What are we to do respecting the Ten Commandments?

[Doug Brents]

same law.

Jer 31:31-34 New Covenant "I will write My Law on their heart and mind".. That same New Covenant quoted verbatim unchanged in Heb 8.

Deut 5 "God spoke these ten words and added no more".

22 “These words the Lord spoke to all your assembly, in the mountain from the midst of the fire, the cloud, and the thick darkness, with a loud voice; and He added no more. And He wrote them on two tablets of stone and gave them to me.

Deut 5 is not referring to "Deuteronomy" -- the event that comes 40 years after the Exodus 20 event. Rather it is referring to the Sinai event itself.

So when Jeremiah's readers looked at the New Covenant promises in Jer 31 - the "Law" that they were considering was most certainly the TEN no matter what else they also thought of that concept.

It doesn't matter what the people of Jeremiah's time thought about what God's prophecy meant. We read in Gal 4:21-5:6 that the OT, all of the Old Covenant, which includes the Law of Moses, the Law of circumcision, the ten commandments (which God calls "the Covenant"), and all the rest, was ALL completely and totally removed. We are not subject to ANY of what was in the Old Covenant, because God removed it. It is obsolete (Heb 8:13), for a New Covenant has replaced it.

 

[JesusFollowerForever]

The New Covenant is sealed and established in Jesus' blood (Luke 22:20).
Ezekiel 36:26–27 lists several traits of the coming New Covenant: a new heart, a new spirit, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and true holiness. The Mosaic Law could provide none of these things (see Romans 3:20).
The New Covenant is a better covenant (Heb 7:22) because it was made on better promises (Heb 8:6), and was sealed with a better sacrifice.
The New Covenant necessitates trust/faith in Jesus (Heb 11:16).
The New Covenant doesn't contain "do this/don't do that" style laws as the OC did. There are a couple of lists of the types of people who will not receive eternal life (1 Cor 6:9-11, Gal 5:19-21), but each of these notes that repentance from these things and being washed in Jesus' blood will result in forgiveness of these sins.
The New Covenant is based on the Spirit while the Old Covenant was based on the letter of the Law (2 Cor 3:5-6).

Doug, Jeremiah 31 states clearly what the new covenant is;
that the commandments would be put in our hearts, it is clear and not subject to any interpretation.
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

In Deut 4:13, it is clearly stated that the covenant is in fact the 10 commandments; "And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone."

Arguments often arise regarding the Ten Commandments and the Law of Moses. To clarify this matter, it is important to distinguish between the two based on scripture. The Ten Commandments were given directly by God and written by His own finger on tablets of stone. These commandments represent God's eternal moral law, intended for all humanity—both Jews and Gentiles alike.

The Book of Deuteronomy describes how God instructed Moses to hew two tablets of stone like the first, after Moses had broken the original tablets. God then wrote the commandments on these new tablets and directed Moses to place them inside the Ark of the Covenant, under the mercy seat. This placement signifies their sacred and permanent nature. The Ten Commandments, written on stone, are referred to in scripture as "His Commandments" or "My Commandments," underscoring their divine origin and moral authority.

In contrast, the Law of Moses was a separate set of laws written by Moses on a temporary medium, such as parchment or similar materials. These laws included ordinances, precepts, and statutes, addressing various aspects of Israelite life, such as food, purity, social conduct, sacrifices, offerings, the tabernacle, the priesthood, and the feasts. While Moses did include a written copy of the Ten Commandments within the broader law, this does not mean the commandments themselves originated from Moses. The Ten Commandments hold a unique, holy status, distinct from the rest of the Law of Moses.

The temporary nature of the Law of Moses is highlighted in Deuteronomy, where it is written that Moses instructed the Levites to place the book of the law beside the Ark of the Covenant, not inside it. This distinction reinforces the idea that the Ten Commandments, preserved within the Ark, are permanent and holy, while the Law of Moses served as a temporary guide for the Israelites.

The Ark of the Covenant, covered by the mercy seat, further emphasizes the sanctity of its contents, particularly the Ten Commandments. The mercy seat, described in the Book of Exodus, was made of pure gold and adorned with two cherubim, whose wings stretched over it in reverence. God declared that He would meet and commune with His people from above the mercy seat, illustrating the central role of the Ark and its contents in His covenant with Israel.

