GOD'S LAW
INTERACTIVE BIBLE STUDY
Many consider the 10 commandments as part of the old covenant and no longer binding for modern Christians. At the same time, there are many who believe the 10 commandments are still in force, however not all of them. Some are asking the question; Is God's law really something we should be taking more seriously? This study explores the law, including the various civil, ceremonial, health and moral laws in the Bible, the old and new covenants, the Sabbath and the law of Christ.
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12
To begin, click on the "Start" button. Use the "Next" and "Back" buttons to navigate through the study.
Many consider the 10 commandments as part of the old covenant and no longer binding for modern Christians. At the same time, there are many who believe the 10 commandments are still in force, however not all of them. Some are asking the question; Is God's law really something we should be taking more seriously? This study explores the law, including the various civil, ceremonial, health and moral laws in the Bible, the old and new covenants, the Sabbath and the law of Christ.
"Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14:12
To begin, click on the "Start" button. Use the "Next" and "Back" buttons to navigate through the study. Laws in Ordinances
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"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;" Eph 2:15
"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." Col 2:14
Laws in Ordinances
1
"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 [feasts]: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." Colossians 2:16-17 (KJV)
1
If we read the text in Col. 2:14 in context, we find that it is referring to laws that are a "shadow" of Christ. The laws that foreshadowed Christ were the laws having to do with the earthly sanctuary service.
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"For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law... For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof." Hebrews 7:12,18 (KJV)
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For example, the Israelites were commanded to take a lamb to the sanctuary as a sacrifice to atone for a sin they had committed. The lamb symbolized (or was a shadow of) Christ being sacrificed to atone for sins. Also, the priests would handle and apply the blood in the sanctuary, which symbolized Christ's ministry after His resurrection to forgive, justify, sanctify and restore sinners.
Laws in Ordinances
1
"Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary... Which was a figure [symbolic] for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation." Hebrews 9:1,9-10
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The laws that governed how to run the earthly sanctuary that the Israelites built, were only in place until Christ began His ministry to fulfill all of the symbols.
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"For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect... Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law; Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God" (Hebrews 10:1,8-12)
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This included activities such as making animal sacrifices, performing ceremonies, maintaining the items within the sanctuary and cleansing the sanctuary. All of these pale in comparison to the real sacrifice and ministry of Jesus Christ.
Types of Laws
There were many types of laws in the Old Testament, including the following:
1. Moral - This law is summed up by the 10 commandments, but amplified in various statutes and judgments throughout the first five books of the Bible. These amplifications detail how to keep the 10 commandments in various situations. The 10 commandments are repeated individually in the New Testament, and also further summed up in the commandment to love God with all your heart (sums the 1st through 4th commandments) and love your neighbor as yourself (sums the 5th through 10th commandments).
2. Civil - These laws were also based upon the moral law and defined a citizen's relationship to the Jewish nation's civil authorities and to fellow citizens. They implemented the 10 commandments within their specific society.
2. Civil - These laws were also based upon the moral law and defined a citizen's relationship to the Jewish nation's civil authorities and to fellow citizens. They implemented the 10 commandments within their specific society.
3. Ceremonial - The sanctuary-related rituals were defined through ceremonial laws, outlining the various sacrifices, offerings, observance of feast days, priestly activities and individual responsibilities involved.
4. Health - These laws related to hygienic and health principles, outlining specific foods and practices that were clean or unclean. These laws overlap the other laws, but are based on physical considerations.
4. Health - These laws related to hygienic and health principles, outlining specific foods and practices that were clean or unclean. These laws overlap the other laws, but are based on physical considerations.
Types of Laws
- Moral
- Civil
- Ceremonial
- Health
All these categories were interrelated and overlapped. While the Jews probably thought of all these laws as a package, there were certain distinctions. For example, the 10 commandments, unlike the other laws, were spoken by God directly to the people and placed inside the ark of the covenant, setting them apart as especially important. The other laws were written by Moses and placed in the side of the Ark. Also, the civil laws, statutes and judgments were all based on the moral law, providing further clarification of it. The ceremonial law also stemmed from the moral law in that it was only needed because the moral law was broken.
Think of the texts studied on the previous screens regarding doing away with laws. They all had to do with sanctuary-related ordinances/laws that were shadows symbolizing some aspect of Christ's ministry. They all fit under the ceremonial law category. These symbols were no longer needed after Christ fulfilled them on the cross, thus the laws were done away with.
"Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." (Romans 7:12 (KJV)
Since the Bible specifically outlines the type of laws that were abolished as being ceremonial or sanctuary-related, we can be sure that we no longer need to observe them. But, what about the other three categories? If we were to just take a common sense look at the types of laws, it would be logical that some could no longer be imposed, but some would never change. For example, the specific civil laws, in large part, could no longer be imposed after the Jews came under the civil control of another nation. A civil law that required a citizen to pay a tax to the ruling authority would no longer apply if that ruling authority was gone, and discontinuing paying it wouldn't violate any of the moral laws. On the other hand, health laws could still be kept as the human body still operates in the same fashion. Also, the moral laws are not dependent upon society, nations, civil authority or temples, but continue to be applicable, helpful and necessary.
The Law Continues
1
"By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments." I John 5:2
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." Ephes. 6:1-2
1
Understanding these different types of laws in the Old Testament, help make it clear why New Testament writers would say that the law is good and will last forever in one place, and then say that the law needed to be changed or was abolished in another place. For example, look at the texts here that teach us to keep God's law, even referring to specific parts of the 10 commandments.
These texts make sense as we see that God's law of 10 commandments, upon which all other laws are based, is good and binding forever, but the ceremonial-type laws are now replaced with something better.
2
"Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." Romans 3:31
"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if you kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty." James 2:10
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Living under grace in the new covenant doesn't mean that you don't keep God's law of 10 commandments any more. It simply means that you trust in Christ's sacrifice and ministry instead of lambs and priests in an earthly temple.
How the Law Relates to Sin
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"Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression." Romans 4:15
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." I John 3:4
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The Bible teaches that there must be a law in order for there to be sin...
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"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law..." Romans 5:12-13
"Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator." Galations 3:19
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But these texts say that the law was given after sin...and that the law was given because of sin. How can the law be given after sin, if sin can't exist without the law? Does that seem like circle logic? Not if there are different laws...One that existed prior to sin (10 commandments), and one that was given later because the 10 commandments were broken (ceremonial law).
The Old Covenant
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“In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.” Hebrews 8:13
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Notice that not only ceremonial laws were done away with at the cross, but also the old covenant faded away.
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"Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary." Hebrews 9:1
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As seen previously, the old covenant included these ceremonial laws. So, if the ceremonial type laws were being done away with, then there would also have to be a revised or new covenant. But, why change it?
3
"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. 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." Hebrews 8:6
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This text reveals that the old covenant needed to be replaced because the people could not hold up their end of the deal. Thus, the new covenant is based on better promises, namely God's and not ours. It is based on Christ's ability to atone for sin, not animals and earthly priests.
The New Covenant
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John 1:29 "The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
I Peter 1:19 "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers, But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:"
1
Christ became the real lamb, taking the place of the Old Covenant lamb. Studying the Old & New Covenants reveal an amazing number of symbols, of which all revolve around Christ.
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"Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man." Heb 8:1-3
"By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament...But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them..." Heb 7:25
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The New Covenant is an agreement between believers and God, in which God promises to atone for our sins and enable us to obey Him. Christ became our high priest, taking the place of the Old Covenant priestly mediation.
The New Covenant
1
Is. 42:6 "I the Lord have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles;"
Matthew 26:27-28 "And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; For this is my blood of the new testament [disposition, contract or covenant], which is shed for many for the remission fo sins."
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As you study the Bible with the sanctuary in mind, it doesn't take long to see that all of the symbolism of the Old Covenant points to one thing... Christ's ministry in the plan of salvation.
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"And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." Acts 13:39
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Jesus is the New Covenant! Only He makes complete salvation possible. Only He could take the place of all the ceremonial laws.
The 10 Commandments
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“And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments, and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. And the Lord commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments...” (Deut. 4:13)
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The 10 Commandments were CENTRAL in the old covenant...
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Hebrews 10:16 "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;" (see also Jer. 31:31-33)
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...and the 10 Commandments are CENTRAL in the new covenant.
Just like the Old Covenant, the New Covenant was needed because the law (10 Commandments) was broken. Jesus would not have needed to be manifested and die if the law was not broken or if the law could have been changed.
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"For every high priest is ordained to offer gifts and sacrifices: wherefore it is of necessity that this man have somewhat also to offer... For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people" (Heb. 8:3,10).
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The old covenant was based on the 10 commandments, and it was written on stone. The new covenant also has God's laws written down, but this time on the heart. The laws put into hearts under the New Covenant, could not be referring to the abolished ceremonial ordinances of the Old Covenant, or the civil laws of a former nation. They must be referring to God's eternal law on which all these other laws were based. The 10 Commandments are meant to become part of our thoughts and actions. They were not replaced when Jesus died on the cross, rather, Jesus' ministry is all about how He paid our penalty for sin (breaking the 10 Commandments) and how His righteousness covers our sins, and how He enables us to keep the law (10 commandments) by writing it on our hearts.
