Lawbreakers & The Law

Text: Exodus 20:1-17

Place Preached - (Mississauga International Baptist Church)

Date Preached - (07/01/01)

Introduction:   

We are going to be talking about the basics of the Bible.  Often when people pick up the Bible and try to read it, they can't understand it.

People who do not know Christ as their Savior will not be able to understand the Bible.

1 Corinthians 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

In order for us to understand the Bible, we have to start off with the basic concepts of the Bible.

ILLUS: Explain a computer to some citizens of a remote and yet uncivilized region of the world.

Imagine trying to describe something to someone who doesn't understand what you are talking about to begin with. How are you going to start?

There are two approaches you can make. One would be what we might term a chronological approach.

The same is true with the Bible. If you sit down with some one and try to explain the Bible chronologically from Genesis to Revelation, you can eventually get the job done, but it is going to take a very long time.

The second way you could explain the computer would be to organize your thoughts according to content, giving an overall view.

That is what we are going to do in this Bible study. We are going to be looking at some basic truths that will give us an overview of the Bible.

I. LOOKING AT THINGS GOD'S WAY

In this study we are going to look at things the way God looks at them.

1 Samuel 16:7  But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.

God rejected Eliab because He could see his heart. God knew he would not make a good king for Israel.

God doesn't look on the outward appearance. He looks on the heart. He knows what a person is truly like.

When you and I look at people, we make judgment calls.  We make decisions about those people, based on the way they look, the way they dress, outward things we are able to observe about them or the things we hear them say.  But we don't really know what goes on inside of another person's heart.

We will be looking at things from God's point of view. How does God see things? How does that affect our lives as people?

II. FACING GOD

Eventually every one of us is going to have to face God.  We will stand before God and will answer to Him. One day you are going to die.

Romans 14:12  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Hebrews 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

ILLUS: I don't know about you, but when I was in school, I didn't like tests. I always dreaded examination time. It definitely was not my favorite day. But I knew the day was coming, and that fact caused me to listen for one purpose.  I didn't want my grades to look too bad when I took my report card home. Most people I know aren't too interested in taking that final test when their life ends.

Romans 2:2  But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.

God will not judge us according to the outward appearance or the way things look. He won't judge us by popular public opinion. He won’t take a vote on the matter, and there won’t be a jury to make the decision.  We will be judged according to truth. Now that is scary, because truth is so exacting, so straight, and so narrow.

John 17:17 tells us where truth is found.

John 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

If you are wrong, what will you do then?  You see, your not believing it won't change the fact. You can say, "I don"t believe that you have a shirt and tie on" but that doesn't change the fact that I do have a shirt and tie on.  You could say I am bald, if you wish, but I really am not. I do have a few hairs left up on top.

You can believe whatever you want to believe and I can believe whatever I want to believe.  But ultimately it is not what you believe or what I believe that matters.

III. TRUTH = BIBLE

In Second Timothy 3:16-17 the Bible says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works." 

He tells us that the Bible is nothing less than Him speaking to us. We better pay attention.

In Second Peter 1:21 the Bible says, "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost"

A bunch of fellows didn't one day sit down and decide to invent a new book and start a religion.  The Bible wasn't created in the mind of some prophets who wanted to have a book named after them.  The Bible says these men didn't do this by their own will.

Some people might say,  "Anyone could write a book and say it is God's Word. Anyone could write a book and say it is true.  How do we know it is true?"  Let's look at some things that prove it is true. 

There were forty different men who lived over a period of time of about sixteen hundred years who wrote down what God told them to write. Most of these men never even met each other. Yet when you put all sixty-six books together they perfectly agree with one another.

There is not one contradiction from Genesis to Revelation. I dare you to pick up any two books written about science and see if they agree.  Get two history books and see if two history books agree. 

We could also look at the honesty of the writers.  You know, if I was writing a book and it was going to be a holy book with my name attached to it, I would not write about all my problems. I wouldn't tell you about my sins. 

Next, let's consider the prophecies of the Scripture. 

It might be a prophecy about the name of a king four hundred years from now who is going to be born, and the country over which he is going to reign when he grows up. 

Or it could be a prophecy about a city being destroyed, how it would be destroyed and then how it would be rebuilt.

Yet there are literally hundreds of prophecies like that in the Bible and they were all fulfilled literally, just as they were prophesied.

In Second Peter 1:19 the Bible says, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy."

He realized that the written Word of God is more powerful, more sure, more steadfast than seeing a vision or seeing a miracle.

This truth, the Bible, is what will judge you and judge me one day.

IV. TEN LAWS -- EXODUS 20

How does God judge us?  What are the things that God is concerned about? 

We are going to see God's law.  The Bible teaches that God is holy. Because of His holiness, God has given us in the Old Testament what is called His law.  There are 613 laws in all. The Old Testament law is divided into three kinds. 

There is the civil law that deals with the nation of Israel and how the nation of Israel was to operate.

The second category is the ceremonial laws, the laws that talked about the ceremonies that the Jewish people were to go through in offering animals and different sacrifices.

Then there were the moral laws. The moral laws talked about how God sees man and how God believes man ought to live, the kind of activities man ought to be involved in, the kind of life man ought to have.

God's law has never been repealed!

Matthew 5:17 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.”

Now God has broken down those 613 laws into ten specific ones that are very important. These are called the Ten Commandments and are found in Exodus chapter 20.

A. NO OTHER GODS Ex. 20:3

What does God mean when He says no other gods?  He means that no one else, and nothing else is to take the place of God in your life. In other words, God demands first place in your life and mine. 

ILLUS:If you were married, would your spouse accept you having another boyfriend or another girlfriend on the side?  No, not normally anyway. 

God says He demands our affection.  He wants no other gods in our life.

