THE LAW OF GOD |
"Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth?" -Romans 7:1
This page is now available in the book titled, "The Law of God - still valid?"
"Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever." -Psalms 119:152 |
"testimonies"
= Strong's #05713 `edah {ay-daw'} from 05707 in
its technical sense; TWOT - 1576c,1576e; n f AV - testimonies
22, witness 4; 26 |
"Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." -Romans 7:1,12 |
KEEPING
THE LAW GRANTS US WISDOM! |
Click here for rebuttals answered below...
Since the Cross of Jesus
there has been one attack after another on the Law of God. Many churches that
have started since the days of the Apostles have even gone so far as to "rewrite"
the Ten Commandments to fit their fleshly desires. Paul warned the Thessalonian
church back then that, "…the mystery of iniquity doth already work:” -2
Thessalonians 2:7, and as we view church history we see that the Law of God was
always the focus of attack. Many new religions popped up over the years that
totally omit the Law of God from their doctrinal foundation merely because they
could not give up the sins they cherished so much. And yes, even some
Christians churches have gone so far as to rewrite the Law in a way that proves
they sought to create God in their own image. Worse yet, one has gone so far as
to remove portions of the Law entirely so as to keep Pagan doctrines alive in
the Christian church. Case in point... The Catholic church omitted the second
Commandment in their Catechism merely because they prefer to bow before statues.
However, they now had only nine commandments in their dogma. So in order to
fill the gap created, they moved the remaining commandments up one notch and
"split" the tenth Commandment in two. (SEE:
"The law and the Gospel are intimately connected. They are closely associated. If the divine law had never been transgressed, there would have been no need of the Gospel. Since the basis of God's government and authority is the immutable law, when this divine code was violated, a remedy for sin was essential. The saving grace of God is His only remedy." -F.C.Gilbert "Messiah in His Sanctuary" p. 20
Some churches preach to
this day that Jesus abolished the Ten Commandments when He died on the cross.
They proclaim this assumption by using Ephesians 2:15 as their basis of
evidence, which says. "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the
law of commandments contained in ordinances;..." The obvious truth here is,
that the verse states that it was the Commandments contained in ORDINANCES that
was abolished at the cross. Not the Ten Commandments contained in stone. The
passage in Colossians 2:14-17 has also been used to preach the Commandments
abolished. But if you read it you will find it was, "Blotting out the
handwriting of ordinances", again that is mentioned in that passage. According
to the Word of God, these ordinances were "added because of
transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made" (Galatians
The commandments contained in ordinances were added by Moses thousands of years ago as a way to prepare the people for the FIRST arrival of Messiah. They showed their faith in the coming Messiah by keeping the ordinances on a regular basis. When Jesus died on the cross, the ordinances were no longer needed because he fulfilled them by all He did while visiting us as Messiah. So, what are these ordinances? In Colossians 2:14-17 it says... "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ."
Right off we see the "ordinances"
were a series holy days, new moons, and Sabbath days that were to be considered
a “shadow of things to come.” The word "ordinance" is NOT the same as
the word "commandment."
ORDINANCE |
1378 dogma {dog'-mah} from
the base of 1380; TDNT - 2:230,178; n n AV - decree 3, ordinance 2; 5 1) doctrine, decree, ordinance 2) the rules and requirements of the law of
Moses; carrying a suggestion of severity and of threatened judgment 3) of certain decrees of the apostles
relative to right living |
COMMANDMENT |
06680 tsavah {tsaw-vaw'} a
primitive root; TWOT - 1887; v AV - command 514, charge 39, commandment 9,
appoint 5, bade 3, order 3, commander 1, misc 4; 494 1) to command, charge, give orders, lay
charge, give charge to, order 1b) (Pual) to be commanded |
Also notice in verse 16 of Colossians 2 it states, "...Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink..." I ask, where in the Ten Commandments does it speak of "meat and drink?" Nowhere do we find such statements in the Law of God. However, when we peer into the ceremonial law, and annual Sabbaths, or feast day rituals, or ORDINANCES of the Old Covenant church, we find it speaks volumes on meat and drink offerings that were to be used to acknowledge a future event Christ the Lord would perform in reality. It is therefore literally impossible for the ordinances and the Ten Commandments to be the same thing.
Also notice that nowhere within
the Ten Commandments do we see any mention of, "holydays or new
moons" as this passage additionally declares is part of the ordinances. The
Old Testament people were just as much believers in Jesus as the New Testament
people. The obvious difference is they looked forward to Jesus coming the first
time. They acknowledged that faith in Messiah by performing the ordinances
Moses was instructed to give them.
I will give one example as
a way to illustrate how the feast days, or annual Sabbaths were performed as a
way for the believers back then to acknowledge, or proclaim their faith in
certain events prophecied to occur in Christ’s ministry while on earth walking
among us.
Each family, or group of
families, if the family performing the ordinance was a small one, slew what was
considered a Passover lamb during the feast of unleavened bread. After they
killed it they ate it along with the unleavened bread as a way to proclaim
their faith in the coming Messiah. As we know, John the Baptist spoke of Jesus
as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" in John
Looking back 2000 years, we
realize all this has been done as prophecied in many areas of the Old
Testament. As Christians, we now await His second coming of Messiah today. All
the "meat, drink, holy days, & sabbaths," or feast days as most
call them today were abolished at the cross. Jesus fulfilled their purpose
perfectly 2000 years ago.
This passage in Colossians
also called these sabbath days a "shadow of things to come." Each of
these annual feast days spoke of future events in the life and work of Messiah,
as I illustrated in the previous explanation of the Passover feast day. The
weekly Sabbath of the Lord can in no way be a shadow of something future. All
the "shadowy things" were instituted long before Christ came and pointed
forward to His arrival as Saviour on the cross as an offering for mankind's sin.
Many believe the Law never
existed before Sinai simply because it was then the Law was etched in stone.
However, there are 2 ways to prove the Law valid in the Garden of Eden, and one
way to prove it in force before Sinai and after
IN
#1 Had the Law not been in
force at that time, the sin Adam and Eve committed would not have been able to
force them from the Garden. As we know, sin is not allowed in Heaven. In Revelation
#2 According to Genesis
2:3, "God blessed the seventh
day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his
work which God created and made." When the Law was later etched in stone
by the finger of God and given unto Moses to give to the people, the Sabbath
commandment was already considered part of the Law, and placed right there upon
those tablets of stone proving the same holy day that was sanctified in Eden,
was still valid when it was etched in that stone. Had the Law not been present
in
AFTER
Long before the Jewish
nation ever came into existence, it is declared in Genesis 26:5, "Because
that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments,
my statutes, and my laws."
The feast days pointed
FORWARD to a future event. The Seventh Day Sabbath points actually BACKWARD to
the ultimate event. Creation. Not only does the very first word of that
Sabbath commandment denote a REMEMBRANCE of the work of Creation. We find that
within the words of that commandment itself, it speaks of that which the Lord
did in creation week, including the fact He sanctified that seventh day long
before sin was ever an issue. Exodus 20:11 says, "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."
Read Leviticus 23:24-38 and
you will find that the sabbaths mentioned in Colossians chapter 2 are again
confirmed to be the "annual sabbaths" that the Lord instructed the
people to keep. Make special note that it even says in Verse 38 of Leviticus 23
that these annual sabbaths are BESIDES the Sabbath of the Lord. That of course
referring to the weekly Sabbath. Jesus Himself confirms the fact He did not
come to abolish the Law when He said, "Think not that I am come to destroy
the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."
Matthew 5:17
Notice the "sabbaths" of Leviticus...Count them and you will find they come too frequently to be considered WEEKLY Sabbaths. You will find 5 sabbaths within a 15 day period. This proves beyond a doubt they cannot possibly be the weekly Sabbath of the Lord.
Leviticus 23:23-38, "And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, (sabbath #1 day #1) a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, (sabbath #2 day# 10) and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath.(sabbath #3 day #9) And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.(sabbath #4 day #15) Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.(sabbath #5 day #8) These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day: Beside the sabbaths of the LORD, and beside your gifts, and beside all your vows, and beside all your freewill offerings, which ye give unto the LORD."
Did you notice the meat and
drink offerings mentioned in this passage? This confirms they are the same sabbaths
spoken of in Colossians 2:14-17. Fact is, If this "law contained in
ordinances" is the same as the "Law contained in stone" then I
ask for all those that preach such a thing to please share with me the
commandment that is written within the Ten Commandments that speaks of
"meat and drink" offerings. Biblical fact is...
Hebrews 9:1,10 "Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation."
What does the term in Colossians
2:17 mean where it said those ordinances
are, "...a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ"?
When I stand in front of a light source I cast a shadow correct? Now, if you find that shadow I cast and follow it you will eventually come to my body, correct? Does my shadow continue on behind me? No, it stops at the body does it not? All those feast days are shadows of things that Jesus did in reality. When you follow those shadows you will eventually come to rest before the body of Jesus Christ on that cross. There is no shadow beyond the cross. The ordinances were nailed to that cross, and that body on that cross is in fact Christ. He did EXACTLY as those shadows depicted He was to do.
