Many people are saying today that the moral law was nailed to the cross; that it is not necessary to keep the Ten Commandments now. If this were true then it would be impossible for anyone to sin, for the Bible says that “sin is the transgression of the law.” So without the law there would be no sin. Can we believe that? Looking all about us we can see misery and woe, crime and lawlessness on every side. This world is not without sin. Neither is it without the moral law.
In all nations there are federal, state, city, and county laws. In addition, the church organizations have ecclesiastical laws by which they are governed and by which they govern their constituencies. Laws are necessary for any group of people wishing to dwell in peace. It was very much that way with the nation of the Israelites.
The Israelites had three sets of laws: First, the moral law, or the Ten Commandments; second, the ceremonial law, or the law of ordinances; third, the civil laws. In this lesson we will study only the moral and the ceremonial laws because only these two concern the Church.
What is the moral law? Dr. Albert Barnes says: “The moral laws are such as grow out of the nature of things, which cannot, therefore, be changed- such as the duty of loving God and His creatures. These cannot be abolished, as it can never be made right to hate God, or to hate our fellow men.” Notes on the Gospel. Matthew 5:18 states: “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”
Let us take a look at the Ten Commandments known as the moral law. The first four are related to our duty to God, the last six to our fellow men. (Briefly go over each one.)
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor thy father and thy mother.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10. Thou shalt not covet.
What is the ceremonial law? The ceremonial law is the law of ordinances. Leviticus 7:37 tells us: “This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings;” Hebrews 9:10 explains that this ceremonial law was just a temporary arrangement: “Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.”
Let us notice just a few of these ceremonial laws, or ordinances given to Israel.
“And if he bring a lamb for a SIN OFFERING, he shall bring it a female without blemish.” Leviticus 4:32.
“Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill THE PASSOVER.” Exodus 12:21.
“And thou shalt burn the whole ram upon the altar: it is A BURNT OFFERING unto the Lord: it is a sweet savor, an offering made by fire unto the Lord.” Exodus 29:18.
“The FEAST OF UNLEAVENED BREAD shalt thou keep. Seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, in the time of the month Abib: for in the month Abib thou camest out from Egypt.” Exodus 34:18.
And there are more of these ceremonial laws:
“And if his offering for a sacrifice of PEACE OFFERING unto the Lord be of the flock; male or female, he shall offer it without blemish.” Leviticus 3:6.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a SHEAF OF THE FIRST FRUITS of your harvest unto the priest:” Leviticus 23:10.
“Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a DAY OF ATONEMENT: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.” Leviticus 23:27.
“And thou shalt observe the FEAST OF WEEKS, of the firstfruits of wheat harvest, and the feast of ingathering at the year's end.” Exodus 34:22.
Moses was given many more laws relating to the sanctuary service:
“And thou shalt bring for a DRINK OFFERING half an hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.” Numbers 15:10.
“And when any will offer a MEAT OFFERING unto the Lord, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:” Leviticus 2:1.
“If a soul commit a trespass, and sin through ignorance, in the holy things of the Lord; then he shall bring for his TRESPASS unto the Lord a ram without blemish out of the flocks, with thy estimation by shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for a trespass offering:.” Leviticus 5:15.
“This is the ordinance of the law which the Lord hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a RED HEIFER without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke: 3 And ye shall give her unto Eleazar the priest, that he may bring her forth without the camp, and one shall slay her before his face:” Numbers 19:2-3.
Some ordinances, or ceremonial laws, related to the feasts and other requirements for Israel.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of BLOWING OF TRUMPETS, an holy convocation.” Leviticus 23:24.
“Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES for seven days unto the Lord. 42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths:” Leviticus 23:34, 42.
“A JUBILE shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed.” Leviticus 25:11.
“And in the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be CIRCUMCISED.” Leviticus 12:3.
This gives some idea of what the ceremonial laws were like.
Now let us notice how the Ten Commandments were given. “AND GOD SPAKE ALL THESE WORDS, saying…” Exodus 20:1. The Ten Commandments follow in this same chapter, and they are all that the Lord spoke out of the mount to Israel. “These words the Lord spake unto all your assembly in the mount out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick darkness, with a great voice: and HE ADDED NO MORE. And he wrote them in two tables of stone, and delivered them unto me.” Deuteronomy 5:22. God must have considered His law very important to have personally spoken the Ten Commandments to the children of Israel.
