Ten Points on the Ten Commandments (part 2)

[0:00] Psalm 19, verse 1, the heavens declare the glory of God. The skies proclaim the work of his hands.! Day after day they pour forth speech.

[0:12] Night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes into all the earth. Their words to the ends of the world.

[0:23] In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

[0:34] It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other. Nothing is hidden from its heat. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.

[0:48] The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.

[1:03] The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold.

[1:15] They are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned. In keeping them, there is a great reward. Who can discern his errors?

[1:28] Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins. May they not rule over me. Then will I be blameless, innocent of great transgression.

[1:42] May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight. Oh Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Let's hear the preaching of that living and active word.

[1:56] Well, this God of truth of whom we've just heard has spoken a set of commands that are called the Ten Commandments. And it's our aim to do a series of studies on the Ten Commandments.

[2:11] But there are some things that I want to cover leading up to that. So we're hearing ten points on the Ten Commandments. And we learned last week that when we study the Ten Commandments, we are learning, number one, the moral character of God himself.

[2:29] That the Ten Commandments are a mirror that reflect the character of God. So he is righteous, holy, and good. And his law is righteous, holy, and good.

[2:42] We're learning as well as we study the Ten Commandments what our duty is to this God. What we owe him. Our obligation to him.

[2:52] Our breaking of his commands is a refusal to pay then what we owe. It puts us in debt. And there's a hell to pay for unpaid debts.

[3:06] Redemption in Christ does not erase our obligation to obey this law. It only increases it infinitely since Jesus has paid the price for our law breaking.

[3:19] Thirdly, as we study the Ten Commandments, we are learning a summary of God's moral law. Commands that are still binding upon believers in the New Covenant.

[3:34] Number four, as we study the Ten Commandments, we are learning about our own sinfulness and need of a Savior. Because these Ten Commandments set forth the righteousness of God that we need to get into heaven.

[3:50] And so as we see the mark on the wall, we stand up beside it and we see we come short of God's glory, of his holiness.

[4:01] We don't measure up. We've not done what he said. We've not paid our dues to him. And therefore, we are lost. We're condemned. That law condemns us and says he should be damned.

[4:15] So it's through the study of God's law that I learn of my sin and of my need for a Savior. Remember, the law is the MRI machine that exposes our sin.

[4:28] By the law is the knowledge of sin. And then lastly, we saw last week in studying the Ten Commandments, we are seeing how Jesus Christ perfectly meets our need as sinners because this is the righteousness that Jesus Christ lived out for 33 years.

[4:47] And as he lived under the law, he kept that law perfectly. That's the law that we're studying. We're understanding the righteousness of Jesus that he then gives to everyone who trusts in him.

[5:02] So God's plan of salvation could be described in this way. The lawmaker became the lawkeeper to redeem lawbreakers.

[5:16] The lawmaker became the lawkeeper to save lawbreakers. Well, if Jesus had sinned once and broken just one of God's commands, then the death that he died would only pay for his own sins.

[5:35] He wouldn't have any merit to die for our sins. And so it was so important that he kept the law and he has a perfect righteousness to qualify as the spotless Lamb of God so that he could die as a sacrifice in the place of us lawbreakers.

[5:51] And because he never sinned, he can lay down that perfect life in our place and so suffer the death that we deserve and give us the eternal life that he deserves, a righteousness that's perfect to set us right with God forever and ever.

[6:10] Well, studying the Ten Commandments then should make Christ precious to us as we see the law that he perfectly kept that he might save us. Now, I had hoped to give the last five of these ten points on the Ten Commandments this morning, but I bit off more than I could chew.

[6:26] And so we're only going to consider two more today and come back to the other three in a couple weeks, God willing. So number six, as we study the Ten Commandments, we are learning the path of true freedom.

[6:40] The path of true freedom. Now, a debate is raging over this issue of where true freedom is found. Is it found in God's way or in my way?

[6:54] Is it found in God's commandments or outside of God's commandments? Now, this is what we saw in Psalm 2 a couple weeks back, that the whole world is combined in this rebellion against the Lord and his anointed king.

[7:09] And the point of contention, what's wrong with this king? It's his laws. It's his authority. And the world says, let's break their chains asunder.

[7:20] Let's cast away their shackles from us. God's rules, they're burdensome balls and chains around our ankles. His commands, they're restraining handcuffs, they're shackles.

[7:33] They're holding us back. They're cramping our style. They're denying our desires. They're destroying our happiness. So, the sooner we get rid of God's commands, the sooner we will be free.

