The Ten Commandment Law of God Versus the Law of Moses

Click to go to our Home Page


 

Dear Reader,

 

Mainline professing Protestant Christianity and Catholicism, claim that the law was done away with.  But now some of them want to reinstate the law.  Confusing is it not?  Yes, Babylon is the epitome of confusion and her recent desire to reinstate the law of God, after saying it had been nailed to the cross, is one of her greatest acts of confusion.  But God said that not one jot or tittle will pass from His law until all is fulfilled.  The Sanctuary Service is not fulfilled until the antitypical Day of Atonement is over and sin is put to an end.  When Christ says it is finished, he meant the payment for sin and the empowerment of His Holy Spirit for overcoming sin, but we know that sin was not eradicated at the cross.  It is still a very real and present force in the world.  If the Law of God was imperfect and against man, then no man who has ever lived should be held accountable for braking that law or committing sin, which is Biblically defined as transgression of that law:

 

1Jo 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

 

Rom 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, [there is] no transgression.

 

The Law of God—The Commandments of God

 

Jesus, as combined with humanity on earth, would have had no authority to annul the law of His Father.  He said that He kept His Father’s Commandments.  He said that the only way we know that we love God the Father is to keep His commandments.

 

Jhn 13:35 By this shall all [men] know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

 

And how do the hearts of man, which are deceitful above all things, know that they love one another.  What is the test of love?  How do you know you have love?  What is God’s test?

 



1Jo 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.

 

So if the Ten-Commandments were nailed to the cross, we have no test as to whether or not we love man or God!

 

Biblical References to the Law of Moses Which was Placed in the Side Pocket of the Ark of the Covenant

 

Jos 8:31 As Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up [any] iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings.

 

Jos 8:32 And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel.

 

Jos 23:6 Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom [to] the right hand or [to] the left;

 

Jdg 4:11 Now Heber the Kenite, [which was] of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which [is] by Kedesh.

 

2Ki 14:6 But the children of the murderers he slew not: according unto that which is written in the book of the law of Moses, wherein the LORD commanded, saying, The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, nor the children be put to death for the fathers; but every man shall be put to death for his own sin.

 

2Ki 23:25 And like unto him was there no king before him, that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there [any] like him.

 

2Ch 23:18 Also Jehoiada appointed the offices of the house of the LORD by the hand of the priests the Levites, whom David had distributed in the house of the LORD, to offer the burnt offerings of the LORD, as [it is] written in the law of Moses, with rejoicing and with singing, [as it was ordained] by David.

 

2Ch 30:16 And they stood in their place after their manner, according to the law of Moses the man of God: the priests sprinkled the blood, [which they received] of the hand of the Levites.

 

Ezr 3:2 Then stood up Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and his brethren the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and his brethren, and builded the altar of the God of Israel, to offer burnt offerings thereon, as [it is] written in the law of Moses the man of God.

 

Ezr 7:6 This Ezra went up from Babylon; and he [was] a ready scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD God of Israel had given: and the king granted him all his request, according to the hand of the LORD his God upon him.

 

Neh 8:1 And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that [was] before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.

 

Dan 9:11 Yea, all Israel have transgressed thy law, even by departing, that they might not obey thy voice; therefore the curse is poured upon us, and the oath that [is] written in the law of Moses the servant of God, because we have sinned against him.

 

Dan 9:13 As [it is] written in the law of Moses, all this evil is come upon us: yet made we not our prayer before the LORD our God, that we might turn from our iniquities, and understand thy truth.

 

Mal 4:4 Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded unto him in Horeb for all Israel, [with] the statutes and judgments.

 

Luk 2:22 And when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were accomplished, they brought him to Jerusalem, to present [him] to the Lord;

 

Luk 24:44 And he said unto them, These [are] the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and [in] the prophets, and [in] the psalms, concerning me.

 

Jhn 7:23 If a man on the sabbath day receive circumcision, that the law of Moses should not be broken; are ye angry at me, because I have made a man every whit whole on the sabbath day?

 

Act 13:39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

 

Act 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command [them] to keep the law of Moses.

 

Act 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into [his] lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and [out of] the prophets, from morning till evening.

