The Christian's Use of the Oath
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 9/7/2014 AM |
Text: | Deuteronomy 6; Lord's Day 37 |
Psalters: | 11, 144, 236, 24 |
- What it is.
- The setting for oaths is God’s gift of communication.
- Sin drastically changed this wonderful gift, making man a natural liar with the instinct to lie.
- Grace gives the ability to know truth and to love it.
- Oaths are promises which appeal to God to witness what we said/promised and to judge us if we fail.
- An oath puts God before the consciousness of man in three ways.
- A vow is a promise to do or not do something (as Nazarites, Num. 30:3).
- The setting for oaths is God’s gift of communication.
- Oaths have a rightful place in the life of believers.
- Scripture commands us to swear by the name of God on certain occasions (Deut. 6:13).
- Scripture gives many examples of those who swore – examples we are commanded to follow.
- Jesus condemned the mis-use of oaths introduced by the Pharisees (Matt. 5:33-37).
- Oaths and vows do have a lawful place in the believer's life.
- Should you take an oath?
- What should be the content of our oaths?
- A vow must be kept even when sad reward, except for sinful ones (I Sam. 25:22,32-34).
- Four normal occasions for oaths: marriage, baptism, confession of faith, ordination into office.
- The proper use of oaths.
- They may be needed as affirmations, but they ought not be a normal part of our life.
- First, God's people should so speak the truth that vows are not often necessary (Matt. 5:37).
- As disciples of the Truth, let our whole life be lived in the consciousness that He is present as our witness.
- Sometimes they are necessary to settle controversies and put an end to strife (I Kings 8:31,32; Heb. 6:16).
- Let us live honestly in all our dealings in life and work.
- They may be needed as affirmations, but they ought not be a normal part of our life.