1. The Perfect Law of God Heidelberg Catechism Q/A: 94-115

2. Context: Exodus 20:2 - I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the land of slavery

3. Context: I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the land of slavery We have been rescued from the penalty which our sin deserves – death – through Jesus Christ We have been rescued from the power of sin through regeneration and indwelling of the Holy Spirit

4. The First Commandment Exodus 20:3 - You shall have no other gods before me.

5. You shall have no other gods. Idolatry – substituting a false god in the place of God. E.g. Visible statues, doctrinal definitions [I think God is….], Money, Sex, Power. Instead – God wants absolute and total allegiance in all areas of life. God alone must be the object of our lives. Our lives must centre and revolve around God, not ourselves or something else.

6. The Second Commandment Exodus 20:4-6 - You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

7. God cannot be defined by an image. No image to be made to represent God. No pictures of Christ apart from those authorised in the Bible [Baptism and Sacraments]. No imagination – own idea of God – limit God to a 'box' that you create – God is much greater, bigger than anything we can imagine. Worship God only in the way/manner that God has commanded in his Word.

8. I like to worship God…. A)As God directs – because then I know my worship is right and pleasing to God. B)As I please – even if God has not authorised me to worship him in such a manner.

9. The Third Commandment Exodus 20:7 - You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

10. Do not misuse God's name. To take someone's name [E.g. Marriage] – to make an exclusive commitment to that person. We profess faith in Christ – but, if we are not sincere and obedient, we take God's name in vain. Use God's name with reverence – not as a curse word. Outward form of worship etc. might be right – but if our attitude and lives do not conform to God's word – hypocrisy.

11. The Fourth Commandment Exodus 20:8-11 - Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labour and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

12. Remember the Sabbath day, keep it holy. Temporary ceremonial aspect & enduring permanent moral element. Day of rest – not TV/Games/Lounging, but attend to church, learn God's Word, use sacraments. Saturday or Sunday (Acts 20:7) Six days of work – 1 day of rest.

13. The Fifth Commandment Exodus 20:12 - Honour your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

14. Honour authority Jesus came to do the will of his Father (John 6:38) God wants us to be obedient to the authority structures over us – not because of their competence/ability/our estimation of them – but because God has placed them in authority over us: Children to Parents, Wives to Husbands, Employees to Employers, Citizens to Government, Students to University Rules… Promise: Doing so result in blessing and long life.

15. The Sixth Commandment Exodus 20:13 - You shall not murder. Matthew 5:21-23 - You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

16. Honour human life Vengeance belongs to God not to us – if someone wrongs you, love them do not kill them. Civil authorities have the power of the sword – to use in exercising justice Abortion – babies are not considered human Assisted suicide – old people are considered a drain on resources Anger – relationships between Christians must be characterised by love and forgiveness – cannot come to worship God if you are angry at another Christian brother/sister

17. The Seventh Commandment Exodus 20:14 - You shall not commit adultery. Matthew 5:28 - But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

18. Honour marriage Marriage between a man and a woman is the only place which God has decreed for sexual activity. Sex is a good and wonderful gift from God – to be enjoyed! [Song of Solomon] Adultery – sexual relations outside of the bond of marriage.

19. The Eighth Commandment Exodus 20:15 - You shall not steal.

20. Honour property Do not take what is not yours, do not trick/cheat someone unfairly. To get 'something' for 'nothing'. Instead: Work and earn what you want to have. Gambling – Something for nothing – R1 for R1000000. TV/Music – Something for nothing – Stream/illegal downloads… Work – Something for nothing – Facebook/time wasting for a salary…

21. The Ninth Commandment Exodus 20:16 - You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour.

22. Honour your words Your word is your bond Do not lie or give false testimony – tell the truth even if it means suffering. Caught speeding/Homework late/Lie about what I do weekend-evenings/Gossip about people that is unverified/Politics/Business But – some examples of truth being concealed when a full revelation might have provoked evil [1 Samuel 16]

23. The Tenth Commandment Exodus 20:17 - You shall not covet your neighbour's house. You shall not covet your neighbour's wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbour.”

24. Watch your heart Concerned with our internal desires Do not set your heart on something you cannot have Do not desire to do sin – rather, desire to be perfect as Jesus is perfect Covetousness – sin at root of Adam and Eve – they wanted to be like God rather than to worship God. Colossians 3:15 – Covetousness = Idolatry Moment we desire something that is wrong and forbidden to us – we forsake the true God to serve and idol.

25. Perfect Law – Imperfect Obedience Penalty of sin – Rescued by Jesus Christ's atoning death Power of sin – Rescued by the Holy Spirit living inside us Presence of sin – Coming Soon! [New Creation] We cannot keep God's law perfectly because, we still live in the presence of sin, with sinful bodies and natures. But, having been rescued, we will strive to live according to all of God's commandments.

26. Perfect Law - Response Whenever we hear God's law read in church/read God's law ourselves, it should do two things in us: 1)Show us our sin and thereby drive us towards Christ – so we don't believe the lie that says 'I am a good person – I don't need Christ' 2)Show us God's will for our lives – so that we endeavour to be obedient and ask the Holy Spirit to help us live in a way that pleases God.