[0:00] Thank you.
[0:30] Thank you.
[1:00] Thank you.
[1:30] Thank you.
[2:00] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[2:38] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[2:50] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[3:02] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[3:14] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[3:26] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
[3:38] Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. The Lord is so devised, in light, in essence, in the gate from our eyes.
[3:53] Possessed, those glorious, the ancient of days. Almighty, victorious, my great heavenly praise.
[4:08] Unresting, unhastening, and silent as light. Thou hasting, thou hasting, thou rulest in light.
[4:24] Thy justice, thy mountains, thy story above. Thy mountains, thy mountains, of goodness and love.
[4:39] Thy mountains, thy mountains, of goodness and love.
[5:09] Let's do that in prayer together now. Let us come near to God. Let us pray. O Lord, our God, we thank you that you are the one who has taken the initiative to come to us.
[5:27] Thank you that you are the one who has made the way and has come to us. We thank you for the Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who was given that title, Emmanuel, which means God with us.
[5:43] Thank you it's not us with God. Thank you that, O Lord, there was no way for us to come to you. No way for us to make a way to overcome our sin and our wicked hearts, our wrong attitudes, those things which cloud our minds, that prevent us from even recognizing you for who you are, let alone helping us to come to you and draw near to you.
[6:12] We thank you that, O Lord, our God, if left to our own devices, as we see around about us, Lord, we could only bring our own self-destruction, left to our own devices.
[6:23] Lord, we could only blunder around in the darkness of our ignorance, continuing to hurt one another, continuing to break your commands, continuing, Lord, to be lost and helpless and foolish.
[6:36] Lord, we thank you that you haven't left us to our own devices. Thank you that you haven't just created this world and walked away, but we thank you that you are the God who is intimately, personally involved in this world, not just in the great things of nations or of governments or powers or of people of riches, but you are the God who is involved in every single human being.
[7:00] You are the God who cares for and has a purpose for and a love for every single human being, whatever their race or creed, whatever their age, whatever their intellect, whatever their background, whatever their language, whatever their religion.
[7:17] We thank you that, O Lord, our God, it is your desire and longing that men and women should know you and know the love that you have for them, the love that took you, the Lord Jesus Christ, the very Son of God, to the cross to suffer and to die in our place, that took you to bear upon yourself the punishment our sins deserve, that took you to the very grave and to the foretaste and the experience of hell, so that we might never know it but might be freed and delivered from it.
[7:49] We thank you that, Lord Jesus Christ, you rose from the dead. We thank you that you are the God who gives life, the God who sustains life, the God who promises everlasting life to all who will come to you.
[8:02] We thank you that we need not fear death, for it has no power over us, because in Christ we are new creations. O Lord, we ask that this morning as we come to you, Lord, as we think again about the greatness of who you are, we think again about the commandments that you have given us, your good and perfect word, your truth, O Lord, which rings through all the ages, a truth which is rejected and despised.
[8:28] O Lord, help us not only to understand your truth, but give us the power of your Holy Spirit to live out your word and your truth. For, O Lord, we long to be lights in this world.
[8:39] We long to be those who proclaim by the way we live and speak and act, that in everything people may see that Jesus is our Saviour and our King. O Lord, be with us then. Help us then.
[8:52] Send your Holy Spirit upon us, we pray. For we ask these things in the name of Christ, who has come to save. Amen. Now, last week, I gave the boys and girls some homework.
[9:08] Can anybody remember what the homework was? They had to find something out. Do you remember what you had to find out? Adam, what was the next commandment?
[9:21] What number is it? What's the next commandment? What number is the next one? What number is the next one? Do you know? Samuel. Sorry.
[9:34] Do not murder. That's right. It's the sixth commandment. Do not murder. Okay? So, last week, we refreshed ourselves with our fingers about the first five. Okay?
[9:45] The first one, the first commandment is, you shall have no other gods before me. One God. Let's see some fingers, boys and girls. Everybody else can manage a finger exercise today.
[9:57] Second commandment was, you shall have, you shall not make for yourself an image or anything. You shall not bow down to them or worship them. So, you can do some finger exercise. Bow a finger.
[10:08] Okay? Third commandment was, you shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God.
[10:19] So, you have three fingers. Put them over your mouth. Not to misuse God's name. Not to take God's name. That's God the Father. God the Son. God the Holy Spirit. So, when we use Jesus' name as well, as well as God's name, the Lord's name, we should be always careful.
