Tag: ten commandments

The Ten Commandments (Part 4): The Sabbath (Saturday or Sunday?)

The Sabbath Saturday or Sunday question is one many Christians are asking today: Are we worshipping God according to His command, or according to tradition?

Did you know that most Christians today are worshipping on a day the Bible never commanded?

The Sabbath: Saturday or Sunday?

Is the Sabbath Saturday—or Sunday? Does it really matter?

## 📖 The Ten Commandments Series

– Part 1: No Other Gods

– Part 2: No Idols

– Part 3: The Meaning of God’s Name in Vain

– Part 4: The Truth About the Sabbath (Saturday or Sunday?) (current)

Today, we continue with the series on the Ten Commandments as we look at the fourth Commandment. The title of this presentation is, The Ten Commandments Part 4: The truth about the Sabbath (Saturday or Sunday?)

The Fourth Commandment

So, let us first look at this fourth Commandment, found in Exodus 20:8-11 NKJV  

8.“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

  1. Six days you shall labor and do all your work,
  2. but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates.
  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.

What Is the Sabbath?

The Commandment begins by stating, “Remember the Sabbath day…” So let’s begin by addressing what the Sabbath day is.

The Hebrew word translated as Sabbath is shabbath, which means “rest.” Another accurate translation is “ceasing [from work].

The Origin of the Sabbath

Its origin goes back to creation when God rested upon its completion. Let’s take a look at that account in Genesis 2:1-3 NKJV

  1. Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished.
  2. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done.
  3. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.

This is the origin of the Sabbath rest. It is the celebration of God’s creation. Additionally, with the advent of Christ to save mankind from his sins, it is also a celebration of our salvation.

This connects directly to what we saw in Part 1: No Other Gods and Part 2: No Idols, where God established that He alone defines how He is to be worshiped.

God’s Command further states: “to keep it holy.” That means keeping it as a day consecrated, sanctified, and dedicated to God. The Sabbath day is intended for rest, offering renewal for both body and spirit. We experience physical rest by taking a break from work, while spiritual rest is achieved through worship that rejuvenates the soul.

Moving on, the verse states, “six days you shall labor and do all your work.” Now this is based on the fact that, as the Scripture reads, “six days the Lord made the heaven and the earth … and rested the seventh day.”

We also see that this includes everybody: father, son, daughter, male servant, female servant, the stranger/visitor, and even the cattle. Everything and everybody is to honor the Sabbath. It is the fourth of the Ten Commandments.

Has the Sabbath Changed?

Now, how does this apply to today? Well, for starters, let me just say, we have swayed far, far away from this Commandment.

Today, roughly 90–95% of Christians worship on Sunday, the first day of the week. Yet surveys show that only about 70% of Christians actually treat Sunday as a day of rest. While many Christians attend church on Sunday, they do not treat it as a true Sabbath. They attend church, then go shopping at the mall, travel, and seek entertainment as they do on any other day. So, they worship on Sunday but do not consciously observe a “day of rest.”

This is in violation of the fourth Commandment. Only 1-3% of Christians observe the Saturday Sabbath. That is a true remnant!

Somewhere along the way, we stopped taking this Commandment seriously. Because this is one of the most overlooked Commandments today!

Why is this? Well, there are all kinds of doctrines and reasonings as to why, and we’re going to look at some of them today.

The Sabbath Saturday or Sunday debate is not new—it has been discussed for centuries.

Common Objection: The Sabbath Was Only for the Jews

The first: we are no longer under the Law: the Sabbath is for the Jews. Now that is grossly inaccurate! Contrary to common belief, this command was not exclusive to the Jews. The Sabbath existed even before it became part of the Ten Commandments—the Law. As we see in Genesis, it was established at the conclusion of creation. It predated sin.

Adam and Eve were not Jewish! But they were intended to be consecrated unto God, and God gave them the Law. But after they chose to sin by violating the Law, that was no longer the case. Fast forward, when God chose the nation of Israel to be His chosen—consecrated people, He gave them the Law—the Mosaic Law to keep them holy unto Him.

