The Ten Commandments Commission Omission
For those that have not heard, a newly established Ten Commandments Commission composed of Christian and Jewish leaders designated May 7, 2006 as America’s first annual “Ten Commandments Day” to promote the supreme importance of the Law of God in our society. The Commission’s official web site, www.tencommandmentsday.com, explains,
Recent court rulings have threatened the very fabric and foundation of our culture and faith. God's Ten Commandments, which have served as the moral foundation and anchor of our great country, are systematically being removed from public places. Public displays of God's Ten Commandments have been a powerful visual testimony to the fact that the United States of America is "one nation under God." Their removal from public places shows that those with a secular humanist agenda are intent on destroying the moral heritage of our nation.
Those who care about traditional values cannot passively sit by and watch the removal of the very principles that made this country great. God's Ten Commandments are the heart of all moral code and must be restored to the heart of our society.
We are inviting all Christians, churches, synagogues, ministry leaders, religious bookstores and everyone who is interested in preserving traditional values to join us in a national and global movement to restore the Word of God to our nation.
The focal point of this movement is the first annual Ten Commandments Day that will be held on Sunday May 7, 2006. On this date we are calling on all who are concerned about traditional Judeo-Christian values to host celebrations in support of the Bible Ten Commandments in their local communities.
The Ten Commandments Day supporters include such notable Christian leaders as Dr. Paul Crouch, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Pat Robertson, Benny Hinn, David Barton, Gary Bauer, Dr. James Dobson, Chuck Colson, Kay Arthur, Dr. James Kennedy, Jerry Falwell, and many others, including the leadership of the National Religious Broadcasters Association.
Personally, I believe in God's Ten Commandments and support their promotion far and wide. Yet when I look at the goals of the Ten Commandment Commission, while there are some things that absolutely thrill me, there are other things that completely confuse me, and a few more things that positively concern me. Let me explain.
First, I rejoice that God’s Law is being so widely discussed. While the Bible itself is a fully inspired Book, there is only one document described therein that was uniquely inscribed by the Almighty Himself, God's Ten Commandments. Each of those heavenly statements was written “with the finger of God” on “tables of stone.” Exodus 31:18 “And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.” This places the ‘Big Ten’ above all other human laws, and also establishes their eternal validity. Have you heard the expression, “We can change this or that, for it isn't written in stone”? This classic idea is based on God's Ten Commandments. When God wrote His law on solid rock, He was essentially proclaiming to the entire human family, “My law is eternal. Don’t change it. Respect it.” To promote this law within our increasingly secular and godless society is to promote pure morality, true goodness, and honesty. I deeply appreciate this focus of the Ten Commandments Commission.
What confuses me is that for many years Christians throughout North America and around the world have taken the decisive position that when Jesus Christ died on the cross He abolished the Ten Commandments. Because the New Testament teaches that we are saved by grace, not by the works of the law.
Romans 3:28 “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
Millions have interpreted this to mean that God's Ten Commandments are now an outdated law, simply an Old Testament law, just a law that applied to ancient Jews. I have heard Christian leaders proclaim this on TV and radio, from the pulpit, and in print.
I have never bought into this lie. A careful study of the Bible reveals that the reason why Jesus Christ came to earth, lived, suffered and died is because human beings have broken God's Ten Commandments. The New Testament itself clarifies that “sin is the transgression of the law” (1 John 3:4) and that “Christ died for our sins” (1 Corinthians 15:3). Simply put those two verses together. Their message is that Jesus Christ died for our sins of breaking God’s Law, and it is only through our Saviour’s death, burial, and resurrection that we can each be forgiven, receive a new heart, enjoy a clean record, and have heavenly power to overcome all sin.
Acts 13:38-39 “Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
Romans 8:4 “That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
Revelation 14:12 “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
Revelation 21:7 “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
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.”
In other words, through God’s grace we can obey His law. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
Now for the things that concern me. Are you ready for this? Here goes. First of all, the Ten Commandments Commission has officially designated Sunday, May 7, 2006 as the Ten Commandments Day. But if you open your own Bible and read God's Ten Commandments as they were written by God Himself, you will discover that the fourth commandment plainly states, “the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord” (Exodus 20:10) and the seventh day is Saturday, not Sunday. Look on any calendar. Check any dictionary or encyclopaedia. Ask any Jew.
It’s true that Jesus Christ rose from the dead on “the first day of the week” (see Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:9, Luke 24:1, John 20:1), but it’s also true that Christ Himself never specifically mentioned that day even one time during His entire public ministry. Jesus didn't change the Sabbath; neither did His disciples, nor is there any change reported in the New Testament. The fact is and a careful study of church history brings this out Sunday observance is a man made tradition that entered Christianity after the New Testament was written.
For the Ten Commandments Commission to choose a Sunday (“the first day of the week”) as Ten Commandments Day, when the fourth commandment itself identifies Saturday (“the seventh day”) as God’s holy day, well...I call this the Ten Commandments Commission’s Omission. Again, just open your own Bible and see for yourself.
Exodus 20:8-11 “Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shall you labour, and do all your work: 10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD your God: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates: 11 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.”
Don’t take my word for anything; but when you see what God wrote with His own Almighty finger, respect that.
Here’s my next concern: The paragraphs quoted above from the Ten Commandments Commission’s official web site reveal that a central goal of the Commission is to restore God’s Law back into prominence in our society through legislation. There is even reference to the goal of inspiring “a national and global movement to restore the Word of God to our nation.”
While this may sound wonderful, danger lurks. This short explanation will explain why. God's Ten Commandments were not inscribed on only one stone tablet, but on two.
Exodus 31:18 “And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.”
There’s an important reason for this. The first four commandments concern our relationship with God (no other gods, no idols, reverence His Name, keep the Sabbath holy). These were written on the first tablet. The last six commandments concern our relationship with our fellow man (honour parents, no murder, no adultery, no stealing, no lying, and no coveting). These were inscribed on the second tablet. It’s only the second tablet, and even then only some commandments therein (don’t murder or steal), that fall within the legitimate sphere of human governments. The first tablet dealing with our relationship with God lies completely outside the jurisdiction of earthly governments and should never be legislated or enforced. Christians have been confused over this in the past. That’s why Sunday laws (called ‘blue laws’) have been enforced at various times throughout American history.
Bible prophecy predicts that at the very close of time there will be “a national and global movement” which becomes confused, crosses over the line, and enforces the traditions of men upon society (read carefully Revelation 13:15-17 “And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. 16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: 17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.”) Beneath this end-time movement will be the hidden activity of a subtle devil whose infernal agenda has always included replacing God’s exact words with human traditions and then enforcing those traditions upon humanity. And don’t think Satan can’t use religious people to accomplish his goals. Remember, it was one of Christ’s very own disciples that betrayed Him (see Matthew 26:47-49) and it was top religious leaders that plotted to put Him to death (see Matthew 26:65-66). May God save us from all religious self-deception!
Our world is bursting apart at the seams environmentally, economically, morally, and spiritually. Surely these are “the last days” (2 Timothy 3:1) predicted in the Bible. Our Lord is coming soon! Yes, let’s promote God's Ten Commandments as God’s perfect standard of morality, and double yes, let’s exalt Jesus Christ as our Saviour who died for every sin. But let’s do it through love, and never by force. “If you love Me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15), taught our Saviour. His love is the key. May His entire law be written in our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
Hebrews 10:15-16 “Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 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;”
Jesus Christ died for our sins.
His love appeals to our hearts.
By His grace, let’s keep God's Ten Commandments.
Not just nine of God’s Commandments - but all ten.
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