[7:45] That's what the world is saying. That's the conspiracy we all were born into as sinners. And by the way, that's Satan's view of God's commands as well.

[7:58] Remember he said to Eve, did God really say you're not free to eat from any tree in the garden? He's picking right at God's command, isn't he? Did God really?

[8:11] You mean God has put a restriction on you, Eve? Do you mean he's limiting your freedom? He's got this chain to hold you back from being free to make up your own mind of what you want to do?

[8:22] What cruel slavery you were under. Now, Eve had never thought of those commands that way before. She was quite happy living under God's commands.

[8:36] But now she's bought in, she buys into Satan's lie. And the whole world has done the same. They've bit the lie. They've swallowed it hook, line, and sinker.

[8:48] So that the last place sinners think of finding freedom is in obeying God's commandments. No, they're the problem. They're the great hindrance holding us back from freedom.

[9:03] From being myself, from doing my thing. You know, Satan's still telling the same lies about God's commandments. Kids, listen.

[9:14] You've heard his lies. That fifth commandment about honoring your father and your mother? That's a hook through your nose, kids.

[9:29] If you ever want to be free, you're going to have to break away from the rules of your mom and dad. That seventh commandment about new adultery, that's an outdated ethic, not even true to man's nature.

[9:42] It's a shackle to be thrown off in order to enjoy sexual freedom. If it's freedom you want, you've got to get rid of God's commands. That's Satan's lie.

[9:54] It's the lie that the whole world has bought into. Now, last week I told you of a 32-year-old man in Arkansas who early one morning intentionally crashed his car into a stone monument of the Ten Commandments.

[10:11] Smashing it to pieces. Kids, you remember that? Do you remember what he shouted just before impact? Freedom! Freedom!

[10:23] As he smashes into the Ten Commandments. As if freedom is to be found without these Ten Commandments hanging around to nag at me. Well, his freedom riot only landed him behind bars of steel that did limit his freedom.

[10:41] Which is itself something of a metaphor of reality, isn't it? Another picture of mankind kicking against the rock of God's authority and God's laws in search of freedom.

[10:55] Freedom! And the freedom we want is freedom from God's commands. But it only leaves us further enslaved to our own self-destructive addictions and sins that enslave us.

[11:08] So, what the world calls freedom is really bondage. What the devil calls freedom is really bondage. Peter warns us of such freedom preachers in his second letter about men who are seeking pleasures.

[11:24] And so, they have left the straight way. The way of God's commandments. They've left that way. And are enticing others to join them by appealing to the lustful desires of sinful human nature.

[11:36] And here's what Peter says about them in 2 Peter 2.19. They promise them freedom while they themselves are slaves of depravity.

[11:48] For a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. The way to freedom? Follow us. And what are they? Slaves to depravity.

[12:01] Because a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him. No, no, I'm not a slave. I'm free to do what I want. Well, what are you doing? I'm sinning. I'm not going God's way. I'm going my way.

[12:12] Well, then you're a slave to your sin. No, I'm not. I'm free. Then stop sinning. And see just how free you are from your sin.

[12:25] Your master. You see, you're a slave to whatever has mastered you. Now, we all want to breathe free, don't we? Isn't this what the world is chasing after?

[12:36] But what is true freedom? What is freedom? The world and the flesh and the devil say freedom is the ability to do what I want. The Bible says freedom is the ability to do what God commands.

[12:54] Freedom is obeying God's command. Which is it? Is it doing what you want or is it doing what God commands? I wonder if you found out the answer to that question.

[13:08] You know, you don't have a lot of time to figure that out. You don't have a lot of time for trial and error. You've got one life and it's short. You don't even know if you've got tomorrow. Have you figured it out yet?

[13:19] What is true freedom? Is it doing what I want or doing what God commands? Well, we'd better turn early to the Bible for the answer. Because here, God is speaking liberating truth.

[13:33] The truth will set you free, Jesus says. Turn back to Exodus chapter 20. And as you do, I want to tell you about a song that you're familiar with called America the Beautiful.

[13:47] You're going to Exodus 20. I'm talking to you about America the Beautiful. A song written in 1913. And Kathy Lee Bates wrote, America, America. God, mend thine every flaw.

[14:01] May God confirm your liberty in law.

[14:14] Now, to many in the world, that's an oxymoron. Those are two words that are opposites and never belong together. Thy liberty in law.

[14:27] Like dry rain or cold heat. Liberty in law. But she was right, you know. Where do we find liberty?

[14:39] Is it not in, it's not in lawlessness, but in law keeping. It's not in self-indulgence, but in self-control. Think of it just in the broad terms of nations and societal freedoms.

