I Will Obey God

I Will Obey God’s Commandments (Exodus 19:4-6; 20:3-17) God deserves and commands our obedience and offers us His grace and mercy As Ted Koppel, the former anchor of Nightline, said this about the Ten Commandments: “These are the Ten Commandments and not the Ten Suggestions.” shama` {shaw-mah'} Heb. = hear, give attention to and agree to/obey We can demonstrate our faithfulness to and love for God by keeping His commandments (Luke 6:46; John 14:15) We owe these things to Him in gratitude for His gracious gift of salvation. A covenant is an intimate relationship, a bond, involving mutual responsibilities. If we listen to Him and keep His (Bariyth {ber-eeth'} Heb. = Covenant/Pledge/ Friendship) (Ex. 19:5-6; Deut. 14:2; 28:1; Jer. 7:23; 1 Pet. 2:9, Luke 22:20; Gal. 3:19-26; Heb. 8:6-12; Rev. 1:6; 5:10; 20:6) we will: Be His (Cagullah {seg-ool-law'} Heb. = unique/special/prized treasure/ possession) (Deut. 7:6; Ps. 135:4; Mal. 3:17) Be a Kingdom of Priests (Isa. 61:6; 1 Pe. 2:5) Be a (Qadowsh {kaw-doshe'} or Qadosh {kaw-doshe'} Heb. = Holy, Sacred) Nation Set apart, moral and ethical, a model to the world of God’s own nature. The word “holy” itself is used at least 549 times in the Scriptures. In the Greek Scriptures (New Testament) the word for holy is Hagiazo (hag-ee-ad’-zo). To obey the Commandments is essentially to be like God-like holiness (Lev. 20:26) and action (Deut. 10:17-19; 14:1-2; 16:1820).

“The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.” (Isaiah 9:2; Matt. 4:12-16).

to the Isaiah

“I am the Lord, I have called you in righteousness, I will also hold you by the hand and watch over you, And I will appoint you as a covenant people, As a light to the nations” (Isaiah 42:6; Luke 2:32; also 51:4).

We have the option to obey and thereby participate in His blessing (Deut. 11:27; Isa. 1:19) The Ten Commandments (Decalogue, Gk = 10 words or 10 statements)(Exodus 20:3-17; Deut. 5 :7-21) President John Adams stated, "The law given from Sinai was a civil and municipal code as well as a moral and religious code. These are laws essential to the existence of men in society and most of which have been enacted by every Nation which ever professed any code of laws. Vain indeed would be the search among the writings of secular history to find so broad, so complete and so solid a basis of morality as the Ten Commandments lay down." In 1778 James Madison, a primary architect of the Constitution and a future president, remarked: “We have staked the whole future of American civilization, not upon the power of government, far from it. We have staked the future of all of our political institutions . . . upon the capacity of each and all of us to govern ourselves . . . according to the Ten Commandments of God” (Federer, p. 411, emphasis added). John Witherspoon, President of Princeton and signer of the Declaration, declared: [T]he Ten Commandments . . . are the sum of the moral law. President Harry S. Truman said: “The fundamental basis of this nation’s laws was given to Moses on the Mount. First Four (Between God & Man) God alone must be acknowledged and worshipped (Deut. 6:5; Ps. 29:2) To misuse His name is to dismiss Him as being of no consequence In Jewish tradition, swearing an oath falsely is also taking God’s name in vain. The Sunday Sabbath is an opportunity to reflect on the saving act of Jesus the Christ.

Last Six (Between/Among People) To (Kabad {kaw-bad'} or Kabed {kaw-bade'}Heb. = Honor) is to treat as worthy of respect and obedience (Eph. 6:1-3, obey parents) Honor: to revere, confer distinction upon, hold in high regard, show great respect and admiration for, especially in public. Since each human beings exists in the image of God (Gen. 1:26), to hate/attack a person is to hate/attack on God Ratsach {raw-tsakh'}Heb. = murder/slay/kill, either with premeditation, recklessly or in vengeance. This includes suicide. Anger (Col. 3:8, Prov. 15:1, Matt. 5:22) Impetuous name-calling or calculated insult. Rage (Col. 3:8, Gen. 49:7, Prov.14:16-17) From temper tantrums to violent displays, in word or deed. Malice (Col. 3:8, Eph. 4:31-32) That silent, hidden hatred of the heart that takes revenge in secret. Prejudice/Discrimination (Col. 3:11, Gal. 3:28) We are all one in Christ regardless of such things as heritage, rank or gender. To steal is an act of dissatisfaction with God’s grace to us individually (Contra: 1 Tim. 6:6, Heb. 13:5, Contentment) Defamation is a serious matter, because a person’s reputation is important. Slander/Libel (Col. 3:8, Ps. 15:1-3, 101:5, Prov. 10:18, Titus 3:2, 1 Tim. 3:11) A false verbal or written attack upon a person’s character intended to harm their reputation. Bearing false witness is not just about perjury, but about malicious gossip, tabloid journalism, etc. Lies (Col. 3:9, Ps. 34:13, 101:7, Prov. 19:5, Rev. 21:8) Destroying trust and awakening suspicion What we carry in our minds and hearts can defile us (Matt. 5:28, lust = adultery)

Lust/Passion (Col. 3:5, 1 John 2:16), Gk. Pathos. Erotic passions which are aroused by visual things (e.g. pornography). Evil Desires (Col. 3:5, Mt. 5:27-28, James 1:13-15) Mental uncleanness. Greed/Covetousness, which is idolatry (Col. 3:5, Ex. 20:17, James 4:1-3). The desire to possess/control the body of another person. Preoccupation of the heart with that which isn't God as though it were. All 10 Commandments are summarized in the Shema (Mark 12:29-31)