Words to Live By (Part 2)

Mike Levitsky

Exodus • Sermon • Submitted 4 months ago • Presented 4 months ago

Exodus 20:1–21

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we gather to grow in Christ

Jack has been at Bryant Street for 40 years this month!

focus on reaching more lost people

new sign

you can give

Passage

Exodus 20:1–21 (ESV)

The Ten Commandments

20 And God spoke all these words, saying,

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”

18 Now when all the people saw the thunder and the flashes of lightning and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking, the people were afraid and trembled, and they stood far off 19 and said to Moses, “You speak to us, and we will listen; but do not let God speak to us, lest we die.” 20 Moses said to the people, “Do not fear, for God has come to test you, that the fear of him may be before you, that you may not sin.” 21 The people stood far off, while Moses drew near to the thick darkness where God was.

Intro

The Westminster shorter catechism (1648)

Q. 1. What is the chief end of man?

A. Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

Q. 2. What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?

A. The Word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.

Q. 3. What do the Scriptures principally teach?

A. The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.

Q. 39. What is the duty which God requireth of man?

A. The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will.

Q. 40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience?

A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law.

Q. 41. Wherein is the moral law summarily comprehended?

A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments.

Q. 42. What is the sum of the ten commandments?

A. The sum of the ten commandments is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and our neighbor as ourselves.

So what is the Law and how do we relate to it?

Romans 3:23 “23 for all have sinned and fall short of the (commandments-no) glory of God,”

The law is picture to us of the character and nature of God.

As those who are created in the image of God, our goal is to be:

Romans 8:29 “29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.”

How?

Romans 12:1–2 “1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

In this we can fall off the track in two directions

Legalism-Thinking we can earn salvation (or keep) through law keeping

Antinomianism-Thinking that since we are under grace, the law has no place in our lives

“Legalists fear the law and are in bondage to it. Antinomians hate the law and repudiate it.” -John Stott

So how should we relate to the law?

Reformers spoke of 3 uses of the law

1st Magistrate-maintaining civil order by restraining evil and promoting justice in society.

2nd Mirror-We are not as good as we like to think. The Law confronts us, shows us our sin, exposes our faults, and removes any doubt that we are under the curse of the covenant.

If you do your best to live for just a week keeping the ten commandments you will quickly come to realize that you need some help.

This drives us to our need for a savior

Once we find salvation in Jesus

3rd Map-The Law reveals to us the character of God, and gives us a clear path to becoming like Jesus

"God is no hard master. He will not, like Pharaoh, require you to make bricks without straw. He will make sure that the path He requires us to walk is never an impossible road. He never gave commands to man which He would not give man the power to perform." -J.C. Ryle

We also become maps ourselves to the world

Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as the Lord our God is to us, whenever we call upon him? And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?” (Deuteronomy 4:1–8, ESV)

Matthew 5:16 “16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

FCF-Question

How then Shall we live?

Proposition-Answer

1 Peter 1:13–16 “13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.””

Body

Where are we?

Exodus 19:21–25 “21 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish. 22 Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.” 23 And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’ ” 24 And the Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.”

The love of God (20:1-2 ; 6)

Exodus 20:1–2 “1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.”

Love the Lord (20:3-11)

Exodus 34:28 “28 So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments (words).”

Deuteronomy 4:13 “13 And he declared to you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, that is, the Ten Commandments (words), and he wrote them on two tablets of stone.”

spugeon a suit that you try to fit your heart into

not for salvation

not for keeping salvation

guilt drives us to jesus

jesus drives us to the law

a revelation of god’s character

Worship only YHWH

3 “You shall have no other gods before me.

Idolatry

Represent him well

7 “You shall not take (Na-Sa-Lift, carry or Bear) the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

Aaron represented the people to YHWH

Exodus 28:12 “12 And you shall set the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod, as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel. And Aaron shall bear (Na-Sa) their names before the Lord on his two shoulders for remembrance.”

