Welcome to NECF Sermons. Each message here is
designed to uplift and strengthen you in your
walk with God. Don't miss out. Stay with us until
the end for a rewarding experience. Let's dive
right in. Lord, I honor you. What a privilege.
What a privilege to go through your work. Thank
you, Father. Hallelujah. Amen Let's take our
seat Deuteronomy chapter 22 Deuteronomy 22 Look
at verse 5 Deuteronomy 22 verse 5. A woman shall
not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor
shall a man put on a woman's garment. For all
who do so are an abomination to the Lord your
God. We started on Sunday. our discussion on
a woman's dressing. Part of the series we said
on issues about women's liberty. That's how we
title it. And we noted that most times when the
discussion of addressing comes up. A popular
text that many believers turn to is Deuteronomy
22 verse 5. And we said that to understand this
text we need to do some studies. We began by
answering a few questions which is a usual way
in which we study Bible by looking at the context.
We answered two questions last Sunday. Who spoke
those words and to whom was he addressing them?
We say it was Moses and he was addressing it
to the children of Israel, particularly the generation
that were either born in the wilderness or they
were less than 20 years when they left. Egypt.
But the older generation actually died in the
wilderness. So this is a generation he was communicating,
particularly Deuteronomy. And we stop at when
we were looking at Romans chapter 7. So let's
go to that place. So the other question that
we are yet to answer is why. That is why Moses
wrote these words, especially now in regards
to this verse 5. Why? Let's go to Romans chapter
7. That's why we stop. Romans 7 verse 7. Romans
7 verse 7. Let me read to 13. And what shall
we see then? Is this the law sin? Certainly not.
On the contrary, I will not have known sin except
through the law. For I will not have known covetousness
unless the law has said, You shall not covet.
But sin, taken opportunity by the commandment,
produce in me all manner of evil desires. For
apart from the law, sin was dead. Verse 9. I
was alive once without the law, but when the
commandment came, sin revived, and I died. And
the commandment, which was to bring life, I found
to bring death. For sin, taking occasion, by
the commandment deceived me, and by it killed
me. Verse 12. Therefore the law is holy. and
the commandment holy and just and good. Has then
what is good become death to me? Certainly not.
But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing
death in me through what is good, so that sin
through the commandment might become exceedingly
sinful. And so we first started to look at particularly
verse 9, which is one part that is sometimes
confusing when you read this text. Verse 9, I
was alive once without the law. And we try to
ask the question, what does that mean? Was Paul
referring or saying that he was physically alive
before Moses gave the law? And we say, no, that's
not what he's trying to say. Because if you look
at the context, that was not the discussion.
We said actually Paul lived about for more than
1 ,500 years after Moses was honored. And then
we looked at what actually that meant. And we
started looking at some keyword there. We said
was alive was translated from the Greek word
zao. And then we said that word zao is a verb.
The noun that was derived from that, we call
it zoe. And that's what we normally, we know
that one, zoe. And we said this zao means to
live, to breathe, to be among the living, to
be active. And the word once we noted is pote,
which means at full time or at some time. or
in the time past. And we looked again at that
verse 9, and we noticed some of the words also,
like revive, and we said revive was translated
from the Greek word anazao, which implies to
live again, to recover life, or to raise to life.
And the word we said anazao was used in the parable
of The lost son. Are we together? Or we call
the parable of the prodigal son. Amen? Let's
go back to that text also. Let's read it quickly.
Luke 15. That word, which is to revive. Are you
in Luke 15? Luke 15. I will read 24. Verse 24.
I'll read verse 24 and 32 because that's where
the word revive or anazao appears. Verse 24,
for this my son was dead and is alive again.
He was lost and is found. So that means what
he's trying to say that the word dead means he
was lost. Are we together? Means alive again
means he was found. Amen. Now go to verse 32.
Verse 32 says, it was right that we should make
merry and be glad for your brother was dead and
is alive again, was lost and was lost and is
found through the same communication. Amen. So
Jesus used the word alive again in this text.
And what he's trying to say is not saying that
the son was physically dead, no, and was brought
back to life, no. Alive again we saw that it
means he was brought back to awareness or consciousness.
Another thing again we should note that when
the father was talking, it means that they were...
He has seen him again. You remember when he said
he was dead, that means he was separated from
him. He was not seeing him. But now the boy has
returned back, means he's alive again. Amen.
So the time I was alive, seen revived, and I
died, we saw in verse 9. are actually spiritual
terms and should be understood in the context.
