The Law of God

"Concerning thy testimonies, I have known of old that thou hast founded them for ever." -Psalms 119:152

"testimonies"  = Strong's #05713 `edah {ay-daw'} from 05707 in its technical sense; TWOT - 1576c,1576e; n f  AV - testimonies 22, witness 4; 26 1) testimony, witness 1a) always plural and always of laws as divine testimonies

"Know ye not, brethren, (for I speak to them that know the law,) how that the law hath dominion over a man as long as he liveth? Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." -Romans 7:1,12

Since the Cross of Jesus there has been one attack after another on the Law of God. Many churches that have started since the days of the Apostles have even gone so far as to "rewrite" the Ten Commandments to fit their fleshly desires. Paul warned the Thessalonian church back then that, "…the mystery of iniquity doth already work:” -2 Thessalonians 2:7, and as we view church history we see that the Law of God was always the focus of attack. Many new religions popped up over the years that totally omit the Law of God from their doctrinal foundation merely because they could not give up the sins they cherished so much. And yes, even some Christians churches have gone so far as to rewrite the Law in a way that proves they sought to create God in their own image. Worse yet, one has gone so far as to remove portions of the Law entirely so as to keep Pagan doctrines alive in the Christian church. Case in point... The Catholic church omitted the second Commandment in their Catechism merely because they prefer to bow before statues. However, they now had only nine commandments in their dogma. So in order to fill the gap created, they moved the remaining commandments up one notch and "split" the tenth Commandment in two. (SEE: St Joseph’s Catechism) This is why the Roman Catholic’s list of commandments is always one off when held up along side the Scripture.

Some churches preach to this day that Jesus abolished the Ten Commandments when He died on the cross. They proclaim this assumption by using Ephesians 2:15 as their basis of evidence, which says. "Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances;..." The obvious truth here is, that the verse states that it was the Commandments contained in ORDINANCES that was abolished at the cross. Not the Ten Commandments contained in stone. The passage in Colossians 2:14-17 has also been used to preach the Commandments abolished. But if you read it you will find it was, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances", again that is mentioned in that passage. According to the Word of God, these ordinances were "added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made" (Galatians 3:19) It's rather clear to see here that the "commandments contained in ordinances" were added by Moses for a specific reason. If we read the passage again we see it also states these ordinances were only added TILL the seed should come. And who was this seed according to Scripture? Galatians 3:16 boldly proclaims, "thy seed, which is Christ."

The commandments contained in ordinances were added by Moses thousands of years ago as a way to prepare the people for the FIRST arrival of Messiah. They showed their faith in the coming Messiah by keeping the ordinances on a regular basis. When Jesus died on the cross, the ordinances were no longer needed because he fulfilled them by all He did while visiting us as Messiah. So, what are these ordinances?  In Colossians 2:14-17 it 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; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:   Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ." 

Right off we see the "ordinances" were a series holy days, new moons, and Sabbath days that were to be considered a “shadow of things to come.” The word "ordinance" is NOT the same as the word "commandment."

ORDINANCE

1378 dogma {dog'-mah} from the base of 1380; TDNT - 2:230,178; n n  AV - decree 3, ordinance 2; 5  1) doctrine, decree, ordinance 1a) of public decrees 1b) of the Roman Senate 1c) of rulers  2) the rules and requirements of the law of Moses; carrying a suggestion of severity and of threatened judgment  3) of certain decrees of the apostles relative to right living

COMMANDMENT

06680 tsavah {tsaw-vaw'} a primitive root; TWOT - 1887; v AV - command 514, charge 39, commandment 9, appoint 5, bade 3, order 3, commander 1, misc 4; 494  1) to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order 1a) (Piel) 1a1) to lay charge upon 1a2) to give charge to, give command to 1a3) to give charge unto 1a4) to give charge over, appoint 1a5) to give charge, command 1a6) to charge, command 1a7) to charge, commission 1a8) to command, appoint, ordain (of divine act)     1b) (Pual) to be commanded

Also notice in verse 16 of Colossians 2 it states, "...Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink..." I ask, where in the Ten Commandments does it speak of "meat and drink?" Nowhere do we find such statements in the Law of God. However, when we peer into the ceremonial law, and annual Sabbaths, or feast day rituals, or ORDINANCES of the Old Covenant church, we find it speaks volumes on meat and drink offerings that were to be used to acknowledge a future event Christ the Lord would perform in reality. It is therefore literally impossible for the ordinances and the Ten Commandments to be the same thing.

Also notice that nowhere within the Ten Commandments do we see any mention of, "holydays or new moons" as this passage additionally declares is part of the ordinances. The Old Testament people were just as much believers in Jesus as the New Testament people. The obvious difference is they looked forward to Jesus coming the first time. They acknowledged that faith in Messiah by performing the ordinances Moses was instructed to give them.

I will give one example as a way to illustrate how the feast days, or annual Sabbaths were performed as a way for the believers back then to acknowledge, or proclaim their faith in certain events prophecied to occur in Christ’s ministry while on earth walking among us.