How were the ceremonial laws given to Israel? In Deuteronomy 33:4 read: “MOSES COMMANDED US A LAW, even the inheritance of the congregation of Jacob.” In II Kings 21:8 read: “Neither will I make the feet of Israel move any more out of the land which I gave their fathers; only if they will observe to do according to all that I have commanded them, and ACCORDING TO ALL THE LAW THAT MY SERVANT MOSES COMMANDED THEM.” This certainly makes it very clear that the moral law was given by God directly, and the ceremonial laws were given by God through Moses.
The Ten Commandments, or moral law, which God Himself spoke from Mount Sinai is the universal law of right, and is binding upon all men and still in force today. However, the ceremonial law which Moses gave was to last only until the death of Christ; or as Paul says in Hebrews 9:10 “Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them (the Jews) until the time of (Christian) reformation,” the beginning of the Christian Church.
There are two distinct codes of law set forth in the Bible: The Moral, or Ten Commandment law, and the Ceremonial, or Law of Ordinances. Now let us compare these two laws so that we can better understand them.
The Moral, or Ten Commandment Law, was spoken by God. In Deuteronomy 4:12-13 read: “And the LORD SPAKE unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. 13 And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even TEN COMMANDMENTS; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.”
These Commandments were spoken so that all Israel heard them. The Ceremonial laws were given to Moses to speak to the people. In Leviticus 7:28-29, 37 we read: “And the Lord spake unto MOSES, saying, SPEAK unto the children of Israel, saying, He that offereth the sacrifice of his peace offerings unto the Lord shall bring his oblation unto the Lord of the sacrifice of his peace offerings. 37 This is the law of the burnt offering, of the meat offering, and of the sin offering, and of the trespass offering, and of the consecrations, and of the sacrifice of the peace offerings;” So this is the law that “MOSES COMMANDED,” including all the details of the sanctuary services.
The moral law was written on tables of stone. In Exodus 31:18 read: “And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, TABLES OF STONE, WRITTEN with the FINGER OF GOD.” God intended that this law endure forever, so He not only spoke it but wrote it with His own finger on tables of stone. The Ceremonial law was written by Moses. In Deuteronomy 31:24 read: “And it came to pass, when MOSES had made an end of WRITING the words of THIS LAW in a book, until they were finished,"
Just to be sure that this law written in a book refers to the ceremonial law, let us read in II Chronicles 35:12: “And they removed the burnt offerings, that they might give according to the divisions of the families of the people, to offer unto the LORD, as it is written in the BOOK OF MOSES. And so did they with the oxen.”
The Tables of Stone and the Book of the Law were not kept in the same place. God told Moses in Exodus 25:16: “And thou shalt put INTO THE ARK the testimony which I shall give thee.” And in Deuteronomy 31:26 God said: “Take this book of the law, and put it IN THE SIDE of the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.” The Tables of Stone occupied the most holy place in the tabernacle, inside the ark. The Ceremonial Law was also important, but was placed INTO THE SIDE OF THE ARK.
In Psalm 19:7 David says regarding the Moral Law: “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” But of the Ceremonial Law Paul says in Hebrews 10:1: “For the law having a SHADOW of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, CAN NEVER with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.”
Paul further compares the two laws. In Romans 7:14 he says: “For we know that the law is SPIRITUAL: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” This must mean the Moral Law. In Hebrews 9:10 Paul says: “Which stood only in MEATS and DRINKS, and divers washings, and CARNAL ORDINANCES imposed on them until the time of reformation.” So the Ceremonial Law is a CARNAL ORDINANCE while the Ten Commandment Law is spiritual.
Let us see what the Bible tells us about the character of the two laws. In Psalm 19:7 read: “The law of the Lord is PERFECT, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” In other words, if we keep the law of God it will convert us and make us perfect. In Hebrews 7:19 it says: “For the law (the ceremonial law) made NOTHING PERFECT, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.” These texts certainly could not refer to the same law.