And I don't want you to forget that Paul in the
context was speaking about sin and the law. Are
we together? When you read from chapter one,
of course, Pastor, you might help us for those
of us who are in the training center in the center
for us to study from the book of Romans. Excuse
me. So I want to read some few texts so that
you understand from where Paul was coming. Go
back to Romans, go to Romans rather. We have
not gone there before. Amen. So go to, go to
Romans, Romans chapter three, verse 20. Romans
chapter three, verse 20. Therefore, by the deeds,
Of the law, no flesh will be justified in his
sight. For by the law is the knowledge of what?
Are we together? Is the knowledge. So that means
the awareness of sin is brought about by the
law. Hallelujah. Okay, that's very important.
Go to verse, chapter 5, verse 13. Romans 5, 13.
Romans 5, 13. He said, for until the law, sin
was in the world. Are we together? Yes, but sin
is not imputed when there is no law. Okay, so
Paul talks about the consciousness of sin or
what we call the awareness of sin. which is brought
about by the law. In fact, this is what the writer
of Hebrews was talking about in Hebrews chapter
10. Go to Hebrews chapter 10. And that's why
those who live by the law will always and consistently
be seen conscious. Are we together? Seen conscious.
Look at Romans chapter 10. Sorry, that's a Romans,
Hebrews chapter 10. For the law having a shadow
of the good things to come and not every image
of the things can never with these same sacrifices
which they offer continually year by year make
those who approach perfect. For then, will they
not have ceased to be offered? For the worshiper
once purified will have had no more consciousness
of what? That means if the law could make a man
perfect, there was no need for a year by year
coming to be purified again. But verse 3, but
in those sacrifice, O sacrifices, there is a
reward, a reminder of what? Of sins every year.
For it is not possible that the blood of bulls
and goats could take away sins. Therefore, when
he came into the world, he said, Sacrifice and
offering you did not desire, but a body you have
prepared for me. In burnt offering and sacrifice
for sin, you had no pleasure. Then I said, Behold,
I have come, in the volumes of the books it is
written of me, to do your will, O God. Previously
saying, Sacrifice and offering, bond offerings,
and offerings for sin you did not desire, nor
had pleasure in them, which are offered according
to the law. Then he said, Behold, I have come
to you to do your will, O God. that he may establish
a second. Verse 10. By that will, we have been
sanctified through the offering of the body of
Jesus Christ once and what? Once and for all.
Verse 11. And every priest stands ministering
daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifice.
which can never take away sins. It can never
take away sins. But the only thing we have seen
is that there is a reminder of the sin, the consciousness
of sin. So that was what actually Paul was saying.
You understand? By the knowledge of sin, the
law brings the knowledge of sin. Verse 12, he
said, but this man, after he had offered one
sacrifice for sin forever, sat down at the right
hand of God. For that time, waiting till his
enemies are made his footstool. Of course, the
book of 1 Corinthians told us that the last enemy
that shall be destroyed is what? Is death. Verse
14. For by one offering, he has perfected, you
see, what was not perfected year in year out
by sacrifice, One offering has perfected forever
those who are sanctified, not those who are being
sanctified. It's all a continuous thing. That's
why he said it's once and for all. Hallelujah.
Amen. So you and I do not need anything. That's
why the man of the spirit is not sin conscious
because his sins has been taken away. He's not
under the law. Are we together? He is not under
the law. Amen. Hallelujah. He said, for sin shall
no longer have dominion over you, for you are
under grace and not under the law. Romans 6,
14. So in verse 9 of Romans, if you go back to
Romans, let's go back to Romans. So if you look
at Romans 7, Verse 9. That word died was translated
from the Greek word apotnesko. That is A -P -O
-A -P -O -T -H -N -E -S -K -O. A -P -O -T -H
-N -E -S -K -O. It implies to be slain, to be
separated. to be separated. So in the parables
that Jesus gave, when the father said, for this
my son was dead, he was not referring, as we
said, the fact that he was physically dead. No,
but he meant that they were separated or that
he did not see him again because that separation
did this. didn't allow him to see the son. Thus,
it's alive again where we saw in that Luke 15,
24 and verse 32 was to communicate the fact that
the son now has returned and he could be seen
and now they are not separated. Amen. Hallelujah.
