For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4, NASB
All of scripture is to lead us to Christ and help us grow in godliness, encouraging us in growth and hope.
Every man’s way is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts.
Proverbs 21:2, NASB
We tend to think that we can do plant of good things, but often our motives are less than pure, even selfish. God knows every intention and motive of our hearts.
Welcome back, my little chickadees! Or something… And as a reminder, this is late due to technical issues. Hopefully later this week another one is coming!
This is the first of a new series of videos I will be making called Give Me 5. The premise is that in about five minutes (hopefully less, and not necessarily including the intro and a few other extras – like my little outtakes I sometimes put in) an apologetics approach (apologetics, again, coming from 1 Peter 3:15, in which we are told to always be ready to give a reasoned defense, Greek apologia, for our faith) will be used to answer some biblical/theological questions/challenges.
Specifically, I am dealing with the question of what it means that Christians are not under the Law while also looking at the challenge from atheists and the irreligious that the Law, and more specifically the Ten Commandments, are useless and/or stupid.
Not Under the Law?
It is first helpful to realize that we are freed from the ceremonial or Levitical law. We no longer need to perform certain regulations and sacrifices to be made clean before God. He did that for us by sacrificing Christ on the cross.
Jesus summarized the Moral Law by quoting the two greatest Commandments:
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.
Deuteronomy 6:5, ESV
you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
Leviticus 19:18, ESV
Loving God can summarize the first three and a half Commandments, while loving people can summarize the second six and a half.
Why?
Non-controversial Commandments
When God gave Moses the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, He tells us in verse two that “I am the Lord your God,” which tells is that all morality is based on who God is. Apart from God, there is no valid reason for morals. Obviously, atheists and the irreligious disagree with this.
God begins with the First Commandment (v. 3) that we should have no other gods. He created everything ever, so no one could be as powerful as He is. There simply are no other gods. Period. (This rules out other religions.) There is a God.
This leads to the Second Commandment (v. 4) that we are not to make idols. This is anything we create or is a part of God’s Creation that we give worship to. And before anyone argues that this does not happen: many people, such as astrophysicist Niel DeGrasse Tyson, argue that all of the elements were created in stars which blew up, spreading that stuff all over, so that we are mad up of this star stuff, therefore we should literally thank the stars that we are alive.
That is idolatry.
Which relates to Commandment Three (v. 7), that we do not use the Lord’s name in vain. This does mean not saying “G.D.” or “omg” and stuff like that, but more importantly it is claiming to be a follower of God (i.e. Christian) and do the very things Je says not to do (i.e. cuss people out, sleep around, lie, mistreat others, etc.)
Now it shifts to the halfsies Commandment, number four (v. 8): Observe the Sabbath. Atheists and the irreligious disregard this (and the first three Commandments) because it is all about the God they do not believe in, because it says that He spent six days creating and then rested, so we should, too.
However, they should not object to the idea of taking a day off every week! It is about rest! (Again, why this is not exactly reiterated in the New Testament is for another time, but essentially we have rest for our souls now with the hope of eternal Sabbath after Christ’s return.)
The other six Commandments should be what we all agree on(at least to some extent.
The For-Some-Reason-Controversial Commandments
Fifth: Honor your parents (v. 12)
Sixth: Do not murder (v. 13)
Seventh: Do not commit adultery (v. 14)
Eighth: Do not steal (v. 15)
Ninth: Do not lie (v. 16)
Tenth: Do not covet (v. 17)
What is there to disagree with?
God says to show respect to people (especially parents, which has become weird in the past few decades), do not murder, take a spouse from or stuff from, lie to or about, or desire to have the possessions and loved ones of other people.
Sure, our society now says that parents are largely irrelevant and that it is okay to want others’ stuff, including spouses. Even murder is seen as okay (i.e. abortion and assisted suicide).
But we do all agree that resting, showing respect to others, and not taking other people’s things, loved ones, or life are all good.
We also need to remember that God is the reason these are good, that we are even here to experience it all, and deserves all honor and worship.
If you want to debate, challenge, or question any of this, comment below or on the video, or even send an e-mail over to Together@asimplemanofgod.com.
“blessed are those whose lawless deeds have been forgiven, and whose sins have been covered.”
Romans 4:7, NASB
Blessed – Happy, joyous, elated, grateful – are those who have realized their own wretchedness before a holy God and also realized the grace and forgiveness He offers through the cross of Christ.
in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it.
Deuteronomy 30:16, NASB
God expects love and devotion with perfect obedience. The great news for us is that He helps us with the power of His Holy Spirit and through the perfect sacrifice of His Son so that God sees the Son when He looks at us.
“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.”
Luke 16:10, NASB
How you live in the little, day-to-day humdrum of life can be evidence of your faithfulness toward great things.
If you want to do great things, be faithful in the ordinary.
This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;
James 1:19, NASB
As some say, “Listen twice, speak once.” Put another way, be patient. Maybe walk a mile in their shoes. As Jesus did, foregoing anger against those who revile Him to offer forgiveness.
Do we truly love the Lord our God with all our hearts, souls, minds, and strengths? Maybe I can help with the mind part, at least! This is Daniel M. Klem, apparent poet, reluctant yet passionate Disciple (Peter?), and foolish man attempting to understand theology!