[14:54] Where are the most freedoms being experienced in the world today? Do you travel? Do you watch the news? Do you read? Where, what nations, what societies are enjoying the most human freedoms today?

[15:08] Is it nations where the laws are enforced? Or is it nations where there is no law? And everyone does whatever they want. Now, that sounds good, doesn't it? That sounds like a lot of freedom.

[15:18] I am really free. Free to do whatever I want. But what happens when my freedom infringes upon your freedom? Oh, well, that's a different story then, isn't it?

[15:33] Then we want the rule of law. Then we want liberty in law. You see, with just a moment's reflection, we realize that liberty only comes in the context of law.

[15:44] And that's why God in his goodness ordained human governments. But it's also a fact and a truth that we need to see as to our personal freedom.

[15:55] How can I be free? It's not apart from God's law. It's rather in God's law. Now, we experience true freedom then through Christ who sets us free, but who also has given us the law of liberty.

[16:18] Now, this truth stands out here. You're in Exodus 20. Notice this principle. At the very initial giving of the Ten Commandments from Mount Sinai, just three months after they've left Egypt.

[16:30] Verse one, God spoke all these words. I am the Lord, your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. Do you get that?

[16:41] That's a lack of freedom. Slavery, bondage. I am the God. You were in bondage and I brought you out of the land of bondage, out of the land of slavery.

[16:56] Now, have no other gods besides me. No idols and don't misuse my name and don't misuse my day. Honor your father and mother. And on it goes.

[17:07] Do you see the principle? You were slaves. I set you free. It is for freedom that I set you free. So don't return to bondage.

[17:18] Now walk in freedom's ways with me. And here's the way to walk free. No gods but me.

[17:28] And so on. You see it? You see the principle? The Ten Commandments are the way of freedom. Freedom can only be enjoyed within the boundaries of freedom.

[17:40] It is liberty within law. And it's not just true for Old Testament Israelites. Turn in your Bibles to the New Testament book of James. Almost to the other end of the book of the Bible.

[17:51] And in James chapter 1 and verse 25. Twice in this little letter, God's law is referred to as the law of liberty.

[18:05] Now that's the King James Version. Our NIV calls it the law that gives freedom. But it's the law of liberty. Now there's those two words again. Law.

[18:17] Liberty. Liberty. He'll say it again in chapter 2 and verse 12. Now here in James 2. 25.

[18:30] He's been talking about. He's talking about being a doer of the word. And not a hearer only. About obeying God's commands. And not just listening to them.

[18:40] Because if you just listen and don't do. You're deceiving yourself. If you think you're any better off. For having heard them. No. Those who hear.

[18:54] And don't put into practice. Deceive themselves. But. Verse 25. But. There are exceptions. Not everybody hears. And does not do. But the man who looks intently.

[19:06] Into what? The perfect law that gives freedom. And continues to do this. Not forgetting what he has heard. But doing it.

[19:17] He will be blessed in what he does. Don't miss what God is saying to us here through James. He's claiming that his commandments are the highway. The path. Of freedom. It is the perfect law.

[19:30] That gives freedom. The law of liberty. It is perfect. It's without imperfections. It doesn't promise freedom. And give you bondage.

[19:41] No. It's as perfect as God himself is perfect. And it always gives what it promises. So contrary to the world and the flesh and the devil. Freedom is not found in doing what we want.

[19:53] And going contrary to God's laws. No. No. James says it's rather found in doing what God commands. In his perfect law. Of freedom. Of liberty.

[20:03] So according to God. A man is never more free. Than when he is walking. According to God's commands. And notice this is the blessed life.

[20:16] Isn't that what everyone's chasing? The good life. The happy life. The blessed life. Well here it is. It's the one who continues to be attentive. To the perfect law that gives freedom.

[20:27] And does what it says. He will be blessed. In what he does. He will find blessing. He will find happiness. In what he does.

[20:39] And what's he doing? He's doing God's commands. And in doing them. He enjoys blessedness. Not cruel bondage. But freedom.

[20:51] The good life. As God had designed it to be. Now this shouldn't surprise us. Should it? That in following God's way. We find blessing. Instead of misery.

[21:04] It shouldn't surprise us. Because God is good. And God is all wise. And his commandments. Are the product. Of a mind. That is. Perfect goodness.

[21:15] And wisdom. And he has thought out. The very best way. For man to live. And his commands. Are the result. Of his thinking. You cannot improve on it.

[21:27] It's the very best way. To live. According. To the creator. Who designed. And created man. Now when you buy a new car. You usually get a. A user manual.