Exodus 28:29 “29 So Aaron shall bear the names of the sons of Israel in the breastpiece of judgment on his heart, when he goes into the Holy Place, to bring them to regular remembrance before the Lord.”

Set apart as YHWH’s representative to the people

Exodus 28:36 “36 “You shall make a plate of pure gold and engrave on it, like the engraving of a signet, ‘Holy to the Lord.’”

The people of God bear his name as set apart

Exodus 19:5–6 “5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.””

Love your Neighbor (20:12-17)

If we love God, we will love people, because he loves people.

When David sinned agains Bathsheba

Psalm 51:4 “4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.”

Illustration

Imagine that each one of these commandments is a far away city. To get to the city there is a freeway with many exits along the way before you arrive at your destination.

While many of us can say that we have never visited the City of adultery, or the city of murder, all of us have driven up the on ramp and headed down the road a little ways to these places. It’s only by the grace of God that the got off on an early exit, but our desire was still to get to town, or maybe to see some of the sights along the way.

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

Matthew 15:18–19 “18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.”

"Look within, each one of you. Examine your own hearts. Do you see there any habit or custom which you know is wrong in the sight of God? If you do, don't delay for a moment in attacking it. Resolve at once to lay it aside. Nothing, darkens the eyes of the mind so much, and deadens the conscience so surely, as an allowed sin. It may be a little one, but it is not any less dangerous. A small leak will sink a great ship, and a small spark will kindle a great fire, and a little allowed sin in like manner will ruin an immortal soul."

-J.C. Ryle

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

Freeway Name: Disrespect Drive

Underlying Sin/Traits: Rebellion, dishonor, and lack of gratitude

13 “You shall not murder.

Freeway Name: Hatred Highway

Underlying Sin/Traits: Anger, hatred, and disdain for others

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

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

Freeway Name: Lust Lane

Underlying Sin/Traits: Lust, infidelity, and impurity

Matthew 5:27–28 “27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

15 “You shall not steal.

Freeway Name: Greed Gateway

Underlying Sin/Traits: Covetousness, selfishness, and dishonesty

Why do we steal?

-We don’t trust God to take care of us

I don’t steel!

Trying to get as much as you can while giving as little as you can, being a taker instead of a giver -Collin smith

Work

Coming in late

Taking long breaks

not working

Relationships

Expecting more from your spouce than you are willing to give

Expecting your children to love you even though you don’t spend time with them

Church

Not serving the church and expecting that the church serves you

Why do we steal

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Freeway Name: Deception Drive

Underlying Sin/Traits: Lying, slander, and dishonesty

Westminster Catechism

Question 145: What sins are forbidden by the Ninth Commandment?

Answer: The Ninth Commandment forbids actions that harm the truth or damage the reputation of others or ourselves, especially in legal settings. This includes giving false testimony, supporting false witnesses, knowingly defending an unjust cause, distorting the truth, and passing unfair judgments. It also prohibits calling evil good and good evil, rewarding the wicked as if they were righteous, and vice versa. Other forbidden actions include forgery, hiding the truth, staying silent when we should speak out, lying, slandering, gossiping, and making harsh or biased judgments. We should avoid misinterpreting others' intentions, words, or actions, as well as flattery, boasting, and thinking or speaking too highly or too lowly of ourselves or others. We should not deny God's gifts and graces, exaggerate minor faults, hide or excuse sins when confession is needed, or unnecessarily expose others' weaknesses. Additionally, we should not spread false rumors, accept or support evil reports, or ignore just defenses. Evil suspicion, envy, and malicious joy at others' disgrace are also forbidden, as are breaking lawful promises and neglecting virtues that bring a good reputation. We should avoid actions that lead to a bad reputation, both in ourselves and in others.

Freeway Name: Envy Expressway

Underlying Sin/Traits: Envy, discontent, and greed

The love of Christ (20:18-21)

Conclusion-How do we do it?

