God Redeems and Then Shows Us How to Live in Freedom
FOCUS TEXT: Exodus 20:1–2
This weekend at Anchor Church, we launched our new sermon series on the Ten Commandments by returning to the foundation: not the first command, but the preamble. Exodus 20:1–2 begins with a stunning declaration that reshapes how we understand the entire law: "And God spoke all these words, saying, 'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.'" These verses remind us that the Ten Commandments are not cold, legalistic rules. They are words of life, rooted in relationship, rescue, and revelation.
Truth #1: God Speaks — Exodus 20:1 opens with the powerful truth that God speaks. The Ten Commandments begin not with human striving but with divine revelation. The same God who spoke creation into being now speaks to His people. His words are personal, intentional, and transformative. In a world flooded with competing voices and noise, we are invited to listen to the voice that brings life and direction. The God who spoke then still speaks today—through His Word, by His Spirit, and ultimately through Christ, the Word made flesh.
Truth #2: God Rescues — Before any command is given, God reminds His people of who He is and what He’s done: "I brought you out." Obedience flows from deliverance. The law was never meant to be a ladder to climb into God’s favor. It is a response to the grace already given. Israel did not earn their redemption from Egypt, and we do not earn our salvation today. God initiates, God saves, and then God leads. This is the Gospel order: rescue precedes requirement.
Truth #3: Obedience Is Rooted in Relationship — God doesn’t just say, "I am the Lord"; He says, "I am the Lord your God." This is the language of covenant and belonging. The commandments are not cold decrees from a distant ruler; they are the loving direction of a present Father. They were given to a people already redeemed and already belonging. That makes obedience not a means of earning love, but a way of enjoying it. As Jesus said, "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."
Truth #4: The Law Flows from Redemption — The order of grace and law matters. The commandments come after the Exodus, not before. In the same way, New Testament obedience comes after the cross, not before it. Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly on our behalf and bore the curse for our lawbreaking. Now, by His Spirit, He empowers us to walk in God’s ways. We are not lawless, nor are we legalists. We are people of grace, walking in holiness because we belong to a holy God.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
Have you viewed the Ten Commandments more as a burden than a blessing?
Are you living to earn God's love, or from the love He's already given?
How can you begin to see God's commands as a path to freedom rather than a source of guilt?
PRAYER RESPONSE: Father, thank You for speaking clearly through Your Word. Thank You for rescuing us by grace and inviting us into covenant relationship with You. Help us to hear Your voice above all others, remember the freedom we have in Christ, and walk in joyful obedience as Your beloved children. In Jesus' name, Amen.
MEMORY VERSE: "And God spoke all these words, saying, 'I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.'" — Exodus 20:1–2 (ESV)
