The Nine Commandments of God
by David J. Stewart |
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And God spake all these words, saying...
- Thou shalt have
no other gods before me.
- Thou shalt not
make unto thee any graven image.
- Thou shalt not
take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.
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- Honour thy
father and thy mother.
- Thou shalt not
kill.
- Thou shalt not
commit adultery.
- Thou shalt not
steal.
- Thou shalt not
bear false witness against thy neighbour.
- Thou shalt not
covet. . . any thing that is thy neighbour's.
Look in Exodus 20:1-17 for the complete text.
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Commandment four is a "ceremonial law" which was ONLY for Old Testament
Israel. Ceremonial laws were a specific set of laws, for a specific group
of people (Israel), for a specific time period (Old Testament). When Jesus
died on the cross, He became our Sabbath. The six day work week in the Old
Testament pictured man foolishly trying to earn salvation through self-righteous good works
(which is impossible). The Sabbath day of rest represented our precious
Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who died in our place to pay for our sins. 2nd Corinthians
5:17, "For He [God the Father] hath made Him [God the Son] to be
sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in
Him."
We are saved by ceasing from our own
self-righteous efforts and resting
upon the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Jesus paid a debt that He did not owe, because we
owed a debt that we could not pay. Only through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ
can anyone be saved. Romans 3:25, "Whom God hath set forth to be a
propitiation
through FAITH IN HIS BLOOD, to declare his righteousness for the remission
of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God." Salvation is
undeserved and wholly by the grace of God toward us sinners.
Colossians 2:14, "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." When Jesus died on the cross, the
6" thick veil
in the Jewish temple was torn into two pieces, signifying a new covenant between God and His
people. The ceremonial laws were done away with. Ceremonial laws
were "reminders" to Israel of divine truths. Please understand that the
way of salvation did NOT change, all people of all times have been saved the
same way—by grace through faith in Jesus Christ
(Acts 10:43; Ephesians 2:8,9).
The Sabbath Day is not enforced today, which is
why the Bible further states in Colossians 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." It is certainly appropriate for
Jews to observe the Sabbath Day in honor of the Lord, but it is not required
anymore. The Israelites
were forbidden to even light a fire on the Sabbath (Exodus 35:3). Obviously,
the Sabbath is not enforced today. Circumcision, the Sabbath, eating of
swine, and other Jewish restrictions in the Old Testament were ceremonial
laws, which were all done away with at the cross (as far as being mandatory). As we just read in
Colossians 2:17, the Bible called the ceremonial laws, "a shadow of
things to come." When the sun is directly overhead, the shadow is gone.
Jesus was the fulfillment of the Sabbath, in Whom we rest for salvation.
There is nothing in the New Testament about
keeping the “ten” commandments. I called this article the “nine
commandments”; but in actuality there are HUNDREDS of commandments of God
throughout the Scriptures. Jesus summarized them in “two” commandments in
Matthew 22:36-40... Love God and your neighbor. There's certainly nothing
wrong with displaying the Ten Commandments; but I think it's important that
we realize the Sabbath Day is no longer in effect. Instead, we honor the
Lord on the first day of the week, which is Sunday. This is not the Sabbath;
but I think very important. America was a much better nation when stores
used to close on Sundays. In fact, many stores lowered their window shades
on Sunday, so people couldn't window shop. This was out of respect for the
Lord. Nowadays, greedy companies require employees to work midnight shift,
Sundays, Christmas, and have no regard for God nor man.
If the Sabbath were still in effect today, then
everyone who worked on the Sabbath (Saturday) would be put to death.
Exodus 31:15, "Six days may work be done; but in the seventh is the sabbath
of rest, holy to the LORD: whosoever doeth any work in the sabbath day, he
shall surely be put to death."
Also, moral laws are applicable
365 days a year (all the time). We are never to violate a moral law! We are never to commit murder. We are never to commit adultery. We
are never to bare false witness, etc. However, the Sabbath Day was
ceremonial and to be kept only ONCE a week. This it was not a moral law.
Also, moral laws apply to ALL humanity, the Sabbath was only for Israel, it was
a ceremonial law. As a matter of fact, Jesus broke the Sabbath! Jesus would never break a moral law! Jesus was strict on moral law, but
lenient on the Sabbath because He was the fulfillment of the Sabbath. This should make very clear that the Sabbath is
not valid today. So when you here people talking about the "Ten
Commandments;" in fact, there are only nine remaining, which are moral laws (which do not change). Still not convinced?
The Sabbath
Day—Moral or Ceremonial Law?
END
There are Hundreds of
Commandments!