Now that takes care of the Old Testament. The Old Testament is basically the history of Israel. As the New Testament Scripture states in 1 Corinthians 10:11 NKJV

Early in the chapter, the Israelites’ trials and triumphs are addressed. In verse 11 it reads:

  1. Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition (warning), upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

The Old Testament is the foundation and was provided to give us warnings not to follow the footsteps of the forefathers. The question is, are we heeding the warnings?

Now moving to the New Testament, this is where the Scripture twisting comes into play.

But first, let me say this: there is not one Scripture in the New Testament declaring the cessation of keeping the seventh-day Sabbath—not one!

But let’s look at some objections and the Scriptures cited.

First, many focus on Scriptures that mention “the first day of the week.” The proponents of this focus are that the Sabbath changed from Saturday to Sunday because Jesus was resurrected on Sunday, the first day of the week.

Does the New Testament Change the Sabbath?

John 20:1 NKJV

  1. Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

John 20:19 NKJV

  1. Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

While Scripture confirms that Jesus appeared on the first day of the week, it nowhere confirms that Jesus ended the Sabbath to celebrate His resurrection.

Let’s look at what He did say regarding the Sabbath. Luke 6:5 NKJV

  1. And He said to them, “The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”

Here, Jesus sanctioned the Sabbath and declared His authority over it, putting the Pharisees in their place. He was the Son of Man, and He was the Lord of the Sabbath. He did not change the day of the Sabbath, nor did he cancel it.

Mark 2:27 NKJV

  1. And He said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.

Here again, Jesus asserted His authority over the Sabbath. There is no sign of Christ abolishing the Sabbath. Also, notice that He said, “The sabbath was made for MAN,” not the Jews.

Now, back to those who focus on gatherings on the first day of the week. Let’s continue to look at the Scriptures they focus on. Acts 20:7 NKJV

  1. 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.

If Paul’s gathering with the disciples at Troas started on the evening of the first day of the week (after Saturday sunset), it likely continued throughout the night into Sunday morning. The worship activity happened late Saturday night, making Sunday Paul’s travel day (see v. 13). This passage does not provide evidence for regular worship services occurring on Sundays or any other specific day. It also does not describe the first day of the week as sacred time, nor does it suggest that such a meeting should recur every Sunday.

1 Corinthians 16:2 NKJV

  1. On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

This passage does not mandate or imply the holding of a religious service. The text suggests no assembly; instead, it states, “let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper.” There is no mention of prayer, singing, or preaching, nor any indication that Paul’s instructions were to be carried out within a meeting or worship context. Additionally, Paul’s instruction—“that there be no collections when I come”—does not establish a precedent for activities typically associated with regular gatherings.

A straightforward reading of Paul’s directions indicates that he intended for individual believers to set aside their contributions in advance of his arrival, with his instructions being fulfilled once these gifts were delivered to Jerusalem.

Now these Scriptures have nothing to do with worship. Upon examining these texts, it becomes clear that there is no scriptural basis for the idea that Sunday has replaced the Sabbath as the Bible’s designated day of rest and worship. In fact, the references to the “first day” simply note when events occurred, without assigning them any specific theological importance.

Sabbath Observance in the Early Church

New Testament Scripture clearly indicates that the Sabbath was recognized and celebrated in the early church. Let’s look at some Scripture, Acts 13:13-16 NKJV

  1. Now when Paul and his party set sail from Paphos, they came to Perga in Pamphylia; and John, departing from them, returned to Jerusalem.
  2. But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day and sat down.
  3.  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.”
  4. Then Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said, “Men of Israel, and you who fear God, listen: And Paul began to address the congregation.

Acts 17:1-4 NKJV

  1. Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
  2. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
  3. explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”
  4. And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.

Acts 18:1-4 NKJV

1.After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth.

  1. And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them.
  2. So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.
  3. And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded both Jews and Greeks.

Take notice that these passages address worship. Paul ministered to both Jews and Greeks—Jews and Gentiles. And he did it on the Sabbath.