So... what did Jesus
Himself think of the Royal Law of God His Father? Did He preach they were
to be abolished one day? Or did He preach them as eternal in nature? Jesus
Himself said, "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." -John
15:10
Some still hold to their
beliefs that the Law is abolished because this was said by Jesus BEFORE the
cross itself. So what did the Holy Spirit indwelt Apostles of Jesus Christ believe
AFTER Jesus died and resurrected? Did they keep and preach the Ten Commandments
as Truth? Upwards of 60 years after the cross of Christ John the Apostle said
in 1 John 3:22, "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we
keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his
sight." 1 John 5:2 also states, " By this we know that we love the
children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments."
1 John 5:3 declares, " For this is the love of God, that we keep his
commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." If you do a
study on this you will find literally dozens of New Testament Scriptures
proving the early Christian church indeed KEPT the Ten Commandments in loving
obedience to their Heavenly Father. These three I just quoted should be all the
Christian needs. Why? They are IN THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE and the Apostles
themselves penned those words as inspired Truth for all those after them to
embrace.
Yes I am very aware it is
impossible for us to keep the Ten Commandments on our own because the flesh is
weak. The events surrounding
We can't do it without the soul steering help of Jesus. Jesus walked as we should have walked, and then He died the death we deserve. He did it all for us, and He is still there for us to this day. For He also said, "lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:20
Let's take that statement
Jesus made, "lo, I am with you alway, even to the END OF THE
WORLD" and further drive home the reality of what He’s actually saying
here. Since the Word tells us that His Law has been placed in our minds and
hearts, and we can do all things through Christ, we then know the righteousness
of the Law can be fulfilled in us if we choose not to walk after the flesh but
after the Spirit. And since He declared He will be with us always till the end,
we have that assurance that we will be victorious as long as we walk closely
with Him. After all, He did say in Matthew 5:18, "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." Isn’t
it good that He will be with us till all be fulfilled to walk as He needs us to
walk?
By the way, for those
skeptics out there that still believe the Law passed away at the cross. Jesus
just said in Matthew 5:18 that nary a speck of His Law will pass away till heaven
and earth pass and all is fulfilled. With that said, I must ask, is heaven
above and the earth beneath still here? And have all prophecies been fulfilled
wherein we are in the city of
|
Old Testament |
New Testament |
Commandment # 1 |
Exodus 20:3 |
Matthew 4:10 |
Commandment # 2 |
Exodus 20:4-6 |
1John |
Commandment # 3 |
Exodus 20:7 |
1Timothy 6:1 |
Commandment # 4 |
Exodus 20:8-11 |
Hebrews 4:4,8,9 (The word "rest" in verse #9 = "sabbatismo" = "A keeping Sabbath" in Strong's #4520 |
Commandment # 5 |
Exodus 20:12 |
Matthew 19:19 |
Commandment # 6 |
Exodus 20:13 |
Romans 13:9 |
Commandment # 7 |
Exodus 20:14 |
Matthew 19:18 |
Commandment # 8 |
Exodus 20:15 |
Romans 13:9 |
Commandment # 9 |
Exodus 20:16 |
Romans 13:9 |
Commandment # 10 |
Exodus 20:17 |
Romans 7:7 |
How's it possible to say we
need not keep the Ten Commandments when it's found in both the Old and the New Testaments?
How's it possible for some denominations to preach it's sin to keep God's Ten
Commandments after the cross of Christ? They make this claim as if to say we
keep the Law as works towards salvation. But the Word was plain we could never
keep the Law to get saved because we can only keep it after Christ is present
to help us. In other words, we don’t keep the Law of God to get saved, we keep
it because we are saved! Before Christ came into our lives, as the Old Covenant
proved, mankind was literally too weak to keep His Law on their own. We needed
a better covenant, or a New Testament. This is why Christ came. "But now
hath he (Christ) obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the
mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. For if that first covenant had been
faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, (mankind) he
saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made
with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of
the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded
them not, saith the Lord. For this is
the covenant that I will make with the house of
Now that we have His Law in
our minds and heart thanks to His Holy Spirit, it’s far easier to, "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"
Ecclesiastes
According to these faithful
verses, the Ten Commandments are not only the "Whole duty of man,"
but the standard of JUDGMENT used to determine our worthiness of Heaven. To
further solidify that fact in the heart, the Word is plain when speaking of the
Ten Commandments as that which was to be kept from the beginning. The apostles
John was moved by the Lord to declare, "And this is love, that we walk
after his commandments. This is the
commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk
in it ." 2 John1:6
Many are also taught to
proclaim that Commandment keeping is for the Jew and Jew alone. In saying this
they un-knowingly condemn all non-Jewish Christians to hell in one fell swoop.
This is evident because of what has been written in the book of Revelation for
all Christians who trust His Word to read..."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."
(Revelation 22:14) That city IS HEAVEN. If only Jews are to keep the
Commandments, then they are proclaiming only Jews enter Heaven. If this is so,
then why does Paul say in Romans 2:10,11, "But glory, honour, and peace,
to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with
God." And in Romans
When do most Christians
feel the judgment is to occur? Thanks to all the world wondering after the
beast and it's spurious doctrines, universal belief in all denominations that
don't understand the theology of the prophecied "investigative
judgment" believe it's a far into the future event right? Even if they do
understand the prophetic facts regarding the investigative judgment; thanks to
Rome’s ability to twist the Truth on this out of context, Ecclesiastes chapter
twelve appears to them as a way to confirm the "final" judgment is
indeed prophecied as a future event for every human that is still being judged
today. With that in mind, ask them to read Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 so as to get a
better view of the truth here.
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."
Have them make special note
that they should consider the statement that "God shall bring every
work into judgment" in that passage. First it is mentioned in this
passage that the whole duty of man is indeed keeping the Ten Commandments. Directly
after making that statement the Bible declares mankind is judged by how he
performs his duty. The question then arises, what is that duty that is to be judged?
It is written in that passage that mankind must, "Fear God, and keep his
commandments” In blunt easy to understand terms, the Bible says the whole duty
of man is to keep the Ten Commandments because the judgment is based on how man
performs that duty. And since the reward that judgment brings is indeed a
future event, the Ten Commandments are STILL valid today! For it is written in
Revelation
As intimated earlier, many still feel the Ordinances abolished at the cross are the same as the Law contained in stone. With that said, is there Scriptural evidence that can put this fallacy to rest that shows the apparent difference between God's Law contained in stone and Moses' law contained in ordinances?"
MOSES' LAW |
GOD'S LAW |
Called "Law of Moses" Luke 2:22 |
Called
"The law of the Lord" Isaiah |
Called
"Law contained in ordinances" Ephesians |
Called "The royal law" James 2:8 |
Written by Moses in a book. 2Chronicals 35:12 |
Written by God in stone. Exodus 31:18; 32:16 |
Placed
beside the |
Placed inside the ark. Exodus 40:20 |
Ended at the cross. Ephesians 2:15 |
Will stand forever. Luke 16:17 |
Added because of sin. Galatians 3:19 |
Points out sin. Romans 7:7; 3:20 |
Contrary to us, against us. Colossians 2:14-16 |
Not grievous. 1John 5:3 |
Carnal. Hebrews 7:16 |
Spiritual. Romans 7:14 |
Made nothing perfect. Hebrews 7:19 |
Perfect. Psalm 19:7 |
Judges no one. Colossians 2:14-16 |
Judges all people. James 2:10-12 |
courtesy of Cyberspace ministry |
Some still think the early
church was somehow immune to certain temptations we have today. I guess they
figure since they were so long in the past that they had to be holier for some
reason. Yet even back then they too had such heresies running amuck as we do
today. Even back then they claimed as Christians that they were no longer
“under the Law” as so many believe today. However, Paul clearly said in Romans
After all is said an d done, some have the question that asks, why do we need a new covenant / testament anyway? In Hebrews we read…
Hebrews 8:7-9, "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord."
Please understand that a "covenant" is no different than a "testament" according to Strong's # 1242...
COVENANT:
|
Understand that the Lord
God did not change His part of the arrangement, covenant, or testament with the
people of
Exodus 19:5-6, "Now
therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then
ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is
mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation.
These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of
And did the people promise
to keep this covenant as outlined by the Lord that day? Yes they did later in
verse 8...
Exodus 19:8, "And all
the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we
will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the
LORD."
As we know, when Moses returned 40 days later, they had already broken that covenant they said they would keep. They couldn’t keep it for as little as 40 days!. The Law of God never changed since then. His part of the arrangement remains the same. Malachi 3:6 says, "For I am the LORD, I change not..." Mankind's part in the covenant evidently had to change because we were the ones that "had fault." We are the ones that were too weak to keep it no matter how hard we tried. The Lord made no error, nor could He. Nothing evil comes from above! The people are the ones that made the error here. The amazing thing here is, even now the Lord is still merciful. He realized a new covenant is needed. But how will the Lord do it? How will He be able to get us weaklings to keep a law that is proven impossible for us to keep?
Hebrews 8:6, "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises."
