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e e e e e e e e e e e good morning everyone welcome to the house of the Lord for worship couple of announcements before we get started the usual our evening service here at 5:00 p.m. this evening Wednesday night bible study in the fellowship hall at 7:30 then our annual general meeting for free Grace Baptist Church has been moved to February 15th at 700 p.m. also in the fellowship hall so that's February 15th and then remember the confessing the faith conference coming up April 25th and 26th trust that many of you are making plans to be there but remember those who are coming from afar as well we pray that this will be a tremendous occasion for us to gather with like-minded people and to make connections as well as to learn from our confession from the word of God um and finally there's been application for membership and baptism and membership by Wendy Harrison and Glenda Dion so we will uh there will be more news coming out for the DAT of that later we're going to turn to Psalm 119 Psalm 119 we're going to read from verse3 to verse 160 for our call to worship Psalm 119 verse 153 consider my Affliction and deliver me for I do not forget your law plead my cause and Redeem Me revive me according to your word salvation is far from the wicked for they do not seek your statutes great are your Tender Mercies O Lord revive me according to your judgments many are my persecutors and my enemies yet I do not turn from your testimonies I see the treacherous and am disgusted because they do not keep your word consider how I love your precepts revive Me O Lord according to your loving kindness the entirety of your word is truth and everyone of Your Righteous judgments endures forever amen we're going to begin by singing Psalm 92 2 A as in Alpha 992a from our Trinity sulter Himel please stand with me as we sing [Music] together your name to tell your love [Music] faithfulness we s music [Music] the I'll sing of what you praise your mer oh Lord give your [Music] s sing my PR the him [Music] and be [Music] for [Music] all my i l i I seen and heard the of [Music] to rightous my [Music] by the Lord willing be [Music] SE still his and and [Music] his is the [Music] let's turn to the Lord in prayer our gracious and merciful Heavenly Father we thank you for this glorious day thank you for this day when we have this opportunity to gather in your presence and thank you that all over the face of the Earth the church is gathered today and has been gathering for the last 2,000 years on your Lord's day um from the book of Acts onward we thank you that you have set aside this opportunity for us to hear your word to pray to sing to fellowship and to renew acquaintance with you and with our fellow man Lord we thank you for the blessings of the Lord's day and we pray that all across the face of the Earth as the gospel Goes Forth today your Saints would be encouraged in Sinners would be called to repentance we thank you that Christ has not ceased to build his church that the Gates of Hell cannot Prevail against his work and we thank you oh God that there will be a great multitude from every tribe tongue people and nation that stand Before the Throne on that great day to worship the lamb we thank you that we can be counted in that number and be part of that work Lord we pray that you would continue to bless the missionary Enterprise where are going forth to bring the gospel to unreached groups we pray oh God your blessing upon those Endeavors and we pray for our Brethren and our sisters in churches in places where they're being persecuted for the sake of the gospel and for the name of Christ be merciful to your people this day especially those who are languishing in prison for the sake of Christ I pray oh Lord you would encourage your Saints on this your day Lord we pray for our nation of Canada thank you that we yet have many Privileges and many blessings that we do not deserve and we thank you that as a church we can gather without any hindrance without any opposition from authorities and Lord we pray that you would preserve these freedoms but we also pray that you would cause the church to be Salt and Light and to preserve this nation Lord we pray that the the the tide of wickedness would be turned back that you would cause men in high places to rule fearing the Lord God Almighty and obeying and walking in his laws Lord we do we know that uh change in our nation will not come about by legislation but by a Revival of the church and by the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ so we pray that you would do this we thank you for like-minded churches all across this country in particular we thank you for the sister churches and our association and we pray for each one of them that you would bless them today as they gather for Sur Reformed Baptist Church in sui for Trinity Reformed Baptist Church in Armstrong Lord we pray you'd bless Grace Reformed Baptist Church in Medicine Hat and Grace Fellowship Church in pinoca Alberta as well as Grace Reformed Baptist Church in re Regina Saskatchewan Lord we pray for these other members of the association that you would bless them and cause them to be multiplied cause them to be well founded well instructed and able to reach out and we pray that from our midst we would see more churches planted and more work done in this country that the gospel might be preached we thank you Lord for churches in this city of chilak this day that are meeting where the gospel is preached we thank you for like-minded Brethren and we pray that You' bless the Pastors in each Pulpit Lord continue with us as we worship here this morning we thank you for each and every one that you have brought out by Your Divine Providence we thank you for each family represented here we pray for the youth the young people the children the babies even those in the womb this morning we pray oh God that our children would be reared in a place where the fear of the Lord is preeminent and where the love of the scriptures and the truth of the scriptures is taught week after week and day after day in our homes and we pray oh God that there would be a great multitude in days to come descended from the people here in this church that continue to serve and Worship the Lord God Almighty we thank you for the good that you are doing and we pray that you'd continue with us even now in Jesus name amen amen we're going to stand to sing hymn number 153 now hymn 153 o day of rest and gladness [Music] and of joy and and [Music] sful the high andly toes Jo sing holy holy holy to the great go you the the creation the [Music] his for our [Music] Sal my [Music] Lord Victorious the SP [Music] from and [Music] glorious Nations the fall toly the silver where is with your and Liv water flowing this refreshing praise is this our day of we the rest to of the to Holy G praises to father and to son the church voice raises to [Music] the amen you may be seated we're going to turn in our Bibles to Mark chap 13 for our New Testament scripture reading and we will read from verse 1 through verse 13 of Mark chap 13 then as he went out of the temple one of his disciples said to him teacher see what manner of stones and what buildings are here and Jesus answered and said to him do you see these great buildings not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down now as he sat on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple Peter James and John and Andrew asked him privately tell us when will these things be and what will be the sign when all these things will be fulfilled and Jesus answering them began to say take heed that no one deceives you for many will come in my name saying I am he and will deceive many but wait you hear of wars and rumors of wars do not be troubled for such things must happen but the end is not yet for nation will rise against nation and Kingdom