Each family, or group of families, if the family performing the ordinance was a small one, slew what was considered a Passover lamb during the feast of unleavened bread. After they killed it they ate it along with the unleavened bread as a way to proclaim their faith in the coming Messiah. As we know, John the Baptist spoke of Jesus as "the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" in John 1:29. Paul also declared later that, "Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed" in 1 Corinthians 5:7. With that said, we can see how the ancient believers believed the Messiah would come in the future to die for their sins. Since Christ is the Lamb who was sacrificed on Calvary 2000 years ago, then there is no need to celebrate the Passover feast that pointed forward to the coming of God's Lamb who would take "away the sin of the world!" This is why Paul declared these ordinances were “nailed to the cross” when Christ took the “shadowy thing” the ancient believers performed on an annual basis and “made a show of them openly” before the eyes of all the nations when He hung on that cross. This was done openly to make it very clear in the hearts of those with eyes that see that the ordinances were in fact abolished on Calvary.

Looking back 2000 years, we realize all this has been done as prophecied in many areas of the Old Testament. As Christians, we now await His second coming of Messiah today. All the "meat, drink, holy days, & sabbaths," or feast days as most call them today were abolished at the cross. Jesus fulfilled their purpose perfectly 2000 years ago.

This passage in Colossians also called these sabbath days a "shadow of things to come." Each of these annual feast days spoke of future events in the life and work of Messiah, as I illustrated in the previous explanation of the Passover feast day. The weekly Sabbath of the Lord can in no way be a shadow of something future. All the "shadowy things" were instituted long before Christ came and pointed forward to His arrival as Saviour on the cross as an offering for mankind's sin.

Many believe the Law never existed before Sinai simply because it was then the Law was etched in stone. However, there are 2 ways to prove the Law valid in the Garden of Eden, and one way to prove it in force before Sinai and after Eden.

IN EDEN…

#1 Had the Law not been in force at that time, the sin Adam and Eve committed would not have been able to force them from the Garden. As we know, sin is not allowed in Heaven. In Revelation 21:27 when speaking of the Heavenly city of God, it says, "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." This is also why Jesus said in Luke 10:18 that He, "...beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven." Satan sinned and he could no longer reside in Heaven. Adam and Eve sinned as well, "Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden ofEden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." - Genesis 3:23-24 Since the Word of God says, "...sin is the transgression of the law." in 1 John 3:4, then the Law had to have been in force in Eden..

#2 According to Genesis 2:3, "God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made." When the Law was later etched in stone by the finger of God and given unto Moses to give to the people, the Sabbath commandment was already considered part of the Law, and placed right there upon those tablets of stone proving the same holy day that was sanctified in Eden, was still valid when it was etched in that stone. Had the Law not been present in Eden, that sanctified Seventh day would never had been part of the Edenic experience as Genesis 2:3 proves it was.

AFTER EDEN AND BEFORE SINAI…

Long before the Jewish nation ever came into existence, it is declared in Genesis 26:5, "Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws."

The feast days pointed FORWARD to a future event. The Seventh Day Sabbath points actually BACKWARD to the ultimate event. Creation. Not only does the very first word of that Sabbath commandment denote a REMEMBRANCE of the work of Creation. We find that within the words of that commandment itself, it speaks of that which the Lord did in creation week, including the fact He sanctified that seventh day long before sin was ever an issue. Exodus 20:11 says, "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."

Read Leviticus 23:24-38 and you will find that the sabbaths mentioned in Colossians chapter 2 are again confirmed to be the "annual sabbaths" that the Lord instructed the people to keep. Make special note that it even says in Verse 38 of Leviticus 23 that these annual sabbaths are BESIDES the Sabbath of the Lord. That of course referring to the weekly Sabbath. Jesus Himself confirms the fact He did not come to abolish the Law when He said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil." Matthew 5:17

Notice the "sabbaths" of Leviticus...Count them and you will find they come too frequently to be considered WEEKLY Sabbaths. You will find 5 sabbaths within a 15 day period. This proves beyond a doubt they cannot possibly be the weekly Sabbath of the Lord.

Did you notice the meat and drink offerings mentioned in this passage? This confirms they are the same sabbaths spoken of in Colossians 2:14-17. Fact is, If this "law contained in ordinances" is the same as the "Law contained in stone" then I ask for all those that preach such a thing to please share with me the commandment that is written within the Ten Commandments that speaks of "meat and drink" offerings. Biblical fact is...

Hebrews 9:1,10 "Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary. Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation."

What does the term in Colossians 2:17 mean where it said  those ordinances are, "...a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ"?

When I stand in front of a light source I cast a shadow correct? Now, if you find that shadow I cast and follow it you will eventually come to my body, correct? Does my shadow continue on behind me? No, it stops at the body does it not? All those feast days are shadows of things that Jesus did in reality. When you follow those shadows you will eventually come to rest before the body of Jesus Christ on that cross. There is no shadow beyond the cross. The ordinances were nailed to that cross, and that body on that cross is in fact Christ. He did EXACTLY as those shadows depicted He was to do.

