This week we will look at the second of several questions that will be covered in this class: Q2 Why do Christians think they have the truth, (why is Jesus the only way to God and eternal life)? For each question we will offer several answers for you to ponder. For the second half of class each week we will continue our Bible study practice in the book of Exodus. All sessions include a time for prayer and reflection, an “apologetics” presentation, and a Bible study piece. You will also find the presentation notes, Bible study survey format and additional resources below.

Watch this week’s class presentation on this topic:

A CASE FOR CHRISTIANITY:  FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS
Session 3: Why do Christians think they have the truth?

The truth claim in Christianity

REVIEW AND REFLECTION

Prayer cards: Take a minute and write your name on the index card provided, and add any special prayer request you might have. Exchange cards at the end of the class this evening.

At your table groups, do the following:

1. Review the question from last week: Why are you a Christian?
2. Recite this week’s Memory Verse:

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUTH IN OUR WORLDVIEW

Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?” John 18:37-38 

Q2. Why do Christians think they have the truth?
(Why is Jesus the only way to God and eternal life?)
3 tactics in answering…

Tactic 1:  Christians didn’t say it, Jesus said it (John 14:6) And so did the eyewitnesses!

– What if it’s true? What if you took some time to investigate the truth claims of Jesus and the Bible?

Jesus said…

• “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.” John 14:6
• “And you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” John 8:32

Peter said…

• “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12

Paul said…

• “For there is one God and one mediatorbetween God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5

JESUS IS THE ”HE” IN THE ORIGINAL GENESIS PROMISE!

Old Testament Prophecy and Covenant Promise:

• And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.” Genesis 3:15

New Testament Fulfillment:

• Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”  John 8:24 

SINCE JESUS IS GOD INCARNATE, ALL THAT HE SAYS AND TEACHES MUST BE TRUE!

• This is confirmed by the words of Jesus in John 10:30, “I and the Father are one.” The Jews understood exactly what Jesus was claiming—deity. When Jesus declared, “I and the Father are one,” He was saying that He and the Father are of one nature and essence.
• John 8:58 is another example. Jesus declared, “I tell you the truth … before Abraham was born, I am!” This is a reference back to Exodus 3:14 when God revealed Himself as the “I AM.”
• Jesus’ challenge was unmet: “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” John 8:46-47

Jesus declared Himself to be God. His followers believed Him to be God. The provision of salvation only works if Jesus is God. Jesus is God incarnate, the eternal Alpha and Omega (Rev. 1:8; 22:13), and God our Savior (2 Pt. 1:1).

The Christian Worldview claim is exclusive, but the invitation is inclusive

• Now the Lord said to Abram, go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you; and I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, and the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” Genesis 12:1-3
• “For this is what the Lord has commanded us: “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”” Acts 13:47
• “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.” Titus 2:11
• “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.” Romans 8:1-2

Christianity’ claim has to be exclusive because…

• Jesus is the only one who claimed to be the Son of God and fulfillment of the Genesis 3:15 promise, and He proved it through His miracles and resurrection in defeat of death and Satan – He is the Savior who died for my sins.
• Jesus is the only one who fulfilled all of the covenants and prophecies given hundreds of years before his time.
• Jesus is the only one who brought not just mercy (forgiveness of debt), but grace (a gift of eternal life).
• Jesus is the only one who said it is done so that we do not have to do anything to earn salvation and entrance into Heaven.
• Jesus is the only one who provides Intimacy with God: I am a child of God, and I can have a relationship with Jesus.

Christianity’s claim is inclusive because…

• All are welcomed into the family of God through His Son Jesus (John 3:16) We all can come just as we are.
• There is nothing a person can do to earn or work their way to a relationship with God or to gain eternal life (Romans 3, Galatians 2, Ephesians 2).
  • Jesus said to the thief on the cross: “Today, you will be with me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
• Jesus died for all so that we don’t have to die for ourselves or for any other ”god.”
• The Christian faith is the only faith that answers all of life’s questions; and we can come to Jesus with anything, and without fear!

Q2. Why do Christians think they have the only true worldview?
(Why is Jesus the only way to God and eternal life?)
3 tactics in answering…

Tactic 2:  What’s the alternative, that every religion leads equally to God? Impossible, because they all disagree dramatically about the nature of God and salvation, as well as many fundamental and foundational views about life.

