The Strictness Of God’s Law 1

Introduction 2 “It is significant that nothing in the Bible is emphasized more than the demand to respect and obey the commandments of God.” Roy J. Hearn

Mt. 10:40 [40] He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. 3

Lk. 10:16 [16] He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me. 4

Jn. 16:13-15 [13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 5

[14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. [15] All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 6

The Chain Of Authority God --- Christ --- Holy Spirit --- to the apostles This is the source of all authority in religion The apostles wrote the word by inspiration and we have that word today 7

Those who receive the word receive God Those who reject the word reject God 8

Rom. 15:4 [4] For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. 9

2 Tim. 3:15 [15] And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 10

I. Some Apparently Foolish Laws Of God 11

1. The Passover – blood on the door posts and lintels of the house 12

Many today would say this was a foolish way to do things However, this is the way God chose Exodus 12 13

2. The Brazen Serpent 14

Israel sinned against God by rebelling and complaining Numbers 21 Fiery serpents were sent among them 15

Moses was told to make a serpent of brass, place it on a pole in the midst of the camp Those who looked on in faith, believing God would heal them, lived, while others died It was strict and had to be obeyed 16

3. Naaman healed of leprosy 17

A leper Dip 7 times in the Jordan river Naaman went away in anger He was healed only after he obeyed 2 Kings 5 18

II. Examples Of God’s Strictness 19

1. Cain and Abel – Gen. 4:1-8 Here we have the first record of worship 20

Heb. 11:4 [4] By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. 21

Cain wanted to do things his own way – he was a liberal Far too many today are like Cain! 22

2. Strange fire – Nadab & Abihu Lev. 10:1-2 [1] And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not. [2] And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD. 23

“They took undue liberty with God’s law” When God tells us what to do and how to do it, everything else is eliminated No act of worship – not authorized by the N.T. – reaches the throne of God 24

Proverbs 30:6 [6] Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. 25

3. Uzzah’s innocent act He seemed to be an honest and good man Was his heart right in what he did? 26

Numbers 4:15 [15] And when Aaron and his sons have made an end of covering the sanctuary, and all the vessels of the sanctuary, as the camp is to set forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to bear it: but they shall not touch any holy thing, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the tabernacle of the congregation. 27

2 Sam. 6:7 [7] And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God. 28

He violated a positive command of God 29

Today How many people are taking liberty with God’s word? When we fail to follow God’s word and presumptuously follow our own desires; we are perverting the ways of God 30

Gal. 1:6-9 [6] I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: [7] Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. 31

[8] But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. [9] As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 32

III. The Law Of Christ Is Stricter Than Moses Law 33

Heb. 2:1-2 [1] Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. [2] For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; 34

Heb. 2:3 [3] How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him; 35

Every soul that will not hear will be destroyed - Acts 3:22-23 [22] For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you. 36

[23] And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people. 37

To do as we please with God’s word is to despise it - Heb. 10:28-29 [28] He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 38

[29] Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? 39

The word of Christ is unchangeable – indestructible – Mt. 24:35 [35] Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. 40

1 Pet. 1:23 [23] Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 41

Everyone shall meet the word of God at the judgment - Jn. 12:48-50 [48] He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. [49] For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. 42

[50] And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak. 43

To simply call Christ “Lord” is not good enough – Lk. 6:46 [46] And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? 44

To be saved one must obey the will of Christ – Mt. 7:21 [21] Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 45

Rev. 22:14 [14] Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 46

The difference in the wise and the foolish is obedience -- Mt. 7:24-27 [24] Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: [25] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. 47

[26] And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: [27] And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it. 48

Conclusion God has always forbidden addition, subtraction or substitution to his word without exception Those who do so should take another look at what God has commanded & what he requires now 49

Rev. 22:18-19 [18] For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: [19] And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book. 50

“Those how are inclined to liberalism in or out of the church should take another look at what God has commanded and what He requires now.” 51

Proverbs 28:26 [26] He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. 52

References Article by Roy J. Hearn – The Strictness of God’s Law 53