against Kingdom and there will be earthquakes in various places and there will be famines and troubles these are the beginnings of Sorrows but watch out for yourselves for they will deliver you up to councils and you will be beaten in the synagogues you will be brought before rulers and Kings for my sake for a testimony to them them and the gospel must first be preached to all the nations but when they arrest you and deliver you up do not worry beforehand or premeditate what you will speak but whatever is given you in that hour speak that for it is not you who speak but the Holy Spirit now brother will betray brother to death and a father his child and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death and you will be hated by all for my name's sake but he who endures to the end shall be saved amen well one of the disciples was quite impressed by the temple the manner of stones and the buildings there and Jesus answered him not to discourage his enthusiasm maybe to set his priorities straight but basically he used the opportunity to give these disciples uh a warning about what was coming in the very near future do you not see these great build builds not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down in hindsight we know looking back that that happened in 70 AD they didn't know when it was going to happen and they asked Jesus when will these things be and what will be the sign that all these things will be fulfilled and so Jesus goes on and gives them what we've just read and we'll continue to the end of the chapter but essentially uh what we see there is what takes place when talks about being delivered up to councils and beaten in the synagogues we see that already starting in the book of Acts and continues until the day that Jerusalem is destroyed uh it's a pretty bleak picture and you might think wow these disciples could come away very depressed from that type of a uh of a description of what was not only going to happen to Jerusalem but to them I mean being betrayed by your own family members being brought before councils being beaten being killed bu not exactly a happy picture but Jesus in his loving kindness and mercy gives them that warning so that they would prepare be prepared and he also gives them this encouragement that the Holy Spirit would be with them that they would be given exactly what they needed to speak at the time they needed to speak it they would not be left all on their own and he gives them the further encouragement that he who endures to the end shall be saved this life on Earth is actually very short regardless of what we go through if we're heavenbound it's a good life so let's pray gracious Father in heaven we thank you for Christ's encouragement to his disciples that though they would suffer and see tremendous destruction in their lifetime yet the Holy Spirit would be with them and they would be brought into your presence those who endured we know that Judas did not endure because he was not one of yours but we know these other disciples persevered and we look forward to the day when we can meet these great men in heaven we look forward to that day when we too can be gathered together with Saints from all over the world to worship the lamb upon the throne and Lord I pray that even this day right now we would have a foretaste of that as we continue to worship and we pray oh God that you would be pleased with our worship cleanse us even now from all sin and iniquity for we still transgress your law and he Grieves our hearts and we pray oh God that you would convict us of sin and cleanse Us in the blood of Christ we thank you for that Advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous and it is in his name we pray amen amen we're going to stand again to sing Psalm 82 from our Suter Himel Psalm 82 God stands in the great assembly [Music] thebly all with how long will you [Music] judge the of so sa the [Music] the [Music] the standing the [Music] right dark all the you are aome you are sons of God you will fall like will [Music] is GL Earth for you [Music] your well you can turn with me in your Bibles to the Book of Exodus Exodus chap 20 today is sanctity of Life Sunday so it's always a good reminder what the scripture say concerning human life and the attack or assault upon it so we're going to look at the sixth commandment today specifically Exodus 20 and verse 13 but I'll read the section beginning in verse one and God spoke all these words saying I am the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt out of the the house of bondage you shall have no other gods before me you shall not make for yourself a carved image any likeness of anything that is in heaven above or that is in the earth beneath or that is in the water under the Earth You shall not bow down to them nor serve them for I the Lord your God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me but showing Mercy to thousands to those who love me and keep my Commandments you shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain for the Lord will not hold him Guiltless who takes his name in vain remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy six days you shall labor and do all your work but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God in it you shall do no work you nor your son nor your daughter nor your male servant nor your female servant nor your cattle nor your stranger who is within your gates for in six days the Lord made the heavens and the Earth the sea and all that is in them and rested the seventh day therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it honor your father and your mother that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you you shall not murder you shall not commit adultery you shall not steal you shall not bear false witness against your neighbor you shall not covet your neighbor's house you shall not covet your neighbor's wife nor his male servant nor his female servant nor his Ox nor his donkey nor anything that is your neighbors now all the people witnessed the thunderings the lightning flashes the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking and when the people saw it they trembled and stood AAR off then they said to Moses you speak with us and we will hear but let not God speak with us lest we die and Moses said to the people do not fear for God has come to test you and that his fear may be before you so you so that you may not sin so the people stood a far off but Moses Drew near the thick Darkness where God was amen well let us pray our gracious God and Holy Father we see a beautiful day out there we see your handiwork demonstrated in the created order we see your Sovereign power and wisdom and Glory manifested through the things made as well in the way that you uphold and you govern all your creatures and all their actions and we Rejoice that it's the Lord's Day we Rejoice that it's the Christian Sabbath that we can reflect very specifically upon the life and the death and the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ we thank you for that one who is the way the truth and the life that no one comes to him uh comes to the father except through him so we thank you for your Sovereign Grace we thank you for election and predestination we thank you for blood atonement at the cross and for the washing of all of our sins and transgressions and the imputation of Christ Christ righteousness certainly so many things to be uh thankful for and to express praise to you for we ask now that you would guide us by your Holy Spirit as we consider this sixth commandment we pray that you would indeed forgive us and cleanse us from all remaining corruption and may the word of God speak to our hearts may it cause us to reflect upon these things in a way that is that is sober minded in a way that is that is responsible and in a way that responds in prayer and preaching and and and