[10:34] Okay? Okay? The fourth commandment was, what did we do with that? We rested, didn't we? Put our head like that. We rested because, remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
[10:47] Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the Sabbath, the seventh day, is to the Lord. On it you shall not do any work. God gives us rest. Okay? God gives us rest. The fifth commandment was the one that boys and girls love the most and do their best to keep, isn't it?
[11:07] Honor. When you salute somebody, if you're in the army, honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land your God has given you. There's a promise. If you honor your mother and father, there's a promise from God, a blessing from God, in our lives, practically.
[11:23] So, we've got six fingers now. Okay? We've already been told, okay, that the sixth commandment is do not murder. So, what I want you to do is to imagine this finger is a gun.
[11:35] Shooting. Okay? Bang. No. No killing. No murder. Do not murder. Okay? So, six fingers. This one's a gun. You do not murder.
[11:48] Well, that's why. Often when we get given rules, sometimes we get given rules, and you say, why should I keep that rule? You may say to mom and dad, why should I tidy up my room?
[11:58] Well, because I've told you so. Is that what it is? Yeah? Just because I've told you so. Well, God gives us his rules, and he doesn't just say, why I've told you so. He gives us reason. All of God's rules, God's laws, his commandments, are for good.
[12:12] They are reasonable. They make sense. So, why should we keep, or why can't we murder? Aha, it's coming. Why can't we murder? Can you give me a reason why we can't murder?
[12:27] Okay. Adam? Because there won't be anybody left. All right, okay. There's an interesting, an interesting, yeah, viewpoint.
[12:39] Good, thank you. Well, let's put up an answer. Let's put up, why can't we murder? Well, God has given each person life. Yeah? God has given each person life. So, to kill somebody, or to murder somebody, well, that's God has given that person life.
[12:55] It's not for us to take it away, because the next thing is this. Each person's life belongs to God. You and I, whoever we are, we think sometimes, this is my life, and I can do with my life what I like.
[13:07] Well, ultimately, no, it's not. Your life, and my life, firstly belongs to God, because he's the one who's given us life, and our lives belong to him. And therefore, that's true of everybody else.
[13:19] So, to murder somebody, is to take away, what belongs to God. It's to steal from God. It's to rob from God. Well, how should we keep this commandment?
[13:30] Is it just about, not killing people? Is that all it is? Well, what does God's word say? Did you press it maybe twice? Ah, there we are. Okay, this is part of the New Testament.
[13:42] This is later on, where it explains to us, what God means, by his commandment. The commandments, you shall not commit adultery, that's next week, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and whatever other commandment they may be, are summed up in this one commandment.
[13:59] Okay? Love, your neighbour as yourself. And elsewhere, it says, that love, is the fulfilment of all of God's commandments. So, actually, not killing somebody, is not enough, is it?
[14:12] You don't kill them because, because you love them. But more than that, we are to love one another, not just to, not kill one another, not to harm one another, not to put one another down, not to be rude to one another, not to misuse one another, not to call one another names, and all those things.
[14:31] So, God's commandment, you shall not murder, is God saying, you should love one another, care for one another, care for the practical needs of one another. When people are hungry, feed them. When people are in need to provide for them.
[14:44] So, God's commandment is love. So, the question is this, we may say, oh, I've never broken the commandment, not, I've never murdered anybody, but have we kept the commandment as we're meant to?
[14:55] Have we loved everybody? Have we perfectly loved everybody? Have we been kind, and generous, and thoughtful, all the time? Well, we know we haven't.
[15:06] So, in that sense, we break God's commandment. Therefore, we need the Lord's help, and grace, to keep it. Love, is the fulfillment, of God's commandments.
[15:19] So, that was the sixth. So, your homework, is, find out about the seventh commandment. Okay? Find out about the seventh commandment, for next time. So, the sixth one is, do not murder.
[15:33] Okay? Do not murder. Okay, we're going to sing a song now, that's going to come up on the screen, reminding us that, it's not by keeping God's commandments, that we are right with God, though God wants us to, it's by faith, by trusting in Him, and following Him, by faith.
[15:51] So, our next hymn, is going to be, by faith, we see the hand of God. Let's stand as we sing. and we see the hand of God, and we see the hand of God, in the eyes of creation's crown design, in the eyes of those who prove His faithfulness, who walk by faith and not aside, and with our fathers from death.
