In last week’s Post, Paul Ellis explained the differences between the 12 kinds of “Law” described in the Bible. Surprisingly, not all of these 12 are applicable to New Covenant saints, reborn of God. The most notable are the Ten Commandments, carved on stone, that God personally gave to Moses and the Israelites. Unfortunately, most denominations often emphasize them above all others kinds of Law. That is understandable because the Mosaic Covenant spans some 1500 years and about 82% of the total Bible – in force right up Calvary before being nailed to the Cross for Christians, according to Ephesians 2:15. But a focus on the Big Ten actually feeds the flesh rather than helps us walk according to the Holy Spirit, as described in the previous series on the Person and Work of the Holy Spirit.
So, before we post next week what laws God puts into our hearts as believers, Paul Ellis provides us with seventeen scriptural reasons why the Ten Commandments are not among them. You might also enjoy the comment section that follows. LR
Posted on April 17, 2015 by Paul Ellis // 130 Comments
“This is the covenant I will make with them after that time,” says the Lord. “I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” (Heb 10:16)
What is this law that God writes on our hearts?
“This is obviously a reference to the law of Moses,” says the law-preacher. “The Ten Commandments were written in stone, now they’re written in the hearts and minds of God’s people.”
Not true.
Here are seventeen reasons why God has not written the Ten Commandments on your heart:
1. The law inflames sin (Rom 5:20) and the strength of sin is the law (1 Cor 15:56). Why would God want to stir up sin in your life?
2. The law condemns (2 Cor 3:9), yet there is no condemnation to those in Christ.
3. The law ministers death (2 Cor 3:7), but God wants you to enjoy abundant life.
4. Law and grace don’t mix. You are under grace, not law (Rom 6:14).
5. Living by the law will alienate you from Christ (Gal 5:4).
6. Living by the law is cheating on Jesus (Rom 7). Why would God do anything to encourage spiritual adultery?
7. We’re to live by faith but the law is not of faith (Gal 3:12). The law encourages us to depend on ourselves instead of Jesus.
8. Those who live under the law are under a curse (Gal 3:10). Why would God curse those he has blessed?
9. The law binds and enslaves (Rom 7:6), but Jesus wants you free.
10. The law keeps you immature for it makes nothing perfect or complete (Heb 7:19).
11. We have died to the law so that we may serve in the new way of the Spirit and “not in the old way of the written code” (Rom 7:6).
12. When there has been a change of priesthood, the law must be changed also (Heb 7:12). For God to write the old law on our hearts would be like saying Aaron is greater than Jesus.
13. God found fault with the law-keeping covenant and made it obsolete (Heb 8:7,13). Why would God insult his Son’s sacrifice by giving you the very thing his sacrifice rendered obsolete?
14. The law is a shadow of the good things to come and not the reality (Heb 10:1). Why would God give you the shadow instead of “the good thing”?
15. The Jews considered the law to be ordained by angels (Heb 2:2). If so, says the author of Hebrews, then it is inferior to the gospel of Jesus (Heb 1:4). Why would God give you an inferior gift?
16. Some Christians think that God gives them the law as a guide to live by, but why would God want you to repeat the mistake of the Galatians (Gal 3:2)? Why would God do anything to make you fall from grace?
17. The old law-keeping covenant required an accounting or remembering of sin, but the new covenant is characterized by God forgiving and forgetting on account of Jesus (Heb 10:17). If the law that God writes in our hearts is the law of Moses, then Jesus died for nothing.
If God has written the Ten Commandments on your heart and mind, you should be able to list all ten with no trouble. Can you? What’s the seventh commandment?
You can’t do it because it’s not there, and a very good thing that is too! If the law that God writes in our hearts is the law of Moses, you’re in big trouble.
The good news is that God has written into us far better laws. What are these new and better laws? We’ll find out in in next week’s Post.
life, that is, Jesus himself.