Col 2:13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
Col 2:14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Never are God's Ten Commandments referred to as "the handwriting of ordinances." These "ordinances" were humanly-devised restrictions, such as abstaining from certain kinds of foods on certain days, avoiding business dealings on "unlucky" days, or being married during a certain month.
There are three terms that need to be understood. The first is "commandments." Most of us consider these to be absolutes. They are fundamental principles of divine law which apply to all men in all circumstances in all generations. They are fundamentally rooted in the nature of man, the nature of things, and the nature of relationships, and cannot change
The second term is "statute." A statute anticipates future problems and attempts to render judgment on them in advance. A statute is "applied" law.
The third category is "judgments." Judgments are also applied law, but there's an important difference between statutes and judgments. Statutes are enacted before the fact. Judgments are rendered after the fact.
This is why the letter of Moses' law was inadequate in Yahshua's day. The social structure had changed. Consequently, it was necessary for Yahshua, not to destroy the law, but to fill it up. This is why in the Sermon on the Mount He repeatedly referred to what had been said to them of old time and emphasized "but I say unto you." The letter of the law could not pass away, for it served as a permanent and valid illustration of God's will as applied in given circumstances. But the letter of the law was not enough for the Christian to live by.
Never are God's Ten Commandments spoken of as "against" us. Instead, God shows they are for our good.
Deuteronomy 5:29 "O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear me, and keep all my commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!"
Sin is the breaking of God's law. Repenting of sin means being sorry you have broken God's law. If you are sorry, it means you do not intend breaking His law any further!
1Jo 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
once we have repented and accepted Christ's shed blood, He will say to us just as He did the woman, "Go and sin no more"; that is "Go and don't you ever break those Ten Commandments [in spirit] again!"
Mat 5:17 Do not think that I have come to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to destroy but to fulfill.
Mat 5:18 For truly I say to you, Till the heaven and the earth pass away, not one jot or one tittle shall in any way pass from the Law until all is fulfilled.
Mat 5:19 Therefore whoever shall relax one of these commandments, the least, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of Heaven. But whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven.
How are we to understand this statement? Did Jesus mean to say, "Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to abolish"?
The Greek word translated "fulfilled" in verse 18 is not the same word as the Greek word for "fulfill" in verse 17.
The word in verse 17 is plerosai and the word in verse 18 is genetai. Verse 18 should be translated, "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 come to pass."
Yahshua would not even diminish it-not a jot or a title was to be removed. On the contrary, it has become more binding
The word "fulfill" does not mean abolish. Nor does it mean merely "to obey"; obey is an entirely different word. Yahshua is saying that He came to "fill up" the law, implying that the law was not "all there." It was not yet "full."
Have heaven and earth passed? Have all things written in the law and the prophets come to pass? Of course not.
What Yahshua is doing in the Sermon on the Mount is moving from the letter of the law into the spirit of the law. Instead of dealing with technicalities of law, He is emphasizing the meaning of the law. Far from destroying the law, Yahshua is developing the law.
Understanding that the law is not abolished is a powerful key to understanding the Bible. All sorts of obscure scriptures suddenly become crystal clear.
Romans 6:15"What then? Shall we sin, [that is break the Ten Commandments] because we are not under the law but under grace? God forbid!" .
When scripture speaks of being "under the law," it means, being under the "penalty" of the law!To obey the law is to be "within the law," but to sin is to come under the law."
When you come right down to it, it is the rebellion against the requirement to "observe" a day as being a holy day to God, sanctified in His sight, and for a spiritual and righteous purpose, that seems to gall so many human beings.
Many people seem to resent being given "orders" from God's Word, and would like the Ten Commandments to be rewritten to become the "Ten Suggestions"!
No, there is nothing "wrong" with the Ten Commandments.
God is consistent. He does not CHANGE His holy laws to suit human rebellion. God does not conveniently alter His precepts to accommodate the whims of mankind!
Psa 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Pro 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
Psa 119:136 Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.
Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 19:8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
Psa 119:53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law.
Psa 19:7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psa 119:115 (118:115) Depart from me, ye evil-doers; for I will search out the commandments of my God. (septuagint)
1Ti 6:14 That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Pro 28:9 He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.
Rom 8:7; because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the Law of God, neither indeed can it be.
Hos 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being priest to Me. Since you have forgotten the Law of your God, I will also forget your children, even I.
Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. Fear God, and keep His commandments. For this is the whole duty of man.
Rom 3:20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
1Jo 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
Mat 19:17 And He said to him, Why do you call Me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.
Joh 9:31 But we know that God does not hear sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He hears him.
Joh 14:15 If you love Me, keep My commandments.
Joh 15:10 If you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love, even as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.
Joh 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will reveal Myself to him.
1Jo 2:3 And by this we know that we have known Him, if we keep His commandments.
1Jo 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk even as He walked.
1Jo 3:22 And whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.
1Jo 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.
2Jo 1:6 And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, as you heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.
Rom 4:15because the Law works out wrath, for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Rev 12:17 And the dragon was enraged over the woman, and went to make war with the rest of her seed, who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
Rev 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints. Here are the ones who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
II Esdras 7:19And he said to me, "You are not a better judge than God, or wiser than the Most High!
II Esdras 7:20 Let many perish who are now living, rather than that the law of God that is set before them be disregarded!
II Esdras 7:21For God strictly commanded those who came into the world, when they came, what they should do to live, and what they should observe to avoid
TesMos 12:10 Therefore, those who truly fulfill the commandments of God will flourish and will finish
11 the good way, but those who sin by disregarding the commandments, will deprive themselves of the good things which were declared before.
Jub 21:22 Beware, lest thou shouldest walk in their ways And tread in their paths,
And sin a sin unto death before the Most High God. Else He will [hide His face from thee
And give thee back into the hands of thy transgression,
And root thee out of the land, and thy seed likewise from under heaven,
And thy name and thy seed shall perish from the whole earth.
The First Great Commandment
The Second Great Commandment
Distinction in the Law
Reading the Law with Ezra and Nehemiah
The Ten Commandments By Garner Ted Armstrong
Are You "Under the LAW," or "Under GRACE"? By Garner Ted Armstrong
Are Christians "Under the Law" By Garner Ted Armstrong
Which Old Testament Laws Apply for Today? Ronald L. Dart
Which of the Ten Commandments Did Jesus Repeal? Ronald L. Dart
Law or Grace? Ronald L. Dart
Nailed To The Cross sermon by Garner Ted Armstrong
Works And Rewards sermon by Garner Ted Armstrong
Law and Grace sermon by Ronald Dart