So... what did Jesus Himself think of the Royal Law of God His Father? Did He preach they were to be abolished one day? Or did He preach them as eternal in nature? Jesus Himself said, "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love." -John 15:10  

Some still hold to their beliefs that the Law is abolished because this was said by Jesus BEFORE the cross itself. So what did the Holy Spirit indwelt Apostles of Jesus Christ believe AFTER Jesus died and resurrected? Did they keep and preach the Ten Commandments as Truth? Upwards of 60 years after the cross of Christ John the Apostle said in 1 John 3:22, "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." 1 John 5:2 also states, " By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments." 1 John 5:3 declares, " For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." If you do a study on this you will find literally dozens of New Testament Scriptures proving the early Christian church indeed KEPT the Ten Commandments in loving obedience to their Heavenly Father. These three I just quoted should be all the Christian needs. Why? They are IN THE CHRISTIAN BIBLE and the Apostles themselves penned those words as inspired Truth for all those after them to embrace.

Yes I am very aware it is impossible for us to keep the Ten Commandments on our own because the flesh is weak. The events surrounding Mt. Sinai proved that nicely. That's my entire point! We have proven to God that we cannot keep the Ten Commandments in our fleshly bodies. We are too weak to do it alone. We need the Lord to help us. If you believe His Word, then you believe the following verses as Truth.

• Hebrews 8:10 ...I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts
• Philippians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
• Romans 8:3,4 ...God sending his own Son... That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

We can't do it without the soul steering help of Jesus. Jesus walked as we should have walked, and then He died the death we deserve. He did it all for us, and He is still there for us to this day. For He also said, "lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." Matthew 28:20

Let's take that statement Jesus made, "lo, I am with you alway, even to the END OF THE WORLD" and further drive home the reality of what He’s actually saying here. Since the Word tells us that His Law has been placed in our minds and hearts, and we can do all things through Christ, we then know the righteousness of the Law can be fulfilled in us if we choose not to walk after the flesh but after the Spirit. And since He declared He will be with us always till the end, we have that assurance that we will be victorious as long as we walk closely with Him. After all, He did say in Matthew 5:18, "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." Isn’t it good that He will be with us till all be fulfilled to walk as He needs us to walk?

By the way, for those skeptics out there that still believe the Law passed away at the cross. Jesus just said in Matthew 5:18 that nary a speck of His Law will pass away till heaven and earth pass and all is fulfilled. With that said, I must ask, is heaven above and the earth beneath still here? And have all prophecies been fulfilled wherein we are in the city of Heaven? No? Then this means His Law is still binding no matter what you may think or have been taught. There is no getting around the simplicity of that statement made by Christ in Matthew 5:18 In fact, how do those that claim His Law was abolished at the cross answer to the New Testament Scriptures that are mostly penned after the cross that speak of His Ten Commandments as still being valid?

How's it possible to say we need not keep the Ten Commandments when it's found in both the Old and the New Testaments? How's it possible for some denominations to preach it's sin to keep God's Ten Commandments after the cross of Christ? They make this claim as if to say we keep the Law as works towards salvation. But the Word was plain we could never keep the Law to get saved because we can only keep it after Christ is present to help us. In other words, we don’t keep the Law of God to get saved, we keep it because we are saved! Before Christ came into our lives, as the Old Covenant proved, mankind was literally too weak to keep His Law on their own. We needed a better covenant, or a New Testament. This is why Christ came. "But now hath he (Christ) obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.  For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.  For finding fault with them, (mankind) he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:  Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.  For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:" - Hebrews 8:6-10

Now that we have His Law in our minds and heart thanks to His Holy Spirit, it’s far easier to, "hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" Ecclesiastes 12:13,14  "So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty" James 2:12 

According to these faithful verses, the Ten Commandments are not only the "Whole duty of man," but the standard of JUDGMENT used to determine our worthiness of Heaven. To further solidify that fact in the heart, the Word is plain when speaking of the Ten Commandments as that which was to be kept from the beginning. The apostles John was moved by the Lord to declare, "And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it ."  2 John1:6

Many are also taught to proclaim that Commandment keeping is for the Jew and Jew alone. In saying this they un-knowingly condemn all non-Jewish Christians to hell in one fell swoop. This is evident because of what has been written in the book of Revelation for all Christians who trust His Word to read..."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) That city IS HEAVEN. If only Jews are to keep the Commandments, then they are proclaiming only Jews enter Heaven. If this is so, then why does Paul say in Romans 2:10,11, "But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:  For there is no respect of persons with God." And in Romans 10:12,-13, "For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

When do most Christians feel the judgment is to occur? Thanks to all the world wondering after the beast and it's spurious doctrines, universal belief in all denominations that don't understand the theology of the prophecied "investigative judgment" believe it's a far into the future event right? Even if they do understand the prophetic facts regarding the investigative judgment; thanks to Rome’s ability to twist the Truth on this out of context, Ecclesiastes chapter twelve appears to them as a way to confirm the "final" judgment is indeed prophecied as a future event for every human that is still being judged today. With that in mind, ask them to read Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 so as to get a better view of the truth here.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."

