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If as you left here this morning someone was to stop you and say," I just saw you going from that church, I've been wondering, What is a Christian? I wonder what your answer would be? I hope in your answer you would include something about the Bible. Obviously you would explain as simply as you could the Gospel - but then before too long you would have to mention the Bible - You would also say that the Bible is unique in that it reveals God’’s grace in undoing the disastrous effects of our sin through a Person - His Son Jesus Christ.
The founder of Presbyterian John Calvin thought it was so important that he preached a series of 200 Sermons on Deuteronomy to the Church in Geneva during 1555-1556.
Here I am sitting in Church in 2002 how in the world is this book relevant to me?
Because the N.T contains more references to it than any other book in the O.T - 90 in fact it forms the basis for the moral -ethical teaching of the N.T > Used by Christ in His Temptation and in the sermon on the Mount.
provides the foundation for the teaching on God’s Law - why? Because it is a collection of sermons on God’s Law. Does that mean it applies to me today? Yes and no. Yes in terms of O.T > Redemption. No in terms of keeping it for salvation.
It’s particulary relevant for those of you who have been bought up under a Liberal or modernist ministry & preaching & this was my experience.
The teaching which I’m sure your firmilar with comes like this -The O.T concept of God is very harsh, unfair and down right cruel - God is angry- He is the God of Sinai - with all those threatenings and flames and smoke - He’s a God of Justice and judgement - But thank God no body believes that anymore. The God of the New Testemant is much more civilised - He’s a God of love, great love - He is A Father and He isn’t going to judge anyone - how could he - infact He is going to save everyone - Hell oh you don’t believe that many more…..
But it doen’t stop there …… He says that you and I are essential good, all this talk about sin, well that’s just to scare people into becoming Christian’s. No really I’m not such a bad chap after all, I…. I…..keep the the Ten Commandments - the Golden Rule.
Now what’s wrong with this teaching? Well, it simply is not true to what the Bible teaches. The dominate emphasis is "I did this, I did that" . The emphasis is on man - the stealth of Liberalism it is a direct attack upon a Sovereign God who provides salvation through the Gospel. It is against God It is as the Apostle Paul says in Galatians 1:11 says, “ the gospel which I preach to you is not man’s gospel. It is another Gospel
To inform God's people how they are to live as His covenant people in the Land - Form of sermons - spiritual principles of the law -
The Law was given after God saved His people to show them how to live in response to His grace - but the has 3 purposes - It shows us the charcter of God - It shows us that we are sinners and need a saviour and as it applies here in Deut and through the N.T it is always to be our loving response to what God has done to his salvation. Never in the Bible is the law given as something we can keep to earn our way into heaven - That is the teaching of the Catholic Church and Islam and other religions -
A sandwich - Two pieces of History top & bottom and in between we have a collection of sermons or messages > exhortations - why? Based around a COVENANT - is a contract Sovereignly imposed by a King on His Subjects
History > Desert 40 yrs - Leaders appointed - spies sent out > Rebellion
Ten commandments repeated - applied to every aspect of life - why those had died - new generation
Blessing cursing - Moses Song & Death.
Commit yourself to God whole heartily when it comes to where you live
Have you ever wondered when you see the news reports on your television why the Israelis are so obsessed with land?
1 Peter 1: 3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
Rev 22:1-2 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month:
Do you have this assurance of heaven - not based on how good you are but on what Christ has done? Face death - will you be looking to Christ or your performance?
Commit yourself to God whole heartily when it comes to how you rest
Deut 12:9 "You are not to do as we do here today, everyone as he see fit, since you have not yet reached the resting place and the inheritance the Lord your God is giving you."
4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 4:3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
Commit yourself to God whole heartily when it comes to love
Deut 6:4-6
DEUTERONOMY SAYS YOU & I CAN LIVE TWO WAYS Ch 30-34
The Climax of Deut is when Moses has a vision of Christ the promised Messiah - Turn to Duet 18:15
"For this reason he (Christ) had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful priest in service to God..." Doesn't this speak of the incarnation - made like his brothers in every way - except sin - Here is Emmanuel God with us - Christ became Man - but notice - He is a Priest ( Rep Man - Advocate - Atterney ) Why
"and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people - this mean What does? Well You remember how once a year on the day of Atonement the High Priest went into the Holy of Holy's - Sacrificed perfect animals, specially clothed - leg tigh - He was sprinkled - sprinkled blood on the arch of the covenant - copy of the law - because it had been broken by God's people - God's anger was appeased, turned way - forgave the sins of his people
Then he goes on to say, in 3:10 “All who rely on keeping the law are under a curse." for it is written, (Then he quotes from Duet 27:26) "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law, clearly no one is jusrified before God by the law, beacuse (Quote from Hab 2:4) The righteous shall live by faith. The law is not based on faith, on the contary, "The man who does these things will live by them. Then He makes this tremendous Statement "..Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for as it is written: Cursed is everyone who hung on a tree." (Quote Deut 27:23) Why - Because He has perfectly Kept the law - that's what it means for Him to be sinless. He's God because the Law is the reflection of God's Character - He's Holy - and He can't be Holy without being Just. Why did your punish your children. Because they disobeyed you - they where naughty - little sinners - taught to be like that - came naturally. God must punish Sin because it's contradiction of who He is. HOW - Becoming a curse - Taking the sins of His people - You shall call His name Jesus - Why "Because He shall Save/Redeem His people from their sins"
What a foolish notion isn't this the whole purpose of Jesus words in the " Sermon on the Mount." How to live for Christ in 3 areas of our lives
Anger - Swearing & loving others
Deut 30: 6 "The Lord your God will circumise your hearts and the hearts of your descendants, so that you may love him with all your heart and with all your soul and live."
In other words you need to be born again by God's Spirit
Remember what Jesus said to Nicodemus - The Teacher of the Law- one who is whole life had been despareately trying to be good and not sin - and Jesus cuts through all this - and says THE REALITY IS MAN YOU NEED TO BE BORN AGAIN - YOU NEED A NEW HEART - AND UNLESS YOU ARE BORN AGAIN -BECOME A NEW PERSON -NEW NATURE YOU WILL NOT SEE MY KINGDOM - HERE IT IS AGAIN - YOU WILL NOT ENTER MY REST - HAVE AN INHERTIANCE - ENJOY HEAVEN.
Matt 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Not through this Denomination- being Baptised - even attending Church -
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 14:5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.