Sermon Series “Exodus”
Exodus 19:3-6
“Israel Then & Us Today”
Pastor John Bright
Exodus 19 “3 And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: 4 ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself. 5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”
Ever hear one of those lists of crazy laws that are still on the books – from long ago? Technically, they are still in effect.
Let's take Missouri for example. Just so you know—you can't drive down the highway with an uncaged bear in your car.
In Illinois, for example, it's illegal to give lighted cigars to your pets—even if they do enjoy a good Cuban from time to time.
Ladies, this one is just for you. Forget about trying to publicly adjust your stockings in Bristol, Tennessee. Performing such a lewd act could land you a sentence of up to twelve months in the state penitentiary.
https://www.legalzoom.com/articles/top-craziest-laws-still-on-the-books
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
God’s Love AND God’s Law – these are not the same… but as attributes of God – they are equal. Remember, you can’t elevate one attribute of God above all the others!
There were three types of Old Testament Laws. The civil law deals mainly with relationships between individuals, the settling of disputes, and the description of proper behavior. The ceremonial law deals with the priesthood and the various sacrifices through which the people of the Old Testament were cleansed of their sins. The moral law is based on the character of God and extends from the Old into the New Testament. Therefore, as it was wrong to lie in the Old Testament, it is still wrong to lie in the New Testament.
carm.org/what-are-the-main-divisions-of-the-old-testament-law
Today, we get our Civil laws from the state and federal government. Most of our Ceremonial law comes from The Book of Discipline. The Moral law still comes from The Bible – if it was a lie then, it’s still a lie now.
Moses has been God’s agent to bring the Israelites from Egypt to the mountain. They needed to remembers what God did for them. What had God done for you? We all need to come out of slavery to be free in Christ! So, what has God done for you?
First thing we want to take away from this part of Exodus - Our God is a Covenant-Making God
Exodus 2 “24 So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.”
To keep the Covenant with Abraham, God had to deliver His people from Egypt.
To make a New Covenant with us, Christ had to shed His blood.
Luke 22: 20 “Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.””
This New Covenant paid the penalty for sins and transgressions in the Old Testament Law. There are two parts to those laws:
• The Morality – lying is part of the 10 Commandments. The elephant in the room right now for the UMC is sexual immorality. God’s design is one man and one woman in a marriage covenant and that never changes.
• The Penalty – Jesus paid the penalty on the cross of Calvary. So we do not take an adulterer into the town square for a public execution (stoning).
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
So, How Does a Covenant Work?
Anybody here married? You know how a covenant works. You both promised to do certain things and not do certain things to stick to the covenant. God explains covenant in Exodus 19:5 “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.” Here we read “obey My voice” and “keep My covenant.”
Here is my over-simplified definition of covenant:
GOD does this… now YOU do that
In the next couple of weeks, we will be looking at God’s expectations for the Israelites and us in the 10 Commandments.
Today – God offers each of us unconditional love (agape) that comes without any cost on our part. We can’t earn it or buy it. It doesn’t matter how many times you have washed the dishes after a church meal. It doesn’t matter how much you put in the offering plate.
Ephesians 2 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
That’s God’s part. So, what’s our part?
Today – As you are living within that love from God – He has righteous expectations of you. Not talking about a list of rules. It’s your choice! If you choose to move and live outside of those righteous expectations, you put up a barrier between you and God. Keep going in that direction – that way of living could become bondage/chains. It’s your choice!
This is the opposite of a popular view in today’s culture – “God loves me, I can do whatever I want.” That’s not true - Hebrews 12:7 “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” If we seek righteousness and holiness – there will be no need for correction/chastening.
God describes His People
Back then, God described the Israelites -
Exodus 19:5 – “treasured possession”
Exodus 19:6 – “priests” and “holy”
Here is God’s description of believers today (we looked at this last week) -
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
That’s the Church. In the Bible we read this word for “Church” – “ecclesia” (Greek) – it means “called out ones.” We are called out of the world, the prevailing culture, to live in a different way (chosen, royal, holy). Yet, we are not called out to stay within these four walls of a building. We are called to go out and be salt and light – in the culture.
Matthew 5 “13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
We can’t be God’s People if we look just like the world/the culture around us.
Where are you today?
Do you have a story to tell today – coming out of bondage? Amen.
TEACHING SHEET
(date)
Sermon Series: Exodus
Exodus 19:3-6
“Israel Then & Us Today”
God’s Love AND God’s Law
There were three types of Old Testament Laws. The civil law deals mainly with relationships between individuals, the settling of disputes, and the description of proper behavior. The ceremonial law deals with the priesthood and the various sacrifices through which the people of the Old Testament were cleansed of their sins. The moral law is based on the character of God and extends from the Old into the New Testament. Therefore, as it was wrong to lie in the Old Testament, it is still wrong to lie in the New Testament. carm.org/what-are-the-main-divisions-of-the-old-testament-law
Moses has been God’s agent to bring the Israelites from Egypt to the mountain. They needed to remembers what God did for them. What had God done for you? We all need to come out of slavery to be free in Christ!
Our God is a Covenant-Making God
Exodus 2 “24 So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. 25 And God looked upon the children of Israel, and God acknowledged them.”
Luke 22: 20 “Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.””
Covenant – How It Works
Exodus 19:5 “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.”
GOD does this… now YOU do that
Today – God offers each of us unconditional love (agape) that comes without any cost on our part. We can’t earn it or buy it.
Ephesians 2 “8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Today – As you are living within that love from God – He has righteous expectations of you. This is the opposite of a popular view in today’s culture – “God loves me, I can do whatever I want.”
Hebrews 12:7 “If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?”
God describes His People
Exodus 19:5 – “treasured possession”
Exodus 19:6 – “priests” and “holy”
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”
Church – “ecclesia” (Greek) – “called out ones”
We can’t be God’s People if we look just like the world/the culture around us. Where are you today? Do you have a story to tell today – coming out of bondage?
Next week – Ex. 20:1-11