MEDIATOR: AV - mediator 6; 6 1) one who intervenes between two,
either in order to make or 2) a medium of communication, arbitrator |
With Jesus by our side as
He promised, we can do all things. We need this better covenant which is based
on better promises because we have no more strength than the Jewish people of
their day. Think about that. Think about how they had an open physical sign of
the Almighty's presence on a daily basis in the desert for forty years, and
still they broke His laws all along. They saw Him split the
THAT'S THE BETTER
COVENANT HE PROMISED US! It is no longer between us and God the Father. We proved too weak to do
that. It is now between Jesus and His Father. The Lord didn't re-write His laws
or His "arrangement" between man and Himself at all. "The wages
of sin is still death" (Romans
That's the new covenant
that He has made with us. If we have Jesus as Lord and Saviour, His Law is
written in our hearts and minds. So, again, for all those scoffers that say we
keep the Law to GET saved. You are so wrong! Mankind proved long ago such an
act was utterly impossible to keep for as little as 40 days! We keep the Law
now because we ARE Saved! Before I knew Christ I was a sniveling wimp unable to
do anything I set my heart to. Now, "I can do all things through Christ
which strengtheneth me.".- Philippians 4:13
As the Lord assured us
through His prophet Isaiah, He promised to "Bind up the testimony, seal
the law among my disciples." - Isaiah 8:16
Where's the SEAL placed you ask? Did He not say that He will be our God, and we will be His people, and He will put His law in our MINDS and our HEARTS? Did you catch that? The SEAL is placed in the HEART and the MIND! The Law in the heart is an obvious sign, which I'll get into in a moment. But the Law is also important to have in the mind.
What I’m getting at here
is, the Scripture uses the words, sign, seal, and mark interchangeably. Just as
the seal of God that is placed in the foreheads of His children in Revelation
7:3 is a sign of their allegiance to God. The mark of the beast is also a SEAL in
the forehead, or mind that signifies allegiance. (For an in-depth look at the mark of the beast, click here)
Revelation
7:3, "...Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed
the servants of our God in their foreheads."
It’s no mistake the word
“mind” is used here when describing where the Lord wrote His Law. When
Scientists recently mapped the human brain, they found the forehead is where we
make all our decisions. So, no, it’s no coincidence the Lord declares He puts the
Law in the minds of His people. Our hearts of course symbolize the love true Christians
will have for their heavenly Father. This is why Jesus illustrated the
Christian lifestyle so perfectly when He said in Matthew
Isaiah
Look at the children of
·
Exodus 12:12, "For I will pass through the land of Egypt
this night, and will smite all the
firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the
gods of Egypt I will execute judgment:
I am the LORD."
If they did as they were instructed by the Lord, He promised them that when the angel of death arrived in their midst, he would "Passover" every house that had blood upon the doorposts.
Now, let me ask you this. Did the blood on the doorposts save them? No it did not. Hebrews 10:4 says, "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." Obedience was the key here. So, again, no, the blood of those sheep, like the Law of God cannot save anyone. However, was their serious consequences if they chose NOT to put the blood there? YES! The first born would most assuredly die! Many say, "It doesn't make a single bit of difference if I keep His commandments or not," I say unto you, yes it does! It certainly won't save you if you keep them, but there are serious consequences if you don't.
What's that word "TOKEN" mean?
TOKEN: |
That "sign"
"token" "mark" or "seal" is actually WRITTEN IN BLOOD! The blood of the Lamb. The one
who walked as we should have walked. He did it for us, and sealed it with His
very own blood on the cross. That is the only blood that truly saves! That
is the blood symbolized in the doorposts back in
Remember when He said,
"I WILL BE YOUR GOD, AND YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE" in Hebrews 8:10? When
you come to Christ you enter into that covenant with the Father, but only by
the merits of Christ. You did nothing! He did it all! He sealed that covenant on
the cross with His own blood to prevent any change being made to it. And it
will NEVER change! Luke
The blood of the Lamb, the one who
walked as we should have walked long ago, allowed His blood to spill for the
sins of mankind. This very act proved the firmness of the Law was unchangeable.
Had it been changeable, Jesus would never have to die. There could have been an
easier way to remove sin from the lives of His people. But again I say, Luke
The prophet Isaiah said in
The Sabbath is just as much
a SIGN, SEAL or MARK of God as the blood on the doorposts of old. Like baptism
is an open profession of faith in Christ’s death and resurrection, the keeping
of Sabbath is an open profession of faith in the God of creation. It is a proof
before the masses that you ARE His child, and He is your God. Anyone, and
almost ALL "Christians" of today try to keep 9 of the Ten
Commandments. However, according to Scripture, only those that keep His
Sabbaths have that open profession of faith in Him as their God. The Sabbath
truly is a SIGN, MARK, and SEAL of the living God that He is your God, and you
are His people. For
ALL the Bible facts about the Sabbath, click
here. That's what makes the Sabbath important. It proves to
the world AND the Lord that you are His.
For those that still believe His Law
was abolished at the cross, look a little closer at that passage in Exodus I
just shared. That passage does not say it is a sign between me and you UNTIL
JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS. It says THROUGHOUT your generations. As we
learned earlier, the Law was already in force in
Have you ever signed a document to legalize or confirm that
it is authentic? Have you ever given your "seal of approval"
on something? Have you ever "marked" an item of yours as proof of
ownership? In government, this is an ancient fact of life. As we know, when a document
is signed, that signature actually authenticates that document. This is what
government bodies refer to as a government seal. An official seal or signature must
always have three distinct features for it to be considered legitimate:
For example, when the President of the United States signs a bill into law, he will sign it, 1.Name “George Washington” 2.Title “President” 3.Territory “of the United States of America.” Every document must be signed or sealed in this manner for it to become an official legal document.
As Christians we are
completely aware there is a government in heaven.
·
Isaiah
9:6, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the
government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called
Wonderful,"
Like the governments of the
world today that have their own laws; the government of Heaven also has Laws.
Truth is, it was in Heaven first that governing structures and laws were
created as a basis of rule. Mankind copied this structure 6000 years ago when the
descendants of Adam and Eve grew to such a number, they needed a way to govern
the people. Most are unaware of this because it happened so long ago. Since we
know Heaven has a government that is ruled by Christ. What are the laws set
forth in that kingdom? The Ten Commandments, or Law of God as most call it
today.
Now that we have
established there is a government in Heaven, and that government has a ruling
Law. Is there an official seal on that Law of God like mankind has? Mankind had
to learn that rule of law somehow, so let's see. Looking closely we see that
right in the midst of the Law there is an official seal, that has all three
distinctive features to make it legitimate. In commandment number four we find
the words... "For in six days the LORD made Heaven and earth." How
does this break down into a seal you ask? In the exact same way mankind learned
to do so very long ago...
SEAL = For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, ...." Exodus 20:11 |
|
NAME |
THE LORD (“I am the Lord: that is my name” Isaiah 42:8) |
TITLE |
CREATOR (Notice, “the LORD made” in above verse) |
TERRITORY |
HEAVEN AND EARTH (Notice, “Heaven and earth” in above verse) |
Collectively, His signature
reads, “The Lord, Creator, of Heaven and Earth.” Plainly, one can see that the
"seal" that makes this Law of God binding and eternally legitimate is
in fact found in the Sabbath commandment. This very commandment not only confirms
His status as Creator, it points back to creation week wherein He rested after
creating all we see.
·
Exodus
20:8-11, "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."
One thing many Christians
today miss is the prophetic statement made in that commandment. The prophet Isaiah
revealed in 46:10 that this God we worship is capable of, "Declaring the
end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet
done" The word “remember” in that commandment is purposely declaring that
in the last days Christians will be taught to forget His Law, and especially
His Sabbath. Look around, has this prophetic fact come to be known? Yes it has,
the overwhelming majority of the Christian churches have forgotten His Law and
they now worship on Sunday. Worse yet, most of them preach the entire Law was
done away with at the cross! Truth is, this act was prophecied as well to occur
in our day. It has to do with the mark of the beast. If you want more info on
that, see the mark of the beast page on the site.
When we keep His Sabbath we
are expressing that we recognize and worship Him as our Creator, because it was
the Creator that sanctified that day after He finished creation. Everyone I
come across agrees that the Jews kept the Sabbath in the Old Testament.
Everyone I come across also agrees 100% that Jesus kept the Sabbath as well. Since
this is understood, I have a question to ask. What about AFTER Jesus? If the
covenant was going to be changed, it would have to be changed before Jesus
died, right? We all know that it is impossible to change a
"testament" or a "covenant" or a "last will and
testament" after the Testator dies. Did Jesus ever change the Sabbath to
the first day of the week before He died? There is not a single solitary verse
in the Old or New Testament before or after Jesus died that declares the
Sabbath was changed. Not one. In fact, if you can find such a verse that says
God changed the Sabbath, this ministry will not only give
you $10,000 cash, I will also give your name to the preacher in Illinois
that is offering $1,000.000.00 for the same verse!
The law always demands perfection. Whether it be God's law or man's law makes no difference. All law demands perfection in following it.
How can I be perfect?
OBEDIENCE is the KEY!
Common sense is a blessing
here. Many people believe that all they need to do is believe in Jesus as
Messiah and they have Heaven guaranteed. With that type of theology, Satan will
be guaranteed Heaven as well. For it is written in, James
Think of it this way. Look at Adam and Eve. They too believed in Christ. In fact, Jesus was often found, "...walking in the garden in the cool of the day: " (Genesis 3:8) talking with them. They literally saw Him and conversed with Him daily. They had no problem believing in Him. So what got them cast out of the garden? DISOBEDIENCE! It’s that simple.