This distinction between the Ten Commandments and the Law of Moses highlights their respective purposes and divine significance. The Ten Commandments remain God's eternal moral law, written in stone and preserved within the Ark of the Covenant, while the Law of Moses served as a temporary covenant for guiding the Israelites during their time.

In a future time, the ark of the covenant containing the tablets of THE LAW, the 10 commandments will be seen in Heaven, "Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail." (Rev11:19 NKJV)

Blessings.

 

[setst777]

Doug, Jeremiah 31 states clearly what the new covenant is;
that the commandments would be put in our hearts, it is clear and not subject to any interpretation.
Jer 31:33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.

In Deut 4:13, it is clearly stated that the covenant is in fact the 10 commandments; "And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone."

Arguments often arise regarding the Ten Commandments and the Law of Moses. To clarify this matter, it is important to distinguish between the two based on scripture. The Ten Commandments were given directly by God and written by His own finger on tablets of stone. These commandments represent God's eternal moral law, intended for all humanity—both Jews and Gentiles alike.

The Book of Deuteronomy describes how God instructed Moses to hew two tablets of stone like the first, after Moses had broken the original tablets. God then wrote the commandments on these new tablets and directed Moses to place them inside the Ark of the Covenant, under the mercy seat. This placement signifies their sacred and permanent nature. The Ten Commandments, written on stone, are referred to in scripture as "His Commandments" or "My Commandments," underscoring their divine origin and moral authority.

In contrast, the Law of Moses was a separate set of laws written by Moses on a temporary medium, such as parchment or similar materials. These laws included ordinances, precepts, and statutes, addressing various aspects of Israelite life, such as food, purity, social conduct, sacrifices, offerings, the tabernacle, the priesthood, and the feasts. While Moses did include a written copy of the Ten Commandments within the broader law, this does not mean the commandments themselves originated from Moses. The Ten Commandments hold a unique, holy status, distinct from the rest of the Law of Moses.

The temporary nature of the Law of Moses is highlighted in Deuteronomy, where it is written that Moses instructed the Levites to place the book of the law beside the Ark of the Covenant, not inside it. This distinction reinforces the idea that the Ten Commandments, preserved within the Ark, are permanent and holy, while the Law of Moses served as a temporary guide for the Israelites.

The Ark of the Covenant, covered by the mercy seat, further emphasizes the sanctity of its contents, particularly the Ten Commandments. The mercy seat, described in the Book of Exodus, was made of pure gold and adorned with two cherubim, whose wings stretched over it in reverence. God declared that He would meet and commune with His people from above the mercy seat, illustrating the central role of the Ark and its contents in His covenant with Israel.

This distinction between the Ten Commandments and the Law of Moses highlights their respective purposes and divine significance. The Ten Commandments remain God's eternal moral law, written in stone and preserved within the Ark of the Covenant, while the Law of Moses served as a temporary covenant for guiding the Israelites during their time.

In a future time, the ark of the covenant containing the tablets of THE LAW, the 10 commandments will be seen in Heaven, "Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail." (Rev11:19 NKJV)

Blessings.

You are correct. And Doug is correct.

The spirit of the Law goes far beyond the outward obedience to the Law; rather, the spirit of the Law is a sanctified life onto the righteousness of love by which God judges the intentions of the heart and our thoughts.

Romans 8:3-4 (NKJV) 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Romans 13:8 (NKJV) Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Galatians 5:6 (NIV) The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Galatians 5:14 (NKJV) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NKJV) 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 John 4:16 (NKJV) God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

 

[JesusFollowerForever]

You are correct. And Doug is correct.

The spirit of the Law goes far beyond the outward obedience to the Law; rather, the spirit of the Law is a sanctified life onto the righteousness of love by which God judges the intentions of the heart and our thoughts.

Romans 8:3-4 (NKJV) 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.

Romans 13:8 (NKJV) Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.

Galatians 5:6 (NIV) The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.

Galatians 5:14 (NKJV) For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NKJV) 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 John 4:16 (NKJV) God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

Doug will get it at some time, I am certain, he has to process scripture and it takes time, God transforms us through his Holy spirit and makes things known to those who Love him and do His will.

Blessings.

