The Ten Commandments
Exodus 20:1-17
Several years ago, there was a lot of news about a two ton monument of a Bible that had on it the ten commandments. Chief Justice Roy Moore of Alabama allowed it to be placed there only to have a higher court remove it and to remove him as well for not honoring their authority. Not only has the Ten Commandments been removed from courtrooms, but from schools. We have removed prayer and the Ten Commandments from our schools, and have told the children they come from apes, and then we are surprised when they act like apes. The Ten Commandments are God’s Word to us about how we are to behave and honor each other. Sadly, there seems to be very little difference in the behavior between those who call themselves Christians and those who don’t today.
A recent poll in a certain denomination discovered that there is very little difference in ethical behavior between churchgoers and those who are not active religiously in the world.
Let me tell you what I mean. Do you know that the divorce rate in America is at 51% now? 51% of all those who are getting married today will end up in divorce the within the first 5 years. Now, in the Christian world the statistics are the same. The Christian divorce rate is at 51% the first five years of marriage. There is very little difference in behavior between churchgoers and those who do not attend church anywhere. That is a shame, but true!
The levels of lying, cheating, and stealing are remarkable similar in both groups. Eight out of ten Americans consider themselves Christians, the Gallup said, yet only about half of them could identify the person who gave the Sermon on the Mount, and fewer still could recall five of the Ten Commandments. Only two in ten said they would be willing to suffer for their faith.”
What has happened to our faith?
1. First, when we look at these commands we should recognize what the basis for the commandments themselves are.
I would suggest to you that it is two things. First, the person of God Himself. In the first two verses we see the word God used which is the word Elohiym that stresses the role of God in creation. Then we see the word Lord used in verse 2, which is the word Jehovah that stresses his power, his eternal nature, and his existence. God proclaims this word because he has the right to rule based on the fact that He is creator and sustainer of all creation.
In John 1:3 it is said this way, “All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” Then again in Col 1:16-17 it says, “For by him all things were created both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities all things have been created by Him and for Him.” So, the basis for these commands is God’s person. He has a right to set the rules and command us to follow. There is a problem in the world today with people submitting themselves to the power of God. People do not want to be told what to do, but right here we find that the one and only supreme power and God of the universe and all creation has the right to govern his people simply because he has made us and has created the spirit of man. God is NOT on a power trip, or ego trip. God loves us and desires for us to live in harmony with him and each other. He has set rules down for us to abide by and obey, however few seem to want to follow them today.
ILLUS:
How many of you just love going to the doctor? Not to many of us like being examined by a doctor, but at times it is necessary for us to get better.
What does the doctor do after he finds something wrong with you and plans on treating it with medicine. What does he do? He writes a prescription for you, right? You go to your pharmacy and you get the prescription filled. You take it home and begin immediately taking the medicine because you don’t want to stay sick forever. Right?
Exodus 15:26 says, And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.
Folks when you look at what really the Ten Commandments are, they are a prescription for life; of how to live life and if you will follow them they will make your life better.
2. The second point is the Ten Commandments are truths. Let me go further. The Ten Commandments are absolute truths.
Our society seems to believe there are no absolutes anymore. But, the commands of God clearly say otherwise. They are absolute because God and His standards are absolute. They cannot change simply because of public opinion. There is a manual out by psychologist called the DSM manual. There are different versions that have come out, but if you notice homosexual behavior was once in the manual before 1970. It was removed because so many people were engaging in that behavior. Before it was considered a sign of mental illness or depravity. Where the DSM changes, God’s Word doesn’t change. It calls sin a sin based on God’s holy nature and His holy word.
I want to tell you today that there are two foundational principles that these commands are under. One is the principle of relationships. The other is the principle of priorities. I say relationships because all of these commands are related to a relationship with either God or others. The first 4 commands have to do with our relationship with God and our worship of Him. The second have to do with our relationship with others. So, loving relationships are the key to understanding the commands of God. That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-39 that to Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with all your mind is the most important commandment of all. The second is “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” For if you are truly doing these things then you are fulfilling all of the Ten Commandments. We should obey what Paul says in Ephesians 5:2 “walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”
Do you really love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength? I have said that the test of this is our relationship with others. If you said “yes” to this question how does that demonstrate itself in the way you treat other people. Do you really love your neighbor as yourself? How can you demonstrate that love this week?