[21:38] Don't you? From the manufacturer. And what's that book for? We don't turn to it often. But. It's there. Isn't it? And what's its purpose? Well the maker of the car. Knows how it was made.

[21:49] To function best. Best. And so he's telling you. How to maintain it. It runs best with gasoline. And not sand. Or air. In the tank. And here's the kind of oil.

[22:00] That you should use. And how often you should. Change it. And all the other things. About that vehicle. To make it. Fulfill its function. For which the manufacturer.

[22:10] Made it. He knows best. The inventor knows best. And in the same way. God's commands. Are the maker's instruction. On how man. Was meant. To operate.

[22:22] God made man. In his own image. And he put him on the earth. And. And he says. Now here's the owner's man. Here's how he was meant to live. If he is to. Glorify God.

[22:33] And to enjoy him forever. Which is his purpose. He still obey these commands. The law of liberty. It's the blessed life.

[22:43] It's life as it was meant to be. And that means. Every time. You and I are confronted. With a command of God. It's a test. It's a test of faith.

[22:54] Isn't it? Will you believe. That he really is good. And has designed. That commandment. For your good. Will you believe.

[23:05] He is all wise. And he really does know. The very best way to live. And that his commands. Cannot be improved on. Because they're the perfect law. Of liberty. Who will you trust.

[23:18] You see. To disobey any command. Is unbelief. It's arrogant. Unbelief. It's. To claim to have found. A better way. To live in God's way. What arrogance.

[23:30] It's wicked. To claim that we. Could actually come up. With something better. Than the all wise God. God. It's the creator. Who has.

[23:41] Set forth. The way. We were meant to live. So Christian. Trust. And obey. For there's no other way. To be happy. In Jesus.

[23:52] Than to trust. And obey. That's how you were meant to live. Trusting. That God knows best. And obey. Kids. Do you ever read books. About locomotives.

[24:02] Engines. Engine. Engine. Number nine. Or. Or Thomas. The engine. When is a locomotive. Most free. And happy. Is it when he breaks out.

[24:16] Of those straight. And narrow tracks. That confine him. To go a certain way. And he just. Hops off the tracks. And heads out. Through the field. Is that when he's most free. Or does he not.

[24:28] Soon get bogged down. In bondage. And going nowhere. Or is he not. Freest. And happiest. When he's on the tracks. Because he was made.

[24:39] To work on tracks. And. And when he's on those tracks. Directing him. He is freest. He is happiest. When's a fish. Most free. When it jumps out. Of your fish tank.

[24:51] When it breaks free. From the water. That's so constricting. And confining. Or when it stays. In the water. Water. Water that it was created. To live in. Not to live on dry land.

[25:03] It's then. That the train. It's then. That the fish. It's then. That you and I. The creatures. That God has made. Find our greatest. Freedom. And blessedness.

[25:15] Happiness. It's when we're. Doing. What God has commanded. Our maker gives us. These ten commandments.

[25:25] And says. This is how I made you to live. Follow them. And you'll find true. Blessedness. And freedom. Break them. And you'll come to misery. And bondage. And that's exactly what happened. As long as Adam and Eve. Were obeying God's commands.

[25:36] They were holy and happy. But as soon as they broke. God's commands. They became sinful. And miserable. Coincidence. Not at all. They were made for God.

[25:47] They were made for. Walking his ways. In fellowship with him. Along. The lines of his commands. So this is the. Blessed life. That we were made to live.

[25:58] According to Psalm 19. That we just read. This is the law. That. That revives our souls. This is the word. That makes us wise. This is the word. That gives joy.

[26:08] To the heart. And gives light. To the eyes. And. Rewards us. By them. As your servant. Warned. And in keeping them. There is a great.

[26:18] There is great. Reward. In keeping God's commands. There is great burden. And. And slavery. No.

[26:28] That is not. There is great. Blessedness. And reward. Because they warn you. Of dangers. That would. That would.

[26:39] Insnare you. And a thousand. Cruel. Bondages. And so the laws of God. Come as warnings. To save you from. All those. Bondages. So there is a.

[26:52] Eight foot. Chain link fence. Around. A junkyard. With a sign. That has got a command. On it. With a warning. No. Trespassing. Beware of dog.

[27:07] You know. I never did like. Chain link fences. They always want to. Keep me out of. Places. I want to go. And I don't. Like commands. They. They are so.

[27:18] Belittling. And. And. And I feel. So cramped. Not free. To do what I want. And so. Over the chain link fence. You go. In search. Of freedom.

[27:30] Only to find. That that's the name. Of the junkyard dog. Who wants a piece. Of your flesh. You see. The. The. The. The. The warning. Is there. For a reason. It's for your good.

[27:41] To heed it. And in the keeping. Of it. There's great reward. So when God says. You shall not. Don't go here. That's for your good.

[27:52] And in the keeping. Of. There's great reward. Romans 7. 12. Says that God's commands. Are not only holy. And righteous. But they're good. They're good for you.

[28:05] It's good for you. To obey. How do you know? Because it's from the good God. Who wants what's good. For you. Indeed. What's best.

[28:16] They come. His commands command. Nothing. But what is good for us. They forbid. Nothing. But what is harmful. To us. And so if you care about your own good. Keep them. Keep them.

[28:30] So. There's only one God. So you shall have no other gods. Align your life.

[28:41] With truth. Why? Because you don't want to build your life on a lie. It would be best for you. It would be good for you. To align your life on the truth. If there's only one God. You see. The commandment is for your good.

[28:53] That's the first commandment. The last commandment. You shall not covet. You shall not be grasping. And wanting things that aren't yours. Is that for my good?

[29:05] Yes. That too is for your good. Because those who do covet. Fall into temptation. And a trap. And many foolish and harmful desires. That plunge men into ruin and destruction. So God's command.

[29:17] Set forth. The highway. The pathway. Of blessing. And David found it so. Don't you just love Psalm 119. It's a man who.

[29:31] Treasures. The laws of God. The commands of God. The word of God. And he says in Psalm 119. 32. I run.

[29:42] In the path. Of your commands. For you. Have set. My heart. Free. Isn't that beautiful? I run.

[29:53] In the path. Of your. I'm not dawdling. I'm not. Halting. Oh. It doesn't look. David's running. And as he's running. He's shouting. Freedom. Because the Lord.

[30:03] Has set my heart free. I run. In the ways. Of his commands. This is the way. Of. This is the law. Of liberty. Come and join me. Now.

[30:14] Before the Lord. Set his heart free. Before the Lord. Set. Your heart. Free. Christian. And. We were slaves. Of sin. And we. Found the narrow.

[30:25] Way. Of God's commandments. To be just too narrow. For us. We. We. We. We preferred the broad road. That had a lot of latitude. For our sin. So. We looked at the law of God.

[30:36] And we said. Yuck. That's burdens.! That's ball and chain stuff. And we preferred the broad road. Ah. But then Jesus came. And he breaks.

[30:47] The bonds. The chains. Of sin. He sets the prisoners free. If the son. Shall set you free. You shall be. Free indeed.

[30:58] We don't free ourselves. With God's law. Of freedom. No. No. We were slaves. Bound in sin. To our own sins. Sins that we wanted. But sins.

[31:09] That ended up. Enslaving us. And Jesus came. And set us free. It's only in Christ. It's. It's his blood. That sets us free.

[31:21] And so he set us free. And if the son. Shall make you free. You shall be free indeed. And now we look at those same commandments. On that narrow way.

[31:32] And we say. Wow. What a wide road. To run in. I run in the way of your commands. Where does a heart. That's been set free. Delight to run.

[31:42] In the way of God's command. That's the way of freedom. I find all the freedom. I need. On this road. It's the way I was meant to live. And as I run in that way. I say.

[31:52] Oh. This is it. This is the life. This is the good life. It's the way I was commanded. I was created. To live. Our liberator.

[32:03] Has won our hearts. And our glad obedience. So we run. In the path. Of his command. Shouting freedom. It's when he sets us free.

[32:14] That his commandments. Then become our happy choice. And that's what David's saying. I run in the path. Of your commands. Because you've set my heart free. Are you not most happy.

[32:27] And free. Christian. When you're. Running in the way. Of God's commands. Is it not. When you stray. From God's commands. That you.

[32:38] Feel miserable. And that you find yourself. Bogged down. In. Pits. That. That God never meant. That you should live your life.

[32:49] No. He. He set you free. It's for freedom. I have set you free. Now. Now walk with me. In the path. Of freedom. No.

[33:01] The law can't save us. The law shows us. Our sin. And our need for a savior. It's. It's the school master. To send us. To Christ. And so. We come to God's laws. His commands.

[33:11] And we say. I haven't measured up. What does the law do? It says. Go over there. There's one who has measured up. And he will accept you. And he will cleanse you. Of your sins. And he'll make you right. With God. Through his own righteousness.

[33:22] And his death on the cross. And so the law. Sends us. Running to Christ. Without any. Claim. Of law. Keeping. Of our own. Nothing good. To say. For ourselves. God. Be merciful.

