This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see
what’s  happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

The people of Israel come to Mt. Sinai,
just as God promised they would.

And once they get
there, God shows up.

His presence is like a cloud
with thunder and lightning.

But the point of God showing up is to start
a relationship with his people through a covenant.

A covenant is simply an agreement
between two parties - like a contract.

The agreement is pretty straight forward:
If the people obey God’s commands,

they will be his
treasured possession.

They will live with God
and be his people forever.

Moses alone is allowed to go up the mountain,
where God gives the first of his commands.

These are famously known
as the Ten Commandments,

and they act as a synopsis
for the rest of the laws.

The entire basis of these commands is
that God has saved his people from slavery

before he commanded
them to do anything.

God’s saving work was not based
on their obedience.

The commands also give us
a glimpse into God’s character.

Israel must keep the Sabbath, because
God desires rest and peace for his people.

They must not murder because
God saves the lives of his people.

They must not commit adultery
because God is faithful to his people.

On and on, we can see who
God is by how he calls Israel to live.

But as we know, both Israel and
the rest of humanity broke these

ten simple and good
laws over and over again.

We did not hold up
our side of the covenant.

So, we do not have the right
to live with God or be his people.

Nevertheless, Jesus came down to
earth like God came down to Sinai.

But this time, we don't climb
up the mountain to God’s glory.

God’s glory comes off
the mountain to us.

Jesus did this by not only coming in the
flesh, but by upholding our end of the covenant.

Jesus obeyed every one
of God’s commands and

credits his obedience to
those who believe in him.

Now we get to receive the
promise attached to the covenant -

God is our God
and we are his people.

What makes this news even better is that God
saves us in the same order in which he saved Israel.

Jesus saves us before we
ever obeyed him.

Instead, the good news of what Jesus
has done for us, moves us to obey him.

We obey him out of love
because we want to.

Finally, we can also see the character
of Jesus in these commands.

Jesus is everything the law required.

Jesus is completely
truthful, faithful, and life-giving.

And now, he’s actually making us like
him through the Holy Spirit within us.

I pray that the Holy Spirit gives you eyes to
see the God who saves before he commands.

And Jesus is the one who obeys
the commands so we can be saved.