[16:49] And we see the hand of God. And we see the hand of God, in the eyes of God, and with our fathers from death. And we see the hand of God, in the eyes of God, of the holy city, built by God's own house, a place where peace and justice reigns.
[17:07] We'll stand as children of the promise, we will fix our eyes on Him, our souls reward, till the race is finished, and the world is done.
[17:25] We'll walk by faith and not by sight. Matthew in chapter 5. I'll tell you a bit later, don't worry.
[17:38] I'll tell you a bit later. Matthew chapter 5, and that's page 969. Page 969 in the Church Bible. And we're going to read from verse 13.
[17:49] This is part of Jesus' what's often called the Sermon on the Mount. This is the very first long sermon that is recorded for us in Matthew. And we're going to read from verse 13 of chapter 5 through to verse 26.
[18:06] 13 to 26 of Matthew 5, page 969. Here is the word of the Lord. You are the salt of the earth.
[18:18] But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
[18:30] You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house.
[18:43] In the same way, let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Do not think that I come, sorry, do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets.
[19:00] I've not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen will by any means disappear from the law until everything is accomplished.
[19:17] Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
[19:32] For I tell you, that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.
[19:43] 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.
[19:57] Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, Raka, is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, You fool, will be in danger of the fire of hell.
[20:09] Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them, then come and offer your gift.
[20:24] Settle matters quickly with your adversary who's taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.
[20:38] Truly I tell you, you shall not get out until you've paid the last penny. Well, we are back in the Ten Commandments.
[20:51] We were looking at them, really as part of our series through Exodus. Exodus, and the end of last year, leading up to, just before Christmas. And so we come to the very sixth, the sixth of those Ten Commandments, as we've been, you've heard as we were teaching with the children.
[21:10] And very simply, put, that commandment in Exodus 20 is this, You shall not murder. I wonder if you've ever asked yourself, how much am I worth?
[21:24] Now by that, I don't mean how much do you own, in the bank balance, or in your house, or property, or investments. How much is your one life worth?
[21:36] Well, as you might expect, there's a website for that, and it offers the answer to the question. If you fill out the survey, and so on, it comes up somehow, with a figure, and being sort of curious, I thought I'd have a go at that, and answered as many of the questions as I could, and it came up with the figure.
[21:55] Of course, it's an American website, so it came up in dollars. One point, this is me, I don't know about you, this is what I'm worth, 1.43 million dollars, which is about 50 pounds, no, it's about 800,000 pounds, okay, don't tell me how they get to that point, or what it, how they do it, I don't know, how much you're worth, it's a bit of fun, bit of silliness in one sense, but it's a very serious thing.
[22:23] How much is one human life worth? More importantly, or just as importantly as this, is one human life, more valuable, than any other human life?
[22:37] Is the life of a terminally ill person, less valuable, than someone who is healthy? Is the life of a scientist, more valuable, than that of someone, with learning difficulties?
[22:53] Sadly, the reality is that, throughout history, one person's life, has often been counted of less value, than another's, because of their race, because of their gender, because of their age.
[23:10] The continuing evil, which is slavery, around the world, is a sad reflection, of a universal way of thinking, that one life, is more valuable, than another.
[23:21] As we come to this sixth commandment, do not murder, we then are confronted, with God's value, upon a human life. How does God, view and value, each human life?
[23:36] In the original Hebrew, it's just two simple words, no murder, no murder, that's the commandment. commandment. But it's God, speaking those two words.
[23:48] And in speaking, those two words, as with all of his word, he is opening up to us, and revealing to us, how he thinks, about the world, what are his values, what is his heart, what is his will.
[24:03] And therefore, those two simple words, carry a great deal, of relevance, to us. The reason I read, from Matthew in chapter 5, earlier on, was because we know, that Jesus teaches, about this commandment himself, in verse 21.
[24:20] You have heard, that it was said to you, the people long ago, you shall not murder. And then he goes on, to expand that, and to tell us, that this commandment, is much more than simply, the taking of life.
[24:33] It has much more, than just the negative aspect, of keeping us from murder. But rather, as we know, it comes under the umbrella, of that second greatest commandment, that the Bible teaches, that we are to love your neighbour, as yourself.
[24:51] We have the, those verses, with the children, from Romans 13. All the commandments, whether it be, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not murder, do not lie, do not bear false witness, do not covet, and so on.