 

The Law as Contained in Ordinances or the Law(s) of Moses

 

The law of Moses was contained in ordinances and these were in contradistinction to the Ten Commandment Law of God.  Click on the word ordinances to get the definition of “commandments contained in ordinances,” in Ephesians 2, verse 15 (below), to find that such ordinances were the laws of Moses versus the Ten-commandment law of God which was given to all men to define sin.  How do we know that the Law of God and its Sabbath was for all men rather than just the Jews?  Because Scripture says that all men have sinned.  How so if the law defining transgression was made only for the Jews as some hold?  One despotic Catholic, and not so “gentleman,” on an SDA Internet group forum, argued that because God said that the Sabbath was made for man, it meant Jewish men only and not women and children.  Any reasonable person knows that the in the phrase “the Sabbath was made for man,” the word man is a collective noun meaning all humans.

 

Also, God said that the Sabbath was made for man, not just Jews.  The Hebrews observed the Sabbath before Sinai when they were commanded not to gather manna on Sabbath.  Furthermore, Matthew 24 is also end-time in context as evinced by verse 21.  Jesus warned true Christians at the end-time to pray that there fleeing should not occur on the Sabbath.  So this signifies that the Sabbath would be in operation at the end time.  The Sabbath is God’s memorial of creation.  Why would He nail that to his cross?  The first four commandments are our duty to God. Why would He nail them to the cross?  He did no such thing, and if He did, there is nothing to define sin.  The Bible says that all men have sinned, not just Jews.

 

 

Top of Form

 

Start:

End:

Bottom of Form

Ephesians

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

Chapter 2

1 And you hath he quickened , who were dead in trespasses and sins;

2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

11 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

14 For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us ;

15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace;

16 And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

17 And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.

18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.

19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone ;

21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:

22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

© 2006 Bob Jones University | website comments

 

The Law of Moses Was Placed in a Pocket in the Side (Outside) of the Ark of the Covenant

 

Deu 31:26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.

 

Deu 10:2 And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.

 

1Ki 8:9 [There was] nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone, which Moses put there at Horeb, when the LORD made [a covenant] with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

 

2Ch 5:10 [There was] nothing in the ark save the two tables which Moses put [therein] at Horeb, when the LORD made [a covenant] with the children of Israel, when they came out of Egypt.

 

Hbr 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

 

The Law of Moses Consisted of Civil Laws Such as Dietary Laws etc.

 

The law of Moses consisted of all the dietary laws concerning unclean meats and other civil laws which were distinct from the Holy Ten Commandment Law of God that defines sin for every human being.  That civil law detailing all the services of the Sanctuary, which made provision for absolving sin before Christ, the sacrificial Lamb should come, was of no use after the antitypical Lamb was sacrificed.  Then the law as contained in such ordinances as pointed forward to Christ, was obviously of no further use and was nailed to His cross by His antitypical sacrifice for all sin.  

 

It was the Law of Moses that was imperfect, whereas God’s perfect law of liberty, was perfect, converting the soul.  

 

Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD [is] perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD [is] sure, making wise the simple.

 

It would be foolhardy to nail a perfect law that converts the soul and makes wise the simple, to the cross!  It is thus foolish virgins who believe that the perfect law of liberty was nailed to the cross.  The law that was imperfect and that was against man was the law of Moses, which made temporary provision for the forgiveness of sin for it could not make the comers thereunto perfect.

 

Hbr 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.

 

Conversely, under the New Covenant, God’s perfect law was placed in the heart of man by the indwelling of Christ’s Holy Spirit.  That Holy Spirit was given to empower man not to sin and to restore in him the image of God.  The Old Covenant of sacrificing sheep or other sacrifices for sin could not empower man.  In that degree it was imperfect.  It pointed forward to the perfect sacrifice, the Son of Man for the sins of all men to pardon sin as well as empower man to overcome sin.  That was the perfect sacrifice.

 

The imperfectness of the first Covenant also consisted in the fact that one had to take the best of his flock and offer it as a sacrifice for sin.  That was against man to have to sacrifice the best of his flock, when even that could not empower him to overcome sin in the future.  If you were a livestock farmer today and had to sacrifice the very best of your herd every time you sinned, I guess you would believe such a law was against you, especially when it had no power to prevent you from sinning again and having to go through the same process repeatedly.