Have them make special note that they should consider the statement that "God shall bring every work into judgment" in that passage. First it is mentioned in this passage that the whole duty of man is indeed keeping the Ten Commandments. Directly after making that statement the Bible declares mankind is judged by how he performs his duty. The question then arises, what is that duty that is to be judged? It is written in that passage that mankind must, "Fear God, and keep his commandments” In blunt easy to understand terms, the Bible says the whole duty of man is to keep the Ten Commandments because the judgment is based on how man performs that duty. And since the reward that judgment brings is indeed a future event, the Ten Commandments are STILL valid today! For it is written in Revelation 22:12, "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." The reward is based on how we are judged. If we are judged worthy, our reward is eternal life. If we are judged unworthy, our reward is eternal death.

As intimated earlier, many still feel the Ordinances abolished at the cross are the same as the Law contained in stone. With that said, is there Scriptural evidence that can put this fallacy to rest that shows the apparent difference between God's Law contained in stone and Moses' law contained in ordinances?"

Some still think the early church was somehow immune to certain temptations we have today. I guess they figure since they were so long in the past that they had to be holier for some reason. Yet even back then they too had such heresies running amuck as we do today. Even back then they claimed as Christians that they were no longer “under the Law” as so many believe today. However, Paul clearly said in Romans 6:15, "What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." So yes, it appears that even way back then Paul had to deal with the same type of theology that sought to abolish the Law. I go into far more detail on this in the rebuttal section of this page.

After all is said an d done, some have the question that asks, why do we need a new covenant / testament anyway? In Hebrews we read…

Hebrews 8:7-9, "For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord."

Please understand that a "covenant" is no different than a "testament" according to Strong's # 1242...

COVENANT: 1242 diatheke {dee-ath-ay'-kay} from 1303; TDNT - 2:106,157; n f AV - covenant 20, testament 13; 33 1) a disposition, arrangement, of any sort, which one wishes to be valid, the last disposition which one makes of his earthly possessions after his death, a testament or will 2) a compact, a covenant, a testament 2a) God's covenant with Noah, etc

Understand that the Lord God did not change His part of the arrangement, covenant, or testament with the people of Israel, or anyone in all of creation for that matter. As Hebrews 8:8 just illustrated, Scriptures declare it was "finding fault with them, " that lead to the need of this "new covenant." The Lord's agreement in the beginning never changed. He still declared all His blessings on those that would keep His Law. Mankind's part of the arrangement was simply to KEEP His laws to receive the blessings He had planned for them.

Exodus 19:5-6, "Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel."

And did the people promise to keep this covenant as outlined by the Lord that day? Yes they did later in verse 8...

Exodus 19:8, "And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD."

As we know, when Moses returned 40 days later, they had already broken that covenant they said they would keep. They couldn’t keep it for as little as 40 days!. The Law of God never changed since then. His part of the arrangement remains the same. Malachi 3:6 says, "For I am the LORD, I change not..." Mankind's part in the covenant evidently had to change because we were the ones that "had fault." We are the ones that were too weak to keep it no matter how hard we tried. The Lord made no error, nor could He. Nothing evil comes from above! The people are the ones that made the error here. The amazing thing here is, even now the Lord is still merciful. He realized a new covenant is needed. But how will the Lord do it? How will He be able to get us weaklings to keep a law that is proven impossible for us to keep?

Hebrews 8:6, "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises."

MEDIATOR: 3316 mesites {mes-ee'-tace}  from 3319; TDNT - 4:598,585; n m  AV - mediator 6; 6  1) one who intervenes between two, either in order to make or restore peace and friendship, or form a compact, or forratifying a covenant  2) a medium of communication, arbitrator

With Jesus by our side as He promised, we can do all things. We need this better covenant which is based on better promises because we have no more strength than the Jewish people of their day. Think about that. Think about how they had an open physical sign of the Almighty's presence on a daily basis in the desert for forty years, and still they broke His laws all along. They saw Him split the Red Sea, and defeat their enemies, feed them with heavenly manna, yet they still murmured in that desert. Now look at today when there are no apparent "columns of smoke or fire, red sea's splitting, or manna raining from above" to declare His blunt and visible presence to boost our faith. Since we are no stronger, and in fact, many ways weaker than they, Jesus is the only way we can do this! He had to come as He planned all along, or else none of us would ever be able to keep the Law so as to gain Heaven. In short…

• The Old Covenant was an arrangement between God and His people.
• The New Covenant is an arrangement between God and Jesus Christ

THAT'S THE BETTER COVENANT HE PROMISED US! It is no longer between us and God the Father. We proved too weak to do that. It is now between Jesus and His Father. The Lord didn't re-write His laws or His "arrangement" between man and Himself at all. "The wages of sin is still death" (Romans 6:23) just like it was 6000 years ago! Like back then, if we try to keep the Law on our own we will fail miserably and be worthy of eternal death. Jesus came to do what we proved we could not do! He kept that covenant with His Father FOR US as a living and breathing man. It’s no longer the covenant between God and mankind, it’s now a covenant between God and the man Jesus. He kept this covenant in the exact same human body we have! Now, Jesus actually makes it far easier for us to keep His Father's Law simply because, as promised, He is placed it deep within the heart of every true follower. And here's your Biblical proof...

