What About..."The Ten Commandments"
Letting Christ Be Our Example
Before we get started, we should always Pause to say a prayer in our hearts that God will help us to understand, accept, and obey all that He has in store for us.
Bible Study Principles
I like to always start off with some basic Bible principles.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says...
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
NOTE 1: All scripture was given, not just The New Testament, not just The Old Testament, but All scripture that the man of God may be perfect!
There are those who say that perfection is not to be reached here on earth. But the Bible says quite a different thing. 2 Timothy 3:17 states that the Bible was given for that specific reason. That the man of God may be perfect!
Not perfect in Heaven! For we won’t need the Bible in Heaven.
Not perfect in body! The Bible can’t change our bodies.
But perfect on earth, in character!
The only way that we can please God is by the perfection of our characters. This is fulfilled by the obedience to His will. Our goal as Christians is to be Christ-like? Everything we do and say, ought to be preparing us for the Kingdom of Heaven! Everything we watch, everything we listen to, everything we eat, every place we go, and everyone we associate with, should be preparing us to live with our God. If we were to die today, those will be the last things written in our Heavenly books that God The Father will see on the Day of Judgment.
Now, lets move on to another basic Bible study principle.
Isaiah 8:20 says...
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them."
NOTE 2: These are strong words! Because there is no light in them. Many people of the church today do not speak according to the truth in the Bible.
It is astonishing how much God’s people have drifted away from their life saving manual. We as God’s people should desire to be in the light, and the light, be in us. Not to be in darkness!
The Question
We find ourselves victims of the biggest oxy-moron known to mankind. The world we live in is extremely wicked but yet it is basically a religious world. In our country "The United States" alone we have more churches, more church members and more preachers than ever before! Therefore a logical question ought to enter our minds...
If this is basically a religious nation, and if there are more churches, more church members, and more preachers than ever before, then why is there so much prevailing evil in our world today? Why is it that people’s morals are getting lower and lower? Why does it seem impossible to find anyone whom you can trust, even in the church?...
Well the Bible has an answer for us!
The Answer
Matthew 7:21-23 says...
"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."
NOTE 3: Let’s quickly define Christianity...
The dictionary says that a Christian is one who does as Christ did. Who thinks as Christ thought. And who believes as Christ believed. A Christian is like Christ!
So, if a man steals, he is not a Christian!
If a man lies, he is not a Christian!
If a man practices adultery, he is not a Christian!
So we conclude with what Christ said in Matthew 7:21...that everyone who says Lord, Lord, is not a Christian!
Keep in mind that these people did all these alleged wonderful works but, they still didn’t know God! So, where did they get their power from? …Satan!
The greatest enemy to the cause of Christ is a hypocrite! Remember that Satan has the power to deceive the whole world right from the pulpit. Our feeble minds are no match for him. It is only by following Jesus, through His word, are we able to discern His works, from Satan’s.
It Is God's Will
Jesus said: only those who do the will of His Father in Heaven will enter The Kingdom! So what is the will of God?...
Psalm 40:8 says...
"I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart."
Romans 2:18 says...
"And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;"
NOTE 4: God’s will is His Law! Paul said we know His will being instructed out of the law.
God’s Law is a transcript of His own character. It is the sum total of the righteousness we may achieve, if we let the Holy Spirit reign in us.
It Is His Government
Every government must have law! Without it, there would be chaos from everyone doing as they pleased. That is why the great God of the universe gave us His Law, so that His people would think the same way, live the same way and teach the same way. God wants us to be of one mind, so that there is harmony among us.
I Peter 3:8 says...
"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:"
God is the king of this universal government! His great government is conducted according to Law and order.
Written With The Finger of God
As we think about the Law of God, we notice that it is the only part of the Bible that God did not trust man to write for Him. He wanted us to know that it came directly from Him, and that it was Holy and Eternal in nature. Unlike any other man written laws.
Exodus 31:18 says that God wrote it Himself, with His own finger!
"And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God."
The History of The Law
Even though this was the first written documentation of God’s "Ten Commandments" on earth, this was not its beginning!
Genesis 26:5 tells us that Abraham kept God’s law!
"Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."
Note 5: Abraham lived hundreds of years before God gave it to Moses on Mt. Sinai.
But let’s think back even further...God’s law could not have started with Abraham! Way back before God formed the earth and created man, there was war in Heaven! There was an angel in heaven, the Bible tells us, that was beautiful and talented and sat near the thrown of God. His name was Lucifer. The Covering Cherub. He was perfect in all his ways, until iniquity was found in him.
Eze. 28:14-15 says..."Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee."
Rev. 12:7-9 says..."And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels, And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him."
