The Law of Moses and the Law of Christ (Post 3 of 3)

Are Christians supposed to keep the Ten Commandments? Are Christians supposed to keep the Sabbath? Are we free from the laws of the Old Testament?

Even though these series of posts were aimed at the Jewish believer, it is relevant to any believer. I have noticed that many, included myself at one time, did and do not quite understand Paul's teachings.

The Law of Moses and the Law of Christ (Post 2 of 3)

In a post in this series, we looked the purpose of the Law of Moses. If you have not read that post, please do before you keep reading this one (click here). In this post, we will look the law as a unit, the past covenants God gave people and what happened to the Law of Moses.

Like I said in the previous post, I feel that the argument that these three post make is the best one out there concerning how we interact with the Ten Commandments and the Mosaic Law in light of Scripture. Also, like said in the other post, the following is taken from Arnold Fruchtenbaum’s study at Ariel Ministries. Please see note at end of post for more information and disclaimer.

Read the first post in this series here.
Read the third post in this series here.

The Law of Moses and the Law of Christ (Post 1 of 3)

Are Christians supposed to keep the Ten Commandments? Are Christians supposed to keep the Sabbath? Is there a distinction between God's moral law, God's ceremonial law and God's legal law in the Old Testament? What was the old law for?

This three part series will address these and other questions. I feel that this is the best argument concerning how we interact with the Ten Commandments in light of Scripture.

The Little Girl and Her Watch

I once read a parable of a little girl – living before the time of atomic clocks – who noticed all clocks in her village told a different time. Ambitiously she set out to get everyone synced to the correct time – her time. Walking down the dusty streets, going from house to house and shop to shop, she attempted to persuade all that their time needed modifying. Our little character was destined for disappointment, none were willing to change, all happily living in his and her own asynchronous worlds. As the setting sun glared into her squinting eyes, she approached the last house in the village. Sitting on the porch sat its owner – an old man. Again failure, he too had no desire to change. However, with a mysterious wave of his hand, he expressed that he had good news. Slowly rising, he hobbled to his little herb garden where sat a large, beautiful sundial. "The sun" he said "gives us the ultimate standard for time, which is shown with the shadow on its face." With that he offered to help change her timepiece. But alas, she too had no desire to change.

We also live in a society that leans heavily upon "tolerance" and "acceptance" of all views. Morality is relative. All religions go to heaven. 

Obviously, some culture issues need empathy and "tolerance". However, there are issues that are core to our existence that give no flexibility – like morality. We happily live in our asynchronous world, each doing right in his or her own eyes. Most ignore the ultimate standard, saying each can make up morality for himself and they are all equal. 

When people call for tolerance because someone else opposes their views, they themselves are being just as intolerant. The cry for tolerance in this sense is self-refuting. However, we should never have tolerance for bad ideas – only tolerance for people. 

Image Source: Wikipedia

God, Hell and Truman of St. Helens

Is God mean? Just because one doesn't believe on him, will he send that person to Hell?

Maybe.

However, another perspective may help us better understand.

Lets rewind back to the 1980’s. Harry Randall Truman lived near Spirit Lake leading up to the fateful day of May 18, 1980. He became a short lived celebrity – he refused to believe he was in danger. He loved the lake and it’s associated mountain – desiring to eventually die there. If he were to leave, heartbreak would probably have killed him because he loved his surroundings. He knew the risks, he just did not believe the reports. But on that fateful day, against the hopes and desires of those around him, it happened, Mount St. Helens blew, burying Truman 150 feet under debris.

Another narrative comes to mind – one that God wrote. You see, we also are in a predicament – impending doom awaits us unless we move. Think about this – 100 out of 100 people will eventually die. But there is another problem, worse. Hell is at the doorstep of death.

We have all done wrong and are broken humans. Who has not lied, lusted, stole or blasphemed God? Even if just one of God’s holy laws is broken – we still broke the law. Justice must be served. Just like a prison, Hell is a good place for bad people. It's not an evil place as some think. It's bad for those who go there – but good for justice.

