Category Archives: Is This True?

Is This True?, Israel in Bible Prophecy

The Fullness of The Gentiles

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What does this mean?

(Note: I am interrupting the articles on Israel’s enemies to address this question. I will continue with the other series soon.)

The phrase “time/fullness of the Gentiles” appears three times in the Bible.  In time order, they are : Ezekiel 30:3, Luke 21:24, and Romans 11:25.  The difference in these passages is the use of “time of the Gentiles” by Ezekiel and Luke vs “fulness of the Gentiles” by Paul.

The Hebrew word for time found in Ezekiel is a noun (ʿēṯ), which means the time of the event.  Luke uses a similar identification of time as a noun (Kairos), meaning a measure of time. Instead of the time of the Gentiles, Paul uses the word “fullness” (also a noun), meaning ” filled-up or fulfilled.

Paul uses the word “fullness” several times, e.g., “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law,” Galatians 4:4.  This would indicate the fulfillment of a prophecy concerning the birth of Jesus (Isaiah 7:14)

Why is this important?

All three writers are pointing forward to a future event. A time allotted for the Gentiles.  But the most important questions are “What is this work?” and “How does it fit into prophecy?”

Reading these passages in their immediate context (the verses before, those after, and the beginning of each Chapter) is important.  From there, we can see the time applications as prophecy.   We can easily discern in all three passages that it was future to them (Ezekiel, Jesus, and Paul). But, Is it the same event?  What is the event?

Let’s start with Jesus’ discussion with his disciples.

Jesus-Luke 21

 in Luke 21:5 (and Matthew 24:1), we can feel the pride of the disciples in showing off the temple.  They wanted Jesus to be just as proud.  But Jesus surprises them and tells them of the utter destruction of the temple that is to come:

“These things which you see—the days will come in which not one stone shall be left upon another that shall not be thrown down.” Luke 22:6

Matthew records it this way:

And Jesus said to them, “Do you not see all these things? Assuredly, I say to you, not one stone shall be left here upon another, that shall not be thrown down.” Matthew 24: 2

With this context in mind, let’s read the passages regarding the time of the Gentiles as recorded in Luke 21 starting with verse 20:

20 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. 21 Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her. 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things which are written may be fulfilled. 23 But woe to those who are pregnant and to those who are nursing babies in those days! For there will be great distress in the land and wrath upon this people. 24 And they will fall by the edge of the sword, and be led away captive into all nations. And Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles (ethnos-non-Jews-Gentiles) are fulfilled. Luke 21:20-24

Let’s list the key components of Jesus’ statement to His disciples to identify who the Gentiles are and their “time.”

  1. Armies will surround Jerusalem. Desolations are near
  2. A warning to “flee to the mountains”-depart. if you are away from the city (country), stay there!
  3. These days of vengeance, which are written (Ezekiel 30:3) are about to be fulfilled!
  4. There will be great distress for those in the city.
  5. The sword will kill those in the city. But some will be led captive to other cities.
  6. Jerusalem will be trampled by Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.

This destruction and time of trouble for the Jewish people in Jerusalem would continue until the Gentiles fulfilled their work of destruction and trouble.

Jesus accurately predicted the destruction of Jerusalem, the temple, and the disbursement of the Jews to all other nations.  This is well documented in history as it happened in 70 AD when the Roman soldiers surrounded and seized the city, destroyed it along with the second temple (the one rebuilt after the Babylonian captivity), and the people inside it. 

Jesus, prediction can be found in Ezekiel 30: 1-4s:

The word of the Lord came to me again, saying, 2 “Son of man, prophesy and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God:

“Wail, ‘Woe to the day!’

 For the day is near,

Even the day of the Lord is near;

It will be a day of clouds, the time of the Gentiles.

The sword shall come upon Egypt,

And great anguish shall be in Ethiopia,

When the slain fall in Egypt,

And they take away her wealth,

And her foundations are broken down.

Although the destruction in Ezekiel references Egypt, it is applied to Jerusalem as well as He uses similar words and phrases of the prophecy.

LukeEzekiel
Great distressGreat anguish
Fall by the edge of the swordSlain fall
Led awayTake away
Stones not upon another (Matthew)Foundations broken down
Times of the Gentiles fulfilledTime of the Gentiles

So, we can see that the time of the Gentiles is a destructive time in these two cases.  Therefore, it is likely that Paul in Romans 11:25 is describing the same thing as Jesus and Ezekiel.  The difference is that Paul gets more theological as it relates to the state of the Jewish people and argues that their rejection is not final.  But it appears Paul is pointing to the same event as Ezekiel and Jesus, i.e., the destruction of Jerusalem, a destructive event that was future to all three. Again, let’s read in its context starting at verse 11:

11 I say then, have they (Jews) stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. 12 Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness!

