The Mosaic Law and our dilemma

Exodus 34:11 1 Obey what I command you today.

Question 1: How are we to relate to the moral law given at Mount Sinai? 

Question 2: What do we learn about the law Moses received from God on the Mount of Sinai when we read Romans 7:8-13?

Romans 7:8-13
8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment produced in me every kind of coveting. For apart from the law, sin was dead. 

9 Once I was alive apart from the law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 

10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 

11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment,deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 

12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.

Question 3: What is the dilemma of trying to find God by obedience to all Ten Commandments - according to Romans 7:8-13?

The commandments bring sin to life and I’m found guilty!  

When the Law comes in, the knowledge of sin explodes.

I thought the Law would give me new life, but it showed me I am guilty. 

And because I’m guilty I cannot have peace with God!

Question 4:  Does that mean the Law is sinful?

Each one of the laws are good and holy and righteous.

The commandments were intended to bring life, but sin spoilt it.

Question 5: How does the Law help me to recognise my sin?

Apart from the specific law I only felt vaguely guilty and uneasy.

I did not know what sin is and what wrong desires are.  I didn’t know what the Law said I had to do. 

The Law showed me what sin is that it is utterly sinful.

The Law showed me how much I was sinning.  

Through the Ten Commandments, I found I had been breaking the law and I knew I was a sinner.

 Romans 3:20  “Through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”

Question 6: What is the great danger for those who try to secure our claim on God for eternal life by using the Law of commandments?

It’s impossible!
The Commandments show how bad we really are.
The Commandments cannot secure our sure standing before God - because we cannot keep them!

Let’s celebrate!!! 

Celebrate that God gives us Jesus’s righteousness  by grace through our receiving faith in Christ.Romans 3:28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law. 

Question 7: But what about our behaviour in our lives, in our families and  in this world?There is only one basis on which we can be saved and have peace with God and that is God’s own righteousness given to us and received by faith.

Question 8: But surely genuine faith must be proved and demonstrated by glad obedience.  How would you answer this?

Question 9: What is James’ answer?
James 2: 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.  26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.

This is the faith God is looking for:

Our basis for confidence and assurance is the righteousness of Jesus Christ - and this is credited to us through faith alone.Our glad obedience is the result of our confidence in Jesus’ righteousness and gives our lives a whole new direction.

Question 9 What is the fight of faith?

Let every one of our sins and failures send us straight back to the cross of Jesus.

At our Saviour’s Cross we find forgiveness, new hope and power to put to death sin and walk in newness of life. 

PRAYERS
Oh that each one of our children and grandchildren may be a descendant of Abraham!  

May each one of our children put their trust in God through Jesus - so they inherit eternal life.

That God’s righteousness will be credited to their account. 

That they will trust Christ to cover their sins and to be God’s righteousness to them.