Does God Obey All Of The Ten Commandments?

Does God keep the sabbath? Apparently not.

Jesus had healed an man who had been ill for 38 years, and he did it on the sabbath. (John chapter 5) When questioned by the Jews Jesus said, "My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working."

God works on the Sabbath! Isn't that a sin, not keeping the Sabbath?

We read in Hebrews 1:3 that Jesus (God) is holding the universe together: "...and upholds all thing by the word of His power."

So Jesus must be working seven days a week, because the universe does not go on pause every seven days. Colossians 1:17 says the same thing:

"He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."

So God breaks the Ten Commandments... or does He?

In Mark 2:27 Jesus says, "The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath."

What about Genesis where it says the God rested on the seventh day? In fact, some people say the God is still resting and that we are still in the seventh day. That can't be true because the verses we just looked at say that God is working on the time. So what does Genesis say?

"By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He Rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done."

Genesis just says that God rested from the work that He had done. By the way, does God need rest? No. And notice that it says He rested from "what He had done." This is talking about God having completed creation, and as an example to us He rested from His creation work, but He did not stop doing everything else that He does. God continued to work... on the seventh day.

So is God giving us a commandment He does not follow Himself? What's the purpose of the sabbath?

Let's read Exodus 31:14 - "You shall surely observe My Sabbaths; for this is a sign between Me and you throughout your generations."

Now God not keeping the sabbath is starting to make sense. It is a sign between God and mankind. It does not make sense to have a sign between God and God. But what is it a sign of?

Ezekiel 20:12 repeats what was said in Exodus 31:14. And then God repeats it again in Ezekiel 20:20. That's now three times God has said exactly the same thing. But these two verses ad some additional information. We are to keep the sabbath so that we remember, so that we know, the God is our Lord. The sabbath serves as a reminder that God is in charge and that we need to obey Him. By keeping the sabbath we are demonstrating our agreement that our salvation comes through our obedience. Since God is perfect He does not need to remind Himself. But, since we are not perfect, and we are under the New Covenant - saved through the blood of Jesus Christ - we are not obligated to keep the sabbath.

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I've Made Some Mistakes - God Forgives Mistakes

When people realize they have disobeyed God (realize they are sinners) a common response is to say, "I've made some mistakes, but God forgives mistakes."

Is this true?

It is true that God forgives, but God is also just. This means there is justice. Justice means there are consequences resulting from our actions. The consequence of disobeying God is the death penalty. This is spiritual death or what we call hell.

Let's say someone has broken the law. It's a serious crime. This person has raped and murdered a small child. They are now standing before a judge. They say to the judge, "Yes, I did this crime. But you are a loving judge. You are a good judge. You are a forgiving judge. Because of this you will let me go free." What is the judge going to say?

He will say, "Yes, I am a loving judge and I hold no grudge against you. Yes, I am a good judge and that is why I am sentencing you to life in prison." The parents of the child may have forgiven this person. He still goes to prison. When you break the law there are consequences. For there to be justice there is a penalty that must be paid. That is true with civil law here on earth, and it is true with God.

"But", people then say, "I've never done anything as bad as that. After all, I've never murdered anyone. Sure I've made some mistakes, but God would never send anyone to hell for a few minor mistakes."

Have you ever been angry with someone? For example, when you are driving in traffic? Or when you are in a store and someone cuts in line in front of you? Or if someone says something really stupid? Jesus said that if you have been angry at another person, that is the same as murder.

God looks at your heart.

Have you ever looked at another person with lust? Jesus said that if you look with lust, that is the same as committing adultery.

God looks at your heart.

Have you ever told a lie? The Bible says that all liars have a place in the lake of fire.

When you break God's law there are consequences. Yes, God is loving. Yes, God is forgiving. Yes, God is justice and justice demands that there be consequences for breaking the law. When you break God's law the consequence is that you deserve to go to the fires of hell. And we all have broken God's law.

Continued...

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Mark 10:17-22

This is the story of the rich young man who comes to Jesus asking how he can be saved. In my last posting I asked how we can say we love our neighbor, if we have not shared the gospel with them? This story illustrates how Jesuus shared the gospel. What better opening question is there than for someone to come up to you and ask how they can be saved? Here is what happened (from the NIV):

"As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. "Good teacher," he asked, "what must I do to inheret eternal life?"

"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered. "No one is good--except God alone. You know the commandments: 'Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, not not defraud, honor your father and mother.'"

"Teacher," he declared, "all these I have kept since I was a boy."

Jesus looked at him and loved him. "One thing you lack," he said, "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

At this the man's face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth."

What did Jesus do? He took the rich young man to the Ten Commandments. When the the rich young man would not admit to having broken any of the commandments--in other words he thought he was a good person--Jesus then showed that the rich man was breaking the first and second commandments right at that moment.

Have no other Gods before me - the rich man's wealth was a "god" that he held in high esteem that God almighty creator of the universe.

Do not make idols - the rich man's wealth was an idol that he worshipped instead of God.

People can not be saved until they know they need saving. How well have you kept the Ten Commandments? Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything? Have you ever looked at another person with lust--Jesus said that if you look at another person with lust you have committed adultery in your heart. Have you ever used the name of God in vain (as a cuss word for example)? These are just four of the Ten Commandments.

When you stand before God to be judged will you be innocent or guilty of breaking his commandments? Will you be going to heaven or hell?

Read the above story again. Jesus said that "No one is good--except God alone." Only God is good. All of us like to think that we are a good person, but we are not. We have broken God's laws and must pay the penalty. That penalty is death, it is called hell. For example, the Bible says that liars will spend eternity in the lake of fire. Have you every told a lie? Even a small "white" lie?

But there is good news. For there to be justice the penalty you owe for breaking God's laws must be paid. Jesus has done that for you. He has paid your penalty. He offers this to you as a free gift. All you need to do is accept this gift. Turn away from disobeying God and strive to obey His commands, and trust that Jesus has paid the penalty for every time in the past (and future) that you have broken God's laws.