I want to explain upfront why I've written this paper on the Big 10 as I've come to realize that us "Christians" have been lead astray because of the "traditions" of our fathers:

  1. As there are two Israel's there are also two "laws" given in the Bible:

  2. Gentiles have been instructed not to keep the 2nd set of laws (Mosaic Law) as we can read Acts 21: 21 (NIV) - They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. 22 What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, 23 so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. 24 Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.”  In the KJV verse 25 reads better: 25 As touching the Gentiles which believe, we have written and concluded that they observe no such thing, save only that they keep themselves from things offered to idols, and from blood, and from strangled, and from fornication. Here James (the brother of Jesus and the head of the Church) was telling Paul to basically keep all the rules and rituals (except the law of sacrifices and burnt offerings) of the OT because he (James) unfortunately was still caught-up in what the "Christian" Pharisees thought and he did not want to upset them as Paul was teaching certain rituals like circumcision were no longer "required" in order to be saved, etc...

  3. The 1st century "believing" Hebrews were keeping most of the Laws of Moses (along with the Big 10) because the temple had not yet been destroyed and they had only the Old Testament or the Torah as their guide.  E.g., When it said "Paul taught them from the Scriptures" Paul didn't say "it is written in Romans 1:12" as there was no book of Romans at that time; moreover I don't think it would have been a good idea for Paul to be teaching the Pharisees from his own book. Paul and all the Jewish apostles taught from the first five books of Moses or the Torah. 

  4. I want to prove that the Big 10 was being kept long before they were even written on stone by the finger of God. E.g., the Sabbath was being kept prior to the stone tablets read Ex 16:22.) -(I talk about this and more on my page regarding the 4th Commandment)

The Ten Commandments << Exodus 20 >>King James Version

 

1 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 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. 7Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 8 Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 10 But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.  12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 13 Thou shalt not kill (i.e. murder.) 14 Thou shalt not commit adultery. 15 Thou shalt not steal. 16 Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

 Let's go a little further into the differences between the two "laws":

Heb 10:(NIV) 1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins, 4 because it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.  5 Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: “Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; 6 with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased. 7 Then I said, ‘Here I am—it is written about me in the scroll—I have come to do your will, O God.’”8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them” (although the law required them to be made). 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God. 13 Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, 14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.  15 The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says: 16 “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.” 17 Then he adds: “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.” 18 And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. - We can read there was a "law" that was separate from the Ten Commandments. It was written by Moses and involved "sacrifices... and burnt offerings ... which were offered by the law" (vs. 8). It was called "a shadow of good things to come" (vs. 1). It was a "shadow" because its "sacrifices" pointed forward to the great Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. When Jesus Christ died, this "shadow" ceased.

Ephesians 2:15 - Jesus Christ "abolished ... the law of commandments contained in ordinances." KJV - 15: Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; - NIV - 15: by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations.

How do we know this is talking about "the law of sacrifices" and not the Ten Commandments? We know because in the very same book (Ephesians), Paul quoted the 5th commandment, "Honor thy father and mother," as being in full force for Christians (Ephesians 6:1-3). Paul said the 5th commandment requiring children to obey their parents, "is," not "was." 1: Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. 2: Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;) 3: That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

Colossians 2:14 - "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against is ... nailing it to his cross." Many apply this to the Ten Commandments, but this is a mistake. We know this because the "ordinances" here mentioned as having been nailed to the cross were "the handwriting of ordinances." The "handwriting" refers to the law that Moses wrote with his own hand in a book (Deut. 31:24-26). This is different from the finger writing of God when He wrote the Big Ten with His own Finger on two tables of "stone." Exodus 31:18.