13 For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, 14 if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. 15 For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?

Notice that Paul talks about how their “fall” led to salvation for the Gentiles.  Those not of the Jewish faith began to see the gospel that was once preached to them, and they accepted it!  

Then Paul and Barnabas grew bold and said, “It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first; but since you reject it, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. Acts 13:46

Paul then speaks of provoking the Jews (those who are my flesh) to save “some of them.” This clears up the idea that all Jews will be ultimately saved.  That teaching is not consistent with this passage or the plan of salvation.

With this in mind, let’s read Romans 11:25 within the context of the verses before and after it:

2 For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree?

25 For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And so all Israel will be saved (*sōzō-delivered) , as it is written:

“The Deliverer will come out of Zion,

And He will turn away ungodliness from Jacob;

27 For this is My covenant with them,

When I take away their sins.” Romans 11: 24-27

(the Greek word sōzō is properly translated as “delivered. “It fits with the “Deliverer” coming out of Zion, which is Jesus.  So from what we know, those whom Jesus delivers out of the coming destruction of Jerusalem will be spared the destruction-all of them.  Those who ignored the warning of Jesus to flee will not be delivered.

Dispensationalism and Replacement Theory

This passage in Romans 11: 25 has been used out of context to connect it to the final end-time events.  True, it was an end-time event for those remaining in Jerusalem.  However, It is often connected with the dispensationalism theory that separates the  Jewish Nation and the Christian church of believers.  Unlike the Replacement Theory and Dispensationalism.  Jesus breaks down the wall between the Jewish believer and the Gentile believer.  These two, together, are true Israel (yiśrā’ēl); God prevails!

For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.” Ephesians 2: 14-16

Paul further drives this point home with statements like this:

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Galatians 3:28

..there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Colossians 3:11

For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God. Romans 2:28-29

The Dispensationalists believing in the pre-tribulation (the rapture of the church before the Great Tribulation) propose that the “time of the Gentiles” refers to that period when the temple in Jerusalem will be rebuilt in Jerusalem at the site currently occupied by the Muslim Masque.  The enemies of Jerusalem will surround Jerusalem, and Jesus will come down and touch the Mount of Olives and deliver Israel from their enemies.  This story is fictionalized by writers like Hal Lindsey (The Late Great Planet Earth) and Tim Lehaye (Left Behind series).

According to this theory, this will occur during the 7-year tribulation.   However, the Bible gives no indication of the time of trouble lasting seven years in the Bible.  The seven years comes from a misinterpretation of the 70-week prophecy of Daniel 9.  For a fairer and more Biblical interpretation of this prophecy, please click here:  7 Years of Tribulation-Biblical?

Conclusion:

The Fullness of the Gentiles or Time of the Gentiles within the context of the passages of the three writers, the prediction of Jesus, and the historical record refers to the seizure and destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD and has nothing to do with the dispensationalists attempt to force it to mean something else that would fit into the pre-tribulation or the unbiblical 7-year tribulation period. 

This period of destruction was a prophecy to the three writers, but it is history to us.  This happens often in scripture.  Daniel 2 is a good example of the rise and fall of Babylon, Medio-Persia, Greek, Roman, and the eventual ten divisions of Rome into modern Europe. Also, passages like Zachariah 12 and other OT prophets promise deliverance for Israel from enemies, but it is within the time period for which it was written and the enemy that controls them.  When reading the Old Testament prophets about rebuilding the temple or the city, it is always in the context of the second temple after Babylon had destroyed Solomon’s temple.  There is no mention of a third temple in the Bible.

On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David (second temple), which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old; Amos 9:11

Artaxerxes wrote the decree in 457 BC for the Jews to return and rebuild their city, including the second temple (See Ezra 7: 11-28), after Babylon had destroyed the first temple 70 years earlier.

Israel’s enemies are the Christian’s enemies.  It goes beyond nations and buildings to include spiritual wickedness.  Here is the real enemy, and the real Deliverer is Jesus the Christ for all, both Jewish and Gentile believers.  We are all one in Christ and not separate in His eyes.                                                                                                                            

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12

Faith, Is This True?, The Law of God

IS OBEDIENCE ONLY FOR THE LEGALISTIC? PART 1

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Recently, I heard a radio preacher say, “The Old Testament was about obedience, but the New Testament is about grace.” I don’t want to read too much into this or interpret his statement incorrectly, but I hear this same idea said in different ways.  In almost all cases the implication is there are two methods of salvation:

1.) Obedience for those before the cross and

2.)  Grace and faith after the cross.

