When yet another Premier League footballer has an affair we hardly bat an eyelid. The fact that their public life and private life are at odds is not seen as strange or wrong. In order to protect their private life from the sleaze they have created they will take out super injunctions in the High Courts. Why? Often to ensure their behaviour does not affect their lucrative sponsorship deals and their wags don’t find out and start seeking a divorce! It is not limited to footballers. Tiger Woods moral freefall led to a freefall in his career and of his marriage to his wife and relationship with his children. Why can’t some people pass a test in honesty? Cheating has become a way of life. What has happened to a compass of morality? The compass doesn’t know how to point in any direction!

1 – Shifting moral standards of Christians

Moral and sexual rules are being bent to their liking. There are Christians who are behaving like the world on gambling, pornography, abortion, sex outside of marriage, same-sex marriage and use of illegal drugs. How can followers of Jesus Christ; who are called to be salt and light to the world; behave so immorally? The Bible is not considered to be a source of authority in their lives. The Bible is not clear on some things but the principles are obvious on the stewardship of money and looking after your health. In the areas of sex, marriage and gender the Bible is clear and direct. There is no doubt. It always comes down to elevating one’s personal desires over that of God.

2 – The solid moral foundation for Christians

God’s moral teachings were given first of all in the Ten Commandments that were given to Moses for the nation of Israel. There were some 600 plus laws given to expand the meaning and interpretation of these laws for Israel. When Jesus comes we have the Sermon on the Mount. Jesus highlights the spiritual dimension of the law. The spirit of the law is added to the letter of the law. The civil and the ceremonial law were not applied in the New Testament to the Church. The teaching and application of the Ten Commandments are repeated in the New Testament apart from the fourth commandment to keep the seventh day holy. See Matthew 22:37-40. It comes from Christ. You can’t be a follower of Christ without obeying his teachings.

• Internalising the law – God has promised to take His laws off from the stone tablets and write them on the hearts of his people. See Jeremiah 31:33.
• Affirming the law – Grace does not mean the law is nullified. See Romans 3:31. We follow the law because we love God. The laws are not to diminish our joy but to increase our joy. New Testament Christians are not exempt from the moral and ethical requirements of God’s law. Christians have a higher motivation which is love. Grace means living a moral life not because we have to but because we want to.
• Sharpening the law – See 1 Corinthians 10:23-24. There may be actions and choices that do not break God’s law but still could be wrong as it is not edifying. We are not looking out for just our own interests but for the well being of others. If it will hurt someone else or tarnish our testimony for Jesus Christ, then it becomes unlawful for us.
• Honouring the law – Jesus came to free us from the power of sin for breaking the law. Why would someone accept the forgiveness of Christ and then insult Him by breaking His laws? Jesus has suffered and died on the cross.

3 – Strength and light by the law

There are trees that are strong when a storm comes and will not bend or break. God wanted His people to be strong. The laws were intended to give strength and fibre to the moral strength of Israel and show the nations the holy nature of God. See Deuteronomy 28:1. Israel was to preserve the character of God as revealed by the law of God and be salt to the world. See Acts 1:8. The Church is also to be a spiritual example to the darkest ends of the earth. Those that walk in the light of God’s law can lead others to also walk in the light. Those that do not walk in the light will became as dark as those around them. Israel’s dual role as strength and light depended on their obedience to God’s law. This is what happened to the nation more than once.

On the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says in Matthew 5:13-14 that the Church is to be the salt and light of the world. Salt is strong as it overcomes bacteria that would cause food to rot and decompose. It is light in that it causes thirst in all those whom consume it. We are to do the same. Without the Church the world has no strength and light. See Matthew 22:37-39. With these teachings and Christians not bending the rules, what a different world this could be. Don’t go through the motions. Clean hands don’t make clean hearts. Clean hearts leads to clean hands.

4 – The spirit of God’s law

There are instances when we can be tempted to justify breaking God’s laws to meet our expectations. This permeates morality in society. Lies, cheating, unforgiveness, etc are allowed to go so far. It is not everyone but it is growing. We need to put a line in the sand and say no further. There are six moral instructions that are given by Jesus for those at that time that apply to today’s society.

• The meaning of murder – See Matthew 5:21. Murder is more than one way. To attack someone in anger or hateful words is to break the spirit of the law if not the letter of the law. You have hurt someone.
• The meaning of adultery – See Exodus 20:14. Jesus takes it beyond the physical to the spiritual. If you have thought it in your heart then you have broken the spirit of the law.
• The meaning of divorce – A certificate of divorce was allowed for the woman to protect her from being exploited. See Matthew 5:32. God has not intended for there to be divorces. There needs to be a biblical reason for the divorce and not for convenience.
• The meaning of divorce – The man could decide to divorce his wife and a certificate of divorce was allowed for the woman to protect her from being exploited. See Matthew 5:32. God has not intended for there to be divorces. There needs to be a biblical reason for the divorce and not for convenience.
• The meaning of oaths – See Exodus 20:7. It is more than using God’s name as a curse word. It is about making rash promises with God’s name used to show your commitment. Jesus is saying that oaths are not needed for people with integrity. See Matthew 5:37. It is either yes or no. Do you promise?
• The meaning of conflict – See Deuteronomy 19:21 and Matthew 5:38-42. The law was to limit retribution. The spirit of the law is to avoid conflict altogether. We are not to seek retaliation or revenge. We are to love peace. Evil is not overcome with more evil. Evil is overcome with good.
• The meaning of enemies – See Leviticus 18:18 and Matthew 5:43-47. We are to love our enemies as well as our neighbours. This is the spirit of the law. This leads to perfection in the eyes of God. See Matthew 5:48.

We are to live our lives to give glory to God. See Matthew 5:16. Let your light shine in the darkness. Live above a standard that the world sees as acceptable. Don’t wonder how close you can live to or from the edge of what is sin. Live differently according to God’s principles.

Categories: Matthew