Mar 22
27

Discussion Questions: Exodus 20:8-11

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

  • What is the unchanging, moral law of the fourth commandment?
  • What part of the fourth commandment is to be considered “positive law”?
  • Why does Sabbath-keeping remain today? Why has the day changed? 
  • What benefits come to God’s people from the observance of the Sabbath day?
  • When will there be no more Sabbath-keeping? Why?
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Posted in Study Guides, Gospel Community Groups, Gospel Community Groups, Joe Anady, Posted by Joe. Comments Off on Discussion Questions: Exodus 20:8-11

Mar 22
27

Morning Sermon: Exodus 20:8-11, The Fourth Commandment

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 20:8-11

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8–11, ESV)

New Testament Reading: Mark 2:23–28

“One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, ‘Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?’ And he said to them, ‘Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?’ And he said to them, ‘The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.’” (Mark 2:23–28, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

We have come now to the fourth of the Ten Commandments, which is “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” 

There are two things that I would like to remind you of by way of introduction. These two points have been made in previous sermons, but they are crucial to a proper understanding of the fourth commandment, and so I will restate them now. 

One, the Ten Commandments contain the moral law of God. We confess that the moral law is from God. It was written on man’s heart at creation. God made man a moral creature and gave him the ability to know right from wrong, and good from evil, and he inscribed (if you will) the moral law on man’s soul. The moral law of God applies to all people at all times and in all places, therefore. I have said in previous sermons that judicial or civil laws may change. Judicial laws are rooted in the moral law, but they may take different forms in different nations depending upon the circumstances. Israel’s Old Covenant judicial laws were indeed from God, but they were unique to that nation given their unique place in God’s program of redemption. And the ceremonial laws given to Israel under the Old Covenant were also unique to them. These were laws governing Old Covenant religious practice, and they have expired with the Old Covenant, for they were fulfilled in Christ. But the moral law which is contained within the Ten Commandments is universal, unchanging, and ever-binding on all men. If you wish to read a scripture text that speaks clearly about this, you can go to Romans chapter 2.

It would take me a very long time to say everything that could be said about the moral or natural law of God. For now, I simply wish to remind you of what we confess to be true. The same moral law which was written on Adam’s heart at creation is summarized in the Ten Commandments. And this same law – the moral law – is rewritten, not in stone (as the Ten Commandments were), but upon the hearts of all who believe upon Christ when they are regenerated by the power of the Holy Spirit. This is what the LORD says in that famous passage found in Jerimiah 31 wherein he speaks of the coming New Covenant, saying, “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33, ESV).

So then, the moral law was delivered to Adam at creation, having been written on his heart, as it were. The same moral law was delivered to Israel. It was contained within the Ten Commandments which he spoke to them from Sinai and later delivered to them through Moses on tablets of stone. And this same moral law remains today. It remains within all men, though it is badly suppressed and distorted by sinners. And it is written anew and afresh upon the hearts of all who are regenerated by the Spirit and united to Christ by faith. We who have faith in Christ love God’s law and desire to keep it (though we often fall short) because God has renewed us by his grace. He has taken the moral law which was delivered to Israel through Moses on stone, and he has written it on our hearts through Christ, the mediator of the New Covenant, and by the Holy Spirit. Finally, it is by this moral or natural law that all men will be judged when Christ returns if not united to him by faith and washed in his blood. 

So why am I reminding you of this? Why am I reminding you that moral law is permanent and unchanging and that it is contained within the Ten Commandments? Well, it is for this reason. Most Christians will admit that it has always been true that YHWH alone is to be worshiped, not with images, and with reverence. They will admit that parents are to be honored by their children, and that murder, adultery, theft, deceit, and covetousness are sinful and always will be. In other words, most will freely acknowledge that nine of the Ten Commandments remain and apply universally. But I have noticed that many Christians today disregard the fourth commandment, which is, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” But here it is situated right in the middle of the Ten Commandments, which contain God’s moral law. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy”, the law says. 

My point is this: the law concerning Sabbath observance is moral. It is universal and unchanging. God created the world in such a way that a pattern was established for work, rest, and worship. Adam was to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Israel was to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Christ remembered the Sabbath day and kept it holy, and even declared himself to be Lord of the Sabbath. And all who are in Christ are to remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy too, even to this present day, and on until the consummation of all things, and our eternal rest in Christ, of which the Sabbath day is a sign.

The second thing that I wish to remind you of by way of introduction is that some things were said to Old Covenant Israel when the Ten Commandments were delivered to them that were unique to them, and do not apply, therefore, to all people, at all times, and in all places. 

Is the moral law contained within the Ten Words that were delivered to Israel through Moses on Sinai? Yes, it is! It is summarily comprehended there. But do not forget that other things are said in the Ten Commandments that were unique to Old Covenant Israel. Take the preface, for example. It was to Israel, and to no one else, that God said, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery” (Exodus 20:2, ESV). And remember also the warning that was attached to the second commandment which forbids idolatry. God warned that he would visit “the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate [him]”, and promised to show “steadfast love to thousands of those who love [him] and keep [his] commandments” (Exodus 20:5-6, ESV). These blessings and curses pertained to the Covenant of Works that God made with Israel in those days – he made that covenant with them, and not with anyone else. And when we come to the command concerning children honoring father and mother, we will see that a blessing was promised to those who obeyed. “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you” (Exodus 20:12, ESV). God promised to give Israel the land of Cannan and to bless them in it if they obeyed. He made no such promise to any other people. So then, this promise was specifically for them, though application can certainly be drawn from it, which Paul the apostle does in his letter to the Ephesians. 

What is my point? My point is that in Exodus 20 we find the moral law communicated to Israel, but it is clearly intermingled with other warnings and remarks that were unique to Old Covenant Israel. We cannot forget that God delivered this law to them while entering into a covenant with them. He gave them the moral law (which is for all men in all times and places), but he also spoke to them specifically as his covenant people. Some things were said to them, and not to us, therefore. And if we wish to understand God’s law correctly we must learn to distinguish between the ever-abiding moral laws themselves and the things which were added to them – either words of warning, or words of explanation, or positive laws of a judicial or ceremonial kind. 

These two points are especially important to remember as we consider the fourth of the Ten Commandments. This is because the fourth of the Ten Commandments contains a mixture of moral law and positive law. 

What is the moral law which is universally binding and unchanging? It is this: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” That will never change – not until Christ returns to usher in the eternal rest of which the weekly Sabbath is a sign. Men and women in all times and places are to worship YHWH alone, not with images, with reverence, with one day in seven being observed as a day that is holy, ceasing from work to engage in worship. That pattern of one out of every seven was established, not in the days of Moses, but at the time of the creation of this world. But do not be surprised when we find that some things about the fourth commandment have changed. What has changed? The day of observance has changed from the seventh day to the first, and for good reason. We will return to consider the reason for the change of the day in just a moment, but for now, I simply wish to remind you that in the law of Moses in general, and even in the Ten Words of Exodus 20, we find a mixture of unchanging and universal moral laws and things that were in some ways unique to Old Covenant Israel. We must be careful to distinguish between them if we are to handle the law of God correctly. 