 

[Bob S]

Question: if the Ten Commandments are eternal why did Paul write the following in1Cor3:7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

If I am not mistaken Paul indicates that the Ten commandments were transitory (temporary). The power of the Holy Spirit was poured out at Penticost and Paul indicates in verse 8 it replaced the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments WERE the guide for Israel. The Holy Spirit is the eternal guide for all mankind. Notice when referring to the Ten Commandments Paul used the past tense.

Jesus in Jn 15:9 said: “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.

What were the commands Jesus kept? Of course it was Torah, all of the Law given at Sinai. Without the book of the Law the Ten Commandments would not have any consequences except for one, honoring our parents. The Book of the Law had to be part of the laws of the old covenant. It declared the Levites immune from regular observance of Sabbath. It provided the authority to punish those who violated any of the commands and established all of the Holy days. It taught the Israelites how to live and exist in the Holy Land. If as some try to indicate, we are still under the dictates of that covenant we sure are not following most of the of those dictates.

If what some are trying to make us believe we are under the laws of the Old Covenant, then what hope do any of us have?

 

[timothyu]

Question: if the Ten Commandments are eternal why did Paul write the following in1Cor3:7

Because a new reward was tacked onto good advice?

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

if the Ten Commandments are eternal why did Paul write the following in1Cor3:7

If the ten commandments are not obligatory now, then which ones can you safely abandon?

1. (6) 'I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (7) 'You shall have no other gods before Me. (8) 'You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. (9) 'You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, (10) but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
2. (11) 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
3. (12) 'Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. (13) 'Six days you shall labor and do all your work, (14) but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. (15) 'You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day.
4. (16) 'Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you.
5. (17) 'You shall not murder.
6. (18) 'You shall not commit adultery.
7. (19) 'You shall not steal.
8. (20) 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. (21) 'You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, and
10. you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field or his male servant or his female servant, his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.'

 

[JesusFollowerForever]

Question: if the Ten Commandments are eternal why did Paul write the following in1Cor3:7 Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone, came with glory, so that the Israelites could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of its glory, transitory though it was, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious? 9 If the ministry that brought condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness! 10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was transitory came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts!

If I am not mistaken Paul indicates that the Ten commandments were transitory (temporary). The power of the Holy Spirit was poured out at Penticost and Paul indicates in verse 8 it replaced the Ten Commandments. The Ten Commandments WERE the guide for Israel. The Holy Spirit is the eternal guide for all mankind. Notice when referring to the Ten Commandments Paul used the past tense.

Jesus in Jn 15:9 said: “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.

What were the commands Jesus kept? Of course it was Torah, all of the Law given at Sinai. Without the book of the Law the Ten Commandments would not have any consequences except for one, honoring our parents. The Book of the Law had to be part of the laws of the old covenant. It declared the Levites immune from regular observance of Sabbath. It provided the authority to punish those who violated any of the commands and established all of the Holy days. It taught the Israelites how to live and exist in the Holy Land. If as some try to indicate, we are still under the dictates of that covenant we sure are not following most of the of those dictates.

If what some are trying to make us believe we are under the laws of the Old Covenant, then what hope do any of us have?

A question for you @Bob S, does Paul has the right to abolish or pick and choose amongst the 10 Commandments since God himself wrote them with his finger? it is evident that the 10 commandments written by GOD and placed in an ark expressly made to contain them had a great importance to GOD so much so that the last book of the bible, the book of revelations states that this ark of the covenant ( 10 commandments = the covenant) was seen in heaven;
Revelation 11:19
"Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail."
it is evident by this passage that GOD honours the covenant, the 10 commandments. it serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness to His people.

Blessings.

 

[ViaCrucis]

I confess what is written here in the Smalcald Articles:

"Here we hold that the Law was given by God, first, to restrain sin by threats and the dread of punishment, and by the promise and offer of grace and benefit. But all this miscarried on account of the wickedness which sin has wrought in man.

For thereby a part [some] were rendered worse, those, namely, who are hostile to [hate] the Law, because it forbids what they like to do, and enjoins them what they do not like to do. Therefore, wherever they can escape [if they were not restrained by] punishment, they [would] do more against the Law than before. These, then, are the rude and wicked [unbridled and secure] men, who do evil wherever they [notice that they] have the opportunity.

The rest become blind and arrogant [are smitten with arrogance and blindness], and [insolently] conceive the opinion that they observe and can observe the Law by their own powers, as has been said above concerning the scholastic theologians; thence come the hypocrites and [self-righteous or] false saints.