Are we together? So, therefore, when you look
at that verse 9, we can See that Paul is talking
about that he was without sin, the consciousness
of sin. If you can put all those things together,
what Paul is saying, the explanation is that
I was not conscious of sin before. But when the
Lord came, I became conscious of sin. Simple
and short. Are we together? Yes. That's what
Paul is trying to say. And remember we said,
the consciousness of sin is brought about by
what? The law. And also, not just only the sin,
the consciousness of your state. When Paul said,
when Paul said, sinly revived and I die, what
he's trying to say is that, remember, that word,
I died was describing his state. Now I'm using
I, I, you know, there has been an argument. Was
Paul talking about himself? Because when you
read that throughout, was Paul talking about
himself or is he talking about the experience
of another person? Amen. I think when our brother,
is he anointed? Yes. Anointed once was asking
of this, I think we have to do a study from chapter
4, 5, 6. We read through up to chapter 8. You
understand? Because we wanted to see was Paul
actually talking about the way he was using I,
I, I die, I this, I this, then sin this, then
sin this. You understand? And then we look at
where he was talking about, oh, wretched man
that I am, who would deliver me from the ground
of sin. And then he entered chapter 8, you understand,
and keep discussing by time. He was describing
that man that is under the law and don't have
the spirit, you understand, because that's what
it means. By the time you read verse 8 of chapter
8, it now says, so then, those who are in the
flesh cannot please God, but those who are not
in the flesh, but in the spirit, if, I mean,
those who are not in the flesh, but in the spirit,
if indeed the spirit dwells in you, now, if you,
if anyone does not have the spirit of Christ,
he is not of his. Definitely, Paul is not describing
his state. because he has the spirit of God,
you understand? And of course, he's not a wretched
man. Are we together? We have noted in a number
of texts, sometimes you can use an analogy to
like identification. Like I can be talking now
and I said, you see, any man that is stealing
is definitely going to be miserable. You see,
when I do this battle, I'm actually going to
end up a miserable man. Now, I'm not talking
about myself. Did you understand what I'm trying
to say? So, but you know, there is a way you
can use I in a sample. You are not speaking about
your reality now. Amen. So that's exactly what
Paul was trying to do here. Amen. So now that's
not the point, but we're trying to say that it's
about what Paul is trying to describe is that.
A man, when the Lord came, he brought consciousness
of sin. He brought consciousness of sin and the
state of a people. And that's why, if you look
at verse, what do you call it? Chapter 8, Romans
chapter 8. Romans chapter 8, verse 2. He said,
for the Lord. of the spirit of life in Christ
Jesus has made me free from the what? From the
what? The law of sin and what? And death. That's
what the law, the law of Moses brought. When
you live by the deeds of the law, you understand?
This is what we call the law of sin and death.
So when he said sin revived, It means I became
conscious of sin and I died. It means I became
conscious of sin and the state in which I am,
which is death. Amen? So, but there is something
I want us to look further, which is verse 7.
Go back to verse 7 of chapter 7. He said, what
shall we say then? Is the law sin? Is the law
sin? It is certainly not. On the contrary, I
will not have known sin except through the law.
For I will not have known covetousness unless
the law has said, you shall not covet. You shall
not what? Covet. So Paul was directly quoting
from... what we call the Ten Commandments. We
have seen it already. And that is Exodus 20,
verse 17. Talking about you shall not covet.
Exodus 20, 17. Now, you can recall that earlier
in our discussion that we state the differences
between the law of Moses and the Ten Commandments.
One of the points we raised was that the Ten
Commandments was directly given by God. And then
the law of Moses was written by Moses personally.
We saw it in Deuteronomy chapter 31, particularly
from verse 24 to 26. And we saw that the Ten
Commandments was given by God on the mount, on
Mount Sinai. We saw that also in Deuteronomy
10. Verse 1 to 4. So we also noted that the Ten
Commandments were received before the law of
Moses, certainly. Because the first and foremost
we saw, and I wanted to note something which
I want to make clear. That before the Ten Commandments
was written, even on the stones, in the sand,
the stone tablets, they were first spoken. Please
note that one. This is very important. Before
the Ten Commandments were even written on the
stones tablets, they were first what? Spoken.
Amen? And before the law of Moses was written,
the Ten Commandments on the tablets of stones
were written. Did you see the order? Good. Now,
because there is something very important I want
us to see later on. So go to Exodus 34. Exodus
34. And remember what I said last Sunday? That
I said Moses' teaching, the law, was based on
the Ten Commandments. Is that okay? And that's
why you saw that even the Ten Commandments are
also again written in the book of Moses. Is that
okay? In fact, it was repeated again. It was
first written in Exodus and then repeated in
Deuteronomy. Showing that this generation that
we are talking about are the Deuteronomy generation.
