August 7, 2021
Now all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking; and when the people saw it, they trembled and stood afar off. Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.” And Moses said to the people, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin.” Exodus 20:18-20
Now the tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God engraved on the tablets. Exodus 32:16
God’s plan to make His chosen people the message-bearers of salvation to the world was underway; a distinct and “peculiar” people, blessed of God. Think of the awesome majesty of that experience of hearing God’s own voice speak from the top of Mount Sinai! His Ten Commandments which were of such great contrast with the ‘in-your-face’ pagan lifestyles the Hebrew people had witnessed year-in and year-out as they sojourned in Egypt. The Egyptians had many ‘gods’ and just as many errant ways of conducting everyday life. God was reminding His people of His law which they had known in the distant past through their Hebrew heritage. Beloved, think of the contrast between the actions, behaviors, influences, and lifestyles of the pagans and the guidelines that clearly outline the will of our loving Creator! To the regenerate heart, each of the Ten Commandments described a new life. To the regenerate heart, they are promises that bring blessings to individuals and families.
He brought us out to bring us in to His Kingdom! Once I am born again, my will and my conscience agree with God, but I immediately recognize that my fleshly nature renders me powerless to carry it out. The will is the core element placed in human beings at the beginning by the Creator. The sin-nature came later, as an intruder in the lives of Eve and Adam, when temptation led to disobedience. As their descendants, we all know the emptiness of a broken relationship with God. We need that fellowship and communion with Him. He is able, by His Spirit, to empower us to align with His desire: the goal of full restoration of His image in us, which has been marred by disobedience. Thus, we are enabled to exercise our will to make choices in life that are in harmony with our King.
The unregenerate heart will rebel, whether openly or subtly, against God’s will. Of course it is impossible—apart from the Holy Spirit—for such a one to honor and obey what James referred to as the perfect law of liberty (James 1:25) or the royal law (James 2:8). God’s will for our lives, as summarized in the Ten Commandments, does not resonate with the carnal mind. Sadly, many today are preaching that the Ten Commandments were somehow done away with at the cross. But it was the ceremonial ordinances(Deuteronomy 31:24-26, Galatians 3:19, Colossians 2:14) that were nailed to the cross. The ceremonial laws are referred to as the “handwriting of Moses” on paper to distinguish it from God’s eternal law, written on stone by God Himself. When leadership fails to make this distinction, the unregenerate individual feels he or she is supplied with an excuse to continue in sin. It is because of God’s grace that He sends His Spirit to enable us to make right decisions each day. But grace misunderstood is a license to sin.
What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? May it never be! Romans 6:15
Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.Romans 3:31
Our Lord is at work through His faithful ones as the repairer of the breach (Isaiah 58:12) in order to bring people into His Kingdom. Our enemy is working overtime in these last days to overthrow the Law of God. Let us remember the words of Jesus: If you love Me, keep my commandments. John 14:15