The Ten Commandments
“Are they still in effect?”
Hmmmmm? Thus The Topic Begins > Law vs. Grace?
Thus Far, Our eyes have been opened to some things that might have been forgotten, taken for granted, (or simply unknown by some).
Now we are going to start addressing; In a Nutshell, where the rubber meets the road (so to speak).
For those needing a more Spiritual phrase... We will be dealing with "Meat in The Word", or a more Mature Study!
Remember: Pray For Truth, including The Understanding of That Truth!
Knowledge is Not Power! It is the Application of That Knowledge that becomes Power!
If You Learn Something Here, and You find it to be Truth... The Smart Thing to do, is to Apply it!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Let's Begin!
The word "Law" most commonly reverts back to the English-Hebrew word “Towrah” or “Torah”,
it's Primary definition can relate to: "GOD's Teaching's, GOD's Instructions!" - Or The Whole Law.
"Torah" can relate back to the First Five Books of the Bible (called the Pentateuch which Most say Moses/his Scribes wrote).
* But It can Also Stand For The "Decalogue", which is another word for The Ten Commandments!
In Other words, It Can Mean - (The Stuff That "GOD" Both Spoke & Wrote HIMSELF!)
* This word is known by Scholars, to Contain:
"The Moral Law" or "GOD's Holy Law" - Which Is The Focus of This Read!
When one Acknowledges the above:
One should also know that there are over 20+ Different words in The Scriptures to include/reference the English word "law".
For this part of your reading;
Again, I want to continue to have the Focus on Our Heavenly Father's - Ten Commandments!
If we can do that, than we can be on the same page with understanding,
And Both Sharpening & Growth Should Happen!
I would now like to Address a “Current Understanding” that seems to be running fluent in the Modern Day church!
It is definitely a Popular Modern Day Teaching that we Desperately need to revisit/go over - now!
Please Be Aware!
Many make this statement, [not really knowing what they are actually saying!]
"We are not under the law (anymore); we are under grace now!"
With the understanding that the law does not apply to them anymore!
Please Know This: (In The Highest Regard)
** To say that we are “not under The Law” - (Which can include/focus on GOD's Teachings / GOD's Instructions);
[To Say That We are not under It! - While Not having True/Proper Understanding]
Can be a very Serious Mistake, if not a Direct Insult To The Most High GOD!
Please Remember:
We now know in Scripture That The Ten Commandments are The Only Thing Both Written, and Spoken by GOD HIMSELF!
Again, This was For Teaching, and Instruction - ("HIS" Commandments) to "HIS" People!
One might also note:
To say that we are not under GOD's Teachings / GOD's Instructions, in actuality, is to say that we - are not under GOD!
- And that my friends, is not a good place to be!
For those that understand the above statements; A Wisdom Verse Like (Proverbs 28:9) would make a lot of sense!
Proverbs 28:9
9. One who turns away his ear from hearing the Law, [Torah]
Even his prayer is an abomination. :-(
For Those that still don't understand, but rather question "What does this mean?" I hope the information below will help!
- For anyone who proclaims "Our Father which Art in Heaven..."; - You would have to be viewed as HIS Child! Right!?
If this is the case, Let's take some time to ponder a few things!
- If your "earthly" father asked (or rather Told) you to do something (Like cut the grass, wash the dishes, or take out the garbage, etc.,)
And you intentionally Ignored him, and the stuff did not get done on purpose! How do you think he would feel?
How do you think he would feel if you told him (among Others): "What he said/instructed - did not matter anymore!" ???
And you tried to go about your daily living as if it were true, proclaiming that you are the boss of your own life!
How do you think he would feel?
Or if he says something like this: "Tina, I don't want you going [being] out of the house after 10:00pm"
But you do it anyway! And then get Caught!
How do you think your earthly father would react if you came to him the very next day and asked him for something that you want?
ex: Like asking or begging him "Can you go out with your friends Roller Skating? [which happens to be on a School night],
And you also ask; can you stay out until it closes? [Which happens to be around Midnight - Two Hours Past His Instructions!].
