The Law: The 3rd Commandment
Exodus 20:7
Introduction
Letting the Law do its work
For Believers, the Law is useful (WCF 19.6):
…As rule of life
…For discovering…the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts, and lives
I.Taking the Lord's Name in Vain
A.The meaning of “take”
The Hebrew verb here, when standing alone as it is in this verse, NEVER refers to mere speech.
To take the Lord's name is to “bear” the Lord's name, to “put it on”, or to “carry it”.
Genesis 27:3 & John 13:12
Deuteronomy 14:1ff
B.The meaning of “His name”
The name of the LORD in Scripture is a reference to God Himself.
Exodus 34:5-8.
Any of God's ordinances are included under this idea of His name (Rom. 10:13, Acts 9:15)
C.The meaning of “vain”
The word vain here refers to any misuse of the name of the LORD.
Crassly as a curse word, frivolously like a common thing, falsely as in lying prophesies and heresy, when we mindlessly say “Praise the Lord”, when we pray for ridiculous things and invoke the name of God in any unholy way.
II.The Lord's Name and the New Covenant
A.Prayer and the 3rd Commandment
The first petition of the Lord's Prayer
Westminster Larger Catechism #190
B.Baptism and the 3rd Commandment
When you were baptized, you were baptized into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
The sign of the New Covenant is precisely to be understood as taking the Lord's name…
Conclusion
“…improving our Baptism” |