[25:06] All of them, come under, that commandment, love your neighbour, as yourself. The first greatest commandment, love the Lord your God, through your heart, mind, soul and strength, second greatest commandment.
[25:18] So there is not just, a negative aspect, but there is a positive aspect, to the commandment. So what I want us to do, as we've done before, look at what this teaches us, about the very nature of God, as I've said already, his value of human life.
[25:32] Look at what Jesus did, to keep this commandment, because he is the only person, whoever kept, all the commandments of God, perfectly, and how Jesus kept it, and then, apply that to ourselves.
[25:43] How are we, to keep this commandment? First of all, God. Well it's clear, isn't it, when God commands, do not murder, he clearly is showing to us, that he counts, every human life, as precious, in his sight, as valuable, in his sight.
[25:59] For he forbids, the taking, of any, human life. Now we understand, from the outset, why that should be, because God is our creator.
[26:12] Every human being, every person, is made, and created, by God, and God sustains, our lives. Here's what the psalmist, writes, in 139.
[26:24] For you created, my inmost being, you knit me together, in my mother's womb. I praise you, because I am fearfully, and wonderfully, made.
[26:37] Every single one of us, every single human being, who is born, into this world, has been knit together, by God, created by God, uniquely, and personally, by him.
[26:50] And so therefore, on the very basis, of that truth, we cannot, deny, that the command, you shall not murder, must, must, forbid, abortion.
[27:04] It must, speak against, the destroying, of a human life, within the womb, that God is creating. Abortion, is, murder.
[27:16] Now, having said that, and standing by that, in spite of the millions, of, children, that are murdered, in our own country, certainly, in the 50 years, my birthday, I'm giving it away now, I was born in the year, that abortion was legalized, and so was homosexuality, legalized.
[27:39] But because, the world says, those things are okay, does not mean, that God says, they are okay. And abortion, is still, murder.
[27:49] But, let me say this, because, because, God forbids it, and because it is a sin, and because it is wrong, does not mean, that it is unforgivable.
[28:02] And it does not mean, that there is, not, forgiveness. And many, many, women, if not all women, who have experienced, abortion, carry with them, a great weight of guilt, grief, self-hate, and the assurance, that we have, for those dear women, who have gone through, perhaps under pressure, many of them, perhaps with ignorance, who knows why, is the message, we have for them, is forgiveness.
[28:30] It has to be, compassion, mercy, love. And we will meet, if we have not already met, if we do not already know, women who have, undergone that, that, practice.
[28:44] And let us just, bear that in mind, for a moment. Wrong, sinful, but there is forgiveness. Thank God. There is mercy, there is compassion, for those people.
[28:58] God is a creator of life, and he creates it in the womb, and therefore that life, in the womb, is precious to him. We know that God, counts every life, as precious, not only because, he created every life, but because every human life, bears something, of his image.
[29:12] Every single human person, is created in his image. God says, at the very start, of Genesis chapter 1, verse 27, God created mankind, in his own image, in his own image, he created them male, and female.
[29:28] Both men, and women, boys and girls, are created in the image of God. That is what sets us apart, from animals. That is why, it is impossible, for us to have evolved, from animals, because we are made, in the image of God.
[29:41] God, and therefore, we are set above, all of the rest of creation. You and I, dear friends, are not simply, animals, that have evolved, to a certain degree, of intelligence.
[29:52] We are soulish creatures. God is spirit, and he's put his spirit, within us. There is no spirit, within a dog, or a cat, however nice they may be, and how much we may, lavish them with love, and how much they may, be sort of, we feel affectionate to us.
[30:07] They have not got a soul, but every human being, from the very, babe, that's first born, to the oldest person, has been made, in the image of God. We bear many, of the characteristics of God, though they are marred, by sin, because we are, fallen and sinful people, because no matter, who we are, from the youngest babe, to the oldest adult, we all carry, that sinful, DNA, as it were, spiritually, within us.
[30:35] Yet, we are creative, and we communicate, and we have morality, and we love, and we appreciate beauty, and we do all those things, the things that reflect, even in a small way, the fact that we are created, in the image of God.
[30:52] And that is true, of every single, human being. Whatever their intellect, whatever their ability, whatever their skill, whatever their race, whatever condition, of their body, or their mind.
[31:06] And so, a person with disability, whatever that may be, however extreme it may be, is still created, in the image of God, bears something, of his nature, at the very least, and it's more than that, they are spiritual.
