Understanding God’s Law part 1
In this three-part Bible study we will investigate the Law of God and how we can apply this biblical truth in our lives.
1. Does God have a government? On what principles are His government based? Psalm 103:19; 89:14
Psalm 103:19
Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
Psalm 89:14
The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all.
Note: A throne denotes a government. Every earthly government is based on a set of laws and standards that rule its subjects. God’s government is no different; it is ruled by His law, the Ten Commandments. Since God ever was and ever is, that means His law has always been there and will always remain (See Psalm 90:2).
Psalm 90:2
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.
2. To understand the law of God, we must define the term sin. What is sin? 1 John 3:4
1 John 3:4
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
3. Did God’s law exist when the fallen angels were kicked out of heaven? 2 Peter 2:4; 1 John 3:8
2 Peter 2:4
For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
1 John 3:8
He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing 109: The will of God is expressed in the precepts of His holy law, and the principles of this law are the principles of heaven. The angels of heaven attain unto no higher knowledge than to know the will of God, and to do His will is the highest service that can engage their powers. {MB 109.1}
Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing 109: But in heaven, service is not rendered in the spirit of legality. When Satan rebelled against the law of Jehovah, the thought that there was a law came to the angels almost as an awakening to something unthought of. In their ministry the angels are not as servants, but as sons. There is perfect unity between them and their Creator. Obedience is to them no drudgery. Love for God makes their service a joy. So in every soul wherein Christ, the hope of glory, dwells, His words are re-echoed, “I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within My heart.” Psalm 40:8 {MB 109.2}
4. Was God’s law known by Adam & Eve? Genesis 3:2, 3; Romans 5:12, 19; 1 Corinthians 15:21, 22
Genesis 3:2, 3
2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:
3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.
Romans 5:12, 19
12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
1 Corinthians 15:21, 22
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
Note: These scriptures show us that God’s law existed before the giving of the ten commandments on Mount Sinai in Exodus 20:1-17.
5. What is the purpose of the law?
a. Romans 3:20; 7:7; James 1:23-25
Romans 3:20
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 7:7
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.
James 1:23-25
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
b. Exodus 33:18, 19; 34:5-7; 20:4-6
Exodus 33:18, 19
18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.
19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
Exodus 34:5-7
5 And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.
6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,
7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.
Exodus 20:4-6
4 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:
5 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;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
c. Psalm 19:7; Psalm 119:142
Psalm 19:7
The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
Psalm 119:142
Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.
d. Proverbs 29:18; Psalm 40:8
Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Psalm 40:8
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
Jesus, the Desire of Ages 308: “When the law was proclaimed from Sinai, God made known to men the holiness of His character, that by contrast they might see the sinfulness of their own. The law was given to convict them of sin, and reveal their need of a Saviour. It would do this as its principles were applied to the heart by the Holy Spirit. This work it is still to do. In the life of Christ the principles of the law are made plain; and as the Holy Spirit of God touches the heart, as the light of Christ reveals to men their need of His cleansing blood and His justifying righteousness, the law is still an agent in bringing us to Christ, that we may be justified by faith. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul.” Psalm 19:7 {DA 308.2}
6. Can the mere keeping of the law save us? Romans 3:20; Romans 5:1; Ephesians 2:8, 9
Romans 3:20
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 5:1
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Ephesians 2:8, 9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Note: While we cannot be saved by our works, our works can condemn us. See Ecclesiastes 12:14; Romans 2:3, 6. Let us take a look at a passage of scripture that many use to suggest that God’s moral law, the ten commandments, no longer needs to be followed.
Ecclesiastes 12:14
For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Romans 2:3, 6
3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
Let’s read Colossians 2:14-17.
Colossians 2:14-17
14 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;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 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:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
7. How did God write the ten commandments compared to how the ceremonial laws were written? Exodus 31:18; Deuteronomy 9:10; 10:2; Deuteronomy 31:24-26
Exodus 31:18
And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.
Deuteronomy 9:10
And the LORD delivered unto me two tables of stone written with the finger of God; and on them was written according to all the words, which the LORD spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the assembly.
Deuteronomy 10:2
And I will write on the tables the words that were in the first tables which thou brakest, and thou shalt put them in the ark.
Deuteronomy 31:24-26
24 And it came to pass, when Moses had made an end of writing the words of this law in a book, until they were finished,
25 That Moses commanded the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, saying,
26 Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, that it may be there for a witness against thee.