• Hebrews 8:10, "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:"

That's the new covenant that He has made with us. If we have Jesus as Lord and Saviour, His Law is written in our hearts and minds. So, again, for all those scoffers that say we keep the Law to GET saved. You are so wrong! Mankind proved long ago such an act was utterly impossible to keep for as little as 40 days! We keep the Law now because we ARE Saved! Before I knew Christ I was a sniveling wimp unable to do anything I set my heart to. Now, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.".- Philippians 4:13

As the Lord assured us through His prophet Isaiah, He promised to "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples." - Isaiah 8:16

Where's the SEAL placed you ask? Did He not say that He will be our God, and we will be His people, and He will put His law in our MINDS and our HEARTS? Did you catch that? The SEAL is placed in the HEART and the MIND! The Law in the heart is an obvious sign, which I'll get into in a moment. But the Law is also important to have in the mind.

• Romans 4:11, "And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith..."

What I’m getting at here is, the Scripture uses the words, sign, seal, and mark interchangeably. Just as the seal of God that is placed in the foreheads of His children in Revelation 7:3 is a sign of their allegiance to God. The mark of the beast is also a SEAL in the forehead, or mind that signifies allegiance. (For an in-depth look at the mark of the beast, click here)

Revelation 7:3, "...Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads."

It’s no mistake the word “mind” is used here when describing where the Lord wrote His Law. When Scientists recently mapped the human brain, they found the forehead is where we make all our decisions. So, no, it’s no coincidence the Lord declares He puts the Law in the minds of His people. Our hearts of course symbolize the love true Christians will have for their heavenly Father. This is why Jesus illustrated the Christian lifestyle so perfectly when He said in Matthew 22:37, "...Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." Love like this seeks to please Him in all that we do. Suffice it to say, it's the love that craves to see Him smile! The mind simply symbolizes our decision that it is write to do, and so we do it. Is it not written that the Lord wants us to “reason together” with Him in Isaiah 1:18? And what happens when we make the right decision to listen to reason? He says in that same passage, “though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool”

Isaiah 1:18, "Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool."

Look at the children of Israel when the Lord was sending the angel of death among them as an example. How did He instruct them to avoid certain death in the final plague of Egypt? In that plague it was announced the first born of every household will die unless they kill a lamb and place it's blood upon the doorposts of their home.

·         Exodus 12:12, "For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD."

If they did as they were instructed by the Lord, He promised them that when the angel of death arrived in their midst, he would "Passover" every house that had blood upon the doorposts. 

Now, let me ask you this. Did the blood on the doorposts save them? No it did not. Hebrews 10:4 says, "For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins." Obedience was the key here. So, again, no, the blood of those sheep, like the Law of God cannot save anyone. However, was their serious consequences if they chose NOT to put the blood there? YES! The first born would most assuredly die! Many say, "It doesn't make a single bit of difference if I keep His commandments or not," I say unto you, yes it does! It certainly won't save you if you keep them, but there are serious consequences if you don't.

• Exodus 12:13, "And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt."

What's that word "TOKEN" mean?

TOKEN: 0226 'owth {oth} probably from 0225 (in the sense of appearing); TWOT - 41a; n f AV - sign(s) 60, token(s) 14, ensign(s) 2, miracles 2, mark 1; 79 1) sign, signal 1a) a distinguishing mark 1b) banner 1c) remembrance 1d) miraculous sign 1e) omen 1f) warning 2) token, ensign, standard, miracle, proof

That "sign" "token" "mark" or "seal" is actually WRITTEN IN BLOOD! The blood of the Lamb. The one who walked as we should have walked. He did it for us, and sealed it with His very own blood on the cross. That is the only blood that truly saves! That is the blood symbolized in the doorposts back in Egypt.

• Galatians 3:29, "And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
• Ephesians 2:12, "That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:"

Remember when He said, "I WILL BE YOUR GOD, AND YOU WILL BE MY PEOPLE" in Hebrews 8:10? When you come to Christ you enter into that covenant with the Father, but only by the merits of Christ. You did nothing! He did it all! He sealed that covenant on the cross with His own blood to prevent any change being made to it. And it will NEVER change! Luke 16:17 says it would be, "…easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail."

The blood of the Lamb, the one who walked as we should have walked long ago, allowed His blood to spill for the sins of mankind. This very act proved the firmness of the Law was unchangeable. Had it been changeable, Jesus would never have to die. There could have been an easier way to remove sin from the lives of His people. But again I say, Luke 16:17 says it would be, "…easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail."

The prophet Isaiah said in 8:16, "Bind up the testimony, seal the law among my disciples." As we know, the word seal, sign, and mark are used interchangeably. With that said, how is it this Law is sealed in our hearts and minds? Is there a specific way this is done? Is there a way the actions of mankind can illustrate or prove he is sealed by the Lord? Is it possible for mankind to display faith in God, while at the same time keep His Law as a way to proclaim Him Lord?

• Exodus 31:13, "Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a signbetween me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the LORD that doth sanctify you."
• "Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be asign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them. And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God." -Ezekiel 20:12,20

The Sabbath is just as much a SIGN, SEAL or MARK of God as the blood on the doorposts of old. Like baptism is an open profession of faith in Christ’s death and resurrection, the keeping of Sabbath is an open profession of faith in the God of creation. It is a proof before the masses that you ARE His child, and He is your God. Anyone, and almost ALL "Christians" of today try to keep 9 of the Ten Commandments. However, according to Scripture, only those that keep His Sabbaths have that open profession of faith in Him as their God. The Sabbath truly is a SIGN, MARK, and SEAL of the living God that He is your God, and you are His people. For ALL the Bible facts about the Sabbath, click here. That's what makes the Sabbath important. It proves to the world AND the Lord that you are His. 