Many that read Hebrews 5:9
ask, how was Jesus "perfected?" What does this mean? It means He
lived a life in perfect obedience to God's law. Peter tells us in 1
Peter
·
Leviticus
To be without spot or blemish is to declare a perfect sacrifice is done. The spots and blemishes represented sin. The sacrifice had to be perfect because the Lord Jesus would never sin when He came to be that sacrifice later on. I challenge every man and woman on earth to show me one verse where Jesus broke the Law of God in any way shape or form. You may as well not waste your time, there is no such verse. Not one. So... why was Jesus to be perfect? Was there a reason for this?
We are imperfect. Our
righteousness is nothing but a pile of filthy rags. No matter how hard we try
we cannot keep the Law. Mankind has proven himself too weak to do so. This has
been proven in Scriptures, and this has been proven in reality by every soul on
earth. Yet, Jesus did walk perfectly the entire time He walked among us. If we
have Him as Saviour, so shall we walk perfectly by His guidance. Jesus kept the
law in perfection for each one of us. Since His Holy Spirit is in the hearts of
His followers, will He do no less than perfect our walks as He promised? In a
nutshell...
One thing must be realized
here. It was prophecied that Jesus was on a mission when He came here. Adam
sinned, and by his sin all were made sinners simply because we are now born
into the sinful nature. Without Christ being trusted to guide us as Adam
refused at the start, we have no power over sin, hence, "As it is written,
There is none righteous, no, not one:" (Romans
Jesus proved the Law was a
necessity for the Christian. He is our eternal example on how to walk. Yes, as
prophecied for our day, many are taught they do not have to keep the Law. To
them it is our duty to echo towards them in our walks and in our words what Romans
BOTTOM LINE: If it is so written...
Then
how is it Sunday preachers say Commandment #4 has somehow failed or been
replaced? Claiming Sunday as Sabbath means "one tittle" of the law
has to have failed. That word “remember” in Commandment #4 is specifically for
those that claim this heresy. The Lord said it never changed, in fact He said in
Exodus 31:16 that the people of God will, "…observe the sabbath throughout
their generations, for a perpetual covenant."
The commandment
is plain. It says to keep the SEVENTH DAY Holy. As we learned earlier, the
Truth is, as we learned
earlier, since the law of the Lord is perfect according to Psalm 19:7, Acts
22:3 & James 1:25, then every variation from this perfect Law must be
evil. Those who disobey the commandments of God, and teach others to do so, are
eternally condemned by Christ. In fact, in Proverbs 28:9 it says, "He that
turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be
abomination."
In Isaiah 42:21 it says,
"The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will
magnify the law, and make it honourable." Is this
not what Jesus did when He came and walked among us? Did He not say when He was here, "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." (Matthew 5:18) After He ascended back to His Kingdom, did He
not also instruct His Apostles to teach the church that "not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." (Romans 2:13) Furthermore, if we claim
Christ Lord and keep His Law that is written within our hearts and minds, does
this not make us, "…his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy
Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."(-Acts
Do you recall what Abraham
told Isaac that day he was being tested by God? We all know of that event. The
Lord came to Abraham and asked him to sacrifice his only son on the altar. When
they were headed for that altar, Genesis 22:7-8 says, "Isaac spake unto
Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he
said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt
offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a
lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together."
Did not the Father send us the, "…Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin
of the world." (John 1:29) in the person and prophecied Messiah, Jesus
Christ?
Not long after Abraham told
Isaac about the Lord sending a lamb to be sacrificed, Genesis
The Law of God is so sure,
and so unchanging that with every sin there must be a death. Sin cannot enter
into the
Abraham was offering that
lamb as a sin offering long before the Law of God was etched in Stone, proving,
the Law was not only active at that time, it also proves it’s not a “Jewish
law” as some preachers proclaim. As intimated earlier, the lamb was a symbol of
the sacrifice for sin that would end in the future at the cross. That is the
basic definition of Messiah’s duty when He arrives. This is why John the
Baptist declared when he saw Jesus coming towards him, “…Behold the Lamb of
God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) This confirms
all those sheep offered for sins were in fact pointing to Christ.
By the way.. did you ever
notice? The ram was caught by thorns wrapped around his head in Abraham’s day.
Jesus also wore that crown of thorns in His day as a symbol declaring He was
doing His Father’s will for us. Just as the life of Isaac was spared on that
altar that day by the lamb supplied by God, so were our lives spared when the
Father sent Jesus to be our Lamb 2000 years ago.
If the Law wasn’t an etched
in stone permanent Law, then Jesus would not have to die. There is no escaping
the fact nothing that defiles will enter into Heaven. Mankind proved long ago
that he cannot keep God’s Law without His help.
Let me ask the young in
Christ, or even the non-believer a question. Have you ever lied? (Commandment
#9) Everyone will say yes. Have you ever stolen anything, even if it’s the
change in your mother’s purse? (Commandment #8) Most will say yes. Have you
ever looked upon another in lust? (Commandment #7) If you have Jesus says in
Matthew 5:28 that you have committed adultery in your heart.
·
Matthew
Since we all admit that we
have broken anywhere from one to many of the commandments, and since we know
that the wages of sin is death, we know we are worthy of death because we have
sinned. How will we ever be able to get into Heaven if we are such vile
sinners? By the most famous statement made in Scriptures today...
John 3:16, "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."
The Law is so strong that
no one would ever be able to enter Heaven because, "…all have sinned, and
come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23) Therefore Jesus agreed to
die for us before the foundation of the world if mankind did in fact choose to sin.
Adam and Eve did just that, and the rest of us followed their example.
Hebrews 9:26-28, "For
then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now
once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the
sacrifice of himself. And as it
is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the
sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the
second time without sin unto salvation."
When a non-believer stands
before the judgment seat without Christ, he has no defense for the sins he has
committed. Therefore, since the wages of sin are death, that unbeliever must
die that death for his own sins, because that is the payment for sin. However,
if that soul is a believer, even though he was a liar, a thief, or an
adulterer, when he stands before God in judgment, he does not have to die that
death for his sins because he believes and rightfully claims Jesus died that
death for his sins long ago. Jesus paid that price for us. All we need to do is
believe it, and He has promised to give us salvation as a gift for trusting
Him.
In closing
The Law of God is like a mirror. For example, if I was to go outside and roll around in a mud puddle, when I come back into the house and stand before a mirror, can I say to the mirror, make me clean? No, the mirror cannot do that. It can only tell me I need to be cleansed by reflecting my filth before my eyes. In the same way, when we look at the Ten Commandments and realize we have broken many of the Laws, the Law tells us we are in need of a cleansing. But, mankind cannot cleanse himself or even stop sinning for that matter. All the Law can do is warn us, we need a Saviour!
Now do you see why Satan attacks the Law of God? It points to His biggest threat! JESUS CHRIST! The devil knows that if people today look at the Lawof God it will CONVERT them into obeying God. Psalms 19:7 says, "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple."
"It was impossible for the sinner to keep the law of God, which was holy, just,
and good; but this impossibility was removed by the impartation of the
righteousness of Christ to the repenting, believing soul. The life and death of
Christ in behalf of sinful man were for the purpose of restoring the sinner to
God's favor, through imparting to him the righteousness that would meet the
claims of the law and find acceptance with the Father. But it is ever the purpose of Satan to make void the law of God and to pervert the true meaning of the plan of salvation. Therefore he has originated the falsehood that the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary's cross was for the purpose of freeing men from the obligation of keeping the commandments of God. He has foisted upon the world the deception that God has abolished His constitution, thrown away His moral standard, and made void His holy and perfect law. Had He done this, at what terrible expense would it have been to Heaven! Instead of proclaiming the abolition of the law, Calvary's cross proclaims in thunder tones its immutable and eternal character. Could the law have been abolished, and the government of heaven and earth and the unnumbered worlds of God maintained, Christ need not have died. The death of Christ was to forever settle the question of the validity of the law of Jehovah. Having suffered the full penalty for a guilty world, Jesus became the Mediator between God and man, to restore the repenting soul to favor with God by giving him grace to keep the law of the Most High. Christ came not to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them to the very letter. The atonement of Calvary vindicated the law of God as holy, just, and true, not only before the fallen world but before heaven and before the worlds unfallen. Christ came to magnify the law and to make it honorable." -Faith and Works page 118 |
A
few Biblical Facts
Common Rebuttals to the Biblical Truth
Rebuttal #1: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS WERE MADE FOR THE JEWS
Now
on video!
Biblical facts...
The definition of SIN = 1 John 3:4, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
So when the Almighty spoke of sin unto Cain in Genesis 4, he was speaking of the Ten Commandments more than 2000 YEARS before a Jew was born.
Again we see the Almighty speaking of His Commandments HUNDREDS OF YEARS before Jews ever step on the planet.
NOTICE THE WORD SIN? This is way before any Jewish people were ever born! Plus, how would Joseph know that adultery was a sin unless he understood the definition of sin is as we know it? And how do we understand that definition? 1 John 3:4, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
To say they get disease, is to say WHY as well. For those that broke the law had no protection. That fact alone proves the EGYPTIANS could have kept the law as well. Which proves again it is NOT just for Jews! For those that say the Ten Commandments were ONLY given to the Jews, here we see that BEFORE the Tablets which contained the Ten Commandments were carved, the Law was already there!
Ditto.
Rebuttal #2 THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE FOR ISRAEL
ALONE
Now
on video!
Biblical facts...
Fact is, according to this verse, they are correct. HOWEVER, who is Israel?
When was this prophetic statement fulfilled with 100% accuracy?
