The Intent of the Law

“The Intent of the Law”

TEXT: Exodus 20:20

INTRO:

In the past few years, one of the hot buttons between Christians and non Christians has been the posting of the ten commandments in public places. I make no bones about it this morning that to me, this is one of those fights that I choose not to fight. The posting of the ten commandments on public property, to me,  is irrelevant to making disciples for Jesus. It is informational. In that it says a lot about our culture, our society today, but it’s nothing to get all riled up about and march on the steps of the capital in Boise to say that our Christian rights are being violated.  That is not to say that it is wrong to stand up for religious rights. We are fortunate in this country to have that freedom. And we need people today with those God given abilities to stand up and speak out. But for others, I would rather they spent their energy on making disciples than making a fuss. But that’s just me.

"In an era in which we are struggling to find the proper place of religion in a pluralistic society, we must be careful neither to crusade for nor accept mere symbols," asserted the (Christianity Today) magazine. "Wall plaques rarely provoke deep moral reflection - especially in an increasingly cynical (society)…”  
Christianity Today, 2000 parentheses mine

MAIN POINT:
As we come to our text this morning, I want us to focus on the main point, not the details. To read through the ten commandments and take them apart will be a task for another time. But for today, I want us to understand God’s intent in providing the law. Look with me back at Exodus 20:20

God gave his law for the purpose of instilling fear, so that we may not sin.

When we know why he did it, it should change how we respond to it.
David understood. That’s why he could say the things he did about God’s law.
From the opening of Psalm 1:2, he “delights in his law”
To Psalm 19:7  His law is perfect
To Psalm 119:97  Three more times he would say I love your law
Over 50 more times in this chapter he talks about God’s Law.
David loved God’s law. Why? I believe because he understood the intent of the law.
He knew why God had given it. So that he would fear him, and not sin.

When we understand God’s intent, we accept his law. When we think that God is a killjoy of some sort and that all he wants to do is give us rules, then our attitudes are less than respectful towards him.

The intent of the law that God gave was so that we would fear him and not sin.
So it was for our good.

Illus.> The protection the law provides
The story of a high school guy who wanted to go swimming with his girlfriend at midnight. The neighbors down the block had a pool, and he knew it. So they ran down there and scaled the fence even though there were No Trespassing and Do Not Enter signs. Just as he hit the diving board, the girl yelled, but it was too late. There was only a foot of water in the pool. He broke his neck, ... He didn’t realize that the signs on the fence—the precepts—the law, would have protected him.  
Josh McDowell, New Man, March/April 1995, p. 55

God’s law is for our good.

And it’s sad that our understanding of God’s law and its benefit to us has been minimized, trivialized and ultimately categorized as just an ancient text with no relevance to us today. And that has come from the church.

Now, historically there have been documents that have given great insight to a better understanding of God’s law and our responsibility to it. One that I would point you to is the shorter catechism. For in it, in its simplest form, we can refocus on the main point here in understanding how God’s law never loses it’s application in our lives.

18th century Scottish preacher Ralph Erskine summarized the connection between the law and the gospel in this way:

When once the fiery Law of God, has chas’d me to the Gospel road;
Then back unto the holy Law, most kindly Gospel grace will draw.

When we understand the law and its intent, then we are driven to the good news of the gospel. When we are driven to the gospel, it takes us back to the law.

Paul states in Romans 7:7  Without the law, I would not know my condition.
That is that I would not have known sin.
Now that I know sin, in Romans 8 I learn of the gospel.
And the gospel takes me back to the law in Romans 13 and fulfills it.

God’s intent for the law is clear.
In Exodus 20:20 he gave us the law so that we may fear him, and in order that we may not sin.

To discover this truth frees us.
To understand what God has done enables us.
To speak this truth to others is the duty for us.

For in this truth, the gospel can be revealed.
Jesus the Christ died to save sinners.

CLOSING:

Illus.> What the law is like
Evangelist Fred Brown used three images to describe the law. First, a dentist’s little mirror, which he sticks into the patient’s mouth. With the mirror he can detect any cavities. But he doesn’t drill with it or use it to pull teeth. It can show him the decayed area or other abnormality, but it can’t provide the solution

He then said that the law is also like a flashlight. If suddenly at night the lights go out, you use it to guide you down the darkened basement stairs to the electrical box. When you point it toward the fuses, it helps you see the one that is burned out.
But after you’ve removed the bad fuse, you don’t try to insert the flashlight in its place. You put in a new fuse to restore the electricity.

Lastly, he likened the law to a plumbline. When a builder wants to check his work, he uses a plumbline. But if he finds that he has made a mistake, he doesn’t use the plumbline to correct it. He gets out his hammer and saw. The law points out the problem of sin; it doesn’t provide a solution.  Source unknown