For those that still believe His Law was abolished at the cross, look a little closer at that passage in Exodus I just shared. That passage does not say it is a sign between me and you UNTIL JESUS DIES ON THE CROSS. It says THROUGHOUT your generations. As we learned earlier, the Law was already in force in Eden long before the Jewish nation came into existence. That fact alone proves the early Roman church lied on March 07, 321 A.D. when they said the Sabbath was to be considered a “Jewish” law, and all Christians from that day forward should keep Sunday holy. How could it be a Jewish Sabbath when Adam and Even kept it 2500 years before a Jew was ever born? And how could it be a Jewish Law when the angels themselves kept the Law of God before even Adam and Even were created?

• Psalms 103:20, "Bless the LORD, ye his angels, that excel in strength, that do his commandments, hearkening unto the voice of his word."  

Have you ever signed a document to legalize or confirm that it is authentic? Have you ever given your "seal of approval" on something? Have you ever "marked" an item of yours as proof of ownership? In government, this is an ancient fact of life. As we know, when a document is signed, that signature actually authenticates that document. This is what government bodies refer to as a government seal. An official seal or signature must always have three distinct features for it to be considered legitimate:

•  (1) The name of the official
•  (2) The title
•  (3) The territory

For example, when the President of the United States signs a bill into law, he will sign it, 1.Name “George Washington” 2.Title “President” 3.Territory “of the United States of America.” Every document must be signed or sealed in this manner for it to become an official legal document.

As Christians we are completely aware there is a government in heaven.

·         Isaiah 9:6, "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful,"

Like the governments of the world today that have their own laws; the government of Heaven also has Laws. Truth is, it was in Heaven first that governing structures and laws were created as a basis of rule. Mankind copied this structure 6000 years ago when the descendants of Adam and Eve grew to such a number, they needed a way to govern the people. Most are unaware of this because it happened so long ago. Since we know Heaven has a government that is ruled by Christ. What are the laws set forth in that kingdom? The Ten Commandments, or Law of God as most call it today.

Now that we have established there is a government in Heaven, and that government has a ruling Law. Is there an official seal on that Law of God like mankind has? Mankind had to learn that rule of law somehow, so let's see. Looking closely we see that right in the midst of the Law there is an official seal, that has all three distinctive features to make it legitimate. In commandment number four we find the words... "For in six days the LORD made Heaven and earth." How does this break down into a seal you ask? In the exact same way mankind learned to do so very long ago...

SEAL = For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, ...." Exodus 20:11
NAME	THE LORD(“I am the Lord: that is my name” Isaiah 42:8)
TITLE	CREATOR (Notice, “the LORD made” in above verse)
TERRITORY	HEAVEN AND EARTH (Notice, “Heaven and earth” in above verse)

Collectively, His signature reads, “The Lord, Creator, of Heaven and Earth.” Plainly, one can see that the "seal" that makes this Law of God binding and eternally legitimate is in fact found in the Sabbath commandment. This very commandment not only confirms His status as Creator, it points back to creation week wherein He rested after creating all we see.

·         Exodus 20:8-11, "Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 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: 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."

One thing many Christians today miss is the prophetic statement made in that commandment. The prophet Isaiah revealed in 46:10 that this God we worship is capable of, "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done" The word “remember” in that commandment is purposely declaring that in the last days Christians will be taught to forget His Law, and especially His Sabbath. Look around, has this prophetic fact come to be known? Yes it has, the overwhelming majority of the Christian churches have forgotten His Law and they now worship on Sunday. Worse yet, most of them preach the entire Law was done away with at the cross! Truth is, this act was prophecied as well to occur in our day. It has to do with the mark of the beast. If you want more info on that, see the mark of the beast page on the site.

When we keep His Sabbath we are expressing that we recognize and worship Him as our Creator, because it was the Creator that sanctified that day after He finished creation. Everyone I come across agrees that the Jews kept the Sabbath in the Old Testament. Everyone I come across also agrees 100% that Jesus kept the Sabbath as well. Since this is understood, I have a question to ask. What about AFTER Jesus? If the covenant was going to be changed, it would have to be changed before Jesus died, right? We all know that it is impossible to change a "testament" or a "covenant" or a "last will and testament" after the Testator dies. Did Jesus ever change the Sabbath to the first day of the week before He died? There is not a single solitary verse in the Old or New Testament before or after Jesus died that declares the Sabbath was changed. Not one. In fact, if you can find such a verse that says God changed the Sabbath, this ministry will not only give you $10,000 cash, I will also give your name to the preacher in Illinois that is offering $1,000.000.00 for the same verse!

The law always demands perfection. Whether it be God's law or man's law makes no difference. All law demands perfection in following it. 

• Matthew 5:48, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

How can I be perfect?

