Galatians 3:10
“For
all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed
be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law,
and do them.”
Are
you a law keeper? That is an interesting
question, and let me be quick to respond, I am not, not close, and I must say
some are better than I at keeping the law, but I’ve yet to meet a person who is
not a law breaker. Maybe we should begin
with #1 “You shall have no
other gods before me.” Have you ever put anything before God,
your sports, church, family, girlfriend, golf, your business, your possessions,
yourself and your desires, if so, you are a law breaker? #2 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any
likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath,
or that is in the water under the earth.” We are the Rice’s and have never
carved an image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or the
earth, or in the water, wow #2 is a pass.
But those other gods, you know the list above, where the majority of
your time, money, worry, stress, focus and attention is addressed, they are not
carved with your hands, but with your mind.
Maybe #2 is not a pass? #3 “You shall not take
the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes
his name in vain.” Now I know people, who do this,
but #3 is not something I’ve done, or have I?
God is pure and holy and His name is above all names. “In ancient times
misusing the name of the Lord could have meant failing to fulfill a sworn oath
or making and oath with the intention of deceiving someone. The misusing of the Lord’s name
misrepresented His character, purposes, and actions revealed to the people of
Israel and amounted to lying about who God is.”
(HCSB page 133) Maybe I
need to put #3 back on my failed list, how are you doing so far?
Shall
we keep going, #4 “Remember
the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” If you read the requirements for
keeping a day holy to the Lord, no work, not your servant, or anyone in the
family, not even a visitor or an employee.
#5 “Honor
your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.” Once more I
must confess, I did not always honor my dad, or my mother, and that makes me once
more a breaker of God’s law. Now these
are the easy ones of the ten, you recall #6 “You shall not murder.” A wise person would read Jesus’ words on the
subject in Matthew 5:21-22 #7 “You shall not commit adultery.” Remember
what Jesus said, if you just think it in your heart your guilty. #8 “You shall not steal.” I’ve already told you I was a
thief at a very young age when I stole the neighbor’s roses, and I’m not going
to confess about the peaches, or some other items, but God has kept records on
even our thoughts. #9 “You shall not bear
false witness against your neighbor.” I’m
sure I’ve never intended to do so, but I’ve been too quick to state my opinion,
so once more I’m not doing so well, and if you look at your neighbor as anyone
you meet, I’m guilty, how are you doing?
#10 “You
shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's
wife, or his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or
anything that is your neighbor's.” I’m a lawbreaker, and I would bet
the farm you are also, and the reason for saying this is found in James 2:10, “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become
accountable for all of it.”
Has
it become apparent that we need mercy, and not judgment, and in James 2:13 we
find that “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” In that
God has stated all who try to earn life now or eternal life with God by keeping
the Law is under a curse, we need plan B, and tomorrow we will explore plan B. Let us close today with this quote from
Timothy Keller, “The gospel says you are more sinful and flawed
than you ever dared believe, but more accepted and loved than you ever dared
hope.”
From
the Back Porch,
Bob
Rice
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