The Law for the Gentiles
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I Cor. 7:19 "Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God."
“In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ” (Col. 2:11).
1
After Christ died, there was some initial confusion about what should be required of Gentile believers. Many were especially concerned that Gentiles become circumcised and that they keep other laws in the Book of Moses. The first text makes it plain that circumcision is unimportant for salvation. However, it is also clear that the keeping of the commandments is important. The symbolism of circumcision of the flesh is fulfilled by Christ circumcising the heart, which cleanses us from sin and removes the selfish nature.
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Romans 2:13-15 "(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 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;)"
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The Gentiles may not have heard the law, but they were still supposed to keep it (it wouldn't make sense to be referring to the ceremonial law here, because the Gentiles were not naturally performing sanctuary related services). God made it possible to keep the 10 Commandments by writing them in their hearts. Let's look more in-depth into this issue of the heart...
It's All About the Heart
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"2 Cor. 3:3 "Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart."
“For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he...” (Proverbs 23:7).
1
Here again, the heart is being written on. The Greek word translated into heart means thoughts or feelings (the "mind"). Notice also the reference to tables of stone being replaced by tables of the heart. The 10 Commandments were written on tables of stone... now they are written on the heart.
2
Romans 7:14 "For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin."
Romans 8:7 "Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be."
2
You can't keep the moral law unless, through faith in Christ, you become spiritual by receiving a new nature from Christ. True obedience to the law must involve the mind and motives. This is where faith comes in... Faith in God's power to justify and sanctify, enabling you to keep His law. The Bible makes it clear that our hearts (minds) are pivotal in the New Covenant. Our mind is where we exercise faith and where our actions come from.
The New Covenant Started With Adam
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"By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain... These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them..." Heb. 11:4,13
"And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed." Gal. 3:5
1
The book of Hebrews outlines a large number of people throughout time, from Abel to Abraham to Moses to David, who will be saved because of their faith. The gospel, which is the good news about Christ and salvation through faith (the New Covenant), was also given to Abraham, who lived 430 years before the Book of Moses was written and the old covenant established. Since Adam and Eve's first sin, God has always promised future deliverance through Christ.
2
"Nor yet that he should offer himself often, as the high priest entereth into the holy place every year with blood of others; 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." Heb 9:25-26
"And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect." Galations 3:17
2
Christ's blood can cover everyone since the foundation of the world and the covenant made before the law of Moses was confirmed in Christ, just like the New Covenant. The plan of salvation as provided through the New Covenant has been in place and carried out since the beginning.
The Law After the Cross
With an understanding of the various types of laws in the Bible, as well as the differences between the two covenants, let's now take a look at a number of New Testament texts that, on the surface, may appear contradictory, or may appear to instruct us that there are no law requirements for modern Christians.
A Shadow of Things to Come
1
Heb 10:1 "For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect."
1
Which law referred to things to come? The ceremonial law contained symbols that point to Christ. The 10 Commandments do not contain those symbols. In fact, the 4th commandment actually points back to creation by instructing us to remember it. The Sabbath is not symbolic, but rather it is a sign of Christ's creative power, not only in creating the world, but creating a new heart within us (Psalm 51:10, Galatians 6:15).
2
Col 2:16-17 "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."
2
The ceremonial law was all about doing specific things that pointed to Christ (shadows of the reality). Moses wrote about requirements for food, special annual sabbaths (separate from the weekly Sabbath), cleansings and festivals that all symbolized Christ's ministry. These were blotted out at the cross, so there is no longer a requirement to do them. Notice that the 10 Commandments are not shadows of Christ's ministry, do not contain references to meat and drink, and it wouldn't make sense to be referring to them in these passages.
The "Sabbath" Days
1
"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." Col 2:16-17
1
Even though the text we just read about sabbath days clearly refers to shadows pointing to Christ, it can still be confused with the weekly Sabbath of the 10 Commandments without an understanding of the feast days in the Book of the Law.
2
"Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy covocation...It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath." Leviticus 23:24, 32
2
Several special annual feast days were set aside for the Israelites, and these were called sabbath days. The word sabbath means a repose or intermission, to rest. These special feast days were celebrated on a different day of the week every year, unlike the weekly Sabbath which was always celebrated on the seventh day of the week.
3
"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 to the Lord." Leviticus 23:37
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The annual sabbaths, or feast days, were to be observed beside, or in addition to, the weekly sabbaths of the Lord and the other requirements already established.