• Hebrews 5:9, "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;"

OBEDIENCE is the KEY!

Common sense is a blessing here. Many people believe that all they need to do is believe in Jesus as Messiah and they have Heaven guaranteed. With that type of theology, Satan will be guaranteed Heaven as well. For it is written in, James 2:19 that,"...the devils also believe, and tremble."

Think of it this way. Look at Adam and Eve. They too believed in Christ. In fact, Jesus was often found, "...walking in the garden in the cool of the day: " (Genesis 3:8) talking with them. They literally saw Him and conversed with Him daily. They had no problem believing in Him. So what got them cast out of the garden? DISOBEDIENCE! It’s that simple.

Many that read Hebrews 5:9 ask, how was Jesus "perfected?" What does this mean? It means He lived a life in perfect obedience to God's law. Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:19 that, "the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" was the key to salvation. He had to be the perfect sacrifice for sin on that cross if this was going to work. This is why in the Old Testament whenever the people sought forgiveness for sin that was committed, they would offer up a lamb for their sin that was without blemish.

·         Leviticus 4:32, "And if he bring a lamb for a sin offering, he shall bring it a female without blemish."

To be without spot or blemish is to declare a perfect sacrifice is done. The spots and blemishes represented sin. The sacrifice had to be perfect because the Lord Jesus would never sin when He came to be that sacrifice later on. I challenge every man and woman on earth to show me one verse where Jesus broke the Law of God in any way shape or form. You may as well not waste your time, there is no such verse. Not one. So... why was Jesus to be perfect? Was there a reason for this?

• Colossians 1:28, "Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:"

We are imperfect. Our righteousness is nothing but a pile of filthy rags. No matter how hard we try we cannot keep the Law. Mankind has proven himself too weak to do so. This has been proven in Scriptures, and this has been proven in reality by every soul on earth. Yet, Jesus did walk perfectly the entire time He walked among us. If we have Him as Saviour, so shall we walk perfectly by His guidance. Jesus kept the law in perfection for each one of us. Since His Holy Spirit is in the hearts of His followers, will He do no less than perfect our walks as He promised? In a nutshell...

• Romans 5:18-19, "Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one (That being Jesus) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life. For as by one man's disobedience (Adam)many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one (Jesus) shall many be made righteous."

One thing must be realized here. It was prophecied that Jesus was on a mission when He came here. Adam sinned, and by his sin all were made sinners simply because we are now born into the sinful nature. Without Christ being trusted to guide us as Adam refused at the start, we have no power over sin, hence, "As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:" (Romans 3:10) But as we learned, there is a new covenant between God and the man Jesus. Before Christ, the Law was impossible to keep, and actually became of lesser importance to many as we see today when pastors preach it was abolished. So, as prophecied, Christ came to not only make it possible for man to keep the Law, by His obedience we can all be made righteous. This mission of our Lord was prophecied in Isaiah 42:21. The Word tells us that Jesus was to come to, "…magnify the law, and make it honourable."

Jesus proved the Law was a necessity for the Christian. He is our eternal example on how to walk. Yes, as prophecied for our day, many are taught they do not have to keep the Law. To them it is our duty to echo towards them in our walks and in our words what Romans 2:13 says. It's, "…the doers of the law shall be   justified."

BOTTOM LINE: If it is so written...

• "It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail." -Luke 16:17

 Then how is it Sunday preachers say Commandment #4 has somehow failed or been replaced? Claiming Sunday as Sabbath means "one tittle" of the law has to have failed. That word “remember” in Commandment #4 is specifically for those that claim this heresy. The Lord said it never changed, in fact He said in Exodus 31:16 that the people of God will, "…observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant."

 

The commandment is plain. It says to keep the SEVENTH DAY Holy. As we learned earlier, the Vatican demands in writing that mankind must abolish the Seventh day and keep Sunday holy instead, and all the world bows in agreement. So, in essence they again preach one "tittle" of the Law has failed, and in one fell swoop they proclaim Christ lied, just like Satan did in the Garden of Eden when the Lord said Adam and Eve would die if they were disobedient. They twist God’s Word to make Him out to be a liar. But the real truth is, "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." -1 John 2:4

Truth is, as we learned earlier, since the law of the Lord is perfect according to Psalm 19:7, Acts 22:3 & James 1:25, then every variation from this perfect Law must be evil. Those who disobey the commandments of God, and teach others to do so, are eternally condemned by Christ. In fact, in Proverbs 28:9 it says, "He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination."

In Isaiah 42:21 it says, "The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake;  he will magnify the law, and make it honourable."Is this not what Jesus did when He came and walked among us?  Did He not say when He was here, "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." (Matthew 5:18) After He ascended back to His Kingdom, did He not also instruct His Apostles to teach the church that "not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be   justified." (Romans 2:13) Furthermore, if we claim Christ Lord and keep His Law that is written within our hearts and minds, does this not make us, "…his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him."(-Acts 5:32) If we obey Him, and all these things are true, is it not a wise statement to say, "... if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." -Matthew 19:17

Do you recall what Abraham told Isaac that day he was being tested by God? We all know of that event. The Lord came to Abraham and asked him to sacrifice his only son on the altar. When they were headed for that altar, Genesis 22:7-8 says, "Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together." Did not the Father send us the, "…Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) in the person and prophecied Messiah, Jesus Christ?

