When Jesus told us to DO and TEACH the commandments, He told us to KEEP the commandments:
Mat
5:19 KJV Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in
the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same
shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Many argue and
say, "But how do you know that Jesus was talking about the Ten
Commandments when He just wants us to keep only the commandments?" I
will ask them, What are the commandments? Your commandments? Your
radical grace confessions? Or your gracious words? If Jesus did not
explain it clearly, how did the Jews and we know what commandments we
must keep? Of course, the Jews who had the scriptures knew that Jesus
was talking about the Ten Commandments. In fact, Jesus did explain that
the commandments that we must keep are the Ten Commandments. He did not
change the commandments:
Mat 19:17-19 KJV And he said unto him, Why
callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if
thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. (18) He saith
unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not
commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false
witness, (19) Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love
thy neighbour as thyself ..
They will argue again, "Yes, Jesus
did tell you to keep the Ten Commandments; but Paul told us not to keep
the law (the law of Moses). Hence, I would choose to believe Paul who
said it more plainly to us. Paul told us plainly that we are no longer
under the law to obey any commandment. But Jesus said it sarcastically
with a trap when He said that they should keep the commandments (even to
the extent of plucking out their eyes). Actually He said it with an
insult to the Pharisees and hypocrites who always kept God's laws and
commandments. But He did not mean it for us. He would just want us to
think of His grace and Him only; but no more law or commandment .."
I
will tell them, Ok, that is quite convincing. But it is not convincing
enough to make us believe your words when the Bible has recorded that it
is God's will to put His laws in our hearts and minds (Heb 8:10,
10:16). Please think, How do you love or think? Of course, with your
hearts or minds. If God put His laws in your hearts and minds, obviously
He wants you to love and think of His laws too. How can you say that it
is not God's will for us to love and think of His laws?
They
will still argue, "But Paul and all the Apostles clearly told us not to
keep the law of Moses. The law of Moses is any law or commandment from
Moses. Since the Ten Commandments are given by Moses, they are the law
of Moses too. Therefore, we do not keep the Ten Commandments too."
I
will tell them, No, the Ten Commandments and the law of Moses are not
the same: The Ten Commandments are commandments; but the law of Moses is
a covenant.
We will still keep the commandments of God; but not the law of Moses
The
law or covenant can become obsolete; but God's commandments can never
be obsolete. We know that a contract can be replaced by another
contract; some of the old contractual terms and conditions could be
changed or removed too. However, the key requirements or conditions of
the old contract may still remain. Similarly, the law of Moses with the
old rituals and the law of circumcision could be removed too. However,
the Ten Commandments which are God's commandments or the key
requirements of the law will still remain.
The commandments to love
God will still remain. So will the commandments to do good to others
too. The parties involved in the new covenant are still the same too.
However,
the laws which could become a burden to the Gentiles would be
abolished, for example, the law of circumcision which was commonly known
as 'the law', 'the law of Moses', or the Jewish law. Hence, we are no
longer under the law, the Jewish law, or the Old Covenant, but we are
still under God's covenant - the New Covenant or the law of God under
the New Covenant:
Act 15:5-29 KJV But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses
.. (24) Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us
have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be
circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such
commandment .. (28) For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to
lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; (29) That
ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things
strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye
shall do well. Fare ye well. (The Apostles did not abolish the Ten
Commandments. In fact, they did reinforce them. See v29 above)
Joh
7:22-24 KJV Moses therefore gave unto you circumcision; (not because it
is of Moses, but of the fathers;) and ye on the sabbath day circumcise a
man. (23) If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the
law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have
made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day? (24) Judge not
according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
1Co
7:19-20 KJV Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but
the keeping of the commandments of God. (20) Let every man abide in
the same calling wherein he was called.
The law of Moses may be grievous; but God's commandments are not
Mat
23:1-4 KJV Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples,
(2) Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat: (3) All
therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do
not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. (4) For they bind
heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.
Php 3:1-2 KJV Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. (2) Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
Heb 12:11 KJV Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.