There Remains a Day of Rest
1
"For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, and God did rest the seventh day from all his works...There remaineth therefore a rest [sabbatismos] to the people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his." Hebrews 4:4,9,10
1
The context of this passage in Hebrews is referring to a spiritual rest, or resting from our works and believing in Christ. However, in the process of making this point, it also reaffirms that the weekly Sabbath (seventh-day) remains and that during it, we should rest from our works. Notice that it says we should rest from our own works, as God did from His. God did not need to obtain a spiritual rest, nor did he have any works of sin to cease from. His example was that He simply rested from his physical work of creating the world. We are instructed here that if we truly receive the spiritual rest of salvation, we will also cease from our physical work on the Sabbath, as God did from His.
2
"Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord that sanctify them" (Ezekiel 20:12).
2
There is no doubt that sanctification is part of both the Old and the New Covenants. But, here we have God promising to do the sanctifying, which is a special emphasis in the New Covenant, and this text defines the Sabbath as a sign of this.
The Curse of the Law
1
"Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." Gal 3:13
"For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:2
"But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." Galatians 5:18
1
The curse of the Law for the sinner is to suffer its penalty, which is death. The curse does not apply to those with faith in Christ, because they are free from the penalty of death. This is possible because Christ took the penalty upon Himself. The Law, of itself, is only condemnation and death to a transgressor. It has no saving quality. Christ redeemed us, not from the requirement of obeying the law, but from the curse of breaking the Law by enduring the punishment for sin.
Love Equals Obedience
1
2 John 1:6 "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."
1
If we love God, we should walk after His commandments that we have heard from the beginning.
2
I John 2:3-4 "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
2
To know God is to love Him. If we love Him, we keep His commandments. Love compels Christians to keep God's law.
3
I John 5:2-3 "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
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The Greek word for grievous means burdensome or heavy. If we truly love God, keeping the commandments won't be difficult.
In the Spirit, Not the Letter
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"Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: How shall not the ministration of the spirit be rather glorious? 2 Cor. 3:6-8
1
Remember from a previous screen how the law is a curse to those who are going to suffer the penalty (death) of breaking it? This text also mentions that the law kills. It only reveals our sin and condemns us for breaking it.
2
"We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens; A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man... Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle... 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" (Heb. 8:1-6).
2
Only through Christ's ministry can a person keep the law and be free from its penalty. Notice that the text says that the glory of the ministration would be done away, not the law. The mediation of Moses with all the sanctuary symbols was to fade away, replaced with the marvelous glory of Christ's mediation through the Spirit that He sends to empower each believer.
The Law of Liberty
1
James 2:8-12 "If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty."
1
James can't be referring to the ceremonial law in this passage, because it was abolished at the cross. He refers to a couple of specific commandments within the moral law and states that we should keep the whole law. The whole law includes all 10 Commandments (Decalogue), not just certain ones. (Note: The scripture at that time was the Old Testament.)
Last Day Commandment Keepers
1
Rev. 14:12 "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
Rev. 12:17 "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."
1
Prophecies of the last days show Satan fighting against those who keep the commandments AND have the faith of Jesus. This is important because the 10 commandments can only be kept because Jesus writes them on the heart of the believer who puts their faith in Him. This is the very essence of the new covenant.
2
Rev. 11:19 "And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail."
2
The earthly sanctuary contained the ark of the covenant with the 10 commandments inside. In this text, a prophetic glimpse into the heavenly sanctuary also shows the ark of the covenant, revealing that Jesus is, in reality, completing the plan of salvation as symbolized by the earthly sanctuary. The law inside the ark was written in stone, but is now written on the heart. The book of Revelation has many symbols of the earthly sanctuary and services. An understanding of the old and new covenants provides the key to understanding many prophecies
(see separate prophecy studies).
Last Day Commandment Keepers
1
Matt 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."
"But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day" (Matthew 24:20).
1
Since Jesus knew that the symbols and shadows of the ceremonial law would be abolished upon His death, then in this text He must have been referring to the 10 Commandments law and that it wouldn't be changing. He also referred to the Sabbath as being observed by Christians at the time when Jerusalem would be destroyed (70AD) and at the end of the age.
2
Rev. 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."
2
Here again, His commandments are in force until the second coming.
3
Isaiah 66:22-23 "For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the Lord."
3
Even in the new earth, the 10 commandments will remain in force. This text refers to the 4th commandment as being practiced in the new earth.