What about the perpetuity of the laws? In Psalm 111:7-8 of the Moral Law David says: "7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. 8 They stand fast FOR EVER and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness." In Colossians 2:14 Paul says: "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." This looks like a contradiction, but it is very plain when we know that there are two laws, and that these texts refer to different laws.
What was Christ’s attitude concerning the law when He was here on earth? In Matthew 5:17 He says: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” Christ did not come to destroy the Moral Law. He fulfilled it. If the law could have been destroyed, Christ need not have died. But in Ephesians 2:15 Paul says of Christ: “Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;” commandments concerning the sacrifices pointing to the cross. The apostles understood that the ceremonial laws were to be abolished at His death on the cross.
Time and again Paul spoke of both laws. In Romans 7:12 he says: “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment HOLY, and JUST, and GOOD.” In Colossians 2:14 he says: “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;” A law that is holy, just, and good is certainly not “CONTRARY TO US”. So again Paul is plainly referring to two different laws.
In Romans 3:31 Paul wrote: “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we ESTABLISH the law.” Then again in Ephesians 2:15 Paul says: “Having ABOLISHED in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;” One law is to be ESTABLISHED; one law ABOLISHED. The moral law would continue forever, but the ceremonial law was to be abolished at the cross.
The law of God brought great happiness to Paul. In Romans 7:22 he tells the early Christians: “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.” But he advised them in Galatians 5:1: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with THE YOKE OF BONDAGE.” Paul never considered the Ten Commandments a yoke of bondage, for a yoke of bondage would bring no delight. Let us read on in Galatians 5:2-3 to find out what yoke of bondage Paul was referring to: “Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.” If a man follows the commands in the ceremonial law, that does not release him from keeping the “WHOLE LAW,” or Ten Commandments.
Through the spiritual law Paul realized his sinfulness. Romans 7:14: “For we know that the law is SPIRITUAL: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” Was it the carnal law that changed the life of Paul? In Hebrews 7:16 he says: “Who is made, not after the law of a CARNAL COMMANDMENT, but after the power of an endless life.” The moral law is spiritual, but the ceremonial law is carnal.
Just one more reference from the writings of Paul, in Romans 3:20 he tells us how the law can help us to become justified. “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Without the law we would have no knowledge of wrong doing. So it must have been given at creation. Then why was the ceremonial law given? Paul tells us in Galatians 3:19: “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.” The ceremonial sacrifices were given to Israel because they had sinned and were to extend only to the death of Christ.
“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” Romans 7:7. In other words, the law is like a mirror which points out the defects in our characters and helps us to recognize them.
Let us see what some of the well-known commentators have to say about these two laws. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, says: “The moral law, contained in the Ten Commandments, and enforced by the prophets He (Christ) did not take away. It was not the design of His coming to revoke any part of this. This is a law which never can be broken, which stands fast as the faithful witness in heaven.” The Works of the Reverend John Wesley, 1829, Third Edition, Vol. 5, p. 311.
In the same sermon Wesley continues: “The moral (law) stands on an entirely different foundation from the ceremonial or ritual law. Which was only designed for a temporary restraint upon a disobedient and stiff-necked people: whereas this was from the beginning of the world.”
Reading further from the same book: “Every part of this (moral) law must remain in force upon all mankind, and in all ages; as not depending either on time or place, or any other circumstances liable to change, but on the nature of God, and the nature of man, and their unchangeable relation to each other.”
Wesley continues: “The ritual or ceremonial law, delivered by Moses to the children of Israel, containing all the injunctions and ordinances which related to the old sacrifices and service of the temple, our Lord indeed did come to destroy, to dissolve, and utterly abolish.”
Still reading on page 311: “But the moral law contained in the Ten Commandments, and enforced by the prophets, HE DID NOT TAKE AWAY.” Wesley has no doubt about it. He is sure. Christ did not take the Ten Commandments away. We are still under obligation to keep the moral law.
Wesley gives further proof: “To this bear all the apostles witness; not only Barnabas and Paul, who vehemently withstood those who taught that Christians ‘ought to keep the law of Moses’.” Thus the reformer Wesley makes a clear distinction between the two laws. Many of the apostles wanted the new Christian believers to observe the ceremonial laws of the Jews, but this was unnecessary.
