8) God's Law
The Ten Commandments: their purpose and permanent validity
God’s law is an expression of His loving character. The Ten Commandments reveal how we should relate to God and to our neighbor. In this lesson, we will study the importance and permanence of God’s law.
The Origin of the Law
Who wrote the Ten Commandments?
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Answer: God Himself, with His finger
Exodus 31:18: "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God."
Where were the Ten Commandments written?
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Answer: On two tablets of stone
Exodus 31:18: "And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God."
Although God wrote the Ten Commandments at Sinai, the moral principles of His law already expressed His government before that.
“The law of God existed before man was created. It was adapted to the condition of holy beings; even angels were governed by it.” — Ellen G. White, The Truth About Angels, TA 49.5
The Purpose of the Law
What is an important function of the law?
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Answer: By the law comes the knowledge of sin
Romans 3:20: "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin."
Where does the law lead us?
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Answer: To Christ, so that we might be justified by faith
Galatians 3:24: "Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."
How did Jesus summarize all the law?
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Answer: Love God with all your heart and your neighbor as yourself
Matthew 22:37-40: "Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
The Permanence of the Law
Did Jesus come to abolish the law?
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Answer: He did not come to abolish, but to fulfill
Matthew 5:17: "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil."
Does faith nullify the law?
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Answer: No, by faith we confirm the law
Romans 3:31: "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law."
What is the biblical definition of sin?
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Answer: Sin is the transgression of the law
1 John 3:4: "Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law."
“The law of God, as presented in the Scriptures, is broad in its requirements. Every principle is holy, just, and good.” — Ellen G. White, Selected Messages Book 1, 1SM 211.1
The Ten Commandments
Where do we find the Ten Commandments in the Bible?
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Answer: Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5
Exodus 20:1-17: "And God spake all these words, saying, I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 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. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s."
What does keeping the commandments demonstrate?
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Answer: This is the love of God: that we keep His commandments
1 John 5:3: "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous."
And Now?
God’s law remains valid:
- God wrote it: It is not a human invention
- It reveals sin: It shows our need for Christ
- It leads to Christ: It is our schoolmaster unto salvation
- It expresses love: Keeping the law is loving God and our neighbor
- It is permanent: Jesus did not abolish it, but confirmed it
My Decision
I acknowledge that God’s law is holy, just, and good. I understand that I cannot be saved by the law, but that it shows me my need for Christ. Out of love for God, I desire to keep His commandments as an expression of my faith and gratitude.