Christian Church of God - Grand Junction, Colorado

Christian Church of God, Grand Junction, Colorado    Statement #3 page three

wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Re. 12:17) “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” (Rev. 14:12) “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.” (Rev. 22:14) Clearly, the end-time Saints of God are noted specifically for their commandment keeping.

A Factor in Answered Prayer: An important consideration is the preference afforded to a person who maintains an attitude of commandment keeping. We are told that we are heard when in this condition. “Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God. And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment. And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.” (1st John 3:21-24) Would we be too forward here to suggest that God’s Spirit within us would create the same sinless (Law abiding) character in us that is in Jesus Christ? Further, would a ‘lawless’ environment be a fit vessel for the Holy Spirit?

Alternate Commandments: We must never lose sight of the ever present danger: that religious leaders will attempt to interject into the Community of Faith other commandments than what Christ gave us so many generations ago. Even in the first century, the record of adding religious “do‘s and don‘ts” were legendary. “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.” (Colossians 2:20-23) Religions attempt to apply this passage as though it refers to Biblical Commandments. A more careful reading shows that it refers to Gnostic elements / fundamentals (rudiments), those of men and of the world, not of Biblical proscription! It is curious why those who speak against God’s Laws would be willing to substitute those of men in place of them, giving their laws the regard appropriate to the things of God!

Another passage that addresses this phenomenon is in Matthew 15:8-9. “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” Men impose burdens, but the Commandments of God are not burdensome, as He says in 1st John 5:3.

IF You Love Me: We couldn’t conclude with a more potent consideration than the words of Christ Himself, and those of the Apostle that Jesus loved: “If ye love me, keep my command-ments.” (John 14:15) “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” (John 14:21) “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” (John 15:10) “By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.” (1st John 5:2-3)

NOT Salvation BY Works: It would be incomplete to conclude this subject without also addressing the question regarding where “the Law” factors in to matter of our Salvation. It is this major consideration that to a large degree leads Christians to accept the idea of the abrogation of the Law. Though this matter is addressed more fully under the following Statement, item #4, it is important that we realize that Commandment keeping is the RESULT of Salvation, not the MEANS of obtaining it. We are called to cease from sin, which John defines as “the transgression of the Law”, but no amount of present sinless living on our part will cause the remission of sins of the past (forgiveness or that state of ‘justification”).



SUMMARY:

  1. The Ten Commandments are the core of the New Covenant.
  2. The Commandments define love toward God and neighbor.
  3. The pre-incarnate Christ was the Commandment Giver!
  4. The Commandments long pre-dated the time of Moses!
  5. The Love of God is expressed in Commandment keeping.
  6. Commandment keeping factors into answered prayer.
  7. Commandment keeping is not the means of our salvation.


Additional Reading:

Deuteronomy 30: 8-16 “And thou shalt return and obey the voice of the LORD, and do all his commandments which I command thee this day. And the LORD thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep his …

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