Questions And Answers


 




The Law Of God

  

 

How did God proclaim His law to His people?

 

      “And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. 

       And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone.”

Deuteronomy 4:12,13

 

Ref.   Nehemiah 9:13,14, Exodus 20:2-17

 

What is the nature of God’s Law?

 

      “Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 

      Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 

     For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.”

Romans 7:12-14

 

Comment- In His comments on the sixth and seventh commandments, (Matthew 5:21-28) Christ demonstrated the spiritual nature of the law, showing that it relates not merely to outward actions, but also to the thoughts and intent of the heart.  (Hebrews 4:12)  The tenth commandment forbids lust, or all unlawful desire. (Romans 7:7)  Obedience to the law, therefore requires not merely an outward compliance but genuine heart service.  This can be rendered only by a regenerated soul.

     “The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.”

Psalms 19:7. 

Is there such a thing as a perfect law?  Everything that comes from God is perfect.

 

How comprehensive are these commandments?

 

      “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13

 

Comment- Our human laws stem from the Law of God for no nation can be run without law, but man has brought pollution and dishonesty into his fabrications that rule the world.

 

What is the essential principle of the Law of God?

 

      “Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Romans 13:10

 

What two commandments sum up the Law of God?

 

      “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 

       This is the first and great commandment. 

       And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 

     On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Matthew 22:37-40

 

Comment- If you love God with all your heart, you will keep the first four commandments, and if you love your neighbor as yourself, you will keep the last six commandments.

 

Why should we fear God and keep His commandments?

 

      “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 

     For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.” 

Ecclesiastes 12:13,14

 

What will be the standard in the judgment?

 

     “So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.”

James 2:12

 

What is sin declared to be?

 

      “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

1 John 3:4

 

“How many of the commandments is it necessary to break in order to be a transgressor of the law?”

 

      “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 

     For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.” 

James 2:10,11

 

Comment- The ten commandments are not ten different laws, they are one law.  If I am being held up in the air by a chain with ten links and I break one of them down I come, just as surely as if I break the whole ten.

For what did Christ reprove the Pharisees?

 

      But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? 

     For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. 

      But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; 

      And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.”

Matthew 15:3-6

 

Consequently, how did Christ value their worship?

 

      “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

Matthew 15:9

 

Can one know God and not keep His commandments?

 

      “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” 

1 John 2:4

 

What was Christ’s attitude toward God’s will or law?

 

      Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, 

     I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.”

Psalms 40:7,8

 

Ref.  Hebrews 10:5,7

 

Who did He say would enter the kingdom of heaven?

 

      “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.”

Matthew 7:21

 

How will men be rated in relation to God’s commandments?

 

      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.”

Matthew 5:19

 

Comment- The law is as binding upon Christians today as they were upon the Hebrews who first received them.

 

Why is the carnal mind enmity against God?

 

      “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.”

Romans 8:7

 

Can man of himself, unaided by Christ, keep the law?

 

     “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

John 15:5

 

Ref.  Romans 7:14-19

 

What provision has been made by which we are enabled to keep God’s law?

 

      “For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 

       That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

Romans 8:3,4

 

How does the renewed heart regard God’s law? 

 

      “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

1 John 5:3

 

What blessing attends those who keep commandments?

 

      “Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.” 

Psalm 19:11

 

What would obedience have ensured to ancient Israel?

 

     “O that thou hadst hearkened to my commandments! then had thy peace been as a river, and thy righteousness as the waves of the sea.”

Isaiah 48:18

 

What other blessing attends commandment keeping?

 

      “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” 

Psalms 111:10

 

What promise is made to the willing and obedient?

 

     “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.”

Isaiah 1:19

 

 

I delight to do thy will Oh my God, yea thy law is within my heart!