Are the Ten Commandments for the Church Today?
Well, yes and no.......
All of the Old Testament Law is an amplification and applicaiton of the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God in Exodus Chapter 20.
Nine of the Ten Commandments are repeated in the New Testament, in various places, for believers and the church today.
First Commandment: Have No Other Gods Before Me
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in Acts 14:15; John 4:21-23; 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:19 and 1 Corinthians 8:6
Second Commandment: Make No Idols or Images
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in Acts 17:29; romans 1:22-23; 1 John 5:21; 1 Corinthians 10:7-14
Third Commandment: Do Not Take God's Name in Vain
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in James 5:12; Matthew 5:33-37; and Matthew 6:5-9
Fourth Commandment: Remeber the Sabbath Day
This Commandment is not repeated anywhere in the New Testament for the Church today. While the keeping of the Sabbath is mentioned in Matthew Chapter 12, Mark Chapter 2, luke Chapter 6 and John Chapter 5, these all refer to the people of Israel and not to the Church.
In Exodus 31:16-17 it is clearly stated that the Sabbath was given to the Israelites as a perpetual covenant, and that it is a sign between God and the children of Israel.
Colossians Chapter 2 and Romans Chapters 14 & 15 teach that believers should not judge each other iwth reference to holy days or sabbaths. To say that a person is lost or less spiritual for not keeping the Sabbath is to clearly go beyond the bounds of Scripture.
The Sabbath was God's special day for the Jews under the Old Covenant. The Lord's Day is God's special day for the church under the New Covenant. The Sabbath symbolizes salvation by works - six days labor, then rest. The Lord's Day symbolizes salvation by grace - first rest, then works will follow. The Sabbath, sacrifices, dietary laws, the priesthood and the tabernacle/temple were all done away in Jesus Christ for the Church.
Fifth Commandment: Honor Your Father and Mother
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in Ephesians 6:1-4
Sixth Commandment: Do Not Murder
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in 1 John 3:15 and Matthew 5:21-22
Seventh Commandment: Do Not Commit Adultery
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in Matthew 5:27-28; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 and Hebrews 13:4
Eighth Commandment: Do Not Steal
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 and James 5:1-4
Ninth Commandment: Do Not Bear False Witness
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in Colossians 3:9 and Ephesians 4:25
Tenth Commandment: Do Not Covet
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in Ephesians 5:3 and Luke 12:15-21
Is the Church obligated to obey the Commandments? Absolutely!! That is if, in fact, you call yourself a Christian.
Jesus Christ Himself calls us to obey His commands. Paul emphasizes in Romans Chapter 8 that those who are in the world are not subject to the law (commandments) nor can they be. The only ones who can be subject to the commandments are the believers in Christ.
All of the Old Testament Law is an amplification and applicaiton of the Ten Commandments given to Moses by God in Exodus Chapter 20.
Nine of the Ten Commandments are repeated in the New Testament, in various places, for believers and the church today.
First Commandment: Have No Other Gods Before Me
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in Acts 14:15; John 4:21-23; 1 Timothy 2:5; James 2:19 and 1 Corinthians 8:6
Second Commandment: Make No Idols or Images
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in Acts 17:29; romans 1:22-23; 1 John 5:21; 1 Corinthians 10:7-14
Third Commandment: Do Not Take God's Name in Vain
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in James 5:12; Matthew 5:33-37; and Matthew 6:5-9
Fourth Commandment: Remeber the Sabbath Day
This Commandment is not repeated anywhere in the New Testament for the Church today. While the keeping of the Sabbath is mentioned in Matthew Chapter 12, Mark Chapter 2, luke Chapter 6 and John Chapter 5, these all refer to the people of Israel and not to the Church.
In Exodus 31:16-17 it is clearly stated that the Sabbath was given to the Israelites as a perpetual covenant, and that it is a sign between God and the children of Israel.
Colossians Chapter 2 and Romans Chapters 14 & 15 teach that believers should not judge each other iwth reference to holy days or sabbaths. To say that a person is lost or less spiritual for not keeping the Sabbath is to clearly go beyond the bounds of Scripture.
The Sabbath was God's special day for the Jews under the Old Covenant. The Lord's Day is God's special day for the church under the New Covenant. The Sabbath symbolizes salvation by works - six days labor, then rest. The Lord's Day symbolizes salvation by grace - first rest, then works will follow. The Sabbath, sacrifices, dietary laws, the priesthood and the tabernacle/temple were all done away in Jesus Christ for the Church.
Fifth Commandment: Honor Your Father and Mother
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in Ephesians 6:1-4
Sixth Commandment: Do Not Murder
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in 1 John 3:15 and Matthew 5:21-22
Seventh Commandment: Do Not Commit Adultery
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in Matthew 5:27-28; 1 Corinthians 5:1-13; 1 Corinthians 6:9-20 and Hebrews 13:4
Eighth Commandment: Do Not Steal
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in Ephesians 4:28; 2 Thessalonians 3:10-12 and James 5:1-4
Ninth Commandment: Do Not Bear False Witness
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in Colossians 3:9 and Ephesians 4:25
Tenth Commandment: Do Not Covet
This Commandment is repeated in the New Testament in Ephesians 5:3 and Luke 12:15-21
Is the Church obligated to obey the Commandments? Absolutely!! That is if, in fact, you call yourself a Christian.
Jesus Christ Himself calls us to obey His commands. Paul emphasizes in Romans Chapter 8 that those who are in the world are not subject to the law (commandments) nor can they be. The only ones who can be subject to the commandments are the believers in Christ.
The verses for the second commandment (James 5:12; Matthew 5:33-37; and Matthew 6:5-9) do not refer to taking the Lord's name in vain.
James 5 and Matthew 5 are about taking oaths. An Israelite could take an oath in the name of the Lord without taking the Lord's name in vain and Psalm 15 specifically commends those who swear and do not change when it is costly.
Matthew 6 concerns praying and performing religious acts for show. Which, while it may be a part of the idea of the third commandment, does not really repeat the vast majority of its significance.
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To take the Name of the Lord in vain does not mean only in the sense of verbal profanity. We, as Christians, take the Name of the Lord in vain when we profess to be Christians but our actions are vastly different than would be expected of a true believer in Jesus Christ. A professing Christian who is bearing no fruit, or is bearing bad fruit, is taking the Name of the Lord in vain. There are many examples other than those Scriptures quoted here, but to take an oath and not perform it, I believe, would be one example of taking the Lord's Name in vain. We see that concept in Proverbs 30:9, and Jesus rebukes the Pharisees and Scribes in Matthew 7:7 for worshipping the Lord in vain. Again, there could be numerous examples of how someone could call himself/herself a Christian and act in ways that would be counter to what the Scriptures call Christians to be and do - thereby taking the Name of the Lord in vain.
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