Monday: The Moral Law Today
Most Christians claim that the Ten Commandments are God’s universal moral code.
Image © Krieg Barrie from GoodSalt.com
This view is seen, for instance, in various legal battles in the United States, in which Christians have sought to have the Ten Commandments posted in various public places, especially public schools. Years ago, Alabama was involved in a legal battle involving a state judge who refused to remove a monument of the Ten Commandments from a courtroom, despite orders from a higher court to do so. In the minds of many, the Ten Commandments, far from being invalidated, remain God’s legal standard for morality.
And with good reason too. To begin with, although the Decalogue (the Ten Commandments) was codified at Sinai, the book of Genesis suggests that most of the commandments were known before then.
What do the following texts reveal about the existence of the law prior to Mount Sinai? Gen. 35:1-4, 2:3, 4:8-11,39:7-9, 44:8, 12:18.
On logical grounds alone, it makes no sense for the Ten Commandments to have been purely a Jewish institution, something intended only for a particular people in a particular time and place. Doesn’t it make sense that moral issues such as stealing, killing, adultery, and idolatry are universally wrong, regardless of culture? Also, when the Bible is so clear that sin is defined through the law (Rom. 7:7), the notion of the law being abrogated or superceded is, on the face of it, an incoherent position for any Bible-believing Christian.
How does James 2:11 help us to understand the perpetuity of God’s law?
1 John 5:3 says that obedience to God’s commandments is an expression of our love for Him. What does that mean? Why is obedience to the commandments an expression of this love?
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I think the law of God is very clear, I can't understand, why some of people are making discussion about It, all people can see that when you're practicing them, you're not like some people who aren't practicing the commandments of God. That means you're making a big difference, your words, the way you're dressing, your reflection etc... so many things are different. Sometimes when I see some of people against the word of God I laugh because I usually said if those people really knew the meaning of the word of God I think they'd stop their rebelliousness.
According to 1 John 5:3 obedience to God's law is an expression of our love for Him. Those who advocate the abandonment of the law are not aware (they just might be aware) that they are saying it is not necessary to express our love for God. In John 3:16 God expressed his love for us by sending Jesus to redeem us, the least that we can do is express our love for his sacrifice by being obedient to his commandments. The commandments cannot save us and we cannot keep them of our own accord and that is why even in keeping God's commandments Jesus is busy expressing his love for us by enabling and empowering us to be obedient.
I think this week's lesson is close to my heart, I just had to comment again. On the question: why is obedience to the commandments an expression of our love for God. By loving God we truly love the character of His person (vs what he can do). In loving His character, we will naturally align ourselves with this Character. Aligning ourselves with this character means aligning ourselves with the commandments that reveal His character to humanity. Thus OBEDIENCE in itself is not an expression of love. Aligning ourselves with God's character is the expression of love.....
I think that true obedience to God's law is not, possible without the love of God being the motivating factor. When the Children of Israel first received the commandments they said that all the God command they would do but they failed miserably. The Pharisees were very strict in keeping the commandments but they, without hesitation, were ready to kill Jesus. All their keeping of the commandments did not transform their lives. It is through the power of the Holy Spirit that we are enabled to be truly obedient. God is love and if He dwells in us it is His love that motivates us to keep His commandments. Apart from God we are incapable of expressing true love by keeping His comandment.
I have truly understood the relationship between loving God and obeying His commandments. Thank you
I love this study family
Neville you said it right, some of the meanest people are very strict in keeping the law, we do not keep the law to be saved, but because Christ saves us his grace empowers us to obey his laws.
I agree with James Nyirenda. I pray for my family and friends to have the insight God has given these people.
People who know the law of God are wise. One thing that separates wise people from dumb people is that the wise people know what to do to live better. We know very well that the law reflects God's character. And so if we keep the law of God we will stay out of trouble and have joy. But if we violet the law then we will stay in trouble all the time and we will never be at peace.
I have,in the past,avoided thinking about my spiritual life,going to church and reading the Bible because I couldn't truly keep them. I have been going to church now, putting more focus into my spiritual life, praying and reading the Bible. I realize now that I could never keep the commandments of God,not through my means,but only through the power of God and the Holy Spirit. The amazing thing is, God has always been there to help us keep the commandments as we cannot keep them ourselves. So let us not be discouraged by knowing that we will always fail at truly keeping His law and consequently walk away from God but be empowered to know that He is there to help us.
There are too many ''I THINK" expressed above. The Bible cautions us against adding or subtraction from His Word. The Bible is expressly clear on the issue of Love and obdience. God says, '' If you love Me, Keep My Commandment" Period! Its is His Love that complels us to obey Him. His goodness towards us is irristable, it melts down and softens the most hardened heat. Nowonder Love is the foudation of His government.
We humans and all other intelligent moral creatures in the Universe are not capable nor were created to live either physically or spiritually without God's sustaining power and guidance. So that no one will say that I am just "thinking" let's look at the evidence in the Bible: Job 32:8 But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
With these thoughts in mind, it is well to ponder what LOVE is and how deviation from God's Law, (LOVE), has as its natural consequence in death--murder of ourselves and others, (especially seen in those crucifying Christ). 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not burdensome.
As far as physical life and spiritual is concerned, if we don't go with God, where is our life? 1 John 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.
But, it's not arbitrary. Think of all that the God of LOVE has given us and all done on the prinicple of LOVE. That's why we were created. And, so ALL need to answer this question in Romans 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
We need to be reminded that the "great controversy" is about whether God is needed or whether His creatures can go it on their own. Proverbs 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
The 10 commandments do not make the law. They are part of the Law (TORAH). Most people do not understand what they actually imply when they say they are no longer under the law. If the law is understood as being the Torah [In its most specific meaning, it consists of the first five books of the Tanakh written in Biblical Hebrew. The names of each of these books in Hebrew are taken from the first phrase in each book: Bereshit ("In [the] beginning", Genesis), Shemot ("Names", Exodus), Vayikra ("He called", Leviticus[1]), Bamidbar ("In the desert", Numbers) and Devarim ("Words", Deuteronomy)](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah),then advocating that the law is no longer binding actually implies a total rejection of God. Jesus said He did not come to abolish "the Law and the Prophets" thereby making the clear distinction of the categories of the books that make up the Old Testament including the "historical books.
We know that the target is the Sabbath day rest but in Isaiah the message can not be more...CLEAR
Isaiah 56
King James Version (KJV)
56 Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.
2 Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.
3 Neither let the son of the stranger, that hath joined himself to the Lord, speak, saying, The Lord hath utterly separated me from his people: neither let the eunuch say, Behold, I am a dry tree.
4 For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;
5 Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.
6 Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the Lord, to serve him, and to love the name of the Lord, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant;
7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
Thus, if we reject the Sabbath on any ground from the Old Testament or the New Testament we simply never have joined God for real.
Again, we understand that there is not one commandment that can qualify us for salvation but we know that the rejection of any commandment can disqualify us for salvation.
We all choose to be saved or to be lost. By our own reasoning.