The Ten Commandments Are Done Away With The Law Of Moses (3 of 4)

Recently, blogger Xulon, from Theologica posted this excellent series focusing on ethics, Law, and the question of the Sabbath. This is post 3 of 4.

In my previous blog, I showed that the Bible reveals that the Law of Moses has been done away. A common criticism of this is that if you eliminate the Law of Moses, you have eliminated objective morality (For the topic of the need for “objective” morality, I also recommend this blog on Christian Ethics). This is often coupled with the charge of antinomianism (anti=against+nomos=law). This “weakness” is often remedied by dividing the Law into sections; the Ceremonies, which are fulfilled in Christ and not for the believer and the moral code to which, though Christ did keep them perfectly, the believer is still obligated. Key in this regard are the Ten Commandments. “Certainly”, they object, “you are not saying that the Ten Commandments are done away with? Are you saying that God now allows people to commit Adultery?” As mentioned in the previous post, the Law is a unified whole and cannot be divided like this but another part of the answer is found in 2 Corinthians: But if the ministry that produced death — carved in letters on stone tablets (2 Corinthians 3:7). What is to be noticed here is that the only part of the Law of Moses which was engraved on stone tablets was the Ten Commandments. This whole section which declares the Law of Moses to have been replaced by the Ministry of the Spirit has here a direct reference to the Ten Commandments.

In the earlier post, I tried to illustrate the transference of authority from the Old Testament Law to the New Testament of Grace. The loss of authority of the Old is complete. I said, “It could be that there are some similar provisions between the two Rules, but those provisions have authority only because they are in the new Constitution”. Of the Ten Commandments, nine are repeated in the New Testament. And, as I said earlier, they are repeated in the context of the Gospel of Grace and not because of any residual Mosaic authority. One, the command of The Sabbath, is not repeated. I expect to have more on that in my next blog. There is some overlap in some of these and also there are lists such as Matthew 15:19; 1 Corinthians 6:9,10 and Galatians 5:19-21 which contain many repeats in one spot.

1. No Other Gods:

“Men, why are you doing these things? We too are men, with human natures just like you! We are proclaiming the good news to you, so that you should turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heaven, the earth, the sea, and everything that is in them. (Acts 14:15)

yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we live, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we live. (1 Corinthians 8:6)

For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human, (1 Timothy 2:5)

2. No Idols:

And what mutual agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, just as God said, “I will live in them and will walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people.” (2 Corinthians 6:16)

Little children, guard yourselves from idols. (1 John 5:21) Also 1 Corinthians 10:14 1 Peter 4:3

3. Do Not Take The Name in Vain

So pray this way: Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored, (Matthew 6:9)

“Again, you have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not break an oath, but fulfill your vows to the Lord.’ But I say to you, do not take oaths at all — not by heaven, because it is the throne of God, not by earth, because it is his footstool, and not by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Do not take an oath by your head, because you are not able to make one hair white or black. Let your word be ‘Yes, yes’ or ‘No, no.’ More than this is from the evil one. (Matthew 5:33-37) Also: James 2:7; 5:12; Revelation 3:8

5. Honor your Parents Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment accompanied by a

promise, namely, “that it may go well with you and that you will live a long time on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:1-3) Also Colossians 3:20

6. No Murder “You have heard that it was said to an older generation, ‘Do not murder,’ and ‘whoever murders will be subjected to judgment.’ But I say to you that

anyone who is angry with a brother will be subjected to judgment. And whoever insults a brother will be brought before the council, and whoever says ‘Fool’ will be sent to fiery hell. (Matthew 5:21-22) Also 1 John 3:15

7. No Adultery “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to desire her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27-28)

Flee sexual immorality! “Every sin a person commits is outside of the body” — but the immoral person sins against his own body. Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God with your body.(1 Corinthians 6:18-20)

8. No Stealing

The one who steals must steal no longer; rather he must labor, doing good with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with the one who has need. (Ephesians 4:28)

9. No False Witness

Do not lie to one another since you have put off the old man with its practices and have been clothed with the new man that is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of the one who created it. (Colossians 3:9-10)

10. No Coveting. But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints.

(Ephesians 5:3,5), Also Colossians 3:5; 1 Timothy 6:9