Now, because the angel Lucifer sinned, he was cast out of Heaven! Keep in mind that if Lucifer was cast out of Heaven for sinning, we can’t get into Heaven, sinning!
What Is Sin?
I John 3:4 tells us what sin is!
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
Romans 4:15 says without the law there is no sin!
"Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression."
NOTE 6: Sin is the transgression of the law! God’s Ten Commandments!
God’s government has always had law! How could God have cast Lucifer out of Heaven unless there was a law that he was guilty of breaking? Now, you may ask which commandment did Lucifer break? As you look at The Ten Commandments you’ll find that he broke several. But let’s look at the very first one.
Exodus 20:3 says...
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
But, here is what Lucifer said...
Isaiah 14:12-15 "How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit."
Lucifer said he would be God.
Tracking God's Law
Since we know that sin is the transgression of the law, all we have to do is look throughout the history of the Bible and note, that when sins occurred, there must have been a Law to determine it!
Cain sinned, and was punished by God for killing his brother Abel, because the law says...“Thou Shalt Not Kill”!
Now, Before the flood, it was not necessary for the law to be written down. The reason is, people lived so long in those days, and the generations overlapped one another greatly. The "Ten Commandments" were taught down through the generations the same way we teach our children the things we were taught. It was their natural way of life! There was no need for it to be documented in writing until God gave it to Moses on Mt. Sinai.
For example:
Adam lived 930 years.
Adam knew and lived with Methuselah for 243 years.
Methuselah died the year of the flood.
Now, Noah had a son named Shem.
Shem knew Methuselah for 100 years before the flood.
After the flood Shem knew Abraham for 150 years.
After that, the lifespan of man began to be shortened, and God saw fit to write His Law on two tables of stone, with His own Finger! So that we would know its importance and that it would be preserved throughout the shortened generations of mankind.
The Nature Of God's Law
What kind of Law is God’s "Ten Commandments"?
Psalm 119:142 says God’s law is truth!
"Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth."
NOTE 7: why would God do away with truth?
Also Verse 172 says God’s law is righteousness!
"My tongue shall speak of thy word: for all thy commandments are righteousness."
NOTE 8: why would God do away with righteousness?
And in Proverbs 6:23 the Bible says that the law is light!
"For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:"
NOTE 9: friends we have to think intelligently when we’re dealing with the word of God. Why would God get rid of truth, righteousness and light?
Romans 7:12 St. Paul said that the law is Holy, just and good!
"Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good."
Where in the entire Bible do we find God disregarding anything with such a description?
The Keeping Of The Law
NOTE 10: keep this in mind because some people might tell you that it is impossible to keep the law.
But, Romans 7:12 tells us that God’s law is just (Meaning Fair).
Only an unjust God would tell you to do what you cannot do. With the power of Christ in us, we can do ALL things!
Phil. 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
We have to allow the Holy Spirit to come into our hearts and write His law in our minds. He keeps the law through us and gives us the credit for it. PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GRACE!!!
The Law Can Not Save!
Before we go on, we have to clearly understand this...The Law CAN NOT save us!
Romans 3:20 says...
"Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
It is not suppose to save us! It simply shows us what sin is!
The Law Is Our Mirror
The Law serves as a mirror to point out sin in our lives. As repentant sinners come to Jesus, He restores in them the image of God, bringing them into harmony with is Law through the power of His indwelling presence.
James 1:22-25 says the law is like a looking glass (a mirror)
"But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
God is saying take my law like a mirror and if you see a problem and walk away, you cannot be blessed! But if you look into the mirror (the perfect law of liberty) and see a problem and continue in the law being a doer of the work, you will be blessed! Through the blood of Jesus our sins that we see in the mirror can be washed away.
We Have Forgiveness!
Ephesians 1:7 says we have redemption and forgiveness through his blood.
"In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;"
Now, after we have been cleansed of our sins St. Paul tells us in Romans 8:1 that we are no longer condemned (or under the penalty of the law) because we are walking after the spirit. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
Walking In The Spirit
Walking after the spirit means being obedient to God’s will! God’s will is His law, which is our mirror that shows us our sins, which is the transgression of the law; the true righteous light of God..."The Ten Commandments".
Remembering that God’s will is His law and His law is a transcript of His character, the Bible says that God never changes!
God Never Changes!
Mal 3:6 "For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed."
Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."
Why Not "The Ten Commandments"?
It is hard to understand why people are down on God’s law. But, people are usually down on what they’re not up on. There are many that don’t really know what God’s Ten Commandments actually say. Let’s take a quick look at the law and to see if there is something wrong with it.
