Series Big Idea: "Showing how the early stories of Scripture establish God’s Plan of Salvation”

Sermon Big: "Choosing life means obeying God, rejecting sin, and embracing Christ’s salvation”

Key Scripture (Deuteronomy 30:11-20)

Life is full of choices. Some seem small, like what to wear, what to eat, while others carry lifelong consequences, such as who we marry, where we live, the priorities we set for our families. But the most important choice of all is whether or not we will follow God.

In Deuteronomy 30, Moses stands before Israel, now on the edge of the Promised Land. These are the final words of this great leader, and he wants to make sure they understand one thing: obedience to God leads to life, and turning away leads to destruction. He lays the decision before them and pleads with them to choose life. This isn’t just history, it’s a message for us today. The same choice is laid before us: Will we walk in faithful obedience, or will we turn away? Let’s look together at this passage and consider what it means to choose life.

(Deuteronomy 30:11-20)

11 “This command that I give you today is certainly not too difficult or beyond your reach. 12 It is not in heaven so that you have to ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ 13 And it is not across the sea so that you have to ask, ‘Who will cross the sea, get it for us, and proclaim it to us so that we may follow it?’ 14 But the message is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may follow it. 15 See, today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and adversity. 16 For I am commanding you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commands, statutes, and ordinances, so that you may live and multiply, and the Lord your God may bless you in the land you are entering to possess. 17 But if your heart turns away and you do not listen and you are led astray to bow in worship to other gods and serve them, 18 I tell you today that you will certainly perish and will not prolong your days in the land you are entering to possess across the Jordan. 19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Choose life so that you and your descendants may live, 20 love the Lord your God, obey him, and remain faithful to him. For he is your life, and he will prolong your days as you live in the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

I.        God's Word is Clear (30:11-14)

Moses begins by assuring Israel that God’s commands are not complicated or unreachable. They don’t require a special messenger from heaven or someone to travel across the sea to retrieve them. God has made His truth known, spoken it clearly, and ensured that His people understand exactly what He expects of them. He tells them that this word is "very near"—it’s in their mouths and in their hearts. In other words, they’ve been hearing it, speaking it, memorizing it; they know what God desires.

This is a powerful reminder for us today. Sometimes we act as though following God is too confusing or His expectations are too difficult. But the reality is, He has already made His will plain to us through His Word. The Bible isn’t a collection of mysterious riddles, it is God’s revelation, given so that we might love Him, obey Him, and walk in life. Paul picks up on this idea in Romans 10, where he points out that, just as God’s Word was near to Israel, salvation through Christ is near to us. We don’t have to climb up to heaven or dig through deep theology to find God, He has already come to us. The question is not whether we can understand His will, but whether we are willing to obey it.

II.        There is Only Life or Death (30:15-18)

Moses doesn’t suggest multiple paths. He makes it clear that there are only two. Either Israel follows God and experiences life and prosperity, or they turn away and face destruction. There is no middle ground. If they love the Lord, walk in His ways, and keep His commands, they will thrive in the land He is giving them. But if they allow their hearts to turn away, if they serve other gods and reject Him, they will perish. This is not an empty threat. It is a reality.

The same is true in our lives. Often, we like to think we can walk somewhere in between, balancing obedience with a little bit of compromise, following God when it’s convenient but reserving parts of our hearts for our own desires. But Moses makes it clear: there are only two choices, life or death, blessing or curse. Jesus echoes this in Matthew 7 when He speaks of the narrow road that leads to life and the broad road that leads to destruction. The world offers countless distractions and temptations to pull us away from God, but at the end of the day, there are still only two paths. Every decision we make is either leading us toward God and His life-giving presence or away from Him toward spiritual destruction.

III.        The Call to Choose Life (30:19-20)

After laying out the options, Moses urges Israel to choose life. He calls all of creation, heaven and earth, to serve as witnesses to the decision before them. This choice is not insignificant; it has generational consequences. Their obedience will not only bring blessings to their own lives but to their children and future descendants. Choosing life is not just about survival; it is about relationship. Moses tells them what this choice looks like: loving the Lord, obeying Him, and remaining faithful to Him. Their very existence depends on their commitment to God.

