Sermons in Law & Gospel

This chapter in 2 Samuel about the exile and return of Absalom, King David’s son, reflects the perennial theme of Exile and Return found throughout the Bible.

The Apostle Paul exhorts us to avoid false religion, which is mystical and legalistic, and which judges people based on man-made regulations.

First announced in Eden, God in Christ has a cosmic program to destroy the works of the Devil; we are to take part in Christ's work to defeat all His enemies.

Since Christ has set us free, we cannot return to humanistic slavery and pagan gods made in man's image.

The law was a harsh schoolmaster designed to drive sinners to Christ; now, through faith in Christ, all who believe enjoy the privilege of being familially related to God Himself by adoption.

The tenth commandment requires us to be fully content with our own condition and to be charitably disposed toward our neighbour.

The ninth commandment is not only a negative prohibition against perjury, but it also governs all our speech and requires us to speak the truth in love.

All theft is a violation of God's order and absolute ownership and thus it is first an offense against God. God institutes private property, commissioning the family as steward to work out the dominion mandate and to inherit the earth.

The sixth commandment forbids unlawful killing, and further requires preserving our own lives and those of others because of the image of God in man. It is beyond our authority to take life; it is purely God's prerogative.

We learn about God as Father when our fathers and mothers act in accordance with God's fatherly presence. We're to educate and build for the future and as a consequence the world grows under God's dominion.

God restricts our work time to bless us and to free us. Endless work is slavery and leads to death, because God's covenant law is built into the very fabric of creation. As a consequence of abandoning Sabbath rest, people become restless, stressed, overworked, unhealthy, and poor.

The Maker, Sustainer, and Governor of all things, our Lord and Savour, has a great name honoured above all others.  God's name is taken in vain whenever we use it without due consideration and reverence.