[31:22] And therefore, to treat, any human life, as dispensable, because of our own, value system, is wrong. To treat, one life, as if it is, as unimportant, than another, is wrong.
[31:37] Life, is, the image of God. And life is precious to God, because, each and every, person belongs to God, as we shared with the children, before.
[31:48] Your life and mine, is not ours. God has created you, and he's made you, in his image, and you belong to him. Your life is his. By his power, you came to life.
[32:00] You didn't create yourself, did you? You didn't bring yourself, to birth, any of us. At the very least, we look to our parents, but beyond that, we look to God.
[32:11] And therefore, if we did not, give ourselves life, if we did not, grant ourselves life, then how, have we, how can we possibly think, we have the right, to take away life?
[32:24] God sustains your life. The reason that you, and I are alive today, is because of him. The reason that you have not, lost your life earlier than now, is because of him. And therefore, to end your life, thinking that it is your right, to do so, is completely contrary, to this commandment.
[32:45] Therefore, again, this commandment, forbids suicide. The taking of one's life, it's against that, but it's also against, euthanasia, which says that, this life should be brought, to an end, because it now has no, value, or worth, or quality.
[33:06] The reason that, these things are talked about, the reason that, these things are discussed, and debated, again and again, in our own society, more than they've ever been before, is, is the reality, the proof that, we have lost sight, of life, as God, sees life.
[33:22] We have lost sight, of the value of life, as God, continues, considers life, to be valuable, whatever state, it is. Your life, and mine, belongs to God.
[33:34] It's not our right, to take our life, nor our right, to take another person's life, belongs to God, and your life, dear friends, no matter what quality, of life you have, or have not, no matter what age, no matter what, money, what finance, what illness, what disease, what problems, you struggle with, dear friends, to God, your life, is extremely, precious, precious, and this commandment, declares it to be so.
[34:00] Now, there's a question, that arises immediately, here. If God, counts human life, so precious, and he commands, us not to murder, why, in the Bible, do we find, that God, commands the death, of many, tens, of thousands, of people?
[34:21] people. Already, in the book of Exodus, as we've been going through, we've seen, that many have been killed, by God, in the plagues, that led up to the, rescue of God's people, from there.
[34:33] We saw the Red Sea, where the whole army, of Egypt, was destroyed, by God, as they went through, the Red Sea, and the waters came in. And in the later chapters, as we go into Exodus, and the rest of the New Testament, the rest of the Bible, we find, of course, God's commandments, are given, and that those, who break those commandments, are to suffer, the penalty of death.
[34:58] Is there inconsistency, with God? No. It's a big subject, and I'm not going to, spend all morning, on that, because I want us, to get to it, but it does deserve, an answer, a straightforward answer, and I want to give, a straightforward answer, from God's word.
[35:12] First of all, we need to understand, that God is holy, and God is good, and he does not delight, or take any pleasure, in the death, of even the wicked.
[35:24] God says that himself, in Ezekiel 18. Do I take any pleasure, in the death of the wicked? Question mark, it's rhetorical. Rather, am I not pleased, when they turn, from their wicked ways, and live?
[35:37] God's desire, for every single person, is that they should, turn to him, and live. That they should, turn away from evil, and wickedness, and that they should, not suffer the consequences, of that evil, and wickedness.
[35:50] The very reason, Christ came into the world, was to rescue, and to save us, from the consequence, the punishment, of eternal death, that we all deserve, by dying in our place. Yet, the reality is this, that God is just, and God is good, and he cannot excuse evil.
[36:10] God cannot be, like a bribed judge, who will turn up, who will let the guilty, go free, or declare the wicked, as innocent. He must, to be just, and to be true to himself, punish, evil.
[36:25] So when God, kills, or commands, the death penalty, for evil actions, he is doing, what is right, and what is good, for his judgment, is perfect. And yet, all life, is in his hand.
[36:41] Only he has the right, to take life, or command the taking, of life, because he's the one, who gives life. In fact, even not just, in human beings, but throughout, the whole of his creation, death only comes, at God's will.
[36:59] Here's what Jesus said, concerning sparrows, in Matthew chapter 10. Not one of them, falls to the ground, outside your father's, will. So all of death, in one sense, is under the very control, of God.
