What Does God Expect?
Exodus 20:1-17 – The 10 Commandments –
- Everyone has a different but faulty understanding of these laws. This was true in Biblical times and is true today.
- The first four commandments deal with man’s relationship to God and the last six deal with man’s relationship to other men (polytheism, idolatry, God’s name in vain, Sabbath, obedience to parents, murder, adultery, theft, false witness, coveting).
Matthew 5-7 – The Sermon on the Mount - Christ interprets many of the commandments for us to reveal God’s expectations of each.
- This shows God’s perfect interpretation and requirement for the law. In Matthew 5:20, Jesus said “I tell you unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees (Jewish priests) and scribes (recorded Bible and passed it on), you shall not enter the kingdom of Heaven.”
- Matthew 5:48 shows that absolute perfection is the only standard God will accept
How Do We Measure Up?
Romans 1:18-3:20 (3:8-10 & 3:23) - For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
All have sinned apart form our Lord Jesus Christ.
- The English word “sin” used in archery to describe an archer missing the bull’s eye; is simply means to miss the mark of perfection. The Greek word that the word “sin” came from is “amartyr” which means not to be perfect.
- Some are better than others but all fall short. For example, Carl Lewis (Olympic long jumper) and I could attempt to jump from California to Hawaii. I may make it 10 feet out into the Pacific and he may make it 30 feet but we would both fall short by thousands of miles to Hawaii.
- Romans 3:20 says that “for through the law comes consciousness of sin.” The purpose of the 10 commandments and the Sermon on the Mount is not to encourage us to be perfect – it cannot be done. These teachings are intended to expose our shortcomings and our need for a savior who can pay the price of perfection on our behalf.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- Sin is heavy and burdensome to carry around. Some people reach a point when they are no longer burdened by their sins. Not feeling guilt over sin proves the Bible’s point that people become dead in their sins. A 500lb weight dropped on a dead man’s chest does not seem heavy to him.
- God did not arbitrarily choose certain things to be sins. Sins are not bad because they are forbidden by God but instead they are forbidden by God because they are bad. God knows that these sins will destroy your ability to be live, love, etc. The Bible says that sin may be good for a season but it will eventually kill us because we always end up with more than we bargained for. Ultimately, sin will tie us up and take us down before we know it.
- James 1:15 - “Then desire conceives and brings forth sins and when sins reach maturity it gives birth to death”
- Genesis 2:17 - “Eat from any tree except the tree of knowledge of Good and Evil. From that tree you shall not eat: the moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die.”
What Can Be Done?
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
- God has a gift for us that cannot be earned or bought. Jesus Christ died for our sins on the cross and now each and every one of our sins are forgiven. Our sins of the past, our sins of the present, and our sins of the future are all forgiven when we trust in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Take it as a gift.
- Salvation comes by GRACE through the channel of Faith – Romans 3:20-31, Ephesians 2:8-9. (G.R.A.C.E – God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense)
- It is because of God that we are saved from our sins not by going to church, being a good person, giving up meat on Friday, etc. He is worthy of our praise and glory because of this incredible gift that he has given to us. But it is important to realize that the gift of God is for those who admit that they have slipped up and need a savior. You must let go of the pride you have about yourself and admit that you need a savior.
- Matthew 19:25-26 – In the story of the rich young ruler, Jesus illustrates that men are unable to save themselves, but with God, all things are possible.
Romans 8:1, 28, 38 - Benefits of accepting Christ:
- 8:1 – There is no condemnation about your past to those who are in Christ Jesus. Christ took all of the punishment that is due us for our sins.
- 8:28 – There is no frustration in the present; you know everything is working together for good. If the father gave us his Son – the best – he will freely give us all things that are good. If he doesn’t give us something, we know it is not good.
- 8:38-39 – There is no separation from God ever for nothing can separate us from the love of God. This verse shows that those he calls will be saved and those he saves will never be lost. They will all be glorified meaning that they will be conformed to Christ’s image and be with him eternally in heaven.
- 5:1 - peace with God
- 5:2 - access to God’s grace and hope for the glory of God
- 5:3-4 - ability to triumph in times of trouble, rejoicing in sufferings
- 5:5 - receiving the love of God and Holy Spirit granted to you
- 5:9 - deliverance from wrath (eternal punishment)
- 5:11 joy in God and your life for your sins have been forgiven
- John 10:1-18 – Jesus will protect us as a shepherd protects his sheep. He is the way for our salvation. The good shepherd guides the lives of the sheep and lays down his own when necessary.
How Do We Do It?
Romans 10:9-10 - You don’t have to do anything to earn it – it is a free gift that is on the table for you to grab. Just confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that you are a sinner, you need Jesus as a savior, and you will receive it. Christianity is not about what you do – it is about what has been done for you by Jesus.
- Romans 10:13 - Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. If you fall in the category of “whosoever,” you can be saved!
- John 3:16-18 – These are some of the most well known verses of the Bible and they teach that God loved the world and sent Jesus to save anyone who would put their faith in him.
- If you are apart of “whosoever,” then you can be saved by this free gift.
Is That All We Need To Do?
When the Word of God says something once, it is important – when it repeats the message, it is a critical point.
- Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38 – The righteous shall live by faith!
- Galatians 1:6-9 –Paul shows that believing in Christ is the complete work and nothing can be added to it – those that attempt to add to the gospel are to be cursed. This message is repeated. A few verses later in the same epistle (Galatians 2:16), Paul shows we are not saved by works but by faith three times in a row!
- John 6:28-29 – “The work of the father is this, believe on the one whom he has sent.” – In this verse, Jesus teaches the work of God is simple; you must simply believe and accept the promise He has made.
- Ephesians 2:8-9 - For by grace you have been saved by faith and it is not from you: it is the gift of God. It is not from works so no one can boast.
- Acts 13:39 - And by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things which you could not be justified by the law of Moses (justified=just as if I had never sinned)
- Romans 4:1-4 – Even in the Old Testament, followers were counted righteous because of their faith in God’s promise, not because of their following of the law. This shows that Abraham, the father of Judaism, was found righteous because of his simply believing God’s promise – not because he had followed the law. In fact, the law had yet to be given!
- John 14:6 - Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
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