MLC Sermon Notes Note 0405

Yahweh's Vital Law

Reading: 1 John 3

1. The Need for Laws

Anarchy and chaos would take over if all laws were abolished. Imagine for a moment a single country without laws:

• No highway code to control the movement of traffic
• No property law to control the possession and sale of houses and land
• No moral law to control the behaviour of individuals

Just everyone doing exactly as they pleased. Now imagine, if you can, the universe run along those lines. No gravitational law to control the movement of galaxies, stars and planets, no magnetic laws, no heat, light and sound laws - no laws at all. Every thinking person will immediately see that the result would be unimaginable chaos. In other words, without law there can be no order, no health and certainly no happiness. Lawless societies, lawless organisations and lawless individuals are, as most authorities know, the biggest threat to peace and happiness they face. I need not elaborate on this obvious fact.

2. The Purpose of Law

Today I want to speak about moral laws, laws which define human behaviour. Moral laws tell us what is right and what is wrong. Governments the world over struggle daily with the repercussions of the behaviour of their citizens:

• The cost of defence against terrorist attack, espionage or outright war
• The rising cost to the public purse of crime: vandalism, burglary, theft, fraud
• The rising cost to the public purse of drug and alcohol abuse
• The rising cost to the public purse of broken homes: single parent families, homelessness, child abuse, battered wives.

All these are moral issues and they must be controlled by moral laws. And yet, strange as it may seem, it is extremely difficult to legislate on moral issues. Parliaments around the world are simply not able to formulate moral laws. No sooner have they passed one law, which even remotely relates to a moral issue, when a few years later they amend, update or even scrap it. Why this dilemma? The answer is: because moral issues are spiritual territory, the prerogative of God alone! He created the human race; so He alone has the ability and the right to legislate on moral behaviour. We humans may fool ourselves into thinking that we can enter the territory of morals and make laws as to how people should live: what they should do, and what they shouldn't do. But we deceive ourselves, because we cannot do this. We may try, but the world's present chaotic state is proof that we have miserably failed. The fact is, only Yahweh can dictate as to moral behaviour. His commandments are the final word in moral matters. By them we are able to determine what is right and what is wrong.

Any attempt to ignore or change Yahweh's laws will end in disaster. Sooner or later this vital fact will become evident to the whole human race. Till such time as it does, people and governments will blunder along attempting to define their own moral codes; and the cost to the public purse will rise year after year. Better that we go straight to Yahweh's Word and accept His laws before we bankrupt the human race.

Yahweh's law defines sin

Yahweh's law defines sin. It tells us what is right and what is wrong. The Bible says:

In other words, you have committed a sin when you break one or more of Yahweh's commandments. "Rubbish!" I hear someone say. " I am a free moral agent, and I can - and will - do as I please."

My answer to that is: Don't be hasty, calm down and read this passage slowly. It says that if the wicked person turns from his/her wickedness he/she will not die - but live! It also say that if a good person turns to a life of sin, he/she will die.

3. The Limitations of the Law

Nevertheless, much as we recognise the need for moral law to define sin, much as we need Yahweh's law to tell us what is right and what is wrong, the Bible makes it perfectly clear that the law has limitations. It cannot empower you to do right. It cannot stop you sinning if you want to sin. For example consider the traffic laws; they lay down speed limits, they point to various places, they inform the motorist as to how to use the road. But traffic laws cannot make you a good driver. They cannot make you go right if you are determined to go left (or wrong). It is exactly the same with Yahweh's law. It is a spiritual signpost; but it is unable to move you to the destination of righteousness, holiness. It can only point the way. That is its purpose.

Read Romans chapter 7. This chapter tells of the sinner's awful condition. Much as he wants to obey the law of God, there exists in the human mind another law - the law of sin and death. And this law of sin and death is in conflict with Yahweh's law of life. And so we have these two laws set before us; each pointing to a different objective.

• One to salvation through Jesus Christ and salvation
• And the other exerting a downward pull to disobedience and eternal death.

Which law are you going to obey? Yahweh's law which identifies sin and points to Yeshua the Saviour? Or the law of sin and death which will ultimately consign you to eternal annihilation?

The Lord Jesus Christ (Yeshua the Messiah) came to earth to save mankind from sin and death - eternal death. Though perfect in every way, Yahweh's law cannot cancel your past sins. It cannot save you from punishment. It cannot turn you into a good person. It can only point the way to perfection. And that is where the power of Jesus comes into the picture. He can save. He can purify. He can give you the power to keep his Father's law. This is what the scriptures are all about.

In short: The law of God is a pointer to Yeshua the Messiah: and it is in Yeshua that the sinner finds forgiveness, peace, obedience and love. When this beautiful state is reached Yahweh's law has found fulfilment in you. It is doing its job. It has brought you to Christ who produces righteousness (obedience) in your life.

4. An Instrument of Judgement

Every judgement is based on law and all laws are instruments of judgement. Go into any courthouse and you will see judgement being applied according to law. I am not saying that all laws are good. Everyone knows that some laws - even in this country - are not good. What I am saying is that laws are instruments of judgement. That is why laws are sometimes refrred to as "judgements" because people are judged by them. Sentences are handed out by judges in accordance with law; and even the judges themselves are guided by what the law says. Here we can see the importance of law. Visit any courthouse and you will appreciate this fact. On the great Day of Judgement the whole universe will recognise the value and weight of Yahweh's holy law. By it men and angels will be judged.

At that judgment we will be weighed against Yahweh's law. All judges act according to existing laws. Indeed their very judgement must be in accordance with law. It is the same with Jesus Christ. On the Day of Judgement he will judge mankind according to his Father's law. At the moment he offers to be your solicitor. But one day he will be your judge. The almighty God has already appointed the time and the judge for that great day.

In this day and age, Yahweh's law is mostly used to identify is, to point to Christ, to 'convert the soul' (Psalm 19:7) But on the terrible Day of Judgement it will be used as an instrument of justice. The Bible says:

5. Summary

Much has been written and spoken against the law of the Most High. Next to His own holy character Yahweh's law is the most misunderstood thing in the universe. Sad to say even millions of Christians are under the false impression that Yahweh's law is done away with, abolished and no longer of any practical use to the believer. This error has paved the way for sin and confusion too terrible to describe. From the highest to the lowest rank, iniquity is rampant in all countries: and Yahweh's name is blasphemed every time sinners (who were made in His image) break it. What then should the true believer's attitude and outlook be towards Yahweh's law? What must we remember?

• That we need Yahweh's law: for without it the universe would spiral in moral chaos.
• That its purpose is to define sin and that without it we would not be able to tell right from wrong.
• That it has its limitations. It cannot make us good. It cannot move us to our destination. It can only identify sin and point the way to salvation through Christ.
• It will be used on the Day of Judgement: for by it all our actions will be judged, whether they be good or whether they be evil.

MLC Sermon Notes