With that rather long introduction now out of the way, let us consider the fourth commandment itself. 

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The Law

YHWH spoke to Israel saying, “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.” (Exodus 20:8–11, ESV)

The first three commandments were stated negatively. “You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image… You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain…” (Exodus 20:2–7, ESV). These commandments tell us what is forbidden, and we know that what is required of us is implied. God alone is to be worshipped. He is to be worshipped in the way that he prescribes. And he is to revered. 

The fourth commandment is stated positively. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy”, God’s law says. I don’t think we are to make too much of this because, with every negative command, the positive is implied. And with every positive command, the negative is implied. Each of these Ten Commandments forbids and requires things of us. Nevertheless, it is true that while the first three commandments place the emphasis upon sins to be avoided, the fourth commandment places the emphasis upon the practice to be observed. To “remember” the Sabbath day is to observe it or to keep, and it is to be kept thoughtfully, as we will see. The Sabbath day is to be remembered. 

Sabbath means rest, or “ceasing. The Sabbath day is a rest day, a day for stopping, or ceasing. The question is, what are we to cease from on the Sabbath day? The text tells us. “Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.” 

Notice what the commandment does not say. It does not say, cease from all activity, but rather, cease from your work, or labors. Cease, in other words, from the common work that you do on the other days of the week. Put a full stop to your normal labor, your ordinary chores, and from those common activities that are appropriate do be done on the common days of the week, but not on the Sabbath day, for the Sabbath day is to be honored as holy. You are to cease from your working, and so too are those in your household. Even the sojourners in Israel were to cease from work on the Sabbath day. In other words, work was not to be delegated to others in Israel.

Indeed, the Sabbath day is a rest day. It is a stop day, or a day to cease from ordinary work. But notice that it is also to be regarded as a holy day. Listen again to the commandment: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8, ESV). As I have said, the Sabbath day is to be observed as a rest day, but this does not mean that it is a day for inactivity. On the Sabbath day, we are to put a stop to our ordinary and common work so that we might engage in a special kind of activity, namely the activity of holy rest and holy worship. In other words, the Sabbath day is not to be an empty day, but a day filled with a special kind of activity. The day is to set apart from all the others as holy unto the Lord. It is a day for holy resting, holy contemplation of the works of God, holy fellowship, and holy worship. 

Notice that the reason for the Sabbath is stated in verse 11 with the words, “For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy” (Exodus 20:11, ESV). This is a reference to Genesis 2:1-3. Here in the fourth commandment, we have a reminder of the original institution of the Sabbath day at the time of creation. This is very, very important. Who instituted the Sabbath? We say, God did. When did he do it? In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them? And how did he institute the Sabbath? By accomplishing the work of creation in six days, by resting from his work of creation on the seventh day, and by blessing the seventh day to make it holy. Who is to honor the Sabbath day, therefore? Adam and Eve were to honor the Sabbath day along with all of their descendants. This pattern of six days of work and one day for rest and worship was established at the time of creation. It was baked into the created order, if you will.

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The Heart Of The Matter

As we transition now to the portion of the sermon where I try to get to the heart of the matter, please allow me to make a few more observations about the institution of the original Sabbath. If we wish to understand the fourth commandment, we must understand what the Sabbath was originally.  

One, we must see that God did not need six days to create the heavens and earth, nor did he need a day of rest. No, he took six days to create the heavens and earth, and he took a day of rest in order to establish a pattern for us. 

Two, when the text says, “So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy…” (Genesis 2:3, ESV) we are to see that he blessed the day and made it holy, not for himself, but for us. All of the days of the week are, in and of themselves, the same. The sun rises and sets in the same manner on each day of the week. Time passes in the same way. The winds blow, the clouds move along, the birds sing, and the rain falls in the same way on the first day as on the seventh. What made the seventh day holy at the time of creation? We must say, it was not anything about the nature of the seventh day, but only by the pronouncement of God. God, by his works and by his word, set the day apart as holy. In other words, Adam would not have known that the seventh day was to be regarded as a holy day if the LORD had not said so. To use a technical term, the seventh day was made holy by way of the imposition of positive law. Men know by nature that God is to be worshipped, and that a particular proportion of time is to be devoted to worship. Just look at all of the religions of the world. They all have their holy days, don’t they? But when God created the world he did so in such a way to establish the pattern of one day in every seven. More than this, he blessed the seventh day and set it apart as holy by way of positive law.

Thirdly, and connected to this, we must remember that positive laws are symbolic in nature, and so it was with the seventh-day Sabbath. Just as the trees in the garden, circumcision, baptism and the Lord’s Supper signify or symbolize things, so too the seventh day Sabbath signified or symbolized something. What did it signify? Well, many things. One, it served as a perpetual reminder that God made the heavens and earth. If you cannot see why men need to be perpetually reminded of this, then I do not know what to say. We need to be reminded that God is God, and we are not, that he is the Creator, and we are his creatures, that this world and all that is in it belongs to him, and not to us. We are guests here, and stewards of the good gifts that God has given to us. The weekly Sabbath reminds us of God’s act of creation. Two, the Sabbath day reminds us that God created in six days and entered into rest so that we might follow his example. God took six days to create and entered into rest, and we are to do the same weekly. We are to be imitators of God in all of our work and in our rest. Three, the Sabbath day signifies the eternal rest of God and invites us to enter into it. There was no end to the seventh day of creation. This is because there is no end to God’s rest. But I say that we are invited to enter into God’s rest through the symbolism of the seventh-day Sabbath because this was clearly its original meaning. We must remember that God blessed the seventh day and made it holy while entering into the Covenant of Works with Adam in the garden. What was Adam to do? He was to work the garden to expand its borders. He was to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. He was to abstain from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, and in due time he was to eat of the tree of life. What was the promised reward for obedience to the terms of this covenant? Eternal life, also known as, eternal rest in God. The commands concerning the trees were positive laws. They were filled with symbolism in connection with the Covenant of Works that God made with Adam in the beginning. And here I am saying to you that the seventh-day Sabbath had a similar significance or meaning. The Sabbath day itself communicated by way of symbol the invitation for man to enter into God’s rest, or to life eternal. And the seventh-day Sabbath in particular communicated the way that eternal rest would be obtained. For Adam under the Covenant of Works, the way to enter into that rest would be through work. If Adam was to eat of the tree of life and to have what it signified, he first was to be obedient to God’s law. In the same way, if Adam was to enter into God’s eternal Sabbath rest, he first had to do the work that God had given him to do. In the garden, the arrangement was this: faithful work will lead to eternal rest and glory. In other words, in general, the Sabbath day signifies eternal life and rest in the blessed presence of God. And in particular, the seventh day Sabbath signified that eternal life and rest in the blessed presence of God would have to be earned by man through obedient work. 