[37:15] Now I know, that's not a full answer, to everything, but ultimately, it's the answer, that what God does, is right, and just, and though we don't, fully comprehend, and understand, all his ways, we know him, and we can trust him.
[37:30] So, this commandment, teaches us, and shows us, that God counts, human life as precious, and that we are to count, human life as precious, as well, our own life, and also the lives, of others, whatever, their situation.
[37:47] But let's come to Jesus, Jesus taught about, this commandment as well, Jesus is the one, who fulfills, he said himself, all God's commandments, notice what he said, do not think, that I've come, to abolish the law, of the prophets, I've come, not to abolish them, but to fulfill them, so how does Jesus, keep and fulfill, this commandment?
[38:06] Well of course, he fulfills it, in its negative context, in the sense, that he never killed anybody, he never took, anybody's life, in fact he never, harmed anybody, we're not told, of Jesus ever striking, anybody, or lashing out, against anybody, in anger, he never took, human life, he kept this commandment, in its negative form, but more importantly, especially, in fulfilling this commandment, Jesus kept it, positively, he kept it, positively, by the love he showed, to all those he met, he showed it positively, by treating, every single person he met, as valuable, as one another, he lived it, out positively, by his practical love, for those, who were often, the unloved, where do we often, find Jesus, amongst the outcasts, amongst those, who were considered, by the Pharisees, and the teachers of the laws, as second class citizens, the sinners, the tax collectors, all the publicans, the people who were, the lowest of the low, in their eyes,
[39:07] Jesus raised them up, and he called them his friends, and Jesus fulfilled this commandment, by the miracles he performed, if the taking of life, and the destroying of life, is what we have forbidden, then surely, is the enhancing of life, and the wholeness of life, that we are commanded to do, so he healed the sick, he made the lame to walk, the blind to see, and especially, he gave life, to those who are dead, on three separate occasions, the daughter of Jairus, Lazarus, and the widow of Nain's son, he fulfilled the commandments, wherever he went, life was given, life was not taken, wherever he goes, life is given, do not murder, rather, give life, Jesus did that, but, wonderfully, for those of us, who are Christians, this morning, Jesus has fulfilled, this commandment, to us in a positive, extent, in that he has given us, everlasting life, when we become, to faith in Jesus, we find Jesus, fulfilling this commandment, promising us, and giving to us, life, for death, he says this, in John 6, everyone who looks, to the son, and believes in him, shall have, eternal life, that's what happens, that's what's happened, to you dear Christian, through the Lord Jesus Christ, but more than that, and he says,
[40:37] I will raise them up, at the last day, the fulfillment is now, and to come, Jesus gives us life now, eternal life now, eternal life with God, in fellowship with him, but he promises us, to raise us from death, death shall not have, power over us, but we shall be raised, to everlasting life, with him, so Christ keeps, this commandment, positively, the real question then, how should I keep it, how must you and I, keep this commandment, God's word is relevant, and contemporary, for us in every day, and age, how are we to keep, God's commandment, you know when you speak, to people about the commandments, they'll say yes of course, I've kept that commandment, I've never murdered anybody, but as we see, Jesus speaks here, and he speaks clearly, that it's not just, a matter of murder, he says, I tell you that anyone, who is angry, with a brother and sister, will face, be subject to judgment, anyone, who says to a brother, sister, raka, it's a term of contempt, we're told, call somebody raka, in Aramaic, is to really, just to say, you are despised, you are lowest of the low, you are just, unworthy, and look at this, this answer of the court, and worse than that, anyone who says, you fool, will be in danger, of fire, of hell, now again, we must understand, that when the word, fool is used, it doesn't just mean, somebody who's done, a foolish thing, in the Bible, a fool is someone, who is morally, depraved, morally, and spiritually, completely in opposition, to the things of God, but it's still, to call somebody that, we're in danger, of the hell, fire of hell, so it's about relationship, isn't it, do not murder, it's about relationships, with one another, how do we keep this commandment, well it calls me, to love my neighbour, as myself, especially, to love my neighbour, when they upset me, make me angry, and sin against me, how do we do that, well I want you, if you've got a Bible to hand, to turn to, 1 Corinthians 13 please, 1 Corinthians 13, as you know, is this wonderful chapter, which speaks of love, it reflects, the very love of God, it actually is the, putting into words, the life of Jesus, because he, is love, personified, he is love, living and breathing, and walking amongst us, as we look, in the gospel, anybody who takes the time, to read the gospel of Jesus, the life of Jesus, in Matthew,
