240821 BITES: Q38 What did God give to people to govern them?

Q38 What did God give to people to govern them? A38 God gave people the moral law, written on our hearts and summarized in the ten commandments, which guides our obedience to Him (Romans 2:14)

Interaction

Who here has a favorite game they love to play? (LET THEM ANSWER)

Do you remember what it was like to play the game the first time, you know before you understood the rules? (LOOK FOR WORDS LIKE CONFUSING, DIFFICULT, HARD, FRUSTRATING)

When we don’t know the rules we can’t win the game, but when we do know the rules what happens? (LET THEM ANSWER)

Does knowing the rules mean that we are automatically going to win the game?

When we know the rules we learn how good we really are at the game… we may think we are good but the rules will tell us whether or not we are good at playing it won’t they?

Transition to Question and Answer

In a similar way God has built into our hearts an understanding of His rules - He has made people in His image and we understand what is good and right. No one has to tell us what is right, we just know. Similarly no one has to tell us what is wrong, we just know don’t we. In that way we are different from all of God’s creation. We have a conscience and its on our conscience God has put these rules down so that we might be taught and governed by them.

We know we should tell the truth, no one tells us that we shouldn’t lie - or steal something, we know. I can prove it, when we break the rules we hide it don’t we? We know when we are doing wrong.

Question and Answer

So here is tonight’s question: Q38 What did God give to people to govern them? A38 God gave people the moral law, written on our hearts and summarized in the ten commandments, which guides our obedience to Him Romans 2:14“For when Gentiles who do not have the Law naturally do the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,”

Restate

We know what is right - God has built this into us and this understanding is explicitly summarized in His ten commandments… Can we write down all of the ten commandments? (HAVE THEM CALL THEM ALL OUT THEN READ FROM EXODUS 20

Exodus 20 | 1 Then God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am Yahweh 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 an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 “You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, Yahweh your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments. 7 “You shall not take the name of Yahweh your God in vain, for Yahweh will not leave him unpunished 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 of Yahweh your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter, your male or your female slave or your cattle or your sojourner who is within your gates. 11 “For in six days Yahweh made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day; therefore Yahweh blessed the sabbath day and made it holy. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which Yahweh your God gives 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 slave or his female slave or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Ask if anyone has questions then define terminology

Definitions and Examples for Key Terms

Moral Law or Ten Commandments: Definition: The moral law refers to God’s commandments which tell us what is right and how He expects us to act - this is a lot like Question 3 Example: The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) serve as a direct summary of this moral law. It tells us what our duties toward God involve (e.g., worshiping only Him, not taking His name in vain) and how we are duty is to other people (e.g., not stealing, not lying).Scripture Reference: Romans 2:15 “in that they demonstrate the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,”

Written on Our Hearts: Definition: This is our conscience which tells us right from wrong Example: Even people who have never heard of the Bible often have a sense that things like murder or theft are wrong, demonstrating that God’s moral law is universally understood at some level. Scripture Reference: Romans 2:14-15—"For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts."

Guides Our Obedience: Definition: The moral law guides us as to how to please God and helps us know when we have not pleased Him Example: When we honor the name of the Lord by guarding it and not blaspheming (OMG, or using His name as a curse word like “Jesus Christ,” we show we understand Scripture Reference: Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”

Obedience to Him: Definition: Obedience refers to following God's commands and living in a way that honors Him.Example: A person who honors their parents by doing what they say with a willing heart (Exodus 20:12) is showing obedience to God’s command.Scripture Reference: John 14:15 ““If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”

So why does this matter?

*The Law has the benefit of letting all people know we have a problem and need a Savior Romans 3:20“because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”

*God doesn’t grade on a curve or grant salvation because on average we are better than others. If we sin in any area of our life we have sinned in all. We cannot make it up to God - we need Him to fix the problem James 2:10–11“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but murder, you have become a transgressor of the law.”

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

*Once saved we understand that the Law has the further benefit of guiding us in doing what is right Deuteronomy 6:6–7““These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. “You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.”

Last Question and Answer

Q38 What did God give to people to govern them? A38 God gave people the moral law, written on our hearts and summarized in the ten commandments, which guides our obedience to Him Romans 2:14“For when Gentiles who do not have the Law naturally do the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,”

Any questions?

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

A. The rule which God first revealed to man for his obedience, is the moral law (Deut. 10:4; Matt. 19:17), which is summarized in the ten commandments.

Deuteronomy 10:4““And He wrote on the tablets, like the former writing, the Ten Commandments which Yahweh had spoken to you on the mountain from the midst of the fire on the day of the assembly; and Yahweh gave them to me.”