The Exodus generation that the first was given
to them, they have already perished in the wilderness.
Because at this time that we are discussing,
they are just about Jordan, to cross the Jordan.
That's the end part of Moses' life. Okay. Deuteronomy,
they say, okay, I say Exodus 34, right? Exodus
34. I want us to read. Let me start from reading
verse 1, Exodus 34, 1. And the Lord said to Moses,
cut two tablets. cut two tablets of stones like
the first. And I will write on these tablets
the word that were on the first tablet you broke.
The question you want to ask that, what cost
Moses to break the first tablet? Amen. Okay,
look at verse 27. Then the Lord said to Moses,
write this word for according to the tenor of
these words, I have made a covenant with you
and with Israel. He was there with the Lord 40
days and 40 nights. He neither eats bread nor
drank water. And he wrote on the tablets the
words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.
Now it was so when Moses came down from Mount
Sinai and the two tablets of the testimony were
in Moses' hand. When he came down from the mountain,
that Moses did not know that the skin of his
face shone while he talked with him. So when
Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses,
behold, the skin of his face shone and they were
afraid to come near him. Then Moses called to
them and Aaron and all the rulers of the congregation
returned to him. And Moses talked. Afterward,
all the children of Israel came near, and he
gave them as commandment all that the Lord had
spoken to him under Mount Sinai. Verse 33 And
when Moses had finished speaking with them, he
put a veil on his face. But when Moses went in
before the Lord to speak with him, he would take
the veil off until he came out. And he would
come out and speak to the children of Israel,
whatever he had been commanded. And whenever
the children of Israel saw the face of Moses,
that the skins of Moses' face shone, then Moses
would put the veil on his face again until he
went in to speak. Hallelujah. Amen. Now, this
was made reference in 2 Corinthians. In 2 Corinthians
chapter 3. I want to look at chapter 3. 2 Corinthians
chapter 3. Let me read verse 3. Clearly, You
are an epistles of Christ ministered by us, written
not with ink, but by the spirit of the living
God, not on tablet of stones. Listen, that means,
please listen to me. That means I'm coming to
you. Just follow me. I'll be saying some few
things and we'll build that. That means the desire
of God was not to write his words on the tablet
of stones. Are we together? Now note that, I'm
coming back to it. In answer, not on the tablet
of stones, of stone, but on the tablet of flesh,
that is of the heart. And we have such trust
through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient
of ourselves to think of anything as being, from
ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who
also made us sufficient as ministers of the new
covenant. You see that? Not of the letters, but
of the Spirit. Where is the Spirit written? In
the tablet of flesh. For? The letters killer,
but the spirit reward gives life. But if the
ministry of death written and engraved on stones.
was glorious so that the children of Israel could
not look steadily at the face of Moses because
of the glory of his containers. Which glory was
passing away? How will the ministry of the Spirit
not be more glorious? For if the ministry of
condemnation had glory, the ministry of righteousness
exceeds much more in glory. For even what was
made glorious had no glory in this respect because
of the glory that excels. For if what is passing
away was glorious, what remains is much more
glorious. Therefore, since we have such hope,
we use great boldness of speech. Unlike Moses
who put a veil. over his face so that the children
of Israel could not look steadily at the end
of what was passing away. But their minds were
what? Oh, talk to me. Their minds were what?
Were blinded. For until this day, the same veil.
So what Moses was putting was a shadow, was actually
depicting the reality, the spiritual reality
of these people. Did you understand what I'm
trying to say? He said, until this day, the same
veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old
Testament. Because the veil is taken away in
Christ. But even to this day, when Moses is read,
that is when the Old Testament. What is describing
as Old Testament is the system of unbelief. Do
you understand what I'm trying to say? Are we
together? That's why we say Old Testament is
all books. Old Testament, New Testament is all
books. Do you understand what I'm saying? Yes.
You say, but even to this day, when Moses is
read, a veil lies on their heart. Nevertheless,
When one turns to the Lord, the veil is what?
Is taken away. So, but their minds were blind.
So what he's trying to describe is that there
was a necessity to put down the law. I mean,
the Ten Commandments. Let's start from the Ten
Commandments first. We are not even going first
to the law of Moses. From the Ten Commandments,
it has to be put down because these men have
rejected. what was spoken first. Are we together?
