Sermon Tone Analysis

We should not ask what would Jesus do but what did Jesus do.

We should not ask what would Jesus do but what did Jesus do.

Precepts’ is the ‘narrowest’ word in the vocabulary of , covering every minute detail of applying the law of God to daily life.

The verse thus voices a striking truth: the psalmist found that the more closely he tied his life to the word of God, the more he found he was enjoying the largest liberty.

This is the way we are to think of the Ten Commandments—not as cramping restrictions on a fullness of life that we might otherwise have enjoyed, but as the very gateway to the fullness we seek.

The very fact that it is the law of God should at once show us that it cannot contain anything harmful to man’s welfare.

Like everything else that God has given, the Law is an expression of His love, a manifestation of His mercy, a provision of His grace.

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE LAW?

SALVATION

THE LAW CAN REVEAL OUR SIN BUT IT CANNOT REDEEM US FROM OUR SIN.

ROMANS 3:19-20

If The Law is heeded it can lead a person to redemptions door but only faith can unlock it.

We use The Law as a means of revealing to man who he is and what he cannot do.

Isaiah

SANCTIFICATION

SANCTIFICATION

In giving The Law God is not saying, “you better keep them if you want to become my people”.

In giving The Law God is saying, “you better keep them because you are my people”.

The law of the Lord was addressed to those brought out of bondage, and its aim was not to bring them into a new bondage, but rather to establish them in their new freedom.

As those who had come out of slavery they needed to be instructed in the behavior and lifestyle of the free.

Such is the law of the Lord—it is the true ‘law of liberty’

The supreme test of love is the desire and effort to please the one loved, and this measured by conformity to his known wishes.

Love for God is expressed by obedience to His will.

Only One has perfectly exemplified this, and of Him it is written,

But we ought so to walk even as He walked

.

Simple but searching is that word of His, “He that hath My commandments and keepeth them he it Is that loveth Me” ().

And again it is written, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments.

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous” ().

The “waning” of love, then, means departing from, failing to keep, God’s commandments!

Simple but searching is that word of His,

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And again it is written, “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep His commandments.

For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous” ().

The “waning” of love, then, means departing from, failing to keep, God’s commandments!

And again it is written,

).

The “waning” of love, then, means departing from, failing to keep, God’s commandments!

The “waning” of love, then, means departing from, failing to keep, God’s commandments!

WHAT IS THE AFFECT OF THE LAW?

The Law was given after man’s creation.

It was not given so that man might earn God’s love but to show man how to love God and his fellow man.

WHAT IS THE AFFECT OF THE LAW?

IT DRIVES US TO CHRIST FOR SALVATION.

We use The Law as a means of revealing who God is and what He demands.

We use The Law as a means of revealing to man who he is and what he cannot do.

IT DEVELOPS CHRISTLIKENESS FOR SANCTIFICATION

is not the introduction of The Law but the inscription of The Law.

The Law existed in verbal form before it was ever written in visible form.

It was not given so that man might earn God’s love but to show man how to love God and his fellow man.

The greatest and second greatest commandments have existed since creation.

The Ten Commandments is the Bible’s fundamental statement of ‘the law of liberty’.

The Law does not enslave us but sets us free.

Prohibitions do not restrict freedom but provide real freedom.

A negative command is far more liberating than a positive one, for a positive command restricts life to that one course of action, whereas a negative command leaves life open to every course of action except one!

We see this, law of liberty, at work in the garden of Eden.

The single negative command, ‘You must not eat … of it’ left open the broad prospect that ‘You are free to eat from any tree in the garden.’

Not onl

The Ten Commandments show what a rounded, perfectly balanced life should look like.

This is demonstrated by the way they are presented.

We are told that there were two ‘tables’ or tablets of the law, and traditionally the first (commandments one to four) has been spoken of as ‘our duty to God’ and the second (commandments five to ten) as ‘our duty to our neighbour’.

There is one other important connection that we need to make concerning The Law.

In Chapter 19 God reaffirms the Abrahamic covenant with His people.

History tells us that covenants could only come into force until it was given in written form.

Two identical copies were made, one of which was retained by the king and the other by his servants.

It is significant that Israel kept both of the tablets produced on Sinai together in the ark (; ).

This shows that Yahweh, the Great King who is the covenant-maker, was also the resident king among his people, and the covenant was his to guard and guarantee.

The Lord, wanting his people to enjoy all the benefits of the covenant he had made with them, set his law before them.

This conveniently—if roughly—takes note of the content of the Decalogue, but it is undoubtedly an incorrect understanding of the two tablets.

Much study has been made of the Hittite people and especially of the covenants made between the great Hittite kings and their vassals from 1800 BC onwards.8

According to Hittite usage, a covenant could only come into force when it had been given written form.

Two identical copies were made, one of which was retained by the Hittite king and the other by his vassal.

It is significant that Israel kept both of the tablets produced on Sinai together in the ark (; ).

This shows that Yahweh, the Great King who is the covenant-maker, was also the resident king among his people, and the covenant was his to guard and guarantee.9

The keeping of the commandments show my love for God.

God’s covenant show His love for me.

We love God because he first loved us.

We can obey his command because he has kept his covenant.

WHAT DOES THE LAW ACHIEVE?

SALVATION OR DAMNATION

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REFLECTION AND REPRESENTATION

We do not have time to go through each commandment in detail.

However, Scripture provides for us a commentary on each command.

I recommend you read .

As we read each commandment we should ask ourselves, “what does this command teach me about God?” The character of God undergirds everything.

God tells them to do something because of who he is.

When we obey His commands we reflect His glory in this world and we represent His will in this world.

Before the Lord announced his law he pointed to himself with the words, I am the LORD [Yahweh].