Our Absolutely Awesome God - Part Two

This is the fourth sermon in a ten-part series regarding the attributes of God. This message speaks about more of God's "absolute attributes."

(To download an MP3 file of this sermon, click on the title above. To listen online now, click on the play button of the audio player shown above. The size of the MP3 file is 30mb.)

Written Excerpts:

Introduction:

We are continuing our series of messages on the attributes of God as we try to emphasize the importance of having a proper concept of God.  Are you ready to have your mind stretched today?

We talked about the fact that it is impossible to truly worship God (i.e. ascribe worth, honor, value and importance to him), if we do not really know him.

The first category of attributes we started discussing last time was:

I.    Absolute Attributes

We already talked about two of the absolute attributes.

A. Spirituality - God does not possess a physical body. He is spiritual, not material substance. “God is spirit and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (Jn. 4)

B. Immutability - God does not change in His nature or essence. “Every good and perfect gift comes down from the father of lights with whom is no variableness neither shadow of turning.” (Jas.1)

Today, we are going to talk about the remaining absolute attributes:

C. Infinity – Infinity is the quality of having no bounds or limits in any aspect of the divine nature.

There is only one passage of Scripture that uses the word infinite in the KJV, and that is in reference to God’s knowledge.

Psalm 147:5 “Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.”

A.W. Tozer says, “Infinitude can belong to [only] One. There can be no second.” “All that [God] is, He is without growth or addition or development.”

This attribute forms the ground for understanding all of the other attributes. God is infinite in every aspect of his being; infinite with regards to time, space, knowledge, love, holiness, etc., etc.

As one reads through the Bible and learns more and more about the nature of God we understand that God is infinite in all his qualities or he isn’t God.

There are two aspects of infinity that we want to cover within the discussion of absolute attributes.

1. Eternity – The quality of infinity with regards to time. It is the quality of not being limited or bound in any way by time. God exists beyond the realm of time.

Before time began, God was. After time ends, God will be.

Psalm 90:2 “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God." (A Psalm of Moses)

A. W. Tozer – “ ‘From the vanishing point to the vanishing point’ would be another way to say it quite in keeping with the words as Moses used them. The mind looks backward in time till the dim past vanishes, then turns and looks into the future till thought and imagination collapse from exhaustion; and God is at both points, unaffected by either.

2. Immensity – The quality of being infinite with regards to space. God is above and beyond the limitations of space.

Immensity does not refer to the mere extension of space without end, but it refers to being above and beyond it.

Some have said that space is born out of immensity just as time is born out of eternity. Both eternity and immensity are beyond time and space.

Two parallel passages in 1 Kings and 2 Chronicles recording the prayer of Solomon at the dedication of the temple relate this concept about God. In his prayer, Solomon prays, “… will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain You; how much less this house that I have built?”

D. Perfection – That attribute which describes the quality of absolute flawlessness in every respect. It represents the condition that can never be improved upon.

Matt. 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”

I quoted Tozer earlier as saying, “All that [God] is, He is without growth or addition or development.”

If God could grow, develop or be added to in any of His being and nature, then God would not be perfect and would cease to truly be God.

E. Self-Existence / Self-Sufficient – Because God is infinite, perfect, eternal and unchangeable, He is also self-existent and self-sufficient. He is the only one that has always been or has always existed, and therefore He is the One who causes or brings about the existence of everything else.

He is the un-derived source of every perfection shared with His creation. The source of life, love, goodness, holiness, etc. etc.

His absolute self-sufficiency means He is in need of nothing from anyone to satisfy any lack or deficiency.

Conclusion:

This survey today pretty well sums up the attributes that we have categorized as “Absolute Attributes.” That is, those qualities that reflect on God’s mode of existence rather than His mode of operation and activity. It refers to those qualities that do not speak of His interaction with His created order.

Before we close this morning, let me just summarize what we have been saying by again proclaiming that OUR GOD IS ABSOLUTELY AWESOME AND AMAZING!

The next sermon in this series is: The Omni Traits of God http://waysidepastor.blogspot.com/2011/02/omni-traits-of-god-32mb.html

Our Absolutely Awesome God - Part One

This is the third sermon in a ten-part series on the attributes of God. This message speaks about some of the attributes that have been referred to as absolute attributes by some theologians.