ministering the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and God be merciful to any here that are not saved to any unbelievers we pray that today would be the day of salvation you would convict them of their sin and show them the glory of the Redeemer even the Lord Jesus Christ and we pray in his Most Blessed name amen well I remain convinced that Ministers of the Gospel must also preach the law and if we don't preach the law we're gutting our efforts to preach the gospel because how do we know our sin and misery the law of God tells us so so if there's no law preaching if the sinner isn't called out on his uh Rebellion against God he'll never see the reason or the rationale to come to the Savior but as well for the people of God we need to be reminded what scripture says I know that a sermon like this will be written off as political I don't think the law of God though it has political implications is politics it is the laww of God it is his revealed mind and his word and his will for his creation and as reformed Believers we have a rich Heritage when it comes to the law we have What's called the threefold division of the law and then we have What's called the three uses of the law we'll look at the three uses of the law as we conclude the sermon later but in terms of the three-fold division of the law what I just read to you is called the moral law of God the moral law of God is a revelation of who God is it reveals to us what is unchanging as far as God is concerned so the moral law remains it is Perpetual it doesn't matter whether you're in the old Covenant or the New Covenant the moral law of God is binding and then as we continue on in the book of Exodus you see another division in the law in chapters 21 to 23 we call that the judicial law and those were the laws that were based on the the principles of the Ten Commandments to be fleshed out in Civil Society in Old Covenant Israel so that's the judicial law our confession says that that judicial law has expired with the Commonwealth of Israel but there is a general Equity that does abide and that's a another whole sermon all on its own but then after Exodus 23 you've got Exodus 24 this is great numbering here uh mathematician in your midst uh chapter 24 is the ratification of the Covenant remember they sprinkle the blood on the people the people swear Fidelity to Yahweh and then you've got that third division in the law called the ceremonial and that takes place from chapters 25 to 40 basically you have instruction on the building of the Tabernacle you have the instruction on the ordination of the priesthood and then you see those things come to fruition so the three-fold division of the law moral judicial and ceremonial we would argue that the ceremonial is no longer binding on us in this new covenant era because Christ fulfilled it we not uh bound to to to keep the Jewish uh uh calendar we're not bound to keep those food laws those things were fulfilled by our Lord and are no longer binding as I said judicial law has a general Equity principle there's some wisdom that we can glean from there but the moral law does bind all men everywhere Jew Gentile believer unbeliever ver Muslim uh whatever place you hail from the law of God speaks to you so after that lengthy introduction let's look specifically at chapter 20 verse 13 which is the sixth commandment it's a very simple statement you shall not murder so first I want to explain the command and then secondly apply the command in terms of explanation there's four things here the definition the prohibition the exceptions and the Assumption so first the definition Walter Kaiser makes the observation while Hebrew uh Hebrew possesses seven words for killing the word used here appears only 47 times in the Old Testament if any one of the seven words could signify murder where factors of premeditation and intentionality are present this is the verb the Old King James has you shall not kill I'm not sure and I'm not con Vin that's the best translation because killing all murder is killing but not all killing is murder and we're going to see that in just a moment so the idea behind this is premeditation It's malice of forethought there's hatred in the heart of the person that engages in a violation of this particular commandment Webster in his famous 1828 dictionary explains it as this to kill a human being with premeditation malice and that's not just made up by Noah Webster turn to Exodus 21 specifically in verses 12 and 13 you see a distinction made between what we know to be murder which is premeditated which contains uh malice of forethought it contains hatred an enmity a desire to end somebody's life notice in 21:12 he who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death however if he did not lie and wait but God delivered him into his hand then I will appoint for you a place where he may flee it's a distinction between murder and manslaughter there's a distinction between murder which contains hatred premeditation malice of forethought lying in weight versus manslaughter it was an accidental situation that obtains in chap uh verse 13 in Deuteronomy 19 there's a a longer explanation for these Cities of Refuge that exist in Israel so that one who engages in accidental homicide can go live there and the the the biblical example is the axe and the axe hat if you lie in wait for your neighbor to come home you're hiding in his Bush you have your axe in your hand he gets out of his car and he walks up to the door and you jump out because you loathe him and you bury that axe in his head you are a murderer but if you are in your backyard and you're cutting wood and the a head flies off and it finds its way into your neighbor's head you're not a murderer there was no malice of forethought there was no hatred there was no premeditation now I explain all this because I'm convinced that when it comes to the realm of Ethics when the Christian Church responds to the barbarities of our day and age if we don't think biblically and we don't think clearly we're going to look like morons we're going to look like dummies and we're going to be bested by the Godless Heathen in our generation that have utter disregard for human life so it's very important that we understand definition it's very important that we understand distinction it's very important that we understand exceptions it's very important that we understand something so simple as all killing or all murder is killing but not all killing is murder if if we don't get that we're going to be accused of of not really being pro life you've probably heard it how can you be against abortion but Pro death penalty cuz I believe the Bible that's why the Bible is against abortion but the Bible upholds the death penalty and if you're pressed by a pagan on that you need to be able to explain it so distinction and definition and articulation are crucial so note then after definition we see prohibition it's very simple but I think it contains the entirety of man you shall not murder the external act obviously means don't stop somebody's heart from beating don't stop somebody's blood from flowing don't stop somebody's lungs from being able to suck in air because of your premeditation because of your hatred or because of your malice of forethought so there's an external Dimension that we would all agree with that that in order for murder to take place there has to be a victim who no longer lives you see the Bible is more comprehensive than that it speaks not only to the external act but it speaks to the inner heart and we'll see that later because I'm pretty confident or at least I hope and pray that nobody in our church is about abortion or going for abortion or that nobody is encouraging that practice or nobody's encouraging youth in Asia but I think one of the things that the church has problems with is what Jesus addresses in Matthew 