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God’s Standard of Right and Wrong Morality Then and Now God’s Standard of Right and Wrong For Today’s World Leviticus 18-20, 24:10-23 Fredericktown church of Christ Gospel Meeting * August 12, 2009 * Prepared by Chris Reeves

Morality “Morality” = principles or rules of conduct for mankind Who or what decides the rules? Are these rules for all generations?

Leviticus 18-20 Where are we in the book of Leviticus? Leviticus 1-17: the WAY to God (laws concerning the acceptable APPROACH to God) Leviticus 18-27: the WALK with God (laws concerning the continued FELLOWSHIP with God)

Morality in Leviticus It was legislated by the Lord, not man (18:1-2,5,6,30; note the “my” and “mine” throughout) It was meant to keep Israel sanctified, separate, and close to God (18:3-4; 19:1-2; 20:7-8,24-26) It was meant to provide for Israel’s well-being (18:4-5) It was meant to keep Israel from self-destruction (18:24-30; 20:22-23)

Morality Then and Now What is Wrong Sexual immorality (18:6-23; 20:10-21; Rom. 1:26-27; 1 Cor. 5:1; 6:9-10; Gal. 5:19; 1 Tim. 1:10; Heb. 13:4) Incest Impurity Adultery Homosexuality Bestiality Child sacrifice (18:21; 20:1-5; Rom. 1:31) Idolatry (19:4; Gal. 5:19; 1 Jn. 5:21)

Morality Then and Now What is Wrong Stealing, lying, swearing (19:11-12; Eph. 4:25,28) Oppressing, cursing, hindering (19:13-14; Jas. 5:4) Injustice, tale bearing (19:15-16; Jn. 7:24; 1 Tim. 5:13) Hatred, vengeance (19:17-18; Eph. 4:31; Rom. 12:17) Improper mixing (19:19; 2 Cor. 6:14 – 7:1)

Morality Then and Now What is Wrong Sexual immorality with one engaged (19:20-22; Gal. 5:19) Eating blood, sorcery, cuttings (19:26-28; Acts 15:20; 1 Cor. 6:19-20; Gal. 5:20) Prostitution (19:29; Gal. 5:19) Wizardry (19:31; 20:6,27; Gal. 5:20) Dishonesty (19:35-37; 1 Pet. 2:1)

Morality Then and Now What is Right Respect your parents (19:3; 20:9; Eph. 6:1-2) Respect God’s sacrifice (19:5-8; 1 Pet. 2:5) Respect the poor (19:9-10; Gal. 2:10) Respect God himself (19:12; 24:10-23; Mt. 6:9) Dishonoring God’s name (24:10-11) Determining God’s will (24:12-16) Discerning God’s mind (24:17-22) Dispensing God’s justice (24:23)

Morality Then and Now What is Right Respect your neighbor (19:18b; Rom. 13:8-10) Respect the land (19:23-25; 1 Cor. 10:26) Respect God’s sanctuary (19:30; 1 Tim. 3:15) Respect the elderly (19:32; 1 Tim. 5:1-2; 1 Pet. 5:5) Respect the stranger (19:33-34; Rom. 13:8-10; Gal. 6:10)

Morality Then and Now Other Moral Issues in Leviticus Alcohol (Lev. 10:9-10; Eph. 5:18; 1 Pet. 4:4) Modest clothing (Lev. 6:10ff; 8:7; 16:4; Ex. 28:42; 1 Tim. 2:9-10)

Raising Moral Children in An Immoral World First, instill submission to authority by truly knowing who the Lord is and what he has done for all mankind (“I am Jehovah…” 18:2; 19:2) – Mt. 28:18; Eph. 1:22-23 Second, teach that there will be negative consequences without a fixed standard of morality (Lev. 18:24ff; 20:22ff ) – Rom. 1:18-32

Raising Moral Children in An Immoral World Third, instill respect for authority and rules of conduct at home (Lev. 19:3; 20:9) – Eph. 6:1-4 Fourth, separate from worldly morality (18:3; 24ff; 20:23; note Ezra 9:1-2) – Rom. 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 6:14ff Fifth, encourage opposition to what is wrong (Lev. 20:4) – Rom. 12:9 Sixth, favor a death penalty (20:2,9,10-16,27) – Rom. 13:1ff

Raising Moral Children in An Immoral World Noah (Gen. 6:5-9), Abraham (Gen. 18:19), and Joshua (Josh. 24:15) raised godly families; you can too! God’s standard of morality (right / wrong; good / evil) for us today is the NT (Rom. 12:9; 16:19; Heb. 5:14; 1 Pet. 3:11; 3 Jn. 11). Let’s apply it if we want to live and go to heaven!