The Bible Truth About the Ten
Commandments – Part Two
(Not What Many People Think)
After I
closed the first part of the discussion on this topic, I realized there were
areas that could and probably should have received a broader clarification. In
particular, I’d like to revisit the point that “The Law was not intended to be
a continuing ‘yardstick’ / measuring device to determine righteousness in the
sight of God”.
The initial
point related to the Scripture in Galatians 3: 19, that said the Law “was added because of man’s transgressions, till
the seed should come to whom the promise was made:…” It was noted that “the seed should come” referred
to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to the Nation of Israel. I would like to
expand on my earlier comments on this point.
I had
previously noted that once Israel’s Messiah, our Lord Jesus had come, the
Nation of Israel’s people were to recognize who He was, and that He would bring
them everlasting righteousness. I cited only one reference (Daniel 9: 20-24),
but could / should have added:
· His coming was another step in God’s
commitment to restore mankind to Himself through the Adamic Covenant (Genesis
3: 15), and the Abrahamic Covenant (Genesis 12: 1-3)
· His coming would fulfill God’s commitment
to the Nation of Israel through the Davidic Covenant to send the Messiah who
would establish and rule over His Earthly Kingdom forever. (2 Samuel 7; Isaiah
9: 6-7; Jeremiah 23: 5-6; Ezekiel 36: 22-28)
When our
Lord Jesus came, John the Baptist announced His arrival saying: “Behold the
Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” (John 1: 29) Note, John spoke of the sin of the world,
not just the sin of Israel.
Perhaps most
relevant to this discussion related to the Law, the Lord Jesus Himself while
speaking to the multitudes made this reference, saying: “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) His coming to fulfill the Law speaks
directly to the scripture noted above “till the seed should come”.
This is also
important to both Jews and Gentiles because:
· His coming would initiate God’s New
Covenant with Israel when He “will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more.” (Jeremiah 31:
31-34)
· This future “New Covenant” for the
Nation of Israel has already been made effective in its implementation for
those individuals (Jew and Gentile) who have or will believe in the Lord. A key
part of that scripture is the verse (Jeremiah 31: 33) in which the LORD says:
The Law /
Ten Commandments was given to teach mankind (through the Nation of Israel) God’s
Moral Law / Standards for Righteous Behavior.
Israel’s inability to follow and obey the Law had served to demonstrate
the limitations of knowledge alone in meeting the daily practical challenges of
fulfilling the Law. The problem of sin continued in man, with the sin-nature dominating
the conscience. There needed to be another much more effective means for man to
achieve the necessary righteousness to gain salvation and eternal life with God.
In His
foreknowledge, God knew Israel would reject the Lord Jesus as their Messiah. They
(Elohiym) also planned from the beginning that the Lord would be the “seed” that
would bruise / crush the head of the Serpent / Satan that brought sin into the
world. (Genesis 3: 15) (Acts 2: 22-23,
36) In this manner of defeating Death, Our Lord Jesus would suffer immeasurably
to pay for the sins of all mankind. But he would later “reward” with many blessings those who would believe /
have faith in Him, and what He has done to bring us salvation to eternal life. Just as Abraham and other Old Testament
figures were acknowledged for their faith (Hebrews Chapter 11), by faith we are
now regarded as “sons of Abraham”, and entitled to the blessings due to all his
descendants. (Galatians 3: 7; Deuteronomy
28: 1-14)
Also, quite
importantly for our daily lives, following His death, burial and resurrection, The
Lord kept His promise to send a “Comforter”, the Holy Spirit…who will both
guide us and assist us in our on-going
battles against our “sin-nature”. (John
14: 16-20, 26, 15: 26, 16: 7-14; Romans Chapter Eight) As believers in the Gospel of Grace (1
Corinthians 15: 1-4, Romans 10: 9-13), we have already become beneficiaries of
the “New Covenant” described above. The Law has been written in our hearts. (Jeremiah
31: 33) Further, we now have the distinction of being “sons of God” and “joint-heirs”
with Christ”. (Romans 8: 14-17). Through
our faith we know that the Law has no dominion or other effect over us. Our righteousness is of God, through
our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 3: 22-24, Chapter Six; 2 Corinthians 5:
17-21)
For any who
might still be in doubt about the role of God’s Grace and its role in our
salvation, compared to attempts to keep the Law, I strongly encourage them to
read or re-read the Book Acts 15: 1-20 , and the Book of Galatians 2: 1-10. The
Apostle Paul’s efforts to save Gentiles was also met with tremendous opposition
until the agreement was reached at the Jerusalem Council to have the Lord’s “Kingdom”
disciples continue to evangelize Jews under the Law, while Paul and his followers
went to the Gentiles with the Gospel of Grace. The opposition was lessened, but
still continued, even among some today.
Dr. W. A. (Bill) Robinson
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