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The Ten Commandments Pt 1

September 26, 2024 • Pastor Joe Sabolick Ph.D. • 1 Timothy 1:5–10, Exodus 19:16–19, Jeremiah 31:31–33, 2 Corinthians 4:4, Exodus 20:1–17

They are The Fence Around the Playground~ 

They are The Book Of Rules 

So WE KNOW HOW TO PLAY THE GAME OF LIFE~


Many want to separate the Ten Commandments from the rest of the laws of the Scripture~ 

But All the laws of the Scripture Derived fro the 10 Commandments~ 

Some would argue that when Paul or the scriptures refer to the law it’s referring to the external laws of Leviticus~

But Paul Clarifies The Ten Commandments because He mentions every time one of the Top Ten~ 


Romans 7 He refers to Thou Shall not covet, also several others and we go through this study~ 

Romans 7: 9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it killed me. 

12 Therefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good.


1 Timothy 1: 5-10 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm.

8But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 

9knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 

10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 

11according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust…

~

Introduction:

Scripture: Exodus 20:1-17

20 And God spoke all these words:

2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.

3 1. You shall have no other gods before[a] me.

4 2 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7 3 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

8 4 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12 5 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

13 6 “You shall not murder.

14 7 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 8 “You shall not steal.

16 9 “You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

17 10 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

Context: 

The Israelites, newly freed from slavery in Egypt, receive the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai. 

These commandments are not just rules but gifts of grace given to protect their newfound freedom…

Without any boundary’s would only lead to lawlessness and confusion~ 

So The Fence post Of Relegation and Law is established~ 

The Living and Holy God gives the Ten Commandments to protect and enhance life and freedom, which is rooted in His gracious act of redemption.



1 The Setting of the Ten Commandments

Scripture: Exodus 19:16-19


"So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.

And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the LORD descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. 

When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder."

God’s Declaration: “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” (Exodus 20:2)


The Significance of the Law: 

The Ten Commandments are celebrated as a gift of grace and freedom. God's commandments are not given to enslave but to protect the freedom won for them in Egypt.



2 The Purpose of the Law

Deuteronomy 30:15-16


1.Protect and Enhance Life

Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:15-16

"See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the LORD your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.


The Law Restores and Gives Life

Scripture: Psalm 19:7-10

"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul;

The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether.

They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.”


The Law Follows Grace:

God’s commandments come after the act of redemption, but it was not their salvation.

It was Provision to lead them to Christ~ 

Gal. 3:24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith…


The law was given for several reasons~ 

A. Sociological Defense

The Law as Freedom: The Law provides order and structure for a newly freed people, preventing both dictatorship and anarchy. The Law empowers both rulers and the ruled, providing a common ground of justice.

B. Theological Defense

God's Law Reflects God's Character:

Scripture: Deuteronomy 4:1

"Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, in order that you may live..."

The commandments fit the human condition because the Lawgiver is also the Creator. God's Law reveals who He is and who we are created to be.




3 The Ten Commandments: 

God’s Words of Freedom


1.No Other Gods (Exodus 20:3)

"You shall have no other gods before Me."

This protects exclusive allegiance to God, who alone can fulfill our deepest longings. Idolatry enslaves us to lesser gods.

2.No Idols (Exodus 20:4-5)

"You shall not make for yourself an idol..."

Idolatry leads to misunderstanding God. 

The Living God wants to be known as He truly is.

3.Do Not Take God’s Name in Vain (Exodus 20:7)

"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain..."

This protects the reverence and authority of God’s name in our lives.


4.Keep the Sabbath Holy (Exodus 20:8-11)

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy..."

Sabbath rest is essential to human well-being and reflects God’s rhythm of creation.


5.Honor Your Father and Mother (Exodus 20:12)

"Honor your father and your mother..."

This protects family relationships, ensuring respect and care across generations.


6.Do Not Murder (Exodus 20:13)

"You shall not murder.” From the Unborn to the Elderly~ 

John The Baptist leaped in Elisabeths womb~ 

This protects the sanctity of human life.



7.Do Not Commit Adultery (Exodus 20:14)

"You shall not commit adultery."

This protects the sanctity of marriage and the faithfulness of relationships…


8.Do Not Steal (Exodus 20:15)

"You shall not steal."

This protects the property and rights of others.


9.Do Not Bear False Witness (Exodus 20:16)

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

This protects the reputation and truthfulness in the community.


