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By: Michael Tao
I had one time watched Dr. Graham preaching on TV, he touched on the topic of child training. He said the important way in bringing up our second generation is to make them Christians and "to teach them the Ten Commandments". There is nothing wrong with Ten Commandments in its context. However this statement is theologically questionable - because it gives an impression that the Mosaic law is still effective today.
Another time there were a group of young men visited our church and their played a gospel drama. In this drama, a self-righteous Christian dreamed a dream. In his dream, he was brought in front of God for trial. He thought he had been living a righteous life and would like to be tried by the Ten Commandments. However, he was found guilty with every single one of them, including the fourth one, which is "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy (Exodus 20:8)", because he daydreamed in the Sunday service etc. Christians should certainly be attentive in the church services, but it is also important to note that the Lord's day is not the Sabbath day, nor has it anything to do with it. The Sabbath day is the last day of a week, but the Lord's day is the first day of a week. The Sabbath day symbolizes the perfect rest that God has prepared for us, and the only way we can obtain is through Christ. The Lord's day is to remember the resurrection of Christ, because he is the firstfruits of the resurrection, and through Christ, we all have the same hope. This is the proper view of the Sabbath day and the Lord's day. In the Book of New Testament, there is no place to teach that we have to keep the Sabbath day.
As a New Testament Christian, I would like to take a closer look at the Ten Commandments. Do we indeed have to follow the Ten Commandments?
No, we do not have to. It is because Christ has come to fulfill the law, and the law has no dominion over us. The Mosaic law is made up of three parts : ceremonial law, dietary law and moral law. These laws all represent a type of Christ and point to the coming of the Messiah. We are living in the dispensation of Grace, none of the Jewish law has any power over us, Colossians 2:14-18 says, "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ".
There are other supports in the Bible with a similar nature, for examples; Ephesians 2:15 says,"Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make himself of twain one new man, so making peace"; Hebrews 7:18 says,"For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitable thereof. For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God"; Hebrews 9:8-10 says, "The Holy Spirit this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing: Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect,as pertaining to the conscience; Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation."
Today certainly is the day of reformation. Today is also he day of visitation (1 Peter 2:12) and the day of God's Grace. However these are not the excuses that we shall continue in sin, that grace may abound (Romans 6:1).
We are now to honour our parents, not to murder, not to fornicate, not to steal, not to bear false witness, and not to covet; not because these are commandments in the Old Testament. It is because these instructions are repeatedly taught in the New Testament by Christ or by the Apostles. Let us take a look at the following facts in the New Testament:
- worship of God is taught 50 times,
- idolatry is forbidden 12 times,
- profanity is forbidden 4 times,
- honour our parents is taught 6 times,
- adultery is forbidden 12 times,
- theft is forbidden 6 times,
- false witness is forbidden 4 times,
- covetousness is forbidden 9 times;
For instance, Galatians 5:18-21 says, "But if you be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which so such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God". Another good exemple is in Roman 13:8-10, which says, "For this, Thou shalt shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself", also Ephesians 6:1 says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for it is right". Here we have instructions identical to some of the Ten Commandments, but this does not mean that we are to obey the Ten Commandments.
One thing we have to understand is the only commandment which is not taught at all in the New Testament, is to observe the Sabbath day.
I hope this article can assist our readers to have a biblical perspective of the Ten Commandments.
