“The Law is for the self-righteous, to humble their pride; the Gospel is for the lost, to remove their despair

“Anything to Declare?”

Texts: 1 John 1 / Psalm 19

30 July, 2006

This week we look again at the way of godly wisdom and life, drawing once more from the psalms, which so marvelously reflect first-hand knowledge of the Lord in the experience of His people. In Psalm 19, David declares that God speaks to us through two great "books". One is the "book" of the Creation; and the other is the "book" of Scripture, or the Law. In theological terms these are called "general" revelation, expressed in Creation, and "special" revelation, expressed in the Scriptures. In this psalm, David encourages us to allow the truth God reveals through both forms of revelation to transform us.

The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.

On a day (or days) like today I could spend some time expounding on the last two verses and how, as much as we appreciate the benefits and glory of the sun, we wish we could hide from its heat, and our various attempts to do so. I will not.

Almost nine years ago I was on my way upstate to work on cleaning out my mom’s house after her death. I had left late in the day, after work, and so was driving through the Adirondacks into the early, darkest, hours of the morning. When I was about 40 minutes from the house, I decided to pull over for a stretch and some air. So I pulled over next to a large lake in a broad valley. It was a clear night, with none of the distractions of lights from houses or street-lamps; no other cars were in sight. I stepped out of my car, looked up and the sky above the lake and mountains was suddenly ablaze with colour. I had seen the northern lights before but at this time in my life they seemed even more magnificent than ever, seen in the midst of the deep darkness and the slight chill of the October air. To me it was a glimpse of eternity, the glory of the Lord declared in the heavens.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Romans, "Ever since the creation of the world his eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made" (Rom. 1:20). Centuries later, John Calvin wrote:

“Since the perfection of blessedness consists in the knowledge of God, he has been pleased . . . to manifest his perfections in the whole structure of the universe, and daily place himself in our view, that we cannot open our eyes without being compelled to behold him. . . . wherever you turn your eyes, there is no portion of the world, however minute, that does not exhibit at least some sparks of beauty; while it is impossible to contemplate the vast and beautiful fabric as it extends around, without being overwhelmed by the immense weight of glory.”[1]

Charles Spurgeon, the 19^th century “prince of preachers” went farther when he said:

“He who looks up to the firmament and then writes himself down an atheist, brands himself at the same moment as an idiot or a liar.”[2] “Being a fool he speaks according to his nature; being a great fool he meddles with a great subject, and comes to a wild conclusion”[3].

If you think that too harsh, or just Spurgeon’s opinion, the psalmist affirms, in Psalm 14,

‘The fool says in his heart,
"There is no God."

They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;
there is no one who does good.’

Biblically speaking, to be called a “fool” is to be called “morally deficient”, not just silly or ignorant.

On the microscopic level where particle movement is observed to be inherently unpredictable, the fingerprints of God can be seen as the order of nature arise from seeming chaos. Even so, depending on which survey you read, nearly 80% of the general public believes that God created everything, whereas 45-60% of those in the natural sciences (physics, biology, and chemistry) continue to identify themselves as either agnostic or atheist.

Although a great amount of knowledge about God’s deity can be gleaned from observing the creation, it is a child's primer when compared to the Word of God. For the whole story, we need to study the Scriptures. The revelation of God's Word is more direct and more reliable: the Word of God is inspired directly by the Spirit; the knowledge we gain from the creation is filtered through our fallen nature.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.

The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.

The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes. (verses 7, 8)

Back in the 1930’s, Isaac Asimov developed the three “Laws of Robotics”:

1. A robot may not harm a human being, or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2. A robot must obey the orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3. A robot must protect its own existence, as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

These laws, in one form or another, are hardwired into the positronic matrix of the robot’s brain, and are therefore considered unbreakable. Of course the programming can be changed or logic twisted by human beings to allow the robot to violate these laws. In general though, as one of Asimov’s characters observes, there is a world of difference between human beings and robots, in that “Robots are essentially decent.” The laws were put in place to protect humanity.

We, however, are not robots.

