The Christian's Use of the Oath

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