The beginning and the end.

[Freth]

In the book of Revelation (the Revelation of Jesus Christ), Jesus refers to Himself as the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

Revelation 1:8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

Revelation 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.​

Some examples of Jesus, the beginning and the end.

The beginning.

The Word (Jesus) was with God and was God.

John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
​

Jesus created the heaven and the earth, and all living things, and saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Genesis 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
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Jesus rested and sanctified the seventh-day Sabbath in the beginning.

Genesis 2:1-3 Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. 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. 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.
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The end.

Jesus prophesies coming in the clouds.

Matthew 24:30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.
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John sees a vision of Jesus coming in the clouds.

Revelation 14:14 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.
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Jesus speaks the word of God, smiting the wicked.

Revelation 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Revelation 19:17 And the remnant [wicked] were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
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In the book of Isaiah, chapter 46, we find a highly compressed description of God and His will for us.

Isaiah 46:9-13 Remember the former things of old: for I am God(1), and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done(2), saying, My counsel shall stand(3), and I will do all my pleasure: Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country(4): yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it(5). Hearken unto me, ye stouthearted, that are far from righteousness: I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off(6), and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory(7).
​

Let's unpack these verses.

NOTE: What follows is by no means a complete unpacking of the above verses, but examples of what they point to. It would take hours of poring over scripture to list them all, and much more space than this forum post can handle.

1. Remember the former things of old, for He is God.

Exodus 20:8-11 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.

Numbers 15:38-40 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the Lord, and do them ; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.
​

2. He declares the end from the beginning. From ancient times the things that are not yet done.

God prophesying to the serpent at the beginning, declaring the end:

Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
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The Spirit of Prophecy:

Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds.

Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
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3. His counsel shall stand.

Sabbath:

Exodus 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my sabbaths ye shall keep: for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that ye may know that I am the Lord that doth sanctify you.

Exodus 31:16 Wherefore the children of Israel shall keep the sabbath, to observe the sabbath throughout their generations, for a perpetual covenant.
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Jew and Gentile:

1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Acts of the Apostles 10:34-35 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Romans 2:28-29 For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.
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We are grafted into Israel:

Galatians 3:28-29 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.

Romans 9:6-8 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel: Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called. That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.

Colossians 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.

Romans 10:11-13 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Also see Romans 11:16-27.
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The Law of God:

Romans 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law [worketh righteousness (above)], shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

Matthew 5:18 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 [from the beginning to the end].

Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
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4. He calls a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country.

A reference to Cyrus.

2 Chronicles 36:22-23 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying, Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the Lord God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him an house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The Lord his God be with him, and let him go up.
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Of note, the supper of the great God:

Revelation 19:17-18 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
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5. Yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it.

Did not Jerusalem inherit the promised land?

Deuteronomy 30:9-10 And the Lord thy God will make thee plenteous in every work of thine hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good: for the Lord will again rejoice over thee for good, as he rejoiced over thy fathers: If thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to keep his commandments and his statutes which are written in this book of the law, and if thou turn unto the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul.
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6. Hearken unto Him (a message to the stouthearted and unrighteous).

Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
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7. His salvation shall not tarry.

Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand.

Revelation 22:10-12 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
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Conclusions:

• In the description of Himself in Isaiah 46:
  • In the scripture it points to, we find:
    • His will is done
    • Christian principles
      • Jesus
        
      • The Word of God
      • Faith
        
      • Repentance (prayer)
      • Obedience
        • The Sabbath
          • The center of the Ten Commandments
          • Repeatedly referenced with creation
          • Repeatedly called to remember
          • God's sign throughout the generations
          • A perpetual covenant
      • Righteousness
      • Service
        
      • Salvation
    • All of us are Israel
      
    • The Spirit of Prophecy
      • Lessons of the past, starting with the beginning
        
      • Repeating events
        
      • Ever-present truth
        
      • Future events, culminating in the end
        
      • Time is short
    • The character of God
      • His law
      • His desire for us
      • His pleasure
      • His love
    • Jesus
      • The Alpha and Omega
        
      • The beginning and the end
      • The first and the last

 

[Leaf473]

That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God.

This is where the teaching starts to break down for me. I can't find anyone who will specify what those commandments are.

When I try to do it myself, I always run into a hitch.

 

[LoveGodsWord]

This is where the teaching starts to break down for me. I can't find anyone who will specify what those commandments are. When I try to do it myself, I always run into a hitch.