In other words… CHRISTIANS
= ISRAEL
Rebuttal #3: JESUS CAME TO FULFILL THE LAW/COMMANDMENTS
Biblical facts...
This actually has to be one of the easiest one to expose as error. Some go so far as to define the word, "fulfill" to mean "done away with." So, lets see if that makes sense shall we? Let's re-word that verse to their liking... "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to do away with it" Rather obviously wrong is it not? In fact, it's actually rather a stupid statement. Ever notice how everyone seems to have no problem acknowledging 9 of the 10 commandments? But when it comes to the one and only commandment that the Almighty specifically states to "REMEMBER" it's this one they forget? Do you realize that there is a reason for this?
So... what does this word "fulfill" mean in this verse?
4137 pleroo {play-ro'-o}
from 4134; TDNT - 6:286,867; v
AV - fulfil 51, fill 19, be full 7, complete 2, end 2, misc 9; 90
Notice the word fulfill used in another verse by Jesus...
According to their theology of defining "fulfill = done away with. They are now preaching Jesus wanted baptism to DO AWAY WITH RIGHTEOUSNESS? Ridiculous isn't it? Jesus come to John to be baptized by him. As the Word declares, John wants to be baptized by Jesus instead. Yet Jesus wants him to go ahead an baptize Him anyway so that He can FULFILL ALL RIGHTEOUSNESS! Jesus came to magnify the Law. He came to fulfill it. He came to make it real unto us. PLus, what of this passage...
Let's take that that "lo, I am with you alway, even to the END OF THE WORLD" and further drive home the reality of His law. In Matthew 5:18 we read, "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." Until "Heaven and earth pass" away we understand here that the Law of God will be here ALWAYS EVEN TO THE END OF THE WORLD do we not? Fact is, the Heavens and the Earth have NOT yet passed away have they? And all has NOT yet been fulfilled has it? And seeing how the Earth, and Heavens are still here, the Law must still be binding, and seeing how the Law is still binding we see that Jesus is still with us EVEN TO THE END OF THE WORLD
PLUS, with understanding of the REAL meaning of the word "fulfill" here, what is this verse saying? Not one jot or tittle of the Law will NO WISE PASS FROM THE LAW until ALL is fulfilled. Shall we rephrase it the way the World preaches it? This verse especially makes them out to be in grave error. This is how THEY preach it...
THEY SAY... "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 DONE AWAY WITH."
Again, it really comes off as a rather stupid comeback. The Scriptures openly expose them with such ease it's rather laughable at this point is it not? I mean come on already... they are saying that NOT ONE JOT OR TITTLE WILL PASS AWAY UNTIL ALL IS DONE AWAY? ? ? ? ?
One more point to notice here. The passage said... "one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." Look around! Has the Heaven and the Earth PASSED AWAY? No? Then neither has ONE JOT OR TITTLE of that Law.
Summing it up. The main purpose for the walk of Jesus Christ?
And the righteousness spoken of here is the righteousness of the law (that) might be fulfilled in us.. And by the way, the word "FULFILL" in this passage is the exact same word (Strongs # 4137) they say meant "done away with" in Matthew 5:17! Truth is, their own theology exposes them perfectly.
The Law Christ came to fulfill was actually the Law of Moses that held shadowy elements that pointed to the cross. I go into far more detail about that on another page on the site. Click here to see it.
If I were asked to share one passage that proves He came to fulfill the Law of Moses which are customs of the Jewish nations as pertains to feast days. I would quote Acts 6:14 where it says, "For we have heard him say, that this Jesus of Nazareth shall destroy this place, and shall change the customs which Moses delivered us."
CUSTOMS :485 ethos {eth'-os}
from 1486; TDNT -
2:372,202; n n
AV - custom 7, manner 4, be wont 1; 12
1)
custom
2) usage prescribed by law, institute, prescription, rite
One last note:
Read that passage carefully and you will see that to LOVE actually FULFILLS the Law! The first 4 commandments deal with how we show our love to God. The last 6 deal with how we show love to each other. If you LOVE as Jesus did. You can FULFILL the purpose of the Law as well.
Rebuttal #4: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE NO LONGER NEEDED
Biblical facts...
Have you ever had a contractual agreement with someone? Have you ever signed a LEASE with a landlord? Do you AND the Landlord keep a copy of the lease after agreement is acknowledged by both parties? Do you recall how the people of old said the following words as "agreement" unto the Commandments of the Lord?
What happened immediately after they made this statement? Moses goes up to the mountain to get the Commandments written in stone by the Almighty. By the time he returns the people of Israel have broken ALL TEN of the Commandments! So, how does the Almighty remedy this situation? Does He hatefully EVICT all of the Human race out of existence? Or does He lovingly give us another chance to KEEP THE CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT with Him?
In the Old Covenant, we have man making a promise with God Almighty, and God Almighty making a promise with man. It was a CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT between man and God. But it was broken wasn't it? And not only was it broken. His Word records the fact that the Almighty is aware of the broken agreement.
His Word is indeed proclaiming fault in the "first" or "Old" Covenant here is He not? But WHO was at fault in the Old Covenant? WHO BROKE IT? Did the Almighty break His covenant with Israel? Or did Israel break it with Him?
Mankind broke His covenant. They proved that man could NOT keep the Laws of God. So, did the Almighty decide to ABOLISH His Law altogether so as to allow for His children to attain Heaven? If that is so, then the Law of God would be AGAINST or CONTRARY to the promises He made in the first place. Is this the case?
In other words, the Law is NOT against His promises. Plus we also see another blessed Truth surfacing in this passage. So many believe that because "we" keep the Ten Commandments we feel that doing so SAVES US. Well, if the Law was "salvation" instead of the loving Sacrifice of the Lamb of God in the person Jesus Christ, then it would have been made aware in the Word that to keep the Law would have saved you. Or as Paul puts it, "verily righteousness should have been by the law."
The "better covenant" was needed. The old Covenant was based on the keeping of the promises of man and their God. The Almighty kept His side of the bargain, mankind messed up. And still, this Almighty Father decides to actually make it VERY easy for us now to KEEP THAT PROMISE we should have kept long ago...
Not only is the Law of God the very same commandments, "That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in." But thanks to Jesus Christ we "can do all things" because He helps us. And keeping the promise made long ago is now much easier. He took the Ten Commandments that were in the temple of the Lord inside the ark, and placed them in our "temples." Is it not written that we ARE the temple of the Lord? And is it not also written that He has placed this law on the "fleshy tables of the heart"? And is not the "ark" in the MIDST of the TEMPLE of the Lord?
Kinda makes it easier to see WHY the Temple veil r-r-r-r-ripped now doesn't it?
It used to be that Israel said, "We will do all that the lord has said." But now it is reality that JESUS will do it for us INSIDE US! That's why it's so easy to keep His Law now. In fact, it's "not grievous" to keep them because we are governed by His Love. And our LOVING obedience to Him as our Father makes it oh so aware to us as it does the Angels that to kill, lie, steal, etc is just plain WRONG and not right to do. We actually choose not to sin simply because we know it's wrong. Think about that. Did the Almighty have to keep track of the Angels before sin arrived in Heaven? Did He have to constantly remind the two thirds that DIDN'T fall for the lies of Lucifer that it was wrong to do? NO! They KNEW it was wrong and chose not to do it.
By the way... for all you Preachers out there that preach in prisons. Go ahead, tell those convicted murderers they no longer need the Law. I wonder...what Law will they be thinking about breaking? Do you suppose you will live through it?
Rebuttal #5: THE NEW COVENANT IS LOVE, NOT KEEPING THE LAW
Biblical facts...
Correct! But to walk IN THAT LOVE you must at first be KEEPING THAT LAW. Keeping the Law of God is actually open evidence that you DO love your neighbor. In fact, Jesus summerized the LAST SIX commandments like this...
Look at the last six commandments and see it is our relationship WITH EACH OTHER. To keep those commandments proves you LOVE your neigbor. Would you show love to your neighbor if you steal from him? Kill him? Covet his wife or his good? Lie about him? Etc...
So, I agree, the New Covenant is indeed based on love. But to truly love each other we must keep the ten commandments. And by the way, this theology runs true with the first four commandments as well. How so...?
Is this something that can be verified as an Old Covenant promise He desired of us?
It says.. Heart? Mind?
Want the entire Decalogue (Ten Commandments) summerized in ONE NEW TESTAMENT VERSE?
The REAL definition of love ... John 14:15, "If ye love me, keep my commandments."
Think about how we as humans show love to one another by keeping The Law of God…
If as Christian’s we realize that in order to show love for our fellow man, you must keep all of the last six commandments. Can you not also see as a Christian that to show love unto God is to keep the first four commandments?
If you as a Christian realize that in order to show love for your fellow man, you must keep all of the last six commandments that Jesus summarized as the "second commandment" in Matthew 22:39. Can you not also see as a Christian that to show love unto God is to keep the first four commandments that Jesus summarized in Matthew 22:37,38?
So, I ask you.
I ask those that break His law knowingly. Why is it you can so easily show love for each other, but when you are asked to show love to God, it’s impossible? The REAL Christian will not only keep all ten of the commandments. The REAL Christian will go beyond them because of their love for Jesus! Case in point, Jesus said in Matthew 5:40-41, "And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain."
Love always gives more than is required without looking upon it as a burden. 1 John 5:3 said, "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." It's no such much that Jesus is FORCING us to love each other. It's more like He is stating we WILL love our fellow man more than the norm simply because Christ's love will be apparent within us.