(To download an MP3 file of this file, click on the title above. To listen online now, click on the play button of the audio player shown above. The download is 33 mb in size.)

Written Excerpts:

Introduction: What is an attribute? It is a description or quality that is true about something or someone. For example, the attributes of a car include: an engine; a body; a frame; wheels; etc.

When we think of the attributes or qualities that are true about God, we must remember that since He is infinite, there is no way our descriptions can adequately measure up to what He really is.

We often have a problem organizing our thoughts about God. I have read through comments by many different theologians as they have listed and tried to describe the attributes of God. Every one of them has a slightly different way of categorizing or organizing the attributes in their attempts to make them understandable.

I doubt that any one method is better than another, but for our purposes in this study I have chosen categories used by an old Nazarene theologian, by the name of H. Orton Wiley, to serve as the main divisions or categories by which we will examine the attributes of God.

However, I will not be presenting each category exactly in the way that Wiley does. I will mix and mingle thoughts from other writers into his outline.

Wiley uses three main divisions or categories when he speaks about the attributes of God.

Absolute Attributes – Those attributes that describe God’s nature, being and existence apart from everyone or everything else in His creation. They represent qualities that refer to His mode of existence, distinct from those which refer to His mode of operation or activity. They include qualities that He does not share with any other being or creature.

J.I. Packer says, “There are certain qualities of Deity which set God apart from men and mark the difference and distance between the Creator and His creation.”

Relative Attributes – Those attributes that arise out of God’s relationship with His creation. They include qualities that define God’s mode of operation and activity within His creation and with His creatures.

Moral Attributes – Those qualities of God that not only describe His own nature, but they are qualities that he shares with mankind, who was made in His image. They also can refer to God’s governance over free and intelligent moral agents / i.e. human beings.

We must remember that all of these divisions or categories are only designed for our ease and convenience in understanding them. God isn’t made up of separate or divided qualities that He slips into and out of as needed. No matter how we study them, they are all completely and continually who He is.

God always exists in all of His attributes at the same time. He doesn’t lay aside one quality in order to express or demonstrate another.

I.    Absolute Attributes - Those attributes that describe God’s nature, being and existence apart from everyone or everything else in His creation. They represent qualities that refer to His mode of existence, distinct from His mode of operation or activity. They include qualities that He does not share with any other being or creature.

A. Spirituality

God does not possess a physical body. He is spiritual and invisible, not material substance.

John 4:24 “God is spirit and they that worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

Deut. 4:15 “Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire.”

This attribute is contrasted with flesh and blood which characterizes mankind and other creatures.

There are several truths that this attribute teaches us.

1. Unity and Simplicity – Since God is spirit, He is not composed of different or separate parts such as body, soul and spirit. Simplicity does not mean “easy to understand / comprehend” but not composed of many different parts.

Deut. 6:4 “…the Lord our God, the Lord is One.”

Even in the concept of the Trinity, which we talked about last week, there is no separation or division, but perfect unity and harmony.

2. Figurative “body” language conveys concepts, not literal appearance.

Since God is spirit, then all language in the Bible describing “body parts” of God are not to be understood literally. They are used for our human understanding. (Theology term – anthropomorphisms.)

“Eye/Ear of the Lord” – God’s constant awareness of everything.

“Hand of the Lord” – The activity of God

“Arm of the Lord” – The strength of God

3. Our worship must be spiritual in nature as well.

The earlier reference mentioned (Deut. 4:15) was given in the context of warnings against making images to represent God or assist in worshiping God. This is also included as part of the Ten Commandments.

Jesus explained to the Samaritan woman that the core of worship or central focus of worship is not about location and position, but it is all about connecting in spiritual communication and adoration.

If God had a body, then location would matter. If God had a physical body, then He could not be present everywhere, and the best worship would be that which was nearest to Him.

Rev. Gordon Warner stated once, “To the extent that we need images, pictures, buildings, etc. to assist us in worship, it is to that extent we fail to perceive the reality that God is spirit.”

Our goal in worship then is to somehow connect with God’s Spirit by our spiritual nature in a communication that is quite beyond expression; beyond image and shape.