Exodus 20:3-17 states "The Ten Commandments"...
#1 "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."
#2 "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments."
#3 "Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."
#4 "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."
#5 "Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."
#6 "Thou shalt not kill."
#7 "Thou shalt not commit adultery."
#8 "Thou shalt not steal."
#9 "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."
#10 "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."
The difference between God's moral Law of liberty ("The Ten Commandments"), and The law of Moses
THE LAW OF GOD THE LAW OF MOSES
*Called "The Law of The Lord" (Isaiah 2:25). *Called "the law of Moses" (Luke 2:22).
*Called "The Royal Law" (James 2:8). *Called "law...contained in ordinances" (Ephesians 2:15).
*Written By God On Stone (Exodus 31:18; 32:16). *Written by Moses in a book (2 Chronicles 35:12).
*Placed Inside The Ark ((Exodus 40:20). *Placed in the side of the ark (Deuteronomy 31:26).
*Will Stand Forever (Luke 16:17). *Ended at the cross (Ephesians 2:15).
*Judges All People (James 2:10-12) *Judges no one (Colossians 2:14-16).
The "The Ten Commandments" In The New Testament
#1 Matthew 4:10 "Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve."
#2 1 John 5:21 "Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." Acts 17:29 "Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device."
#3 1 Timothy 6:1 "Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed."
#4 Hebrews 4:4,9,10 "For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works. There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his."
#5 Matthew 19:19 "Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
#6 Romans 13:9 "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
#7 Matthew 19:18 "He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,"
#8 Romans 13:9 "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
#9 Romans 13:9 "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."
#10 Romans 7:7 "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet."
Don't Trust In Your Own Opinion
The Bible says in Proverbs 3:5,6 and 16:25 that we cannot depend on our own understanding for what seems right to us will end in death. It says..."Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." "There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death."
This is why we depend on God’s Holy Scriptures to guide us, and with His Holy law as a mirror, we may see His will for us through the power of the Holy Spirit perfected in us.
The Reemphasis
Here are some texts that reemphasize the importance of the Ten Commandments and what they mean to God.
1 John 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
John 14:21 "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."
John 14:15 "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
1 John 2:3-7 "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning."
James 2:10 "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all."
NOTE 11: True belief provokes action!
James 2:12 Tells us that we shall be judged by the law.
"So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty."
Faith Without Works
There are some who believe that all we have to do is have faith. But the Bible says, that is not enough.
James 2:14-18 says "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works."
This passage explains that "Faith Without Works Is Dead"! And death is sin! So, obviously "Faith With Works" is life! Furthermore, "Works Without faith Is Also Dead"! The two must go hand in hand.
Matthew 5:16-17 explains that our good works glorify the Father in Heaven, and that Jesus did not come to destroy them! It says "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."
Some people shy away from the subject of the law in fear of sounding "LEGALISTIC" but, the Bible supports obedience with the understanding that our good works cannot save us! We surely cannot work our way to Heaven, but we can disobey our way to Hell!
If Satan has a doorway into our lives, he will always be able to work in us and through us. The entry ways must be closed to the devil at all times, or our security of victory is breached. One open door or window to sin, could mean our demise.
God Is Able!
Jude 1:24-25 says "Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen."
We serve a God who is able to do all things! And we can do all things through Him! Phil. 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." PRAISE THE LORD!
Law vs Grace
Now, there are many who say that we are not under the law, but under grace. This is true. However, before we conclude with that statement, let’s explore what it means to be under grace. First we have to consider what grace is...
Grace is unmerited favor!
Grace is pardon that we do not deserve!
If we deserved it, it would not be pardon it would be justice! For example, if you are called into court for something you did not do, and the judge says “I find you not guilty! You may go,” he did not give you grace, he gave you justice!
NOTE 12: We don’t need grace when we are not guilty!
Grace is the unbounded love of God expressed in the gift of Jesus Christ!
Grace is Christ! Because we don't deserve Him or His gift!
Ephesians 2:8 says we are saved by grace! "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" Remember, Christ is grace, and we must receive Him by faith that He is the Son of God, and that He can save us!
We, being indeed saved by grace, and yet Revelation 22:14 says that those who will be saved will be the ones who keep the Commandments of God. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
Also, Revelation 14:12 describes God’s people in the end time. "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
There is no contradiction here.
Being under grace does not exempt us from keeping the law!
In Romans 6:1,2 Paul says..."What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"
Romans 6:11-16
States that we are under the law when sin has dominion over us, meaning that we are subject to its (the laws) penalties.
"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"
When we repent for the sins we allowed dominion over us, we then receive pardon we don’t deserve, which is grace.
