Lesson Twenty-Three

CONCLUSION

HOW TO PRACTICE KEEPING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

Burden to Impart:

Because of our sinful nature we experience a spontaneous tendency to sin and to break God's holy law (Rom. 7:15-21). We should practice confessing our sins to the Lord daily so that He can forgive them and cleanse us from all of our sins with His precious blood (1 Jn. 1:9). Also, we should turn our heart to the Lord daily in order to keep our heart soft and loving Him. Then, by receiving His word we will be strengthened to overcome the slavery of sin (Psa. 119:9-10).

Memory Verse:

 "And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart" (Deuteronomy 6:6).

Facts to Teach:

  1. Through the Law comes the knowledge of sin (Rom. 7:7). Through Adam's fall sin entered into the world (Rom.5:12) and rules in every man, causing him to break God's law and sin, even doing things that he hates to do (Rom. 7:14-20).
  2. Although we are all weak and fail God often, He has given us a way to go on with Him:
    1. whenever we sin and break one of God's commandments we should never cover up our sin or just try to forget it. We should confess it to the Lord and receive His forgiveness and cleansing through the precious blood of Jesus who died to wash away all of our sins and failures (1 John 1:9).
    2. We should turn our heart to the Lord again and again, day by day. Sin (breaking God's law) causes our heart to become hardened and turned away from the Lord (Heb. 3:13). When we confess our sins to the Lord and turn our heart back to Him we will love Him again, our heart will be softened, and every veil will be taken away (2 Cor. 3:16).
    3. By turning our heart to the Lord our heart is softened, but by receiving the Lord's Word we will be strengthened and enabled to keep His Word and His commandments (Deut. 6:6; Psa. 119:9-11). Although our flesh is weak and utterly unable to do it in ourselves, God is able to do it in us as His Word abides in us. NOTE: - We should not minimize or spiritualize away the requirement of the Ten Commandments. Rather, we should impart God's righteous requirement to the children so that through His Law they may come to know Him and also know themselves, that they are sinners. We should never give them an impression that because of the greatness of God's grace we may "sin so that grace may abound" (Rom. 6:1). Rather, we should lead them to aspire to live a godly and righteous life.