GOD'S LAW; OUR GUIDE

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 – Romans 3.20

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith – Galatians 3.24

Along the main roads we find signposts showing us the direction we need to take to certain towns, villages and shops. If we miss them, we can easily get lost.

The Bible also shows us the direction we need to go in our life. God has given us His commandments that teach us what He requires from His people to be perfect[1]. In Exodus 20 we find commandments known as the Ten Commandments[2]. Let’s look at them and evaluate our life!

1. One God – Thou shalt have no other gods before me[3]

There is only one God[4]. He has created everything[5]. God alone reigns[6]. Therefore, He wants us to obey Him and renounce all idolatry, witchcraft, superstition and any faith in saints, spirits or people[7]. We must acknowledge, love and honour Him with all our heart in such a way that we submit ourselves to Him in humility[8].

2. Depicting God – Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing (…); thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God (…)[9]

God is a holy, perfect Spirit[10]. Any image we make of Him, will fall short and defame Him[11]. God doesn’t want us to use images, spirits or other people to worship God through them[12]. Instead, He wants us to know and worship Him as He commands in His Word, the Bible[13].

3. God’s Name – Thou shalt not take the Name of the LORD thy God in vain (…)[14]

God’s Name tells us Who He is[15]. When we use His Name in vain, we dishonour Him. We even dishonour Him when we repeat His Name lightly in prayer.  We blaspheme Him when we use His Name to curse, decept or take an unnecessary oath[16]. Instead, we must use God’s Name with fear and reverence for God is so great[17]! In everything we say, think and do, we should glorify God and help others to do the same[18].

4. God’s day – Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy (…)[19]

On the Lord’s day, God wants us to be focussed on Him alone[20]. Since the New Testament, the Lord’s day is on Sunday[21]. On His day, we go to church to listen to His Word the Bible, to praise Him, to pray and we find ways to show mercy to people in need[22]. The Sunday points born-again Christians to Heaven.  Because of their Saviour Jesus Christ, they will forever be in Heaven to be focussed on God and enjoy His presence[23]. This prospect encourages them to seek God’s presence every day and to abstain from all evil[24].

5. Our authorities – Honour thy father and thy mother (…)[25]

God has given us people who have authority over us[26], for example parents, teachers, mafumu and the president. We must show them honour, love and faithfulness by obeying them[27] (unless they want us to disobey God[28]).

6. Value lives – Thou shalt not kill[29]

God forbids us to do anything that harms anyone in any way[30]. We are not allowed to dishonour, hate, envy, injure or kill people by thoughts, words, gestures or deeds[31]. Instead, we must love our neighbours as ourselves and show them friendliness and mercy[32]. We have to protect our neighbours (even our enemies[33]) and also ourselves from anything that might harm our body or spirit.

7. Purity – Thou shalt not commit adultery[34]

God is pure and hates all unchastity. We must live a pure and holy life both within and outside marriage[35]. As born-again Christians, our body and soul belong to the holy God, so we must keep them holy by fleeing all unclean acts, words, thoughts and desires[36].

8. Our belongings – Thou shalt not steal[37]

God hates all forms of theft, deceiving, fraud and greed[38]. He wants us to be satisfied with whatever He provides us with through our labour, to care for it and be generous towards others[39].

9. Our witness – Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour[40]

God values the truth. He doesn’t allow us to give false testimony, to twist one’s words and to gossip or slander[41]. We must not condemn or join in condemning anyone rashly and unheard[42]. We have to avoid every lie and love the truth[43].

10. Our desires - Thou shalt not covet (…) anything that is thy neighbour’s[44]

The sinful desires that come forth from our sinful heart, are roots of all other sins[45]. Therefore, God doesn’t allow us to desire anything that is not ours[46]. Rather, we must delight in righteousness: that is to desire what is good and to keep all the commandments wholeheartedly[47].

Jesus accomplished God’s law

Looking at the Ten Commandments, we must acknowledge that we are sinners: we’ve broken all God’s commandments. None of us is perfect the way the Legislator wants us to be[48]!

Because of our sins, we deserve to be far from God in life and to be in hell when we die[49]. There is no hope for us to reach Heaven by keeping God’s commandments[50]. Even our good works cannot save us, although it’s still our duty to obey God. We need to understand and agree that we need Someone to save us from our sins and make us pure in God’s eyes. That Someone is Jesus Christ, God’s Son[51].

Jesus Christ did everything we can never accomplish[52].

At Christmas we remember that Jesus came to live on earth in obedience to God[53]. He kept God’s law in every detail[54].