5 if if you have unrighteous hatred in your heart for a brother you're guilty of the sixth commandment violating the sixth commandment if you engage in character assassination you call your brother fool Rocka empty head if you destroy him in that particular manner then that is a violation or transgression of the sixth word so we'll look at that again later and when I say later we're not talking two hours you know don't don't think okay we're going to be here all afternoon I will try to remember brevity and lucidity so we've got the external act but we've got the internal disposition the hatred of others Leviticus 19 the great love chapter in the Old Testament you're not supposed to hate your neighbor it wasn't okay in the Old Testament it wasn't acceptable in the Old Testament the antithesis that Jesus engages in in The Sermon on the Mount is not pitting himself against Moses he's pitting himself and Moses against the pharisaic misinterpretation when Jesus says you have heard that it was said to those of old but I say to you he's not saying that Moses got it wrong he's saying that the religious leaders of old Covenant Israel got it wrong and they have been per perpetuating this madness that in so far as we don't stop somebody's heart from beating then we're not really murderers now that's why Jesus corrects them in the antitheses anti antithetical statements there in The Sermon on the Mount unwarranted anger against another person the assassination of another person's character Kelvin says the hand indeed gives birth to murder but the mind when infected with anger and hatred conceives it so it's a comprehensive approach that we're looking at now that brings us then thirdly to what I'll call the exceptions and it's unfortunate that we actually have to deal with this because if murder involves by necessity and by definition malice of forethought some type of hatred some sort of a premeditation these exceptions that I'm going to give you they contain none of that and the first is the death penalty the death penalty again Brethren why do we affirm the death penalty and why do we abominate abortion because the Bible tells us so whoever sheds man's blood Genesis 96 by man that's the agency of execution by man his blood will be shed and the theological rationale is given for in the image of God he made man that's not just an Old Testament thing but let's just say for a moment it's just an Old Testament thing it's part of the noic Covenant the noic Covenant is a CO a common Grace Covenant not a special Redemptive Grace Covenant there's no end to the noic Covenant there's no you know exp expiry date it is still binding it is still God's purpose and plan not to destroy the Earth while there is seed time and and harvest God Almighty entered into that and God Almighty upholds that you got the clear statement Romans chap 13: 1 to4 let every soul be subject to the governing Authority for there is no Authority except from God and and the one who exists is established by God and then Paul goes on to detail that the primary emphasis with reference to civil government is the sword that the magistrate wields and Brethren I'd argue just from that passage government should be tiny it should be minuscule it should not be Cradle to grave assistance for every jot and tit of your life you know what the government supposed to do at least according to the Bible it is to punish criminal offenders in the Civil Po and it is to defend the Civil poity from outside foreign Invasion that's it what about you know this three-letter organization get rid of it what about this particular agency get rid of it what about this particular group get rid of them we shouldn't have to have that but I digress sorry he's so political yeah yeah anyway way death penalty Watson says to kill an offender is not murder but Justice a private person sins if he draws the sword a public person sins if he puts up the sword it's one of the things that disgusts me or it should disgust us all we don't even expect a government to talk about the things they should actually do anymore we just want them to spend a whole bunch of money on whatever our pet projects are no just do the job that you've been given by God defend me from Isis and defend me from the criminal Thug downtown that's it seriously this not even on the horizon death penalty what what do you one of those extremists those right- wiers yeah yeah it's funny how everything's written off now because you're a right winger that's the Bad and the the most vicious crime in a nation that celebrates the death of The Unborn in a nation that celebrates barbarically the death of the elderly and the infirm there was an article not a week ago two weeks ago in the Federalist on how the the discussion now in Canada is do we actually engage in made by the harvesting of their organs or is it okay just to harvest the organs after we after we off them that's actually a discussion right now and what a unique situation I mean we kill people take their heart organs to to save people if if if we're rabbits or or Lab Rats or Worse cats as I look at my brother Cam that conduct is perfectly acceptable but image bearers of the living and the true God are to be treated with dignity and with love and with respect why because the Bible tells us so the death penalty is not murder now Brethren let me qualify this I'm not sure I want the sword in the hand of the current magistrate just so we all know there's got to be some serious checks and balances but I think that if we actually had a functioning magistrate that engaged in these sorts of activities perhaps it would push us with a little bit more pressure to vote for the right people the the thought of giving the the the current prime minister the sword to wield I'm pretty sure he'd come after us that's a horrifying thought so you know let's be careful what we we ask for and let's realize there's a lot of stuff that needs to happen before we're in a in a functioning po where the death penalty is practic responsibly so I'm not just say you know let's just vote for Justin to get the sword no no I'm not there and I'm not necessarily advocating that Watson again says a magistrate ought not to let the Sword of Justice rust in the Scabbard as he shall not let the sword be too sharp by severity so neither should he the edge of It Be blunted by too much levity you don't want a severe magistrate that's you know executing people because they stole the Snickers from Walmart but you don't want too much levity there been horrific examples of that in the Western World persons that that came in illegally persons that weren't weren't dealt with properly end up going on to commit vicious crimes against the Civil polity that's levity Brethren and that's a bad thing that that is not a help for society so the death penalty the second exception again not an exception I'm just using that that sort of term there's no premeditation there's no malice of forethought in a legitimate War again huge sermon series on what defines or constitutes a legitimate War I mean I'm sure we'd all disagree at least in some jots and titles but that the Bible teaches the legitimacy of War we have to all agree God commands holy war in Deuteronomy chapter 7 and Military Officers are looked at very favorably in the New Testament documents in other words John the Baptist when he's preaching repentance does not preach pacifism to the soldiers he preaches contentedness with their wages and make sure you don't go out and extort and take more than what is owed you with reference to Romans 13 again the whole concept of the sword not only to punish criminal doers in Civil Society but to punish foreign Invaders that want to come in and upgrade that Civil Society Turan says from the very fact that Christ did not take away but confirmed the authority of the magistrate he also approved of the right of carrying on war