The Law

The Beginning of Scripture

Nov 12 2016

The Beginning of Scripture

(audio sermon)

Bible Scripture began with 10 commandments and ended with 66 books. The commandments were the basis of a covenant between God and his people. The sermon describes the importance of the 10 commandments for you and me today.

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Speakers notes follow – More

Two Tablets – Ten Commandments

May 24 2014

Two Tablets – Ten Commandments

The Ten Commandments have held people in awe for a few thousand years. Even those who don’t believe in God quote commands like ‘Do not murder’ and ‘do not covet’ when they are trying to make a moral point. Intentionally or not the Ten Commandments have become a standard of morality for a lot of people. But what exactly are the Ten Commandments? Why were two tablets of commandments required? And what relevance do these commands have for us today?
First we need to say that the Ten Commandments were the beginning of Scripture. After God gave the Ten Commandments to Moses a body of Scripture began to form around them, and this developed until we had a complete Bible. So the Ten Commandments are foundational to Scripture.
Second we should note that the Ten Commandments are covenant requirements. They were the things that Israel needed to do (or not do) if they were to be a God’s people. More

The moral law in our hearts

Apr 18 2014

The moral law in our hearts

Acts 10:1-29, 44-48 Cornelius: a moral Roman hears the good news

What is this business of following ones conscience? People believe in it so strongly. And it’s not just the religious; atheists think it’s a good thing too. The Bible verse above is about Cornelius who was a Roman soldier in New Testament times. He was neither Jew nor Christian, but believed in God and gave generously to the poor. The Jews recognized this and respected him for it. But he wasn’t the only Gentile to have a conscience, there were others. Seeing this among Greeks and Romans, the apostle Paul said ‘When Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them’ (Romans 2:14-15).
Paul is saying that many people who do not know God’s law find the law within them. Their hearts tell them what is right and wrong and they practice the essence of the law given to Moses. More