On Good Friday we remember that Jesus died on the cross as a ransom for anyone who depends on His salvation[55].

At Easter we remember that Jesus rose from the dead: He conquered death, the wages of sin[56].

At Ascension Day we remember that Jesus returned to Heaven and is King of His people who want to follow Him by obeying Him[57].

At Pentecost we remember that Jesus sent His Holy Spirit to teach sinners to repent from their sin and depend on Jesus for salvation[58].

One day, Jesus will come back and take His people with Him[59]. Not because they have lived a perfect life, but because He gave His perfect life for them out of grace[60]. In Heaven they’ll be with Him forever and glorify Him in full obedience[61].

Flee to Jesus to be saved from your sin, be zealous for good deeds while asking God to renew you after His image to obey and glorify Him[62].

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For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth – Romans 10.4

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[1] Proverbs 19.16, Matthew 5.48 [2] Exodus 20.1-17 [3] Exodus 20.3 [4] 1 Samuel 2.2, Deuteronomy 4.35 [5] Genesis 1 and 2 [6] Jeremiah 10.7 [7] 1 John 5.21, Deuteronomy 8.9-12, Matthew 4.10 [8] Matthew 22.37, Psalm 111.10, Acts 5.29, 1 Peter 5.6 [9] Exodus 20.4-6 [10] Isaiah 6.3, John 4.24 [11] Isaiah 40.18 and 25, Romans 1.23 and 24 [12] Numbers 33.52, 2 Kings 18.4 and 5 [13] 1 Samuel 15.22 and 23 [14] Exodus 20.7 [15] Exodus 3.14 [16] Leviticus 24.10-14, Leviticus 19.12, James 5.12 [17] Psalm 99.1-5 [18] Leviticus 5.1, Colossians 3.17 [19] Exodus 20.8-11 [20] Exodus 31.13-17, Leviticus 23.3 [21] Acts 20.7 [22] Romans 10.14-17, Psalm 68.26, Hebrews 10.23-25, 1 Timothy 2.1, Colossians 3.16 [23] John 14.3, Hebrews 4.9-11, Revelation 21.11 [24] Psalm 63.2, Proverbs 8.13, Romans 12.9 [25] Exodus 20.12 [26] Romans 13.1 and 2 [27] Matthew 22.21, Proverbs 23.22, Romans 13.1-8, Colossians 3.18-21, 1 Peter 2.18 [28] Acts 5.29 [29] Exodus 20.13 [30] Genesis 9.6 [31] Matthew 26.52, Romans 1.29, Proverbs 14.30, Romans 12.19, 1 John 2.9-11, 1 John 3.15 [32] 1 Peter 3.8-12 [33] Matthew 5.44 and 45, Romans 12.20 [34] Exodus 20.14 [35] Ephesians 5.3-5, 1 Thessalonians 4.3-8, 1 Corinthians 6.19, Matthew 5.27-30 [36] 1 Corinthians 15.33 [37] Exodus 20.15 [38] Deuteronomy 25.13-16, Luke 16.13, Luke 6.35, Luke 12.15, James 5.1-6 [39] Proverbs 21.20, Hebrews 13.5, Ephesians 4.28 [40] Exodus 20.16 [41] Proverbs 19.5, Proverbs 12.22, Leviticus 19.12 [42] Matthew 7.1 [43] Proverbs 13.5, 1 Corinthians 13.6, Ephesians 4.25 [44] Exodus 20.17 [45] Proverbs 3.24, Mark 7.23 [46] 1 Timothy 6.9 and 10 [47] 1 Timothy 6.6, Isaiah 33.15 [48] Romans 3.23, James 2.10, 1 John 1.8, Ecclesiastes 7.20 [49] Proverbs 15.29, Psalm 5.4, Matthew 25.45 and 46, Nahum 1.2 [50] Galatians 3.10, Romans 3.20, Galatians 2.16 [51] Matthew 1.21, 1 Timothy 2.5, 1 Corinthians 1.30 [52] 2 Corinthians 5.21 [53] Luke 2, Philippians 2.8 [54] Matthew 5.17 [55] Luke 23, Mark 10.45, John 3.16 and 36 [56] Matthew 28, Romans 6.23, 1 Corinthians 15.5 [57] Acts 1.6-11, Mark 16.19, Isaiah 33.22, John 14.15 [58] Acts 2.38 [59] John 14.3 [60] Ephesians 2.9, Romans 3.21-25, Romans 5.16 [61] Revelation 7.15 [62] Isaiah 45.22, John 6.40, Ephesians 2.10, Romans 8.29, 2 Corinthians 3.18