since it pertains to the magistrate to defend his subjects against unjust violence which certainly cannot sometimes be done without War again the legitimacy aspect I mean we could argue about wars in the 20th century wars in the 21st century they are they legit are they right are they just I've got opinions and views on that but that's outside the scope of this sermon the point is does the Bible authorize it and yes it does and then the third is self-defense I I realize that victimhood is celebrated all over the world today probably nowhere more than in the Western World being a victim and liking it being a victim and then being an influencer based on the Bible is very pro pro victim it's not pro-criminal it's it's Pro victim while you're there in Exodus 20 look at Exodus 22 Exodus 22 and the the idea of self-defense is assumed by Jesus in an analogy that he uses concerning his coming or concerning the the the the devil if the the strong man knew the hour that the thief would come he wouldn't be asleep in his bed he'd be at the door with his gun Jesus just uses that as a familiar simple sort of a thing to illustrate a particular spiritual point now I'm not saying the point is go get yourself a gun that that that's not what I'm saying but I'm saying that in the hands of Jesus the the the the reality the inherent of of self-defense is such that he can appeal to that to make a spiritual lesson now look at Exodus 22 dealing with property rights laws concerning property verse one if a man steals an ox or a sheep and Slaughters it or sells it he shall restore five oxen for an ox and four sheep for a sheep now verses two and three are very important for our understanding with reference to self-defense if the thief is found breaking in and he is struck so that he dies there shall be no guilt for his Bloodshed do do you hear that it says what it says there there a qualification coming in verse three we'll look at that in just a moment but if the thief is found breaking in and he is struck so that he dies there shall be no guilt for his Bloodshed you know as well as I do Brethren if that happened today you'd probably get sued by the victim or by the criminals family my my my darling son was there for cultural enrichment he was just trying to help himself on how to be a better guy and and this home-owning Thug ended his innocent life you probably go to prison not according to biblical law he comes in and there's an exchange and he dies in that exchange there's no guilt for you as the homeowner now verse three qualifies it it tells us but if it's daylight then there will be some responsibility on your part notice in verse three if the sun has risen on him there shall be guilt for his Bloodshed notice he should make full restitution if he has nothing then he shall be sold for his theft you ask the question what's the difference the the difference is if the sun is shining you're better able to assess his motivation you're be better able to assess why he's in your kitchen if it's dark and everybody's asleep and some guy wanders into your house you you don't know why he's there it may be to steal a ham out of your fridge but it may be to rape or kill your wife and daughter so when you don't know that the sun is not shining you can't assess what's happening and there's an exchange and he dies in that exchange there is no guilt on the homeowner but if the Sun is risen you can better assess the situation you use that Force necessary to keep him from stealing your ham that doesn't mean you cut his throat it doesn't mean you shoot him in the head it means you stop him from doing that as well when the sun is shining the supposition is is that neighbors will be awake you can call out you can cry out you can say let's get this guy and stop him from stealing my hand the point is is that self-defense if in the midst of it you end up killing somebody you shouldn't be held criminally responsible for that or liable for that so with reference to murder it includes malice a forethought premeditation hatred of some sort and then the the Assumption we've seen the definition the pro iish the exceptions what's the Assumption behind the command the Assumption behind the command is that we're not Rats the Assumption behind the command is is that we're not cats the Assumption behind the command is that we're not rabbits we're men and women created in the image of God most high you see that in the Book of Genesis what distinguishes in terms of the created order the the creature it's the one group who's created in God's image that has rational cap capacity that can dialogue with God that can hear commands from God that can break commands from God the the cat's not addressed by God in terms of the response to the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil that's just not going to happen the birds aren't told how they should fly and where they should we're different mankind is image bearer of God now there's debates on that proposition but for the moment just accept the generality God made Man In His Image and what I mean by that is what does what uh in what does the the image of God consist it's not the point of this part but but when you look at the Bible man is made in the image of God Genesis 1: 26-28 Genesis 5 indicates that even post fall man is in the image of God and it's not just man adult mature man Adam being able to receive commands and being able to operate and function in the garden we see in God's word that at every stage of man's life he's considered uh uh with that dignity with that sanctity you see it in the womb you see it in Psalm 139 you see it in the Book of Genesis the the the the twins come out you see David when he's tracing back his native depravity he says in in my mother conceived me it's not saying the act itself was sin but as soon as there was a me David says which is true in the womb I was sinful so the babies are protected we're going to see a text that speaks specifically to the protection of The Unborn but we see it in children what was a frequent prohibition to the Covenant people of Israel which is odd odd that they'd have to be prohibited from this but hey that's the nature of sin don't throw your children into the fire isn't that just a natural part of parenting I don't think I ever got a father of the year coffee cup but I think I always knew don't throw the little ones in the fire whatever else we're supposed to do with these kids I think keeping them alive is probably right up there at the top what was the point the Israelites are surrounded by the pagans and the pagans take their babies and they throw Ro in the arms of their gods and they bounce out and into the fire so what do the Israelites do well they do that and then there's rain on their crops so why don't we do that too they ape the Nations around them this is one of the reasons for the holy war imperative in Deuteronomy 7 get them out of the land why God because if you don't you're going to be worshiping with them if you don't you're going to be bowing with them if you don't you're going to be casting your little children into the arms of Molech with them God knew exactly what was going to happen with old Covenant Israel when Mark mentions ad70 I'm sure they were surprised but not that surprised it happened to the northern kingdoms it a northern kingdom it happened to the southern Kingdom and they were under that section of Deuteronomy deuteronomy's law you transgress the Covenant God will break uh uh break you and decimate you so so so children are protected the the handicapped are are protected oh oh this person's handicapped so therefore there's no contributions in their in in society what remember that scene when Jesus is passing by Jericho and blind barus or uh uh uh uh blind barus knows that Jesus is coming and he cries out Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me I guess all the people around