Obedience (Old Covenant)    Grace/Faith (New Covenant)

Only a few days later, I heard another speaker talk about Galatians in such a way that it lead me to believe that talking about obedience was “another gospel.” The preacher stated: “nothing can be added to the work of Jesus. To add anything else is “another gospel.”  Without a doubt, no one can add to what Jesus has done for sinful man. and we cannot do enough good works to merit salvation. including obedience.  Here is the proof:

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Ephesians 2:9, 10

“But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”

Galatians 5:18

“But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

Romans 3:21-23

All three of the verses above were from Paul.  Paul was a highly educated and dedicated Hebrew.  Before his conversion, he considered himself “blameless” concerning the righteousness that comes by the law.  but then he discovered Jesus and his eyes were opened.

Paul, seemed to be concerned where people would take verses like those above.  He abruptly asks a question at the end of Romans 3 and again at the beginning of Romans 6 to clarify:

Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.

Romans 3:31 

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 

Romans 6:1

The established law has a place in the Jesus Journey of the believer, but what is it?

Despite Romans 3:31 and other “obedience” verses we shall see, people continue to quote verses that would seem to say, we can pretty much ignore the 10 commandment law.  Here are a few:

We are not “….under the law, but under grace.”

Romans 6:14

“The law was done away with.”

Colossians 2:14?

“The law has been nailed to the cross.”

Colossians 2:14?

Obedience is “another gospel.”

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel”

Galatians 1:6

Incorrect application of these passage may make it sound like God does not want us to obey and if I want to obey God, I have reverted back to the Old Testament way of salvation and have become legalistic, perhaps even lost.  By choosing to seek to live in obedience, I have left the gospel of grace and faith. So is obedience only for the legalistic?

I have tried to boil this down to 5 important thought questions:

1.)  Has obedience ever been a method of salvation?  Was Moses, the prophets, the people of Israel saved by the works of the law? Has anyone ever been able to save themselves through obedience?

2.)  What is the relationship between obedience and grace?  Are they mutually exclusive of each other?

3.)  What does Salvation mean and what is the purpose of the law?

4.) Does God expect me to live a life in  disobedience to his commandments?  What happens if I start to try to obey?

5.)  Does Obedience have anything to do with the new covenant?

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Now I am certain, I don’t need to get up get dressed and head to the local temple and sacrifice a lamb for the sins I have committed.  This was definitely part of the instructions God gave Moses to give to  God’s people.  I also know that being circumcised is not a prerequisite to being a part of God’s people. But, how do I relate to God’s law?  What is the danger if I ignore it or if I obey it?

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What is God’s law?

Is it just the 10 commandments?

Is it the old sacrificial system given by God to Moses?

Is it some spiritual thing that I keep in my spirit but am careful to not obey the letter?

Here is what I know from God’s word;

The word “law” appears 529 times in the entire Bible.  If you throw in “statute” and “ordinance” we can add another 219 times.  So that brings us to 748 verses.  

Do they all mean the same thing?  This is where many people get confused. 

The three main categories  for these 748 verses are used primarily in 1 of 3 main ways:

A.)  God’s Ten Commandments written with His own finger.

“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.”

Exodus 31:18

B.) The laws given by God to Moses concerning the sanctuary services, sacrifices, feast days. The ceremonial laws contained in ordnances.  Written by Moses and placed in a pouch in the side of the Ark of the Covenant.

“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.”

Deuteronomy 31:26

These ordinances and laws were ceremonial and gave identity and teaching to the chosen people before the cross.  After the cross, God made the Jew and Gentile one.

“And thou shalt teach them ordinances and laws, and shalt shew them the way wherein they must walk, and the work that they must do.”

Exodus 18:20

“….having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace.”

Ephesians 2:15

C.) The word of God contained in the “books of the law” a.k.a Torah (First Five books of the Bible)

This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.

Joshua 1:8

 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Psalm 1: 2, 3

So it is always important to understand which law God is referring to before making any decisions as to what God would have you do.

One last question before we start,  Does the freedom given me by the grace of God give me license to disobey?

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In this post, we will start with questions #1 and #2

1.)  Has obedience ever been a method of salvation?  Was Moses, the prophets, the people of Israel saved by the works of the law? Has anyone ever been able to save themselves through obedience?

