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Commentary on "The Fruit of the Spirit is Goodness"

GRACE CARLSON

 

Day 4: Tuesday, February 9, 2010

 

Overview

In Tuesday’s lesson, the author discusses the goodness of God’s law. He states, “The law of God not only serves as the standard, it also occupies a diagnostic role in the salvation process. Paul states simply that without the law he would not have known what sin was...In the plan of salvation, the law of God is indispensable, because without the law there is no sin, and without sin there is no need for a Savior.”

The author continues on stating that there are practical benefits to keeping the law and that it should not be viewed as a prohibition alone.

 

Observations

It is obvious that the author is taking the stance that keeping the Ten Commandments is required for Christians today. Not only does he suggest that it is binding for Christians today, but that it also plays a part in measuring our standard for goodness.

The accompanying E.G. White Notes to this lesson states this thought even more plainly, “We may each obey and live, or we may transgress God’s law, defy His authority, and receive the punishment that is meet. Then to every soul the question comes home with force, Shall I obey the voice from heaven, the ten words spoken from Sinai, or shall I go with the multitude who trample on that fiery law?...Men shut their souls from the divine light, refusing to walk in it as it shines upon them. They sacrifice purity of heart, the favor of God, and their hope of heaven, for selfish gratification or worldly gain” (Selected Messages, bk.1, pp.216, 217).

Not only do the E.G. White Notes imply that salvation is dependent upon the law, but that we must rely on the law for health, happiness, peace, and joy. In addition, the corresponding E.G. White Notes state that the required perfection of character is made possible through the law, “He rules over His kingdom with diligence and care, and He has built a hedge—the Ten Commandments—about His subjects to preserve them from the results of transgression. In requiring obedience to the laws of His kingdom, God gives His people health and happiness, peace and joy. He teaches them that the perfection of character He requires can be attained only by becoming familiar with His Word” (God’s Amazing Grace, p. 61).

 

Problem #1—The Ten Commandments are not binding to Christians today

The key to understanding the role of the Ten Commandments is to understand that the old testament law was given to the nation of Israel. Some of the laws, like the sacrificial system, were given as guidelines to show how to worship God and atone for sin. Some of the laws, like the Ten Commandments, were give to Israel so that they could know how to obey God. Some of the laws, like the food and clothing rules, were to distinguish the Israelites from the other nations. None of the old testament law is binding to us today. They were only for the nation of Israel.

"For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes" (Romans 10:4).

"But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor" (Galatians 3:23-25).

"By abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace" (Ephesians 2:15).

Christians are no longer under the old testament law, but rather the law of Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:21 discusses this:

"To those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law."

Matthew 22:37-40 describe what the Law of Christ is, and how it fulfills and encompasses the entire Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets."

The purpose the old testament law was to demonstrate our inability to keep the law, and for our need of a Savior (Romans 7:7-9 and Galatians 3:24). It was never meant to be eternal, or as a universal law for all people.The Ten Commandments must be treated as a unit with the old testament law. If Jesus fulfilled the sacrificial system part of the law, He also fulfilled the rest of it.

 

Problem #2—Our salvation is dependent upon our faith in the Lord Jesus, not in keeping the Law

The Bible is very clear about this:

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

"To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:43).

"Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2).

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8).

"Even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference" (Romans 3:22).

"They said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household" (Acts 16:31).

"He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him" (John 3:36).

"Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified." (Galatians 2:16).

 

Problem #3—God is not looking for perfection of character as the E.G. White Notes suggest.He is looking for complete surrender, and through that surrender God works to change us into the person He always intended us to be. Change is only a result of Him.

”Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (Philippians 3:12).

“To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy” (Jude 24).

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

 

Summary

  1. The Ten Commandments are no longer binding for Christians.
  2. Our salvation comes by faith alone, not by works.
  3. God is not looking for perfection of character, but of full surrender.

 

GO TO DAY 5

 

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