them had that sort sort of utilitarian thinking well he he he doesn't want to hear you he he doesn't have time for you blind barus beggar Jesus doesn't care about you so what does barus do he screams louder Jesus thou son of David have mercy on me what does the text say the text say says that Jesus stopped went over to barus and said what would you have me to do so so so the handicapped are are protected by God's law the sick and the church protected by God's law older people we're just so barbaric in our generation that that these things go unchecked and unnoticed you young guys in a boss not that I'm sure any of you ride buses but if you find yourself in a bus get up and let the woman sit or let the old man sit that's what God's law says rise in the presence of the Hy head oh no not us who cares about any of these groups God does God legislates God commands God gives us detailed law on how to respect each of these people groups they're all Made In His Image so so that's the Assumption behind the text and then with reference to animals bre the righteous man treats his animal righteously I'm not an advocate of just going out and clubbing animals cuz it's fun if if that's fun to you you might need some help seriously but to kill an animal to eat to listen to these weirdos and pea no God says you can eat he gave you the the the the teeth the digestive system the the the appetite it's intriguing right these these cave paintings never a salad never broccoli but always a beast man has dignity over the animals and that in a society like ours we care more about certain species than human babies there's a point where we should just hang our heads in shame like what what's happened why why why can't a politi stand up and say I oppose abortion but it's perfectly acceptable for another one to say oh I welcome it at every step step of the way what the the one is is politics and the other is is not it's disgusting is what it is now in terms of application you're probably thinking well we just had 20 minutes application first of all the General application the unlawful killing of others and the unrighteous hatred of others again we'll visit that in a few moments but there are there are Horrors being practiced in our day euth in Asia I already mentioned it there's 40 million people in this country there's 40 million people in a country that that has gas that has you know natural gas oil food you I don't get it what's driving this desire to kill people we're not we're going to run out of food now that comes through management politicians that that that don't know what they're doing it's not because the Earth doesn't yield it's not because the the ground isn't fertile it's not because there aren't Farmers out there willing to do some work Brethren youthanasia is hor terrifying medical assistance in dying you know what that should mean I I'll get you a blanket and and and help you and and give you some medicine to try to remedy your situation not speed it along in the opposite direction medical assistance and dying it sounds so innocuous it it sounds so good it's vicious it's vile it's wretched God alone is Sovereign over man's life that's it Jesus holds the keys of Hades and death according to Revelation it's not up to you it's not up to your doctor it certainly shouldn't be up to your government it's horrifying the the the very notion of it and then it working hand inand with this whole organ donation that it's just ghoulish and vicious and we're targeting the elderly and the infirm maybe the elderly and the infirm need a hug maybe they need some encouragement maybe they need some love not a pill or a shot or some method to check them out it's wretched as well we've got abortion the nature of a pre-born baby is that he's an image Bearer there's dignity turn to Exodus 21 it's good we stayed there there's specific legislation dealing with abortion in verses 22 to 25 to see this is an accidental abortion not a state sanctioned abortion by a doctor notice in verse 22 if men fight and hurt a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely yet no harm follows he shall surely be punished accordingly as the woman's husband imposes on him and he shall pay as the judges determined pretty simple scenario couple of Rocket scientists get into a fight out in the streets one of their wives is standing there she's pregnant in the midst of the exchange she gets struck and the baby literally the children come out that's the language that's used some translations has have Miss miscarries miscarries is not the Hebrew word here there's a Hebrew word for miscarry that's not it the language is the language of birth the language is the language of the potential birth of babies yet her children come out premature birth she gets smacked there's a bit of trauma to the body she goes into labor and she has a baby notice look at the text if men fight hurt a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely or her children come out yet no harm follows to the mother or to the children that just came out so see they're protected by biblical law here they're covered by God through Moses giving us a Judicial application for the Civil polity based on the sixth commandment I'd say that's a general Equity principle that we'd be wise to import from the old Covenant into our situation but then notice so he shall be punished accordingly as the woman's husband imposes on him probably a monetary F you you messed with my wife you jeopardized my wife my wife went into such a bit of trauma that the babies came out so I want money but but notice how verse 23 continues but if any harm follows what's in view the mother and the children who came out again this is accidental these morons didn't get on each other for the purpose of striking one of their wives so that the babies in her womb would die that that's not it th this is an accident so so from a lesser to the greater standpoint what do you do with a government that that that says it's okay or doctors who swear the hypocrit oath to preserve life but attack it in its most vulnerable state so notice in verse 23 but if any harm follows to the mother of children then you shall give Life For Life eye for eye tooth for tooth hand for hand foot for foot burn for burn wound for wound stripe for stripe the law of retaliation applies to that man who accidentally struck a pregnant woman and that pregnant woman's children came out and harm followed either to her or those children that man is liable to execution so we got some huge problems going on in society today the murder of the pre-born is heinous it is shockingly cruel and inhumane it is a practice that indicates that we generally I don't mean you and I specifically we generally hate Christ it's really a spiritual thing Christ speaking his wisdom in Proverbs 8 says whoever hates me loves death how do you describe a death culture how do you describe a culture that that goes after babies in the womb that goes after old people in the home that goes after the infirm the the the mentally infirm really maybe some fresh air and a steak and some exercise would be a help to that guy who's got some you know mental issues could help doesn't have to be a shot in the arm doesn't have to be however they do it nowadays as well it is an alignment with the devil remember Jesus famous words in John chapter 8 to the religious leaders in Israel he says you are of your father the devil like could you imagine Jesus getting away with something like that today the Church would excommunicate you can't say that that's not nice that's mean Jesus you can't say that well he's Jesus he can say whatever he wants to say it's not sin or a denial of himself obviously within the context of his holy will he says you are of your father the devil and the desires of your father you want to do well what are those desires Jesus he was a murderer and a liar from the beginner