Let me now attempt to bring all of this together for you through a series of questions and answers. 

One, what is the natural law contained within the fourth commandment? It is that God alone is to be worshipped, not with idols, with reverence, and here it is: a particular time is to be set apart for the worship of God. This is the thing which all men seem to know intuitively, or by nature. 

Two, what is the moral law contained within the fourth commandment? It is that one day in seven is to be observed as a holy day of rest according to the pattern established by God when he created the world.

Three, what is the positive law concerning the particular day for rest and worship? We confess that “from the beginning of the world to the resurrection of Christ [the Sabbath day] was the last day of the week, and from the resurrection of Christ [the Sabbath day] was changed into the first day of the week, which is called the Lord’s Day: and is to be continued to the end of the world as the Christian Sabbath, the observation of the last day of the week [having been] abolished.” 

If you were to ask me to present you with proof texts from the New Testament to demonstrate that, on the one hand, the weekly Sabbath day is still to be observed under the New Covenant, and on the other hand,  the Sabbath day has changed from the seventh day (Saturday) to the first day (Sunday), it would go something like this. 

First of all, in Mark 2 Jesus Christ declared himself to be Lord of the Sabbath. As Lord of the Sabbath, he taught about its proper observance. And as Lord of Sabbath, he has the authority to change the day. 

Two, Hebrews 4:9 explicitly says, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God…” (Hebrews 4:9, ESV). The text is very clear. The writer to the Hebrews is declaring that the practice of Sabbath-keeping still remains under the New Covenant, and will remain, until the thing of which the weekly Sabbath signifies arrives, namely eternal rest in the new heavens and earth. 

Three, there are a number of passages that clearly teach that the Old Covenant, Jewish, seventh-day Sabbath, along with all of the festival and feast days associated with it,  have passed away because they have been fulfilled in Christ. Colossians 2:16-17 is the most famous of these. It says, “Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath [plural in the Greek]. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ” (Colossians 2:16–17, ESV). These three terms, “festival”, “new moon”, and “Sabbaths” are used together in the Old Testament to refer to the entire religious calendar of Old Covenant Israel. As you know, Israel was not only to keep the weekly, seventh-day Sabbath, but other Sabbaths too which were connected to other feasts, such as the Passover, the feast of unleavened bread, and the feast of booths (see 2 Chronicles 8:13 as an example). Paul is saying here in Colossians 2:16-17 that the New Covenant people of God are not obligated to obey the Old Covenant positive laws regarding food and drink, and neither are they obligated to observe the Old Covenant religious calendar, including the seventh-day Sabbath, for these have been fulfilled in Christ.

Four, Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week. And he also made a point of appearing to his disciples in his resurrection when they were assembled together on the first day of the week, which is sometimes called the eight-day. You can read the end of John’s gospel to see how he places an emphasis upon this fact. Christ (who is Lord of the Sabbath, remember) appeared to his disciples in his resurrection when they were assembled together on the first day of the week. He did this to set a precedent, or example, for them. 

Five, the New Testament is clear that it was the practice of the early church to assemble for worship on the first day of the week. For example, Acts 20:7 says, “On the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul talked with them, intending to depart on the next day, and he prolonged his speech until midnight”, etc.  This could not be more clear. The disciples assembled to break bread, that is, to observe the Lord’s Supper, and to listen to the preaching of the word of God. These are elements of New Covenant worship. What day did they assemble on? The first day. And listen to what Paul said to the Corinthian church, “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come.” Clearly, it was the practice of the church in the days of the Apostles to assemble on the first day, and we know from the writtings of the early church fathers that this remained their custom after the Apostles had passed. Why? Because Christ, who is the Lord of the Sabbath, established it. 

Six, in the book of Revelation this day is referred to appropriately as the Lord’s Day. In Revelation 1:10 John says, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet…”, etc. 

As is often the case, there is no one passage that says it all. But when taken all together the New Testamnet is clear that when Christ rose from the dead on the first day of the week there was a fulfillment of the old seventh-day Sabbath. It passed away. But the practice of Sabbath-keeping remains. God’s people are still to rest and worship one day in seven, but the day has changed from the seventh to the first. 

But why?

You see, I can present proof texts to you and demonstrate from the New Testament that the Sabbath day is still to be remembered and kept holy on the first day of the week. But I think it is also important for us to understand why?

Why does Sabbath-keeping remain? And why has the day changed? To understand the why, we cannot simply proof text. We need to also understand what the Sabbath is about. 

Why does Sabbath-keeping remain? I’ve already said it, but I will say it once more. It is because the thing of which the Sabbath is a sign is not here yet. What did the Sabbath day signify from the beginning? In brief, eternal life, eternal rest in the presence of God Almighty. It signified the new heavens and earth. It signified the eternal state which was offered to Adam and is portrayed for us so beautifully in the last chapter of the book of Revelation. Brothers and sisters, do I need to tell you that we have not yet entered into the fullness of that rest? In fact, this is precisely the argument that the writer to the Hebrews makes. A Sabbath-keeping remains for the people of God because we have not entered into the fullness of the rest that was offered to Adam and forfeited but earned by the second Adam, Christ the Lord. Sabbath-keeping remains because the thing of which the Sabbath was a sign is not here yet in full. 

And why has the day changed from the seventh to the first? Three things must be said. 

One, the original seventh-day Sabbath was attached to the original creation. God created through the Word and by the Spirit in six days and rested on the seventh. The original creation was ruined by sin. But now, by the grace of God, there is a new creation. It too was brought into existence by the Father through the Word and Spirit. The first-day Sabbath does not only remind us of the original creation only, but of the new creation which was earned by Christ.

Two, the original seventh-day Sabbath was attached to the Covenant of Works that God made with Adam in the beginning. Work would lead to rest. That was the arrangement. And the pattern of six days of work leading to one day of rest was a fitting sign for the Covenant of Works. But now God’s people are under the New Covenant, which is the Covenant of Grace. The seventh-day Sabbath does not fit the Covenant of Grace. In a Covenant of Grace, work does not lead to rest. No, rest is freely received, and then work (or obedience) does follow. Now the moral law remains the same. One day in seven is to be a rest day and observed as holy unto the Lord. But the positive and symbolic part of the law has changed. We rest first, and then we work, for by grace and through faith we have entered into the grace which Christ has earned through his obedience. 

Three, the day of rest is now Sunday, for this is the day on which Jesus Christ rose from the grave, and everything turns on this event. When Christ rose, the power of sin was broken, the evil one was defeated, and the new creation did enter in.  

Brothers and sisters, the fourth commandment is simply this: “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” Have you kept this law perfectly? We confess that we have violated this law in thought, word, and deed.