 

Eph 2:15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, [even] the law of commandments [contained] in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, [so] making peace;

 


Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

 


Col 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

 


Hbr 9:1 Then verily the first [covenant] had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

 

The New Covenant Versus the Old

 

All the Old Covenant could do was pardon sin temporarily until the Great sacrifice of the true Sacrificial Lamb was offered.  I have explained how it was imperfect and against man.  But under the New Covenant, rather than the law being done away with, it is placed in the heart of man when he partakes of the Divine Nature of Christ.  That gift was not available before His Incarnation in the same way it was afterward.  Christ now gives us His mind and indwells us to empower us and return us to His image.  If the New Covenant did away with the law of God, it would be contradiction to say that it consists of placing that law in the heart of man; that it was perfect, converting the soul and that it is the perfect law of liberty:

 

Jam 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

 


Jam 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

 

Friends, if we are going to be judged by the law of liberty, we had better be familiar with that law!  It was not nailed to the cross.  That is the testimony of very foolish virgins, prating the spirit of Satan.

 

Hbr 8:6 But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

 

Hbr 8:7 For if that first [covenant] had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second.

 

Hbr 8:8 For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah:

 

Hbr 8:9 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.

 

Hbr 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:

 

Hbr 8:13 In that he saith, A new [covenant], he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old [is] ready to vanish away.

 

Hbr 9:1 Then verily the first [covenant] had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.

 

Hbr 9:4 Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein [was] the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

 

Hbr 10:16 This [is] the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

 

Hbr 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

 

Hbr 12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than [that of] Abel.

 

Hbr 13:20 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,

 

Does the New Covenant of Grace Void the Law?

 

Some believe that grace does away with the law and that righteousness by faith (mental assent) is all that is required.  They make Paul and James contradict one another.  James says that we are justified (saved) by both faith and works.  The works that are done by faith in the efficacy of grace given for obedience are imputed unto us as righteousness, just as Abraham’s works by faith were imputed to him for righteousness.  Paul said that we are saved by belief and sanctification.  He said that God is the author of salvation unto all who obey.  He said that grace is given not only for pardon, but for obedience as well.

 

Rom 3:31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.

 

2Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:

 

James said we are saved by faith (belief) and works.  Paul said the same thing in different words.  He said that we were chosen for salvation through sanctification (works) and belief of the truth (faith).  They do not contradict one another notwithstanding the error of mainstream Christianity in interpreting Paul and James so as to make them contradict one another.  When Paul says that we are saved by faith and grace and not of works, he meant that we are not saved by our own works as the Jews, whom he was speaking to, misinterpreted.  They thought that they could earn their salvation by their own works.  But when we receive grace for obedience, it is meritorious because it is Christ’s power that achieves the work, as in the case with Abraham.

 

Rom 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

 

Obedience to what?  God’s Ten Commandments and all the principles associated with them.

 

The Lawless One

 

Friend, if the law of God’s Ten-Commandments was nailed to the cross of Christ, then another all important test was also destroyed.  God’s test for all truth is Isaiah 8:20.  Here is that test:

 

Isa 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them.  

 

God has given us this sure and simple test for ruling out all imposters who feign to be teachers of His Word.  Do you realize that without this simple test we would be ever learning and never coming to knowledge of the truth because we would have to study deeply into all the beliefs of every professing Christian organization in order to know the truth.  But this simple test rules them out quickly and efficiently.  Thank you Lord God Almighty for this simple and clear test whereby we might quickly rule out those who come to deceive us.  

 

Satan is the lawless one, and it is his spirit that is manifested through all who would overthrow the Ten-commandment Law of God Almighty, that defines sin for mankind.  If the ten-commandment law was the one that was imperfect, then no man or fallen angel can be held accountable for anything.  Satan would be off the hook!  

 

God said that the antichrist would think to change times and laws.  There is nothing wrong with changing man’s times and law.  This is done in legislative assemblies daily.  But it is wrong to change God’s law and times, times meaning the Seventh-day Sabbath, His memorial to creation, to Sunday, Satan’s counterfeit sabbath.

 

God bless,

 

Ron