The words “Thou shalt” appear 965 times
in the Old Testament. The words “Thou shalt not” appear 204 times in
the Old Testament. Of course, not all of these are God speaking, but most of
them are. The Ten Commandments do not forbid homosexuality, but God's Law
does forbid homosexuality in Leviticus 20:13 and elsewhere. It is
important that people be taught all of God's Word.
It is interesting that Jesus summed up all the
Law and prophets into TWO commandments . . .
Matthew 22:36-40, "Master, which is the
great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy
mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like
unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two
commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
Yet, in the Old Testament God gave Moses TEN
commandments to give to the Israelites. And then further still we see that
there are literally hundreds of commandments in the Bible for Christians to
obey. Jesus wasn't superseding the whole of God's Law with TWO commandments;
but rather, He was simplifying the Law of God for us to understand. The
Bible doesn't tell us not to hit our neighbor with a baseball bat, but if we
love our neighbor as our self as Jesus commanded, then we won't do that. All
of the commandments in the Bible fall under the umbrella of the Ten
Commandments. The first five commandments are based upon loving God with all
our heart; and the last five commandments are based upon loving our neighbor
as our self. This is why Jesus summarized them as such. If a man loves God
and his neighbour, then he will do no harm to either (and in so doing fulfil
the Law).
A man recently said to me that the Bible only
forbids men from committing homosexuality in Leviticus 20:13, but it does
not forbid women from doing so. Yet, if people love God then they won't
commit such wickedness. In fact, the Bible does condemn lesbianism, as we
read in Romans 1:26, "For this cause God gave them up unto vile
affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which
is against nature." It's sad how people attempt to justify sin with the
Scriptures. We must take the Bible as a whole and not overlook any portions
of it. If we take to heart the TWO commandments that Jesus emphasized: 1)
Loving God with all our heart, and 2) Loving our neighbor as our self, then
we will fulfil all of the Law of God in obeying those two. That is, a man
who loves his neighbor won't toss cigarette butts into his swimming pool, et
cetera.
Jesus taught that all of the Old Testament Laws
were based upon loving God and loving one's neighbor. If we get those two
commandments right, then everything else will fall into place. A man who
loves his neighbor won't deliberately hurt his neighbor in any way. If a man
loves God, then he will live for God and keep His commandments.
So as much as we hear about the “Ten
Commandments,” the Word of God contains many more commandments than that,
hundreds in fact. The Ten Commandments are a symbol of God's intolerance for
sin. Galatians 3:24,25, "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring
us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is
come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." The purpose of the Law was
never to get anyone to Heaven, nor to promote better human relations. God
gave the Law that "sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful"
(Romans 7:13). The purpose of the Law is to show us just how rotten and
sinful we are; thus revealing our desperate need for a Savior to redeem us
from hellfire. Jesus paid for our sins that we might be redeemed to God. In
view of all the possible sins mankind is capable of committing, the Ten
Commandments were given as a moral benchmark (a measuring stick) for the
Jews to compare themselves against. Everyone has broken God's
Commandments. Those who die in their sins without Christ as Savior will be
judged by the Law at The Great White Throne of Judgment
(Revelation 20:11-15).
The Sabbath, whenever mentioned in the
scriptures, always without exception, designates the seventh day of the
week. Clearly, the Sabbath Day was for a specific people (the Jews), during
a specific time (the Old Testament), in a specific region (Palestine).
Nowhere in the Bible is it affirmed that the first day of the week is given
in place of the Sabbath. It is part of the new covenant and with a new
significance, the day which our blessed Lord was raised from death according
to Mark 16:9, "Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of
the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast
seven devils."
America was a much better nation back when we
honored God enough to close our businesses on Sunday, refuse to work on
Sundays, and go to church on Sundays. 1st Corinthians 16:2 evidences
that Sunday had become the accepted day of going to church in the New
Testament, "Upon the first day of the week let every one of you
lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings
when I come." Acts 20:7, "And upon the first day of the week, when
the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready
to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight."
Colossians 2:16 says, "Let no man therefore judge you... in respect of...
the sabbath days." This proves that the Sabbath Day is not a command for
believers today, for we are not to judge anyone concerning the keeping of
it.
Christ is our Sabbath in Whom we rest for
salvation. We are saved by HIS righteousness, and not our own
self-righteousness! Unfortunately, Catholics don't believe this and are
hellbound in their own self-righteousness. It is not the Church that saves
us, nor ourselves; but rather, the blood which Jesus shed for our sins. We
are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8,9).
END
Is the Sabbath for Christians?
By Pastor David Reagan
If recent emails I have
received are any true indication, Sabbath worship among
those who claim to be Christians is becoming more and
more popular. Recently, I have heard that the Sabbath
was never changed by God; that we are still under
obligation to keep it; that refusal to keep it is the
mark of the beast; that it was invented by Roman
Catholics in order to worship the Sun god. We will go to
the Bible and a little history to get at the truth.