1Jn
5:2-3 KJV By this we know that we love the children of God, when we
love God, and keep his commandments. (3) For this is the love of God,
that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
False prophets may complain that God's laws are grievous; but they do not know that they themselves are 'grievous' to God
Mal
1:1-3:15 KJV The burden of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi ..
(11) .. for my name shall be great among the heathen, saith the LORD of
hosts. (12) But ye have profaned it, in that ye say, The table of the
LORD is polluted; and the fruit thereof, even his meat, is
contemptible. (13) Ye said also, Behold, what a weariness is it! .. (2:17) Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein have we wearied
him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight of the
LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment? ..
(3:7) Even from the days of your fathers ye are gone away from mine
ordinances, and have not kept them. Return unto me, and I will return
unto you, saith the LORD of hosts. But ye said, Wherein shall we return?
.. (14) Ye have said, It is vain to serve God: and what profit
is it that we have kept his ordinance, and that we have walked
mournfully before the LORD of hosts? (15) And now we call the proud
happy; yea, they that work wickedness are set up; yea, they that tempt
God are even delivered.
False prophets are not only grievous to God; they are the grievous wolves:
Act
20:28-31 KJV Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the
flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed
the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (29)
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves
enter in among you, not sparing the flock. (30) Also of your own
selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples
after them. (31) Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of
three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
God's people will keep God's commandments
1Jn
5:1-3 KJV Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God:
and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is
begotten of him. (2) By this we know that we love the children of God,
when we love God, and keep his commandments. (3) For this is the love
of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not
grievous.
Rev 12:17 KJV And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and
went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the
commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Rev 14:12 KJV Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
The
commandments of God are very likely the Ten Commandments. Please think,
When Jesus taught the disciples about God's commandments, where did He
get the commandments? Of course, from the Scriptures, but which part of
the Scriptures? I'm afraid they are the Ten Commandments written in the
book or the law of Moses:
Mat 4:4 KJV But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
However, many people in the last days will not keep God's Commandments
The
sinners of the world and non-believers may keep the law of their own
countries which may keep most of the Ten Commandments; but they do not
know God and submit to God. Hence, they will just change those laws to
suit themselves and their communities, countries, and companies, as and
when it is necessary. But God's people will KEEP (or do and teach) God's
commandments faithfully and they will never change His commandments.
But it is sad to know that:
1.) Many sinners do not know God and do not keep God's commandments or the Ten Commandments
2.) Many Roman Catholic priests have changed the Ten Commandments - see this link from http://lawless-grace.blogspot.sg/2014/07/whats-different-in-ten-commandments-of.html
3.) Many radical grace preachers and believers have rejected the teaching of God's commandments and the Ten Commandments
4.) But only a remnant of the believers will still keep the commandments of God in the last days in Rev 12:17 and Rev 14:12
We
could not understand how Satan was so wroth with the remnant of the
believers in Rev 12:17 and Rev 14:12. But now we know and we cannot deny
God's prophecy as we see more and more churches do not keep (do and
teach) God's commandments. Recently we begin to see the effect of
lawlessness and deterioration in many developed countries (which had
once enjoyed incredible blessings and had once kept the commandments of
God); but now they are beginning to experience 'lawlessness'
economically, politically, psychologically, morally, climatically, and
spiritually. They are really in 'bad shape' and it is only the
beginning. The 'beast' would rise (could have risen) unknowingly and
many believers, including the pastors, are still ignorant about it. Many
churches have been incapacitated by the beast probably because they
would just want to think 'positive', exchange good opinions with one
another, and take in the 'mark of the beast' in exchange for the laws,
doctrine, and commandments of God. When the churches have no doctrine,
no law, no commandment, the dragon will rule the world with lawlessness
and the spirits of the frogs will enter the churches and speak to the
churches with lies, deception, and lukewarm doctrines.
Rev 16:12-15
KJV And the sixth angel poured out his vial upon the great river
Euphrates; and the water thereof was dried up, that the way of the kings
of the east might be prepared. (13) And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs
come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast,
and out of the mouth of the false prophet. (14) For they are the
spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of
the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that
great day of God Almighty. (15) Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is
he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they
see his shame.
When are we, the believers, the pastors, the churches, and the nations going to wake up?
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