Mt. Sinai Versus the Cross of Christ
The sermon challenges listeners to move beyond the limitations of the revelation at Sinai and to understand God's true nature through the Cross of Christ.
Art Katz emphasizes the contrast between the revelation at Mount Sinai and the ultimate revelation of God through the Cross of Christ. He warns against limiting God to our own understanding and images, which can lead to idolatry, even when done in the name of rejecting idolatry. Katz argues that true faith begins where human presumption ends, at the Cross, where all religious concepts of God are dismantled. He calls for a recognition of Jesus as Lord, urging believers to acknowledge His authority and the transformative power of faith. The sermon challenges listeners to live by faith rather than by their own categories or limitations.
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The Revelation at Sinai
God's revelation of Himself and the giving of the Law at Sinai was a history-shaping occurrence. However, in our insistence upon confining Him to Sinai, are we not again guilty of limiting the Holy One of Israel? Should our well-meaning defending of His Name and interests be founded solely on this revelation? Why refuse to think of Him other than in images that are convenient or congruent to our life-style? This would be the ultimate idolatry, ironically, in the name of rejecting idolatry!
As Jurgen Moltmann in his book, God Crucified, makes the statement that "True faith [i.e., the knowledge of God as God] begins where the atheist thinks it should end." And it ends at the Cross of Christ Jesus, where every religious concept of God is irrevocably smashed, including the making of a god in our own image. Such is the depth of all human presumption, nowhere brought to such ultimate expression than in 'religion'! All this idolatry can be irrevocably destroyed with the one utterance, "My Lord and my God"; thus acknowledging that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father! For to Him must every knee bend and every tongue confess that Jesus (despicable, cursed, rejected and despised of men) is Lord, crucified, raised, ascended and coming again! The just (justified) shall live by their faith - not their categories.
Sermon Outline
- I. The Revelation at Sinai
- A. A history-shaping occurrence
- B. Limiting God to Sinai
- II. The Limitations of Sinai
- A. Confining God to images
- B. Idolatry in the name of rejecting idolatry
- III. The Cross of Christ
- A. The end of all human presumption
- B. The destruction of idolatry
- IV. The Power of Faith
- A. Acknowledging Jesus as Lord
- B. Living by faith, not categories
Key Quotes
“True faith begins where the atheist thinks it should end.” — Art Katz
“The just shall live by their faith - not their categories.” — Art Katz
“My Lord and my God” — Art Katz
Application Points
- We must be willing to move beyond our own categories and assumptions in order to truly know God.
- Faith is the means by which we acknowledge Jesus as Lord and live by trusting in Him.
- The Cross of Christ is the means by which idolatry is destroyed and we are justified before God.