Were going to look at one more in Acts 13:42 NKJV

  1.  So when the Jews went out of the synagogue, the Gentiles begged that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

Now this scene takes place at the close of worship on the sabbath. The gospel that Paul preached was so powerful that the Gentiles begged to hear more on the next SABBATH.

It doesn’t appear that the Sabbath was for Jews only.

Misunderstanding Hebrews 4

Moving on, there are those who say, Jesus is our Sabbath rest, and there’s no need to keep the seventh-day Sabbath under the Law. They use Hebrews 4:9-11 NKJV

9 .There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.

  1. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His.
  2. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

Hebrews 4 is a meaty chapter. But let me just say, this passage, verses 9-11, has nothing to do with the Sabbath day.

So, what is this “rest” of which the writer of Hebrews speaks, which should be an object of concern for the Christian community? The “rest” is something a Christian believer enters (and thus experiences) now, but this rest in its fullness remains a promised destination for the future. The Scripture says in verse 9, “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God.”  In this context, the Sabbath is a new-covenant Day of Atonement, in which God’s people are cleansed from their sins.

This rest does not replace the seventh-day Sabbath rest.

Jesus offers the ultimate source for true rest, for true rest is found only in a right relationship with God. The rest is His rest, for His people, found by obeying His word.

In the wake of a culture leaving the fragmented, fragile, and fatigued in its wake, the church has a phenomenal opportunity to point people to the ultimate land of promise and spiritual well-being.

In summary, what does the writer of Hebrews mean by “rest,” and why should it matter to Christians? This ‘rest’ is both present and future… found in relationship with God through Christ.

As Jesus said in Matthew 11:28

  1. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus is the source of genuine rest, which comes only from being in right relationship with God.

1 John 3:24 NLT

  1. Those who obey God’s commandments remain in fellowship with him, and he with them. And we know he lives in us because the Spirit he gave us lives in us.

We maintain our relationship with God by keeping His Commandments—all of them. Does that mean omitting the 4th one? Hardly!

My friends, this is about salvation in Christ. It has nothing to do with keeping the seventh “day Sabbath. This does not remove the obligation to keep the Sabbath.

Understanding Colossians 2:16

There are many more examples of Scripture twisting regarding the Sabbath. But to address one more, the Scripture used for this one is Colossians 2:16 NKJV

  1. So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths,

First of all, notice that it reads “sabbaths” (plural), not the Sabbath.

Some  religious festivals and celebrations required a sabbath from a day of work. Paul’s point was not to judge anyone by the festival or sabbath days that they recognized in that regard. He was not referring to the Seventh-day Sabbath. Why would he? After all, we saw earlier (in Scripture) that he participated in worship in the synagogues on the sabbath!

My friends, we must stop compromising the Commandments of God!

It’s time to stop monkeying around with what God has made clear.”

The Commandment says:

Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.   Six days you shall labor and do all your work,  but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God.

How Sunday Worship Began

So why do most Christians today honor the first day instead of the seventh?

Now to fully answer that question requires a separate—full article of its own. But this is the condensed version

It goes all the way back to the first century A.D. and a Roman Emperor named Constantine.

In 330 A.D., Constantine relocated his capital from Rome to Constantinople.  This is now modern-day Istanbul, Turkey, thereby paving the way for the Roman Catholic Popes to hold power in Rome as his successors.

“In 321 A.D., Constantine issued the first civil law promoting Sunday rest.

When the Catholic Church grew in influence, it promoted Sunday as a sacred day instead of observing the Sabbath, officially establishing this change at the Council of Laodicea (A.D. 363-364).

So the question becomes, on what authority did the Catholic church institute this change?

James Gibbons, Roman Catholic Theologian and author of the book “The Faith of our Fathers,” wrote:  

“But you may read the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, and you will not find a single line authorizing the sanctification of Sunday. The Scriptures enforce the religious observance of Saturday, a day which we never sanctify.”

To put it plainly, it was the Catholic Church’s authority that shifted worship from Saturday to Sunday, rather than any directive in the New Testament Scriptures.

