The Law, Grace, Faith and Hope Brothers and sisters, again I am impressed to write of the Ten Commandments and to take special note of the fourth commandment. As time in my life’s journey moves on, I can hardly believe the confusion over the fourth commandment. The remaining nine and the two added by our Lord Jesus when He was here on earth rarely seem to be in dispute. Does this not make you wonder why? Not long ago I was listening to a radio program on my way to work as I often do. The minister began with a question and answer forum. A man called in asking for advice on the Sabbath/Sunday dilemma. He wanted to know why some keep the seventh day of the week holy and why some keep the first day of the week holy. When the answers were put forth I could not believe the amount of disregard for the fourth commandment! First, he stated that the seventh day Sabbath was nailed to the cross and that Jesus was the completion of the law. Note:(Jesus, Himself had stated that He came not to change one jot nor tittle, (forms of punctuation), of the law, (the Ten Commandments), but that He was adding two more! See Matthew 5:18. The Ceremonial Law that was given to Moses and adhered to strictly by the Pharisees was the set of laws and rules that were done away with at the cross.) The minister then said that the Sabbath of the seventh day was a covenant between the Jews and God. Did he not read at the very beginning of his Bible God’s very own words? This fourth commandment was made covenant between God and all of His children. For He created in six days and rested on the seventh and seeing that what He had created was good, He blessed and made holy the seventh day and made a covenant between Him and his children to keep the seventh day holy for rest and to worship Him. Now, let’s reflect on Romans 10:1-10. (1)“Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. (2) For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. (3) For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. (4)For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth. (5)For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them. (6)But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on these wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) (7)Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) (8)But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith which we preach. (9)That if thou shall confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. (10)For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” This has so often been taken out of context; in other words if you pay attention only to verses four and five, you see it saying the law is done away with for Christ is the end of the law. Now alone, these two verses give you the wrong idea. But, as you read all ten verses you will see that it is the Law of Moses, that it is speaking of. For all have fallen short and only by faith, grace and hope in Jesus shall we be saved. Romans 3:23-31 says, (23)”For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God; (24)Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25)Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (26)To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. (27)Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. (28)Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (29)Is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: (30)Seeing it is one God which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. (31)Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Again, I say this has real importance! James 2:10 says, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” Romans 5:19-21 also speaks of how Jesus will cover our sins. (19)“For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (20)Moreover the law entered that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (21)That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.” I urge all to read Romans again to decipher for yourselves what has been said. Look closely at verses 6:1&2, 6:14&15, 8:24&25, all of which are before 10:4&5, and even after these there is clear explanation. We live not under grace alone but also by that of the law for if there were no law, there would be no grace needed for the law points out our sins. So why is the fourth commandment left out? I have not seen nor read anywhere in the Bible of this. The minister then in answer said, “If you look to the New Testament you will find the other commandments but not the fourth commandment. So let us look for our own soul’s sake. Luke 23:43-56 clearly speaks of this. When Jesus died on the cross, it was on a Friday; this is widely agreed upon. Verses 52-56 go on to say, (52)”This man went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. (53)And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. (54)And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on. (55)And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how His body was laid. (56)And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the Commandment.” Clearly this speaks of Jesus and His death and how the Fourth Commandment was addressed and obeyed. So, why has there been such a controversy over just one commandment, that it be changed to a different day or ignored altogether? So why do most of the mainstream Christian churches of today observe Sunday and not the so clearly stated Sabbath, the seventh day of the week of Biblical reference? Let us first, be followers of Christ and the Word of God and the fruit of the Bible. Let us search out these things for ourselves and ask the Lord for help with our interpretation thereof. “Oh Holy Father of Heaven. I pray that these words given, that I have put right here before you, will bless those who read them with the wisdom of Your Word. In Jesus name, Amen.” Now, let us continue in our study and searching of God’s Word, for the time left to us is short and our time of coming to the Lord is also short. Satan knows all too well how little time is left and how on this aspect of the right day of worship he has worked hard against from the beginning and shall increase to the end. This should impress you of it’s utter importance and of the confusion that surrounds it. Brothers and sisters, if you should but look for yourselves you will see clearly. Exodus 16:26 “Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the Sabbath, in it there shall be none.” Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy.” Matthew 12:8 “For the son of man is Lord even of the Sabbath day.” Since Jesus died on the cross, yes, we have grace and our sins are covered, never-the- less we are to obey the law. Remember, no law, no need of grace; no faith, no need of grace or law; and without law, grace and faith there is no need of hope. Jerry Grable February — 2007 giventowrite.webs/
Posted on: Sun, 15 Sep 2013 13:31:17 +0000
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