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The Gospel

Now for the gospel. Not only did Christ perfectly keep the Sabbath for you, so that you might receive his righteousness by faith. And not only did Christ die to atone for your sins, including your sins of Sabbath-breaking, so that through faith in him your sins are washed away. I also say to you, that Christ is your Sabbath rest. This is good news.  

The first Adam was disobedient and failed to enter into the rest that was offered to him. But Jesus Christ, the second Adam, was obedient. He was obedient in the whole of life, and without sin. And as our appointed mediator, he was obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross. He died, was buried, he rose again on the third day, ascended to the Father, and he sat down having finished the work of redemption that was assigned to him. Christ has entered into Sabbath rest. And in him, we have a foretaste of that rest even now. When he returns, we will rest in him fully and for all eternity. 

You see, when the faithful who lived before Christ remembered the Sabbath day and kept it holy, they were reminded of the original act of creation, of the Covenant of Works that God made with Adam, of the fact that Adam fell into sin, that we fell in him, and that we have come short of the eternal rest that was offered. But as they continued to observe the seventh-day Sabbath from the days of Adam to the days of Christ, the faithful were also reminded of the promise of the gospel that had been delivered to them. They knew that eternal rest could still be obtained through faithful work! It could not be their work, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Rest would have to be earned by the work of the Messiah. In this way, when combined with the promise of the gospel, the weekly Sabbath was good news to those who believed before Christ. In other words, those with faith looked forward to the Messiah’s coming and the work that he would accomplish for them. The faithful worked on days 1 through 6 and rested on the seventh as they set their hope on the Christ who was to come in the future.

Now that Messiah has come – now that he has finished his work that the Father gave him to do – and now that he has entered into his rest – we still are to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. And when we do, we do not only remember the first creation, the Covenant of works made with Adam, the breaking of that covenant, and the promise of the gospel that was spoken even in Adam’s presence. No, we also remember that Messiah has come, that he was faithful to do the work the Father gave him to do, that he has entered into his rest, that he has ushered in a new creation. We rest in him now, and are a new creation in him. And as we sojourn in this cursed world we long for the fullness of this rest, the consummation of all things, the new heavens and earth, purchased by Christ’s shed blood. 

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy”, brothers and sisters. In six days you shall do all your work. Do it faithfully and as unto the Lord. But the first day of the week is the Lord’s Day, the Christian, New Covenant Sabbath. It is a day for rest and for worship. It is not a day for ordinary work or for worldly recreation. No, with the exception of acts of necessity and mercy, it is to be a day filled with a special kind of activity. It is a day for remembering creation and also our redemption in Christ Jesus. It is a day for worship. It is a day for fellowship amongst believers. Brothers and sisters, the Sabbath was not made for God but for man! It is a gift to us, for in it we have the opportunity to draw near to God, our Creator and Redeemer, and to center and re-center our lives upon him and upon the Savior he has provided. It is a day for us to do business, not with the world, but with God. I pray that the Lord’s Day Sabbath is a blessing to you all. I pray that it is a day that you long for and savor when it is here. I pray that we would learn to keep it more and more, to God’s glory, and for our good, as we wait for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and our eternal inheritance in him. 

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Exodus 20:8-11, Posted by Joe. Comments Off on Morning Sermon: Exodus 20:8-11, The Fourth Commandment

Mar 22
27

Week Of March 27th, 2022

WEEKLY READINGS
SUNDAY > Exod 37, John 16, Prov 13, Eph 6
MONDAY > Exod 38, John 17, Prov 14, Phil 1
TUESDAY > Exod 39, John 18, Prov 15, Phil 2
WEDNESDAY > Exod 40, John 19, Prov 16, Phil 3
THURSDAY > Lev 1, John 20, Prov 17, Phil 4
FRIDAY > Lev 2–3, John 21, Prov 18, Col 1
SATURDAY > Lev 4, Ps 1–2, Prov 19, Col 2

MEMORY VERSE(S)
“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27,ESV).

CATECHISM QUESTION(S)
Baptist Catechism #11-12:
Q. How doth God execute His decrees?
A. God executeth (executes) His decrees in the works of creation and providence.
Q. What is the work of creation?
A. The work of creation is God’s making all things of nothing, by the Word of His power, in the space of six days, and all very good.

Posted in Weekly Passages, Posted by Mike. Comments Off on Week Of March 27th, 2022

Mar 22
20

Afternoon Sermon: What Are The Decrees Of God?, Baptist Catechism 10, Ephesians 1:3–14

Baptist Catechism 10

Q. 10. What are the decrees of God?

A. The decrees of God are His eternal purpose, according to the counsel of His will, whereby for His own glory, He has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. (Eph. 1:11; Rom. 11:36; Dan. 4:35)

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1:3–14

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:3–14, ESV)

*****

Introduction

If you remember, our catechism has two big parts to it. After some introductory questions, question 6 asks, “ What things are chiefly contained in the Holy Scriptures?” Answer: “The Holy Scriptures chiefly contain what man ought to believe concerning God, and what duty God requireth of man.” And the rest of the catechism is divided into those two parts. Questions 7 through 43 summarize what the scriptures teach concerning God. And questions 44 through 114 summarize what the scriptures say concerning our duty before God. So we have been learning about God, haven’t we? In particular, questions 7 through 9 of our catechism teach us about God’s nature. They answer the question, what is God? 

Q. 7. What is God?

A. God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth.

Q. 8. Are there more gods than one?

A. There is but one only, the living and true God. 

Q. 9. How many persons are there in the Godhead?

A. There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory. 

Now we are going to move on from talking about the nature of God to talking about God’s actions or works. In particular, we are going to consider God’s work of creation, his work of providence, and finally, his work of redemption. But before we get to God’s works, we must talk about one more thing, and that is God’s decree. Before God created, God made a decree.  

So what is a decree? Well, a decree is an order, an edict, or a proclamation. If I say to my children, thou shalt clean your room, that is a decree. I decided in my mind and heart that the room needed to be cleaned, that my child should do it, and that they should do it at such and such a time, and then I declared it. The declaration is the decree. The cleaning of the room is the action that flows from the decree. 

Fathers and mothers may issue decrees, and so too can Kings. As you see, decrees are made by people who have some kind of authority. Those who have authority over some realm may issue decrees regarding what is to happen in that realm. Parents can decree that chores be done, and kings can command that armies move about, that things be built, and that monies be collected. These are decrees, and if all is well in the realms over which these decree makers have authority, actions will follow. 

When we speak of the decrees of God, we are saying that God has done something similar. Before he created, before he providentially upholds his creation, and before he redeemed sinners through Jesus Christ, he made a decree. 

