Why We Need Jesus: I Am The Lord Your God!
Exodus 19:1-9a, 20:1-2,18-21
Pastor Bob Hiller
9/13/2009
Introduction to the Ten Commandments
Exodus 20:18-19 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die."
A. The Law, that is written on our ____________, is good, but it makes us all too aware of our _________.
B. The Law may cause you to:
-_______________;
-_______________;
-_______________;
-_______________.
C. Jesus Christ is our _______________ who pleads to God on our behalf.
Scripture Readings
Exodus 19:1-9a, 20:1-2,18-21
James 3:1-12
Mark 9:14-29
Take It With You!
As we hear God speak to us through His commandments, here are some helpful insights that will be offered to aid you as you reflect on the Law. Consider reading Luther's Small and Large Catechisms on the Ten Commandments throughout this series.
Quotes on Law
Galatians 3:22-29 But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
[If] we believe that after our renewal (that is, after becoming Christians) we must become acceptable not by faith on account of Christ but on account of our keeping the law, our conscience would never find rest. Instead, it would be driven to despair. For the law always accuses since we never satisfy the law.
The Apology to the Augsburg Confession Article IV: Justification
The Decalogue (the Ten Commandments) is not of Moses, nor did God give it to him first. On the contrary, the Decalogue belongs to the whole world; it was written and engraved in the minds of all human beings from the beginning of the world.
Martin Luther, "What Luther Says."