This is a significant acknowledgment from a Catholic prelate—the horse’s mouth, so to speak. Additionally, some religious leaders concede that there is no biblical authorization for designating Sunday as the new Sabbath Day.

When Christianity became aligned with the Roman Empire in the fourth century, a union between church and state began to form. Political power began influencing religious practice, and this period saw the introduction of Sunday laws and later church decrees promoting Sunday observance. [Spoiler alert: This is beginning to occur again—another article forthcoming]

But the point: we are disobeying God’s Commandment and worshipping God on the wrong day.

Now there’s a lot more to this story. However, you can read the full article on the Christian Advocate website, and here’s the link:

https://thechristianadvocate.org/saturday-vs-sunday-worship/

The Danger of Following Tradition

Moving on, the fact of the matter is: Sunday worship is pagan—a tradition of men—established in Rome.

Jesus called the religious leaders out on this following of traditions in Mark 7:6-9

  1. He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

  1. And in vain they worship Me, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE COMMANDMENTS OF MEN.’
  1. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men—the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do.”
  2. He said to them, “ALL TOO WELL YOU REJECT THE COMMANDMENT OF GOD, THAT YOU MAY KEEP YOUR TRADITION.

Here, Jesus quoted Isaiah’s condemnation of Israel’s hypocrisy when he spoke to the Pharisees, the religious leaders of his day (Matthew 15:7–9; Mark 7:6, 7). We are all capable of hypocrisy, and we’re guilty of it today—As the Scripture states: laying aside the Commandment of God and holding the tradition of men.”

God has never left worship up to human preference. In Deuteronomy 12:29–31, God said:

29 “When the Lord your God cuts off from before you the nations which you go to dispossess, and you displace them and dwell in their land,

  1. take heed to yourself that you are not ensnared to follow them, after they are destroyed from before you, and that you do not inquire after their gods, saying, ‘How did these nations serve their gods? I also will do likewise.’
  2. You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way; for every abomination to the Lord which He hates they have done to their gods; for they burn even their sons and daughters in the fire to their gods.

32 “Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.

 The Lord stated: “You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way.” Instead of copying how others worshiped their gods, Israel was commanded to worship God according to His instructions alone. This reveals an important truth: God does not accept worship that is shaped by culture, tradition, or human reasoning—but only that which He has commanded.

Israel was condemned for it, and we will be condemned also if we don’t make a change.

As we saw in Part 3: The Meaning of God’s Name in Vain, God does not accept worship shaped by human tradition, but only that which He has commanded.

Has the Sabbath Changed?

Yes, this was for the Israelites, but has God changed? In Malachi 3:6, He is quoted saying, “For I am the Lord, I do not change;”

A Call to Return to God’s Command

My friends, this is a big problem. But there is a solution, it’s time to show Jesus the love He deserves, and keep the Commandments—all of them. As He said in John 14:21 NKJV:

  1. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”

The fact is, we are too concerned about being enslaved, and we want to be free. But the Sabbath was never meant to enslave us to a day — it was meant to lead us to the One who gives true rest.

We must worship God on the Day He designated, not the one designated by man!

One day, we will have to choose who we truly love—God or man?

Make the correct choice before it’s too late!

Amen.

Feel free to leave any questions, comments, or concerns below.

Blessings!

👉 Videos

Watch the full teaching on Video

Watch the Short

## 📖 The Ten Commandments Series

– Part 1: No Other Gods

– Part 2: No Idols

– Part 3: The Meaning of God’s Name in Vain

– Part 4: The Truth About the Sabbath (Saturday or Sunday?) (current)

 

 

 

The Meaning of God’s Name in Vain

The Meaning of God’s Name in Vain. It is often misunderstood by many today. Most people assume it only refers to using God’s name as a curse, but this command reaches much deeper. It speaks to how we live, how we represent God, and whether we truly honor His name in our daily lives.

📖 The Ten Commandments Series

Does this Commandment apply today? Is it being violated? The answer may surprise you. And what this commandment really covers might surprise you as well.

Let’s look at this Commandment.

