Author: Dr. Bob Thiel
In its Ten Commandments article, Wikipedia reported:
Modern Evangelicalism, under the influence of dispensationalism, commonly denies that the commandments have any abiding validity as a requirement binding upon Christians (Ten Commandments. Wikipedia, viewed 7/30/08).
And sadly, this is a fairly common Protestant view as the following quotes may help demonstrate:
The 10 commandments are Abolished
Today Christians keep the Law of Christ which is superior! 1 Cor 9:21; Gal 6:2 (http://www.bible.ca/7-10-commandments.htm viewed 7/31/08).
The Ten Commandments Were Abolished
Saturday, 5. July 2008, 22:51:09Introduction The ten commandments are no longer lawful: they are not binding on the Christian. Christian scripture says the ten commandments were abolished Ephesians 2:15; a bible believing person is no longer bound to follow them; in fact (http://my.opera.com/richardinbellingham/blog/the-ten-commandments-were-abolished viewed 7/30/08).
THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT FOR CHRISTIANS (Richard Bethel. http://www.bethelministries.com/ten_commandments.htm viewed 7/30/08).
The Ten Commandments: Christ Nailed to the Cross (The Ten Commandments: Christ Nailed to the Cross. By William A Worley. Published by the Author?, 1959).
Prof. M.D. Canright, an ordained Baptist preacher says:…”The Ten Commandments and the whole Jewish law are abolished, and the Sabbath is not binding upon Christians…we are not under the Ten Commandments, but under Christ” (Religious Delusions: A Psychic Study By J. V. Coombs Published by Kessinger Publishing, 2003, pp. 34-35).
One of the Ten Commandments was not carried over into the Law of Christ…
Not all of the Ten Commandments were carried over into the law of Christ (Jeffrey W. Hamilton, preacher. La Vista Church of Christ. http://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/LVanswers/2004-11-23.htm viewed 7/30/08).
The Ten Commandments were given to the Jews; and when Christ came and died they were all nailed to the cross (The marked Bible By Charles Lindsay Taylor. Published by Pacific Press, 1922. Original from the University of California. Digitized Nov 30, 2007, p. 53).
The keeping of the Sabbath as commanded on the tables of stone was nailed to the cross…The Sabbath of the ten commandments had its mission (The Gospel Day: Or, the Light of Christianity By Charles Ebert Orr. Published by Gospel Trumpet, 1904 Original from the New York Public Library Digitized Jul 18, 2006, pp. 336-337).
Andy Stanley, the senior pastor of North Point Community Church in Alpharetta, Georgia … “You are not accountable to the Ten Commandments, we’re done with that. God has done something new.” (James E. Andy Stanley and the Dismissal of the OT. May 14, 2018. https://thewitnessbcc.com/andy-stanley-and-the-dismissal-of-the-ot/ accessed 08/14/18)
So, various Evangelical/Protestants have directly taught against the Ten Commandments. They claim to be Christian, but promote lawlessness, which is part of the “mystery of lawlessness.”
Some Protestant leaders consider that the Ten Commandments are a burden. Others, at least state that they should be observed. The fact is that the Ten Commandments show love.
The Continuing Church of God, which is NOT Protestant (see the free online book Hope of Salvation: How the Continuing Church of God Differs from Protestantism) believes:
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)
172 My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness. (Psalm 119:172)
The true church teaches that God’s Ten Commandment law is one of His greatest gifts to mankind and that His commandments are righteousness. Keeping them reflects love.
“Now the purpose of the commandment is love” (1 Timothy 1:5).
Yes, the purpose of the commandments is to show love, make us better, and help others to be better.
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man’s all.
14 For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14)The Ten Commandments were not some arbitrary rules or burden.
The Ten Commandments were made known to us to help build character in us so that we will be able to be better and make eternity better. We can, in this life, make our own eternity better if we truly trust Him.
Yet, because of distortions from religious leaders, the Apostle Paul was inspired to write about the “mystery of lawlessness” (2 Thessalonians 2:7). According to Jesus, in these end times, lawlessness will increase and cause the love of many to go cold (Matthew 24:12). Sadly, this will help lead to the final end time “Mystery Babylon the Great” (Revelation 17:5)—a religious power on the city of seven hills (Revelation 17:9,18). For more on that and the Ten Commandments, check out the free online booklet: The Ten Commandments: The Decalogue, Christianity, and the Beast.
And the first four commandments show love towards God (and so do the last six, but in other ways).
Jesus clearly taught that the Ten Commandments showed love:
“Jesus said to him, ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and Prophets” (Matthew 22:37-40); in other words the law of God is involved in showing love to God and your neighbor!
Perhaps that is why Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15) and “He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him…” (John 14:21) and “He who does not love Me does not keep My words (John 14:24) as well as “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” (John 15:10).
For further proof, Jesus said of the future, “And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). Breaking the law (lawlessness) is linked to lack of love. Jesus magnified the law by explaining its direct link to love or evil! The fact He was to exalt the law was even prophesied! “He will exalt the law and make it honorable” (Is 42:21). Since Jesus was to “exalt the law and make it honorable”, should His followers violate it?
Jesus also taught:
Commandment 1 “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment” (Matthew 22:37). “And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment” (Mark 12:30).
Commandment 2 “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John 4:24). “Nevertheless, I have a few things against you, because you allow…My servants to…eat things sacrificed to idols..Now to you I say…who have not known the depths of Satan, as they say, I will put on you no other burden” (Revelation 2:20,24).
Commandment 3 “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts…blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man” (Matthew 15:19-20). “…blasphemy…All these evil things come from within and defile a man” (Mark 7:22-23).
Commandment 4 “Therefore, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath” (Matthew 12:11-12). “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath…Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?“ (Luke 6:5,9). “‘Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?’… And they could not answer Him regarding these things” (Luke 14:3,6). “are you angry with Me because I made a man completely well on the Sabbath?” (John 7:23).
For a more indepth discussion of each of these commandments, please see the ContinuingCOG YouTube sermon video titled: The Ten Commandments: Loving God.
Full written article and related links: The first 4 commandments and loving God
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Author: Dr. Bob Thiel
Radio News Reporter: James Martenet
Bible News Prophecy Program
