Are the 10 Commandments for new Testament Christians?
Are the 10 Commandments for the New Testament Christian?
The Old Testament.
Was given to Moses by God and was to rule over the Israelites until the promised Savior arrived. It actually said that it would be in effect until all of it was fulfilled by a man. At that point it would be completed and would no longer be in effect. Of course it was pointing toward Jesus.
The 10 commandments are an integral part of the Law of Moses or Law . They were and are, because of their relationship to the Law, governed and punished under the LAW of Moses. Meaning that if you break one of them your punishment is determined by the LAW. That means if you live by them your punishment is determined by the LAW.
So lets look at them one by one. Then look at the punishment for them.
1. Ex 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before Me.
Penalty- DEATH by stoning by the witnesses against him
2. Ex 20:4 "You shall not make yourself a carved image
Penalty- DEATH by the sword
3. Ex 20:7 "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain,
Penalty- DEATH by stoning
4. Ex 20:8-9 "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Penalty- DEATH by stoning by the entire congregation
5. Ex 20:12 "Honor your father and your mother,
Penalty- DEATH by stoning
6. Ex 20:13 "You shall commit murder.
Penalty-- DEATH by the sword
7. Ex 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery.
Penalty- DEATH by fire, being burned to death
8. Ex 20:15 "You shall not steal.
Penalty- DEATH and possibly other depending on circumstances
9.Ex 20:16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Penalty- DEATH depends on circumstances
10. Ex 20:17 "You shall not covet
Penalty- DEATH by stoning
The New Testament
In the course of time, in God's timing, the savior arrived. He then fulfilled all scripture that had told of His coming. He being the only perfect man, then fulfilled the LAW, thereby completing it. He then, as scripture had foretold, was crucified and was raised from the dead. When He gave up His spirit on the cross and died, He said “it is finished”. He had completed His work on earth and the law was finished, no longer needed because His death and Resurrection installed a New Covenant between God and man. Also when He died the cover to the box that God lived in was supernaturally torn apart and opened access to God for everyone. ( The veil on the Holy of Holies was rent from top to bottom) No longer was there a need for a priest or any man to go before God for man. The ultimate blood sacrifice has been made. No longer was there a need to have all the ordinances and sacrifices and all the things previously needed to satisfy The Law. Man now was able , once again to have a close personal relationship with God. There is NO NEED for any man, because now Jesus is the only go between.
This new covenant was totally different. It did not consist of hundreds of laws with harsh punishments , including death if you broke them. It consisted of boundless Love and Mercy. Instead of 600+ laws there were two commands. And an open door of freedom from oppression,
It is called the Perfect Law of Liberty.
As Christians we do not live under the law or the 10 commandments or any other part of the old testament.
We have this new and totally different covenant with God ( through Jesus).
We have only two, but all encompassing commands from Jesus.
Matt 22: 37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
Mark 12:29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."
There are only two laws that the God gave us to live by in the new testament. He says that all the commandments are included in these two, but instead of being part of the law with harsh punishment they are now a part of the perfect law of liberty and mercy brought by Jesus to set us free from the law. That is a big difference that any Christian should be able to understand and be thankful for. Now we can be forgiven if we break one, under the law (in the OT)there was NO forgiveness, there was death or another harsh punishment. And that makes it different as night and day.
And since the new testament tells us if we keep one of the laws of the old testament that we are saying Jesus died in vain and are then obligated to keep THEM ALL and to be punished under the law not grace.
Gal 3: 10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them." 11 But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for "the just shall live by faith." 12 Yet the law is not of faith, but "the man who does them shall live by them." 13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Which will you prefer, take Jesus word and be under the Perfect Law of Liberty and grace or the old testament with no chance to be forgiven?
Now I know some will say but He was quoting the law there, yes He was, He was speaking to jews and used what they were bound by to set them free by explaining the change He had made to it for them there and then.
Do you see the difference now. Can you why we cannot keep any part of the law now. The law consisted of do's and don'ts with harsh consequences if you did any of the don'ts and didn't do any of the do's . But the new covenant is all about Love and Forgiveness and REDEMPTION. Now and we are warned about this – We are not to take this as a license to do things we are not supposed to do. You see by stating that Christ is our example and if we Call ourselves Christians that we obligate ourselves to follow His example, we are actually obligated to live a higher, more circumspect life the the old commandments required. And now if we mess it up we get another chance if we truly repent and change.
Please keep in mind Jesus was not the wuss, the Feller that loved everything and everyone regardless of what they did. He did some pretty radical things to those that did things they should know not to do. He called the high priest some pretty bad names that described him perfectly, He physically THREW the money changers and their tables out of the temple.
There are too many today that call themselves Christian that take the lovey dovey thing too far because they do not understand scripture and what real love is. REAL Love is saying or doing what is needed not what is desired.
Following are a few scriptures that show love sometimes is hurtful but necessary
Prov 9:8 Rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.
9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser;
Prov 12:26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray.
Prov 13:24 He who spares his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him promptly.
Prov 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.
Prov 15:10 Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way,
And he who hates correction will die.
Prov 17:10 Rebuke is more effective for a wise man
Than a hundred blows on a fool.
Prov 27:5 Open rebuke is better
Than love carefully concealed.
6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
Prov 28:23 He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward
Than he who flatters with the tongue.
2 Tim 4:1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: 2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
