The Commands of God and the Cross of Christ

On February 20 I plan to begin a series of messages on the Ten Commandments.  Do you have a gut reaction to that?  What does the thought of the Ten Commandments send through your soul?  Does it make you think of battles over posting the Ten Commandments in public places?  Does it make you cringe with guilt or make you stiff with anger?  The Ten Commandments hold a central place in the revelation of God.  They are at the core of gaining a right understanding of God, man, how we relate to God, and how we relate to each other.  The truth is however, that I have met very few people who have told me that the Ten Commandments are helpful to them in building their relationship with God and others.  Why?  Because the Ten Commandments are rarely understood properly by the Christian community.  Misunderstanding this core ingredient of the revelation of God has been a strong influence in the misshaping of many Christian’s souls.  Some have been so robbed of joy and freedom by their mistaken understanding of God and His commands that they walk away from them altogether and seek a commandless Christ and Christianity.  Others make these commands a list of rules to prove their righteousness to God and to people yet they in turn become more pharisaical than the Pharisees.
We are going to dive into these commands of God and find them to truly be Words of Life.  It will take work and a bit of  risk, but it will be worth it.  You will know more of God, love God more, and learn how to relate to others in ways you have never experienced.  Sound odd to you?  All I can say is, come and see, we will learn together.
Tony