[43:23] Mark, Luke and John, or either, any one of them, will find, here is a man, whose life is epitomised, by love, he looks on the crowds, who are hungry, has compassion on them, he goes to the leper, and heals him, he goes to the children, come, there's not one person, he goes to the widow, he goes to the women, he goes to the immoral woman, at the well, every single person, every sort of, state of, society, is laid out, in the life of Jesus, don't think he was sort of, locked away in Nazareth, in some comfy, carpenter's workshop, all his life, he was out there, in real life, touching real lives, and every single person, he, counted, as precious, in the sight, of God, and loved by him, and 1 Corinthians, tells us, how we are to love, not going to spend, all time in it, but we need to look at it, in two ways, we need to look at the, as I've said, the negative aspects, and the positive aspects, and so I'm just going to, pick out from them, here, from verse four, onwards, love is, patient, how do I, not, murder, well,
[44:35] Jesus said, to be angry, and upset with someone, is breaking that commandment, so therefore, the question is, am I angry, or upset with somebody, why is that, breaking the commandment, because, it's the first step, to murder, it's the first step, on the journey, to killing them, murder may be, a mile down the road, but it begins with, being angry with them, love is patient, am I keeping my temper, under control, think about it, how patient, has God been with you, how many times, have you and I, done things, which God has every right, to be angry with us, I'm talking about, since we became Christian, not talking about before, let's not even begin, to look at what happened, before we became Christian, let's think about now, how many times, have you and I, done things, said things, acted things, thought things, which God has every right, to be angry with us, and to say,
[45:37] I've had enough of you, sling your hook, but he's always been patient, with us, love is patient, how many times, must I forgive my brother, says Peter, to Jesus, seven times, 70 times, seven times, says Jesus, there's no number, no limit, so love is patient, am I angry with people, when they upset me, I need to be patient, I love them, love is not proud, we're told, later on there, verse four, why is it, that I'm angry, with this person, is it really, because they've done, something awful, and terrible, or is it actually, my ego, my pride, has been hurt, they've said something, which, which belittled me, in the sight of somebody else, or they did something, which made me feel, well, that I wasn't worthy, well, that's pride, that's pride, we were, we talked a little bit, about this, on Wednesday, and we're looking at, the Lord Jesus Christ, washing the disciples feet, and how blessed,
[46:48] Jesus said it would be, to do these things, how happy it is, to do something, which is, full of humility, dear friends, remember, remember, remember, you are a sinner, remember that you are, not to think, too highly of yourself, yes, you're precious, in the sight of God, but you and I, are lawbreakers, and rebels, and we are those, who deserve the very, wrath of God, but dear friends, we should view ourselves, with great humility, have this mind in you, which is also, in the Lord Jesus Christ, writes Paul, who being in the very, nature of God, humbled himself, it's the reason, I get upset with people, is because actually, my pride, they say something, which touches my pride, it's a sore point, because it's still there, love is not easily, angered, we're told in verse 5, doesn't take offence, easily, doesn't count every remark, as an insult, or an attack, isn't always on the defensive, whenever somebody says, something to me, it's not just that I, am impatient, and proud, but I,
[48:00] I store it up as well, I remember, I remember you speaking to me, in that way, yes of course, I'm going to, forgive you, but I'm not going to forget, the way you treated me, I'm going to treat you, differently from now on, not easily, angered, it keeps no record, of wrongs, in verse 5, think how much, God has forgiven you, and I, what does he say, I put your, sins behind my back, I've cast your sins, as far away as east, is from the west, how can we, harbour, unforgiveness, against one another, how can we, harbour, any sort of resentment, towards one another, is your sin, against, Christ, anything, by comparison, to their sin, against you, is what they've said, or done to you, really comparable, with your sin, that took Christ, to the cross, is it really worth, hanging on to, so there's a negative, aspect isn't it, it teaches us, and tells us, about things, which are wrong with us, it points to us, and our hearts, and how easily, we are, angered, how easily, we are upset, how easily, we keep, wrongs, a record of wrongs, but there's a positive, aspect of course, this love, from verse 7, where it says this, it always, protects, so if we, not to murder, one another, as we saw, where Jesus says, the opposite effect, the opposite, is to do, good to one another, to love one another, to defend one another, not merely, from physical harm, but to protect, showing care, for one another, providing, for one another, but also, more than that, protecting, one another's