We are all called to a life of holiness, which calls for us to refrain from all forms of sinful behaviour. We are not even to let the appearance of evil been seen or reported about us. That being the case, and we being only human after all, God moved the writers of the Scriptures to set down all that was necessary for us to know what such a life would be like. As Paul wrote to his friend Timothy, “. . .you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 3:14-15).” For Paul and Timothy the “Holy Scriptures” were what we call the Old Testament.

Jesus told his disciples that whoever loved him would obey all that he commanded, in the power of the Spirit. Is it possible that he was not only referring to those things we read in the Gospels but also the Old Covenant, since Jesus is the Lord who spoke to the Israelites? The commandments found in the Scriptures, whether in the Old or New Testaments, describe God's moral character and are forever applicable for the protection of God’s people. The Law of God, his statutes, precepts and commands, His testimony to who He is, what He is like, awakens in us the knowledge of our depravity and need for God's remedy through Christ's sacrifice; provides us with guidance to right conduct in the community of God's people, as well as a foundation for civil laws; and shows us the way toward the holiness of life in Christ. Neither an individual nor a local church nor any denomination can survive or thrive without acknowledging and submitting to the authority of Word of God.

There are times (more than I like to admit) when the pressures of life get me down. This does not surprise my family or co-workers, as they get to see me in all my grouchy gloominess. But I know that when I set aside time to get into the Bible—to prepare a sermon, or mid-week Bible study, or just my own personal enrichment—there is a very good chance that I will be lifted out of the doldrums, given a new perspective, and revived in my spirit. I have found the psalmist’s words to be true, and look forward to spending time in God's Word as one of the most enjoyable things I have the privilege to do.

‘. . .Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”’ (John 8:31-32)

Jesus said he had come to 'fulfill the Law', that is, not to dismiss it as necessary but to demonstrate the enormity of our failure by the extremity of the remedy (to paraphrase Pascal), and reveal the heart of the Law in loving God and neighbor--to approach God with a 'broken and contrite heart', a repentant spirit that is better than sacrifice. In Christ we are free from the condemnation of the law, not the moral requirements of it. The moral Law remains to guide us, in concert with the indwelling Holy Spirit, in behaviour that is acceptable within this new relationship of love; the ceremonial Law has been done away with since those things prescribed by it were shadows of the reality of Jesus Christ.

In verses 9-11 the psalmist wrote:

The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.

The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.

They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.

By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

As believers a reverent fear of the Lord’s awesome power prompts us to seek a life that is more and more in line with His holiness and righteousness. Such a fear works to purify our hearts even as the Holy Spirit guides us in following the Lord’s commandments on the Way of life. There are many of us here who have gone under the knife of surgery in order to have disease removed or physical defects corrected. Well, the Word of God is like that—“living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12)

The fear of the Lord as righteous judge that ought to be at work in the hearts of all unsaved people, the knowledge of the moral law, has been suppressed or removed from the foundation of our society, and so

“Transgression speaks to the wicked
deep in his heart;

there is no fear of God
before his eyes. For he flatters himself in his own eyes
that his iniquity cannot be found out and hated.

The words of his mouth are trouble and deceit;
he has ceased to act wisely and do good.

He plots trouble while on his bed;
he sets himself in a way that is not good;
he does not reject evil.” (Psalm 36:1-4, ESV)

As I said last week, the “wicked” are not only those who are clearly evil but those who give no place for God in their lives. Here is the difference between the Law of God and the laws of men: Unlike the laws passed and legal decisions made according to the agendas of men, “God has given to His works His own character of emeth”—a Hebrew word meaning, “firmness, faithfulness, truth—“they are watertight, faithful, reliable, not at all vague or phantasmal.”[4] Isaiah 40:8 says, “The grass withers, the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever.”

To obey God’s Law “is the most healthful exercise to your spirit"[5], because obeying the law means you love God and extend that love to others. The law is not designed just to be a list of rules, which is what Pharisees think, in Jesus’ day and ours. When you love God and love people you have healthy relationships. If we truly want to be like Jesus, we will spend more time searching the Scriptures, communing with the Lord in prayer, and worshiping Him in the company of the faithful.