I say that God has done something similar because God does not decree in the same way that men and women made decrees. When men and women make decrees, they have to think about it. They have to consider the risks and rewards. If they are wise, they will consult counselors. And then they must issue the decree to their inferiors hoping that they will in fact obey. None of that happens in God. God is not in process. He does not have to ponder his possibilities. He does not have to consult anyone to determine what he should do. And when God decrees something, it happens. So then, when we talk about the decree of God we are talking about something that God has truly done. But we must remember that God has not decreed in the same way that men and women decree, for we have already learned that God is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. 

 *****

His Eternal Purpose

So what are the decrees of God? Our catechism begins by saying that “the decrees of God are His eternal purpose…”  

The decrees of God are the purposes or plans of God. 

The word “eternal” is significant. It teaches us that God made his decree in eternity, or “before the foundation of the world”, to use the language of scripture. 

The Ephesians 1 passage that we read just a moment ago speaks of God’s decree as it pertains to the salvation of God’s elect. Listen again to verses 3 and 4. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.” (Ephesians 1:3–4, ESV). When did God choose the elect? When did God decree that his elect would be in Christ? “Before the foundation of the world”, that is to say, before creation and in eternity.

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According To The Counsel Of His Will

What are the decrees of God? They are his plans and purposes. When did he issue his decree? Not in time… not over and over again as human history unfolds… but in eternity, before the foundation of the world. And what moved God to decree what he decreed? Our catechism is right to say that God made his decree “according to the counsel of His will.” In other words, no one external to God offered counsel to God to move him to decree what he decreed. 

This is so significant. Many foolishly believe that God made his decree based upon the insights that he gained from his creatures. Some will say that God elected to save some based upon what he saw them do. But the scriptures nowhere teach that. In fact, the scriptures do tell what “moved” God to decree what he decreed. He decreed what he decreed according to the counsel of his own will, that is to say, from within himself, and without being moved by anything external to himself. 

The Ephesians 1 passage that we read earlier also speaks to this. Listen to verse 5: “…he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…” To decree is to predestine. And here Paul says that God predestined his elect “for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ…” According to what? What “moved” God to predestine those he predestined? “According to the purpose of his will…”, the text says. In other words, no one offered counsel to God. Nothing external to God moved him to choose as he chose. He predestinated from within himself, according to his free and gracious will.

Paul also speaks to this in Romans 11:33ff where he exclaims, “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! ‘For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor? [the implied answer is, no one!] Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?’ For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.” The words, for “from him and through him and to him are all things”, pretty much say it all.

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For His Own Glory

So, we know that the decree of God is his eternal purpose. We also know that God decreed what he decreed from within himself, according to the counsel of his own will. The next question we might ask is, what is God’s goal. What is his objective?  The men and women – parents and kings – make decrees, they have goals or objectives. What is God’s goal or objective? Answer: God has decreed what he has decreed “for His own glory.” 

Both the Ephesian 1 and the Romans 11 passage that I have read teach this. Ephesians 1:5-6 says, “he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.” The words “to the” indicate the end-goal or objective. God has predestinated some to salvation in Christ to the praise of his glorious grace. And at the end of that beautiful doxology of Romans 11:33-36, Paul says, “To him be glory forever. Amen.” What has God decreed what he has decreed? So much remains a mystery to us, but this we know: it will be for God’s glory. Romans 9 teaches this too, but we do not have time to go there. 

If it sounds strange to you that God most concerned to glorify himself, then consider this. It is wrong for you and me to live for our own glory. Why? Because we are creatures. But it is right for God to seek his own glory. Indeed, it would be wrong for him not to! Why? Because he is God. If God were to seek the glory of any other, then God himself would violate the first commandment. But please hear this: when God seeks his own glory, he does at the same time seek our good. For what is our greatest good except to be found in him, to worship and adore him. 

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He Has Foreordained Whatsoever Comes To Pass

Lastly, what has God decreed? Answer: “He has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.”

When we speak of God’s decree we are talking about God’s eternal purposes, and more specifically we are talking about foreordination. What does that word mean? To foreordain is to order or determine something ahead of time. And the scriptures teach that God’s foreordination reaches, not just to the salvation of his elect, but to all things.  

That Ephesians 1 passage speaks to this too. Listen to verse 11: “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will…” The Arminians love to say “all means all”. Often times they are wrong, but here there are right! Paul is clearly teaching that God “works all things according to the counsel of his will…” Not just the salvation of his elect, but all things. 

Isaiah 46:9-10 also teaches this. There God says, “remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose’”.

And consider the words of Jesus himself: “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (Matthew 10:29–31, ESV). God’s decree, and his providential care over the world he has made, extend even to lifes of sparrows and to the hairs on our head.

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Conclusion

I’m out of time. There is a danger in presenting such a difficult subject in such a limited timeframe. There are many questions that I have left unaddressed and unanswered. Lord willing, we will have an opportunity to address them later. For now, may I encourage you to read chapter 3 of our confession? There you will find a more full treatment of this subject. 

I will conclude by saying that the doctrine of God’s decree should be a comfort to us. It should be comforting to know that the events of our lives are not random and out of control (as they often seem). They are not meaningless or without purpose. No, God is in them somehow. He has determined to work all things – the good and the bad – for his glory and for the good of his people. How can this be? Well, there is much that is mysterious to us. But we know it is true. God is holy and just. He does no evil, nor does he tempt men to do evil. Men, by their free will, do choose to rebel against their Maker, and God in his wisdom does permit it. But hear this: this permission that I speak of is not bear or purposeless permission. No, all things that come to pass in time are the outworking of God who is “infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth” (BC, 7).

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Posted by Joe. Comments Off on Afternoon Sermon: What Are The Decrees Of God?, Baptist Catechism 10, Ephesians 1:3–14

Mar 22
20

Discussion Questions: Exodus 20:7

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION 

AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

  • The law is good. Discuss.
  • What does the third commandment forbid? What does it require?
  • What does it mean to handle something in a vain way?
  • Give examples of violations of the third commandment. 
  • How can we grow in our keeping of the third commandment?
Tags:
Posted in Study Guides, Gospel Community Groups, Gospel Community Groups, Joe Anady, Posted by Joe. Comments Off on Discussion Questions: Exodus 20:7

Mar 22
20

Morning Sermon: Exodus 20:7, The Third Commandment

Old Testament Reading: Exodus 20:7

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.” (Exodus 20:7, ESV)

New Testament Reading: James 5:7–12

“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your ‘yes’ be yes and your ‘no’ be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.” (James 5:7–12, ESV)

*****

Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

As we have studied the Ten Commandments, one of my prayers for us has been that we would grow in our love for God’s law. If we are to love God’s law we must know what it is. And if we are to love God’s law we must understand what it requires and forbids. But it is one thing to know and understand God’s law – it is another thing to love it. God’s people ought to love God’s law. 