The answer is NO!  The Jews of old were saved just like those of the New Testament:  By the grace of God through faith and not of any works.  Listen to Paul:

“I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”

Galatians 2:21

There would have been no need for Jesus to die on the cross for our sins or the sins of those in the Old Testament time if “righteousness” could come through the law.

Through the ceremonial feast of Passover (Exodus 12), the Jews under those laws were taught that the unblemished innocent male sheep had to die for their sins.  They had to believe this in faith.  Merely following the directions of God through Moses was not the point of their forgiveness but led them to understand about the coming Messiah who was the “true lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.” John 1:29

So by faith, the Jews looked forward to the Cross for their salvation not in obeying the law.  But the law was good in that it came from God himself through Moses and it taught (through an object lesson) the cost of sin, the price that had to be paid, and the transference of their sin onto the unblemished Son of God.

When Jesus came, type met anti-type.  There was no longer a need to have ceremonies and laws that pointed forward to Jesus.  Now they had the life and teachings of Jesus and that teacher (using types) ended.

Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Galatians 3:24, 25

All those ceremonial laws pointed forward to Jesus and His death on the cross that they might have faith in Him.  Today, we look back at Jesus and the cross that we might have faith.  Both of us are saved by faith, not by the works of the law of ceremonies.

Those laws had fulfilled their purpose of pointing the OT people to Jesus.  When He died on the cross they ended and we were no longer “under” those sets of laws.

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Galatians 3: 23

This faith spoken of by Paul is another word for Jesus.  The faith that is revealed is Jesus.  It is clear from Hebrews 11 (Faith Chapter) that those of the OT lived their lives by faith as we do:

The term “By faith” or “through faith” appears at least 19 times in Hebrews 11!  They are all references to the OT people of faith!

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off…And these all, having obtained a good report through faith.”

Hebrews 11: 13, 39

Please keep in mind, faith is not a thing….a religious thing….It is “trust” in God.  It is made evident by a response.  A person can say they have faith in God, but their works will show it.  Faith is not based on nothing.  It has substance and evidence.  This substance and evidence comes through trusting in God’s word.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 

James 2:18

Paul shows the method of salvation i.e., grace through faith not of works.  James tells us that the works (obedience) produced from a believer is the evidence of their faith.  The two go together.

James goes on to say,

If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.

James 2: 8-12

James uses the term “law of liberty” twice.  Here is the hint that obeying the law gives liberty.  Just ask the murder in prison or the person who is trapped in a web of lies.  There is a blessing in obedience to God’s 10 commandments.  Wouldn’t you agree?  We are not talking about the method of salvation, but rather the results of salvation.

But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it,and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

James 1:25

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2.)  What is the relationship between obedience and grace?  Are they mutually exclusive of each other?

How can anyone claim to be a follower of the only true God and not obey?

“He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

1 John 2:4

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”

Luke 6:46

“Whoever comes to Me, and hears My sayings and does them, I will show you whom he is like: He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently against that house, and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock.”

Luke 6: 47-48

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 

Romans 6:1

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5: 17-19

Heaven and earth remains and so do the 10 commandments.  Anyone who teaches to break the least of the commandments is not doing the will of God.  I don’t want to be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.  Do you?  The best way here is to teach to obey the law of God.

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Conclusion:

The 10 commandments remain as does heaven and earth.  The ceremonial laws taught about Jesus and salvation, but they ended at the cross where type met anti-type.

Obedience does not save you, but a saved person will be obedient.  The thief will stop stealing.  The liar will stop lying.  All of this happens because of the new birth….the new heart God gives the person saved.

“For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people”

Hebrews 8:10

If you are thinking the new covenant spoken of here is for Jews only.  Remember there is neither Jew nor Greek and that if we belong to Christ we are “Abraham’s seed” (Father of Jews) and “heirs according to the promise.”

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Galatians 3:28

 “And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.”

Galatians 3:29

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“A woman is driving way over the speed limit. Suddenly, she sees in her rear view mirror the flashing red and blue lights of a police car and hears the familiar wail of the siren. She pulls over, grabs her purse, and takes out her driver’s license. The policeman approaches, takes her license, and returns to his car.

She wonders how much the ticket is going to be (she was wayover the limit); she also worries about how she will be able to pay it. A few minutes later the policeman comes back and says, OK, Miss, what we are going to do, so that you don’t have to face the penalty of the law again, is abolish the law. You no longer have to worry about the speed limit.

As ludicrous as that story is, it’s no more so than the theology that teaches that after Jesus died, the law, the Ten Commandments, was abolished.”  Dr. Keith A. Burton,

“Wages of sin is death.”