Cyanide vs. salt:
The differences matter more than the similarities!

Different religions and worldviews do not agree on the most important questions

The world’s religions are fundamentally different, and these differences are logically irreconcilable on vital questions such as:

• Who is God?
• Who is Jesus?
• What is evil?
• What is sin?
• What is my purpose?
• What constitutes salvation?
• Where do we go after we die?

 The world’s religions are salvationally different, teaching very different pathways and very different eternal destinations:

• Heaven/hell (Christianity and some forms of Judaism)
• Paradise/eternal damnation (Islam)
• Brahman (Hinduism)
• Nirvana (Buddhism)
• The Bridge (Zoroastrianism)
• Jiva/Ajiva (Jainism)
• Utopian afterlife (New Ageism)
• Nothingness (Secular Naturalism/Atheism)

 The world’s religions are foundationallydifferent:

• Each has a different historical beginning.
• Each has a different, or many different holy books.
• Each one looks to a founder or leader who taught very different concepts about this life and the afterlife, none of whom claimed to be the Son of God, except one.
• Each leader or founder’s essential views are in opposition and contradictory at best.

Q2. Why do Christians think they have the only true worldview?
(Why is Jesus the only way to God and eternal life?)
3 tactics in answering…

THE IMPORTANCE OF TRUTH IN A WORLDVIEW:

Tactic 3:  These types of questions are self-refuting questions because they are themselves making a truth claim equally narrow, and mostly intolerant against Christianity.

• This is generally known as “relativism”

We can ask: Why do you think your view is true?

(why do you think the Christian worldview isn’t true?)

Is truth absolute or relative?

Relativist: “It’s true for you, but not for me!”                                                    

Christian Realist: “Is that just true for you, but not for me?”

Definition of Absolute Truth:

Absolute Truth is…

something that is true

For ALL people…

…in ALL places

…and at ALL times

WHAT IS TRUTH?

Truth is that which corresponds to reality

The Correspondence Theory of Truth…

• truth corresponds to its object
• truth is an actual state of affairs
• truth is the way things really are – it matches reality

Truth is discovered, not invented

• truth exists independent of anyone’s knowledge of it
• truth is unchanging even though our beliefs or attitudes about it might change
• truth is transcultural

Truth can be found through the Holy Spirit’s teaching:

• (Jesus said…) ”And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.”
  John 14:15-16
• (Jesus said…) ”But when he, the spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.”
  John 16:13
• ”…and it is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.”
  1 John 5:6

What truth is not:

Truth is not defined by how you feel or how sincere you are:

• Feelings change; people have different feelings and differing opinions at different times about everything, and people can be sincerely wrong

Truth is not determined by what works:

• Just because you can get away with it does not make it true, and just because it produces results that you want does not make it true – Lies can be very useful (Satan is the father of lies—Genesis 3; John 8:44)

Truth is not regulated to popular vote:

• Truth cannot be determined in the polls, voting booths or changing cultural norms

Relativists who deny that there is such a thing as absolute objective truth are like Winnie the Pooh…

—they answer a knock at the door by saying, “no one is home.”

Relativists make self-defeating statements:

• What’s true for you is not true for me. Are you making a truth claim for me?
• There are no absolutes. Are you absolutely sure?
• There’s no such thing as right or wrong. Is that a right or a wrong statement?
• You ought not judge. Is that a judgment?
• Christians are so intolerant. Are you being intolerant of the Christian view? Is the Christian view the only view we’re not allowed to tolerate?

False ideas about truth lead to false ideas about life

Road Runner Tactic:

Relativist = “there is no truth, truth is subjective and absolute truth cannot be known.”

Road Runner = Uses questions that show the self-refuting nature of relativism by asking these types of questions about their view:

“Is that a truth claim you just made?”

“Is your view the only view that’s true?”

What is the difference between objective truth and subjective truth?

People look at truth in two ways:
TRUTH VS. PREFERENCE

An objective truth claim is an absolute truth statement about an object or event, for example:

• Insulin is a medicine that controls diabetes; the 5 freeway south ends at the Mexico border; or Barak Obama was the 44th president of the United States.
• It is a claim that is true for all people, in all places and at all times.