Remember, You just got finished Ignoring his Instructions before.
(How do you think he would reply? - If he was a Responsible, GOD fearing - loving earthly father, how would he reply?)
Regarding the earthly father that was just Ignored & Disrespected; Most likely he would not even seriously entertain the request!
For Some... It might even trigger the thoughts of previously being Ignored & Disrespected, which could make things worse!
It is the same thing/way with Our Heavenly Father, because HE Gave us Instructions/Teachings/Commandments for Our own good!
Yet for most, the stuff HE Commanded seems to be ignored; Disrespecting Our Heavenly Father Who Gave Them (Commandments!)
In Today's society (many Ignore GOD), but then run to HIM resembling a Disobedient child... asking/begging for more! :-(
(Proverbs 28:9/John 9:31 - [1 Samuel 12:14-15, etc.,] )
What if you not only did the things that your "earthly" father wanted you to do...
- But you put in extra effort, and cleaned the living room, swept the floors, and straightened up the bathroom (on a regular basis) - without your earthly father continuing to ask you to do it. You actually did it just because you noticed that it needed to be done (it was the right thing to do), and you were able to do it! You viewed it ultimately as a help unto your earthly father, and you did it out of the love that you have in your heart towards him. Without having to say this; Your actions would most certainly be pleasing to him!
Or maybe this scenario:
Tina, you were back in your home every night before 9:30pm (honoring your earthly father's request), and this semester you did better in School than most; getting Straight "A's", making the honor roll, and even helping other kids to do better in School. The Teachers regularly commented on how happy they were to have you in their class as a student (and you gave credit to your earthly father for his love, proper upbringing, and life's teachings that you were able to grasp and apply along the way - as you grew and matured). Other Parents spoke well about you. And your earthly father was constantly being told good things about you and himself, by others!
Now, how do you think your earthly father would feel about his child? You just might be the apple of his eye, Right! How do you think he would react now, when you came and asked him for a special request? Yes, he would be more apt to listen to the request, and more likely to grant it - (As long as it did not endanger you!) It would actually please him, to be a blessing! ;-)
* I heard this once from a Minister [something that he had previously established]: He told me, that he had a rule in his house directed towards his Two sons. He made it clear to them, that when they wanted to ask him for something; that they first, were to see if it would be OK with Our Heavenly Father [in essence; would it be going against HIM?]. This was to be done each time before they came and asked him for a special request. He told his sons to think about the things that they were going to ask of him. And Told them, that they should first think, whether the same request would be alright with Our Heavenly Father? And if it wasn't, it would not be OK with their earthly father either! But if it was, that they would always have an open door for their request to be presented and pondered by him.
To me, it makes sense! He was a Minister, but I think it should apply to all of us!
We are supposed to have our requests lined up with GOD's Will!
>>>>>>> ** (1 John 5:14) ** <<<<<<<
Now let's see another verse!
Proverbs 29:18
18. Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;
But happy is he who keeps [attends to] the Law.
What does this mean?
1st - It means that we Are To Acknowledge, or Learn GOD's Teachings & Instructions! (The Stuff HE Tells/Told us to do!) Because if we don't: We won't truly know what Sin is; and therefore (if we don't know what Sin is) it won't bother us when we do it/or commit Sin! We would live freely, do what we want, even if this meant that we were Outside of GOD's Will; Going Against GOD's Teachings, or Transgressing HIS Law! :-(
GOD's Law was Given to prevent us from doing that!
If we don't really know what we are doing wrong; Things That are Outside of GOD's Will!
How will we truly be sorry for our actions?
In other words, How effective would this phrase be after someone asked you to repeat it in a prayer: "I Repent of my Sins", if you were not even aware (or not even acknowledging) the Sins that you had committed? How would you truly be sorry, if you didn't know that you were doing anything wrong? If there is NO conviction, Most likely there will be NO change!