‘A Puritan evangelist, John Rogers, warned his congregation against neglecting Scripture by telling them what God might say: "I have trusted you so long with my Bible ... it lies in [some] houses all covered with dust and cobwebs, you care not to listen to it. Do you use my Bible that way? Well, you shall have my Bible no longer". Rogers then picked up his Bible and started walking away from the pulpit. Then he stopped, fell on his knees, and took on the voice of the people, who pleaded, "Lord, whatever Thou do to us, take not Thy Bible from us; kill our children, burn our houses, destroy our goods; only spare us Thy Bible, take not away Thy Bible". "Say you so?" the minister replied, impersonating what God might say: "Well, I will try you a while longer; and here is my Bible for you. I will see how you use it, whether you will search it more, love it more, observe it more, and live more according to it". Thomas Goodwin was so moved by Rogers's presentation that when he left church he wept upon his horse's neck for fifteen minutes before he felt strong enough to mount it.’[6]

We should love the Word written to us. "Sweeter than honey", David tells us, is the Word of God. "How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! (Ps. 119:103)!” This is much more than a mere intellectual exercise, it is a matter of faith, of the heart made new. If you find reading and studying, or even hearing, the Word of God more of a chore than a delight, if there are books or magazines or media personalities more important to you than God's precious word, how do you expect to “live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God”?

Taste and see that the LORD is good;
blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.

Fear the LORD, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing. (Psalm 34:8-9)

David concludes today’s psalm,

Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.

Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.

Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

National Geographic once featured a time-lapse photograph capturing the brilliant lightning display over a Rocky Mountain peak during a heavy thunderstorm. “The time-lapse technique created a fascinating, spaghetti-like web out of the individual bolts. Our sin presents itself before the eyes of God in such a way. We may see only isolated or individual acts; God sees the overall web of our sinning. What may seem insignificant—even sporadic—to us and passes with hardly a notice creates a much more dramatic display from God’s panoramic viewpoint.”[7]

The psalmist declares that the more clearly we allow the Word of God to speak to us, the more clearly we see our sin. In the light of God’s Law our sinfulness is revealed; our need is awakened for a Saviour, forgiveness for all our sins. As the Holy Spirit awakens us to our sin, the more evident it is that only grace can cleanse and keep us from it. By His grace we can declare those sins to God, even, or most especially, those we cannot name.

In his letter, John writes as an eyewitness to the Incarnation and glory of the Son of God, bearing witness to the truth:

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. . . . God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

“The heavens declare the glory of God.” That is, all creation confirms both the existence of a Creator as well as His omnipotence, wisdom and majesty. If the “voiceless” creation can show the glory of God, how much more should we?

The Word of God, the Scriptures, give testimony to the law of God, His statutes, precepts, commands, declaring His holiness and our need for salvation. In the Law of the Lord of the universe we are given: Discernment—a mirror by which we see ourselves as wretched offenders against God's holiness; Discipline—a method by which we seek to restrain destructive (sinful) behaviour in the community of God’s people; Discipleship—the means by which we are guided into loving obedience and righteousness in Christ.

We are called to declare the gospel to the world. In Christ we can declare the need for repentance. Because we confess our sins and receive the Lord’s forgiveness, we can declare the saving power of Christ to others.

If you have ever traveled to or from another country, you have been through some sort of checkpoint and been asked, “Do you have anything to declare?” As you go from this place back into the world—the land of our sojourn—be sure you have something to declare.

Let us pray:

Lord, we praise You for being our Rock and Redeemer. We praise You for allowing us to have a personal relationship with You. What a blessing that we can approach in prayer the Creator of the universe! We praise You for the revelation of Yourself through Your creation and through Your Word. May we come to know You better. Enlighten us through the study of Your creation and Your Word, and through our increasing knowledge of You, may we worship You more fervently, and serve You more faithfully. In the name of Christ, who is our Redeemer, we pray these things, Amen.[8]

[3] Sermon 433, “An Encouraging Lesson from Paul's Conversion”

[6] "The Puritan Preaching Ministry in Old and New England", by Allen C. Guelzo

[8] http://www.scripturestudies.com/Vol3/C4/c4_psa.html