It were rejected the plan of God. The plan of
God was this and that was why Jeremiah noted
it. When you read in Hebrews chapter 8, you see
also the plan of God. He said, I will write my
laws upon your hearts. That was the, it's not
upon the tablet of a stone. That was the desire
of God right from the beginning. Hallelujah.
Deuteronomy chapter 12. Go back to Deuteronomy
chapter 12. 4. Let's read 4. Deuteronomy 4. Look
at verse 12. And the Lord spoke to Moses out
of the midst of the fire. You heard the sound
of the words, but saw no form. You only heard
a voice. So he declared to you his covenant,
and he commanded you to perform the tenth commandment.
And he wrote them on the two tablets of stone.
And the Lord commanded me at that time to do
what? Hey, talk to me. To do what? To teach you
the status and the judgment that you might observe
them in the land which you cross over to possess.
You see, this is where Moses began to take from
the Ten Commandments and do what? To teach them.
That's where we start having the writing of the
law, which we now call the book of the law of
Moses. Amen. Now look at what Jesus did. Let's
just look a little bit about Mark chapter 10.
In Mark chapter 10, 19. And you know the commandment.
Do not commit adultery. Do not murder. Do not
steal. Do not bear false witness. Do not defraud.
Honor your father and mother. Where is this located?
In the 10th commandment. Are we together? Amen.
You can see that when Jesus was, Jesus didn't
say just 10th commandment. He was just saying,
You have heard from the commandment. He didn't
say 10 commandments. Amen? He just called them
commandments. Look at Romans chapter 10. Let's
see one of the apostles, particularly Paul again.
Let's go to Romans chapter 13. Romans 13. Verse
8. Oh, no one anything except to love one another.
For he who loves another has fulfilled the word,
has fulfilled the law. For the commandments,
you shall not commit adultery, you shall not
murder, you shall not steal, you shall not be
a false witness. You shall not covet. And if
there is any other commandment, and all are all
summed up in this saying, namely, you shall love
your neighbor as yourself. You shall love your
neighbor. So the same goes with Paul. He did
not refer to it as 10 commandments. Are we together?
He summarized it. Did you understand? Of course,
Paul was quoting from the 10th commandment as
we noted, as it is written in. And then by the
time, listen to me, these words, you shall love
your neighbor as yourself is a quotation from
Leviticus 19, 18. It's a quotation from Leviticus
19, what? 18. So what Paul did, of course, we're
going to see it because he saw it also from Christ.
What Paul did was to summarize a section, you
understand? You can actually divide the Ten Commandments
into two. So the second part of the Ten Commandments
that Paul quoted, that has to do with men. You
understand what I'm saying? If you divide it,
One part, especially if you are looking at Exodus,
Exodus 20, we look at from verse 12 to 17. This
is talking about toward men. Or if you look at
it from Deuteronomy 5, verse 16 to 21, it's also
talking about them towards men. That's what Paul
quoted. What Paul did was to summarize it as
one. What is it? It's a love your neighbor as
your what? Yourself. Now, listen, this one does
not, I hear some people quoting this verse very
badly. You know those proponents of self -love?
How can you know how to love somebody? Unless
first you know how to love yourself, then you
will know how to love your neighbor. Where did
you hear that kind of interpretation? No, no.
You understand? There is nowhere that says you
should love yourself. Nowhere. You understand?
Because how you know to love is by you having
the love of God, not to love yourself. How can
you know how to love yourself? Amen. Now, what
am I trying to say? So Paul summarizes it like
that. Go back to Matthew 22. Matthew 22. Matthew
22. Let's see what Jesus, because Paul was speaking
from how Jesus did something to the Ten Commandments.
Remember, we said Jesus, no, Paul never called
it the Ten Commandments. Matthew 22, verse 36.
Teacher, which is the great commandment in the
law? Jesus answered to him, You shall love the
Lord your God with all your heart, with all your
soul, and with all your mind. This is the first,
say to your neighbor, the first commandment is
not to love yourself. but to love the Lord. You
know, that's why I'm trying to decongest that
problem. That is saying that the way to know
how to love your neighbor is to first know how
to love yourself. That idea of self -love is
a world system love. You understand? The first
is said, the commandment. This is the first and
the great commandment. And the second is like
it. you shall love your neighbor as yourself.