The true Christian will go the extra mile simply because their love compels them to do so. They do so with a joyful heart a heart that won't grumble while going the extra mile simply because they feel their fellow man needs them to, and in Christian love they are compelled to show this love. We should go far beyond that which is written. For example, the Law states thou shalt not committ adultery. But Jesus illustrates how much more the true Christian love will abound for Him and His truth by saying…
Jesus shows that the true Christian will go far beyond the written letter of the law. Love will always raise the standard. The Christian not only keeps the Ten Commandments. He or she will also go so far as to not even THINK on those things within the heart that are against the Law of their God. We do this because we love Him and want to please HIm with all our hearts! We don’t do this because we don't want to burn in Hell. Christianity isn’t fire insurance! Thoughts like this don't even come to the mind of the true child of God. It truly is a labor of love.
Rebuttal #6: WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW BUT UNDER GRACE
Biblical facts...
This is how the World
preaches this verse... Romans 6:14-15, "For sin shall not have dominion over
you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace..."
AND THEY STOP!
But let us continue on
and finish the verse shall we...
Popular theology is that if we sin AFTER salvation we can no longer loose our salvation because we are under grace. I have NUMEROUS verses listed here that prove that a bogus lie... My favorite verse is of course...
What is Paul talking about when he says were not UNDER the Law? What does under the law mean? FIRST we need to define SIN
To be "under the Law" means to be "under the curse" of the Law, and according to Roman 6:23, the wages of sin is DEATH.
Biblical fact is...
Daniel is rather clear here. To transgress the law (sin) means the CURSE is poured upon us. We are then under the curse of the law when we break it!
Here it’s made quite clear to be a Christian we are REDEEMED from that curse. But my favorite passage on explaining this is…
So.. according to Deuteronomy, there is..
The only way someone is UNDER THE LAW is when they BREAK IT. What you do then is deny God’s GRACE. So.. how can you still be UNDER GRACE, when sinning?
To further address the "Once saved always saved" issue. Read this passage...
This verse amply proves as did the passage I shared earlier in Hebrews 6. IF WE CHOOSE TO SIN after becoming "made whole" then a worse thing will come unto us! The ULTIMATE verse for this rebuttal has to be the following...
Yes, it's true we have been blessed with grace in the age of the church. But according to the Word of God, that grace is what helps us to be OBEDIENT to the faith! Look at Adam and Eve. They are what man was meant to be before the fall. But WHAT was the fall? They were DISOBEDIANT! Many believe all they have to do is believe in Jesus to gain Heaven. They fail to realize that Adam and Eve SAW JESUS face to face in the garden everyday. They had no problem BELIEVING in Him. Even the "devils believe and tremble,"- James 2:19. It was disobediance that caused Adam and Eve's fall.
One last verse from one who is known as the end time prophet...
Iniquity is actually KNOWN SIN. If we are no longer under the law but under grace, and SIN as many assume is ok to do, why does Ezekiel say they die for their KNOWN SINS? It CAN’T be talking about sinners, they DON’T know what sin is UNTIL they find Christ and His perfect Law.
So it MUST be talking about people claiming to be God’s people Sinners that have no clue of what the law is, can’t commit KNOWN SIN! Only believers do that. Need I remind you of the believers Jesus spoke of in Matthew 7...
They called Him "Lord" in this passage did they not? And at the same time Jesus called them workers of iniquity. Had they been simple sinners unaware of Christ or His Law, they never would have called out, "Lord, Lord" would they?
Being "Under Grace" means simply that.
For example... Picture being pulled over by a cop for speeding. You are not "under" the law until you SPEED. You broke the law and now the "curse" of the law is your just desert, which in this case is the ticket. However, if you ask the cop for mercy, and he gives it... are you allowed to speed now? No, of course not! You are under his GRACE right? So you are then extra careful NOT to break the law now. You don't pull away spraying gravel on the cop because you don't want to insult his MERCY. It's THAT simple.
Rebuttal #7 IF WE HAVE FAITH WE NEED NOT THE LAW!
It appears the early church also thought they no longer needed the law of God once they had the faith of Jesus. Paul tackles this situation directly by stating GOD FORBID! How can one say that, that which brought Him the knowledge of Christ is now no longer needed? Our faith in Christ and what He died for ESTABLISHES that Law. We accepted Christ when we found out we were IN SIN. Now that He showed us our sin, are we to go back to it? Sadly, some do.. For Peter states…
If the Law wasn't blunt and powerful enough to sentence all sinners to death, then why did Jesus come to die for us? And WHY did we accept Him as Saviour? Saviour from WHAT then? If we think faith in Jesus allows us to break His Law, then WHAT are we saved from? People go to Hell for SIN, and according to the Bible SIN = TRANSGRESSION OF THE LAW! (1 John 3:4) THAT is what we are saved from!
Many will say that because the Word then says we are no longer "under" schoolmaster that we need not carry the law. I say unto them, what if your schoolmaster was a tightrope walker? After he teaches you all the information you need about tightrope walking do you merely ignore ALL he taught you the day you climb out on a tighrope hundreds of feet in the air? If you have such a strong memory to recall all he taught so as to spare your physical life, why is it you forget all about your eternal life?
Rebuttal #8 I AM A CHRISTIAN AND I AM "WITHOUT" OR "NOT UNDER" THE LAW
Then it is for you I preach. Need I say more?
"under the Law" means to be "under the curse" of the Law.
Christ hung on that tree to illustrate the ultimate CURSE OF THE LAW. DEATH! For the Word says plain, the wages of sin IS death! Now that we are "saved" from death, we no longer have to worry about the"curse" of the Law because Christ in us helps us to keep the Law perfectly. And since He is doing that, keeping it has become NOT GRIEVOUS" to do so as 1 John 5:3 so boldly proclaims.
Rebuttal #9 I NEED NOT WORRY ABOUT THE "CURSE OF THE LAW"
Look at the "law" in general for a moment. Take for example the "laws of nature." Can you break the laws of nature and not suffer their curse upon you? What of the law of gravity? Can you leap from a tall building and NOT crash to the ground? The curse of that particular law is DEATH if you break it. No matter how hard you try to explain away, or preach that that law is not for you, or it's curse does not apply to you simply because you are "above the law" or "special" or "non-believing" of it. No matter, the curse will apply to you. Jump from the building, the curse will apply. You will die.
So... I ask, if you cannot side step the mere laws of nature, HOW pray tell can you side step the laws of God? Break His Law, and you will suffer the curse of the law. Plain and simple. Jesus proved that when He died. He dies for our SINS! And the LAw said the "wages of sin is death" does it not? THAT is the curse we are no longer "under" because Christ helps us now to be "overcomers." See Galatians 3:10-14 for a BLUNT lesson...
What's the promise?
You prefer a little more in depth? I love the way Paul explained it here...
If you don't believe in Christ then you will perish because the Law cannot be broken. If there is sin, then there must be a death. That is why Christ came to dei for you. However, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ and understand the Law defines sin, yet sin anyway, then you will be judged by that Law for any un-confessed sin you commit.
So.. BLUNTLY? What is the curse of the Law?
As a Christian I am blessed by the law of liberty.
I am actually at liberty to obey. Picture being pulled over by a cop for speeding. You
are not "under" the law until you SPEED. You broke the law and now the "curse"
of the law is your just desert, which in this case is the ticket. However, if you ask the cop for mercy, and he
gives it... are you allowed to speed now? No, of course not! You are under his GRACE right? So
you are then extra careful NOT to break the law now. You don't pull away
spraying gravel on the cop because you don't want to insult his
MERCY. It's THAT simple.
Rebuttal #10 AFTER JESUS DIED THE COVENANT WAS CHANGED
According to Scripture, the testament / covenant actually goes in force after the death of the Testator. In other words, in order to change ANYTHING in the Covenant, the Testator MUST DO SO BEFORE DEATH! Ask any lawyer and they will tell you that you can change your last will and testament before you die, but after you die it is impossible! That which the Testator placed in writing before death, becomes strong and rock solid after his death. And Scripture verifies that fact. Jesus SEALED it with His blood.
Rebuttal #11 CHRISTIANS NEED NOT OBEY THE LAW
Obedience is extremely important! Simple Biblical fact is Satan wants you to dis-obey, where the Almighty wants you to obey. It's the same old story since day one. The Word tells us in Revelation 21:27, "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." The Word is telling us that nothing sinful will enetr into Heaven. THAT is why Satan wants you to keep disobeying the Lord. He does not want you to enter in. Just as Adam and Eve were asked to OBEY the Lord, so are we asked to OBEY the Lord. The truth is this folks, the Lord tells us that "...affliction shall not rise up the second time."-Nahum 1:9 That means that sin will NOT start up again in Heaven after we get there. Do you realize what that means? WE ARE BEING TESTED! The Lord is looking for those human beings He created that will CHOOSE NOT to sin down here on earth no matter what the situation is. How can the Lord allow us into His Kingdom knowing we choose not ot obey Him down here? One major issue of this whole ball of wax is this. Disobediance is Satan's main concern, he has devised tricks and situations all through history designed to get man to sin, thereby declaring their disloyalty to the Creator. And ALL of it is about to come to a major head. The very last attack on mankind in general has to do with WHO you will choose to obey. The Almighty and His Word, or the devil and His lies. The MARK OF THE BEAST is Satan's masterpiece that declares unto the Creator that he has been able to convince literally BILLIONS upon the Earth that his evil ways are better than the Lord's Truth. Look around and see for yourself, Satan has gotten almost all of mankind to obey him, instead of the Lord. Literally billions of "so called" Christians are obeying the fabricated unBiblical lies of the devil over and above the easy to research Truths of Scripture.