Romans 6:23

“Sin is the transgression of the law.”

1 John 3:

The definition of sin has never changed.

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“There are two errors against which the children of God–particularly those who have just come to trust in His grace–especially need to guard. The first, already dwelt upon, is that of looking to their own works, trusting to anything they can do, to bring themselves into harmony with God. He who is trying to become holy by his own works in keeping the law, is attempting an impossibility. All that man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin. It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith, that can make us holy.

The opposite and no less dangerous error is that belief in Christ releases men from keeping the law of God; that since by faith alone we become partakers of the grace of Christ, our works have nothing to do with our redemption.

But notice here that obedience is not a mere outward compliance, but the service of love.”

Steps To Christ, page 59, 60

Is This True?, The Law of God

ONLY NINE COMMANDMENTS “BROUGHT OVER?”

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Living in the Bible Belt, I hear things that don’t ring true. Statements from the pulpit and the radio compel me to verify from the Bible. I once heard a preacher say, “Jesus taught more about hell than heaven.” After detailed research, I found this to be completely false. The results of the comprehensive work can be found at this link:

Did Jesus Really Teach More About Hell Than Heaven

Luke, the writer of Acts, described a group of people who verified from Scripture statements from Paul and Silas. They were the “Fact Checker” or “Snopes” of the time!

Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.. Acts 17:11 (NIV)

The followers of Jesus, as a witness, need more people like this who “live not by bread along but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”. There would likely be less schisms in our midst and we would come to know more truth about Jesus which would lead to more real faith based on the word of God.

Recently I heard a pastor on American Family Radio say these exact words: “Only nine of the commandments were brought over in the New Testament.” I had heard this before and ignored, but I could not let it ride any longer.

First, I had to understand what “brought over” meant? This is a vague statement. It must mean one of the following:

1.) Repeated in the New Testament from the Old Testament with actual verbiage as in a list.

2.) Scattered in the New Testament with exact or verbiage close to what was said in the Old Testament and/or

3.) An example or demonstration through Jesus

A List?

It is true, that the list of the Ten Commandments as found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5 can not be found in the New Testament. So in this case, all of the Ten Commandments are not brought over. Does that mean as a New Testament Christian, I am free to break any of them as I desire? Of course not!

Let’s take the first commandment as an example:

“Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Exodus 20:3 and Deuteronomy 5:7 (KJ).

This commandment does not appear, anywhere in the New Testament. But, there are allusions to it. Example:

“No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (money).” Luke 16:13 KJ

The same goes for the second commandment:

“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,  but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20: 4-6 (KJ)

Again this commandment is not repeated in the New Testament. I researched the two main words (image and bow) using Strong’s exhaustive concordances in the King James versions and found that the word” bow” is used four times in the New Testament but not once is it used in reference to the Ten Commandments. However, it is used in reference to bowing to Jesus twice. For example:

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. Romans 14:11 (KJ) (Note: the “It is written” phrase points us back to the Old Testament writer Isaiah who originally made this point about Jesus. See Isaiah 45:23.)

Praise God for this fact. The only person who is worthy to have worship through bowing is Jesus Christ. But, the context of making an image and bowing down to it is not found in the New Testament?

Why? Because the habit of making things with their own hands and then bowing down to worship them was the downfall of Israel many times as recorded often in the Old Testament. The golden calf is a great example (See Exodus 32).

A new testament version of violating this commandment can be found in the Catholic church where images of “saints” including Mary are standing while the sinner bows and prays to the image and asks for help or forgiveness. This is a pagan tradition brought into the church hundreds of years ago.

Did you notice in this second commandment the phrase: “showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20: 6 (KJ)

Embedded in this commandment is the reason for obeying ALL of God’s commandments, “love.” The “thousand generations” is not a finite number that ends at one thousand and one, but is a Hebrew’s way of saying “every generation.”

Jesus’ said the same thing about the connection of love for God and obedience to the commandments!

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15

Someone will say, “well this is Jesus’ commandments. It is not the ten commandments.”

Without a doubt, Jesus did not negate all the ten commandments, but rather expanded on them to show how sin is from the heart and the letter. A prophecy concerning the coming Messiah said this,

The Lord is well pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable. Isaiah 42:21 (KJ)

It does not say he came to destroy, but to fulfill (acutally do them). This we will expand more below.