B. Immutability

God does not change in His nature or essence.

Mal. 3:6a  “For I am the Lord, I do not change…”

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

“…God, at all times and in all His relations with the world, perfectly corresponds to His own idea. He is at all times like Himself….” (Rothe, quoted in Wiley, p.340)

Immutability refers to the essence or attributes of God, and not to His operations in creation and providence.

When Scripture says God repented of something He had intended to do, it simply refers to His change in actions/operations in order to keep in harmony with His nature.

Conclusion:

Today we have considered two of the attributes of God that we refer to as Absolute Attributes. We will continue exploring more of the absolute attributes in our next message.

The next sermon in this series is: Our Absolutely Awesome God - Part 2 http://waysidepastor.blogspot.com/2011/01/our-absolutely-awesome-god-part-two.html

We Worship the Triune God (33mb)

This is a sermon regarding the doctrine of the Trinity. It is the second sermon in a ten-part series on the attributes of God.

(To download an MP3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen now online, click on the play button on the audio player shown above.)

Written Excerpts:

Introduction: I know that I will not be able to answer all of our questions on this topic. I merely want to give a basic foundation for the faith we confess and the doctrine we accept.

I.   Why do some people reject the belief about the Trinity?

A. The term "trinity" does not appear anywhere in the Bible.

Trinity is a "man-made" word that has been coined in an attempt to explain a difficult theological concept. This is a very common practice in theology. For example, when theologians chose a word to represent the fact that God is always present everywhere at the same time, they coined the word "omnipresent." This is a word that also does not appear in the Bible, but is still represents concepts and ideas that are taught in the Scripture.

B. The concept is too difficult to explain or understand.

I have read explanations and comments by various critics who argue that the doctrine of the Trinity cannot possibly be true because God wants us to present a clear and understandable message to the world about who He is, and since no one can present a clear and understandable description of the concept of Trinity, then it must not be correct.

There are many truths about God that I can never fully comprehend and I certainly cannot present a message that clears up all the misunderstandings for others if I don’t even fully grasp it all myself.

For example, I have studied many times about the tension that exists between the justice of God and the mercy of God. I will discuss this later on in our series of messages, but I cannot adequately explain how that God remains totally just while He demonstrates mercy and he remains totally merciful while He demonstrates judgment. It will always remain a mystery to me.

C. It is too similar to pagan beliefs

This is an objection that some have raised claiming that there are some pagan religions that have beliefs about “three-headed gods” etc. The assumption is that because of the pagan beliefs, some church leaders incorporated similar concepts into Christianity in order to make it more acceptable in the pagan world.

The mere existence of an idea in another religion doesn’t necessarily mean that Christians borrowed the concept from them.

For example, historians have recorded that there are a number of ancient cultures, societies and religions that have stories about a great flood that took place in the distant past. Depending on their presuppostions and biases, some historians assume that the biblical record of the flood must also be a myth. Others, however, believe that this widespread reference to the flood is evidence that it actually happened.

D. Some Bible verses clearly distinguish between Jesus (the Son) and God (the Father).

I have read many arguments against the doctrine of the Trinity based upon verses in the N.T. where Jesus and the Father are mentioned in the same verse and in such a way to imply a definite distinction between the two.

For example, passages where Jesus prays to His Father. Or passages where Jesus states He does not know something, only the Father knows.

Some have said that this matter has more to do with the mystery of the incarnation than it does with the mystery of the Trinity. It falls under the category of issues that arise when we try to explain how two natures (divine and human) are inseparably joined into one person, Jesus.

Just because we may not be able to adequately explain the mystery of Jesus being both God and man, does not automatically mean that the Trinity cannot be true.

It simply means that we have two mysteries rather than one!

II.   What does the doctrine mean?

A. There is only one God.

There is no doubt in both the Old and New Testaments that the Bible teaches there is only one God. Neither the Jews nor the Christians were polytheists.

B. Father is God; Son is God and Spirit is God.

The same Bible that declares there is only one Lord or one God also provides verses that clearly attribute divine qualities to the Son and the Spirit.   (e.g. Jn. 1:1-14; Acts 5:3-4)

There are verses that describe the Son with the same terms used elsewhere to describe the Father. And so it is with the Spirit.

