Vineyard Labourer Bible College

Study 17

THE LAW OF GOD

As the eyes of all the people were turned toward the mount, its summit was covered with a thick cloud, which grew more black and dense, sweeping downward until the entire mountain was wrapped in darkness and awful mystery. Then a sound as of a trumpet was heard, summoning the people to meet with God; and Moses led them forth to the base of the mountain. From the thick darkness flashed vivid lightnings, while peals of thunder echoed and re-echoed among the surrounding heights. "And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly." "The glory of the Lord was like devouring fire on the top of the mount" in the sight of the assembled multitude. And "the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder." So terrible were the tokens of Jehovah's presence that the hosts of Israel shook with fear, and fell upon their faces before the Lord. Even Moses exclaimed, "I exceedingly fear and quake." Hebrews 12:21.

And now the thunders ceased; the trumpet was no longer heard; the earth was still. There was a period of solemn silence, and then the voice of God was heard. Speaking out of the thick darkness that enshrouded Him, as He stood upon the mount, surrounded by a retinue of angels, the Lord made known His law. Moses, describing the scene, says: "The Lord came from Sinai, and rose up from Seir unto them; He shined forth from Mount Paran, and He came with ten thousands of saints: from His right hand went a fiery law for them. Yea, He loved the people; all His saints are in Thy hand: and they sat down at Thy feet; every one shall receive of Thy words." Deuteronomy 33:2, 3.

Jehovah revealed Himself, not alone in the awful majesty of the judge and lawgiver, but as the compassionate guardian of His people: "I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage." He whom they had already known as their Guide and Deliverer, who had brought them forth from Egypt, making a way for them through the sea, and overthrowing Pharaoh and his hosts, who had thus shown Himself to be above all the gods of Egypt - He it was who now spoke His law.

WHAT SAITH THE LORD

1. When God brought His people out of Egypt, how did He republish His law? Deuteronomy 4:12, 13. Nehemiah 9:13, 14.

"And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone." Deuteronomy 4:12, 13.

"Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments:" Nehemiah 9:13, 14.

2. How many Commandments did He give? Deuteronomy 4:13.

"And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone." Deuteronomy 4:13.

3. What are the Ten Commandments? Exodus 20:3-17; Deuteronomy 5:7-21.

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3.

2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:4-6.

3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Exodus 20:7.

4. Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 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. Exodus 20:8-11.

5. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12.

6. Thou shalt not kill. Exodus 20:13.

7. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14.

8. Thou shalt not steal. Exodus 20:15

9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Exodus 20:16.

10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. Exodus 20:17.

4. How comprehensive are these commandments? Ecclesiastes 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." Ecclesiastes 12:13.

5. What inspired tribute is paid to the law of God? Psalms 19:7, 8.

"The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes." Psalms 19:7, 8.

6. What blessing does the psalmist say attends the keeping of God's commandments? Psalms 19:11.

"Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward." Psalms 19:11.

7. What did Christ state as a condition of life? Matthew 19:17.

"And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Matthew 19:17.

8. How is the law of God described? Romans 7:12.

"Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good."
Romans 7:12.

9. Who did Christ say would enter heaven? Matthew 7:21.

"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 7:21.

10. What did He say of those who should break one of God's commandments, or should teach men to do so? Matthew 5:19.

"Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:19.

Note: The Scripture says that the person will be called least, not that they will be least in the kingdom of heaven. Only those who keep God's Commandments will go to heaven (Revelation 22:14).

11. For what did Christ reprove the Pharisees? Matthew 15:3.

"But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?" Matthew 15:3.

12. In consequence of this, what value did Christ place upon their worship? Matthew 15:9.

"But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Matthew 15:9.

13. What is sin declared to be? 1 John 3:4.

"Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law." 1 John 3:4.

14. By what is the knowledge of sin? Romans 3:20. (Also see Romans 7:7.)

"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." Romans 3:20.

Also see.

"What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet." Romans 7:7.

15. How many of the commandments is it necessary to break in order to become a transgressor of the law? James 2:10, 11.

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law." James 2:10, 11.

Note: In the Garden of Eden how many sins did Adam and Eve commit before they were removed? Just one! If God's Law or Commandments could be changed He would have done so for Adam and Eve, and there would have been no need for Jesus Christ to come to this earth and die on the cross as our Saviour. But, God did not do this which shows that His Commandments are unchangeable.

16. How can we be freed from the guilt of our sins, or our transgressions of God's law? 1 John 1:9.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1 John 1:9.

17. How do those with renewed hearts and minds regard the Commandments of God? 1 John 5:3.

"For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:3.

18. What is the essential principle of the law of God? Romans 13:10.

"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:10.

19. In what two great commandments is the law of God briefly summarised? Matthew 22:37-40.

"Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matthew 22:37-40.

20. What is said of one who professes to know the Lord, but does not keep His Commandments? 1 John 2:4.

"He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John 2:4.

21. What will eventually happen to all liars? Revelation 21:8.

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." Revelation 21:8.

22. What is said of the saints? 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 14:12.

23. What right is given to those who keep God's Commandments? 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." Revelation 22:14.

Commitment:- I believe it necessary to keep God's Ten Commandments through the power of Jesus Christ.