Big Idea: One way we can take the name of the Lord in vain is by false swearing or “making oaths.” This is the issue the scriptures speak of the most. “‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:12). Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned (James 5:12). You hear people saying “I swear to God” or “As God is my witness”—James tells us that we should be people of our word so we do not have to swear. If we are people who can be trusted, we do not need anything behind it to verify the accuracy of what we are saying. If we make a promise, we do not need to swear to make it valid. A Christian is to be trustworthy.

Scripture References: Exodus 20:7

Related Topics: Ten Commandments | More Messages from Rich Miller | Download Audio

From Series: "The Law of Perfect Freedom (a sermon series on the Ten Commandments)"

James, the brother of our Lord, urges his readers to "look closely into the perfect law that sets people free." That "perfect law" is, of course, God's Law, also known as the Ten Commandments.