You are placing us under the OLD COVENANT!
I had just finished preaching on the subject of the Sabbath in one of my evangelistic crusades. As I stepped off the platform to greet the people as they left, three young men blocked my way in the aisle. One of hem addressed me in quite a loud voice— loud enough to cause about fifty people near the front of the auditorium to stop and listen. “Brother Joe,” he said, “we were disappointed tonight with the way you put us back under the Old Covenant. Don’t you realize that we are living under the New Covenant now, and should keep Sunday instead of the Sabbath?” Although most of the congregation were leaving the building, the group near the front gathered closer to hear all that the young men were saying. It was obvious that I would have to take the time to answer this trio's challenging question. As I suspected, they turned out to be young seminarians in training at a local Bible college. Eagerly they held their Bibles in their hands and waited triumphantly for me to answer. Usually, I do not like to debate controversial matters in a public forum, for fear of stirring combative natures, but there seemed no way to avoid dealing with these ministerial students. Anyway, they had my path completely blocked, and the circle of listeners looked at me expectantly for some explanation.
“Well, it seems as though you have studied the subject of the covenants quite deeply,” I suggested. “Oh, yes,” they affirmed, “we know all about the covenants.” “Good,” I replied. “You undoubtedly know when the Old Covenant was instituted.” One of them spoke up quickly, “It was started at Mt. Sinai.” “And how was it ratified?” I asked. Without a moment’s hesitation one of them answered, “By the sprinkling of the blood of an ox.” “Very good,” I commented, “and how was the New Covenant ratified?” All three chorused the answer, “By the blood of Jesus on the cross.” I commended the young men for their knowledge of the Scriptures and asked them to read me two verses out of their own Bibles—Hebrews 9:16,17 and Galatians 3:15. They responded eagerly to the invitation, and read the verses, commenting on each one after reading. “We agree that the New Covenant did not go into effect until after Christ died, and nothing can be added or taken away after He ratified it on he cross,” the spokesman for the group asserted. All three nodded their heads emphatically over this point. I said. “Now you must answer two more questions for me. Here’s the first one, and you must think carefully to give me the correct answer: When did Sunday-keeping begin?” There was a moment of shocked silence, and then another, and another. The boys looked at each other, and then down at their feet, and then back at me. I gently prodded them for the answer, “Surely you can tell me the answer to this question. You have known all the others, and have answered correctly. When and why do you think people began keeping Sunday?” Finally, one of them said, “We keep Sunday in honor of the resurrection of Jesus.” I said, “Then I must ask you my last question. How could Sunday keeping be a part of the New Covenant? You just stated that nothing could be added after the death of Christ. He died on Friday and was resurrected on Sunday. If Sunday was added after Jesus died, it could never be a part of the New Covenant could it?” The three young men shuffled their feet, looked helplessly around, and one of them said, “We’ll study into that and talk to you later.” Then they fled from that auditorium as fast as they could go. I can assure you, also, that they never returned to talk further about the covenants." -
...a concerned Christian
Galatians 4:21-31, "Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar. For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise. But as then he that was born after the flesh persecuted him that was born after the Spirit, even so it is now. Nevertheless what saith the scripture? Cast out the bondwoman and her son: for the son of the bondwoman shall not be heir with the son of the freewoman. So then, brethren, we are not children of the bondwoman, but of the free."
Many that misunderstand Scripture, and choose not to adhere to Biblical jurisprudence or a "line upon line or precept upon precept" method of investigating Bible truths will use two passages out of context to evangelize a lie regarding the Law of God. The passages they say claim it is a sin or a "curse" to keep the Law of God are as follows...
Seeing how these verses seem to contradict themselves would be the first red flag most Christians would decide warrants further study. For example, in Galatians 3:10 it appears that the first half of the passage is saying those that keep the Law are cursed, yet the second half reveals the exact opposite. Looking at Romans 3:20 we see the same scenario as well. So, what's going on here?
If you research this using a parallel Bible that shows word for word these passages in both English as well as Greek you will find something quite amazing. There is a word missing in BOTH those verses! the word "EK" is missing. The English translation of that word is "OUTSIDE." So, looking at those two verses again with that word placed where it belongs we see why the devil removed it...
Truth is, if one does the "line upon line and precept upon precept" as Isaiah suggested in chapter 28 of his book we would see MANY verses prove both passages were missing a word. My favorite verse that validates all this is from Romans chapter 2...
If you still think Galatians 3:10 and Romans 2:20 are saying you cannot be justified by keeping the Law of God, then you need to rip out a LOT of verses that say otherwise.
I FOLLOW THE LORD PERFECTLY, AND I CHOOSE SUNDAY AS SABBATH!
The Word says...
Jesus said...
Christians should say...
Many claim the 7th day Sabbath was valid before Christ
came. Then suddenly after Christ came and ascended back to Heaven
it became Sunday. But what of this verse...?
Why do they pray a prayer they call the "Lord's prayer" where they recite the words, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven" ? The truth is, that so called prayer plainly says, "Thy will be done ON EARTH as it is IN HEAVEN." If they are keeping SUNDAY as Sabbath on earth while praying that prayer, don't they realize that Jesus knows they are NOT doing His will on earth as He has written it is done in Heaven?
Yes we are "dead to the Law" because the wages of SIN = DEATH. (Romans
6:23) Since Jesus
died for that sin, His death is what the Law accepts as payment for our sins. So, we are "dead to the
Law" by the body of Christ that died for us. However, if we continue to
sin thinking we are longer held accountable, then we place ourselves
back under the curse of the law which is death.
JEWS WERE FIRST TO KEEP THE LAW, THEREFORE IT'S MADE ONLY FOR THEM!
It appears HIS ANGELS.. DO HIS COMMANDMENTS!
Truth is, if the angels keep them, the Law had to have been there BEFORE man arrived.
PLUS, how could Satan "sin" and be cast from Heaven BEFORE Mankind arrived if
no law existed? Everyone knows, the definition of sin is... "TRANSGRESSION OF THE
LAW"
1 John 3:4, "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
BEING "LEAST IN HEAVEN" MEANS YOU WILL STILL BE THERE?
Truth is, being called "least" in Heaven means you are NOT there. Why?
1. We REIGN with Christ
2. It is HEAVEN where nothing defiling resides.
3. If someone of a "lesser" degree is there, it will remind us of SIN. But an "utter end" of sin will be accomplished and it will not be allowed to rise up ever again!
GENTILES WEREN'T UNDER "MOSAIC" LAW, AND THEREFORE UNDER THE "ROYAL LAW."
Truth is, yes they were.
If they "converted" to
the truth offered by the Jews who held the Torah, as did Ruth and others, they had to
keep that law as did the Jews. Just because the Jews hoarded the law and never
shared and taught it like they were called to do, doesn't mean they were the
only ones liable.
Was Abel a Jew? No. Did he do sacrifice? Yes. In fact,
his righteous act, or as some refer to it as "his Mosaic agreement"
got him killed!
WE WON'T HAVE TO KEEP THE LAW IN HEAVEN!
Micah 4:1-3, "But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, and to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. And he shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."
This passage obviously speaks of Heaven. If we are keeping the Law in Heaven as this verse declares, then those of us that keep His Law on earth are doing so because His Spirit moves us to. Since it is understood that His Law is being kept in Heaven, it is also understood to be a fruit of the Christian rather then good works or a prerequisite to gain Heaven as some assume we believe.
To put it plainly.. I don't keep the law to GET saved. I keep the because I AM saved.
YOU'RE KEEPING THE LAW TO GET SAVED! YOU'RE TRYING TO BE SAVED BY WORKS.
As most Christians are aware, it is "Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:9) Still, some claim that by us keeping the Law we are attempting to get saved by the Law. Truth is, we do not keep the Law to GET saved, we keep it because WE ARE saved. Works are merely a fruit of the Christian walk. It is what Jesus was talking about when He said in Matthew 7:20, "Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them." These works of obedience are nothing more than the Holy Spirit doing what He promised long ago. In Jeremiah 31:33 it was prophesied about the New Testament Christian church that, "...this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people."
Back when the Gentiles were first hearing about Jesus Christ as Messiah, many of them started to keep the Law without ever being taught to do so. In Romans 2:14-15 it is written, "For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another)"
Bottom line is this when it comes to the "work" of keeping the Law of God. In James 2:24-26 it is plainly written, "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."
WHEN THE JEWS BECAME CHRISTIANS THEY STOPPED KEEPING THE LAW
Some have been taught that when the Jews became Christians they gave up the law. But the following passage proves this is not true. They were not only believers, they were "zealous of the law."
Acts 21:20, "And when they heard it, they glorified the Lord, and said unto him, Thou seest, brother, how many thousands of Jews there are which believe; and they are all zealous of the law:"
Also notice how Paul describes a New Testament believing Christian names Ananias...
