2. Supreme Court legalizes same- sex marriage in all 50 states. - June 26 th, 2015

3. Loving the Law of God Church of Christ at Medina June 28 th, 2015

4. God’s People must love His Word “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” (Psalm 1 ESV) Delight – chephets : signifies pleasure, delight or desire. Degree of delight is seen in the frequency of his meditation.

5. God’s People must love His Word “Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts. I hold back my feet from every evil way, in order to keep your word.I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.” (Psalm 119:97-104, ESV)

6. Loving God’s Word means… 1.…we will study it.  “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1- 2, ESV)  How can we love God’s word and yet spend no time – or very little time – studying it?  Are you too busy? What did God command of the kings of Israel?  “And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes by doing them…” (Deuteronomy 17:19, ESV)

7. Loving God’s Word means… 1.…we will study it.  God’s Word must be as important to us as the physical necessities of life. Deuteronomy 8:3 Job 23:12 – “I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food.” Jeremiah 15:16 – “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” 1 Peter 2:1-3 – “So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy all slander. Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation – if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good.” – The more we study, the more we want to know. More studying develops a deeper love.

8. Loving God’s Word means… 2.…we will accept it.  If we love God’s Word, then we will not try to change it to make it fit our wants and needs. – Psalm 119:33 – “Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.” – Deuteronomy 12:32 – “Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.” – Proverbs 30:5-6 – “Every word of God proves true; He is a shield to those who take refuge in him. Do not add to His words, lest He rebuke you and you be found a liar.” – Revelation 22:18-19

9. Loving God’s Word means… 3.…we will obey it.  What is the sign of true love? – John 14:15 – “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”  We must be willing to do more than know and even acknowledge God’s word. We must be willing to follow it. – Joshua 23:6 – “Therefore, be very strong to keep and to do all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, turning aside from it neither to the right hand nor to the left…” (ESV) – Matthew 19:17 – “And He said to him, ‘Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.’” (ESV) – 1 John 5:3 – “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” (ESV)

10. Loving God’s Word means… 4.…we will share it.  Discipleship is more than a one-time verbal proclamation. It is a way of life.  This life changing event means that we will take what we know from God and give it to others because they so desperately need it too!  “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4:1-2, ESV)

11. Loving God’s Word means… 5.…we hate every false way.  “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.” (Psalm 1:1-2, ESV)  Psalm 119:104 – “Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way.”  Psalm 119:126-128 – “It is time for the Lord to act, for your law has been broken. Therefore I love your commandments above gold, above fine gold. Therefore I consider all your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.”  2 Timothy 4:3-5

12. Loving God’s Word will… 5.…save us. – Romans 1:16-17 – 1 Corinthians 1:18-23 6.…give us joy and peace.  “Great peace have those who love your law; nothing can make them stumble.” (Psalm 119:165, ESV)

13. Conclusion Consider the following passages. – 2 Peter 2 – Jude

14. References Chapman, K. (2015). Loving the Law. In Refocusing on Evangelism (pp. 101-106). Athens: Guardian of Truth Foundation.