“God’s law is no longer valid,” is a widespread thesis. But upon closer inspection, such theses cannot be maintained, let alone substantiated. The commandments are valid without restriction until everything has happened.
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No Laws – Then what is sin and why grace?
A major and widespread misunderstanding is the belief or teaching that the law of God was part of the Old Covenant and was abolished under the New Covenant. After all, people now lived in the New Covenant and the 10 Commandments no longer had any meaning. Admittedly, Paul’s statements in his numerous letters to the various communities are not easy fare. It often takes several attempts to understand the context. However, individual verses from his letters are certainly suitable for providing a misleading justification for contradictory interpretations. But this only works if the verses are not mentioned in context.
The thesis that God’s laws (moral laws) have been abolished is a false belief. This becomes visible when only the term “sin” is illuminated. Sin still exists, but the law is no longer valid? How is that possible? What is sin? Sin is the transgression of the law, as stated in 1 John 3:4:
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”
But what law if this no longer existed? The presentation of a supposedly abolished law is often supported by the explanation of justice exclusively through grace (sola gracia). But here too, the term “grace” should simply be examined more closely. When or on what occasion does grace come into play? Mercy is only applied when a guilty person is given a waiver of the punishment that is actually due (“grace must be exercised”). Guilty of what? Where there is no law, there is no transgression and no sin (guilt) is possible and therefore all grace would be invalid.
Laws have been established and are valid!
It is therefore obvious that the laws (commandments) are still valid, because sin and grace are based on them. Paul emphasized the validity of the law. Romans 3:28-31:
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”
Violating the law has “only” one consequence: death. Now, however, man is a fallen being and far more than susceptible to sinfulness or transgression of the law. This is already shown by Paul’s words in his letter to the church in Rome, as in Romans 3:10-12:
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.einer!”
However, God’s law is literally written in stone and is therefore immutable. Even Jesus did not come to abolish this law, but to fulfill it. However, the term “fulfillment” is often misinterpreted as “annulment after completion”. No. Jesus fulfilled the law in terms of observance and obedience. Jesus Himself finally said He didn’t come to abolish the law. Even the change of one iota excluded Jesus (Sermon on the Mount) until the end of days. Matthew 5:18:
“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.”
Without laws, Jesus’ death would have been meaningless
How serious the existence of God’s laws is is demonstrated by nothing more emphatically than by Jesus’ death on the cross. Fallen and sinful man without exception would be hopelessly lost, since breaking the law inevitably leads to death. God doesn’t change. God does not change His laws or adapt them to a new situation or a new “human zeitgeist”. Rather, people strive to adapt the interpretation and interpretation of God’s Word to the “enlightened world” and thereby become more and more astray.
Jesus took our sins upon himself
The only one who doesn’t deserve death is Jesus Christ. He was without sin, without guilt. But:
John 3:16:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Jesus Christ (“the righteous servant”, according to Isaiah), as a completely innocent person, took on all of our sins and paid the only price for them, death. The prophet Isaiah announced this centuries earlier, as in Isaiah 53:5:
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.”
and
Isaiah 53:10-11:
“Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.”
Jesus took the punishment that actually we, the fallen people, deserved. God opened up a way for us to salvation (life instead of death) through Jesus Christ and thus also confirmed the immutability and validity of His laws. Jesus bought us at a price (1 Corinthians 6:20: “For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”). It is almost logical that only Jesus Christ is our advocate before God and the only way to God for us. John 14:6:
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Our life is a gift from God
1 Corinthians 6:20 reveals another important fact, which actually contradicts the “enlightened and modern spirit of the times”, but also clearly shows exactly this error. We, that is, human beings, are God’s creatures. We are His property. Without God we simply would not exist. There is nothing “divine” in us, not even the often quoted “divine spark”, let alone an immortal soul (this is taught by the Catholic Church, Catechism Pos. 366). An “immortal soul” raises the question of what resurrection from the dead should mean in such a case. Our life is given by God. Only in God is life. Described very impressively in John 1:1-4:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”. It doesn’t get any clearer.
In order for peaceful coexistence in absolute harmony to be possible for eternity, rules (laws, commandments) must be observed. Belief in Jesus Christ not only describes belief in a special person long ago, but belief in all of Jesus’ attributes, the plan of salvation and the consequences associated with it. Mark 12:30-31: “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” (True) faith, love of God and love of neighbor automatically lead to observance of God’s laws. (Forced) obedience to the law without faith leads to anger (Romans 4:15: “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.”).
By the way: The 10 commandments quoted by the Catholic and Protestant churches are abridged, changed and split commandments, which differ significantly from Exodus chapter 20.
Selection of clear Bible verses on valid commandments
1 John 2:4:
“He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. “
1 John 5:2-3:
“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous”
John 14:15:
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”
John 14:21:
“He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
John 15:10:
“If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.”
Matthew 5:17-18:
” Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 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.”
Mark 7:7-8:
“Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.”
Revelation 22:14:
“Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
Summary:
- Sin is breaking the law. Without law there would be no sin
- Grace is only necessary when sin (transgression of the law) has been committed and death would result. Without law there is no sin and therefore no required grace
- The judgment of man requires a standard (law). Without law, no judge would have any basis for judgment.
- The (attempted) keeping of the law alone without faith in Jesus Christ is futile. True(!) faith in Jesus Christ and love for Him leads to keeping His laws.
- The laws reflect the character of God
- The law is upheld almost to the end of the Bible. Rev. 22:14: “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.”
- The law applies as a whole and therefore of course also the 4. Commandment.
- The 10 Commandments are also emphasized in the New Testament
Bible verses from King James Version
