An even more sinister trend is developing in the churches of Christendom.
Here too we see lawlessness being preached and practised. Millions
of ministers and their congregations are now turning their backs on the
law of God, condoning behaviour which only a few decades ago would have
been openly condemned from the pulpit. This is a serious trend: for
the church is supposed to teach law and order. Yet today we see prominent
church leaders openly attacking the commandments of the Almighty God. On TV,
in the press, on radio and now on the Internet, self-appointed prophets,
prelates and priests openly admit to breaking divine commandments - held
sacred since time began. Shocking sexual misbehaviour is now openly flaunted
as so-called ‘new light,’ ‘new wine’ and
‘liberating faith’' mock the sacred commandments of
the Almighty God! Millions of Christians believe that they are
‘ABOVE THE LAW!’ misunderstanding the Apostle
Paul's words when he wrote:
Strange as it may seem, this upsurge in immorality and lawlessness is not new.
It has all happened before. What is new is the world-wide publicity lawless
churchmen receive. Never a week passes but another ‘spiritual
outlaw’ is seen in the pulpit or on TV decrying the commandments of
God. The church is in the grip of a ‘lawless depression’
where blatant sin is rampant. Speaking many centuries ago the Almighty said this
about the disregard for His law by professed spiritual leaders.
Isaiah 24: | 5: “The earth also is defiled under the inhabitants thereof; because they have transgressed the laws, changed the ordinance, broken the everlasting covenant. 6: Therefore hath the curse devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are desolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left.” |
Zephaniah 3: | 4: “Her prophets are light and treacherous persons: her priests have polluted the sanctuary, they have done violence to the law.” |
Does it really matter how people behave in private or public? Do God's laws still exist and are we expected to obey them? Or are Yahweh’s commandments obsolete, fulfilled and done away with by the death of His Son Jesus Christ? Millions of Christians would answer:
Is this the case? Does being ‘under grace’ cancel the need to obey
the ten commandments?
This is a vital question, the answers to which will determine how you behave and
how you will stand on the fast-approaching
Day of Judgment. For make no mistake,
according to Jesus Christ you will have to answer for all your actions, yes for
every idle word, on that awesome day. Ignorance will be no excuse; certainly
not after you've read this article.
Matthew 12: | 36: “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
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Revelation 20: | 12: “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.” |
Yes, moral laws are absolutely necessary? Every Christian, indeed every
believer of all the major religions on earth, will agree that society must have
moral standards if we are to avoid anarchy. But who defines moral standards?
Certainly we humans cannot. The answer is: God alone has the authority to define
moral standards; because He created us. Where does He define moral standards?
The answer is He defines moral standards in His law. In other words, Yahweh’s
law, as recorded in the Bible, identifies the moral standards He wants humanity
to live by. If Yahweh's law didn't exist no one would know right from wrong.
The Bible says:
1 John 3: | 4: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
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Romans 7: | 7: “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.” |
Galatians 3: | 24: “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” |
Romans 7: | 12: “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good...”
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Verse: | 14: “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.”
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Psalm 19: | 7: “The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 8: The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.” |
The high level requirements of the sacrificial laws, however, are eternal.
They still apply. Let me further explain this little known truth. When a
person sins in this day and age he/she must still come to the Almighty with
the blood of a sacrifice: for ‘without blood there is no forgiveness
of sin.’ This mandatory parameter (that without blood there can be
no forgiveness) is the very reason why those commandments concerning animal
sacrifices were given. They were given to teach mankind that the penalty for
sin is death; and that forgiveness is only possible if the sinner comes to
God with the blood of a substitute. Prior to the Saviour's death on Calvary
literal lambs, goats and bulls were slaughtered to prefigure the real substitute -
Jesus Christ. Those practical lessons mean that if a repentant sinner wants
forgiveness from sin, he/she must approach the Almighty with the blood of a
sacrifice. In this dispensation (since the Saviour's death on Calvary) all we
need to obtain forgiveness is faith in the blood of the Lamb of God.
In other words before you can find forgiveness from sin, you need faith in
the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus Christ. You cannot receive
remission (forgiveness, pardon, acquittal, absolution) for your sins in
any other way! This is what the Bible teaches. In short, the high-level
reality of the law on sacrifices (that we need faith in the blood of the Messiah
before forgiveness is possible) still exists. It hasn’t been done away with!
Hebrews 9: | 22: “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”
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Colossians 1: | 14: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:”
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Psalm 111: | 7: “The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. 8: They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.” |
I repeat, the new covenant believer does not need to sacrifice a lamb, a goat or a bull to gain forgiveness. All he is required to do is to confess his/her sins to God and ask forgiveness in His Son's name. The blood of Yeshua the Messiah (the only begotten Son of God) cleanses us from sin. But, and here is the point I am making, the law that states that forgiveness is not possible without blood, still stands. It is still in force. It is eternal and it applies today. If you want forgiveness now, you must still go to God the Father with faith in the blood of the substitute - Jesus Christ the Son. See Animal Sacrifices for more information on sacrificial laws.
Psalm 111: | 7: “The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure. 8: They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.” |
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. 18: For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19: Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” |
When the Almighty writes His perfect law on the minds of His followers,
it will be for all time, never to be forgotten.
Hebrews 8: | 10: “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:” |
Solomon said
Ecclesiastes 12: | 13: “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” 14: For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” |
Jesus said
Matthew 19: | 17: “And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” |
Remember to read the articles available from the Divine Law Library. Here you will find many more amazing truths about Yahweh’s law, the constitution of the mighty universe! Also a PDF format file is located here.