A subjective claim is a personal statement that expresses a view or preference; it is about the person making the claim, for example:

• Chocolate ice cream is the best flavor; or turquoise is the prettiest color; or California has the best coastline in the whole world.
• These claims are opinions, or preferences, of an individual or group.

OBJECTIVE TRUTH CLAIMS ARE NOT DEPENDENT ON WHAT ANYONE BELIEVES, THINKS, OR AGREES ON. OBJECTIVE TRUTH CLAIMS ARE ABOUT REALITY—THE WAY THINGS REALLY ARE.

Can you tell the difference?

objective truth or subjective preference

(Put an o or an s after each statement)

1. New York is north of Florida.
2. Blue is the best color for boys.
3. Teaching is a rewarding career.
4. Jesus died by crucifixion.
5. Heart bypass surgery can save your life.
6. President Lincoln was a Republican.
7. Jesus lived in the first century AD.
8. The best fish are caught in Alaska.
9. Mohammad lived in the seventh century AD.
10. Jesus is the only way to God and eternal life.

Some common arguments against Christianity’s truth claims:

“People in other religions can be so sincere – What if they never hear about Jesus?”

• There are devout and sincere people of many faiths, but people can be devoutly and sincerely wrong.
• Sincerity is not a test for truth.
• Sincere faith in an improperly packed parachute won’t matter—we must be diligent in our preparation for eternity.
• Jesus can be found in all other religions – they all “hat tip” Jesus in some way or another (see J. Warner Wallace’s book: “Person of Interest, Why Jesus still matters in a world that rejects the Bible”) – there is no excuse for a person not to truly seek who He is.

“Christians are arrogant for claiming Jesus is the only way.”

• Arrogance is not a test for truth, the question should be: Is it true; is what I believe true?
• Arrogance is a description of an individual, not whether or not they have the truth.
• Truth is discovered, and Christians are claiming to have investigated and discovered the truth by looking at the evidence.

“Exclusive religious claims lead to war, violence and oppression.”

• There have been more wars in history over politics, ethnicity and power than there have been over religion.
• True Christians do not lay claim to people in history that used Christianity for their own purposes or ill-gotten gains.
• Religion is not the fundamental problem, people are—something is deeply wrong with the human heart and that is the root of all of the wars and oppression in history, and Christianity has the best answer for the solution to that problem.

Non-Religious Wars and Their Dictators – Lives Lost

1. Joseph Stalin: 42,672,000                      5.  Vladimir Lenin: 4,017,000
2. Mao Zedong: 37,828,000                       6.  Hideki Tojo: 3,990,000
3. Adolf Hitler: 20,946,000                        7.  Po Pot: 2,397,000
4. Chiang Kai-Shek: 10,214,000

SUMMARY OF TACTICAL ANSWERS…

Q2. Why do Christians think they have the only true worldview?
(Why is Jesus the only way to God and eternal life?)

Tactic 1:  Christians didn’t say it, Jesus said it (John 14:6) And so did the eyewitnesses!

– What if it’s true? What if you took some time to really investigate the truth claims of Jesus and the Bible?

Tactic 2:  What’s the alternative, that every religion leads equally to God?

– Impossible, because they all disagree dramatically about the nature of God and salvation, as well as many fundamental and foundational views about life.

Tactic 3: These types of questions are self-refuting questions because they are themselves making a truth claim equally narrow, and generally intolerant against Christianity.

– We can ask, when all is said and done: Why do you think your view is true? (why do you think the Christian worldview isn’t true?)