Now let’s move to the third commandment:

Thou 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. Exodus 20:7

Again, this commandment is not repeated in the New Testament verbatim. If fact, the two keywords “name” and “vain” are not found together in the New Testament. The Hebrew word for “vain” is shav’. It is used 53 times in the Old Testament. It means primarily “empty.” In our day, we have translated only part of the true meaning limiting to the phrase God damn (Sorry for the directness). But, whenever, we use God’s in a meaningless empty way, we show great disrespect for our Creation. A perfect example is saying “Jesus” as an exclamation point. Often, you will hear someone say, “Jesus! Why did you do that?” When I watch a movie and someone says that, I turn the channel as well as the traditional curse word using God’s name in a derogatory way.

Now we come to the fourth commandment. This is the one that modern preachers want to say did not come over. Why? Because this commandment cuts across tradition and the convenience of modern society.

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

 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:

 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. Exodus 20: 8-11

Like the others described above, this one does not appear in the exact words. However, the keyword “Sabbath” is found more in the New Testament than the keywords of the first three commandments: 55 times! By contrast, the 1st Day of the week is found only 9 times. Only two verses about the 1st Day of the week have any semblance to worship and church.

Notice the 4th commandment does not say anything about worship or which day you go to church. It is primarily about resting yourself and your household by treating this blessed day differently. This commandment is not a “thou shalt not,” but a “Remember”

This commandment is a problem for the reader. Most churches can agree that obeying the first three is not legalistic (unless we claim it for righteousness and salvation) and is expected from God. But the fourth commandment is something altogether different. All kinds of attempts to dismiss it through nailing it to the cross, claiming it was for the Jews only, claiming it is not limited to a certain day and making your own day holy and a rest day. Legalism is claimed if you want to follow it even though legalism is not claimed if you want to follow any of the others.

So in conclusion none of the first four commandments can be found in the exact verbiage in the New Testament nor are they actively taught separately but as a whole. Using the assumed logic of the preacher who said “only nine of the ten commandments are brought over in the New Testament” we can say that only six of the commandments are “brought” over. This is without studying the last six commandments. But even that is not true! Why?

The Ten Commandments (as a Group) ARE Taught in the New Testament:

Teachings about the law and commandments as a group are made in many places in the New Testament. There is never an indication that only nine or six are valid or *”binding” on the New Testament Christian. (Note: Be careful in your study that you don’t confuse the eternal Ten Commandments with temporary sacrificial laws and ceremonial laws that ended when Jesus died on the cross. They were a “School Master” meant to teach about the sacrifice and character of Jesus. Always read in the context of the book, chapter, and overall context of the topic).

For example, in James, he cautions us as follows:

For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. For He who said, “Do not commit adultery,” also said, “Do not murder.” Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty.  James 2: 10-12

Eight of the other ten commandments are left out here. That does not make them any less important. It is reasonable to assume the “whole law” is inclusive of all Ten Commandments.

Jesus grouped all Ten Commandments under two great principals of love for God and love for our neighbor:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law?

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22: 36-40

The first four commandments fall under the grouping of love for God. For example: If you love only Him, you will not have any other gods, take His name in vain, et.c

The last six are grouped under “loving your neighbor as yourself.” Again, the example is that if you love your neighbor, you will” do unto them as you would yourself” by not stealing, lying, coveting their wife, etc.

Jesus Did Not Eliminate Even One of the Commandments

The words of Jesus could not be clearer:

Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 

We still have heaven and earth, so nothing has changed in the law. Some will try to claim by fulfilling, both the Law or the Prophets, that they are no longer meaningful for the New Testament Christian, but let’s let Jesus speak for Himself:

Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5: 17-19

Now I don’t know which of the commandments are “the least,” but it is clear that Jesus didn’t come to change one little letter (jot) or one little stroke of a letter (tittle) from the law contained in the Ten Commandments. So this is the entire Ten Commandments as a group. No indication of only nine being “brought over.”

Jesus’ Disciples Do Not Claim That Any of The Ten Commandments were Eliminated or Changed by Jesus

We have already seen from James that the law is a group, when he refers to the “whole law.” John is even more adamant about the commandments of God:


He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 2: 4

Some might be tempted to say these are the commandments of Jesus which is different from the Ten Commandments, but these words from the disciples indicate clearly that Jesus did not have a different set of laws by which the Christian should go by:

He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. Brethren, I write no new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning. 1 John 2: 6,7

Paul made it clear that faith does not replace the law. It establishes it:

Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law. Romans 3:31

This passage comes as a clarification of his Paul’s argument in the previous verses. This argument is very important to understand, lest a person becomes legalistic. Obedience to the Ten Commandments is not a path to salvation. It cannot give a person righteousness. Obedience is a result or evidence of salvation through the faith God provides:

…the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, Romans 3: 21-23

All of us have sinned (broken the law of God) in the letter and the spirit. So how could we possibly make ourselves righteous by obeying the letter or even the spirit of the law? It is impossible, but this does not eliminate the law as our standard for living the Christian life. It is still sinning to transgress any of God’s Ten Commandment law either by the letter or the spirit of the law.