  1. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

What Does it Mean to Take the Lord’s Name in Vain?

What does it mean to take the Lord’s name in vain?

According to the Strong’s Greek-Hebrew Dictionary, the Hebrew word translated as “in vain” is shav’ (shawv), which means “to desolate, destroy, or ruin.” To make useless.

So, in other words, in the context of this Scripture, it means to use God’s name in a useless, profane, or unholy way.

The way we refer to and regard the name of God is considered highly significant. As the Creator and Supreme Ruler of the universe, His name is to be treated with respect and reverence. Due to His status and attributes, it is expected that His name will not be used improperly or without due consideration.

In the Old Testament, misuse of God’s Name carried severe consequences. In fact, over time, the Israelites treated God’s Name with such reverence that many became afraid to even pronounce it, lest they misuse it.

But bringing this to today:

This Commandment requires us to never, under any circumstances, misuse God’s name.

Therefore, His name is always to be honored, praised, and worshipped. And:

⇒ We must never curse nor abuse His name.

⇒ We must never use His name in a frivolous or insincere way.

⇒ We must never take the name of the LORD God in vain.

We must understand that this commandment is not only for the Jews. It is directed to you. It is directed to me. It is directed at every human being on the face of the earth.

The Importance of God’s Name in Scripture 

Let’s look at a couple of examples of how God’s name is used in the Scriptures:

PS. 8:1 NKJV 

  1. O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! 

Ps. 111:9 KJV

  1. He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.

God’s name is recognized as excellent, Holy, and it is revered in the Scriptures.

How Do We Misuse God’s Name?

Now, take note that there are four ways we can misuse God’s name. We’re going to look at all four.

Cursing or Abusing God’s Name 

This is the most well-known way, and the one most of us think of when considering this Commandment, and it involves profanity.

Profanity refers to the use of language that is considered offensive, including cursing, abusive, or irreverent expressions involving the name of God. The improper use of such language includes vulgarity and profanity: for example, foul or distasteful slang, as well as terms such as “damn,” “hell,” “darn,” and similar words.

The connection between these words and the misuse of God’s name lies in the disrespect they express toward Him. It is highly regarded as inappropriate to profane or curse Him or any aspect of His creation.

Therefore, maintaining respect for language use is encouraged. Our present culture has lost respect for language. Profanity is ubiquitous in our culture.

One of the things I treasure about no longer being involved in secular work is that I don’t have to listen to the copious profanity that permeates the workplace. It is even amongst our youth. Any Christian should be offended by it.

Profanity becomes especially serious when it involves cursing God or using His name in vain. Such actions are considered direct insults to God and, according to belief, lead to severe consequences for the person who uses His name disrespectfully.

An individual’s name represents their identity. Hearing someone’s name typically suggests thoughts of their personality, behavior, values, and reputation. This association is even stronger regarding God’s name.

The descriptions of God highlight that He is holy, just, loving, compassionate, and gracious. He is portrayed as the Creator, Sustainer, and Sovereign Ruler of the Universe, as well as the Redeemer and Savior of humanity. Names given to God, such as Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), emphasize His greatness and uniqueness.

God’s name is considered sacred and distinct—exalted above all other names, whether in heaven or on earth. Because of this, we are urged to treat God’s name with deep respect and reverence, never using it carelessly or as a curse. Instead, God’s name should inspire awe, reverence, and even a sense of humility and fear. Misusing God’s name, especially as a curse word, is strongly discouraged.

I even saw in a church bulletin once: “God’s last name is not dam.” Now that was direct!

God’s name is important because it represents who He is. Many people use it carelessly or as part of a curse without thinking about how serious that can be. The way we speak God’s name shows our true feelings toward him. Because of this, it’s important to treat his name with respect, using it for praise or worship instead of jokes or swearing. Therefore, we shouldn’t ignore or take lightly any misuse of his name.

Using God’s name in an honorable way is part of worship to Him. This builds on what we saw in Part 1: No Other Gods, where God established that He alone is worthy of our worship.