C. There is either a contradiction or they are all true at the same time.

If the Bible teaches that there is only one God, yet it teaches that the Son and Spirit are also divine, then there are only two possibilities…

One possibility is that the Bible contradicts itself; i.e. there are really three gods instead of one; or perhaps the Son and the Spirit really are not divine when it says they are. This raises a lot of new questions regarding the reliability of the Bible, which is a separate issue one must resolve in order to truly have faith.

The other possibility is the Bible is not contradicting itself and there is a way that “one-ness” and “three-ness” can both be true at the same time.

You say, “How can that be possible? I don’t fully understand how it’s possible. But we’re talking about God here. Anything is possible with God!”

III. What does it matter?

A. Faithfulness to all of Scripture.

I truly believe that the theologians who have formulated the doctrine of the Trinity and defended it down through the years have done so because they wanted to be faithful to all of Scripture.

Yes, it is difficult to explain some passages and concepts in the Bible. But when you put it all together, it seems that this is the only logical and most consistent biblical explanation.

I also believe that the doctrine was formulated to defend against some of the heresies that were developing in the early centuries of church history because some were not fully committed to the correct understanding of the incarnation.

B. Understanding the plan of redemption.

I also believe that this doctrine matters because it directly impacts the whole concept and teaching of redemption.

If the Son of God is not also divine in His nature, then that carries serious implications about whether He is truly worthy to be the substitutionary sacrifice for all our sins.

Every member of the Trinity was intimately involved in planning, accomplishing and communicating our redemption.

If you take away the divinity of either the Son or the Spirit, it greatly changes the message of redemption and salvation as explained in God’s Word.

Conclusion:

God is so wonderful! God is far beyond our ability to comprehend. He is greater than my mind can imagine.

The next message in this series is: Our Absolutely Awesome God - Part 1 (link is available in the blog archive on the right)

Why Do I Need to Know God? (39MB)

This is an introductory message in a series of sermons on the attributes of God. This is the first of a ten-part series.

(To download an MP3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen now online, click on the play button on the audio player shown above.)

Written Excerpts:

I. I need to know God because He wants me to know Him.

Hebrews 1:1-2 "God, who are various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son...."

Other religions are primarily about mankind's attempt to discover God. But biblical Christianity is all about God's attempts to reveal Himself or disclose Himself to mankind in ways that we can understand and respond to Him.

The songwriter wrote: When I could not come to where He was, He came to me. (Squire Parsons)

II. I need to know God because nothing else can keep me humble, expand my horizons and console my soul like the thoughts of God can.

The knowledge of God and the pursuit of it are all at once humbling, stretching and consoling to my heart, my spirit, and my life.

III. I need to properly know God to avoid error in all other facets of life.

In his book, Knowledge of the Holy, A.W. Tozer made the following observations:

A. No people has ever risen above its religion, and... no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God.
B. There is scarcely an error in doctrine or... ethics [practice] that cannot be traced finally to imperfect and ignoble [dishonorable] thoughts about God.
C. Idolatry is essentially assuming that God is other than He actually is.

IV. "I need to know God because an unknown God can neither be trusted, served, nor worshiped." (A.W. Pink)

To understand this point by Arthur Pink, let me put it into more common terms:
Let me introduce you to a complete stranger and then immediately ask you to trust all of your retirement investments with that person to earn your retirement nestegg for you. Would that be okay?

Let me introduce you to a total stranger and then ask you to commit the next 5 years of your life working for that person. Is that all right?

Let me describe the most magnificent musician you will ever hear and then ask you to write a thesis extolling the praises of the performer that you have never had the opportunity to meet or listen to. Would that work?

In the spiritual realm of life we have people making their way to church buildings and worship services all over the world attempting to worship a God they barely even know. It's no wonder that they can hardly generate enough enthusiasm to drag themselves out to what they believe is another meaningless exercise in spiritual futility.

When one barely possesses any knowledge of God and an equally small amount of desire for God, almost anything else that the world has to offer seems to be a better option than worshiping God in His sanctuary.