Now, being under grace, we begin walking in the obedience to God’s will, which is His law by the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is grace that gives us the undeserved opportunity to obey, and have salvation through Jesus Christ and not be under the penalty of the law for our sins! But by obeying the Law, we take advantage of grace!
Grace is not giving so that we may continue sinning. Remember Paul said, God forbid that we should sin because we are under grace. We fall back under the penalty of the law when we become willful sinners. Also, notice what Ephesians 4:7, 11-15 says..."But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:"
Paul is saying that we are given grace for the perfecting and edifying of the body of Christ unto a perfect man, even as Christ Himself!
Becoming A Christian
There are 3 basic steps to becoming a Christian.
Some refer to them as the A, B, C method.
A. Except Christ as your personal Savior
John 3:16, 17 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."
John 4:41, 42 "And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world."
Acts 4:10, 12 "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."
B. Believe that Christ is the Son of God
1 John 5:13 "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
John 20:31 "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."
Acts 16:31 "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
C. Confess your sins
1 John 1:9 "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
Psalm 32:5 "I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah."
Walking As A Christian
Once we have become Christians, we believe by faith that we are saved.
It is then that the will of God (His law) is manifested in us by our obedience.
We began to walk as He walked because we are Christians.
NOTE 13: An apple tree produces apples because it is an apple tree. It doesn’t try to produce apples to prove itself. It simply does because it is what it is….an apple tree!
Likewise, we produce obedience to God’s will, which is His law because we are Christians. So whosoever, or whatsoever has a title must be a producer of that which he or it is titled.
Therefore, Christians produce Christ-like characteristics, which are defined in His law—The Ten Commandments.
More Reemphasis
John 15:10
Says Christ kept His Father’s Commandments. "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."
Deuteronomy 5:29
Says God wants us to keep His commandments forever! "O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!"
Matthew 5:17-19
Christ came to fulfill the law, not to destroy it. "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
1 John 2:3-6
States that we do not know Him if we don’t keep His commandments. "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked."
NOTE 14: If we are liars it means that we lie by habit and it is a part of our character. This text also explains that keeping God’s law is walking as He walked.
Psalm 19:7,8
says the law is perfect, right and pure. "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes."
Only To Those That Obey!
Acts 5:32
says the Holy Ghost is given to those that obey Him. "And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."
On These Two Hang
Matthew 22:35-40
says "On these two hang all the law."Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
This does not abolish or cancel out the Ten Commandments but rather re-affirms them. It is simply stating that these two great Commandments are the principles on which the law is based.
You see, the Pharasees were trying to temp Jesus into choosing one of the commandments above another. But instead, Jesus summed up the Law with these two, instead of falling into their trap.
The first four tells us how to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind. The last six tells us how to love our neighbors as ourselves.
Identifying The Saved
Finally, Revelation 22:14 tells us who will be saved in the end. "Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city."
QUESTION:
Why did Jesus die?
ANSWER:
Because man had committed sin.
Sin is the breaking of God’s law.
But where there is no law, there is no sin!
So when man sinned, it seemed that the easiest thing for God to have done was to change the law, right?
Because if God would change the law against a thing, then it wouldn’t be wrong, and Christ would have never had to die!
So if God was going to change or do away with His law, it surely would have been when man first sinned.
So, Christ had a choice...
Either change the standard of righteousness by changing or doing away with His law…
Or DIE!
JESUS CHOSE TO DIE!!!
NOTE 15: Because it was so important to maintain His standard of righteousness for the stability of all creation, He gave his life on a cruel cross.
This should be an example to us that we should be willing to die before we forsake the standards by which we are to live by. All praises honor and glory be to the God of righteousness for he truly does not change!
Let Us Never Reject What Is True
Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."
Please always remember that truth never comes to embarrass, but to enlighten!
FINALLY...
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."
Closing
There is hope for you who want to see His face!
There is hope for you; in death He took your place!
There is hope for you through His amazing grace!
There is hope for you in Christ!
There is hope for you when His will seems hard to do!
There is hope for you; His power is available too!
There is hope I say; His grace can carry you through!
There is hope in Christ for you!
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU. AMEN!
The "Ten Commandments" have been quite the topic in modern society. Some say that the Law has been done away with and abolished, so we don't have to worry about the Law because we're under "Grace". Yet there are still others who say we can't keep the Law because it is to hard and we are so prone to sin. And finally, there are those who say that the Law is still binding and we must keep it in order to be saved. So, where do you stand? Here is a sincere presentation of the "Ten Commandment Law" from the Bible. Let's journey together and see what the word of God says concerning...
"The Ten Commandments"
by Rodney A. Brown Sr.
