Our Use of the Oath
Minister: | Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: | 1/14/2018 AM |
Text: | Deuteronomy 23; Lord's Day 37 |
Psalters: | 11, 144, 236, 65 |
- The idea.
- The setting for oaths are two things.
- One is God’s gift of communication.
- Two, oaths and vows arise because of man’s great proneness to lie, to be distrustful, and to be inconsistent.
- 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 are two things.
- 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).
- The proper use of oaths.
- Oaths ought not be the norm for a Christian.
- Sometimes they are necessary to settle controversies and put an end to strife (I Kings 8:31,32; Heb. 6:16).
- Oaths and vows do have a lawful place in the believer’s life. Four normal occasions for oaths: marriage, baptism, confession of faith, ordination into office.
- Let us live honestly in all our dealings in life and work.