The Commandments

“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30, 31

God has placed great emphasis on keeping His commandments and overcoming sin, in order to make it through our time in earth’s sinful history (Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 26; 3:5, 12, 21; 14:7-12). Therefore, it would do us well to know what they are and what is expected of us. When Jesus was on earth, He was asked “which is the great commandment law”. His response, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. Then He said the second is like the first “Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself”. (Matthew 22:36-40)

Whenever Jesus was asked a question, He quoted scripture to answer it – “It is written…” (Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13). So, where in the scripture that Jesus had, do we find this command to love God and to love our neighbour. Deuteronomy 6:5 punctuates the retelling of the ten commandments (Deuteronomy 5) by instructing us to love our God. Leviticus 19:34 gives the command to love our neighbour as ourselves. While on earth, Jesus repeatedly instructed us that to love is to keep His commandments (John 14:15, 21; 15:10) and his followers also took up the refrain (1 John 5:2, 3)

If we take a deep look at the ten commandments, we’ll see that this is truly love. If we love God, our Creator, we will not have another god, make and bow down to idols, take His holy name in vain, or disregard His rest in commemoration of His creative power. If we love our neighbour as we love ourselves, we’ll honour our parents and elders (and receive the promise – Ephesians 6:2), we won’t kill, commit adultery, steal, lie, or covet.

“No man can rightly present the law of God without the gospel, or the gospel without the law. The law is the gospel embodied, and the gospel is the law unfolded. The law is the root, the gospel is the fragrant blossom and fruit which it bears.” COL 128.2

Obedience is what is needed to inherit eternal life, as per Jesus’ instructions (Luke 10:25-28; Luke 18:18-22). Please join me for the next few posts as we analyse briefly the practicality of the ten commandments (7BC 981.10-12).

In Love

The Handwriting of God

Comments

The Seventh Commandment

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.” Exodus 20:14 A preacher, I like listening to, presented this philosophy, ‘if we want to know what God expects study the pattern set in the first three chapters of Genesis’ (words to that effect). Because our goal is restoration to our Eden home this is an excellent plan. What then, is adultery? Based on scriptural descriptions, adultery covers all sexual activity outside the bonds of marriage (Leviticus 18; John 8:2-11). So then, what is marriage? Well, utilizing the above principle, Genesis 2:18-25 describes marriage as a covenant made before God and our community between one man and one woman. Any relationship outside of this covenant is not marriage; and therefore, any sexual activity outside of this bond is adultery. Adultery, however, is not limited to physical acts with inappropriate partners; Jesus taught that the thoughts that lead to those acts also bring condemnation (Matthew 5:27, 28). Because we are visual creatur...

"Not Now [Working] to Bring Many Souls Into Truth"

In our churches there is this running theme of winning souls to “hasten the Lord’s return”. But there is a major error in our thought process. We cannot in our own strength “win” souls to Christ. The Holy Spirit is to lead us in this work. And the Holy Spirit is not leading and will not lead us in our present condition. The prophet for our time gave us this warning: “There is a message regarding health reform to be borne in every church. There is a work to be done in every school. Neither principal nor teachers should be entrusted with the education of the youth until they have a practical knowledge of this subject. Some have felt at liberty to criticize and question and find fault with health reform principles of which they knew little by experience. They should stand shoulder to shoulder, heart to heart, with those who are working in right lines. {6T 370.2} The subject of health reform has been presented in the churches; but the light ...

Practical Faith

In Scripture the definition of faith is as follows: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen . Hebrews 11:1” This same chapter also informs us: “But without faith it is impossible to please him : for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6” Scripture also tells us: “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us : And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him . 1 John 5:14-15” Jesus also instructs us: “And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you . Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. John 16:23-24” These are just a few passages of scripture among many that encourage us...

Meet It

Search This Blog