Conclusion:
I do not merely want God for the things that He can do for me or provide for me. I want Him. I don't just want to see a display of His power, I want His sweet presence. I do not merely want to know about Him, I want to truly know Him.

Dr. James I. Packer, in his book Knowing God, provides insight on how one can take the knowledge about God and turn it into the knowledge of God. He said to take the knowledge we learn about God and use it as matter for meditation before God followed by worship to God.

As I learn about the qualities of God's nature I can use what I have learned to meditate on all the various ramifications and applications of each quality. After having done that I then turn my thoughts into a conversation of praise directly to God adoring and worshiping Him for who He is.

The next sermon in this series is: We Worship the Triune God http://waysidepastor.blogspot.com/2011/01/we-worship-triune-god-33mb.html

What Can God Do With Me? - January 9, 2011

This is a sermon based on the words of Jesus at the Feast of Tabernacles, "If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water."

(To download an MP3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen now online, click on the play button on the audio player above.)

Written excerpts from this message:

Introductory information regarding the Feast of Tabernacles selected from Adam Clarke and from S. D. Gordon's book, Quiet Talks on Power.

On the eighth day of the feast, a priest drew some water out of the pool of Siloam, in a golden vessel, and brought it into the temple; and at the time of the morning sacrifice, while the pieces of the animal sacrifice were on the altar, he went up and poured this water mixed with wine upon it, while the people were singing joyfully. It was probably at this part of the ceremony that Jesus spoke the words in verses 37-38 of John 7.

Imagine this dramatic pronouncement as the crowd is watching the priest. Jesus cries aloud with the words quoted above. No doubt there were many people listening to Him who had despaired of ever seeing any major intervention of God's power or a special revelation from God in their lifetime.

John provides a brief commentary on the words spoken by Jesus when he says that Jesus was speaking about the filling of the Holy Spirit.

Two questions I hope to answer in today's message regarding these words of Jesus: 1) Who is eligible to receive this filling of living water? 2) How is the filling described?

I.  Who is elibible to receive this filling?
A. Anyone who thirsts (v. 37)
B. Anyone who comes. (v. 37)
C. Anyone who believes. (v. 38)

II. How is this filling described? (outline borrowed from S.D. Gordon)
A. It is abundant in its measure.
Not a river, but... rivers!

B. It is life-giving in its nature.
Living water is exactly what Jesus offered the woman at the well, recorded in John 4. With that in mind, Jesus seems to be saying that when we are filled with the Holy Spirit, then, just like Jesus, we can offer living water to others around us who are also seeking.

C. It is out-going in its design.
S.D. Gordon says that "out of" is God's preposition, as opposed to "into," which is the world's preposition. The rivers must flow into, through and out of. The objective point is outward toward a "parched earth."
Someone said that many years ago at a conference in England a man was praying for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. He prayed, "O Lord, we can't hold much, but we can overflow lots!"

Conclusion:
Are you thirsty for a fresh filling and overflowing of the Holy Spirit in your life?
The hymn writer has penned these words,
Hover o're me, Holy Spirit;
Bathe my trembling heart and brow;
Fill me with Thy hallowed presence.
Come, oh, come and fill me now.

Pressing Ahead into the Future - January 2, 2011

This is a New Year's sermon focusing on the words of the Apostle Paul, "... forgetting those things that are behind, and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

(To download an MP3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen online now, click on the play button on the audio player above.)

Written excerpts of the message:

Philippians 3:13-14

I want to use this passage to highlight some principles that will benefit our lives as we stand on the threshold of another brand new year.

I.  The Apostle evaluates his own condition. (v. 13a)
"I do not count myself to have apprehended." (KJV)

In his evaluation, Paul determines...

A. Every worldly or earthly benefit or accomplishment is absolutely worthless in comparison to Christ.
Compare verses 7-8.
It really doesn't matter who we are or what we have done in this world, if we don't have Christ, it profits us nothing.

B. True worth is found in knowing Christ and finally achieving a glorious resurrection.
Compare verses 8-12
Everything the Apostle has stated in these verses indicates his passionate desire to go through anything and everything in order to finally reach the goal of the glorious resurrection and be with Christ forever.