beginning when you see a society sat ated with the blood of Innocence it is not good in that Society spiritually speaking that I don't don't think you need a you know a major Bible degree to to to come up with that Calvin says if it seems more horrible to kill a man in his own house than in a field because a man's house is his place of most secure Refuge it ought surely to be deemed more atrocious to destroy a fetus in the womb before it has come to light he's right I I would argue that I think I'd rather be murdered in a field than in my living room I wouldn't want to be murdered in a field to be honest with you but given the option my living room is my living room I don't want my throat cut my living room again don't want it cut in the field but I I I can see it a bit more so what's Calvin's logic you're going into the womb of a mother and killing the baby now fetus means unborn baby they like to hide behind the Latin because that depersonalizes everything the what about depersonalizing we need to personalize their babies they image bearers they're going to go through the gestation period and come out the same as they were in but a little bit stronger and a little bit more uh in term terms of how they grow and mature it's a wretched practice a wretched wretched vile practice and I would suggest the neglect of capital punishment I would suggest that when the magistrate fails to carry out his primary task what happens in a society like that violence flourishes there's no there shouldn't be too big of a leap in understanding what happens at the flood to what happens in the Covenant with Noah what's the pre flood conditions like I don't mean ecologically I don't mean firmament I mean ethically what was wrong with the Earth it was corrupt and filled with violence exceedingly is what it says so when Noah and his family emerged from the ark God says here's the sword to make sure that those pre flood conditions ethically don't obtain postf flood in other words a man who's a menace to society up to an including murder is a man who should be excluded from society up to and including the death penalty see what Happ happens prior to the flood is wretched and I speak in the manner of men it it provoked God again the Genesis 6 language uses that analogical predication speaking in the manner of man to to relent that he had made man on the Earth again there's no change in God he doesn't move from point A to point B but it's to show us or demonstrate to us God's holiness and his righteousness and just corrupt and and messy the Earth had become so post flood here's the sword Noah and here's the command whoever sheds man's blood by man his blood will be shed for in the image of God he made man that is the Mandate ersus in his commentary on the heidleberg says the magistrate therefore may be guilty of doing wrong not only in being cruel and unjustly severe but also in being too lenient in granting permission to certain persons to injure others got a responsibility to curtail the wicked Deeds of vile men that's the job not regulating my conduct from Cradle to grave guess what I'm not going to go into a school and shoot them up it's just not going to happen so why the fascination with regulating me and all the while these wretched reprobate murdering horrible people are allowed to continue on we've got problems okay that's all I'll say with politics at the end of the scenario there is a positive aspect of the command as well and here I'll cite Westminster larger because they leave no stone unturned if you ever want some good commentary on the Ten Commandments read the Westminster larger catechism number 135 what are the duties re ired in the sixth commandment the duties required in the sixth commandment are all careful studies and lawful Endeavors to preserve a life preserve the life of ourselves and others by resisting all thoughts and purposes subduing all passions and avoiding All Occasions Temptations and practices which tend to the unjust taking away the life of any by just defense thereof against violence patient bearing of the hand of God quietness of Mind cheerfulness of spirit a sober use of meat drink physics sleep labor and Recreations by charitable thoughts love compassion meekness gentleness kindness Peaceable mild and courteous speeches and behavior forbearance Readiness to be reconciled patient bearing and forgiving of of of of injuries and requiting good for evil comforting and SEC suckering the distressed and protecting and defending the innocent it's all positive stuff there it's a lot to keep you busy in the the course of a day isn't it it's not just about don't stop somebody's heart from beating but try to promote people's hearts to beat properly look after yourself look after your family look after the the the defenseless look after the babies look after the old folks look after the infirm look after people positively the the the people of God should be very prolife Jesus says I am the way the truth and the the life and no one comes to the father except through me so in conclusion you need to understand the wickedness of the crime John Murray makes this observation in his principles of conduct nothing I think he's right I mean you could always find you know an exception but I think he's right in this general statement nothing shows the moral bankruptcy of a people or of a generation more than disregard for the sanctity of Life what's the litness T litmus test in a society well we hate babies we hate Hate Old People we hate infirm people we really love seals though and if you Club a seal man you're going to prison forever did that that's got problems now again I'm not into you know clubbing seals for sport but if it's you or that seal Club it if it's you got to eat then Club in that that's the marching order the pecking order we got problems I would suggest then with reference to the uses of the law I mentioned the three-fold division this would be a great time for quiz but we're not going to do that remember moral law judicial law and then ceremonial law well the three uses of the law the first is called the Civil use or sometimes it's called the political use see back in the Puritan Era and before that they didn't cringe At The Mention of politics and somehow think that you were going to burst into flames if you set it in a Pulpit so the Civil use basically is that God's law functions in such a way to restrain the wickedness of net right just it's there it's a parameter or a hedge and it just restrains man the Civil or political use this is where I would hope we'd see some assistance instead of some active opposition in terms of government I love what ma says he says the state exists for the rep repression of evildoers and the protection of individual liberty that that statement is so far wild to the church let let alone the world what individual liberty what are we rightwing extremists listen again to Manion the state exists for the repression of evildoers and the protection of individual liberty that's your function you had one job not to wipe my nose when I was a baby not to school me when I was a todler not to medicate me when when I was a young man not to look after me there's family to do that there's personal responsibility and self-government why do we dump everything upon the feds well I realize they want it but we shouldn't want them to want it he also said the civil government and this is very important is not intended to produce blessedness or happiness they're not you you know remember during Co we love you and we hope you are safe I have a mother to to do that I traditionally send out a notification to remind us of the time change and I have a dear brother in the church that reminds me that I sound like the government when I'm doing that and I must agree and yet I do it anyway there's something there he said the stay civil government is not intended to produce