Matthew 19:17“And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.””

WSC Question 40

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

The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law. (Rom. 2:14–15, Rom. 10:5)

Question 41 Where is the moral law summarily comprehended?

The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments. (Deut. 10:4, Matt. 19:17)

WLC

Question 92 What did God at first reveal unto man as the rule of his obedience?

The rule of obedience revealed to Adam in the estate of innocence, and to all mankind in him, besides a special command not to eat of the fruit of the tree knowledge of good and evil, was the moral law. (Gen. 1:26–27, Rom. 2:14–15, Rom. 10:5, Gen. 2:17

Question 93 What is the moral law?

The moral law is the declaration of the will of God to mankind, direction and binding every one to personal, perfect, and perpetual conformity and obedience thereunto, in the frame and disposition of the whole man, soul and body, (Deut. 5:1–3,31,33, Luke 10:26–27, Gal. 3:10, 1 Thess. 5:23) and in performance of all those duties of holiness and righteousness which he oweth to God and man: (Luke 1:75, Acts 24:16) promising life upon the fulfilling, and threatening death upon the breach of it. (Rom. 10:5, Gal. 3:10,12)

Question 94 Is there any use of the moral law to man since the fall?

Although no man, since the fall, can attain to righteousness and life by the moral law: (Rom. 8:3, Gal. 2:16) yet there is great use thereof, as well common to all men, as peculiar either to the unregenerate, or the regenerate. (1 Tim. 1:8)

Question 95 Of what use is the moral law to all men?

The moral law is of use to all men, to inform them of the holy nature and the will of God, (Lev. 11:44–45, Lev. 20:7–8, Rom. 7:12) and of their duty, binding them to walk accordingly; (Micah 6:8, James 2:10–11) to convince them of their disability to keep it, and of the sinful pollution of their nature, hearts, and lives: (Ps. 19:11–12, Rom. 3:20, Rom. 7:7) to humble them in the sense of their sin and misery, (Rom. 3:9,23) and thereby help them to a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, (Gal. 3:21–22) and of the perfection of his obedience. (Rom. 10:4)

Question 96 What particular use is there of the moral law to unregenerate men?

The moral law is of use to unregenerate men, to awaken their consciences to flee from wrath to come, (1 Tim. 1:9–10) and to drive them to Christ; (Gal. 3:24) or, inexcusable, (Rom. 1:20, Rom. 2:15) and under the curse thereof. (Gal. 3:10)

Question 97 What special use is there of the moral law to the regenerate?

Although they that are regenerate, and believe in Christ, be delivered from the moral law as a covenant of works, (Rom. 6:14, Rom. 7:4,6, Gal. 4:4–5) so as thereby they are neither justified (Rom. 3:20) nor condemned; (Gal. 5:23, Rom. 8:1) yet, besides the general uses thereof common to them with all men, it is of special use, to show them how much they are bound to Christ for his fulfilling it, and enduring the curse thereof in their stead, and for their good; (Rom. 7:24–25, Gal. 3:13–14, Rom. 8:3–4) and thereby to provoke them to more thankfulness, (Luke 1:68–69,74–75, Col. 1:12–14) and to express the same in their greater care to conform themselves thereunto as the rule to their obedience. (Rom. 7:22, Rom. 12:2, Tit. 2:11–14)

Question 98 Where is the moral law summarily comprehended?

The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments, which were delivered by the voice of God upon Mount Sinai, and written by him in two tables of stone; (Deut. 10:4, Exod. 34:1–4) and are recorded in the twentieth chapter of Exodus. The four first commandments containing our duty to God, and the other six our duty to man. (Matt. 22:37–40)

Mark Initial Draft: Q38 What did God give to people to govern them?

God gave people the moral law, known internally through their conscience and summarized in the ten commandments

Romans 2:14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law naturally do the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,

Mark Second Draft: Q38 What did God give to people to govern them?

God gave people the moral law, written on our hearts and summarized in the ten commandments, thus guiding our obedience to Him

Romans 2:14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law naturally do the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,

Mark Third Draft:

Mark Final Draft: Q38 What did God give to people to govern them?

God gave people the moral law, written on our hearts and summarized in the ten commandments, which guides our obedience to Him

Romans 2:14 For when Gentiles who do not have the Law naturally do the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves,

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Can you imagine how unstoppable you would be if you knew all the rules to every game you ever played. You could pick up any board game or card game and know instantly how to play - you would have quite an edge on everyone else wouldn’t you?