Lesson 20: GOD’S WILL FOR HIS PEOPLE (PART THREE)

And the second is like it:’Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:39 And the second is like it:’Love your neighbor as yourself.’

The Second table of the Law says: Love your neighbor

The Fourth Commandment: Honor your father and mother that it may go well with you and you may enjoy long life on the earth.

God’s Representatives God places his representatives in: Home, Church, Government, and society Over us to bless us.

Ephesians 6:2-3 “Honor your father and mother”-which is the first commandment with a promise- “that it might go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.

Through his representatives in the home He gives us: food, clothing, shelter, love, religious training, education

Hebrews 13:7 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way life and imitate their faith.

Through His representatives in the church He gives us: God’s Word The Sacraments

Romans 13:4 For he is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong,be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing.For he is God’s servant , an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

Through His representatives in the government He gives us: Protection Freedoms Social order

EPHESIANS 6:1-3 Children obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother--which is the first commandment with a promise--that it might go well with you and that you may enjoy and long life on the earth.

Our attitude toward God’s representatives God expects us to honor and obey our parents and others in authority.

Hebrews 13:17 Remember your leaders, who spoke the word to you. Consider the outcome of their life and imitate their faith.

Romans 13:1-7 Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted,and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Acts 5:29 Peter and the other apostles replied, “We must obey God rather then men!”

If they tell us to sin against God One exception: If they tell us to sin against God

Ephesians 6:4 Proverbs 13:24 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

The Attitude Of God’s Representatives Toward Us God expects parents to discipline/train their children. They will do this if they love them.

The Fifth Commandment: You shall not murder

Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Genesis 9:6 Isaiah 55:6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

God Gives Human Life For A Special Purpose Man was created in the image of God. A lifetime is a person’s chance to regain the image of God. Also called "time of grace" To end someone’s life is to end one’s chance to come to God, to know Jesus and to serve Him.

Psalm 119:73 Psalm 31:15 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. My times are in your hands; deliver me from my enemies and from those who pursue me.

Romans 13:4 For [the governing authority] is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.

Matthew 26:52 "Put your sword back in its place," Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword.

We are to Have Great Respect for Human Life Because God has made everyone for himself, for his purposes. God is the only one with the right to end human life. He may carry out this right through representatives in the government. The government’s right to punish by death is called capital punishment.

The child of God cannot agree to... personal vengeance: taking the law into one’s own hands abortion: killing an unborn child active euthanasia: killing to end suffering suicide: killing oneself

The Child of God cannot agree to... anything that destroys the health of the body God created. Examples:

1 John 3:15 Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.