Going Deeper on Truth (books and websites)

1. “Bringing truth to a new generation,” videos, articles Christian Apologetics and more, by Dr. Sean McDowell  https://seanmcdowell.org/

2. “Another Gospel, A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity,” videos, articles and Christian Apologetics with Alisa Childers  https://www.alisachilders.com/

3. “Is Truth Relative?” Videos, articles, Christian Apologetics and more with Greg Koukl, President of Stand to Reason Ministries.  www.str.org

4. “The Truth Project,” small group curriculum with Dr. Del Tacket https://store.focusonthefamily.com/the-truth-project/

5. “Proclaiming the evidence For Christianity and Cross-Examining Claims against it,” videos, articles, Christian Apologetics and more with Dr. Frank Turek  https://www.crossexamined.org/

6. “True for You but Not for Me,” videos, articles, Christian Apologetics and more with Brett Kunkle  https://maventruth.com/team/brett-kunkle/

7. “Total Truth,” “Saving Leonardo,” and “Love Thy Body” books by Author and Professor of Christian Apologetics, Nancy Pearcey.  http://www.nancypearcey.com/

8. “Cold Case Christianity” articles, videos and podcasts by J. Warner Wallace https://www.coldcasechristianity.com

Why do you believe what you believe?

BIBLE STUDY

THE BOOK OF EXODUS

Bible Study Survey Format

Old Testament

Category:         Torah                                

Book:                 Exodus                             

1. Author: Who wrote the book and when? (Include anything you can find about the author and when it was written)

2. Audience: Who was it written to? (Include anything you can find about the people, the culture or societal norms, of that time period)

3. Purpose: Why was it written? (Include anything you can find about their circumstances and what was, or had been, going on)

4. Content: What is in each chapter? (Include chapter by chapter titles and a short summary – no more than 3-5 sentences – Keep in mind #5 and #6 and mark a chapter accordingly)

5. Going Deeper: What are the major Covenants found in this book? (Include new ones or ones that relate back to Genesis and mark (C); you can also include any major events here)

6. Finding Jesus: Where is Jesus? Include any appearances (JA), foreshadows (JF) or prophecies (JP)?

7. Application: How can this book and its teachings apply to us today? (Answers will vary, but can include personal, cultural or timeless teachings for us today)

8. The Shelf: What questions or comments do you have about this book? (Answers will vary, but can include things you didn’t understand or things you want to learn more about)

Last week we began answers for #4 from the format by reviewing the first 10 chapters of Exodus. This week we are continuing #4 of the survey format with chapters 11 through 20.

The following are example answers for your review (your answers may be different, but you may want to add anything here that would help you see the big picture of the book)…

Chapter 11: Warning of the Last Plague

This is now the point of no return for Pharaoh, and God tells Moses that He will bring one more plague and then he will let the people go. God gives Moses specific directions for the people of Israel to ask for articles of silver and gold (and other goods would be part of that as well) from their Egyptian neighbors, and that they will give it to them because the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, as well as Moses himself. Moses then describes to the people what God will do. And God told Moses that the Pharaoh would not listen, and his heart would be yet hardened again.

Chapter 12: The Passover; the Feast of Unleavened Bread; The Exodus; and the Ordinance of the Passover

In this very long chapter God gives specific directions for how the people of Israel were to prepare for the Passover with details including the unblemished lamb that was to be eaten and the blood of that lamb that was to be put on the doorposts and lintel of the houses so that the LORD would “pass over” that house as He struck down the firstborn of all man and beast; And, they were to eat of it with all of their things prepared to leave quickly. God also gave specific instructions as this would also be known as the “Feast of Unleavened Bread” and this day was to be a memorial for all time (and we know they still practice it today). And, everything happened just as the LORD said it would, including at midnight when the LORD struck down all the firstborn of man and beast, and the Pharaoh granted them the opportunity to leave Egypt, just as the LORD had said. The Exodus from Egypt happened immediately and they journeyed out from Egypt towards Succoth (and eventually to the Mountain of God).

Note: Verse 38 tells us that a “mixed multitude” also went out with the Israelites. We will see this be a thorn in their side later on.

JP/JF = The entire chapter pictures the person of Jesus, what He would do and why

Chapter 13: Consecration of the Firstborn; God leads the people

Here God gives directions for the “sanctifying of every firstborn of every womb among the sons of Israel, both of man and beast to the LORD,” and God emphasizes the importance of remembrance of this day through this and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. God leads the people out from Succoth to Etham on the edge of the wilderness in a pillar of cloud by day, and a pillar of fire by night. The text tells us God led purposefully towards the Red Sea, instead of what would have been possibly an easier way because “the people may change their minds and return to Egypt.” This now sets up the miracle of the Red Sea Crossing.