8. What are ordinances? 2 Chronicles 2:4; Exodus 12:12, 14; Numbers 9:2, 3, 12; Hebrews 9:1-3, 8-10
2 Chronicles 2:4
Behold, I build an house to the name of the LORD my God, to dedicate it to him, and to burn before him sweet incense, and for the continual shewbread, and for the burnt offerings morning and evening, on the sabbaths, and on the new moons, and on the solemn feasts of the LORD our God. This is an ordinance for ever to Israel.
Exodus 12:12, 14
12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the LORD.
14 And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
Numbers 9:2, 3, 12
2 Let the children of Israel also keep the passover at his appointed season.
3 In the fourteenth day of this month, at even, ye shall keep it in his appointed season: according to all the rites of it, and according to all the ceremonies thereof, shall ye keep it.
12 They shall leave none of it unto the morning, nor break any bone of it: according to all the ordinances of the passover they shall keep it.
Hebrews 9:1-3, 8-10
1 Then verily the first covenant had also ordinances of divine service, and a worldly sanctuary.
2 For there was a tabernacle made; the first, wherein was the candlestick, and the table, and the shewbread; which is called the sanctuary.
3 And after the second veil, the tabernacle which is called the Holiest of all;
8 The Holy Ghost this signifying, that the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest, while as the first tabernacle was yet standing:
9 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;
10 Which stood only in meats and drinks, and divers washings, and carnal ordinances, imposed on them until the time of reformation.
Note: As we saw, the Bible defined ordinances as the ceremonies, feasts, and practices that were connected with the earthly sanctuary services. The fact that we no longer have to keep these ordinances is what Paul is referring to in Colossians 2:16 when he says “let no man therefore judge you” for not keeping them.
Colossians 2:16
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:
9. According to Colossians 2:17, why do we no longer have to keep these ordinances? Hebrews 9:9, 11, 13, 14; 1 Corinthians 5:7
Colossians 2:17
Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
Hebrews 9:9, 11, 13, 14
9 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;
11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh:
14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?
1 Corinthians 5:7
Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:
Some argue that Colossians 2:16 is saying that keeping the weekly seventh-day Sabbath is no longer necessary since the crucifixion of Jesus.
10. To what are “the sabbath days” in Colossians 2 referring? Leviticus 23:1-4, 5-6, 10, 16, 24, 27, 34
Leviticus 23:1-4, 5-6, 10, 16, 24, 27, 34
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, Concerning the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, even these are my feasts.
3 Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
4 These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
10 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest:
16 Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD.
24 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
27 Also on the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD.
34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD.
Note: Leviticus 23:3 shows us the weekly, seventh-day Sabbath. Notice that it is called a ‘holy convocation.’ Then in verse 4, the Bible transitions to show us the “sabbath days” that the Israelites were to keep, which were also called holy convocations or sabbaths (Leviticus 23:24). These sabbaths were seasonal or annual (not weekly) and they pointed to future events that would be fulfilled in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Once Jesus came and fulfilled these ceremonies, there was no longer a need for them. In contrast, the weekly seventh-day Sabbath points backward to an event – the creation of the world by God (Genesis 2:2, 3). Therefore, it cannot be undone without undoing the original event it pointed back to.
Leviticus 23:3
Six days shall work be done: but the seventh day is the sabbath of rest, an holy convocation; ye shall do no work therein: it is the sabbath of the LORD in all your dwellings.
Leviticus 23:24
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.
Genesis 2:2, 3
2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
3 And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.
11. In closing, what did Jesus say about the law? Did He abolish it while on earth? Matthew 5:17, 18; Psalm 111:7, 8; 89:34; John 14:15
Matthew 5:17, 18
17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Psalm 111:7, 8
7 The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8 They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
Psalm 89:34
My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Faith and Works 96: While we are to be in harmony with God’s law, we are not saved by the works of the law, yet we cannot be saved without obedience. The law is the standard by which character is measured. But we cannot possibly keep the commandments of God without the regenerating grace of Christ. Jesus alone can cleanse us from all sin. He does not save us by law, neither will He save us in disobedience to law. {FW 95.3}
Faith and Works 96: Our love to Christ will be in proportion to the depth of our conviction of sin, and by the law is the knowledge of sin. But as we see ourselves, let us look away to Jesus, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity. By faith take hold of the merits of Christ, and the soul-cleansing blood will be applied. The more clearly we see the evils and perils to which we have been exposed, the more grateful shall we be for deliverance through Christ. The gospel of Christ does not give men license to break the law, for it was through transgression that the floodgates of woe were opened upon our world. {FW 96.1}
Faith and Works 96: Today sin is the same malignant thing that it was in the time of Adam. The gospel does not promise the favor of God to anyone who in impenitence breaks His law. The depravity of the human heart, the guilt of transgression, the ruin of sin, are all made plain by the cross where Christ has made for us a way of escape. {FW 96.2}