You do not need to do it yourself (Philippians 2:13) if you have faith *Romans 3:31. If we have faith to be born again to walk in the Spirit, according to the scriptures, we will not practice sin and fulfill the lusts of the flesh and Gods' commandments will be His promises *see John 3:3-7 links to 1 John 3:4-9; Galatians 5:16; Romans 3:31; Romans 8:4; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 22:36-40; James 2:8-12. The only test to know if we know God is found in 1 John 2:3-4 which says "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him" and again in 1 John 3:6 "Whosoever abides in him sins not: whosoever sins hath not seen him, neither known him." Those who are born again in the Spirit are obedient to Gods' law through faith in Gods' Word. Sin, which is defined in the scriptures as breaking Gods' law or anyone of Gods' 10 commandments (1 John 3:4; James 2:10-11) according to John is the difference between the children of God and the children of the devil *see 1 John 3:6-10; 1 John 2:3-4; Revelation 12:17: Revelation 14:12 and Revelation 22:14.

Take Care.

 

[BobRyan]

This is where the teaching starts to break down for me. I can't find anyone who will specify what those commandments are.

The ones in the Bible that even the "Baptist Confession of Faith" section 19 and the "Westminster Confession of Faith" section 19 claim to know about in line with Paul's statement in Eph 6:2 regarding the ten.

When I try to do it myself, I always run into a hitch.

So what happens when you try to know about them "yourself"??

 

[Leaf473]

You do not need to do it yourself (Philippians 2:13) if you have faith *Romans 3:31. If we have faith to be born again to walk in the Spirit, according to the scriptures, we will not practice sin and fulfill the lusts of the flesh and Gods' commandments will be His promises *see John 3:3-7 links to 1 John 3:4-9; Galatians 5:16; Romans 3:31; Romans 8:4; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 22:36-40; James 2:8-12. The only test to know if we know God is found in 1 John 2:3-4 which says "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him" and again in 1 John 3:6 "Whosoever abides in him sins not: whosoever sins hath not seen him, neither known him." Those who are born again in the Spirit are obedient to Gods' law through faith in Gods' Word. Sin, which is defined in the scriptures as breaking Gods' law or anyone of Gods' 10 commandments (1 John 3:4; James 2:10-11) according to John is the difference between the children of God and the children of the devil *see 1 John 3:6-10; 1 John 2:3-4; Revelation 12:17: Revelation 14:12 and Revelation 22:14.

Take Care.

############

You do not need to do it yourself (Philippians 2:13) if you have faith *Romans 3:31

I think you may have misunderstood what I wrote. When I said "it" above, I meant
"specify what those commandments are".

Do you believe that you can specify what those commandments are? If so, please do!

 

[Leaf473]

The ones in the Bible that even the "Baptist Confession of Faith" section 19 and the "Westminster Confession of Faith" section 19 claim to know about in line with Paul's statement in Eph 6:2 regarding the ten.



So what happens when you try to know about them "yourself"??

I don't think the Baptist confession contains a complete list of the commandments.

If I try to know about them in the sense of specifying which laws are for today, regardless of which rubric I use, I run into laws which don't fit the rubric.

So, for example, if someone says to obey the moral laws but not the civil or ceremonial ones, I come to a law which could fit in more than one category.

If someone says to keep the ten commandments and the sub laws of the ten commandments, again it is unclear regarding some laws whether they are sub-laws or not. And why sub laws only of the 10? Wouldn't the sub laws of the first and second greatest commandments also count? But that's the entire law. So then I would be back to square one.

 

[BobRyan]

I don't think the Baptist confession contains a complete list of the commandments.

It tells the reader that they are "The Ten Commandments" and it tells the reader that they were "Written on stone".

Is it your view that a lot of readers "are confused" about what is in Exodus 20??

Or are you saying that you personally are in confusion at that point?

==================

But it does not detail a lot of other ones .. as being "in" vs "out".. even though a reasonable reader would know that they must also be including

Deut 6:5 "Love God with all your heart"
Lev 19:18 "Love your neighbor as yourself"

 

[Leaf473]

It tells the reader that they are "The Ten Commandments" and it tells the reader that they were "Written on stone".

Is it your view that a lot of readers "are confused" about what is in Exodus 20??

Or are you saying that you personally are in confusion at that point?

==================

But it does not detail a lot of other ones .. as being "in" vs "out".. even though a reasonable reader would know that they must also be including

Deut 6:5 "Love God with all your heart"
Lev 19:18 "Love your neighbor as yourself"

No, I don't feel that I'm in confusion or that other readers are confused about Exodus 20.

