Sermon Outline
I. Moses' Legacy
A. Stories like Burning Bush, Red Sea, Plagues are popularly portrayed in media and culture.
B. In Scripture, Moses' legacy is primarily Mt. Sinai - the Law.
II. Biblical Law
A. Negative Views
1. Commonly taught that Law means "If you break this rule, you've sinned and will experience eternal punishment, unless atoned for."
2. This common view doesn't really reflect truth of the Law in scripture.
B. Reasons the Common view doesn't hold up.
1. "Law" is translation choice of "Torah." Can also be "instruction."
2. The Law comes after the fall, after sin has entered the world. The law is a response to sin, not a cause of sin.
3. The OT isn't really concerned with "eternal punishment."
4. Law takes place within the context of Covenant.
III. Covenant
A. What is Covenant?
1. Deep promise.
2. Agreement that binds two parties together.
B. Law is how Israel honored the covenant.
C. At its core, the Law is about God's desire for relationship with humanity.
D. Law helps Israel be "holy."
1. Holy means "set apart," not morally perfect.
2. The Law allowed ancient Israel to survive so that world could be blessed by Jesus.
IV. What's the whole point?
A. The Law reveals to us God's character and will. (John Calvin)
B. The Law reveals to us just how deep God's desire for relationship with us is. (Details)
C. God's desire for relationship isn't just about individuals, though. God cares about how we interact with others, because the law addresses that behavior.
D. The Law reflects for us how much God was willing to do to restore right relationships throughout creation.
E. When viewed appropriately, the law is a revelation of God's grace, not the antithesis of it.