Calvary Church • 11338 Ozga Road • Romulus MI 48174 • 734.941.0236 • calvary@calvaryromulus.org
. . .You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
Psalm 138:2 NKJV
God Demonstrates His Character
5. The Law
Exodus 19:3-8
After the death of the firstborn, Pharaoh was ready to let the people go – but later changed his mind and went after them with his army. God opened the Red Sea, let the Israelites through and closed it on the Egyptian army so that all of them were drowned. God worked sovereignly to save His special people for His own glory.
God’s purpose was to show that He alone is God as opposed to the gods of Egypt (Exodus 12:12). This is exactly the message that Moses’ father-in-law took away from the experience. Exodus 18:9-11
A secondary purpose was to emphasize a difference between those who worship the true God and those who don’t. Moses made that very clear when he predicted the death of the firstborn to Pharaoh. Exodus 11:7
Now God’s people are out of Egypt and on their way to the land that God promised to Abraham. On the way to the promised land, God chose to reveal His Law through Moses to the people. Exodus 19:3-8
God’s Law reveals God’s character. The Israelites were God’s special chosen people. God wants His people to look like Him (Leviticus 11:45) and to live as His special people. As they obey Him, the fact that they are distinct and different from other nations is emphasized and God is glorified. God promised them blessing for obeying His Law, which implies negative consequences for disobedience. Even though the people expressed a willingness and desire to obey God, they still failed to fall short of God’s holiness. So, God’s special presence (grace) is needed to enable His people to obey and look like Him.
There were 3 aspects of the Law
Social requirements for daily life (dress, diet, work)
Ceremonial requirements (for worshiping God)
Moral requirements (10 commandments)
The social and ceremonial laws were specific to Israel and were set aside by New Testament revelation. The requirements of the moral law are repeated and confirmed by the New Testament except for the command to keep the Sabbath. In the following discussion the term “law” refers to the moral law.
THE SPECIFICS OF THE LAW
Exodus 20:1-17; Matthew 22:36-39
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and soul
Worship only God and Him alone
Do not make images to worship
Do not take the name of God in vain
Love your neighbor as yourself
Honor your father and mother
Do not murder
Do not commit adultery
Do not steal
Do not bear false witness
Do not covet
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE LAW
Shows us God’s holiness and righteousness
Defines sin for us – tells us what is right and wrong
The absolute standard by which behavior should be measured
Convicts us of sin
Shows us our helplessness to measure up to God’s standard in our own strength
Drives us to Christ for forgiveness and strength to overcome sin
Sets God’s people apart from the world – we look/act different
Provides a reflection of God and His character to the world
Blesses us for obedience
Brings consequences for disobedience Exodus 34:5-7
OUR RESPONSE TO THE LAW
Embrace the Law – don’t despise it Exodus 20:20; James 1:25
The Law is good, right and for our good
Admit our inability to keep the Law on our own Matthew 5:3
Avoid excuses or justifying self 1 John 1:8
Sometimes the excuses look pretty silly and we do literally deceive ourselves. This was the case when Aaron bowed to the people’s demands to make a golden calf that they could worship. He actually told Moses that he just collected gold from the people, threw it into the fire and the calf came out! Exodus 32:1-4; Exodus 32:21-24
Believe and depend on God’s grace Philippians 2:13; Exodus 33:13-17; Exodus 34:5-7
The way that God can forgive iniquity and still not clear the guilty is through the sacrifice of Christ – He was punished for our guilt.
Next: The Wilderness
Next: The Wilderness
