stephen R Harrison

“Keep From Sin”

“Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. God has come to test you 

so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.’”

-Exodus 20:20

Exodus 19 tells the story of Moses ascending Mount Sinai four times to meet with God. During the first ascent (Exodus 19:3-7), God told Moses about a covenant with him that, if kept, would make them his treasured possession, a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation. Obedience brings a blessing. Moses reported this to the people and said, “We will do everything the Lord has said” (v. 8). He went back up the mountain again to report the people’s reply to God. On his third ascent (Exodus 19:10), Moses received instructions from God to consecrate the people because “on the third day the Lord will come down in sight of all the people” (v. 11). This came with commands to obey, and they “prepared themselves for the third day” (v. 15). 

On his fourth trip (Exodus 19:20-25), God warned the people not to come near the mountain while his presence was there. Aaron joined him, and God gave them the Ten Commandments (20:1-17). Moses climbed the mountain four more times to receive instructions and a new set of the Ten Commandments since he would break the first when he saw the people sinning and worshipping a false idol (32:19). God spoke directly to Moses His commands and gave him His Tablets of the Law. This encounter, witnessed from a distance, frightened the people, and they asked Moses to speak to them himself (20:18-19). Moses loved the people, but God loved them more. Moses told the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning”.  

We should have a holy fear of God that keeps us from sinning because he is a holy God. Our sin separates us from him. God knew this and gave them sacred guidelines to keep them close to him. Sinful man, however, could never keep the Law perfectly. James 2:10 says, “Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking it all.” Paul tells us, “The law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law” (Galatians 3:24). That does not mean we are to disregard the Ten Commandments. They were fulfilled (or find their whole meaning) in Christ (Matthew 5:17). We keep the moral law not to be saved but because we are saved. We are to live differently because Christ saves us. We are to avoid sin in holy fear of a holy God and keep God’s commandments in worshipful response to his grace and forgiveness.

Questions: 

In what ways do you struggle to avoid sin?

How does holy fear in God keep us from sin?

How do the Ten Commandments draw us to Christ?

Prayer:

Jesus, we are sinners who need salvation and sanctification. We need your presence and instruction on how to live a holy life that pleases you. Help us obey your commands with a pure heart. Thank you for your grace and mercy, which draw us to you when our flesh tries to pull away. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.

Read: 

Exodus 20:12-20

Action Step:

Jesus gave us clarity on how he fulfilled the Law of Moses (Matthew 5:17). He demonstrated how we have broken the Ten Commandments in our hearts on issues like murder (Matthew 5:21-26) and adultery (27-30). Which of the Ten Commandments do you struggle with the most? How do you think God can help you overcome these sins? Write some Scriptures you can recite when tempted. Write a prayer to the Lord asking for freedom from sins with which you struggle.