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4

Jesus Lived a Life in Obedience to the Ten Commandments and the Sprit of Them As Our Example.

We cannot go wrong if we “walk” as did Jesus. He set the example whether we are a Jew or Gentile. It was prophesied of Jesus that He would expand the law and make it honorable:

The Lord is well pleased for His righteousness’ sake; He will exalt the law and make it honorable. Isaiah 42:21

How did He do it? First of all, He honored it and lived by its principals and the spirit. But listen how he magnifies or expands on the law:

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.  Matthew 5:21, 22

Is it not clear that murder begins with anger? Jesus expanded the law to include what goes on in your mind which is the “heart.” The heart is a symbol of feelings and thoughts of the mind.

Jesus expanded the law regarding sex:

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  Matthew 5: 27-28

Jesus is not taking away from the law (nor the letter), He is magnifying it. He is making it clear that disobedience starts in the sinful mind. If a person is to live by the letter and the spirit, they must be born again in order to have a spiritual mind. If they do, they obey because they love God not with a legalistic mind, but a spiritual heart.

What if I told my wife I live only by the spirit of the law and not the letter. Then I went out and slept with every woman who was willing? How do you think she and God would feel? It is sin just as much as looking at a woman and wanting to have sex with her! You can’t live by the spirit and ignore the exactness of the commandment.

For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Romans 8:13

One Commandment is the Problem

The preacher who said only nine commandments that came over to the New Testament has a motive that is not Biblical. It is an attempt to rearrange or eliminate the fourth commandment. It is more than changing a jot or a tittle…it is modifying the entire commandment!

Jesus and the disciples set the example for “Remembering the Sabbath.” Sunday or the first day of the week is never described as the Sabbath.

Now let’s talk about The Lord’s day. This exact phrase is mentioned only once in the New Testament:


I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, Revelation 1: 10

This does not connect the first day of the week or Sunday with the phrase “The Lord’s Day.” But Jesus refers to Himself as Lord of the Sabbath! So the Sabbath is the Lord’s day, not Sunday or the first day of the week.


And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” Luke 6:5

It can be shown that it was Jesus at the burning bush and the mountain who gave Moses the Ten Commandments which includes the Sabbath commandment. So, yes, Jesus can claim to be Lord of the Sabbath! In that commandment, it is made clear which day belongs to the Lord and is therefore the Lord’s day.

the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. Exodus 20:10

It is here where many will try to claim that we don’t know which day is the seventh day. This has never been proven and is only an excuse. Additionally, there are attempts to show that the disciples changed the holiness of the Sabbath to the first day of the week by honoring the resurrection which occurred on the first day of the week. But the Bible is silent about such a transfer by letter or example.

Jesus example of remembering the Sabbath and keeping it holy was not to ignore it but to clarifying what it meant. The Jews had assigned hundreds of rules one could not do on the Sabbath. Otherwise they would be working in violation to the words, “In it you shall do no work:” Exodus 20:10

They focused on work rather than rest in God that the day provides.

Jesus addresses this when he heals on the Sabbath:

 Now when He had departed from there, He went into their synagogue. And behold, there was a man who had a withered hand. And they asked Him, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—that they might accuse Him.

 Then He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not lay hold of it and lift it out?  Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep? Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”  Matthew 12: 9-12

He didn’t ignore the law, He clarified it and said something that is not in the commandment itself but is spiritual: “it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” He should know, He is the Lord of the Sabbath.

Examples of Obedience to the Sabbath in the New Testament

Jesus’ custom was to be in the Synagogue on the Sabbath.

:So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.” Luke 4;16

Notice it was his custom…his habit…What are our habits? Are they Biblically based or are they based on tradition alone?

Paul had the same custom:


Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, Acts 17:2

If Paul was a “Sunday-keeper,” he missed a great opportunity to demonstrate this when he was in a gentile city (Antioch). Let’s read the story from the Bible:

But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down. And after the reading of the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent to them, saying, “Men and brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say on.” Acts 13: 14-15

Paul then gives a sermon in verses Verses 16-41

When the meeting broke up, the Gentiles wanted (in fact they begged) to hear the same sermon. They were very eager to hear this sermon.