[33:32] To me. A sinner. I've broken. Your laws. And God. In Christ. Is pleased. He rejoices. To have mercy. Upon us. And then.

[33:42] He takes his law. And he puts it. Into our hands. And he says. Now run. In the way. Of freedom. With me. Here it is. This is the way. Of freedom.

[33:53] Keep my commands. And enjoy. This precious freedom. Freedom. From sin. That I purchased. With my own. Blood. Where are you.

[34:04] In the great debate. About where true freedom. Is found. Are you believing. That your own. What your own. Flesh says. What the world. What the devil says. Or are you believing.

[34:14] The God of truth. That his law. Is a law. Of liberty. A perfect law. Of liberty. Well that's. Something. That we're going.

[34:24] To be studying. Every time. We come. To the next commandment. Of the ten commandments. We're going. To be studying. The path. Of freedom. This is it. Walk.

[34:34] In this boundary. And you will enjoy. The good life. The blessed. The free life. One other. This morning. And it's. Not nearly as long. In studying.

[34:45] The ten commandments. We're learning. Seventh. What love. Looks like. We're learning. What love. Looks like. When we study. The commands. Of God. A Pharisee.

[34:55] Once asked. Jesus. Teacher. Which is the greatest. Commandment. In the law. To which Jesus. Says. Love the Lord. Your God. With all your heart. And with all your soul. And with all your mind.

[35:06] This is the first. And greatest commandment. And the second. Is like it. Love your neighbor. As yourself. All the law. And the prophets.

[35:17] Hang on. These. Two. Commands. All that the law. And the prophets. Teach. All the commands. That they give. Could be hung up.

[35:28] On two great. Commands. Two hooks. Love God. Love your neighbor. Love. Love.

[35:39] Sums up. The law. And. In other words. All the laws. Indeed. All the ten commandments. Are spelling out.

[35:49] In life. What it looks like. To love God. And to love your neighbor. So let's think. Just briefly. Of loving God. How do I love God? Well I'm not left.

[36:01] To define that. Am I? I can't just say. Well you know. It's just a little flutter. That happens every now and then. And that's. And I say thank you. I love you God. Well that's not how he.

[36:14] Defines love. When God visited us. In the flesh. He said. If you love me. You will keep my commandments. Oh. That's.

[36:27] What love looks like. It. It. It. Gladly. Obeys. His commands. He said. Whoever has my commands. And obeys them. He's the one who loves me.

[36:38] You want to know. Who loves God. In the earth today. Don't just go around. With a survey. Do you love God? No. See what they do. With God's commands. That is the barometer.

[36:50] That it's. That shows. Love for God. John said it. First John five. Three. This is love for God. To obey his commands.

[37:01] So as we study these ten commandments. We are studying. What love looks like. What does it mean to love God? How do you show your love for God? And so we.

[37:13] Find out what pleases the Lord. Don't we? As Ephesians five. Ten tells us. We want to. Please the one we love. And he says. We'll obey my commands. So that ought to send us.

[37:23] To the commandments. With zeal. Men. When you first fell in love. With the one you married. You made it a point. To find out what pleases her. Maybe some of you.

[37:34] Went to great ends. To discover that. Yes. Her girlfriends. You asked her little brother. What's her favorite food? What's her favorite flower?

[37:45] What does she think of this? Velcro. Suit and tie. I've got on. And you dress differently. You want to find out.

[37:56] What pleases her. What's her favorite cologne? What's her favorite topic. Of conversation. And you weren't drugged to that. You didn't say. Oh. What a bondage. No. Love. Love. Motivated you.

[38:08] To study what pleases her. Because you wanted to show her. Your love. Love gave you an interest. In the topic. And even so.

[38:19] When Jesus saves us. From our sins. We love him. Because he first loved us. He loved us. On the cross. And shedding his blood for us. And so. It is. His love for us.

[38:30] That excites love. In our hearts. For him. And so. Finding out. What pleases the Lord. Is the passionate concern. Of every true lover. Of Christ. It drives us. To the law.

[38:40] Of God. It drives us. To the commands. Of God. Where we hear him say. If you love me. Keep. My commandments. And we want to learn.

[38:51] How to show our love. To this savior. If you love me. Don't have any other gods. Beside me. Don't make any idols. Don't misuse my name. My day. And your parents.

[39:02] And on and on. He goes. And we have a wonderful example. Of this. In our Lord Jesus. Don't we? When the perfect man came. What did he do?

