Do I need to obey the Ten Commandments?
Has God's law changed? What does Jesus Christ expect Christians to do about the Ten Commandments?
Answer:
Jesus explicitly shows that our obedience must include obeying the Ten Commandments.
"Now behold, one came and said to Him, 'Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?' So He said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.'
"He said to Him, 'Which ones?'"
In answer Jesus listed a number of the Ten Commandments as well as a summary statement:
• "You shall not murder."
• "You shall not commit adultery."
• "You shall not steal."
• "You shall not bear false witness."
• "Honor your father and your mother."
• "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew:19:16-19).
• "You shall not commit adultery."
• "You shall not steal."
• "You shall not bear false witness."
• "Honor your father and your mother."
• "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew:19:16-19).
Obedience to God begins with accepting the Ten Commandments as the permanent standard for our values and behavior. But our obedience must extend beyond just keeping the Ten Commandments.
Jesus also said: "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill [from the Greek pleroo, meaning to 'fill to the full']. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled [from a different Greek word, ginomai, used in the sense of 'come to pass'].
"Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew:5:17-19).
Sin is disregarding, refusing to do, what God tells us to do. Jesus tells us He had no intention of annulling or abolishing God's commands and that anyone who presumes to teach that is in grave spiritual danger.
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This week, we’re going to explore Commandments 1 through 5 and how these commandments apply to you as wife, mother, and grandmother.
(Next week, we’ll finish up with Commandments 6 – 10.)
No. 1: "Nothing and No One Comes Before God."
"You shall have no other gods before me."
We all know what happens to someone who falls off a building or some other height. The law of gravity carries with it a severe penalty. It is one of the laws of nature. We do not doubt its existence, yet we cannot see gravity. We only see its results. The Law of God - the Ten Commandments - acts in the same way. We only see the results when we break it. These commandments were given to protect man from the pain and suffering he will surely experience in this physical life by disregarding or failing to appreciate them. What does the Bible say? You must do more than profess God and Christ.
“Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 7:21).
It is deceptive to believe that belief in God is sufficient to put you in favor with God. Believing alone is insufficient; you must act upon what you hear.
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devil also believes, and trembles. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (Jas. 2:19-20).
If you put your own desires above the commands of God, you are deceiving yourself. You are NOT truly worshipping God. You are worshipping yourself. You must practice what God requires of you! Those things in your life that are more important than God are your idols. Set them aside. Your idols include all of your desires and passions that get in the way before God.
Here are some modern-day examples of idolatry that may take place in your home:
· You don’t pray to God on a daily basis, but you’ll watch TV on a daily basis.
· You don’t read God’s word (your Bible) on a daily basis, but you’ll read Facebook status updates on a daily basis.
· It’s Sunday morning and you’d rather sleep off the party headache from the night before than get up, get dressed, and attend a church service.
· You spend your time making your outward appearance beautiful, but you forget that God wants you to be beautiful on the inside, first and foremost.
· You are more concerned with what you see in the mirror than you are with how God sees you.
· That new car you’re driving is a status symbol to everyone who sees you driving it.
· You spend $100 a month on newer, trendier clothes, but you find it difficult to help a neighbor in need.
· You think that getting closer to the Lord is something only obsessed Christians will do. You’re more comfortable praying occasionally than in getting on your knees and really talking with the Lord.
· You take your children to the latest cinema theater at least twice a month, but you haven’t taken them to church in years.
· It’s more important that you fit in a social event than it is that you fit into Heaven.
· You’ve read a commandment of God’s but you feel that your situation is different and therefore doesn’t apply to this command.
· You’re raising your hands in church as you sing, but you’re secretly very pleased with your latest acrylic nail job instead of really singing the words to God.
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Questions and Answers to Share:
1. Name one area you struggle with idolatry in your life or in your family.
2. Do you want to grow closer to the Lord, or are you happy where you are in your Christian walk?
3. Name a way that you can improve your relationship with God on a daily basis.
4. How can you show your children/grandchildren/family members that God is THE most important person in your life?
5. Find one scripture from the bible, different than those quoted above, that speaks of idolatry. Write it out.
6. How can your KOTH partner pray for you in regards to idolatry and the verse, “you shall have no other gods before me”?
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