So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath Acts 13:42

If Paul and his followers had started to meet on the first day of the week in honor of the resurrection that had occurred many years previously, he could have said, “We are meeting tomorrow. I will repeat the sermon for you then.” But he didn’t say this because Paul’s custom was to honor the sabbath. He was in the routine of ceasing work and being at rest with God for the entire day. He went about preaching and doing good on the Sabbath. Therefore, Paul persuaded them to wait until the next Sabbath.

Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

 On the next Sabbath almost the whole city came together to hear the word of God. Acts 13: 43, 44

The whole city surely included Gentiles who were very eager to hear the exact sermon Paul had preached the week before. There was not likely room to meet in the synagogue of the Jews so they l met in the outdoors or a larger venue.

The point is, Paul’s custom was to honor the Sabbath. He didn’t even mention meeting on the first day when He had the perfect opportunity with a group of eager Gentiles.

In another documented example, Paul meets with a group of followers on the first day because he was leaving the next day. But this is not sufficient reason to show this was their normal day of worship or their “custom.’

Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight. Acts 20:7

This was more like a going-away meeting because Paul had a ship to catch the next day and he had so much to say that he preached even until midnight!

Keep in mind, the fourth commandment does not restrict worship to only the seventh-day. Rather it is asking us to “Remember” the day He rested and to keep it holy because He said it was holy. Sunday does not come with such a designation. True, Jesus was resurrected on the First Day of the week, but He died for our sins on the sixth day of the week. Neither the sixth day nor the first day of the week comes with an indication that the holiness of the seventh day is transferred.

Another time, Paul went to pray on the Sabbath alone with no Jews around and away from the synagoue.

And on the Sabbath day we went out of the city to the riverside, where prayer was customarily made; and we sat down and spoke to the women who met there. Acts 16:13

Prayer and the Sabbath go together even though we are taught to pray all the time. Pay without ceasing. 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Sabbath Was Made For Man….

The Sabbath was not for Jews alone. Jesus said it was “made for man.”

And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.: Mark 2:27

Indeed the Sabbath was made for man. The Sabbath was instituted long before there was a Jew or Israelite. Like marriage, the Sabbath was created in the Garden of Eden before the fall and to benefit mankind.

Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. Genesis 2:3


For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Exodus 20:11

Most people who have not entered into the rest of the Sabbath tend to look at this commandment as a burden or through legalistic eyes. Some see the observance of this commandment to be works and therefore not of faith. But this is a commandment that is an invitation to rest from works and find joy in the day God blessed and set aside to recharge our physical and spiritual batteries. Its emphasis on rest and not works is the centerpiece on the table of salvation by faith and not works. The Jews of old made it a burden and legalistic by placing man-made restriction on a day that should have been called a delight


“If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight...Then you shall delight yourself in the Lord; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,…The mouth of the Lord has spoken.” Isaiah 58: 13-14

The joy of the Sabbath was brought over in the New Testament through the example of Jesus and His disciples. When God makes a new heaven and a new earth, the Sabbath will be the focus of the entire week and we will all come together on that day to worship.


And it shall come to pass That from one New Moon to another, And from one Sabbath to another, All flesh shall come to worship before Me,” says the Lord. Isaiah 66:23

In conclusion, the Sabbath is a commandment has not been changed by its Creator and therefore remains as an opportunity to rest in the Lord.

Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest (notice “His rest),…For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works… For if  Joshua had given them rest, then He would not afterward have spoken of another day.  There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.  For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.”

Hebrews 4:1, 4, 8-10

His rest is the Sabbath! He ceased from his works as God did from His!” How clearer could this be that there is a Sabbath rest (the seventh day) for the people of God? That is me and you!

Jesus sabbatical invitation is found both in the fourth commandment and the words of Jesus who invites us to rest:

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Are you weak and heavy laden? Come to Jesus. Jesus also invites you to enter the rest He offers in the ceasing of work on the Sabbath as commanded by God and given as an example by Jesus, the Disciples, and the word of God.

Yes the Sabbath was “brought over” to the New Testament! Probably more than any other commandment through the Word and example.

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*As a side note: I don’t like the word binding. It is a very legalistic, restrictive and negative term not used in the Bible in connection with the ten commandments. Using the Blue Bible exhaustive concordance, I found the word binding is used 5 times in the entire Bible, but not in connection to the Ten Commandments. The same can be said of the word bind, which is used 49 times, but never in connection with God’s law. The words “obedience” and “keep” are often used in connection with God’s law. Both of these are “love” responses to Jesus not a “binding” responsibility for salvation:

“If you love Me, keep My commandments. John 14:15