10.Do Not Covet (Exodus 20:17)

"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house..."

This protects the heart from discontentment and envy, which disrupts relationships and leads to other sins.




The Problem of Human Inability to Keep the Law

1.Our Inability to Obey Fully

Despite knowing the commandments, our human nature tends to rebel.

2.Christ the Rescuer (The Lord to the Rescue)

Scripture: Colossians 2:14

"Having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross."

Jesus forgives our transgressions and restores the broken relationship…


Scripture: Romans 8:3-4

"For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."


4 The Spirit’s Empowerment

Jeremiah 31:31-33


1.A New Covenant

Scripture: Jeremiah 31:31-33

"'Behold, days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah... I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.’"

That Day was partially fulled in the Early Church~ 

And the Holy Spirit Outpouring upon the Gentiles Manifested in the Book of Acts~ 


Romans 11:25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in…

Spiritual Blindness is such a dangerous thing~ 


2 Cor. 4:4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

 


2.The Spirit Empowers Obedience

God no longer writes the Law on tablets of stone but on our hearts through the Holy Spirit, empowering us to live according to




Romans 5:1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 

3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 

4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 


Romans 8:9 

But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

His will and to walk in true freedom.



5 The Preservation of the Commandments


They are The Fence Around the Playground~ 

They are The Book Of Rules 

So WE KNOW HOW TO PLAY THE GAME OF LIFE~ 

The commandments are not only instructions but also promises of what God, through the Holy Spirit, will accomplish in us.


3.Promise of No Other Gods

Scripture: Exodus 20:3

"You shall have no other gods before Me."

One day, you will worship only the Living God. 

God promises to transform your heart so that He alone will have your full allegiance.


4.Promise of No Idols

Scripture: Exodus 20:4

"You shall not make for yourself an idol.”


You will no longer seek to create false images or representations of God. You will know and worship Him as He truly is.


3.Promise of Reverence for God's Name

Scripture: Exodus 20:7

"You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain."

You will call upon the name of the Lord with reverence and trust, and God will honor your devotion and prayers.


4.Promise of Sabbath Rest

Scripture: Exodus 20:8

"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.”


God will lead you into true rest, not just physical rest but spiritual rest in Him. You will experience balance and peace in your life through Jesus Christ Our SABBATH REST~ 


5.Promise of Honor to Parents

Scripture: Exodus 20:12

"Honor your father and your mother…” That you might live a long and prosperous life 



You will honor and value the relationships in your family, especially with your parents, and it will bring blessing into your life.


6.Promise of Life and Peace

Scripture: Exodus 20:13

"You shall not murder."

As you grow in Christ, violence and anger will be replaced by peace and love for others.

7.Promise of Faithfulness in Relationships

Scripture: Exodus 20:14

"You shall not commit adultery."

God promises to help you honor the sanctity of marriage and live faithfully in all your relationships.

8.Promise of Integrity with Possessions

Scripture: Exodus 20:15

"You shall not steal."

You will be content with what God has provided, and you will not desire to take what belongs to others.

9.Promise of Truthfulness

Scripture: Exodus 20:16

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor."

God will lead you to speak truth in love, to protect the reputations of others, and to build trust within your community.

10.Promise of Contentment

Scripture: Exodus 20:17

"You shall not covet your neighbor’s house..."

The Holy Spirit will work contentment into your heart, freeing you from envy and dissatisfaction. You will find your joy and satisfaction in God alone.


The Commandments as Promises of Freedom

The First Commandment as a Promise

“You shall have no other gods before Me” is both a command and a promise: One day, through the work of the Holy Spirit, you will have no other gods before Him. God is committed to transforming your life so that He is your ultimate desire and satisfaction.

Call to Action:

Invite the congregation to surrender their hearts to the Lord, allowing the Holy Spirit to write His Law on their hearts.

Encourage them to trust in God's empowering grace through Christ to live out the commandments as promises of freedom.

Prayer:

"Lord, make it so in our lives. Help us to love You with all of our hearts, souls, minds, and strength. Help us to love our neighbors as ourselves. Make Your Law a delight to our hearts, and guide us in Your freedom. Amen."


This concludes the sermon outline with full scripture. The focus is on showing how the commandments, when empowered by the Holy Spirit, become promises of freedom and life. By relying on Christ’s work and the Spirit’s power, we are transformed to live in line with God's will