[39:14] He studied the law of God. And he made sure. He didn't put his foot down. Anywhere. That was outside. Of the highway. Of freedom.

[39:24] The commands. Of his father in heaven. You remember on that night. When he was to be arrested. He's with his disciples. And he said. The world must learn. That I love the father.

[39:35] And that I do exactly. What my father has commanded me. Come now. Let's leave. Where's he going? He's going to the cross. The hardest commandment. He ever received. To go and be damned.

[39:47] For his people. To go and receive. The punishment. That his people deserve. To take their sins. Upon him. And to receive. The father's. Infinite wrath. Crushing him. On Calvary.

[39:58] Come on. Let's leave. And he leads the way. To Calvary. Why? Because the world must know. That I love the father. Or how will they know that? That I do exactly.

[40:09] What my father commands me. Ah. You see. He loved his father. And that's what drove him. To do exactly. What the father has commanded. Don't ever call it legalism.

[40:21] When someone is doing exactly. What the father has commanded. You say. Oh. I like a little. Smudge room. It's not what Jesus did. He did exactly.

[40:32] What the father commanded. Not because it's legalism. It's love. It's love. It's love that drove him. To do that. So let your love for God. Bring you to this study. With intense interest.

[40:42] As we study the Ten Commandments. This is how. I love. God. But it's not only. How we love God. It's also how we love. Our neighbor. It's what love to neighbor. Looks like.

[40:53] Turn over to Romans. Chapter 13. And verses. Eight. Through 10. Romans 13. Have you got all your debts paid off?

[41:05] Your house. Your college. Loans. Your house. Your mortgage. Or your. Credit cards. You got all your debts paid off? Well.

[41:16] I'm going to guarantee. You haven't paid off one debt. And we're going to read about it here. Romans 13. Eight. Through 10. Let no debt remain outstanding.

[41:28] except the continuing debt. To love. One another. You have one debt. That you will never pay off. In this world. It's the debt.

[41:39] To love. One another. For he who loves his fellow man. Has fulfilled. The law. The commandments.

[41:51] Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not steal. Do not covet. I trust you understand those. You recognize those. As from the 10 commandments. And.

[42:01] Not just those. But if there be any other commandment. They are all summed up. In this one rule. Love your neighbor. As yourself. Love does no harm. To its neighbor.

[42:12] Therefore. Love. Is the fulfillment. Of the law. Love. For your neighbor. Must obey. The commands.

[42:22] Concerning. Your neighbor. That's what he's saying. And when you obey. Those commands. You are. When you are loving them. And when you love them. You are fulfilling. The demands of love.

[42:35] Because love. Fulfills. The law. It fulfills. The requirement. What you owe. To your fellow man. Now some people. Twist this passage. To mean that.

[42:45] In the New Testament. Love. Has replaced. Law. So. So we no longer. Have. Need. To. To study. And be careful. To keep.

[42:55] God's law. No. In the New Testament. Love. Replaces. Law. And now. All we're left with. Is. Love your neighbor. As yourself. Paul.

[43:10] Nowhere. Says. Here. That love. Replaces. The law. Or the commandments. As if we don't need. The law anymore. And all we need. Is love. Sweet love. No. He doesn't say that.

[43:21] He says. Love fulfills. The law. Yes. Love fulfills. All the requirements. That are found. In the commands. He says. That love. Sums up. The law. Love.

[43:31] Is the one. Unifying. Theme. Behind. All these. Commands. They all. Show us. How to act. Toward our neighbor. But we still need the law.

[43:42] To know how love. Acts. We still. In the new covenant. Need the law. To know how. Love. Acts. Toward neighbor.

[43:54] That's why Paul quotes. Four of the ten commandments. Here is. Part of the summary. Of what we owe. To our. Fellow man. It's spelled out. That shows.

[44:05] The commands. That love. Will fulfill. You see. Those who claim. That love. Replaces. The law. Are left. Without a clear. Standard. Of behavior. What are they.

[44:17] Left with. So. So we no longer. Have the ten commandments. We no longer. Have the. The laws of God. We have. A lawless. Emotion. Called love.

[44:28] There. That's what you owe. Your neighbor. And so. It's. I guess. It's just up. To every individual. Just to think. Of. What should love do.

[44:39] Toward neighbor. In each situation. You know what we call that. Situation ethics. Where every man decides. What's the loving thing to do in this situation.

[44:51] Situation ethics. It's looked in really. Neatly. By the liberals. Half a century ago. So. What's the problem with that.

[45:01] So. So your wife is suffering with cancer. And I mean suffering. And you want to do the loving thing.