The following verses show the clear distinction between "the law of sacrifices" written by Moses (which were abolished) and the Ten Commandments which endure forever:

The Ten Commandments

The Law of Moses
Written by God. Exod. 24:12 Written by Moses. Deut. 31:9
The finger of God. Exod. 31:18 The hand of Moses. Deut. 31:24
Written on stone. Exod. 31:18 Written in a book. Deut. 31:24
Placed in the ark. Deut. 10:1-5 In the side of the ark. Deut. 31:26 (NIV: place it beside the ark of the covenant)
Royal law of liberty. James 2:8-12 Law in ordinances. Eph. 2:15
Moral precepts. Exod. 20 Ritual matters. Deut. 31:24
We should keep. James 2:12 We should not keep. Acts 15:24
Judges all men. James 2:12 Judges no man. Col. 2:16
Spiritual. Romans 7:12-14 Carnal. Heb. 7:16; 9:10
Christ magnified. Isa. 42:21 Christ abolished. Col. 2:14; Eph. 2:15
Established by faith. Romans 3:31 Blotted out by Christ. Col. 2:14

The Law of Sacrifices has been Abolished

  In this next exegeses I want to prove my theory that the 10 Commandments were given to Adam and Eve thousands of years before the Law of the Prophets were given to Moses. Moreover I want to explain my theory on the relationship of "New Covenant" of "Grace"  vs. God's 10 C's (common law); i.e., just because we are today living under the Covent of Grace we are allowed to break even one of the 10 C's including the 4th Commandment.

Matt 5:17 - (2 laws)

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.

19

 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

My hope is for all true believers to understand on the very day Jesus Christ died on the cross, the very second He breathed His last breath, the actual "thick and heavy" cloth that separated the Holy of Holies in the Jewish Temple was torn in half by the invisible hand of Jesus' Father - Matt 27:51 - " And behold, the veil of the Temple was rent in twain, from the top to the bottom, and the earth did quake, and the stones were cloven." This meant that God no longer would accept animal sacrifices for the forgiveness of sins or for any remembrance/worship to Himself, as His Son JC now became the final sacrifice once and for all of time.   1 John:

1

 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate (i.e., mediator or attorney) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

2

 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Moreover, by dying on the cross JC fulfilled ALL of the OT laws of Moses and the Prophets including for example the Spring festivals, Passover and etc..  Because the 1st century believers only could teach from the Torah, they had to prove (as JC did on the road to Emmaus in Luke 24: 25 He said to them,  “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

Gal 3:10: 10 All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.” 11 Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.” 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. 

I believe the 10 Commandments (God's "Common Law") were given to Adam and Eve and their offspring including Abraham and Moses way BEFORE God gave Moses the actual Big 10................. Moreover, I believe these "common laws" are universal and never ending even after JC comes back to earth as even God's angles understood and obeyed them from the beginning (except Satan his followers.) E.g., Satan and his following angles knew they shouldn't lie, or steal or murder or take (covet/adultery) the daughter's of humans and create offspring - Gen 6:

This is what God said about Abraham hundreds of years before the law i.e., Big 10 was given to Moses: Gen. 26:5 “Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.” I believe these 10 Commandments of God were the "common" law of the earth for thousands of years before the law was given to Moses moreover these same 10 "common" laws are still valid today in all parts of the earth whether or not the Gospel has yet to be preached to them.  The USA was founded upon this "common law" of the OT. Here is more proof from the OT to back up this theory:

Ex 15:26 - And said, If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee. Here Moses was telling the fleeing Hebrews (before the Law and the ordinances were given to him by God) to keep His Commandments just like Abraham did hundreds of years before.  Let's take a look at what the Apostle Paul said in the NT concerning this "common law": Rom 2: (NIV) 12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. 14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law, 15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them. 16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