But the chief office or force of the Law is that it reveal original sin with all its fruits, and show man how very low his nature has fallen, and has become [fundamentally and] utterly corrupted; as the Law must tell man that he has no God nor regards [cares for] God, and worships other gods, a matter which before and without the Law he would not have believed. In this way he becomes terrified, is humbled, desponds, despairs, and anxiously desires aid, but sees no escape; he begins to be an enemy of [enraged at] God, and to murmer, etc.

This is what Paul says, Rom. 4:15: The Law worketh wrath. And Rom. 5:20: Sin is increased by the Law. [The Law entered that the offense might abound.]" - Smalcald Articles, Part III, Art. 2



Even as St. Paul says the Law was a paidagogos, the strict disciplinarian over children, through the use of punishment and discipline to raise a child by showing what is right and what is evil. What the Law cannot do is make an unrighteous person righteous--for on the one hand one hears what is right and does not do it; and hears what is evil and does it anyway (such as the Apostle says in Romans 7:19); and on the other hand believes oneself right, such as the Pharisee who boasted before God that he was better than any sinner, but was truly a hypocrite and an unbeliever.

The Law gives us no comfort, for here the hammer of God's judgment and wrath falls, for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

For the one who has faith, who is brought comfort from the harsh wrath of the Law by the goodness and sweetness of the Gospel; the Law serves another good use: to direct us in the way we ought to go. As Christ teaches in His Sermon, it is written "Do not murder" but He adds if we are even angry at our brother we commit murder in our hearts; and through the Great Commandment that we love God and our neighbor, we are directed toward righteousness toward our fellow man; not only to avoid causing our neighbor evil, but to actively promote good and just things for our neighbor: for "I was hungry and you gave Me food" "I was thirsty and you gave Me drink" etc--for whatever we do for the least of these we do it unto Christ. So that the Law sets before us, through faith, the right way to be, that we not only avoid the outward works of destruction, but also learn the inward transformation of our minds and hearts through conversion and repentance from the life of faith, by the power and working of the Holy Spirit who breathes life into the new man, even as the old man is to be put to death day by day.

I must therefore know that idolatry, murder, adultery, envy, rebelliousness, exploitation, and every other evil sets me toward destruction, as an enemy of God; and that I have failed, I fail, and am utterly fallen so that I am without strength, or might to set myself right before God; and thus can do nothing but fall down in humility and sorrow--for God in His mercy and kindness through Christ shall take hold of me, love me, and keep me, for this is His Gospel. And I must know that the true and good way of God is in true worship of Him, in faithfulness toward others, in joy for the good my neighbor experiences, in obedience, in just treatment of all persons, in recognition of the weariness of this mortal life and that God desires my neighbor be loved, be rested, and comforted. For there is the way of death, and the way of life.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[Bob S]

A question for you @Bob S, does Paul has the right to abolish or pick and choose amongst the 10 Commandments since God himself wrote them with his finger?

No, since Paul was appointed By Jesus (God) to be His ambassador. By the way Paul didn't abolish pick or choose anything. Paul only indicated that under the New Covenant that Jews were no longer under the dictates of the Old Covenant.

The New Covenant was being ratified by Jesus blood as Jesus hung on the Cross and died for our sins, He didn't have the chance to explain the covenant to His followers. He appointed Saul (now Paul) to teach ALL mankind the New Way that leads to salvation. If we deny Paul's writings to us, we are denying Jesus Jesus's new way. IF the Old Covenant could have brought salvation, then why was the New Covenant even required? Jesus said in Matt 5 that He came to fulfill (bring to an end) the Old Covenant Laws. Before you deny that He brought to an end the Old Covenant remember He also said He came to fulfill the Prophesies. When He fulfilled them, they were brought to an end.

it is evident that the 10 commandments written by GOD and placed in an ark expressly made to contain them had a great importance to GOD so much so that the last book of the bible, the book of revelations states that this ark of the covenant ( 10 commandments = the covenant) was seen in heaven;

The fact is that God only gave the Israelites the Ten Commandments. There is no evidence that God ever gave the other nations the Ten Commandments.