We should agree with the Psalmist who spoke to God,  saying, “Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors” (Psalm 119:24, ESV). In another place he says, “Behold, I long for your precepts; in your righteousness give me life!”. And again he says,  “for I find my delight in your commandments, which I love” (Psalm 119:47, ESV). God’s people ought to love God’s law. We should agree with King David’s who spoke of God’s commandments, saying, “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” (Psalm 19:10–11, ESV). God’s people should love God’s law because it is God’s law. His law is good. His law is pure. His law is right. In keeping it there is great reward. 

In my experience (which I admit is very limited) I have found that when Christians do speak about God’s law it is often to warn against the misuse of it. I wonder if you have had experience the same? In other words, when we do speak of God’s law, I have found that we often stress what God’s law is not good for. And it is very important that we do this. The scriptures do this. Paul especially does this in his writings. He warns against the misuse of the law. Do not think that we can earn salvation through law-keeping, he teaches. God’s law is not good for that now that we have fallen into sin. The law cannot save. The law cannot justify. No, it condemns us. When we read the law we realize (or at least we should) that we have broken it time and time again. So, the scriptures do warn us against the misuse of the law. And it is right that we stress this, for many do stumble over this stumbling stone (Romans 9:32). They seek to be justified by the works of the law instead of by faith in Christ, and this is a fatal error. 

But let us not forget that the scriptures do often speak of the law of God as good. I’ve already cited Psalm 19 and Psalm 119 which speak beautifully concerning the goodness of God’s law. Now let me cite Paul, the man who is famous for his warnings against legalism. He himself says, “Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully…” (1 Timothy 1:8, ESV). Paul refers to the law as “good”, but he qualifies his statement by saying, “if one uses it lawfully…” In other words, the law itself is good. The problem is not with God’s law, but with the misuse of God’s law. God’s law is good, but we must be careful to use it “lawfully”, which means, correctly, or according to its design. 

God’s law is indeed good. It is good because it shows us our sins. When we meditate on God’s law it is like looking into a mirror. How do you know what your face looks like? You must look into a mirror! And how can a man examine the condition of their soul? We must look into the mirror of God’s law! We must read it, comprehend it, and meditate upon it, asking ourselves, do I live up to this standard? This is what we call, self-reflection. But you cannot self-reflect without a standard. And the only true and pure standard worthy to be used in the self-reflection is God’s moral law. When we look into it, it functions as a mirror. It enables us to see our sins, our flaws, and our blemishes. And when God’s law shows us our sin, it also reminds us of our need for the Savior, Christ the Lord. God’s law is good, for it drives us to Christ. 

And God’s moral law is also good because it shows the one who has faith in Christ the way to life abundant. In this world, there is a way that leads to death, and there is a way that leads to life. There is a path of wisdom and a path of folly. God’s moral law is like a lamp for our feet. It illuminates the way of righteousness, goodness, and blessing. In God’s law, we find the will of God revealed. God’s law directs us to walk in the right way so that we might live life to the fullest in Christ Jesus. 

Do you wish to be blessed? Do you wish to be truly happy and at peace? Then turn to Christ. Trust in him for the forgiveness of sins. And then, by the gracious aid of the Holy Spirit, walk in the right way. And by that, I mean, love God’s law in the heart, and keep his commandments in thought, word, and deed. Do you remember the very first words of the Psalter? “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away” (Psalm 1:1–4, ESV).

God’s law is good, brothers and sisters. It shows us our sin and therefore dives us to repentance and to faith in Christ. Also, it is a lamp to our feet illuminating for us the way to righteousness and blessing. As we contemplate God’s moral law as summarized in the Ten Commandments, let us not forget that it is good.

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The Law

We have come now to the third of the Ten Commandments, which is, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.”

What is the first commandment? “You shall have no other gods before me.” (Exodus 20:3, ESV)

What is the second? “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them…” (Exodus 20:4–5, ESV)

And now the third: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain…” (Exodus 20:7, ESV).

As I have said in previous sermons, the first four commandments all have to do with our relationship to God and with worship. The first commandment addresses the object of our worship. Who is to be worshipped? Answer: YHWH alone is to be worshipped. The second commandment addresses the form of worship. How is YHWH to be worshipped? As God prescribes, and not with idols or images. And now the third commandment deals with the attitude of worship. What should our attitude towards God be? Answer: one of reverence. We are to have reverence for God’s name. The fourth commandment will address the time of worship. One day in seven is to be set apart unto him as holy. 

Do you wish to be truly blessed in this life, friends? Well, as you can see we must start by addressing our relationship with God. Here is where the blessed life begins: by having God as our God, and by living for the glory of his name. 

Again, the third commandment is, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.”

Notice how broad this commandment is. The Hebrew word translated as “take” is very generic. It appears over 600 times in the Old Testament. It means to carry, to rise, to lift up, or to bring. It can also mean to lift up high or to exult. Typically, the word is used to describe the lifting up of a physical object. Men are said to lift up their eyes to heaven, or to take their weapons to war, or to carry as many of their possessions as they can. Here the word is used in reference, not to a physical object, but to God’s name. “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain”, the commandment says. 

God is represented by his name. In fact, this is true of all things. Things have names, and names represent things. If I say “tree”, you picture a tree. If I say “dog”, you picture a dog. And to make it more personal, if I say “Lindsay” or “David”, you think of a Lindsay and a David. Names are powerful and they are very important. People are represented by their names. This is why the scriptures say that “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches…” (Proverbs 22:1, ESV). To have a “good name” is to have a good reputation. You are represented by your name, and your name represents you. This is why slander is such a terrible sin. When people slander others they do damage to the person by dishonoring their name. Similarly, if we take up God’s name and use it in a vain way, we do damage to God’s reputation. God is demeaned and disrespected when we take up and use his name in a vain way. 

The Hebrew word translated as “vain” means worthless, empty, inconsequential, unrestrained, or false. So then, the third commandment forbids us from taking up God’s name to use it in a way that is empty, careless, or false.   

To take up and use the name of God in a vain way is most inappropriate, for God is the opposite of vanity. Vain things lack substance, but God is most substantial. Vain things are untrue, and yet God is truth. Vain things are empty, but God is the fullness of life. Vain things are worthless, but God is of infinite worth. Etc. I think you get the point. It is not fitting to take up the name of God and to use it in a worthless, empty, inconsequential, careless, or false way, for God is not worthless, empty, inconsequential, or false. He is glorious. He is perfectly holy, and infinite in all of his perfections. His name is to be honored, therefore. To use God’s name in a vain way reveals that you have no reverence for God in the heart. God is to be revered. And this means that his name is to be revered, for he is represented by his most holy name. 

By the way, you will notice that the commandment does not say, you shall not take the name of the LORD your God. Rather, it says, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.” Some have taken this commandment too far and have superstitiously avoided using the name of God at all. Many have refused to pronounce the name YHWH, for example. But that is not what is forbidden here. The command does not forbid the use of God’s name. No, it is the vain, empty, careless, and false use of God’s name that is forbidden.    