#############

But as you say, there's more than 10.

You've got the first and second greatest commandments.

Please keep going.

 

[BobRyan]

If someone says to keep the ten commandments and the sub laws of the ten commandments, again it is unclear regarding some laws whether they are sub-laws or not. And why sub laws only of the 10? Wouldn't the sub laws of the first and second greatest commandments also count?

They are the TEN - since Deut 6:5 quoted by Christ refers to the first four and Lev 19:18 quoted by Christ refers to the last six.

A detail so obvious that both sides of the Sabbath debate free admit to it -- as you have seen a few dozen times in the Baptist Confession of Faith - section 19.

1. "The same law that was first written in the heart of man continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after the Fall, and was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai in the ten commandments, and written in two tables, the first four containing our duty towards God, and the other six, our duty to man."

I love it that the "easy part" is so clearly laid out by the fact that "both sides" admit it.

 

[LoveGodsWord]

############
I think you may have misunderstood what I wrote. When I said "it" above, I meant "specify what those commandments are". Do you believe that you can specify what those commandments are? If so, please do!

There is no misunderstanding. I think we have had these discussions over and over. Are Gods' 10 commandments spoken by God alone and written by Gods' own finger on two tables of stone by God alone? Do Gods' 10 commandments show us our duty of love to God and our fellow man from the heart? Is Gods' 10 commandments the standard of sin when broken and righteousness when obeyed? Do Gods' 10 commandments give us the knowledge of what sin is when broken? If we break anyone of Gods' 10 commandments do we stand guilty before God of sin? There is scripture to answer everyone of those questions and they have been provided to you already. Are you seriously going to state here that no one has specified these commandments to you? Are Gods' 10 commandments, commandments; YES or NO?

Take Care Leaf.

 

[Leaf473]

They are the TEN - since Deut 6:5 quoted by Christ refers to the first four and Lev 19:18 quoted by Christ refers to the last six.

A detail so obvious that both sides of the Sabbath debate free admit to it -- as you have seen a few dozen times in the Baptist Confession of Faith - section 19.

1. "The same law that was first written in the heart of man continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after the Fall, and was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai in the ten commandments, and written in two tables, the first four containing our duty towards God, and the other six, our duty to man."

I love it that the "easy part" is so clearly laid out by the fact that "both sides" admit it.

The first and second greatest commandments are the same as the 10? There are no other sub laws to the first and second greatest commandments? No other sub laws to the ten commandments?

 

[Leaf473]

There is no misunderstanding. I think we have had these discussions over and over. Are Gods' 10 commandments spoken by God alone and written by Gods' own finger on two tables of stone by God alone? Do Gods' 10 commandments show us our duty of love to God and our fellow man from the heart? Is Gods' 10 commandments the standard of sin when broken and righteousness when obeyed? Do Gods' 10 commandments give us the knowledge of what sin is when broken? If we break anyone of Gods' 10 commandments do we stand guilty before God of sin? There is scripture to answer everyone of those questions and they have been provided to you already. Are you seriously going to state here that no one has specified these commandments to you? Are Gods' 10 commandments, commandments?

Take Care Leaf.

The OP talks about "all the commandments". That's what I was asking to be specified.

And that's where I run into a hitch if I try to specify them to myself.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

The OP talks about "all the commandments". That's what I was asking to be specified.

And that's where I run into a hitch if I try to specify them to myself.

Should we obey what we know now, or what until we understand everything little thing before obeying? If you believe we should obey the Ten Commandments, my suggestion would be to start obeying the Ten Commandments in both truth and spirit, all Ten, not just nine or eight of them. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit will teach us all things when we obey John 14:15-18, Acts 5:32 so maybe start with the Ten and God will bless you with more understanding of the rest. . .

 

[Leaf473]

Should we obey what we know now, or what until we understand everything little thing before obeying? If you believe we should obey the Ten Commandments, my suggestion would be to start obeying the Ten Commandments in both truth and spirit, all Ten, not just nine or eight of them. Jesus promises the Holy Spirit will teach us all things when we obey John 14:15-18, Acts 5:32 so maybe start with the Ten and God will bless you with more understanding of the rest. . .

When it comes to a set of laws, I'd say know what that set of laws is before you commit to keeping it.

Suppose Joe says to Jane that he knows a way to make a great cake.

