During the season of Lent, I thought I would shift the topic of the blog to the 10 Commandments. Often, when people speak of the 10 commandments, they start with the first commandment, You shall have no other Gods. It makes sense that people do this, but it changes the context and focus of the 10 commandments from how God first gave them.
We read about God giving Israel the 10 commandments in Exodus chapter 20. The first commandment is actually verse 3. Before that, though, God starts with this:
And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.” – Exodus 20:1-2
God doesn’t begin with what Israel was supposed to do. He started with what He had already done. He rescued them from slavery and delivered them, miraculously, from their oppressive enemy. He did this BEFORE they had done anything.
Now, having saved these people and made them His people (and He, their God), a people He would lead, provide for, and protect, THEN He gives them His commandments.
This changes everything. It makes the 10 commandments, not the means by which the people would get God to be for them, but their response because God was already for them.
Jesus says something interesting in John 5,
“But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set.” – John 5:45
The Law can never save us. It only shows us our sin and our need for a savior. Jesus came to be that savior. When we look to the Law as our way to gain God’s favor, then the Law only serves to accuse us. After all, we don’t keep it perfectly.
When, however, we look to Jesus as our savior and the way God has already shown His favor, then we can understand following the Law as our response to God’s grace. Because of this, instead of accusing us, the Law can be a joy for us, a guide for our response to the love and salvation Jesus gave freely by His sacrifice on the cross.
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for giving us Your Law. It is good and perfect. Thank you also for saving us apart from following Your Law, for we could surely never do it. Help me to always remember that my salvation is by Your gracious gift and then joyfully respond by seeking to follow Your Law.
Amen
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
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