There is only one fix, a path away from this impending doom. So narrow and so hard, many ignore its existence. Some believe but don't follow. This path was made by that great teacher, Jesus of Nazareth. Standing at its entrances, he beckons all to enter. He wants all to turn and come to the safety of God's mercy. Most will reject. Not wanting God, they hate him. The path we take now will dictate the location of the here after: with God or away from him.

Without God it's Hell.

Being a loving God, he will not force people to love and follow him – he lets us have free will. Just as a man's true love will not force a women to marry him, so also is God's love. As Truman would be unhappy severed from his lake, so are people with their life. His life was the lake and the mountain, if he wanted to really live, he would have had died to his love. Some love their life – but in the end comes death. This reminds me of that great Nazarene teacher who once said "Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it" [1].

But the first story brings home another thought, even if Harry did believe those around him, if he really did trust the experts, action would have to have been riveted to that trust or else he still would have been doomed. Obedience must be in sync with belief. Just as one writer put it, “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead” [2].

Death and Hell are impending upon all of us, we have only one other option, turn and follow Jesus’ escape path.

Sources:
[1] Luke 17:33
[2] James 2:17
Image source: Wikipedia

The Powerful Decalogue

The Ten Commandments is a powerful tool to help show people their need for Christ. Many have suppressed sin in their mind and ignore guilt. How do you expose this sin for them? What should you say? Both Christ and Paul used the Decalogue to circumvent the intellect and go straight to the conscience (1). We are called to be ambassadors and be prepared as we interact with society around us (2).

The mirror

The commands are like a mirror, kind of how James describes the law of liberty (3). When the unregenerate come to see themselves pitted against God's moral standards, they know they are fallen creatures. Once they see their sin, they will understand why they need one to rescue and from their trespasses (4). They see their sin as if one sees ones face in a mirror.

While in conversation with others about God or while sharing the gospel with those who do not follow Christ, feel free to give them some of the commands to see how they have held up to God's standards. When you ask if they are a good person or if they have been good enough to go to heaven, most will say yes. However, the Bible says we all have sinned. They know sin in their heart-of-hearts, they just need to see it for what it really is, trespassing against God's ways (5).

The questions

Ask questions like these: have you every told a lie, even a white lie? That makes you a liar. Have you ever stolen anything, even if it was small? That makes you a thief. Have you ever used God's name as a cuss word? That is blasphemy. Jesus said, “Whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” This lust makes you an adulterer at heart.

Think about it, we all have sinned. More than likely, if one is honest, he or she will have done all of these things, we are all people. They as well have trespassed God's holy commands.

Note this, I only mentioned four of the ten commands, already this person is a liar, a thief, a blasphemer and an adulterer at heart! Come judgment day, what do you think God will say to this person for his or her sin?

The rest of the story

Now you can tell the story of Christ, his teachings and now forgiveness and cleansing makes sense. Jesus paid the penalty on the cross, he delivered us from the bonds of our sin. Rising from the dead so we would be free from the pains of eternal death. Now you can speak of repentance, of them turning from sin. Now we can speak of a changed life. Now we can speak of them trusting Christ for salvation. Now we can speak of forgiveness of sin and eternal life. Now we can speak of following Christ's ways.

Now it makes sense. Now they see reality as it really is. Speak of their sin before remedy, Show them their trespasses
before redemption. Need before solution, law before salvation!



(1) Matthew 19:16-22, Romans 5, Romans 7:7-12.
(2) 2 Corinthians 5:20, 1 Peter 3:15
(3) James 1: 22-25
(4) Just because they understand will not mean they still will not have a hard heart and suppress the truth. However, now they have no excuse. It is not your job to bring them to repentance, it is the Spirit's. You are just the messenger who plants the seed or waters the sprout. 
(5) Romans 2:12-16

Image source: "TenCommandmentsAustinStateCapitol". Licensed under Public domain via Wikimedia Commons