On these two commandments hang what? The law
and the prophets. That's what he's saying. On
these two. So when we bring the word of Jesus
and as well what Paul has already told us, remember,
this love your neighbor as yourself also, Jesus
was quoting from Leviticus 19. So what we can
see is that Jesus summarized what we call the
Ten Commandments into just one. Because both
of them mean the same. He said the second is
like the first. So that one has parts. The first
part and the second part. And when you look at
that, I've already mentioned thou shalt love
your neighbor as yourself. But loving the Lord,
the path is toward God. When you look at Deuteronomy
chapter 20, verse 1 to 17, it talks about things
toward God. And then, of course, if you are looking
at Deuteronomy, you see Deuteronomy chapter 5,
verse 6 to 22. All talks about God. We've already
dealt with the issue of like Sabbath, like the
issue of many things we discussed in this short.
That the Sabbath is describing rest in Christ.
Are we together? So the point is that if you
look at verse 37, yes, he's talking about loving
the Lord. with all your heart, with all your
mind, with all your soul. Remember also, this
love is a combination. Jesus also used text and
summarized that. Are we together? Look at Deuteronomy
chapter 6. Deuteronomy chapter 6. So love your
neighbor as yourself is Leviticus 19, 18, right?
Loving the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind is taken
from this text. Deuteronomy 6, verse 5. And you
shall love the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Look at chapter 10, verse 12. Deuteronomy 10,
verse 12. And now, Israel, what does the Lord
your God require of you? But to what? To fear
the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, and
to love him, to serve him. To serve the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all your
what? Soul. Look at chapter 30, verse 6. Deuteronomy
30, verse 6. And the Lord your God will circumcise
your heart and the heart of your descendant to
love the Lord your God with all your heart, with
all your soul, that you may what? Please note
those, especially two texts. He said, what did
the Lord require? He said, that's what you require
from you, to love the Lord your God. In the Psalm.
And then he said, this is what you will do. And
you do what? And you leave. That's what you will
do so that you leave. So what can we say? We
can see that Jesus is re -explaining the Ten
Commandments. That the way the Ten Commandments
were written were actually not to be as rules
and regulations, but you are a message of the
gospel. That's why he said, that is what the
Lord required from you. And that if you have
done that, you will live. So there is life in
obeying the commandment, the 10th commandment.
But you see, it's not just rules. It's not just
the first one is, I don't call the name of the
Lord in vain. Because that's what Israel took
it, literal. And they are running. And when Jesus
explained, he explained to it and now condense
it into those texts. So from Jesus' words, what
does it mean to love the Lord? Because that's
what he said. If you love, you will live. To
love the Lord with all your heart, with all your
soul, and with all your mind. What does that
mean? Look at John 14. Verse 21. He who has my
commandment and keep them. It is he who do what?
Who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved
by my Father, and I will love him and manifest
myself to him. And Judas, not Iscariot, said
to him, Lord, how is it that you will manifest
yourself to us and not to the world? Look at
the answer. Jesus answered and said to him, If
anyone loves me, He will keep my words. And my
father will love him. And we will come to him
and make our home with him. He who does not love
me does not keep my commandment. And the word
which you hear is not mine, but the father's
who sent me. So since loving him means keeping
his commandment, Do we agree there? Amen. So
the question is that, again is, what is this
commandment? How can a person keep it? Did you
hear the question? What is this commandment that
Jesus is saying? If you keep my commandment,
you are the one that love me. And how can a man
keep it? Look at from verse 6 of that same John.
Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and
the life. No one comes to the Father except through
me. If you had known me, you would have known
my Father also. And from now on, you know him
and have seen him. the Father, and it is sufficient
for us. Verse 9, Jesus said to him, have I been
with you so long and yet you have not known me,
Philip? He who has seen me has seen the Father.
So how can you say, show us the Father? Verse
10, do you not believe that I am in the Father
and the Father in me? The word that I speak to
you, I do not speak on my own authority, but
the Father who dwells in me does the work. Verse
11. Believe me that I am in the Father and the
Father in me, or else believe me for the sake
of the works themselves. Most assuredly, I say
to you, He who believes in me and the works that
I do, he will do also. And greater works than
these he will do because I go to my Father. Verse
13. And whatsoever you ask in my name that I
will do, the Father may be glorified in the Son.
If you ask anything in my name, I will do it.
