God’s Laws

Moses was given God’s law on Mount Sinai, and that law included what we commonly refer to as the Ten Commandments. In Exodus 20:1-17, we read, “And God spoke all these words, saying:”

1. I am the Lord your God… you shall have no other gods before Me.
2. You shall not make unto you any graven image… and bow down to them nor serve them.
3. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
5. Honor your father and your mother.
6. You shall not kill.
7. You shall not commit adultery.
8. You shall not steal.
9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
10. You shall not covet.

Thousands of years ago, God gave these commandments to Moses. The wondrous thing is that, even though we are no longer under the Law, all but one of these commandments is still given for God’s people today! Let’s examine that thought.

1. God’s chosen people were commanded to serve God only and not put others before Him. Our Lord Himself taught the people, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve” (Matthew 4:10 NKJV).
2. God’s people were not to worship idols. Paul praised the Thessalonians who had “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9). The dictionary defines an idol as “an image or object worshiped as a god.” From history, we know that idols have been widespread, especially among superstitious people. God demands that His people worship Him and not a false god!
3. God’s people were not to use His name in vain. This one has always been a problem for people. Folks want to swear by God’s name and take God’s name in vain in cursing, and what about the ever-present OMG of today? We read in Hebrews 12:28, “Let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” We don’t revere God and stand in godly awe of Him when we belittle His name!
4. People under the Old Law were commanded to “remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.” The Sabbath was the 7th day of the week and the day set aside for God. With the advent of Christ, this law changed as “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread” (Acts 20:7). Also, New Testament Christians were told to give of their means on the first day. “On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper…” (1 Corinthians 16:2). Scriptures give every reason to believe that the day of worship changed.
5. Under the Old Law, folks were told to honor one’s father and mother. Jesus Himself taught that we are to “Honor your father and mother” (Matthew 19:19).
6. The Old Law said, “You shall not murder.” Under the New Law, the outcome of a murderer is made clear in 1 John 3:15, “You know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.”
7. The Old Law said, “You shall not commit adultery.” Under the New Law, adultery is the first sin mentioned in works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19, and Paul ended by saying that “those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
8. The Old Law said, “You shall not steal.” Paul told the Ephesians, “Let him who stole, steal no longer” (Ephesians 4:28).
9. The Old Law said, “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.” Paul taught, “You shall not bear false witness” (Romans 13:9).
10. The Old Law said, “You shall not covet.” Paul taught, “Nor covetous will inherit the kingdom of God” (1 Corinthians 6:10).

Sometimes we say that the Old Law was given to those folks a long time ago. True, it was but the teachings of the Old Law still apply in almost everything that we do today. Thank God for His continuing laws of goodness!