What do their objections really reveal?

Introduction:

A. This week, in the news, they were talking about the government forcing the removal of the 10-commandments from a public place.

     1. This has come up several times in the last few years.

     2. The government has demanded the removal of plaques, signs, etc. that show the 10-commandments, because they feel it is a violation of church and state.

     3. Then there are those who become enraged because it is required to be taken down: after all, our currency says in God we trust, and the founders of our country, to a large degree, were people who believed in God, and many of these plaques have been displayed in these public areas for generations.

B. Although I appreciate the zeal these people have who object to these plaques, displaying the 10-commandments, be taken down;  it makes me wonder what their objections may reveal.

    1. Why do they object to the 10-commandments being taken down?

    2. What is the real point of having the 10-commandments displayed anyway?  Why not instead the beatitudes of Matthew 5?

    3. I am afraid that their objection goes back to the idea a lot of people have, and that is that we are under the 10-commandments.

This morning, I would like for us to consider the fact that we are not under the 10-commandmets, or the old covenant of which they were a part, but under a new covenant, and new law, which is far better.

  I. In Exodus 19 we see the who, where, what, when, and why concerning the old law/ covenant.

     A. Who and the when (1).

          1. Who = the children of Israel.

              a. The people under consideration are the people of Israel.

              b. They are the ones God brought out of Egypt.

              c. There is no other people, or nations mentioned.

              d. What is going to be said is said to them, and them alone.

              e. That is very important in understanding to whom the 10-commandments were given.

          2. When = after He brought them out of Egypt.

              a. God had brought them out of the land of Egypt.

              b. God had told Abraham (you might say the father of Israel) his descendents would be slaves in a foreign country (Egypt) for 400 years (Genesis 15), and then He would give them the land of Canaan.

              c. Those descendents of Abraham, that God was speaking of, are the ones that are under consideration here in Exodus 19.

     B. Where, what, and why (2-6).

          1. Where = Mt. Sinai (2).

              a. Mt. Sinai was an obscure, insignificant place in the middle of a desert area.

              b. But, after this it would never again be insignificant.

          2. What = to make a covenant with them (Israel) (3-5a).

              a. A covenant is like an agreement, or contract.

              b. In the N.T. a covenant is referred to as a "Testament," hence we have the Old Testament, and New Testament.

              c. When God makes a covenant with man there is no bargaining over the details.  God sets the terms of the covenant (agreement), and man must keep his part to receive what God says He will do in His part.

              d. Israel had to obey God's voice, and keep his covenant (5)..also see: Leviticus 20:22; Deut.7:11-12.

              e. God was going to give them a law (Old Testament Law) to follow.

                  1) 10 Commandments Exodus 20.

                  2) Much more!  He gave them laws concerning: worship; daily living; purity; and concerning their fellow man.

              f. Keeping it was their part of the covenant.

          3. Why? = that He might bless them (5b-6).

              a. They would be a "peculiar treasure" unto Him, a "kingdom of priests", and a "holy nation."

              b. That He might bless them in numerous ways - Deut.7:13-15.

              c. That was God's part of the covenant.

                 

  II. God, later on, said He was going to make a new covenant.

      A. Jeremiah 31:31-32.

           1. He said He was going to make a new covenant with them.

               a. The first covenant required Israel to keep the Old Law (10 commandments, etc.).

               b. His part is that He would bless them (Israel).

               c. But, He says He was going to make a new covenant. Which means that the first was going to be replaced.

           2. It was not going to be like the one He made with their fathers..."in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt."

               a. The first one was written on stone, but the new one would be written on their hearts.

               b. They would not have to teach others, for they would already know Him.

               c. And, He would forgive their iniquity, and remember their sins no more.

       B. The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that He did make that new covenant.

            1. "A better covenant, which was established upon better promises" (Hebrews 8:6).

                a. Those under the new covenant no longer had to offer up animal sacrifices...which could not make one who offered them perfect..instead they had a sacrifice made for them that could make them perfect - Hebrews 9:8-15.

                b. Those under the new covenant had better promises:

                    1) A priesthood that was sinless, and unending (Jesus).

                    2) A high priest who entered in to the true Holy of Holies (Heaven).  Which, again is Jesus.

                c. Those under the new covenant were not promised the land of Canaan, but a better country (heaven).

            2. He quotes Jeremiah, showing that God has established His new covenant.

                a. Hebrews 8:8-12.

                b. Hebrews 10:16-17.

III. When we look at the N.T. we see the: who, when, where, what, and why concerning those under that new covenant.

     A. Who, when, and where.

          1. Who = this new covenant is available to all men.

              a. John 3:16.

              b. Romans 1:16-17

              c. Galatians 3:26-29.

              d. Acts 10:34-35.

          2. When, and where = Jerusalem, on the day of Pentecost 33 AD.

              a. Isaiah 2:2-3 "for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem".

              b. Matthew 28:18-20 - Go preach the gospel.

              c. Acts 1:8 - beginning in Jerusalem.

              d. Acts 2:1 - when the day of Pentecost was fully come.

      B. What and Why = The law of Christ, so He could bless us.

           1. All men need to submit to the law of Christ (N.T.), which is the law of the new covenant.

               a. Jesus has all authority, and has told us to do all things whatsoever He has commanded (Matthew 28:18-20).

               b He has given us commands concerning: worship, Daily living, Purity, and our fellow man.

               c. If we want the blessings of the "new covenant" then we must do what He requires of us under that covenant.

           2. All men need to submit so God can bless them.

               a. Hebrews 5:9.

               b. Matthew 7:21.

               c. Matthew 25:34.

Conclusion:

A. All men need to obey the gospel, so that they might enjoy the blessings of the "new covenant" that God has made with man.

     1. Have you?

     2. God will do His part if you will do yours.

B. What does God require?

     1. Keeping the 10-commandments?  No, we are under a new and better covenant, with better promises.

     2. Under the new covenant He requires you to...

         a. Believe, repent, confess, and be baptized.

         b. Live godly.

         c. Do all things whatsoever Christ has commanded.

         d. Do so faithfully unto death.