Introduction: Let's review what we covered in our last couple of studies. Some hyper dispensational Bible teacher would have us to believe that we are living in the age of grace while those in the Old Testament times were living under the law. They say that those in the Old Testament were saved by the keeping of the law and that violation that law would mean not only certain death, but also the loss of one's salvation. You see, if salvation is gained by the works of the law, then it can be lost by breaking that law. But, salvation is not gained by the keeping of the law nor has it ever been that way.
- "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified." (Galatians 2:16)
- "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. For then would they not have ceased to be offered? because that the worshippers once purged should have had no more conscience of sins. But in those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins. Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure." (Hebrews 10:1-6)
The truth is, salvation has never been by the keeping of the law. It was not that way in the Old Testament, it is not that way now, and it will not be that way in the future or during the Millennium. This is why Hebrews tells us that salvation has always been through Jesus, "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." (Hebrews 4:2)
The purpose for the law was never to save but to show us our need of salvation. It is compared to three things in the Scriptures:
- A schoolmaster; "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." (Galatians 3:24-25) The schoolmaster was not the teacher, but brought the student to the teacher.
- A plumbline; "Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more." (Amos 7:7-8) The plumbline did not straighten a wall, but showed its need of straightening.
- A mirror; "For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed." (James 1:23 25) A mirror does not clean a man's face, but shows the need for washing the face.
The law has never made anyone perfect, but it has brought many to the place where they realized they needed a Saviour because they weren't perfect! "..."For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect..."
The Ten Commandments can easily be divided into two groups of five:
- Commandments 1-5 have to do with our relationship to the LORD. The phrase "the LORD thy God" is found in each one.
- Commandments 6-10 have to do with our relationship to one another. The word "thou" is found in each one.
In the original language of the Old Testament, these 10 commandments were neither numbered nor divided. The Roman Catholic Church has traditionally divided them into two groups, the first of which consists of the first four commandments while the second is made up of the last six. However, the Jews have, from their earliest records, divided them into the two groups of five I mentioned above.
There is another interesting fact concerning these Ten Commandments. All of them deal with three areas; thought, word, and deed.
- Commandments 1-2 = thought; verses 2-6
- Commandment 3 = word; verses 7
- Commandments 4-5 = deed; verses 8-12- Commandments 6-8 = deed; verses 13-15
- Commandment 9 = word; verse 16
- Commandment 10 = thought; verse 17
Even though the Ten Commandments are in the Old Testament, are they still valid today? Yes they are!
In our first message, we dealt with Exodus 20:1-3, "And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me." We found that idolatry is a grievous sin and God puts it first on His list of ten commandments. Why first? If our foundation is wrong, our structure will be shaky.
In our second message, we dealt with the second commandment. The second commandment is not a restating of the first, but rather the stating of another commandment. "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: 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; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments." (Exodus 20:4-6) Not only is it forbidden to have other gods before God, it is equally forbidden to make and have other gods in your possession.
This brings us to our third message and the third commandment, "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." (Exodus 20:7) This commandment goes much further than the mere mispronunciation of His name. In this message, I want to give you what I believe is included with the commandment, "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain."
1. It involves how we use His name. - Exodus 20:7
"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."
- God's name is not a curse word.
- He is not a slur from the dark days of our not-too-distant pasts.
- Today, the Lord's name has become no more than a by-word. It used to be sacred. I am not advocating that we do as the ancients did, that is, to clean ourselves up and get a new pen every time they wrote the name Jehovah. These measures are extreme, but can a person really respect the name of the Lord too much?
- I like the way the gospel tract we use deals with the Lord's name. God's Simple Plan of Salvation says on the back, "All Scripture texts are from the KJV, with Deity pronouns capitalized." I don't know where I learned to do this, but I find myself doing it the same way.
- The Lord is not honored when we fill up empty space with His name, such as:* "Well, bless God..."
* "Oh my God..."
* "Oh my Lord..."
* "Jesus!" or "Jesus Christ!"
* "God!" or "Oh God!"- The Lord is not honored when we altar His name to make it more like Christian curse words, such as:
* Gee, jeez, golly, gosh, doggone it, etc.
* The American Heritage Dictionary gives the following definitions for these words:- gee, also jee; interj.
Used as a mild expletive or exclamation, as of surprise, enthusiasm, or sympathy. [Alteration of JESUS.]
- jeez; interj.
Used to express surprise or annoyance. [Alteration of JESUS.]
- golly; interj.
Used to express mild surprise or wonder. [Alteration of GOD.]
- gosh; interj.
Used to express mild surprise or delight. [Alteration of GOD.]
- dog-gone; adj.
Damn. See Regional Note at damned. [Alteration of Scots dagone, from dag on (it) : dag, confound (probably alteration of goddamn) + ON.]- When people use our names loosely or in an inappropriate way, it angers us.
- When we do this with the Lord's name, He will not hold us guiltless.
2. It involves how we wear His name. - Titus 2:9-10
"Exhort servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in all things; not answering again; Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things."
- When you adorn yourself with the name of the Lord, there are places you should never drag His name!
* The Name of Jesus doesn't belong on rest room walls!
* The Name of Jesus doesn't belong in bar rooms!
* The Name of Jesus doesn't belong in Hollywood movie houses!
* The Name of Jesus doesn't belong in pornography shops!
* The Name of Jesus doesn't belong in houses of prostitution!
* The Name of Jesus doesn't belong in the devil's music concerts!
* The Name of Jesus doesn't belong in dirty jokes!
* The Name of Jesus doesn't belong in the crude language of the world!
* The Name of Jesus doesn't belong in whorish clothing!
* The Name of Jesus doesn't belong in whoremongerish clothing!
* The Name of Jesus doesn't belong in pig sties and garbage dumps!
* The Name of Jesus doesn't belong in the out houses of society!
* The Name of Jesus doesn't belong the same room with the devil's smut!
* The Name of Jesus doesn't belong on the lips of the curser!
* The Name of Jesus doesn't belong on the back pocket of your britches!
* The Name of Jesus doesn't belong in the songs of the immoral!- How do you adorn the doctrine of the Saviour? Sometimes it is our very lifestyles that take the name of the Lord in vain. Our lives can make a mockery of all that is sacred and all that is holy! You may not curse, but how do you live?
Conclusion: Acts 11:26 tells us how that after nearly a decade, the followers of Jesus were called "imitators of Christ." "And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch." Even though it was said in spite and not respect, the fact remains that these disciples of Christ lived in such a way that it reminded the unsaved in Antioch of Jesus.