Special Note (1): The consecration of the Firstborn points directly to Jesus as the Son of God, and the He is referred to in the New Testament as the Firstborn of those who are raised from the dead (as evidence that we will be raised because He defeated death and Satan – the curse from the “Fall”).

Special Note (2): In verse 19 we see that, as prophesied and promised (Gen. 50:24-25), Moses took the bones of Joseph with him and Joshua will carry them on into the Promised Land (Joshua 24:32).

JF = Consecration of the Firstborn v. 1-16

Chapter 14: Pharoah in Pursuit; The Crossing of the Sea and Destruction of the Egyptians

God purposefully guides the Israelites to the edge of the sea as the Pharoah’s heart was again hardened, but this would be the last time as the text tells us that God said all would know that “I am the LORD” and so it happened this way, both the Pharaoh and his servants had a change of heart and pursued the Israelites to the sea. The Israelites became frightened, and called out to the LORD, and complained to Moses (thus we see the beginning of their rebellious and unbelieving attitudes that will increase throughout the book). But The LORD told Moses to raise his staff and stretch his hand over the sea and divide. Thus, the people of Israel crossed over on dry land, but when the Egyptians pursued them, God caused confusion amongst them and they swerved and drove with difficulty, and when they tried to flee the LORD told Moses to stretch out his hand over the sea and it returned to normal destroying the entire Egyptian army with all its horses and chariots.

Special Note: In verse 19 we read that it was “the angel of God” that moved behind the Israelites as they crossed, and held back the Egyptians and separated them from each other.

Note: The Red Sea crossing has studied by scholars for years, and the fact that if God exists (and He does) then miracles are possible should give us confidence in this narrative as described because it really happened!

JA = v. 19 The Angel of the LORD

Chapter 15: The Song of Moses Worshipping the LORD; The People Complain and the LORD Provides Water in the Desert

In this chapter we find Moses and the people of Israel singing a praise song to the LORD because of what He had done for them. The song praises God for who He is and for what He did in saving them (salvation from slavery). The song recounts the exact events – how and why it happened. The song includes the fact that other people groups were in fear as the word spread about the Egyptian defeat and the miracle of God. In verse 20 Miriam is referred to as a prophetess, and she sings a song to the LORD as well.

But, after just three days we find the people grumbling and complaining that they had no water, yet God graciously provides through Moses (whom God told to throw a tree into the bitter water) the cleansing of the bitter waters of Marah, and the people drank there and then they were led on to Elim where there were springs of water and date palms (food).

C = v. 16 the land promise – but also note the conditional part of what will begin the Mosaic Covenant in verse 26: “And He said, “If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the LORD your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the LORD, am your healer.””

Chapter 16: The LORD Provides Manna; The LORD Provides Meat; The Sabbath Observed

In such a short time after the miracles at the Sea and the turning of bitter water to sweet, the people again begin to grumble, now about food and how good they had it in Egypt (what?). So God responded by telling them He would give them meat in the evening (quail), and bread in the morning (Manna), and so it was that God rained both down upon them. However, God gave specific instructions for them to not to leave any until morning (some did not listen and it became foul). God also told them not to expect it on the Sabbath, but to prepare twice as much on the sixth day – this was to test the people to see if they truly would believe and follow the LORD, and the Sabbath was instituted to have a holy day to worship the LORD, but as expected, some went out on the Sabbath and found none, but the LORD preserved the double-portions for those who listened, and it did not go foul on the Sabbath.

Special Note: The bread in the morning was from Heaven, a special gift of food from God that was called Manna (which means “what is it”?). The quails were also sent miraculously each evening, again showing God’s love and provision for His people, and that He would sustain them this way throughout the 40 years they spend in the wilderness (and they will still complain throughout this generation). In addition, they will have herds and flocks throughout this time as well, and the Manna will stop when they enter the Promised Land (Joshua 5:12).

JF = Jesus said that He is the bread of life that came down out of Heaven (John 6:31-58).

Chapter 17: Water From the Rock; War with Amalek

Again, the people are grumbling about the lack of water, and God has Moses strike the rock with the same staff he used to strike the Nile, God also stood before Moses and the elders as he did this, and water came forth for the people.