* Regarding the verse mentioned above. Godly Sorrow vs. Worldly sorrow. Would you just have sorrow because your Greed was not fulfilled? ex: Having Sorrow Because You Were Leaving Las Vegas with no money, after Gambling it all away. Or would your sorrow come from actually Acknowledging that you had done, or were doing something wrong - against GOD's Will?
Again, If you did not know GOD's Will, how then would you be sorry if you were going against it?
What Personal Conviction Towards GOD would You have - to make you want to change your actions?
2nd - As we Learn: We Strive to Abide By/Adhere To The Stuff "HE" Tells us to do! HE Knows what is best for us anyway, Right!
HE is GOD! (The Supreme Elohyim!)
The Longest Psalm/Chapter in Scripture [or The Bible] - (Psalms 119) has a lot to say about the Importance of the above statements!
Have you read it recently? When, is the last time that You read it?
3rd - By doing HIS Will (from the Heart, with Love), we would not only be pleasing HIM by doing on Earth, as it is done in Heaven [Something The Messiah taught us to Pray, and To Also Do!], But we would actually be living a better life unto ourselves and Mankind, while ultimately giving HIM [YHWH] The Glory that HE so Rightly Deserves - in The Process!
We have to think of it this way:
If your "earthly" father tells you to do something, and you don't do it;
Would that be Obedience or Disobedience?
Now,
If your "Heavenly" Father "Commands" you to do something, and you don't do it;
Would that be Obedience or Disobedience?
The Answer should not be that difficult! Of-course, it would be "Disobedience!"
And "Any Disobedience" to GOD is Sin!
So,
4th - We would be happy, because we would have enough revelation to know that Sin is a Transgression of GOD's Holy Law, and that Sin bringeth forth (Spiritual & Potentially Physical or even Everlasting) Death! We would be Happy, because the things which bringeth forth Spiritual Death would be made Visible to us, and therefore, we could (Through HIS Will/Power & Our actions) avoid it!
By Acknowledging the above:
We would also have closer understanding of the True Teachings of (Romans Chapter 10, etc.,) regarding Salvation.
We will be touching more on/about the topic of Salvation in another Section to be viewed/read.
****************************************************************************************
Let's now take a look at some Scripture where the phrase "you are not under law but under grace" is mentioned.
14.For Sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
15.What then? Are we to Sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!
(In some Versions, it says - GOD Forbid!)
Remember: The Main Definition of Sin, is Transgression of HIS Holy Law!
In other words... Are we to Transgress HIS Law, because we are under Grace? Answer: GOD Forbid! (By no means!)
16.Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either
of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
Question: Obedience To What? Which leads to Righteousness?
You Got it! Answer: HIS Holy Law! [Isaiah 42:21]
17.But thanks be to GOD, that you who were once slaves of sin [Offences to GOD] have become obedient from the Heart to the
standard of teaching to which you were committed,
18.and, having been set free from sin [doing wrong in GOD's Eyes!], have become slaves of righteousness [doing Right to GOD!].
19.I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to
impurity and to lawlessness [which leads] leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness
leading to sanctification.
20.For when you were slaves of sin [constantly doing wrong/Offending/Transgressing HIS Law], you were free [Apart/away from]
in regard to righteousness.
21.But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.
* Remember, Sin (Which Can Relate To - Transgression of HIS Law) bringeth forth Death!
22.But now that you have been set free from sin [by abiding by GOD's Will] and have become slaves of GOD, the fruit you get
leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.
23.For the wages [wages: what a person has earned] of sin is death, but the free gift of GOD is eternal life in "Christ Jesus" our
Lord. - ("Yahushua - Ha Mashiyach" / The Messiah - our Master).
The Above Text/Scripture can be read/interpreted different ways.
So let us now look at the word "Grace", and also see how The Messiah factors in!
****************************************************************************************
Journey on To the Next Page!