So serious is the sin of using the name of the LORD in a vain way that God attached a warning to this commandment. “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7, ESV). Men and women may use the name of God in a vain way without obvious ramifications, but here the LORD says that he will not hold them guiltless. In other words, he will hold them accountable for their sin. 

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The Heart Of The Matter

So we know what the third commandment is: “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.” Now, let us go to the heart of the matter by asking what this commandment forbids and requires. 

What is forbidden in the third commandment? Question 60 of our the Baptist Catechism provides a helpful answer. “The third commandment forbideth all profaning and abusing of anything whereby God makes Himself known.”

As you can see, our catechism applies the third commandment in a broad way, and I think this is right. Not only does the third commandment forbid us from using the name YHWH in a vain way. No, the heart of the matter is that we are forbidden from “profaning and abusing of anything whereby God makes Himself known.” This is about reverence, brothers and sisters.

Question 59 of our catechism addresses this with more precision when it asks, “What is required in the third commandment?” Answer: “The third commandment requireth the holy and reverent use of God’s names, titles, attributes, ordinances, words, and works.”

Again I say, this is about reverence. God alone is to be worshipped. He is to be worshipped in the way that he says (never with idols or images). And he is to be revered. He is to be respected and even feared. And how are we to respect God? Well, we do not see him face to face, do we? No, we know God through his revelation. 

God has revealed himself to us in the world that he has made, and through his word. God’s word is to respected, therefore. And also his creation. 

He has revealed himself to us through his names. YHWH is the proper name of God. It communicates, among other things, that he is the self-existent One. Be he also revealed himself to us with other names and titles. He is God Most High. He is Lord. He is the Almighty One. He is the Lord of Hosts. He is Father. We are to honor God by honoring his names and his titles. 

And God has also revealed himself to us by telling us about his attributes. He is infinite, eternal, and unchanging. He is sovereign. He is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. He is holy and just. He is merciful and kind. We are to honor God by knowing, believing, and honoring his attributes. 

God has also communicated himself to us through his ordinances. Ordinances are those things that God has ordered or commanded. Ordinances tell us something about God and his relationship to us. In the beginning, the ordinance of marriage was given to all mankind. The marriage bond between a man and woman for life tells us something about God and his relationship to us. Marriage is to be honored, therefore. God gave Abraham and his descendants the ordinance of circumcision. Circumcision communicated something about God and his special relationship to the Hebrews under the Old Covenant. Circumcision was to be honored, therefore, and not taken lightly. And under the New Covenant, Christ has given the church the two ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. God communicates himself to us through these ordinances. They are to be honored, therefore, and not taken lightly.

Listen, just as it was with the first and second commandments, so it is with the third. We tend to reduce the commandments down to a minimum. We often fail to get to the heart of the matter. We often neglect to ask the questions, what does this commandment really require and forbid? 

What sin do men and women typically think of when they think of violations of the third commandment? I would imagine that most people think of the sin of using the name of God, or of Jesus Christ, as a curse word. And indeed, this is a violation of the third commandment. It is sinful to take up the holy name of God, or the precious name of Jesus, and to use them in such a vain way. We are to have reverence for God and for God in Christ, brothers and sisters. Never should we use the name of God to express anger, frustration, or disapproval as if it were a curse word. 

Others may think of the sin of swearing falsely by the name of God. This too is a violation of the third commandment. If we take an oath or swear by the name of God, then what we say had better be true. To swear by the name of God, and then to speak falsehood, dishonors God. It reveals that we do not fear him or revere him in the heart. 

By the way, many think that the scriptures forbid us from swearing, or taking an oath, by the name of God. They think of that passage that we read early in James 5:12: “But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your ‘yes’ be yes and your ‘no’ be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.” Or perhaps they think of the words of Christ regarding oath swearing in Matthew 5:33ff. A surface reading of both those texts seems to say that Christians are never to take oaths. But I don’t think that is the meaning. Instead, both Christ and James are commanding truthfulness as a way of life. Speak the truth, brothers and sisters. Let your yes be “yes” and your no be “no” in your daily conversations where there is no oath swearing. And if there is to be an oath taken (perhaps in a court of law) then do not play games with by swearing by something lesser than the name of God, namely, the earth, the temple, or your mother’s grave, etc. No, when oaths are taken, you are to swear by the name of God, and you are to tell the truth.  

This is what Deuteronomy 10:20 says. “You shall fear the LORD your God. You shall serve him and hold fast to him, and by his name you shall swear” (Deuteronomy 10:20, ESV). Leviticus 19:12 is also significant. It says, “You shall not swear by my name falsely, and so profane the name of your God: I am the LORD” (Leviticus 19:12, ESV). You can see clearly that the law of Leviticus 19:12 is rooted in the third commandment. It does not forbid swearing (or taking an oath) by God’s name. No, it forbids swearing falsely by God’s name. To swear falsely by God’s name would be to profane the name of God.

Chapter 23 of our confessions is about oaths and vows. Paragraph 1 says, “ A lawful oath is a part of religious worship, wherein the person swearing in truth, righteousness, and judgement, solemnly calleth God to witness what he swears, and to judge him according to the truth or falseness thereof.” Paragraph 2 then says, “The name of God only is that by which men ought to swear; and therein it is to be used, with all holy fear and reverence; therefore to swear vainly or rashly by that glorious and dreadful name, or to swear at all by any other thing, is sinful, and to be abhorred; yet as in matter of weight and moment, for confirmation of truth, and ending all strife, an oath is warranted by the Word of God; so a lawful oath being imposed by lawful authority in such matters, ought to be taken.”

So, it is certainly true that it is a violation of the third commandment to take up the name of God and to use it in a vain way as a curse word. It is also a sin to swear falsely by the name of God. Both are irreverent and unholy uses of God’s holy name. And God will not hold them guiltless who use his name in such a careless. 

But if we are to get to the heart of the matter – if we are to truly understand what this law commands and forbids – we must think more broadly. This commandment is about having reverence for God, and for all of the ways in which God makes himself known to us. He has revealed himself to us through his names, titles, and attributes. And he has also revealed himself to us through his ordinances, words, and works.

Brothers and sisters, in baptism and the Lord’s Supper, God sets his name upon us. These ordinances set us apart as YHWH’s people. Are you following me? Yes, we may “take up” the name of God on our lips. And when we do we must be careful not to profane it by lying or by using it in an unholy manner. But we also “take up” God’s name in his ordinances. 