We also see the people of Israel’s first battle against Amalek with Joshua as the leader. Moses stood on the mountain as the battle raged with his hands stretched out (picture that site), when his hands were up, they prevailed, when they dropped Amalek prevailed, so when his hands became weary Aaron and Hur held them up and they defeated Amalek, and this was written down for them to remember. (YHWH Nissi = the LORD is my banner – verse 15)

JF = Jesus is the Rock (Romans 9:33; 1 Corinthians 10:4)

JF = With Moses’ hands up we get a picture of Jesus on the cross – those that look to Jesus (pictured here by Moses) will be saved (will prevail).

Chapter 18: Moses’ Father-in-Law Jethro and His Counsel to Moses

In this chapter we read about Moses’ father-in-law Jethro, who brought Moses’ wife and two sons that he apparently had kept since Moses sent them away (the Scripture doesn’t tell us when Moses sent them away, but we could assume they were sent back to him for safety during the time Moses was back in Egypt). After Moses tells him all that the LORD has done Jethro gives his praise and allegiance to the one true LORD as seen in his confession and sacrifice (v. 11-12). Then Jethro counsels Moses concerning the governance of the people by tribes and groupings with Moses being the Law-giver and then individual leaders (of 1000s, 100s, 50s, and 10s) enforcing the laws and statues, and this becomes the template for their Nation from here on.

Note: This is a basic template we still use today for the governing of many Nations through states, counties, cities and municipalities.

Chapter 19: Israel at Mount Sinai and the beginning of the giving of the Law

Three months after their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites came to the mountain at Sinai where Moses went up to God and the LORD gave him instructions for the people, and at this time they agreed to obey all that the LORD had spoken. God told Moses that He would come down upon Mount Sinai and speak so that the people could hear and believe Moses, but when the LORD descended on the mountain, He called Moses up. The people saw the cloud like smoke and lightening and could hear thunder and a very loud trumpet, but God continued to warn Moses to not let the people break through because they would die.

Note: It would appear that the people did not all consecrate themselves as directed, and this was causing God to continue to make the warning to Moses, and Moses basically agreeing. We, as they, forget the holiness and perfection of God that cannot compromise or settle for anything less than what God commands.

C = v. 5 (Mosaic) and 6 (Abrahamic, the people and blessing)

Chapter 20: The Ten Commandments

In the first part of this chapter, we get the Ten Commandments, and it is interesting to note several things: 1) The first four commandments point up to our relationship with God and how we should honor Him, and the final six point across to our relationship with each other and how we should treat our neighbor. 2) Jesus repeats all of the commandments (except the Sabbath regulation) in His teachings in the New Testament. In the second part of this chapter, we read that the people perceived the thunder, lightning, smoke and sound of the trumpet, but were afraid and trembled, and did not want God to speak directly to them in fear of death, but Moses told them not to fear, and that this was evidence of God’s speaking to them. God then gave direction on how to build, and not build alters to Him.

Note: Any type of alter for sacrifice to the LORD must be made out of God’s creation and nothing man-made, or any tool man-made should touch it – this would be to honor and keep holy anything sacrificed or dedicated to God.

Special Note: As Christians we are not under the Mosaic Law as it was given directly and specifically to the Nation of Israel for three purposes: 1) Ceremonial Laws (sacrifices and offerings); 2) Governmental (to guide and keep the Nation from chaos and to set them apart from all the other Nations); 3) Moral (to keep them pure and Holy as representatives of God to the other Nations). Anything Jesus taught that followed the Law we are obligated to follow as we are His. All, including the Jewish people, are free from the penalty of not following the Law because Jesus gave His life, and then resurrected in defeat of death and Satan, for that very purpose of covering us in His sacrifice, so that we do not have to. It is then a gift of grace we receive by faith, not of ourselves, so that no one can boast. (See Ephesians 2:8-9)

C = This officially begins the Mosaic Covenant with the pillar of the Covenant being the Ten Commandments. This Covenant will be a conditional Covenant as it continues to unfold the Abrahamic and Adamic Covenants towards their ultimate fulfillment in Jesus.