[Machine transcription]
In the name of Jesus, amen.
Dear Saints of God, there are two things that God wants us to know, two things that He wants us to believe. The first is this: that we are sinners. Sinners who have broken God’s law, who have not kept His commands, and who deserve, because of our sin, His wrath and anger.
Now the Lord has to convince us of this because we are by nature trusters in ourselves, self-justifiers. We’re making the argument for our own righteousness. And so that we would reflect deeply on this truth that we are sinners, I’d like tonight to consider the Ten Commandments.
The first commandment: you shall have no other gods. What does this mean? We should fear, love, and trust in God above all things. So I ask you, in what have you trusted? Or who have you trusted? In what do you trust most? For financial security? For physical safety? For emotional support?
Do you fear God’s wrath? And because of the threat of His wrath, do you avoid every sin? Do you love and trust in God so much that that is evident in your day-to-day life? Do you expect only good from God in every situation, or do you worry, doubt, or complain, or feel unfairly treated when things don’t go your way? Do you withhold from God what is rightly His? What are you afraid of?
The second commandment: you shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. This means that we should fear and love God so that we do not curse, swear, use satanic arts, lie, or deceive by His name, but call upon it in every trouble, pray, praise, and give thanks.
And so I ask you, is the Lord’s word evident in your daily speech and conduct, or do you curse, speak carelessly, or misuse God’s name? Do you keep all of the vows that you have made in the Lord’s name, including your confirmation vow and your marriage vows? Are you diligent and sincere in your prayers? Or have you been lazy, bored, or distracted in prayer? Do you trust that the Lord God will answer your prayers, all of them, according to His good and gracious will?
The third commandment: remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. What does this mean? We should fear and love God so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.
Do I despise the Word of God by neglecting or paying little or no attention to it when it is read and preached? Do you attend the worship of the church faithfully or sporadically, or even when you’re there, wish that you were somewhere else? Do you pray for your pastors and other church workers, and support the life of the church by the gifts that God has given? What is your attitude towards worship?
The fourth commandment: honor your father and your mother. This means that we should fear and love God so that we don’t despise our parents and other authorities, but honor them, serve and obey them, love and cherish them.
So I ask you, what is your attitude towards those in authority over you? Have you honored your father and your mother and other authorities, teachers, employers, supervisors, governmental leaders, receiving them as gifts that God has put in authority over you? Have you been angry, stubborn, disrespectful, or insubordinate to those in authority over you? Do you obey the laws that are put in place by the city and the state for good order and for our benefit?
If you’re a parent, do you faithfully represent God the Father in disciplining and caring for and catechizing your children, or do you exasperate them and exhaust them rather than bringing them up in the training and instruction of the Lord?
The fifth commandment: you shall not murder. This means that we should fear and love God so that we would not hurt or harm our neighbor in his body, but help and support him in every physical need.
Are we angry? Are we vengeful? Have we protected the lives of those around us, including the lives of the unborn? Do I hate anybody? Have I called anybody a fool or disrespected anyone? Have I lost my temper? Have I injured my neighbor by my thoughts or words or deeds? Do you hold grudges or harbor resentment against your neighbor? Do you ignore the plight of the helpless? Are you callous toward the genuine needs of those around you?
The sixth commandment: you shall not commit adultery. This means that we should fear and love God so that we lead a sexually pure and decent life in what we say and do, and that husband and wife love and honor one another. Are you in a sexual relationship with someone other than your spouse? Do you look at others lustfully, committing adultery with them in your heart? Do you dishonor marriage by ridicule or divorce, or engage in forms of sexual immorality, or let lust have its free course in your heart and imagination?
The seventh commandment: you shall not steal. This means that we should fear and love God so that we do not take our neighbor’s money or possessions or get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his possessions and income.
So I ask, have you cheated? Have you sought to get something that you haven’t earned? Do you care for what you have? Do you pay what you owe? Do you return what you borrow? Do you respect other people’s property? Do you give generously? Are you generous, or are you selfish and stingy and greedy with your time and your money? Are you unfaithful in the responsibilities of your various vocations?
The eighth commandment: you shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation
