Deuteronomy 6

Deuteronomy 6

Hello Project Ezra!  This week our suggested reading is Deuteronomy chapter 6, and the central verse, verse 4, is well known.  It is the center point of both Christian and Jewish theology.  In using it a springboard for the gospel, I have tried to address the underlying cause of our denial of, and disobedience to, this truth.  I find that when we as believers share our faith, we often deal with issues on the surface rather than digging deeper to find the underlying world view issues.  It reminds me a bit of the story of the Titanic and the iceberg.  Icebergs may look small on the surface, but it is the bulk of the ice under the surface that can do the most damage.  In the same way, we can argue with people about individual laws and commands of God, but if the underlying problem is a denial of God due to pride and self-worship, no amount of argument about secondary issues will help.  The non-believer's pride needs to be addressed, their idolatry confronted, and there needs to be a brokenness and humility before God.  Only then will they be willing to submit to God's law.  But just as we don't deal with underlying issues, those we speak to are often totally unaware that they exist.  They have been conditioned by their environment, and have been blinded by the power of sin, so that they can not see their own assumptions.  Hopefully, through the power of the Spirit, this outline will help take the blinders from their eyes so that the can see the truth of the gospel.

All for His glory,
Dan

INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND PROJECT EZRA

READ DEUTERONOMY 6

In the chapter just prior to this, Moses gave the 10 Commandments to the people of Israel

In this chapter, he talks about the nature and purpose of God’s commands

Verse 4, often called the Shema, is a verse that observant Jews, both in our day and in the past, repeated as of central importance in their faith

"Hear oh Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one."

They use this phrase in prayer services, teach it to their children, and often repeat it as their last, dying words.

It is also a central belief of the Christian New Testament.  We also believe there is only one God

Following this, verse 5 tells us to love the Lord with all our heart, soul and might

Though many scoff at this, it is a very reasonable command from the God who created us, owns us, and knows what is best for us.

But men have always desired to go their own way

We want to be as God.  We want to define reality, and right and wrong, for ourselves

1 John 2 talks about the love of this world, and the sinful desires that come with that love.

It describes those desires as the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, or of possessions.

The same three desires led to the fall in the garden

Genesis tells us that Eve saw that the fruit was good for food, was pleasing to the eyes, and was desirable to make one wise.

Eve rebelled against God, and ate.  Adam, who was there with her, followed suit, and all of us have followed after him.  We have chosen to rebel against God’s law

Yet God also tells us in this chapter that His commandments are for our good

They are good in protecting us from ourselves and the world, and they are good in keeping us obedient to God, and keeping us from His wrath

Yet we believe our way is better, and that we are more wise than God, and His word.

IN THIS SECTION WE WANT TO BRING CONVICTION OF SIN, SO TRY TO EMPHASIZE THE COMMANDS IN YOUR PRESENTATION

We reject God's provision, believing we deserve more or different than what He has given us, so we steal and covet.

We believe that we understand sexuality better than Him, and that we should be allowed to act on every desire, so we commit adultery, engage in or approve of homosexuality, and have lustful thoughts about those we are not married to

We do not trust that God is truly in control, or that there is purpose behind all that He allows to happen, so we lie to protect ourselves and disrespect our parents and others in authority over us

In the end, we commit idolatry, putting ourselves or an idol in the place of God, and twist His truth to fit our desires.  All in the end is a type of self-worship, founded on pride.

But God does know best.  God designed all, and gave His commands for our good, and for His glory.

And although we deserve hell as punishment for our sin, our prideful rebellion against God, and although He would be perfectly just to send us to the lake of fire because of our rebellion and idolatry, He made a way of escape.

Even though we are guilty criminals, having broken God’s law, and although He as a just judge must see our guilt is punished, He Himself satisfied justice so we could go free

God the Son, Jesus Christ, the promised Jewish messiah, came into the world 2000 years ago

God’s standard of goodness is perfection, a standard we could never meet.  

Jesus lived that perfect life, a life we could never live, and then died a perfect death

God demonstrated His love in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us

Through His life and death, our sins can be removed, and His righteousness can be applied to us, so we can be seen as pure and righteous on the Day of Judgment

But though Jesus died a horrible, bloody death for us, He did not stay dead.  He laid His life down to take it up again.

As He had prophesied, He rose again on the third day.  Christians serve a living God!

Now we too can be raised to new life, through repentance and faith.

To repent means to turn.  It is turning from sin, in humility, and turning to God.  It is a change of direction and a change of allegiance

You must turn, and trust in Jesus Christ, and in Him alone.  You must trust that only His sacrifice is sufficient to save you.

If you trust in anything else to save, or even to help you, you are again in idolatry.

Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him

Every one of us will stand before the Judgment Seat of God one day. 

When you stand before God, and He looks on you, what will He see?

Will he see a man or a woman who has been trusting in their own goodness, in a false god, or in a false view of the reality He created?

Or will He see you covered by the sacrifice and goodness of His own Son?

I pray that today, you will turn and trust in Jesus Christ, and in His sacrifice.

I pray you will abandon your false beliefs and depend on Him alone

Repent and trust Him today, while He has given you time.