I believe Paul is telling the Roman Christians that every Hebrew or Gentile that has never heard his (Paul's) gospel i.e., "that Jesus Christ created the universe and fulfilled the OT and that He will judge all men", they will still be judged by Jesus but because of God's "Common or Moral Law" they still have a chance to live eternally with Him.  I know this is controversial however you've got to remember that before Jesus proclaimed himself to be God in John 8:58, had any saint or prophet of God understood that Jesus was the future fulfillment of the OT?  No, but they believed in God and tried their best to follow His laws and when they broke them, those who knew not the law (Gentiles) felt bad about breaking His "common law" e.g., Don't steal, Don't murder, Don't take your neighbors wife, etc.. and vowed never to do it again and simply asked God to forgive them, I believe God did forgive them. And those who knew the law (i.e. Hebrews) also repented of their sin and asked God to forgive them verbally and through the offering or shedding of the blood of an animal, both would still live eternally with Jesus as He would eventually judge their hearts and actions.  King David is an example of someone under the law as David loved God and tried his best to please Him but we all know how many times and how grievous were his sins, but each time David repented and turned away from these evil deeds and God forgave him. Able is a perfect example of a believer (Gentile) before the law what kind of sacrifice (i.e. blood) was pleasing to God. Able knew it was o.k. to kill an animal but not to murder a human as we found out that his brother Cain also knew this but he did likewise and if he did not repent and ask God to forgive him, he most likely will not eventually go into Heaven. Every person on earth before the flood and up to the time Moses knew to keep God's 10 Commandments or His "common law" including resting on the 7th day. They all understood that He wanted them to rest as this would show respect and honor for what He did on those first  6 days. They knew that God had taught Adam to worship only the true God and not some graven image like the Sun or Moon or a rock, etc... They knew it was not right to steal their neighbors food or wife.  They knew they should not falsely accuse a neighbor of something they didn't do or say and they knew not to curse God as Job told us.

Isn't it interesting that God wrote them in "stone" (not on parchments) with His own finger; and these two tablets of stone were put into the Ark of the Covenant and they are now in Heaven. - Rev: 19: And the temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seen in his temple the ark of his testament: and there were lightnings, and voices, and thunderings, and an earthquake, and great hail. This verse in Rev didn't say "His testament, laws and ordinates" but just "His testament" or the two stone tablets with the 10 Commandments written on them. Read again what Moses called the "new laws" to be given to the "Hebrews":

Deuteronomy 5 - 1: Then Moses called all Israel, and said unto them, Hear, O Israel, the ordinances and the laws which I propose to you this day, that ye may learn them, and take heed to observe them. 2 The Lord our God made a covenant with us in Horeb. 3 The Lord made not this covenant with our fathers only but with us, even with us all here alive this day."  This is a new covenant given to the Hebrews began with Ex 21:1 w these are the judgments (laws) which thou shalt set before them.

In conclusion I know that as a Christian "saved by Grace and not of myself (or by my works)" if I break the 6th Commandment (i.e., commit murder) I could go to the "Hell-fire" (death) if I did not quickly ask God to forgive me [and I never murdered again], (this would also pertain to all the other 9 except the 4th.)  However regarding the 4th , I believe Rev 14:12 has a serious yet hidden message in it, i.e., "Here is the patience of Saints. Here are they that (a) keep the commandments of God, and the (b) faith of Jesus."  Why would God want Jesus to ask His Angel to tell John to write this in the last book of His Word?  I've heard several possible explanations to this end time verse and I'm still researching all the possible explanations. For some reason God didn't say "have the faith of  Jesus Christ and obey the Law and the Prophets" nor did He say obey "Jesus' commandments" (as Jesus did create a few -  see (Gal 6:2) "Bear ye one another’s burden, and so fulfill the "Law of Christ"  and again in Gal 5:14, "For all the Law is fulfilled in one word, which is this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.") but God's commandments - (With this said, I understand the both JC and God are one.)  It appears to me that nobody in the Christian community has a problem with the other 9 except some cults like the Roman Catholic church and a few others; but 99% all have a problem with just the 4th, why?  Well I think it has to do with Satan using the Roman Catholic church to change the original 7th day (day of rest) to the 6th day or Sunday.  I think somehow Sunday will used to isolate these few believers in Rev 14:12 from "worshiping" the coming "Mark" of the Beast. I don't have any credible proof to this actual event but here are several articles from various authors with their opinions on the 4th Commandment:  

Augments against keep the 4th Commandment today:

  1.  Exodus 35:

    1: And Moses gathered all the congregation of the children of Israel together, and said unto them, These are the words which the LORD hath commanded, that ye should do them. 2: Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the LORD: whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death. 3: Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day
     

 

 

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