09/07/2024
The spirit of rebellion against God's Commandments is a rejection of His authority, however, God's grace will provide us with the strength we need to keep them. This was the subject of my devotional reading this morning. But, before we can examine the Commandments properly we have to establish their authenticity, and there is a verse in Romans that does this for us; boldly and without question.
“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.”
Romans 7:12 KJV
So the Ten Commandments were given to Moses by God and they became the foundation of The Law to the Jews, and they were, and are, considered holy. So we need to keep them, right? But how? Well first let's decide what the entire Law is. I think we can all agree on the Ten Commandments, but what of the hundreds of other laws contained in the Pentateuch (first five books of the bible)? As Christians are we held to those laws as well? Are we held to some of them, all of them, none of them?
This isn't an easy subject. There was the Covenant made with Abraham which teaches justification by faith, and then the Mosaic Law that lays out specific laws, and came much later? In Romans 3 Paul makes this statement...
“For we conclude that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.”
Romans 3:28 KJV
He was referring to the Covenant with Abraham (faith) and comparing it to the Mosaic Laws (works, or deeds). He goes on to end the chapter with these words about faith...
“Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too, since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. Do we then nullify the law through faith? Absolutely not! On the contrary, we uphold the law.”
Romans 3:29-31 ESV
Paul goes on in chapter 4 to differentiate between these two by explaining them to us, and finally concluding in this way:
“For the promise to Abraham or to his descendants that he would inherit the world was not through the law, but through the righteousness that comes by faith, If those who are of the law are heirs, faith is made empty and the promise nullified, because the law produces wrath. And where there is no law, there is no transgression.
This is why the promise is by faith, so that it may be according to grace, to guarantee it to all the descendants—not only to the one who is of the law but also to the one who is of Abraham’s faith. He is the father of us all.”
Romans 4:13-16 CSB
Although Jesus redeemed us, there are still Christians who desire to cherry pick the Mosaic Law for certain ones to keep for themselves. Granted there is wisdom in being clean, not eating certain foods, and performing other deeds, but according to Paul... we are not saved by The Law but by choosing faith.
One of the best descriptions I have read uses circumcision as an example. Paul circumcised Timothy but not Titus... Timothy had a Jewish mother and would evangelize the Jews... Titus was not a Jew and would evangelize the Gentiles. Not being circumcised would have been an encumbrance to Timothy as he spread the gospel to the Jews. Conversely, being circumcised would have been a stumbling stone for Titus as he evangelized the uncircumcised Gentiles. Paul's actions do not present a hypocrisy, but rather expedience.
So can we obey the Ten Commandments? Can we seek and accept God's grace in obtaining strength of faith and character to aid us in doing so? Yes, we can certainly keep these commandments, and God is indeed prepared to strengthen us as we do so through His grace.
To understand further the authority of God’s Law over us, I like this particular quote from Martin Luther...
"As a wild beast is tied to keep it from running amuck, so the Law bridles mad and furious man to keep him from running wild."
God didn't give us His commandments to subdue us, but to refine us. It is now up to us as to whether we will be ruled completely by them, and face His judgement if we aren’t perfect in them... or whether we will accept the fact that Jesus came to fulfill the law, and has already perfected them for us, all of them. He is the Unblemished Lamb of God, and our perfect sacrifice.
““Don’t think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter[a] or one stroke of a letter will pass away from the law until all things are accomplished.””
Matthew 5:17-18 CSB
I pray that we each accept God's offer of grace in our lives, and follow His Commandments through our belief and faith in Jesus. I also pray that we will desire and seek God's aid when we need to be strengthened. I pray that in regards to His Commandments that we will embrace them fully and allow them to constrain our propensity to run wild.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your Commands and Commandments and for refining us through them as we learn to love, and have faith in you. Thank you for your Son Jesus Christ who has redeemed us, and reestablished the covenant of grace and faith between us. Help us Lord as we strive to obey your Commandments, and perfect us as we accept the gospel of Jesus Christ, and claim His life, death, and resurrection, in propitiation for our sins. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God who provides us with laws so that we can understand you better, and know what is expected of us as we believe, worship, and follow you. Holy is your Word that teaches us how to love and serve you, Jesus, our neighbors, and even our enemies. Help us Father to do this out of a loving desire to please you, and not simply in blind obedience to law. Hear us as we pray, and offer ourselves to you fully, and without reservation. Hear us now as we ask for your forgiveness for any sins we have committed, and every commandment broken. Wash us clean in the blood of Jesus, and find us pleasing to you, and worthy of eternity in your presence.
Amen
“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16-17 CSB
Rich Forbes