reputation, how often, dear friends, have we, let ourselves, be taken along, with gossip, about somebody, and rather than saying, no, no, that's not right, or are you sure, or questioning that, we've just gone along, with it, because we've enjoyed, the fact, that this person, is being pulled apart, gossip, gossip is an evil thing, dear friends, and it's so easy, for us to get involved, in it, but rather, we're to protect, one another's reputation, speak up, for one another, positively, encourage, good things, to be said, about one another, rather than, highlighting failures, in one another, love always trusts, verse seven, when people speak to us, who, how do we judge, their words, do we trust them, that they love us, do we look, for an insult, in what they say, do we look, for a snide remark, in what they say, oh the way they said it, and they raised their eyebrow, they obviously, they were being sarcastic, or do we trust, one another, do we trust, one another, that we'll overlook, when they've had a bad day, and they've said something, which they probably, wish they hadn't said afterwards, but it was a bit, off, do we share, with one another, and open our hearts, to one another, and trusting one another, with those things, of our own struggles, our own difficulties, or are we always, on the defensive,
[51:47] I don't want them, to see any weakness, in me, love trusts, and love always hopes, we're told there, in verse seven, always hopes, I want us, to include there, that it prays, when we love somebody, we pray for them, we look to God, in hope, that they will have, better days ahead, that they will have, blessings, they will have encouragement, we sincerely, want them to succeed, and do well, again isn't it, in the sinful human heart, to desire that, those people should fail, so that we can look better, isn't it, isn't that just a sign, of just how lost we are, that when we meet with people, or work with people, or deal with people, we've got relatives, we'd love to see them, just make a bit of a hash, of things from time to time, because then we will look, so much better, better, but don't we, love hope, I hope, and when we say, I hope, we mean it, I hope that you, genuinely succeeds,
[52:48] I hope, that you really do, know God's blessing, I hope, that things are good for you, and better for you, love finally there, always perseveres, in other words, doesn't stop loving, doesn't stop loving, in spite of shortcomings, doesn't stop loving, in spite of their failures, gives them another chance, you've had your last chance, isn't that something, perhaps that drives somebody, to murder, well I've put up with this, for so long, but now they've said that, they've done that, that's the last, that's the last chance, they've had, no love perseveres, love keeps on loving, what do we read, in John chapter 14, Jesus loved them, to the end, God loves us, to the end, the end of what, the end of the end, fraternity, the people that we, the people that we once loved, though they've hurt us, let us down, we've stopped loving, because yeah, part of us, wants to defend ourselves, we don't want to keep, being hurt by them, but loving doesn't mean, that we have to always, be hurt by them, doesn't mean, that we have to put ourself, in harm way, but it does mean this, we still, care for them, we still desire, the best for them, we still want them, to be, right with us, ultimately, so do not murder, has much more to say, to us doesn't it, than simply, you don't take, a human life, it speaks to us, and challenges us, about how we, love, the life, the individual, the person, in all their, failings, in all their, lack, in all their, problems, as God, loves us, and surely, as we close dear friends, there's one last thing, that we must, take hold of here, if we are to follow, in the footsteps, of the Lord Jesus Christ, then this command, must include, that we share with people, the word of life, the gospel, how can we, truly love somebody, and say that we love them, if we hold back from them, the message, that will save them, from death, and give them life, we're to live out, the gospel dear friends, we're to speak out, the gospel, and we're to continue, to persevere, in being, lights, set upon a hill, as Jesus spoke about, in spite of the setbacks, in spite of the rejections, in spite of, the words, spoken against us, every life, that you meet this week, dear friends, is valuable to God, and therefore, must be valuable to us, every person's, eternal soul, is valuable to God, and it must be, valuable to us, and we have been, entrusted, by God, with a message, of life, finish with this, words of Paul, as he writes the Romans,
[56:11] Romans chapter 10, there's no difference, between the Jew, and the Gentile, the same Lord, is Lord of all, and richly blesses, all who call on him, for everyone, who calls on the name, of the Lord, will be saved, how then, can they call on the one, they've not believed in, how can they believe, in the one of whom, they have not heard, how can they hear, without someone, preaching to them, as is written, how beautiful, are the feet of those, who bring, good news, my command, my command is this, love each other, as I have loved you, greater love, has no one, than this, to lay down, one's life, for one's friends, God, amen.
[57:08] Amen.