SBS Sermon Notes Note 01/05

The Law of Yahweh

Yahweh's Law is a transcript of His holy character. It is the constitution of the mighty universe, the most important piece of legislation ever written. To study it is your privilege. To obey it is your duty.

1. Questions & Answers

What is the purpose of Jehovah's law?
Answer: Jehovah's law defines righteousness and unrighteousness (sin).

1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

Note: The very presence of sin in the world proves the existence of divine law; for obviously 'if there is no law, there can be no violation, no sin.' And since we know that sin exists, law must also exist. It is a pity that we have to even state so obvious a fact. The Apostle Paul writes on the same theme:

Romans 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
How was Yahweh's law given?

Exodus 31:18 And he (the Almighty God) gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

What are the law's attributes?
Yahweh's law converts the soul. It is holy, just and good. neither is it beyond our reach.

Psalm 19:7	The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8: The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Romans 7:12	Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13: Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 14: For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
Deuteronomy 30:11	For this commandment which I command thee this day, it is not hidden from thee, neither is it far off. 12: It is not in heaven, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go up for us to heaven, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it? 13: Neither is it beyond the sea, that thou shouldest say, Who shall go over the sea for us, and bring it unto us, that we may hear it, and do it?

How long will Yahweh's Law last?
The Almighty's law is eternal; as eternal as is His own character. Indeed, it is a transcript of His character.

Matthew 5:17

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
19: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Psalm 111:7

The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8: They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.

What are the penalties for disobedience?

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
We may say, then, that two ideas underlie the concept of law:
1. Order, in the sense of what is required of the individual.
2. Penalty: the price to be paid for breaking the order.

What are the advantages of obedience?

Exodus 20:5	... for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6: And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Deuteronomy 4:39	Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. 40: Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever.
Deuteronomy 6:17	Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the LORD your God, and his testimonies, and his statutes, which he hath commanded thee. 18: And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,
Isaiah 48:18	O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea:

2. Testimonies of the Patriarchs

The patriarchs of old lived and wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Their records speak volumes about the law of the Most High. Here is proof:

Genesis 26:4	And I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; 5: Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.
Joshua 24:15	And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.
Ezra 7:10	For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach in Israel statutes and judgments.
8:1-14	Read this passage to show how Ezra carried out his plan.
Psalm 119:18	Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.
Proverbs 28:4	They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.
Isaiah 8:20	To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
Jeremiah 9:12	Who is the wise man, that may understand this? and who is he to whom the mouth of the LORD hath spoken, that he may declare it, for what the land perisheth and is burned up like a wilderness, that none passeth through? 13: And the LORD saith, Because they have forsaken my law which I set before them, and have not obeyed my voice, neither walked therein; 14: But have walked after the imagination of their own heart, and after Baalim, which their fathers taught them: 15: Therefore thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will feed them, even this people, with wormwood, and give them water of gall to drink.
Hosea 4:6	My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
Amos 2:4	Thus saith the LORD; For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not turn away the punishment thereof; because they have despised the law of the LORD, and have not kept his commandments, and their lies caused them to err, after the which their fathers have walked.
Malachi 2:6	The law of truth was in his mouth, and iniquity was not found in his lips: he walked with me in peace and equity, and did turn many away from iniquity. 7: For the priest's lips should keep knowledge, and they should seek the law at his mouth: for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. 8: But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 9: Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law.

The Bible is full of similar injunctions and exhortations pointing the believer (and unbeliever) to obedience. Are you willing to take Yahweh's advice concerning His law? You could do no better than to pay heed to His Word.

3. Why the Saviour came to this Earth

The Saviour's name Yeshua means salvation. He came to earth to save mankind from sin and its awful consequence - death: and also to sanctify for himself a holy, obedient people. .

Matthew 1:21	.. You shall call his name Jesus* for he shall save his people from their sins.*
Romans 7:22	For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: 23: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24: O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? 25: I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin. Read on to chapter 8:3-4 which says:
8:3	For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Note the presence of two laws:

The Law of sin and death which is inherent in our bodily members.
The Law of the Most High, which Messiah came to meet in his own life and through the power of the Holy Spirit live out in the lives of others.

In summary we may say that the Saviour came to earth to accomplish the following:

To live a righteous life and prove that obedience to Yahweh's law is possible
To sacrifice his life for those who deserved the death penalty for sin.
To offer eternal life as a free gift to all who would accept it by faith.

And to write his Father's Law on the minds and hearts of the redeemed host.

4. Yahweh's law in the Future

The following verses outline the basics of the new covenant between the Almighty and His people Israel. Notice carefully how that Yahweh's law in the new covenant is written on the believer's heart and mind. Read out these two passages: Hebrews 8:10 and Hebrews 10:16. For further detail see New Covenant Basics.

Revelation 11:19

And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament...

In other words, Yahweh's law is still in the heavenly sanctuary. It has not been done away with. Remember the Apostle John wrote the book of Revelation some 60 years after the death and resurrection of Jesus: and Yahweh's law was still in the heavenly Ark of the Covenant!

Revelation 12:17	And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Revelation 14:12	Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
Revelation 22:14	Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 15: For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters,

In a lawless society - both in and out of the church - we present to you the law of Jehovah (Yahweh). Make it your spiritual goal to express your love for the Most High by obeying Him. If you are obedient, and with His help obedience is possible, you will be greatly blessed: far more than you can ever imagine.

SBS Sermon Notes More sermons on Yahweh's Law

Elder: David B Loughran
Stewarton Bible School, Stewarton. Scotland
Updated: May 1999