blessedness or happiness but intended to prevent blessedness or happiness from being interfered with by wicked men civil use of the law God gave it it's good it functions the way he intended to restrain The Wretched heart of man but then there's the pedagogical the child tutor use I mentioned this in the introduction if we don't tell people that that murder is wrong and sin and you're going to go to hell and be punished by God eternally as a result why would they come to Jesus why would they see their need for Jesus see you you you cannot miss that inext inextricable link between the knowledge of sin and the knowledge of Jesus for by the law Romans 3:20 no flesh will be justified in his sight but by the law is the knowledge of sin we've got to preach the law we we've got to preach the sixth commandment we've got to preach the first the second the third the fourth the fifth we got to preach the the seventh through the 10th we got to preach the law so that man sees his misery and man sees his need for the Lord Of Glory and then there is what we call the third use of the law the normative use and that simply means that when we're Justified freely by God's grace through faith in Jesus we now have the Holy Spirit we're now living the life of sanctification where do we get the definition for sanctification is it what we feel is it the Mormon B burning in the bosm is it what the elders it's What God Says in his law the normative use of the law is that we look at the law as a revelation of who God is and what God desires of us so we don't commit idolatry hopefully we don't blaspheme we we keep the Sabbath day holy we are subordinate to those authorities in our lives we should pray for each other on that one uh for sure cuz it's probably a tough one uh I'm not talking about the kids here it may be tough for you too but when you grow up a little bit you'll realize that that fifth commandment and its political application at times can be a struggle murder adultery theft lies covetousness we need to preach that uh for the conversion of Sinners but when Sinners are converted by God's grace we need to see those things as a p pattern as an expression as a definition of what sanctification is Jesus prays in the high Priestly prayer sanctify them by thy truth Thy word is truth it is a means in the hand of the spirit to move us into a direction of of good living so I wanted to end with Matthew 5 and a specific application for the church Matthew 5 and a specific application for the church Matthew 5 21 you have heard that it was said to those of old you shall not murder and whoever murders will be in danger of the Judgment but I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment and whoever says to his brother rqa shall be in danger of the counsel but whoever says you fool shall be in danger of Hell Fire now there's a lot to be said here I'm not going to say a lot I simply want to remind you of another text that we see in first John whoever hates his brother is a murderer and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him we're going to see tonight in Philippians chapter 2 Paul's admonition and exhortation of the church to maintain Unity again I hope nobody that heard this sermon this morning was is planning an abortion for Thursday or is going to tell their mom yeah I think it's time I'll take you to the hospital we'll get you mate I I I hope that's not in the hearts of anybody here but if your heart's like my heart if if your heart has remaining corruption admonitions to not hate your brother admonitions to be kind to your brother admonitions to be loving to your brother those are admonitions we continually need to hear so that's an application for the church and one other application for the church is in Psalm 119 you might be wondering why did Mark read that part of Psalm 119 so I think in Psalm 119 there's three statements at least I've used it this way way as a help on how to navigate in a situation like we find ourselves in so Mark read the section that contains verse 158 in Psalm 119 I see the treacherous and am disgusted because they do not keep your word that's a legitimate expression in light of abortion in light of euthanasia in light of a magistrate that's more concerned with making sure that a child has a hot meal at school and again I'm not saying children should starve to death that that's not the implication then whether or not a criminal offender a murderer runs a muck in society the I think disgust is legit and that the psalmist under inspiration by the spirit Jesus is is disgusted yeah I I stand with him there but then look back at at uh one 36 another response rivers of water run down from my eyes because men do not keep your law it's legit to shed some tears on behalf of the babies it's legit to shed some tears on behalf of the old folks and the infirm it's legit to shed some tears when we're faced with ghoulishness and lawlessness and reprobate behavior that goes completely unpunished but then there's one other notice in verse 1 I'm sorry verse 53 verse 53 indignation it means anger you know these sermons are not pleasant I doubt you're thinking well this is a great up building sermon man I'm so happy let's go eat soup great great way to start a beautiful Sunday I mean the sun is shining he he comes and brings black clouds upon it it's tough Brethren how do we deal with it disgust is legit indignation is legit tears are legit prayers that that come as a result of that is legit the proclamation of God's holy law is legit witnessing and testifying and telling Sinners what the scriptures say is legit we ultimately know that the most legit response for it all is the gospel of our our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ we have blessed forgiveness in the son of man we have blood atonement we have the riches of Grace poured upon us I'm not so naive as to think that everybody sitting here has a perfectly spotless and holy and pure background how did we get to where we're at through the blood of the lamb and that gospel my brothers and sisters is what this generation desperately needs to hear I've already said preach the law for sure but preach the cross preach the cross in its efficacy preach the cross in its Glory preach the cross the one on the cross who lived for us who died for us and was raised again for us such that even that thief on the cross would enter into Paradise that very day based on what Jesus had accomplished so we need to know these things but we need to have a good biblical response and you will never ever be wrong to preach Jesus and him crucified well let us pray Our Father in Heaven thank you for your word and thank you that there is forgiveness with thee that thou mayest be feared and we pray that this gospel would be preached throughout the Earth today that it would run swiftly that it would be glorified and as well that it would be the bomb of Gilead for the needy Souls of your people may we be encouraged at a fresh view of our Lord and savior that he didn't die for potential Sinners he didn't die for for halfway Sinners but he died for an apostle Paul the chief of Sinners who wanted to persecute the very Church of God itself and he's died for us those of us who've committed Grievous sins against a a gracious and a holy God we rejoice in the blood of Jesus Christ your son we ask now that you would go with us help us to have a good Lord's day to reflect upon your word and your works and may it be unto edification in our families and as brothers and sisters and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen we can turn in your hym books as we end our service this morning with 572 572 we'll stand as we sing together GL and [Music] to to the Holy Ghost as it was in the beginning is now and shall be [Music] the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all amen well please be seated for a brief time of meditation e e e e