion—*.
What are you doing to protect the infants and little children that are being slaughtered by the second? Are you investing any time, efforts and money into the stand for life? God will hold us accountable to whether or not we sought to protect life—and the greatest reality of death around us is the modern holocaust of Canadian abortion.
CCBR, the Canadian Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform says that “Canada is the only democracy in the world with no abortion laws, and around 300-pre-born children are killed each day. This injustice demands a response”.
This means that over 100,000 babies are slaughtered every single year in Canada alone.
If this is a 9am-9pm window, it means that 25 children are murdered every singly hour—that means that every 2 minutes another child dies. What are we doing about it? How are we standing for life that is helpless and cannot help itself? These children in the womb need godly Christians to stand up on their behalf—for they too are made in the image of God and have a right to life.
I’m not suggesting that the local church as an institution should focus all it’s efforts on social justice—no—but I am suggesting that individual Christians have a responsibility to fight against such injustice and that the church should be fully supportive of that pursuit. God help us to protect the precious life of those who are being slaughtered. Every two minutes a child is slaughtered in the name of freedom. What are you going to do? Come and talk to me afterwards if you want to know of some ministries that you can get involved with.
Let’s continue to what is forbidden in the Sixth Commandment:
Q74. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment? A74. The sixth commandment absolutely forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto (Acts 16:28; Gen. 9:6).
Q74. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment? A74. The sixth commandment absolutely forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto (Acts 16:28; Gen. 9:6).
When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”
Suicide is a reality—and there are about 4500 people who die by suicide every year in Canada (which pales in comparison to abortion—but is still a very sad and serious reality).
God’s Word tells us that mankind is made in the image of God, and therefore to murder oneself is a direct affront to God himself who placed his image within you! Suicide is murder just as much as murdering another human being is murder—because the value and sanctity of life is the same in both.
The Apostle Paul said to the Philippian Jailer who was about to kill himself: don’t harm yourself! Don’t kill yourself! Don’t commit euthanasia (which is suicide in a different name!)
Don’t end your life—for you are valued in the sight of God and have an inherent dignity in God’s sight. We don’t have the right to take our own lives—only God does.
The world might hate you, but you are loved by your Creator—and He has a benevolence, a kindness, and common grace toward you (even in our sins). And He desires for you to be saved—so believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved!” (Acts 17:31).
The image of God and Common grace is the foundation for our pursuit of upholding life—and the Saviour and saving grace is our message to give them.
We are valuable—and God has a general love for his creatures, and a saving love for those who believe in Jesus for salvation.
But murder isn’t just physical—it is also spiritual:
“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. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
To have unrighteous hatred and anger in your heart toward another image-bearer of God is to commit inward murder of the heart—which is the same attitude as real murder (hatred which leads to killing), but is just unrestrained in it’s actions (hatred which leads to scorn). Both are sinful and both are breaches of this command. One pastor says:
“What Jesus commands is a set of practices to defuse anger and overcome evil with good. If you’re at odds with a brother, leave your offering at the altar and seek reconciliation. Stop the lawsuit; make friends quickly, out of court. Don’t seek vengeance; turn the other cheek. The Sixth Word demands we be peacemakers, sons of God like the Son of God.”
May the Lord give us strength to live in forgiveness, reconciliation, and peace, insofar as it depends on us (Rom 12:18).
Now, this part is going to be controversial—but that’s okay because it’s important for us to understand. Not all killing is sin—the only killing that is sin is that which is unjust or evil killing.
“Scripture treats different sorts of killing differently. Scripture requires care for animals, but never prohibits killing animals for food. The Lord authorizes civil rulers to execute criminals. Scripture treats the death penalty as just, especially in cases of murder. As Augustine said, ‘he does not kill who is the executor of a just command’. War is permissible in some circumstances, and Israelites were permitted to kill, under restricted conditions, to defend their homes”
Because of this fallen and sinful world, killing is necessary sometimes—but it is only necessary because of the presence of sin. Sin brought death into the world—and this means that there are times now where loving God and loving our neighbour requires killing (justice from the government—and self defence from individuals):
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:
a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.
And here we will see that there is a time to kill, but not in our own hands, this is delegated to the government. The government is the only one who is allowed to take life purposefully for the sake of justice—we are only allowed to take life in a defensive stance if someone is trying to murder us.
If a thief is found breaking in and is struck so that he dies, there shall be no bloodguilt for him,
The Lord here allows for self defence—but when our lives are not being threatened, we turn the other cheek as Jesus taught us. In every other situation we leave it to the government and if the government fails to such a thing, we leave it to the Lord on the Day of Judgment:
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”
We are not to avenge ourselves—this is the work of the government which finds its basis in the Noahic Covenant:
“Whoever sheds the blood of man,
by man shall his blood be shed,
for God made man in his own image.
