The Source of the Law

Radiant Church, April 7, 2019 Mike Rydman The Source of the Law Nic Harding: What if we understood that the win is found in simply enjoying the rich, full life in community that God has won for us through Christ? What if we discovered that the win was living compellingly attractive lives in the context of His family, inviting others to join us, and then watching them do the same for others? What if we found that the win was in reproducing disciples and disciple-makers simply by living like that? But who decides what is a compellingly attractive life? Somehow, or someone has to determine the laws, the morals of such a life that reflects God to His creation. (Jerram Barrs: Delighting in the Law of the Lord) 2 Views of morality and law: 1. The Christian or traditional view: morality and law are fixed and eternal a. accountability to God, or at least to objective standards or principles of truth, justice, equity, and goodness b. belief that morality and good laws express people’s responsibilities to one another c. a widespread recognition that human beings are sinful from the heart and that we all need to be restrained by moral teaching in schools and churches, and by laws and law officers d. the recognition that there is objective guilt when this moral order and legal obligations between people are broken e. the realization that laws exist to provide protection for the ordinary man and woman from those who are powerful and ruthless – the common law tradition f. the almost universal conviction that there is a sacred framework for the life of society 2. The postmodern or relativist view: morality and law are constantly open to change a. law is not based on objective standards, but is simply the expression of a culture’s habits and customs b. law and objective morality are opposed to personal freedom c. law is simply about my rights, rather than my responsibilities d. all that matters is legalistic righteousness, being right according to the letter of the law e. law is open to manipulation by pressure groups that see the legal system as a means of getting their will inscribed in law f. there is a reluctance to talk about objective guilt, except in the most obvious cases of clear evil that offend almost everyone g. punishment becomes rehabilitation or education, rather than retribution h. we do not need a Judeo-Christian framework for moral reflection and for teaching moral order, law, and responsibility to ourselves, our children, and society Turning away from God, what options remain? Option 1: The individual decides for himself or herself Option 2: The majority decides for us all Option 3: Those in power decide, or “Might Makes Right” Option 4: Some influential person’s ideology decides Questions the lead to God and His sovereignty 1. What does it mean to be human? 2. Is there any foundation for distinguishing between good and evil? 3. Is there an explanation for, and resolution to, suffering? Christianity’s convictions arise from God’s revelation about our world, about our human condition, and about God’s resolution to our problems. Psalm 19:1-6 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard. Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tent for the sun, which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber, and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy. Its rising is from the ends of the heavens, and its circuit to the end of them, and there is nothing hidden from its heat. God’s creation is a form of God’s Word to us. It has a “voice” ELOHIM (revelation of God in creation) Psalm 19:7-11 The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving 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 rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. YAHWEH (revelation of God in the law) God’s law is beautiful because it reveals God’s character The Ten Commandments are really rendered the “Ten Words of God” The first 4 speak to our relationship with God The fifth one is a bridge to what follows The next 5 speak to our relationship with each other Psalm 19:12-14 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults. Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me! Then I shall be blameless and innocent of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Why we are not God (is there any revelation of God in me?) Why would we want to follow God’s Law? We need help Psalm 119:19 I am a sojourner on the earth; hide not your commandments from me. We are foreigners…we need a map Psalm 119:23 Even though princes sit plotting against me, your servant will meditate on your statutes. Trusting in culture or government does not ultimately work Psalm 119:32 I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart! Only God can give us even the desire and capacity to live in His ways Why would God give us His Law and want us to follow in His Law? Genesis 1: 26-27 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Imago Dei (the Image of God) Applies to Jesus completely Applies to us partially, but intended none the less Because of who God made us to be (in His image) God wants us to reflect His character, His heart Leviticus 19:1-4 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. Every one of you shall revere his mother and his father, and you shall keep my Sabbaths: I am the Lord your God. Do not turn to idols or make for yourselves any gods of cast metal: I am the Lord your God.” “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy” Each following commandment ends with “I am the Lord” God’s character is behind each commandment Exodus 20:1-2 And God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” Everything that God commands us to be and do is related to His own character. He wants us to be a radiant reflection of Who He is and what He does. But, as we all know, we’re not capable of being holy We cannot rely on our own character – because our own character is deeply flawed We have to rely on God’s character – because His character is holy The Old Testament Sacrifices were God’s careful provision for the constant reality of sin and failure in the lives of all believers. Jesus, however, is the perfect, once for all sacrifice This is how God can call us to be holy – because Jesus is holy, and that holiness of his is given to us The grace of God’s perfect forgiveness through Jesus and the loving fellowship that he brings to us – this is the very heart of the whole biblical revelation, and it is at the heart of the law of God. When we are obedient to the Law of God, we can then know the heart of God