If you love me, keep what? If you love me, do
what? Keep my commandment. So that means whatever
he has been saying before, before verse 15, this
is what? This is commandment. In fact, from verse
1, he said, he said, let not your heart be troubled.
believe, it's not you believe in me, no, because
they have not. Believe in me, in God, and believe
also in where? In me. If you begin to look at
it, that's the, that's the always decision. He
said, believe in me. At least if you're not believing,
believe in the works. Didn't I tell you, I am
my father, because that was what he was telling
them. I am my father, I want, so believe it.
Did you understand what I'm trying to say? So
the commandment here is belief. That's why by
the time he came to verse 15, he said, if you
love me, keep my commandment. What's the commandment
he has been given? Belief. Okay, let's look at,
John clarified that more because he's the writer
of this text. Are we together? First, go to 1
John. Go to 1 John chapter 3. Look at verse 22.
John, in his epistle, gave more light on what
that commandment is. Chapter 3, verse 22. And
whatever we ask, we received from him. Remember
in John 21, he said, ask. Did you see that place?
So he said, whatever. We ask, we receive. So
in that text of John, he was not talking about,
because he said, ask anything in my name. That
anything. Oh, glory to Jesus. You know, sometimes
we like using, when we say anything, it just
means his car. No, I want to go to America. No,
I want to go to, no, that is not the anything
you are talking about because it's contextual.
Are we together? So John came here and he was
saying, And whatsoever we ask, we received from
him. Because we do what? We keep his commandment.
And do those things that are pleasing in his
sight. What are those things? And this is his
word. That we should do what? In the name of
his son Jesus. And do what? And love one another.
That's why he said, this is the commandment.
These are the things that please him. As he has
commanded or given us his commandment. Verse
24. Now, he who keeps his commandment abides
in him. That's the point. Remember what he said
in that verse 24. You understand? He said, the
one that keeps his commandment, we will come
together and make him our what? Our home. Did
you understand what I'm saying? Yes. So that's
what it means. He said, he who keeps his commandment
abides in him. Because now he becomes the abbot
of God. And the commandment is to believe. And
by this we know this. And by this we know that
he abides in us. How? By the Spirit whom he has
given us. Whom he has given us. So to love God
means to keep his commandment. And to keep his
commandment means to believe in him. So when
Jesus was saying, love the Lord with all your
heart, he said, believe in him. That was why
in Deuteronomy, Moses was writing to the children
of Israel. He said, this is what the Lord demanded
of you. That when you believe him, you live.
And the living there he's talking about is a
life everlasting. So the 10 commandments are
not regulations. They are actually the gospel.
To believe in the son of the living God. And
he make his home with us. Who loved him. Who
believed in him. Who believed him. That's life
when you have the spirit. When the spirit has
make you his home. That's life. That's salvation.
The word home there in John chapter 3. Verse
23. Earlier did I say 24? It's 23. Yes, John
chapter 14, verse 23. Yes. He said, Jesus answered
and said to him, if anyone loves me, he will
keep my word and my father will love him. And
we will come to him and make our home with him.
That word home there, is the Greek word money,
which is the same word with mansion in verse
2. You know, some people have been believing
and trusting God that in heaven there are two
mansions, three mansions. Their own is under
construction. The one is under construction.
In my father's house are many mansions. That
word home, It's the same word with damn mansions.
It means in my father's house there are dwellings.
Home. It means resident. So you are the father's
house. You are the dwelling. His dwelling place.
His resting place. Are we together? Jesus, after
the walk of salvation, he rested in you. Did
you understand what I'm saying? When Jesus said,
all ye that are heavy laden, come, I will give
you rest. What he is saying is that, come, I
want to rest in you. That's also what he is saying.
Rest means to carry Christ. That's what it means.
To be the resident of Christ, that's rest. That's
rest. So the result of the indwelling. Listen,
when you become the resident of the Holy Spirit,
the resident of Christ by loving God. So next
time you read texts, many texts like All things
work together for the good of those who do what?
Who love God and are called according to his
purpose. What is love? Belief. You got the point.
You know, most times when they say love God,
you think you should do step one, step two. You
understand? That's what they say. And some of
us always sing, I love God, Lord, I love you.
You think it's prayer, study, going to this,
going to that, going to this, going to that.
All these things are good. But to love God means
to believe in him. Amen. Say, I love the Lord.
I love the Lord. So next time you are singing,
I love you, you understand? Know what you are
saying is that, I believe in you. So like Nathanael
Bassey would say, Jesus, the son of God, I believe
in you. I believe. It also means, I love you.
