Our Use of Oaths and Vows

What they are.
1. God gave to man the gift of communication.
  1. Sin drastically changed this wonderful gift, making man a natural liar with the instinct to lie.
  2. Grace makes a difference.
2. Oaths and vows arise because of man s (also the Christian s) inclination always to lie.
  1. An oath is a conscious, formal appeal to the All-knowing God to verify what is said.
  2. A vow is a promise to do or not do something (as Nazarites, Num. 30:3).
Oaths and vows are legitimate activities for God s children.
1. The history of oaths and vows in Scripture.
2. Jesus condemned the mis-use, not the proper use.
  1. The Pharisees perverted Moses by multiplying oaths, using them for every trivial matter (37).
  2. Oaths may be needed as affirmations, but they should not be necessary in the kingdom.
3. Oaths and vows are made to be kept, even if the consequences bring sad reward (Ps. 15:4b).
  1. We vow when become professing members of the church on earth.
  2. We vow when we enter marriage.
  3. We vow at baptism to fulfill the demand of the covenant.
  4. We vow when we enter into office in the church.
The proper use of oaths and vows.
1. They may be needed as affirmations.
2. Let us strive to live honestly in all our dealings in life and work, and let our speech be truth.