The 10 commandments

Intro

By the Finger of God**

**Main Point:** How we love God affects the way we love others.

Introduction

- God gave us the law to show how to live for Him.

- The law reveals our need for a Savior (Matt. 5:17).

- Jesus fulfilled the law so we might be saved through His righteousness.

II. God Shows Us How to Love Him (Exodus 20:1-11)

**A. God’s Identity and Authority (Exodus 20:1-2)**

- God is the Deliverer, bringing Israel out of slavery.

- His commands are based on His salvation and grace.

**B. The First Four Commandments: Loving God**

1. **No other gods (v. 3)** – God alone is worthy of worship.

2. **No idols (vv. 4-6)** – Worshiping anything other than God leads to destruction.

3. **Honor God’s name (v. 7)** – Reverence in speech and actions.

4. **Keep the Sabbath (vv. 8-11)** – Resting in God’s provision and honoring Him.

**C. Application: Worshiping God Alone**

- Modern idols (money, status, relationships, social media).

- True worship comes from the heart, not just actions (Matt. 15:8).

III. God Shows Us How to Love Others (Exodus 20:12-21)

A. The Last Six Commandments: Loving Others**

1. **Honor parents (v. 12)** – Respecting authority.

2. **No murder (v. 13)** – Valuing human life.

3. **No adultery (v. 14)** – Faithfulness in relationships.

4. **No stealing (v. 15)** – Integrity in actions.

5. **No lying (v. 16)** – Honesty and truthfulness.

6. **No coveting (v. 17)** – Contentment and trust in God.

B. The Connection Between Loving God and Loving Others**

- Jesus summarized the law in two commandments (Matt. 22:37-40).

- A right relationship with God shapes our relationships with others.

IV. The Purpose of the Law and Our Need for Christ**

A. The Law Reveals Sin (Romans 3:20)**

- We cannot keep the law perfectly.

- The law shows our need for a Savior.

B. Jesus Fulfilled the Law (Galatians 4:4-5, Matthew 5:17)**

- Christ obeyed the law on our behalf.

- He took the penalty of the law for us.

C. The Law in the Life of a Believer**

- No longer condemned (Romans 8:1).

- The Spirit empowers us to obey with joy (1 John 5:3).

V. Application and Challenge**

- Examine idols in your life—what competes for God’s place?

- How does your love for God affect your relationships?

- Trust in Jesus, not the law, for salvation.

VI. Conclusion**

- The Ten Commandments point us to Jesus.

- When we love God rightly, we love others rightly.

- Live in obedience, not as a burden, but as a delight in Christ.