Christ did not do away with the Ten Commandments, but the ceremonial law was no longer to be observed. Wesley says: “To this bear all the apostles witness…not only St. Peter, who termed the insisting on this, on the observance of the ritual law, a ‘tempting of God,’ and ‘putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear’.”
So Wesley says that not only Barnabas, Paul, and Peter taught that the ceremonial law was nailed to the cross, “But all the apostles, elders, and brethren, being assembled with one accord…declared, that to command them to keep this law, was to ‘subvert their souls’: and that ‘it seemed good to the Holy Ghost’ and to them, to lay no such burden upon them.”
Wesley concludes his discourse: “This ‘handwriting of ordinances,’ our Lord did blot out, take away, and nail to the cross.” This has all been taken from The Works of the Rev. John Wesley, A.M., Vol. 3, 3rd edition, 1829, p. 311. As you can see, one of the foundation principles of the Methodist Church is that the moral law stands fast forever but the ceremonial law was nailed to the cross.
Martin Luther, founder of the Lutheran Church, says: “Question: Are we under obligation to keep the moral law? Answer: Yes; because that is founded on the nature of God, and CANNOT BE CHANGED; it is of universal application, which was impossible with respect to the ceremonial laws.” Shorter Catechism, p. 16. The next quotation makes it clear that Martin Luther recognized the difference between the moral and ceremonial laws.
Martin Luther continues: “Question: Are we under obligation to keep the ceremonial, or church law of the Jews? Answer: No; the ordinances which it enjoined were only types and shadows of Christ; and when they were fulfilled by His death, and the distinction between Jew and Gentile was removed, the ceremonial law was abolished, because it was no longer necessary.” Shorter Catechism, p. 16.
The well known evangelist, Dwight Moody, says: “The people must be made to understand that the Ten Commandments are still binding and that there is a penalty attached to their violation.” What a pity that people have been taught from the pulpit by so many modern preachers that it is unnecessary to keep the Commandments.
Herman Olshausen says: “How very superficial is the view of those who would place the Decalogue in the same category with the ceremonial law, and regard it as given only for the Jews.” Biblical Commentary. How true it is that only those who are superficial in their Bible study place the Ten Commandments and the ceremonial law in the same category.
The Baptists say: “The same law that was first written in the heart of man continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after the fall…delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, and written in two tables of stone.” The Baptist Encyclopedia, p. 1355. This scholarly work of the Baptists is discerning enough to show the immutability of the law of God.
William Proctor says: “Unlike the ceremonial and civil codes which were given to Israel…the moral law is intended for all mankind and it has never been abrogated nor repealed.” Moody Bible Institute Monthly, Dec. 1933, p. 160. We should all be anxious to add our “AMEN” to William Proctor’s straightforward testimony. Whether they recognize it or not, the inhabitants of this world are all to be judged by this very law that so many are disregarding.
The Presbyterians say: “The moral law is of UNIVERSAL AND PERPETUAL OBLIGATION...It must not, therefore, be confounded with the ceremonial law, which was abolished under the New Testament dispensation.” Confession of Faith, pp. 43-45. The Presbyterians are straightforward in their thinking on this subject also. The ceremonial laws were given only for the Jews while God’s holy law is for all mankind.
Presbyterians also say: “The moral law doth forever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof…Neither doth Christ in the gospel in any way dissolve, but much strengthen, this obligation.” Confession of Faith, Chap. 19, art. 5, p. 82. All who study God’s Word carefully and prayerfully will be led to agree with this Presbyterian belief.
John Calvin says: “The law has sustained no diminution of its authority but ought always to receive from us the same veneration and obedience.” Institutes, Book 2, Chap. 7, sec. 15. If we would all recognize that the law still continues in force, there would be more veneration of its precepts and fewer crimes committed in the world today.
A pioneer of the Christian Church, Elder Barton W. Stone, says: “By the abolition of the law I do not think that the moral law of love to God and love to man was destroyed; for this must be unchangeable and eternally binding on all intelligent creatures.” Bible Student’s Library, No. 10. Mr. Stone is here covering all ten of the Commandments, because love of God covers the first four and love to man the last six Commandments.
