Four Thoughts After the Sermon, "God, Law, and Jesus" (Exodus 20:1-21)

Four Thoughts After the Sermon

By Vermon Pierre, Lead Pastor

Some highlights/reminders/further thoughts from last Sunday’s sermon, “God, Law, and Jesus” (Exodus 20:1-21):

1. It’s important to remember that God’s commandments are an expression of God himself. So for instance, we should not lie and stand for what’s true because God is truth. Thus lying means denying God himself. Rejecting God’s law in any way means that we are personally rejecting God as God.

2. The Ten Commandments were written in stone and were the only part of the law that would later be placed in the ark of the covenant. This suggests the unique and enduring significance of the Ten Commandments. They were meant to be thought of regularly thought and used as guiding principles to Israel’s regular worship of God.

3. Yes, the Ten Commandments are truly commandments. They are meant to be obeyed by us, period. But for those in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, they can’t be seen as restrictive obligations upon their freedom but instead as welcome habits that draw believers closer to the One they love and who loves them. Think for instance of a marriage. There are certain regular obligations within a marriage that could be viewed as onerous commandments that have to be obeyed for the sake of the marriage. Like for instance, not forming emotional or physical connections with anyone other than your spouse, or regularly showing affection for your spouse through your words and your touch. The partners in a good marriage however would never view such things as onerous or restrictive  commandments! Rather they are part of the habits and obligations they willingly and joyfully follow, all because they are means of forming a closer bond of love with their spouse. And so the growing believer is a person who seeks to obey God more, not less, because of their increasing delight and joy in the relationship they have with God. 

4. A few good quotes on the whole topic of the law, grace, and Jesus:

“Therefore we do not abolish the Law; be we show its true function and use, namely, that it is a most useful servant impelling us to Christ. After the Law has humbled, terrified, and completely crushed you, so that you are on the brink of despair, then see to it that you know how to use the Law correctly; for its function and use is not only to disclose the sin and wrath of God but also to drive us to Christ.” – Martin Luther

“Let the law be faithfully proclaimed, as binding on every creature, and as cursing every impenitent sinner, and let the utter inability of man to satisfy its demands be clearly set forth, not as an excuse, but as a fault; and then let the riches of grace in Christ Jesus be fully exhibited and freely offered, and let all – however great their guilt – be urged to accept of unmerited pardon, and complete salvation.” – Archibald Alexander