The Commandments of God

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints, they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus

Circumcision & the Law

• Acts 15:1And certain men came down from Judea and taught the brethren, saying, Except ye be circumcised after the custom of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

• Some early Christians mingled the OT commands of God with the gospel of Christ

• A natural mistake for zealous Jews who had embraced the gospel

The Jewish Christian

• Knew that the Law of Moses was from God

• They had kept the OT commands all the days of their lives

• They believed that the Gentiles who became Christians should ALSO obey the Law of Moses in order to be SAVED

• Acts 15:2 this idea caused considerable “dissension”, controversy – an uproar

The Issue

• Acts 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees who believed, saying, It is needful to circumcise them, and to charge them to keep the law of Moses

• Is a Christian obligated to:– Receive circumcision?– Keep the Law of Moses?

The Gentiles & the Gospel

• The Gentiles had received the gospel

• Acts 15:3 They therefore, being brought on their way by the church, passed through both Phoenicia and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren

• Acts 15:7-9

The Gentiles & the Law of Moses

• IT is obvious that the Gentile Christians were NOT observing the OT commands

• This was the point of the controversy

• Some Jewish Christians insisted that the Gentile Christians SHOULD keep the law of Moses

• The apostles were insisting that they did NOT have to keep the OT Law – vs. 10-11

God’s Will Revealed

• Symeon spoke – vs. 14-21

• His (inspired) judgment – vs. 19– “that we trouble not them that from among the

Gentiles turn to God”– vs. 20 “but that we write unto them, that they

abstain from the pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from what is strangled, and from blood”

God’s Commands for Christians

• but that we write unto them:– that they abstain from the pollutions of idols– and from fornication– and from what is strangled, and from blood

• The apostles, elders, church… sent men with THIS message – vs. 22-30

• Those who were insisting that Christians were obligated to keep the Law of Moses were NOT commanded to do so – vs.24

No Greater Burden

• Acts 15:28-29 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: 29. that ye abstain from things sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication; from which if ye keep yourselves, it shall be well with you. Fare ye well.

Lessons to be learned:

1. Confusion on this matter troubles the church and subverts the souls of Christians

2. The Christian can keep the commands of God WITHOUT observing the Law of Moses – or keeping circumcision

• All these things are commands of God• But, not all these commands are for

Christians• Thus it is not an innocent problem

Lessons to be learned:

3. The solution to this problem is found in the Word of God

- Properly understood and applied

Are Christians Obligated

• To observe the Sabbath?

• Some today insist that in order to be faithful to God, all believers MUST keep the Sabbath because it is a command of God

• While they admit that the Law of Moses was nailed to the cross (Col. 2:14), they insist that the Law of God is still in effect

• Law of Moses• Put alongside the ark• Deuteronomy 31:9, 24-26

• Law of God• Put INSIDE the ark• Deuteronomy 10:1-5

Are Christians Obligated

• To keep the Ten Commandments?

• That which was written on the stones?

• Nine of the ten commandments are commands of Christ – they are part of the Law of Christ

The Law of Christ• Is superior to the Old Law

– Compare Matthew 5-7

• Murder forbidden (OT)– Matthew 5:21-22 anger also forbidden (NT)

• Adultery forbidden (OT)– Matthew 5:27-28 lust also forbidden (NT)

• Swearing allowed (OT)– Matthew 5:34 swearing forbidden (NT)

• Old Testament• Murder forbidden

• Adultery forbidden

• Swearing allowed

Law of Moses - the Law of Christ

• New Testament• Anger also wrong

• Lust also wrong

• Swearing forbidden

The Law of Christ

• Has Commandments

• Acts 1:2 – given to the apostles

• John 14:15,21 – if you love me, keep…

• John 15:10

• Paul, an apostle – wrote:– Ephesians 4:25-28 lie not, do not steal– 1 Corinthians 14:37

The Christian and the Sabbath

• There is no place in the New Testament where the Christian is commanded (obligated) to observe the Sabbath as a day of rest– This was a command God gave to Israel

• Exodus 20:1-2• Deuteronomy 5:1-6• Nehemiah 9:9, 13-14• Ezekiel 20:10-13

The Confusion

• Early Christians (who were Jewish in nationality) continued to observe the Sabbath according to their customs

• But, no Christian was commanded to keep this OT law regarding the Sabbath

Nailed to the Cross

• Colossians 2:8 Take heed• Colossians 2:13-15 blotted

out, nailing it to the cross• Colossians 2:16-17 Let no

man therefore judge you• Colossians 2:20-23

2 Corinthians 3 6. who also made us sufficient as ministers of a new

covenant; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

7. But if the ministration of death, written, and engraven on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look stedfastly upon the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which glory was passing away:

8. how shall not rather the ministration of the spirit be with glory?

9. For if the ministration of condemnation hath glory, much rather doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory.

10. For verily that which hath been made glorious hath not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasseth.

11. For if that which passeth away was with glory, much more that which remaineth is in glory.

Two Ministries – 2 Corinthians 3

• The old covenant – Of the letter - vs. 6– Letter killeth

• A ministration of death – vs. 7– Written– Engraven on stones– Came with glory

• A ministration of condemnation –vs. 9

• passed away – vs. 11

• A new covenant – vs. 6– Of the spirit – Spirit gives life

• A ministration of the spirit – vs. 8– Excelled in glory

• A ministration of righteousness – vs. 9

• Remained – vs. 11