This is where the passage points us to Jesus. When Moses tells Israel to choose life, he’s not just giving them a moral obligation. He’s pointing them toward the ultimate source of life, which is God Himself. In the New Testament, Jesus makes it even clearer when He says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." Choosing life is ultimately about choosing Him. Just as Israel had to decide whether they would follow God, we must decide whether we will submit our lives fully to Christ. This isn't just about a one-time decision. It’s about daily faithfulness. Will we love Him with all our hearts? Will we obey His Word? Will we remain faithful even when the world calls us to turn away?

Conclusion:

Moses’ message to Israel is just as urgent for us today. God’s Word is clear. We don’t have to search high and low for truth; He has made it accessible to us. The choice is also clear. There is no neutral option, only life or death, blessing or curse. And ultimately, the invitation to choose life is an invitation to embrace Christ, who is the fulfillment of all God’s promises.

So, Church, I ask you: are you choosing life? Are you walking in obedience, or have you allowed your heart to drift? Have you surrendered fully to Christ, or are you trying to stand somewhere in the middle? God sets before us a choice today, and, like Moses, He pleads with us: Choose life. Choose Christ. Don't delay and don't hesitate. Walk in the life He offers!

Holman Christian Standard Bible

English Standard Version Bible

King James Version Bible

Christian Standard Bible

Estes, Daniel J. Job. Edited by Mark L. Strauss et al., Baker Books, 2013.Barton, Bruce et al. Life Application New Testament Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001. Print.

Walvoord, John F., and Roy B. Zuck, Dallas Theological Seminary. The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. Print.

MacArthur, John F., Jr. The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006. Print.

Robertson, A.T. Word Pictures in the New Testament. Nashville, TN: Broadman Press, 1933. Print.

Vincent, Marvin Richardson. Word Studies in the New Testament. New York: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1887. Print.

Richards, Lawrence O. The Bible Reader’s Companion. electronic ed. Wheaton: Victor Books, 1991. Print.

Water, Mark, ed. Encyclopedia of Bible Facts. Chattanooga, TN: AMG Publishers, 2004. WORDsearch CROSS e-book. 

NIV, Archaeological Study Bible, eBook: An Illustrated Walk Through Biblical History and Culture

Walter C. Kaiser Jr., Duane Garrett, and Walter C. Kaiser Jr.

NIV, First-Century Study Bible, eBook: Explore Scripture in Its Jewish and Early Christian Context

Zondervan, Kent Dobson, and Ed Dobson

Jamieson, Robert, A. R. Fausset, and David Brown. Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997.

Blum, Edwin A., and Trevin Wax, eds. CSB Study Bible: Notes. Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017.

Barry, John D., Douglas Mangum, Derek R. Brown, Michael S. Heiser, Miles Custis, Elliot Ritzema, Matthew M. Whitehead, Michael R. Grigoni, and David Bomar. Faithlife Study Bible. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012, 2016.

Wilson, Neil S. The Handbook of Bible Application. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2000.

Dockery, David S., ed. Holman Concise Bible Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998.

Water, Mark. Key Word Commentary: Thoughts on Every Chapter of the Bible. AMG Publishers, 2003.

Brannan, Rick, and Israel Loken. The Lexham Textual Notes on the Bible. Lexham Bible Reference Series. Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2014.

Radmacher, Earl D., Ronald Barclay Allen, and H. Wayne House. Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary. Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers, 1999.

Keener, Craig S. The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993.

Smith, Jerome H. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge: The Most Complete Listing of Cross References Available Anywhere- Every Verse, Every Theme, Every Important Word. Nashville TN: Thomas Nelson, 1992.

Hughes, Robert B., and J. Carl Laney. Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary. The Tyndale Reference Library. Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001.

AFTER THE MESSAGE

After hearing today's message there may be a decision you have made and you want a pastor to connect with you. We want to make it easy for you. Just scroll to the bottom of this page and fill out the form and our pastor will contact you.