The Heresy
of Sabbath-Keeping
The New Testament teachings
of Paul, far from teaching the necessity of the Sabbath,
show that such a teaching is pure heresy. First,
consider this passage:
Colossians 2:16 “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:“ 17 “Which are a shadow of things to
come; but the body is of Christ.”
In this passage, Paul says
that the keeping of Sabbath days was only a shadow of
things to come. He told the Colossians not to let anyone
judge them concerning the keeping of the Sabbath days
(and other Jewish holy days). Since the Colossians were
saved Gentiles who would not have originally kept the
Sabbath, Paul is referring to those who would judge them
for not keeping the Sabbath. In other words, Paul is
clearly saying that the keeping of the Sabbath is no
longer necessary. Those who would judge anyone else for
not keeping the Sabbath are the ones who are wrong. Here
is another important passage:
Galatians 4:9 “But now,
after that ye have known God, or rather are known of
God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly
elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in
bondage?” 10 "Ye observe days, and months, and
times, and years." 11 "I am afraid of you, lest I
have bestowed upon you labour in vain."
In Galatians, Paul refers
to the observing of days (which would include the
keeping of the Sabbath) as one of the "weak and beggarly
elements" which put men in "bondage." He is fearful (as
he says in many ways throughout the book of Galatians)
that they are ready to return to the bondage of Judaism
after Jesus Christ has made them free.
The Sabbath
as a Sign for Israel
The Bible clearly teaches
that the Sabbath was given as a gift to the people of
Israel. It was a special sign of God’s covenant between
Himself and Israel. Exodus 31:12-18 teaches this special
relationship between Israel and the keeping of the
Sabbath. Note especially verses sixteen and seventeen:
Exodus 31:16 “Wherefore
the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to
observe the sabbath throughout their generations,
for a perpetual covenant.” 17 “It is a sign between
me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six
days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the
seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.”
To require Gentiles to keep
the Sabbath is to attempt to make Jews out of them. It
is true that in Old Testament times Gentiles went to the
Jew to find the way of salvation. However, in this age
of grace, the Bible is just as clear that Jews must come
to the Gentiles to find the way to God. Peter, in
referring to the salvation of the Gentile Cornelius and
his household, said, “But we believe that through the
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even
as they.” (Acts 15:11). In other words, Jews (like
Peter) must be saved according to the pattern of
Gentiles (like Cornelius).
New
Testament Worship on the First Day
These modern
Sabbath-keepers teach that worshipping on the first day
of the week was an invention of the Roman Catholics when
they assimilated many pagan practices. First of all,
Roman Catholicism was not really established as such
until the fourth century after Christ. Up until that
time, there were some minor moves toward giving an
elevated place to the church at Rome, but there was
nothing approaching Catholicism. In fact, it took
several centuries after this time for them to
consolidate their power into one head at Rome.
At any rate, worshipping on
the first day of the week began immediately after the
resurrection of Christ and continued from that time.
Consider the following points:
- Jesus Christ rose from
the dead on the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1;
Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1).
- The day of Pentecost,
when the Holy Ghost came down in power, was on the
first day of the week (Acts 2:1; Leviticus
23:15-16).
- The early church
habitually met on the first day of the week (John
20:19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2).
- The first day of every
week we remember the resurrection of our Lord as the
beginning of a new dispensation in which we are no
longer under the law but under grace (Romans
6:14-15; Galatians 4:21; 5:18).
- CONCLUSION: The Roman
Catholic Church was not established until about
three centuries after Christ. Christians meeting on
the first day of the week began immediately after
the resurrection of Christ.
Historical
Support for First Day Worship
Finally, consider how early
Christians began to worship on the first day of the week
according to the historical records. It was mentioned as
the day of worship by the following men or in the
following writings:
- Ignatius in his Ad
Magnesios written about 115AD.
- An unknown author in
The Epistle of Barnabas probably written between 107
and 120AD.
- Justin Martyr who
lived from about 100 to 165AD.
- Tertullian who lived
from about 160 to 220AD.
These are just some of the
earliest examples. The evidence to the contrary just
does not match up. Before the completion of the New
Testament and immediately afterwards, the Christian day
of worship was the first day of the week. On that
special day every week we come together to worship God
and to remember that we serve a risen Saviour. Those who
teach otherwise try to bring Christians back under the
bondage of the law. Their false doctrine should be
rejected. Let us worship our Saviour truly on the day of
His resurrection.
SOURCE
©2001-2009 Learn the Bible
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