Acts 22:12, "And one Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good report of all the Jews which dwelt there,"
WHY DOES THE DEVIL ATTACK THE LAW
Why do you suppose the Devil would make such an open and apparent attack on the Ten Commandments? Do you suppose there's something about the Law of God that is so important that the enemy would not have us find out about it? Have you ever seen this passage?
Galatians 3:24, "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."
The Law of God is what defines sin! The Law of God declares we NEED a Saviour! The Law of God tells us to seek out Jesus to help us because we cannot do it without Him. Think about the simplicity of that fact. The Ten Commandments are the actual laws of the Creator God that declares in 1 John 2:4, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." That is in essence saying, HOW can you claim to be A CHRISTIAN if you don't keep His Law? How? That's exactly what that passage says! You are a LIAR if you say to the World that you are a Christian, and then bow down in front of a statue to pray a rosary. You are a LIAR if you say to the World that you are a Christian, and then break the Seventh Day Sabbath of the Lord Jesus Christ who is in fact LORD OF THE SABBATH according to Matthew 12:8. The basic fact is, the Law of God POINTS OUT SIN to you. That's why the Devil does not want you to keep it. If he can keep you from the Law of God, he can sufficiently prevent you from finding out that you are in sin...
Romans 3:20, "...for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
Romans 7:7, "What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law..."
And then Romans 7:7 confirms it's speaking of the Law of God when it explains further at the end of the verse, "for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." Is that amazing? Now do you see why the devil wants you to believe the Law was abolished at the cross??
Wan a rather amazing connection between the Law of God and the Mark of the Beast? First I must ask four simple questions...
Revelation 14:9, "And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,"
#1 Who is this verse speaking of? The wicked who receive the mark of the beast, right?
Revelation 14:10, "The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb:"
#2 Who is this verse speaking of? The wicked who receive the mark of the beast, right?
Revelation 14:11, "And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name."
#3 Who is this verse speaking of? The wicked who receive the mark of the beast, right?
Revelation 14:12, "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
#4 Who is this verse speaking of? The saved who do NOT receive the mark of the beast, right?
Did you notice what occurred? It is stating in verses 9, 10, & 11 the just deserts of those that receive the mark of the beast. And in verse 12 it describes the general makeup of saints in the last days when the Mark of the Beast is being enforced. It declares them as those that KEEP THE TEN COMMANDMENTS AND HAVE THE FAITH OF JESUS! Do you hear what that's saying? It's saying, if you keep the Ten Commandments, and have the faith of Jesus, you will NOT receive the mark of the Beast!
Let me explain further on this simple fact...
This website is literally drenched with many articles, Catholic doctrines, Vatican announcements, and historic events that prove, the Roman Catholic church has declared war on the Ten Commandments as well as the faith in Jesus. Fact is, Revelation 14:12 is supplying two major conditions for NOT receiving the Mark of the Beast isn't it? It is speaking of those that keep His commandments and have faith in Jesus as SAINTS correct?
Notice this...
"If anyone shall say that by faith alone the sinner is justified so as to understand that nothing else is required to cooperate in the attainment of the grace of justification, and that it is in no way necessary that to be prepared and disposed by the action of his own will, let him be anathema." -Council of Trent
"There is only one holy and apostolic church, outside of which there is no salvation for every creature to be subject to the Roman Pontiff." -Pope Bonafice VIII in his Unam Sanctum
Do you realize what was just said? It is saying that if you believe that you are justified by faith alone, then you are to be LOST! As I explained earlier, the Catholic church with it's blunt changing of the Law of God, they removed commandment #2 and changed #4, they openly admit to doing the exact opposite of those saints in Revelation 14:12. As for the "faith in Jesus," did you notice the Council of Trent is actually stating FAITH ALONE IN JESUS is insufficient!
I'll let my Lord's Word expose that lie...
Romans 1:17, "For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith."
Romans 3:28, "Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."
Romans 5:1, "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"
Galatians 2:16, "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."
Galatians 3:11, "But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith."
Galatians 3:24, "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."
There you have it. The Law of God is being attacked for a reason. It is allowing for those people who believe the lies of Rome to be deceived into receiving the mark of the beast. They do so simply because they choose to believe a lie over the easy to research Truth in God's Word.
FINAL THOUGHT...
Well.. Putting it simple, the Devil hates the Law of God because ..."by the Law is the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:20) so he has to attack it and make it trivial in the eyes of the people! If the devil can keep you from looking in the "Biblical mirror" or using the "measuring rod" which is in fact the Law of God, he has won. He wants to prevent the world from looking to the Ten Commandments. He knows that if the people peer into the Law they WILL realize they are in sin, and they will also realize they are in need of a Saviour.
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Professor Edwards A. Park, in setting forth the current religious perils,
ably says: "One source of danger is the neglect of the pulpit to enforce the
divine law. In former days the pulpit was an echo of the voice of conscience. .
. . Our most illustrious preachers gave a wonderful majesty to their discourses
by following the example of the Master, and giving prominence to the law, its
precepts, and its threatenings. They repeated the two great maxims, that the law
is a transcript of the divine perfections, and that a man who does not love the
law does not love the gospel; for the law, as well as the gospel, is a mirror
reflecting the true character of God. This peril leads to another, that of
underrating the evil of sin, the extent of it, the demerit of it. In proportion
to the rightfulness of the commandment is the wrongfulness of disobeying it. . .
. "Affiliated to the dangers already named is the danger of underestimating the justice of God. The tendency of the modern pulpit is to strain out the divine justice from the divine benevolence, to sink benevolence into a sentiment rather than exalt it into a principle. The new theological prism puts asunder what God has joined together. Is the divine law a good or an evil? It is a good. Then justice is good; for it is a disposition to execute the law. From the habit of underrating the divine law and justice, the extent and demerit of human disobedience, men easily slide into the habit of underestimating the grace which has provided an atonement for sin." Thus the gospel loses its value and importance in the minds of men, and soon they are ready practically to cast aside the Bible itself. -Great Controversy p. 465 |
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Think about it. Have you
ever lied? Then you are guilty of breaking commandment number 9. Have you ever
stolen something? Then you have broken commandment # 8. How about adultery? Now
keep in mind, Jesus said in Matthew
Now, I just mentioned three of the ten commandments that probably everyone on earth has broken at least one of. And according to the Word of God, the wages of breaking God’s Law is DEATH. There are no ifs ands or buts about it. If you sin, there must be a death for that sin. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6:23) The devil knows this and so he does all he can to prevent people from opening a Bible and learning about how the law of God proves they need a Saviour.
How does the Law do this? Look at it this way. Go outside, roll in a mud puddle. Now walk back into the house and stand in front of a mirror. Ask the mirror to clean all the mud off of your body. Can it do that? No, of course not. All the mirror can do is show you that you have the mud on you. It’s only purpose is to let you know you need to be cleansed. The Law of God is no different. In James chapter one we see the Word of God depicting the Law of God as a looking glass where man can peer into. Like the mirror, the Law cannot make anyone clean. It’s sole purpose is to let us know where we need to be cleansed. It lets us know we are filthy with sin. Mankind cannot clean this sin off though, so the man looking in the mirror of God realizes he is in need of one that can clean him of this sin. This is where Jesus comes in. The Law of God cannot remove our defilement. It can only reveal we are defiled. And contrary to popular belief, we cannot clean ourselves as some religions teach. Take the Roman Catholic church that declares we can gains Heaven by our good works. Yet it says in Ephesians 2:9 that it is, "Not of works, lest any man should boast."
The wages of sin is death. And the definition of sin in both the old and new testament is in fact transgression of the law. And according to 1 John 2:4, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
#17-20 Let none suppose that Christ allows his people to trifle with any commands of God's holy law. No sinner partakes of Christ's justifying righteousness, till he repents of his evil deeds. The mercy revealed in the gospel leads the believer to still deeper self-abhorrence. The law is the Christian's rule of duty, and he delights therein. If a man, pretending to be Christ's disciple, encourages himself in any allowed disobedience to the holy law of God, or teaches others to do the same, whatever his station or reputation among men may be, he can be no true disciple. Christ's righteousness, imputed to us by faith alone, is needed by every one that enters the kingdom of grace or of glory; but the new creation of the heart to holiness, produces a thorough change in a man's temper and conduct. -Matthew Henry comments on Matthew 5:17-20
"The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law." -1 Corinthians 15:56
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any God in graven image, or any likeness of anything that 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 neighbor.
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 -Exodus 20:1-17
NOTE: How do we nurture our relationships with each other hear on earth? We have "quality time" with each of those we love. we spend time with each other often to make our relationships grow. The 4th Commandment, the 7th day Sabbath IS THAT QUALITY TIME that helps us to grow with Him. Now do you see why the Devil wants to stop you from keeping the TRUE Sabbath? It's a "special day" created for a special purpose. To SPEND QUALITY TIME with the Lord. If the Devil can remove the Biblically commanded time you share with the Lord, then your relationship with the Lord will end.
In a nutshell...
We don't keep the Ten Commandments to get Jesus in us. It is when we accept Him and receive in us that we keep them. Think of it this way... People in the prisons are NOT released from prison on parole until they can prove they will keep the laws of the land. Why would the Almighty be any different? Why would He let those that break His law into His kingdom? If you can't keep the laws of His land, why should He let you into it? Now do you understand why it is written in, Revelation 22:14, "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."
The awesome think about the New Covenant is that Jesus will HELP us keep His Law!
"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." -1 John 5:3,