[45:14] And so you decide to give her a lethal injection. And take her life. Suddenly. And you call it. The loving thing to do. Mercy killing. Even. But that is not love.

[45:28] Because love fulfills the command. You shall not murder. Oh. You mean there's still a standard. That love fulfills. Yes. There's still a standard.

[45:39] It's not just left up for you. To decide. A woman finds herself. In an unwanted pregnancy. And says. Surely the loving thing to do. Is to terminate the pregnancy. So that this child.

[45:49] Doesn't come into the world. Unwanted. Is that the loving thing to do. Well. If there's no standard. The world comes to that conclusion.

[45:59] But. No. Love never acts contrary. To the law. It fulfills the law. Well. What law? God has not left us without a law.

[46:10] You shall not murder. So a woman finds. Or someone else. No longer loves her husband. She finds herself. In a dead end marriage. And is in love with someone else.

[46:23] And if love replaces the law. Then. She doesn't have to deal with. You shall not commit adultery. She's just left with. Well. What's the loving thing to do here? Surely not to keep two.

[46:34] People in some dead end marriage. Surely the loving thing to do. Would be to. To say. You go your way. And find your true love. And I'll go marry my. My soulmate. But God hasn't left us.

[46:46] To. A lawless love. He spells out. What. Love does. The love. Of God. Fulfills. The law.

[46:58] Of God. Well. I trust you can see the importance of this. We need. Love needs. Commands.

[47:09] To direct it. The law spells out. How to love. Your neighbor. The law tells us. That if you love your neighbor. You won't harm him. You. You won't.

[47:20] Take their life. You won't violate their marriage. You won't. Steal their personal property. You won't lie about them. You won't covet what they have. But you know.

[47:31] If you don't have those commands. Literally. Everything. Can be justified. By the law of love. I say that because even murder.

[47:44] In our own day. Is being justified. By the law of love. It's a mercy. Killing. It's a love. Killing. You see. Oh. Thankfully. God. Does not replace the commands.

[47:57] With love. But gives us what we need. So law and love are not opposites. They're not at odds. They're not enemies. They're friends.

[48:08] And that's why the New Testament. Continues to quote. The Ten Commandments. Is normative for the Christian life. Under the New Covenant. When we're told to live a life of love.

[48:21] Love is not left undefined for us. In the Bible. In the New Testament. And these Ten Commandments. Spell out what love looks like. What it will and will not do.

[48:31] Toward man. And toward God. And so that's why Thomas Watson said. The Ten Commandments. Are the first thing. The Sinner needs to be taught. And the daily concern.

[48:43] Of the Christian. To the last. Because they're telling us. How to love. How to fulfill. The whole law. Which is summed up. In love to God.

[48:53] And love. To man. So you see. Every time you're confronted. With a command of God. It's not only a test. Of your faith. Do I believe. That God knows. The way to freedom.

[49:03] The way to blessedness. Every time you come up. Against a command. And it's. There's some that are hard for you. There's some that are harder. For me to obey. Than. Than others that are harder. For you to obey.

[49:14] And every time we feel that. That resistance to God's love. It's another test. Not only a test. Of our faith. Will we believe God. Is good. And knows what's good.

[49:24] And best for us. And wise. But will. We love him. It's a test of love. God's commands.

[49:34] Come with a. A note attached. Do you love me. It's on the first commandment. It's on the second commandment. It's on the third.

[49:45] It's on the fourth. The fifth. Every one of these commands. Comes with a tag. Do you love me. Then keep my commands. And you see. That brings us into the study of God's law.

[49:57] With a whole different attitude. Doesn't it? Yes. It's my duty. But oh. It's my privilege. What is my privilege? To walk in the way of. Freedom. When the world.

[50:08] Is enslaved to sin. What's my privilege? To run in the path. Of his commands. What's my privilege? To love this God. Who has loved me. That he would stoop.

[50:18] To ask of me. The love. Of my poor heart. Dear Lord. And shall it ever be. That I would live. At this poor dying rate.

[50:30] With my love. To thee. So small. And yours. Was to me. So great. Oh let me. Let me come to these commands. And ask. How can I love him. More.

[50:41] How can I enjoy. The freedom. That he died. For me to enjoy. The freedom of walking with him. In love. According to his commands.

[50:55] Well. Time's gone. Don't make. A savior. Out of the law. It's just the machine. To show you. You've got the disease.

[51:06] Of sin. And that you're condemned. Run to Jesus. He alone. Can set you free. He alone. Can plant his love. In your heart. That will give you. A desire.

[51:16] To love him. And to keep his. Commands. And to beat him.