Rev. George Elliot says: “By the phrase THE TEN WORDS’…the moral law is FULLY DISTINGUISHED from the civil and ceremonial law. The first is an abiding statement of the divine will; the last consists of transient ordinances having but a temporary and local meaning.” Essay on the Abiding Sabbath, p. 116. How true that the moral law is abiding while the ceremonial law was only temporary!
Rev. Joseph Cook says: “While God remains God, and man is man the Decalogue must stand…the civil and ceremonial laws of the Jews were superseded but not the moral…It was given for man, not for the Jews only, but for all mankind.” Boston Monday Lecture. It is good to find an honest man who recognized that the Decalogue was given for all mankind and not just for the Jews. The law existed in Eden hundreds of years before the time of Abraham, the first Jew.
The Methodist Episcopals say: “Although the law given from God by Moses as touching ceremonies and rites doth not bind Christians, NO CHRISTIAN WHATSOEVER is free from the obedience of the Commandments which are called moral.” Church Doctrines and Discipline, Ed. 1900, p. 21. True Christians will agree with this statement and will endeavor to keep each Commandment that God has given.
Elder Barton W. Stone of the Christian Church says: “I see no connection between the death of Christ and the destruction of the moral law. But there is an intimate connection between His death and the ceremonial laws; for these were types and shadows of Christ.” Bible Student’s Library, No. 10. The fact that the veil of the temple was rent in twain at Christ’s death signifies that its ceremonies were ended at that time.
Dwight L. Moody says: “Men may cavil as much as they like about other parts of the Bible, but I HAVE NEVER MET AN HONEST MAN that found fault with the Ten Commandments.” Weighed and Wanting, p. 11. If we are honest we will have to admit that the Ten Commandments are perfect even as David says: “The law of the Lord is perfect.”
From the Wall Street Journal we quote: “There is one code and constitution, with some thousands of years’ continuous test, which has never been repealed or even amended. This is called the Ten Commandments.” May 28, 1921, p. 1. Even the editors of this famous journal know that the Ten Commandments must continue if good business is to be carried out on Wall Street.
From the “Moody Bible Institute Monthly” we quote: “The Ten Commandments furnish us with the greatest moral code that the world has ever seen. They bring a VITAL MESSAGE FOR THIS AGE. The Decalogue provides a tonic for the invigoration of the whole moral system.” July 1932. Not only does the Decalogue provide a tonic, but it gives men peace; for the Bible says: “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.” Psalm 119:165.
Fulton Oursler says: “In the immortal ‘Ten Words’ I find a blueprint for the good life…Most certainly THE COMMANDMENTS ARE NEEDED TODAY, perhaps more than ever before. Their divine message confronts us with a profound moral challenge in an epidemic of evil.” Cosmopolitan, Sept. 1951, pp. 33-34. J. Edgar Hoover agrees with Mr. Oursler that the Ten Commandments help to curb evil, and are truly needed in the world today.
In an editorial in the “Christian Advocate,” we read: “…‘The road to the promised land runs past Sinai.’ So says Clive S. Lewis of Oxford University, and no prophet of the Old Testament ever proclaimed a greater truth.” November 11, 1943. The Bible even goes further than this by proclaiming that only those who keep God’s Commandments shall enter into the promised land.
Adam Clarke says: “Man cannot have a true notion of sin but by means of the law of God…The law, therefore, is the grand instrument in the hands of a faithful minister, to alarm and awaken sinners…Jesus Christ is the end of the law for justification to them that believe.” Commentary, on Romans 7:13. " Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful." This statement points out the Bible truth that the moral law is like a mirror to reveal our true condition. After we see our sinful state we must seek Jesus for justification or forgiveness.
The Baptists say: “By disowning the law, men utterly subvert the gospel…To be exempt from this is to be without law, and of course without sin; in which case we might do without a Savior, which is utterly subversive of all religion.” Tract No. 64, p. 6. Those who teach that the law has been abolished should resign as preachers, for if there is no law there can be no sin, and if there is no sin, they WHY PREACH?