Not long after Abraham told Isaac about the Lord sending a lamb to be sacrificed, Genesis 22:13 tells us that, "…Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns:"

The Law of God is so sure, and so unchanging that with every sin there must be a death. Sin cannot enter into the kingdom of Heaven. In fact, Revelation 21:27 says, "…there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth," "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." - Romans 6:23

Abraham was offering that lamb as a sin offering long before the Law of God was etched in Stone, proving, the Law was not only active at that time, it also proves it’s not a “Jewish law” as some preachers proclaim. As intimated earlier, the lamb was a symbol of the sacrifice for sin that would end in the future at the cross. That is the basic definition of Messiah’s duty when He arrives. This is why John the Baptist declared when he saw Jesus coming towards him, “…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." (John 1:29) This confirms all those sheep offered for sins were in fact pointing to Christ.

By the way.. did you ever notice? The ram was caught by thorns wrapped around his head in Abraham’s day. Jesus also wore that crown of thorns in His day as a symbol declaring He was doing His Father’s will for us. Just as the life of Isaac was spared on that altar that day by the lamb supplied by God, so were our lives spared when the Father sent Jesus to be our Lamb 2000 years ago.

If the Law wasn’t an etched in stone permanent Law, then Jesus would not have to die. There is no escaping the fact nothing that defiles will enter into Heaven. Mankind proved long ago that he cannot keep God’s Law without His help.

Let me ask the young in Christ, or even the non-believer a question. Have you ever lied? (Commandment #9) Everyone will say yes. Have you ever stolen anything, even if it’s the change in your mother’s purse? (Commandment #8) Most will say yes. Have you ever looked upon another in lust? (Commandment #7) If you have Jesus says in Matthew 5:28 that you have committed adultery in your heart.

·         Matthew 5:28, "But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart."

Since we all admit that we have broken anywhere from one to many of the commandments, and since we know that the wages of sin is death, we know we are worthy of death because we have sinned. How will we ever be able to get into Heaven if we are such vile sinners? By the most famous statement made in Scriptures today...

John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

The Law is so strong that no one would ever be able to enter Heaven because, "…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" (Romans 3:23) Therefore Jesus agreed to die for us before the foundation of the world if mankind did in fact choose to sin. Adam and Eve did just that, and the rest of us followed their example.

Hebrews 9:26-28, "For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation."

When a non-believer stands before the judgment seat without Christ, he has no defense for the sins he has committed. Therefore, since the wages of sin are death, that unbeliever must die that death for his own sins, because that is the payment for sin. However, if that soul is a believer, even though he was a liar, a thief, or an adulterer, when he stands before God in judgment, he does not have to die that death for his sins because he believes and rightfully claims Jesus died that death for his sins long ago. Jesus paid that price for us. All we need to do is believe it, and He has promised to give us salvation as a gift for trusting Him.

In closing

The Law of God is like a mirror. For example, if I was to go outside and roll around in a mud puddle, when I come back into the house and stand before a mirror, can I say to the mirror, make me clean? No, the mirror cannot do that. It can only tell me I need to be cleansed by reflecting my filth before my eyes. In the same way, when we look at the Ten Commandments and realize we have broken many of the Laws, the Law tells us we are in need of a cleansing. But, mankind cannot cleanse himself or even stop sinning for that matter. All the Law can do is warn us, we need a Saviour!

Now do you see why Satan attacks the Law of God? It points to His biggest threat! JESUS CHRIST! The devil knows that if people today look at the Lawof God it will CONVERT them into obeying God. Psalms 19:7 says, "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple."

"It was impossible for the sinner to keep the law of God, which was holy, just, and good; but this impossibility was removed by the impartation of the righteousness of Christ to the repenting, believing soul. The life and death of Christ in behalf of sinful man were for the purpose of restoring the sinner to God's favor, through imparting to him the righteousness that would meet the claims of the law and find acceptance with the Father. But it is ever the purpose of Satan to make void the law of God and to pervert the true meaning of the plan of salvation. Therefore he has originated the falsehood that the sacrifice of Christ on Calvary's cross was for the purpose of freeing men from the obligation of keeping the commandments of God. He has foisted upon the world the deception that God has abolished His constitution, thrown away His moral standard, and made void His holy and perfect law. Had He done this, at what terrible expense would it have been to Heaven! Instead of proclaiming the abolition of the law, Calvary's cross proclaims in thunder tones its immutable and eternal character. Could the law have been abolished, and the government of heaven and earth and the unnumbered worlds of God maintained, Christ need not have died. The death of Christ was to forever settle the question of the validity of the law of Jehovah. Having suffered the full penalty for a guilty world, Jesus became the Mediator between God and man, to restore the repenting soul to favor with God by giving him grace to keep the law of the Most High. Christ came not to destroy the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them to the very letter. The atonement of Calvary vindicated the law of God as holy, just, and true, not only before the fallen world but before heaven and before the worlds unfallen. Christ came to magnify the law and to make it honorable."  -Faith and Works page 118