II.  The Apostle eliminates his nagging distractions.
"...forgetting those things which are behind..."
According to the context, the "things" Paul would be referring to in this statement include all the benefits he had previously held in such high regard: his impeccable life according to the law, his family heritage, and his zeal and passion.
Past "successes" or accomplishments, as well as failures, must never become distractions to take our eyes off the goal that still lies out before us.

III.  the Apostle emphasizes his ultimate goal.
"... and reaching forward... I press toward the goal..."
Here is an apostle of Jesus Christ, sitting in a Roman jail writing this letter to fellow-believers in Philippi. He knows that there is a trial coming up sometime, somewhere. He probably realizes that execution is a real possibility. In spite of these adverse circumstances... Paul is "chomping at the bit" to get on with it and finally make it to the goal - a martyr's death, resulting in a glorious resurrection!

Conclusion:
Dear friends, we do not know what the future may hold for us this year. Let us force out of our minds all the distractions of the past, accomplishments as well as failures. Let us join with the Apostle Paul and push forward in the name of Jesus toward the final goal awaiting all faithful servants.

Who Do You Really Love? - January 23, 2011

This is the second sermon in a series of sermons on the Ten Commandments. This message deals with the first commandment, "Thou Shalt Have No Other Gods Before Me."

(To download an MP3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen now online, click on the play button on the audio player above.)

Written excerpts:

A. Negative Meaning: Do not worship any other god(s) in addition to Jehovah.

Language scholars tell us that the word "before" (KJV), could also be translated "beside" or "in addition to." The word "before" can give the impression that God doesn't care who or what else we are devoted to, just as long as He is first on our list. But, God is literally telling the people of Israel that He will not tolerate them giving worship or devotion to any other besides Him.

B. Positive Principle: The sanctity of internal worship and devotion.

When Jesus said the first and great commandment was to "love God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind," He is speaking to this core principle in the first commandment. He was highlighting the fact that our heart affections and devotions must be sacred, that is, reserved for God alone.

C. Explanation of the command:

1. God is to be the singular focus of every area of life.

God is not only supposed to be number one in our lives or the first one we adore, but He is supposed to be the rightful focus of every area of life. I believe that this principle addresses the problem of a dichotomy that many people practice in life between what is secular and what is sacred. Living out the principle of this command means that all areas of life should be sacred for the child of God.

2. A false god is anything that steals our devotion or affection away from God and God alone.

Martin Luther is quoted as saying, "Your god is whatever you run to in your time of need... That to which your heart clings and entrusts itself."

We tend to direct our affections toward those things that give us comfort in our time of greatest need. Is that God, or is that something or someone else?

3. God will not compete for the right to be the authority figure in our lives.

Dr. Laura Schlessinger refers to the polytheism that was prevalent among the pagans at the time the Ten Commandments were given. She speaks of the many gods who all had competing and sometimes conflicting roles in the world. The pagans were constantly trying to manipulate one against the other to suit their own desires much like a child will do with his or her parents.

To obey the first commandment means we must forever establish in our heart of hearts who is going to be the first and final authority in our lives.

4. God is claiming to be the all-sufficient One for every need in our lives.

Again, in a polytheistic worldview, the people felt a need to appease the various deities through their worship, sacrifices and gifts so that each god would feel compelled to provide the services over which it had control.

If there was a shortage of rain, it was because the god who controlled the rain or weather had been offended and was punishing the people. If there were other deficiencies, it was thought to be the result of one or more gods being offended.

In this covenant being established between Jehovah and the people of Israel God was letting them know that He alone supplied everything they needed. He alone was sufficient for every area of their lives.

Do we really believe that God is all we need? Someone once said, "When I got to the place where God was all I had, it was then I discovered that He was all I needed."

The next sermon in this series is: Worship Methods Do Matter (link is available in blog archive on right)

Living Life at at Perfect Ten - January 16, 2011

This is the first sermon in a series of sermons on the Ten Commandments. This is an introductory message that addresses the purpose of the OT Law, different kinds of laws, law vs. grace, and the approach we plan to use as we look at each of the commandments.

The title is borrowed from a book by the same title written by a friend and former Bible College colleague, Dr. David C. Bubb.

(To download the MP3 file of this message click on the title above. To listen now online, simply click "play" button on the audio player above.)