Maybe your here this morning and your thinking, pastor Mike I came in today already condemned, I was looking for hope and I got the hammer!

Through Christ

You shall not steal

-Christ puts us on the road of righteousness

Romans 8:3–4 “3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”

Heidelberg confession

Q & A 114

Q. But can those converted to God obey these commandments perfectly?

A. No. In this life even the holiest have only a small beginning of this obedience.

Nevertheless, with all seriousness of purpose, they do begin to live according to all, not only some, of God’s commandments.

Eccles. 7:20; Rom. 7:14-15; 1 Cor. 13:9; 1 John 1:8-10 Ps. 1:1-2; Rom. 7:22-25; Phil. 3:12-16

Q & A 115

Q. Since no one in this life can obey the Ten Commandments perfectly, why does God want them preached so pointedly?

A. First, so that the longer we live the more we may come to know our sinfulness and the more eagerly look to Christ for forgiveness of sins and righteousness.

Second, so that we may never stop striving, and never stop praying to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, to be renewed more and more after God’s image, until after this life we reach our goal: perfection.

Ps. 32:5; Rom. 3:19-26; 7:7, 24-25; 1 John 1:9 1 Cor. 9:24; Phil. 3:12-14; 1 John 3:1-3;

Josh 1;Joshua 8 “And the Lord said to Joshua, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed. Take all the fighting men with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, and his people, his city, and his land. And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its livestock you shall take as plunder for yourselves. Lay an ambush against the city, behind it.” So Joshua and all the fighting men arose to go up to Ai. And Joshua chose 30,000 mighty men of valor and sent them out by night. And he commanded them, “Behold, you shall lie in ambush against the city, behind it. Do not go very far from the city, but all of you remain ready. And I and all the people who are with me will approach the city. And when they come out against us just as before, we shall flee before them. And they will come out after us, until we have drawn them away from the city. For they will say, ‘They are fleeing from us, just as before.’ So we will flee before them.

1. Heidelberg Catechism (1563)

Origin: German Reformed traditionContent: Divided into 52 Lord's Days, it covers topics such as sin and misery, deliverance, and gratitude.Use: Primarily used by Reformed and Presbyterian churches.Reference: Heidelberg Catechism

2. Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647)

Origin: Created by the Westminster Assembly for the Church of England, later adopted by Presbyterian churches.Content: Consists of 107 questions and answers, covering the basics of Christian theology.Use: Widely used in Presbyterian and Reformed traditions.Reference: Westminster Shorter Catechism

3. Westminster Larger Catechism (1648)

Origin: Also created by the Westminster Assembly.Content: More detailed than the Shorter Catechism, with 196 questions and answers.Use: Used for more in-depth instruction in Presbyterian and Reformed traditions.Reference: Westminster Larger Catechism

4. Luther's Small Catechism (1529)

Origin: Written by Martin Luther.Content: Includes explanations of the Ten Commandments, the Apostles' Creed, the Lord's Prayer, baptism, and the Eucharist.Use: Widely used in Lutheran churches.Reference: Luther's Small Catechism

5. Luther's Large Catechism (1529)

Origin: Also written by Martin Luther.Content: A more detailed exposition of the topics covered in the Small Catechism.Use: Used for more advanced instruction in Lutheran churches.Reference: Luther's Large Catechism

6. Geneva Catechism (1541)

Origin: Written by John Calvin.Content: Composed of a series of questions and answers on Christian doctrine, similar to Luther's catechisms.Use: Used in Reformed churches, particularly those following Calvinist traditions.Reference: Geneva Catechism

7. New City Catechism (2012)

Origin: Developed by Timothy Keller and Redeemer Presbyterian Church.Content: A modern catechism comprising 52 questions and answers, drawing from Reformed traditions.Use: Aimed at contemporary Protestant churches, across various denominations.Reference: New City Catechism

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