Revelation 11:19
"Then the temple of God was opened in heaven, and the ark of His covenant was seen in His temple. And there were lightnings, noises, thunderings, an earthquake, and great hail."
it is evident by this passage that GOD honours the covenant, the 10 commandments. it serves as a reminder of God's faithfulness to His people.

His people were the Israelites. The Ark certainly has a place in the Kingdom of God. nnn

Blessings.

Blessings to you too. May the Holy Spirit continue to open our minds to all the truths He has for each one of us.

 

[Bob S]

If the ten commandments are not obligatory now, then which ones can you safely abandon?

1. (6) 'I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (7) 'You shall have no other gods before Me. (8) 'You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. (9) 'You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, and on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, (10) but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
2. (11) 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain.
3. (12) 'Observe the sabbath day to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. (13) 'Six days you shall labor and do all your work, (14) but the seventh day is a sabbath of the LORD your God; in it you shall not do any work, you or your son or your daughter or your male servant or your female servant or your ox or your donkey or any of your cattle or your sojourner who stays with you, so that your male servant and your female servant may rest as well as you. (15) 'You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God brought you out of there by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm; therefore the LORD your God commanded you to observe the sabbath day.
4. (16) 'Honor your father and your mother, as the LORD your God has commanded you, that your days may be prolonged and that it may go well with you on the land which the LORD your God gives you.
5. (17) 'You shall not murder.
6. (18) 'You shall not commit adultery.
7. (19) 'You shall not steal.
8. (20) 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
9. (21) 'You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, and
10. you shall not desire your neighbor's house, his field or his male servant or his female servant, his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.'

Great question Xeno, the Bible Old Testament doesn't' not indicate the different categories of commandments given to the Israelites at Sinai, but we are able to tell which ones deal with morality, how we treat God and our fellow man and the ones that deal with ceremonies or rituals. The commandments that deal with morality are forever binding on all mankind. The commands that dealt with rituals were specific to the Israelites.

The New and better Covenant Is not concerned with rituals given to Israel. It is concerned with how we treat God and our fellow man. The great theme of the New covenant scripture is LOVE. Jesus in Jn15:9-14 tells us He kept the commandments of the old way and asks us to keep His command to love one another as He loves us. 1Jn3:19-24 explains it like this: 19 This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24 The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.

 

[Always in His Presence]

You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. (9) 'You shall not worship them or serve them

That one has been explained by a certain religion - they adorn their walls with Idols

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

That one has been explained by a certain religion - they adorn their walls with Idols

Paintings and statues are not idols unless one worships them with the worship that is due to God alone.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Paintings and statues are not idols unless one worships them with the worship that is due to God alone.

Like offering prayers?

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Like offering prayers?

Prayers are requests and not worship.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Prayers are requests and not worship.

There is one mediator between man and God.

See one man’s belief is another man’s idolatry. We should really think before we start making accusation and labeling people because their doctrine or beliefs are different from ours.

Iron sharpening iron is good, the challenge is how to do it without setting each other on fire.

 

[JesusFollowerForever]

Paintings and statues are not idols unless one worships them with the worship that is due to God alone.

Xeno. I was raised a Catholic. I know very well some people do worship images statues, bow down before a cross, a statue of Mary. they buy these medallions then they put on a chain and wear across their chest, they pray the rosary, a series of vain repetitions ( GOD prefers a prayer from the heart and does not want vain repetitions) all these things are idolatry and GOD forbids these practices. I have seen this thousands of times. Yes they do worship these images, statues, medallions, rosary. Some know better but unfortunately, the fact remains it can cause people to worship idols and it should not be so.

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

There is one mediator between man and God.

Pray for me bothers [and sisters].

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

Xeno. I was raised a Catholic. I know very well some people do worship images statues, bow down before a cross, a statue of Mary. they buy these medallions then they put on a chain and wear across their chest, they pray the rosary, a series of vain repetitions ( GOD prefers a prayer from the heart and does not want vain repetitions) all these things are idolatry and GOD forbids these practices. I have seen this thousands of times. Yes they do worship these images, statues, medallions, rosary. Some know better but unfortunately, the fact remains it can cause people to worship idols and it should not be so.

Uh huh, and the bible is God, right?

 

[JesusFollowerForever]

Uh huh, and the bible is God, right?

xeno, the bible was given to us so we can start to know GOD, it represents the word of GOD but is only a book.