Luke 14:27  And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

As you look back through your life from the day you were a child, all the way up to today, can you say you have always loved God with every fiber of your being?  Have you loved God with every part of your life, with all of your heart? Can you really say that? 

B. NO IDOLS Ex. 20:4

LOOK UP & READ Romans 1:21-25

God isn't just talking about idols you and I have made.  He is also talking about the imagination of our heart with which we make the gods we want.

God says, ‘I don't want you to put your affection on anything or anyone else besides me. I don't want you to invent your own god."  But people in our world have invented a lot of different gods. 

ILLUS: Go ahead and live however you want and when you die and stand before God, He is going to say,  "Forget it. Just come on in."  That is the idea most people in America have of what God is like.

Some people have made a god that is more like Santa Claus. 

Have you ever been there?  You see, what you have done is made God in your own image.

Tell me that in your life you have always understood who God was, you have understood exactly what God was like and you have always worshipped Him with all your heart. 

My friend, you can't say that and neither can I.

C. TAKING GOD'S NAME IN VAIN Ex. 20:7

A lot of people understand that commandment to mean that you aren't allowed to curse. You can't take God's name or Jesus' name and then link it with the word damn or some other expletive and curse.

The word vain means empty.  It is not just talking about blaspheming, or taking God's name and cursing.  It is also talking about taking God's name lightly.

It even includes singing God's name and not thinking about what you are singing.

Mindlessly babbling about God.  That is taking God's name in vain. Who is not guilty now?

That is only the third commandment.  We are not doing too well, are we?  We are going to give an account for these things.

D. SABBATH DAY Ex. 20:8

The purpose of the Sabbath was not a day of rest, a day to kick back, take it easy, drink lemonade and enjoy yourself.

The Sabbath day was meant to be a day in which they set aside the normal labors they would be involved in, so that they could pursue the labor of praising God, worshipping God.  That was the purpose of the Sabbath.

Now today we worship on Sunday because Jesus rose from the grave on Sunday.

God wants our life to be committed to Him totally.  All of our time belongs to Him.

Hebrews 10:25 tells us that we are not to forsake the assembling together in church. 

It is meant to be a day of setting aside your work so you can pursue God with all your heart.  Can you say you have faithfully sought God at least one day a week all of your life? 

Does your time belong to God or do you use it the way you want?  These are the things that we will give an account for one day.  How are you doing so far?

E. HONOR PARENTS Ex. 20:12

The word honor means to give respect, to lift up.  It means more than just obey.  Your parents say, "Empty the trash," and you go empty the trash.  Well, you have obeyed, but that doesn't necessarily mean you have honored your parents in that action. 

To honor them means you will pick the trash up and take it outside and do it with a sweet spirit

Tell me that you have always honored your mother and father as they ought to have been honored according to God's Word and I will say you are a liar.  Let's call your parents, if they are still alive and tell them to give testimony. 

F. DO NOT KILL Ex. 20:13

He says if you are angry with your brother, you have committed murder. Have you ever been angry with someone? 

Matthew 5:21-22  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

22  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Jesus says it is murder in your heart. 

That just proves there is a selfish nature inside you, and God says you are a murderer.

You might be sitting there now thinking, "We've all done those things. It is no big deal."  But the fact is, when we stand before God it will be a big deal.  God is a holy God. 

G. NO ADULTERY Ex. 20:14

Matthew 5:27-28  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Now tell me you have never looked upon someone of the opposite sex and never had wrong thoughts.  If you are of any age at all, you are guilty.  Jesus says you are an adulterer

H. DO NOT STEAL Ex. 20:15

The Bible doesn't say, "Well, as long as it is under a quarter it really doesn't count."  Can I steal twenty-four cents here and twenty-four cents there and get away with it? 

I. DO NOT LIE Ex. 20:16

Now false witness isn't just a blatant bald faced lie.  False witness is also a misleading statement. Have you ever told half the truth because you knew the whole truth might incriminate you? 

We lie more often than we care to admit.  Have you ever told someone they looked good but didn't mean it?  Have you ever told someone you liked what he or she was wearing but inside you were thinking just the opposite?  We need to be careful about what we say. 

There is not a person alive on earth that can get by this 9" commandment.  We are all guilty of breaking it.

J. DO NOT COVET Ex. 20:17

"To covet means to desire strongly.  Have you ever desired something that God had not provided for you? 

In fact, you desired it so much that thinking about how you could get it and make it yours captivated your mind and your heart. 

In Colossians 3:5, the Bible says covetousness is the same as idolatry

"I want this car more than I want God.  I want this money more than I want God.  I'd do anything to get that job. I want that job so much, I'll give up church for it."  Wait a minute! That is covetousness so you have broken commandment #10.  You are also breaking the 4th commandment because you are not giving God the time He deserves.  You have also broken the 2nd commandment because you are putting things before God. Friend, you are in trouble.

Conclusion:     (Review)

As we look through all ten of these commandments and think about them, we see what we really are.  We are liars, thieves, blasphemers, idolaters and adulterers. This is serious business.  Where do we stand?  We are guilty, condemned! 

You still might think you are not so bad.  But look at James 2:10. "For whosoever shalt keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." 

You must keep the whole law perfectly to meet God's standard of righteousness.

So far all we have talked about has been bad news.  But the good news is that it is possible to be right with God.  In fact, the Bible says that when God looks at the world, He sees two kinds of people.  There are those who have no relationship to Him.  They have been judged by the law, and found guilty.  That is where the vast majority of the human race falls.  But there are some that enjoy the tremendous blessing of having a relationship with God.  They are related to Him.  God has found a way of dealing with their sin, so that when they stand in judgment before Him, their sin will be taken care of. The answer is found in Jesus Christ.