That's also what it means. So in your mind, don't
be thinking about works when you say you love
the Lord. Do you understand what I'm saying?
Yes. So by the time you love the Lord, kept his
commandment and you have become the resident
of God, then there is something that is produced.
The result of his indwelling in you is what we
call love toward others. What we call the fruit
of the spirit. You understand? Love, joy, peace,
patience. You know, Galatians 5. That is the
result of the dwelling. Give me an amplifier.
Give me an amplifier. Galatians chapter 5, verse
22. Galatians 5, verse 22. But the fruit of the
Holy Spirit, the what? Give me, not classic,
if you have the amplifier, not classic. Yes.
But the fruit of the spirit, the what? The result
of his what? Presence within us is love. And
they are in his body. All of these ones, they
are love. It's just a valid expression of love.
That's why It's not a type of erudite. He might
say, is. No. All these things here, they are
called love. That's why you see, Jesus was talking
about the second is like the first. The second
is like what? Like the first. Let me end by giving
you this text. Look at how Paul puts this text.
Ephesians chapter 1. I'll just read Ephesians
1. Ephesians 1 .15. And I'll also read Colossians
1 .4 and Philemon 1 .4. Just this way to see
that one is not... That's why Jesus put it. He
said first and then the second. Did you understand
what I'm trying to say? Good. Look at how Paul
put it. Ephesians chapter 1 verse 15. Is it here?
Wherefore I also after I heard of what? In the
Lord Jesus. That means after I have heard your
love. The first. And what? And the love to what?
To all sent. Give me Colossians. Colossians 1
verse 4. Since we heard of your faith in what?
And of your love which you have what? Toward
all saints. Philemon 1 .4 I thank my God making
mention of thee always in my prayers. Hearing
of your what? Which is faith? With thou hast
what? Wait, wait, wait now. Where are you running
to? Where did you run to? Go back. You see that?
Hearing of thy love and faith, with thou hast
toward the what? And what? All sense. Is always
first the love of God. Meaning to have faith
in him and then toward the side. Because it is
his indwelling that produces the fruit which
we love one another. Which we do what? We love
one another. So a man must first believe. A man
must what? First believe and then the next do
what? So let me give you these thoughts as we
close. In the epistles, you will never see anywhere
where they ask to love the Lord. That was why
you saw in Romans 13, what Paul did was to tell
them what? Love your neighbor as yourself. But
he never told them to love the Lord because they
have done what? They have loved the Lord by believing
in him. So the second thing again I want you
to note is that Now, by this explanation that
the Holy Spirit has provided, the Ten Commandments,
they are a revelation of who Christ is. They
are a revelation of who we are in Christ. There
are no rules and regulations. The Ten Commandments,
in essence, were not given as rules and regulations.
They are not a demand of performance by God.
No. They are a revelation of what God will do
in us and do through us. That the Ten Commandments
is not or are not given as rules and regulations.
They are not a demand of performance from God.
No. They are a revelation of what God will do
in man and through man. And that's why Jesus
said the first is like the second. So the 10th
commandment is a promise of God. So next time
you are reading, don't read them as rules. Are
we together? And I want you never to forget this
sequence. First, this promise. So when you hear
that at Mount Sinai, when they came to Horeb,
he described and told them what to do. And they
rejected. You knew that he gave them the promise
and they rejected. Did you understand what I'm
saying? Now by this explanation that Jesus and
the apostles gave us, we knew that the 10th commandment
was the promise of God. What he wanted to do
in them and through them. But they rejected it.
So God now wrote it on the tablet and told Moses,
this is what you will do. You have to teach them
this castle. Are we together? And that was how
Moses began the writing of the law. Remember,
but these are people. who refuse to believe.
When we come, as God will give us opportunity,
we'll begin to now ask, how now and why? You
know, remember, we have not answered the why.
Why did Moses write the law? Since there is the
Ten Commandments. Are we together? And that was
what God asked him to teach them. We have read
it already. Why did Moses have to write a law?
Already there was the Ten Commandments. Are we
together? which already is on a tablet. He would
have been using and be every day. We say, okay,
today we are reading this and keep teaching them.
But why will he go on to write the law or the
book of the law? Amen. Can you just appreciate
God? We appreciate you being here today. We hope
you carry this word with you throughout your
week. Don't forget to check the show notes for
additional insights. Stay connected with us through
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someone you care about. Until next time, stay
blessed.