Here we see that foundation of civil government in the Noahic covenant which was made with all flesh. After the flood God made a covenant with all creation, with believers and unbelievers, with animals and humans, and the rainbow is a sign of this covenant. This covenant has promises made by God (that he will never destroy the earth again via a flood), and commands made by God (that society must establish government to execute justice by the Sword).
We looked at Romans 13 last week which reminds us that the government is given the sword to punish evil—well this is where that comes from, the Noahic Covenant.
Here God REQUIRES, not suggests, REQUIRES, that murder requires justice which can only be satisfied by taking the life of the murderer. Eye for Eye—Life for Life. God commands governments to execute capital punishment: whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image”. This means that life is so valuable in God’s sight, that the only way for justice to be met via murder is for the murderers life to be taken away. God given justice according to God’s law requires capital punishment for murder. And anything less is a rebellion against the God who ordained the government to bear the sword:
for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.
The government is God’s ordained means of judging the wicked in this life, to preserve civil order and peace before Jesus returns to make all things new.
Some of you might not like this idea: but I would urge you that anything less devalues humans, distorts justice, and rubs away the image of God. Mankind is so valuable in God’s sight that nothing can make the wrong of murder right unless the life of the murderer is taken away.
Capital Punishment is the foundation for the Cross of Jesus Christ. The life, body, and soul of mankind is so valuable in God’s sight, but is so lost in sin, that the only way for justice to be satisfied is for another one to die in our place, eye for eye, life for life, to be our substitution, to bear our punishment, to take our sins on his back, and to be slain by the sword of God’s wrath so that we could receive God’s mercy! Unless the debt is paid in full—we stand under our just sentence of death, temporal, and eternal. Hear the promise of the Gospel, the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ our Suffering Servant who takes our place and secures our mercy:
Behold, my servant shall act wisely;
he shall be high and lifted up,
and shall be exalted.
As many were astonished at you—
his appearance was so marred, beyond human semblance,
and his form beyond that of the children of mankind—
so shall he sprinkle many nations.
Kings shall shut their mouths because of him,
for that which has not been told them they see,
and that which they have not heard they understand.
Who has believed what he has heard from us?
And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
For he grew up before him like a young plant,
and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
and no beauty that we should desire him.
He was despised and rejected by men,
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
stricken for the transgression of my people?
And they made his grave with the wicked
and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
and there was no deceit in his mouth.
Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him;
he has put him to grief;
when his soul makes an offering for guilt,
he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days;
the will of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.
This is Jesus our Saviour—who took our place, satisfied God’s wrath, bore our iniquities, and won a portion and inheritance for all those who would trust in Him and repent of their sins and find life everlasting! Peace with God! Forgiveness of all our sins! Righteous standing in God’s sight! Adoption into God’s family! Blessed with God’s presence! Held fast by God’s power! Empowered by God’s Spirit to walk in new life! And transformed into the image of Jesus day-by-day!
English Standard Version Chapter 3
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God
Jesus suffered the punishment for our sins (temporal death, spiritual death, and eternal death on the cross). Jesus suffered in our place (as our substitute), that he might bring us to God (reconcile to the Father). One pastor says:
“The Sixth Commandment describes Jesus’ character and actions. Jesus’ entire life incarnates thou shalt not kill. He doesn’t assault God’s image, but restores it. He doesn’t wound, but heals. He doesn’t take life, but give it, abundantly. He doesn’t oppress, but liberates. His words, even his harshest ones, are words of life. He sues the word of his tongue to defend the weak and to call the wicked to a repentance that leads to life.”
Jesus has fulfilled the law perfectly for our salvation! This is the Good News—that murders and haters can find salvation in Jesus Christ who brings Eternal Life to all who believe, to all who repent—to all who trust in Jesus alone, and who change their mind about their self-sufficiency—to all those who cast their hope upon Jesus Christ, the only hope in life and in death. And as we do so, we sing out with joy:
When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Not only are we saved from eternal death in Jesus—we are saved to resurrected life (spiritually now—and physically when Jesus returns). This is our hope—true life in the presence of the true King who is the true and living God. Run to Jesus, beloved, and find life everlasting. Do you believe this like Martha of old?
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
Run to Jesus—believe in His holy name—and rest forever safe in his almighty power.
Conclusion + Big Idea
Conclusion + Big Idea
Read the Q+A’s Again:
Amen, let’s pray.