Johnathan Edwards says: “Through the atonement of Christ more honor is done to the law, and consequently the law is more established, than if the law had been literally executed, and all mankind had been condemned.” Works, 1842 Ed. Vol. 2, p. 369. The death of Christ on the cross magnified the law and made it honorable. God’s law is the very foundation of His government, and by the death of Christ the importance of keeping this law is made very clear to us.
John Wesley says: “In the highest rank of the enemies of the gospel of Christ are they who openly…teach…‘What did our Lord do with the law? He abolished it.’…Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” The Works of the Rev. John Wesley, pp. 311, 317. We must agree with Wesley that the enemies of the law need to be prayed for. Satan has certainly blinded their eyes so that they fail to see that God’s law is holy, just, and good.
Martin Luther says: “He who pulls down the law, pulls down at the same time the whole framework of human polity and society…I never rejected the law.” Life of Luther, p. 217. We might go a step further and say that those who pull down the law are opening the floodgates of crime and evil upon the world. Many world leaders agree that the cause of so much crime and juvenile delinquency today is a neglect of the study of God’s Word and His Ten Commandment Law.
Quoting from Luther again: “If the law be thrust out of the church, there will be no longer anything recognized as sin in the world, since the gospel defines and punishes sin only by referring to the law.” Life of Luther, p. 217. If Luther was alive today he would see that the church has thrust out the law.
Luther also says: “I wonder exceedingly how it came to be imputed to me that I should reject the law of Ten Commandments…Whosoever abrogates the law must of necessity abrogate sin also.” Spiritual Antichrist, pp. 71, 72. Luther knew that the antichrist would reject and abrogate God’s law. He realized the importance of keeping God’s law and how hard Satan would work to try to get God’s law set aside.
John Wesley says: “BEWARE OF ANTINOMIANISM, making void the law, or any part of it, through faith.” Christian Perfection. Wesley was acquainted with the text in Romans 3:31: “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” And his advice is good for us today. Beware of antinomianism!
Andrew Fuller says: “In proportion as the law is depreciated, the gospel is undermined, and both grace and atonement rendered void.” Atonement of Christ, p. 161. It has been said that law and grace are heaven’s Siamese twins, one cannot exist apart from the other. So do not believe the minister who says “We are under grace, so we do not need to keep God’s law.” It is true we are under grace, but because we are under grace we will keep the Ten Commandments.
F. B. Meyer says: “The crying need of our time is a deeper conviction of sin. And if this shall be ever brought about, it must be by the religious teachers being led to study the law as well as the Gospel.” Elijah, and the Secret of His Power, p. 176. Actually the blame for the great increase of sin can be laid at the door of the antinomians. How anyone can teach that it is now all right to kill, steal, commit adultery, and swear just because we are under grace, I cannot understand.
Andrew Fuller says: “The apostles delighted in it (the law), and if we are Christians we shall delight in it too, and shall not object to be under it as a rule of duty; for no man objects to be governed by laws which he loves.” Atonement of Christ, p. 161. The Psalmist says: “O how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” Psalm 119:97. “I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” Psalm 40:8. Jesus says: “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15.
The Moral or Ten Commandment law is the law that reveals our sins.
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.” Romans 3:20.
"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law; for sin is the transgression of the law." I John 3:4.
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23.
We may fight against God’s great moral precepts, but when we stand before God at the Judgment, what excuse will we have for not obeying His commands? “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” I John 2:4. O, how many who claim to know and love Jesus are called liars by God! They refuse to obey Him yet say that they love him.
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” I John 5:3. We obey God because we love Him, because we are saved, not so that we can be saved. Jesus gave His life for us, and we should be happy to do what God wants us to do.
“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12. God’s saints in these last days are characterized by patience, faith, and obedience to His holy law.
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14. Truly we all want to be among that vast throng of blessed saints who will be privileged to enter the City of God. We must have the passport of obedience before we can enter that Holy City. No sin or rebellion will be allowed within the pearly gates. May we love our Lord so much that we will delight to do His will and finally hear Him say: “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.” Matthew 25:34.
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 7 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. 12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. 13Thou shalt not kill. 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.