The Commands of Christ
1
Matthew 5:19-22,27,28 "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven...Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment...Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt no commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
1
Jesus taught that keeping God's Law is important. However, he also taught that what is in the heart is just as important as the actions. A person’s thoughts and motives must become pure. The Jews at that time were so caught up with their own “righteous” acts, that they had lost sight of faith. They accused Him of breaking the Sabbath, but Jesus just kept it in the way it was intended. Jesus did not do away with the 10 Commandments. He did not say "Don't be angry, but go ahead and kill." He did not say "Do not lust, but go ahead and commit adultery." Instead he gave us a clearer understanding and a new perspective of his eternal truths.
2
Matthew 5:27-28 "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."
2
In Matthew 5:21-48, Jesus reviews a number of "old" laws and gives new insight into them. He does this after stressing that He did not come to destroy the law or the prophets (v. 17). He does not "overturn" those "old" laws, but rather enlarges them so we understand what they really mean. For example, in verses 21-22 He talks about not killing, but points out that solving the problem of anger is part of not killing. He did not say "Don't be angry, but go ahead and kill." No, the old laws stands, but we need to understand its scope.
In verse 27-28, He did not say "Do not lust, but go ahead and commit adultery." Instead he gave us a clearer understanding of what it means to be faithful -- that it includes the heart and mind, not just the actions. The commandment always meant that, but Jesus explained it in more detail. He enlarged the concept of that specific law.
3
Matthew 5:38-39 "Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth:
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also."
3
Then we get down to verse 38-39 where it says "an eye for an eye". Again, this goes right to the heart. It isn't only the action of justice that is required. We need our thinking about how justice is applied to be enlarged. God's justice includes mercy, kindness and the whole plan of salvation, which if refused results in the execution of the "eye for an eye" result. Do not let our justice be done out of revenge and a hateful heart. Be kind and patient. Do not let our justice be hastily performed before the enlarged view of justice is allowed to play out.
The Commands of Christ
1
Luke 18:20-22 "Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he [the rich young ruler] said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me."
1
Jesus did not tell the young man to stop keeping God's law and to start distributing money to the poor and following Him. He told Him to do these things in addition to, or in fulfillment of the law.
2
John 15:10, 12 "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...This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you."
2
Earlier, in 2 John 1:6, we read that love is walking after his commandments. When Jesus speaks of His commandment being to love one another, this does not replace the 10 commandments, but simply summarizes them and again stresses that our thoughts are as important as our actions.
3
Matt 7:12 "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."
3
Jesus helped us better understand the true nature of keeping the 10 commandments. Do not be afraid of being legal and keeping God's law. Be afraid of the type of legalism that comes from trying to save yourself by keeping God's law and by inventing additional details that God never intended.
The Law of Christ
1
Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ." Galatians 6:2
"Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son." 2 John 1:9
"...sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4
1
We've seen on the previous screens, that Christ's commands include obeying God's Law of 10 Commandments. Being under the Law of Christ, or the Law of Grace, simply means you are under the New Covenant and since the law is now written on your heart, you WANT to do the right thing. You want to help your neighbor. Those who do not abide in the doctrines of Christ are those who transgress the law.
2
"For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." Romans 6:14
2
The Law of Christ is being under grace, which is the New Covenant. It provides for how Christ's sacrifice and continued priestly ministry enables us to avoid the penalty of our sins (death), to keep the 10 Commandments as they should be kept (in spirit) and to appear righteous in the judgment because Christ's righteousness stands in place of ours. All this is possible through faith in Christ.
Summary
Under the New Covenant, the conditions by which eternal life may be gained are the same as under the old - perfect obedience. However, in the new and better covenant, Christ has fulfilled the keeping of the law for us (through His perfect obedience substituting in place of our sinfulness in the books of heaven, and through His imparting of His spiritual nature and character to us which empowers us to keep His law), if we receive him by faith as our personal Saviour.
The law of 10 Commandments are still in effect. However, righteousness is NOT achieved within ourselves by obeying the law, but rather by claiming in faith through an external source (Christ in heaven), His perfect righteousness as our own and allowing Him to change our characters so we will keep His law by nature.
The law of 10 Commandments are still in effect. However, righteousness is NOT achieved within ourselves by obeying the law, but rather by claiming in faith through an external source (Christ in heaven), His perfect righteousness as our own and allowing Him to change our characters so we will keep His law by nature.
Keeping the Law is a delight and a sure result of love and faith in Jesus.
End of Study
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All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV). Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The "NIV" and "New International Version" are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV). Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible® (NASB), Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The "NIV" and "New International Version" are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
The Greek word translated to "ordinances" in these texts is dogma, which means a law or decree. But, to which laws are they referring?