When we baptize, we are to baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. In water baptism, God’s name is set upon the one baptized by profession of faith. Baptism signifies membership in the Covenant of Grace. Baptism should not be approached or administered in a vain, careless, empty, or untrue way.  “The LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”  

In the Lord’s Supper, God sets his name upon his people. Those who partake say they have Jesus as Lord. Those who partake are said to be God’s children. Those who partake are set apart from the world as citizens of God’s kingdom. Baptism marks the entrance into the Covenant. In the Lord’s Supper, the Covenant is renewed. When we take up the bread and the wine, we are claiming to have God as our God through faith in Christ, and God sets his name upon us. We are his, and he is ours. The Lord’s Supper must not be approached or administered in a vain, empty, or careless, or untrue way. “The LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”   

And what should we say about God’s word and his works? Briefly, I will remind you that God reveals himself to us in his word. We, as God’s people, must have reverence for God’s word. When God’s word is read and preached, God’s people ought to pay careful attention. They should work hard to understand it. They must believe it in the heart and seek to obey it, with God’s help. It is a dangerous thing to receive God’s word in a careless or vain way. “The LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.”   

And consider this: God has also revealed himself to us in his works. When we speak of God’s works we may talk about his works of creation, providence, and redemption. We know that God is revealed in the world he has made. He is also revealed through his providential upholding and governing of the world he has made. And he is revealed in the work of redemption too. We live in God’s world, brothers and sisters. And as cliche as it sounds, history is indeed his story. In other words, we cannot escape God’s revelation. He is everywhere revealed through his works. We are to have reverence for God, therefore, not only in church where the word is preached and the ordinances are administered, but even as we contemplate God’s creation, and as we consider his providence. I think we should be more careful than we are when talking about the Lord’s providence. We tend to gripe and complain about the way that things are going in the world, and we forget that God has willed and permitted it. His glory and grace will be manifest through the world and through the whole course of human history.    

God is to be revered, brothers and sisters. And though we do not see him face to face, as it were, he makes himself known through revelation. He has revealed his names, titles, and attributes. He reveals himself through his ordinances, word, and works. All of these forms of revelation are to be handled with great care, for God makes himself known to us through them. 

“You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.”

And now that we have considered the heart of the matter, and what the third commandment requires and forbids, I ask you, have you kept this law perfectly? We confess that we have violated this law in thought word.  

*****

The Gospel

The law condemns us, but the gospel offers the forgiveness of sins and life abundant and eternal in Christ Jesus. 

What is the gospel, then? Well, it is the good news that God has provided a Savior for us. His name is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was sinless. He perfectly obeyed God’s law. Yes, even the third commandment. He possed a perfect and perpetual reverence for God’s name. He came to do the Father’s will. More than this, he came to reveal God’s name to those whom God has given to him. This is what he says in John 17:6. Praying to the Father, he says, “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word” (John 17:6, ESV). In other words, Christ did not merely keep God’s law in an external way. No, he kept it with reverence for the Father in his heart. And as the God-man – as the eternal Word of God or Son of God come in the flesh – he himself revealed God to us. He kept the third commandment, along with all the others, perfectly and perpetually. Christ did not deserve to die but died in the place of those given to him by the Father. He laid down his life as an atoning sacrifice for the sheep.    

This means that Christ has the forgiveness of sins to give, along with his righteousness. The forgiveness of sins, and the righteousness of Christ, are received by faith. As John 3:16 so famously says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16, ESV). This is the gospel. It is the good news that the forgiveness of sins and the hope of eternal life are available through faith in Jesus the Messiah.

But one thing I have attempted to stress in these sermons on the Ten Commandments is that the gospel does not only have to do with the forgiveness of sins and the hope of heaven in the future. No, those in Christ have been regenerated the power of the Holy Spirit. The law of God, which was marred and distorted and suppressed within us because of sin, is written anew and afresh upon the hearts of all who believe. God does not only teach those in Christ his law. He does not merely write it on stone for us to function and an external standard. No, he writes it on our hearts. 

This was promised through the prophet Jerimiah long before Christ was born. In Jerimiah 31:31  we read “Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the LORD. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more” (Jeremiah 31:31–34, ESV).

If you are in Christ by faith, God’s moral law – the same law which was contained within the Ten Commandments written on stone at Sinai – has been written on your heart. You keep this, not to earn salvation, but because you have been saved. You keep this law, not because you have to, but because you want to. You keep this law this law not to earn God’s love, but because God has loved you, and you now love him. 

This is what the Apostle John describes in 1 John 5:3-5. “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:3–5, ESV).

So then, the gospel is not only about the past forgiveness of sins, nor the future hope of life eternal. It is about living an abundant life now. Here is good news: though you were once slaves to sin, now you are free in Christ. Though you were once dead to God and to the things of God, now you are alive. Though you were once blind, not you see. Prior to knowing Christ, God’s moral law stood against you. Its moral demands were written on stone. They condemned you. But now that you are in Christ, that same moral law is written on your heart so that you desire now to do all that God has commanded. 

Corruptions remain, don’t they? Sometimes we do what we don’t want to do, and don’t do what we wish we would. But here is the point: those truly in Christ do have God’s law within them so that they desire now to do that which is pleasing to the Father. We trust that the Lord will sanctify us further by his word and Spirit and keep us faithful in Christ to the end. Lord, help us. 

Posted in Sermons, Joe Anady, Posted by Joe. Comments Off on Morning Sermon: Exodus 20:7, The Third Commandment

Mar 22
20

Week Of March 20th, 2022

WEEKLY READINGS
SUNDAY > Exod 30, John 9, Prov 6, Gal 5
MONDAY > Exod 31, John 10, Prov 7, Gal 6
TUESDAY > Exod 32, John 11, Prov 8, Eph 1
WEDNESDAY > Exod 33, John 12, Prov 9, Eph 2
THURSDAY > Exod 34, John 13, Prov 10, Eph 3
FRIDAY > Exod 35, John 14, Prov 11, Eph 4
SATURDAY > Exod 36, John 15, Prov 12, Eph 5

MEMORY VERSE(S)
“And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6, ESV).

CATECHISM QUESTION(S)
Baptist Catechism #10:
Q. What are the decrees of God?
A. The decrees of God are His eternal purpose, according to the counsel of His will, whereby for His own glory, He has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

Posted in Weekly Passages, Posted by Mike. Comments Off on Week Of March 20th, 2022

Mar 22
13

Week Of March 13th, 2022

WEEKLY READINGS
SUNDAY > Exod 23, John 2, Job 41, 2 Cor 11
MONDAY > Exod 24, John 3, Job 42, 2 Cor 12
TUESDAY > Exod 25, John 4, Prov 1, 2 Cor 13
WEDNESDAY > Exod 26, John 5, Prov 2, Gal 1
THURSDAY > Exod 27, John 6, Prov 3, Gal 2
FRIDAY > Exod 28, John 7, Prov 4, Gal 3
SATURDAY > Exod 29, John 8, Prov 5, Gal 4

MEMORY VERSE(S)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him”(Ephesians 1:3-4, ESV).

CATECHISM QUESTION(S)
Baptist Catechism #8-9:
Q. Are there more gods than one?
A. There is but one only, the living and true God.

Q. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A. There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory.

Posted in Weekly Passages, Posted by Mike. Comments Off on Week Of March 13th, 2022

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