A long time ago, God called Moses to the top of the mountain
and handed down a basic set of rules for Israel, the people of the Lord. We
call that list – the Ten Commandments.
How many can you repeat? Here is a short version …
You
shall have no other gods before Me.
You
shall not make idols, carved images of Me.
You
shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
Remember
the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Honor
your father and your mother.
You
shall not murder.
You
shall not commit adultery.
You
shall not steal.
You
shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You
shall not covet.
At first reading, you might say, “Hey, not bad, I’m good for
7 out of 10,” or something like that. And, you would be missing the point. The Big
Ten are not a test that we pass based on 70%. They are not a checklist that St.
Peter will bring out as you stand at the gate of Heaven. (OK, that’s just wrong
in so many ways, but give me some latitude here.) Jesus said that all of the commandments of
the (614!) Law are fulfilled in just 2 – “Love God wholeheartedly; and love your
neighbor as much as you love yourself.” There is a major issue among Christians about
the First (Old) Testament. Are we obligated to it? Should we throw it away?
Jesus did not abolish the Law, He fulfilled it. In Him, we
find our sin forgiven and our relationship with God restored. And, how do we
know what sin is? A good place to start is with those Ten Commandments. When we
think about them deeply, we begin to understand just how far we have fallen from
what God planned for us. “No other gods?”
Superficially, 99% do not have a problem
there. We are convinced that there is one God, right? But, what or whom do you treat as like a god? What directs your behavior, owns your loyalty? Ah, for some their kids are little gods. For
others, it is their career. Well, let’s
jump down to “take the name of the LORD
in vain.” Does saying “Oh, God” in a
moment of surprise count? Are we in the
clear as long as we do not say “Jesus Christ” in a profane way? Well … actually, no! God does not want us to write His Name on our
lives like a brand and then make Him look bad by our behavior. “If you say, you belong to Me, t then act badly or ignore My honor, you’re offending Me.”
And, so it goes.
The depth of sinfulness in us is revealed by the Law, which
could leave us hopelessly in despair, or cause us to become hypocritical because
we just deny the truth. That is why Jesus came to set us free from condemnation
and to transform us into God’s
people, inside out. Think back to the
first giving of the Ten Words (the Decalogue). Did Moses bring them to Egypt
and tell the people if you start living by this new law you will be set free
from your slavery? No! God delivered His
people miraculously when they met His grace with faith. Then, He gave them the
law to show them how to stay free, the
unique people belonging to God.
Similarly, Jesus came to give us freedom from our
slavery to sin. When we are touched by the Spirit, moved by grace, and respond
with faith – He saves us. We stay free as we come to understand the holiness of
God and let the Spirit reshape us.
As I read Exodus 20 again this morning, I did so with
reverence. I also read those word with the interpretative help of Jesus’ words,
thanking Him for doing in my life what I could never do for myself: make me holy
and acceptable to God. Are you trying to
keep the Law by yourself? Does the burden weigh you down or cause you to run
from Him, hiding because of guilt? Christ has made a new Way, opening the Holy
Place to us with the final offering – His own body and shed blood. Now, He
invites us to come near and stay free.
Here is a word from the Word. "because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who
are being made holy. The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he
says: “This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the
Lord. I will put my laws in their
hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” Then he adds: “Their sins
and lawless acts I will remember no more.” And where these have been forgiven,
there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most
Holy Place by the blood of Jesus,
by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his
body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere
heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us
from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water."
(Hebrews 10:14-22, NIV)
________
________
(the new/old song of the saved)
Amazing grace how
sweet the sound
That saved a wretch
like me
I once was lost but
now I'm found
Was blind but now I
see
'Twas grace that
taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears
relieved
How precious did that
grace appear
The hour I first
believed
My chains are gone
I've been set free
My God my Savior has ransomed
me
And like a flood His
mercy rains
Unending love amazing
grace
The Lord has promised
good to me
His word my hope
secures
He will my shield and
portion be
As long as life
endures
The earth shall soon
dissolve like snow
The sun forbear to
shine
But God who called me
here below
Will be forever mine
Will be forever mine
You are forever mine
Chris Tomlin | John Newton | Louie Giglio
© 2006 sixsteps Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
Vamos Publishing (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
worshiptogether.com songs (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing)
CCLI License # 810055
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