Jane says that she's always interested in learning about baking, so what are the ingredients to the cake?

Joe says that you start with flour, sugar, and eggs.

Jane says she wants to know what else.

Joe says that there are some other ingredients.

Jane asks what they are.

Joe says that he's told her the first three ingredients, so she should start by putting those in a mixing bowl.

Jane said she's not going to dirty up a bowl based on half a recipe.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

When it comes to a set of laws, I'd say know what that set of laws is before you commit to keeping it.

Suppose Joe says to Jane that he knows a way to make a great cake.

Jane says that she's always interested in learning about baking, so what are the ingredients to the cake?

Joe says that you start with flour, sugar, and eggs.

Jane says she wants to know what else.

Joe says that there are some other ingredients.

Jane asks what they are.

Joe says that he's told her the first three ingredients, so she should start by putting those in a mixing bowl.

Jane said she's not going to dirty up a bowl based on half a recipe.

Suit yourself, but this is where you get stuck each time, if you don't believe in the Ten Commandments or obey what God wrote with His finger, what God spoke with His own voice, maybe it is why you have not been given light to understand the rest of the law. Just something you might want to consider. It would be a shame if Jesus comes and He asks why you didn't keep the Ten commandments and your answer is something about Joe or Jane.

 

[Leaf473]

Suit yourself, but this is where you get stuck each time, if you don't believe in the Ten Commandments or obey what God wrote with His finger, what God spoke with His own voice, maybe it is why you have not been given light to understand the rest of the law. Just something you might want to consider. It would be a shame if Jesus comes and He asks why you didn't keep the Ten commandments and your answer is something about Joe or Jane.

If a person has been given light to know what the rest of the laws are,
it would be good for them to give the details,

so that we can talk about them as we walk along the road,

as the law advises.

And may the peace of the Lord be always with you, my sister.

 

[SabbathBlessings]

If a person has been given light to know what the rest of the laws are,
it would be good for them to give the details,

so that we can talk about them as we walk along the road,

as the law advises.

And may the peace of the Lord be always with you, my sister.

The thing is, we all have to individually take that walk on our own. No one can believe for you or have faith for you, or obey for you, this is an individual walk. There have been many on here who have tried to help you with the laws over the past year and you have rejected that help, so I was offering a suggestion that maybe you could start believing the Words that God spoke, the Words that God wrote with His own finger first, His Ten Commandments before moving on to some of the other laws. Maybe in doing so in both truth and spirit God will help you with the rest of the laws. Just something to consider, but of course that is up to you. God bless

 

[Leaf473]

The thing is, we all have to individually take that walk on our own. No one can believe for you or have faith for you, or obey for you, this is an individual walk. There have been many on here who have tried to help you with the laws over the past year and you have rejected that help, so I was offering a suggestion that maybe you could start believing the Words that God spoke, the Words that God wrote with His own finger first, His Ten Commandments before moving on to some of the other laws. Maybe in doing so in both truth and spirit God will help you with the rest of the laws. Just something to consider, but of course that is up to you. God bless

I hear what you're saying, but all I'm asking you to do is specify those other commandments, say what those other laws are.

And may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.

 

[Bob S]

I hear what you're saying, but all I'm asking you to do is specify those other commandments, say what those other laws are.

And may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you.

I submit to you that there is one great commandment that covers every way we can hurt God and our fellow man. That is the Royal Law of Love. There are multitudes of ways man is able to do harm to God and man. Only nine ways are listed in the ten commandments. Paul, in his extraordinary wisdom, lists some of the ways we can hurt ourselves and our fellow man:
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

It appears that not many know that the ten commandments say absolutely nothing about LOVE. They are all about duty. Eight told the Israelites thou shalt not, one came close to love by saying honor and one was ritual command to do something. Someone compared Deut 6:5 and Lev 19:18 to the 10 commandments. The ten commandments aren't even the tip of the ice berg of all the ways we cannot love God and our fellow man.

Something else is true. The ten commandments were given only to Israel. They were the words of the covenant given at Sinai. They were not given to Gentile nations. When the new covenant was ratified at Calvary the old one with its 613 laws ended. Our brothers and sister of different persuasions are quick to tell new covenant believers that we are lawless because we believe the ten ended at the Cross. For those who believe we are lawless I would recommend you read the book of John, especially Jn 15:9-14 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.

Oh how beautiful and elegant are those verses. The answer to your question Leaf is love.

 

[Bob S]

1 Corinthians 13
New International Version

13 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.