Bible Study - The Law of God

The Law of God

Law of God
Law of God as Changed By Man
The Law of God in the New Testament

Temporal and spiritual prosperity are made conditional upon obedience to the law of God. But we do not read God's Word, and thus become familiar with the terms of the blessing that is to be given to all who hearken diligently to God's law and teach it diligently in their families. Obedience to God's Word is our life, our happiness. We look upon the world and see it groaning under the wickedness and violence of men who have degraded the law of God. He has withdrawn His blessing from orchard and vineyard. Were it not for His commandment-keeping people who live upon the earth, He would not stay His judgments. He extends His mercy because of the righteous, who love and fear Him. Child Guidance p.80

The principles of the Christian life should be made plain to those who have newly come to the truth. None can depend upon their profession of faith as proof that they have a saving connection with Christ. We are not only to say, "I believe," but to practice the truth. It is by conformity to the will of God in our words, our deportment, our character, that we prove our connection with Him. Whenever one renounces sin, which is the transgression of the law, his life will be brought into conformity to the law, into perfect obedience. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. The light of the Word carefully studied, the voice of conscience, the strivings of the Spirit, produce in the heart genuine love for Christ, who gave Himself a whole sacrifice to redeem the whole person, body, soul, and spirit. And love is manifested in obedience. The line of demarcation will be plain and distinct between those who love God and keep His commandment, and those who love Him not and disregard His precepts. Lift Him Up p.302

The joy of the Christian is not found in transgression of the law of God, but in obedience of all its precepts. None are in slavery and bondage to the law but those who transgress it. Obedience produces love to God and man--the two great principles of the law of God. This obedience and this love brings fullness of joy to the disciples of Jesus. He still impresses upon them the importance of carrying forward the work which he has begun, and bearing fruit to the glory of God. Signs of the Times, January 24, 1878

Those who profess to love God should search the Scriptures diligently, for they cannot afford to be found transgressors of the law. The time is coming when no one will be able to render an excuse to God for disobedience to his law. There are those who say now that they cannot keep the commandments of God. They excuse themselves from obedience to the fourth commandment because of business, or their family, or social relations. But these excuses will not be found to avail in the day of God. They will not stand the test of the judgment. Signs of the Times, September 30, 1889

But of those who have obeyed the precepts of heaven, Jesus says, "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." Do you want to enter into the city of God? Christ has stated the condition upon which you may enter. It may seem to you now that commandment-keepers are in the minority; but it will not seem so when the gates of the heavenly city swing back on their glittering hinges. God is on the side of those who obey him. God is a majority. Christ is on their side, the angels of heaven are on their side, and all the good are on their side. The doers of the law of God are in the majority. They have access to the power that the world cannot give or take away. Let us not exalt Satan by dwelling upon his power. Let us talk of the power of God. Let us think of the King in his beauty. Let us behold Christ, and by beholding, become changed into his divine image. Signs of the Times, September 30, 1889

Having complied with the word of God, do not depend upon your feelings for evidence of acceptance with God. "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." If you have complied with the conditions, believe God, whether or not you feel any different. Christ declares, "As the father gave me commandment, even so I do. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love, even as I have kept my fathers commandments, and abide in his love." Let all who understand the abiding claims of the law of God, yield implicit obedience to every requirement given in the word. The convictions of the Holy Spirit are warnings which it is dangerous to disregard. Southern Watchman, December 5, 1899

The work of sanctification consists of a cheerful performance of daily duties, in perfect obedience to the commandments of God. A failure to cooperate with Christ in the great work of redemption is a failure that all eternity cannot supply. 1 Sermons And Talks 217

The Law of God

Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

III

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day [is] the sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates: For [in] six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them [is], and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

Thou shalt not kill.

VII

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

VIII

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that [is] thy neighbour's.

The Law of God as Changed By Man

I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not have strange gods before Me.

[The Second Commandment has been left out]

II [actually III]

Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.

III [actually IV]

Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day.

[The Sabbath Commandment has been changed]

IV [actually V]

Honor thy father and thy mother.

V [actually VI]

Thou shalt not kill.

VI [actually VII]

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

VII [actually VIII]

Thou shalt not steal.

VIII [actually IX ]

Thou shalt not covert thy neighbor's wife.

IX [actually X - first part]

Thou shalt not covert thy neighbor's wife.

X [ X - Second part]

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s goods.

\ The Law of God in the New Testament

"Thou shalt worship the Lord they God, and Him only shalt thou serve." - Matthew 4:10

"Little children, keep yourselves from idols." "Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's devices." - 1 John 5:21; Acts 17:29

III

"That the name of God and His doctrine be not blasphemed." - 1 Timothy 6:1

"Pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day." "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath: therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath." "For He spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all His works." "There remaineth therefore a keeping of a Sabbath to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His." "For by Him were all things created that are in heaven, and that are in earth." - Matthew 24:20; Mark 2:27-28; Hebrews 4:4, 9, 10; Colossians 1:16.

"Honor thy father and thy mother." - Matthew 19:19

"Thou shalt not kill." - Romans 13:9

VII

"Thou shalt not commit adultery." - Matthew 19:18

VIII

"Thou shalt not steal." - Romans 13:9

"Thou shalt not bear false witness." - Romans 13:9

"Thou shalt not covet." - Romans 7:7