Written excerpts:

Mother Basilea Schlink was a member of the order called, "The Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary." She lived in Germany and apparently was an outspoken critic of the Nazi holocaust. She wrote an article titled, "The Gift of God's Laws of Love." In that article she states,

The Ten Commandments, given at Sinai, shine forth with renewed force in the New Testament. they reveal God's heart to us, showing us what matters to Him and how He longs for us to respond. In fulfilling His requests, we will bring joy to Him, and peace will fill our hearts.

God's rules for living show us the way to happiness: [which is] loving Him and loving our neighbor. All God's commands are either an appeal to love or a warning against actions contrary to love, such as murder, theft, adultery, and slander. They are intended to keep us from sinning against love.

I. The Purpose of the Law
A. It defines what sin is.

1 John 3:4 "Whoever commits sin transgresses the law for sin is the transgression of the law."
Romans 7:7 "...I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."

Without the law, the conscience is dead and we don't even know that we are in complete opposition to God. But when we hear the law and understand our situation, the conscience is awakened and we are convicted. We then realize where we stand in relation to God.

B. It reveals our helplessness in performing what is right and good.

Romans 8:3-4 "For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son..."

The law had the ability to condemn, but it could not give us the power or ability to perform the expectations of the law. So, while I read or hear the law, my soul longs for deliverance from condemnation and victory over the frequent violations, but I only hear more condemnation from the unbending law.

C. It is designed to bring us to Christ.

Galatians 3:24-25 "Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith...."

The gospel of Jesus Christ is truly good news. But, in order for the good news to really seem like good news to us, we must learn what the bad news is first. That is the purpose of the law.

Looking for something to deliver us from the condemnation and guilt of the law, and to give us the ability to live righteously, we come to the cross of Jesus Christ and find forgiveness and new life.

II. The Different Kinds of Law

The most traditional approach regarding the laws of the Old Testament is to separate them into three categories: civil, ceremonial, and moral. Many scholars agree that it is not always easy to distinguish these categories. There are some laws in the O.T. that seem to fit more than one category.

Ceremonial laws, in particular, seem important for teaching us some tangible and elementary lessons regarding redemption in order for us to "graduate" to the spiritual and secondary truths of the atonement of Christ. In other words, it is just like the need to understand elementary math in order to advance to algebra and trigonometry in high school. When the N.T. talks about Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God," we can only grasp the meaning of that phrase because we have learned about the significance of the lambs used for sacrifices in the O.T.

III. The Comparison Between Law and Grace

A. Law is powerless to enable righteous attitudes and behaviors, but grace is the strength and power of God.
Romans 8:3, 11

B. Grace is the basis for mercy (that is, not getting the judgment we deserve), but does not cancel out the purpose of the law.

C. Grace implies that behavior should be better than it was under the law, since grace adds ability to live righteous.

IV. The Approach We Will Use in this Study

A. Negative: We will try to define the exact meaning of each command and the behaviors it condemns or requires.

B. Positive: We will try to explain the underlying positive principle that each command teaches.

C. Exposition or Explanation: We will try to give biblical principles and examples that illustrate how each command was applied in the Bible and can be applied today.

Conclusion:
To describe what I believe is God's design for giving the Ten Commandments let me illustrate with this example:

I picture it like a parent who erects a fence to keep his toddler from playing in the street. The father exhorts the child to play in the spacious yard where there are plenty of toys and legitimate things to occupy your interests. Behind this fence you will have lots of fun and will be happy. But if you go around or over the fence into the street you will get hurt very badly.

Then one day the child decides that the fenced yard is too narrow and too restrictive. There is so much more excitement and happiness to be experienced out on the outside of the fence. So, he climbs over the fence and begins to explore all the possibilities of his new-found freedom. But, tragedy strikes after the boy wanders into the busy street.

I can imagine the father weeping uncontrollably and asking, "Why didn't you obey? Why didn't you understand that I was only trying to save your life? Couldn't you see that I wasn't trying to restrict your freedom and happiness? I was trying to ensure it.

God's law is designed to help us "live life at a perfect ten!"

The next sermon in this series is: Who Do You Really Love? (link is available in blog archive on right)