Moving on:

Using God’s Name Carelessly or Irreverently 

Addressing the second point, we must never use His name in a frivolous or insincere way.

Now here is where we fall into dangerous territory in a big way. The fact is, we don’t have to curse to use the Lord’s name in vain.

We misuse God’s name by using His name in some irreverent way, in some frivolous, dishonoring, or light way. How do we do this? Reverence is the keyword. When God’s name is used, it is always to be done reverently. God’s name is never to be used in any irreverent way whatsoever.

All the little common everyday sayings that use God’s name in an irreverent or careless way are wrong. For example:

⇒  God Almighty

⇒  Sweet Jesus

⇒  Lord have mercy

⇒  Oh God

⇒  The Man upstairs

⇒  Somebody up
there

 ⇒  God damn

⇒  God or Jesus Christ or Christ (by themselves, when spoken carelessly

Now, how many times have we heard or used these expressions?

Let’s look at some common usages:

Lord, God almighty, what on earth is going on?

Oh, sweet Jesus, I have never heard anything so funny!

Lord have mercy! How can that be possible?

Oh God, I can’t believe you said that!

I don’t know, the man upstairs must be looking after me.

It is a miracle that no one was injured or killed—somebody up there must have intervened.

Jesus Christ, what the hell is going on?

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, that’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard! 

For God’s sake, turn that God-damned music down! 

And I even heard someone say, God be damned! Now that is especially the personification of disrespect for God!

Even in music, there was a soul singer who, in the middle of his secular songs, would say:  Good God! 

Leading the youth to run around saying the same thing

And the most common one of all time: Oh my God!  

Now, how many times have we heard that?! If only I had a dollar for every time I heard it! 

Oh my God, I can’t believe it’s you!

Oh my God, I’m so happy!

Oh my God, I’m late!

Oh my God, my wife, my husband, is going to kill me!

Oh my God, Oh my God, Oh my God! 

We really wear this one out! 

And it has gotten so popular that it has become an insignia—OMG!

Let’s look at this insignia in detail: This is the definition according to Google:

What does omg mean?

AI Overview

“OMG is an abbreviation for “Oh My God!” used in texts, online chats, and social media to express strong emotions like surprise, shock, excitement, disbelief, or even frustration, becoming popular with digital communication after an early appearance in a 1917 letter.”

As if that isn’t enough, in 2012 there was a movie titled, OMG – OH MY GOD a satirical comedy-drama.

Using OMG casually in text messages as an example of taking God’s name in vain.The Meaning of God's name in vain
Using OMG (Oh my God) casually in text messages as an example of taking God’s name in vain

Now, notice in all these contexts that they have nothing to do with God. This is our culture that has moved so far from God that it’s downright pathetic! No regard for God’s name!

Now there are those who will say: Oh, it’s just a figure of speech, God knows my heart. But that’s not what God says. Again, He says, “for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain. There is nothing in this Scripture that says, unless He knows your heart! 

But for those who insist that it’s the heart, let’s look at what Jesus said in Matthew 15:18-20 KJV

  1. But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the HEART; and they defile the man.
  2. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, BLASPHEMIES:
  3. These are the things which defile a man:

So, we see that God does know the heart!

Let’s quickly examine the word ” blasphemies.

In the original Greek, the term, which is blasphemiai, denotes slander, detraction, or language that damages the reputation of others and or of God. Modern English limits Blasphemy to God alone.

Jesus emphasized that these sins are fashioned—in the corrupt heart of man.

So, for us to use the Lord’s name in vain—blasphemies, whether it’s Oh my God, or any other way, that’s what comes from the heart. It must be in your heart for it to come out of your mouth.

So, oh yes, God knows your heart, do you?

What is truly in your heart about God? Do you have the reverence for Him that He deserves?

The Subtle Danger of Cultural Language 

We Christians pacify ourselves by saying, “Oh my gosh.”

Well, while it is true that it isn’t using God’s name, it’s only a heartbeat away. Think about what we’re doing. We’re imitating the world—alluding to God in the process.

Let’s look at what the Scripture says about that, James 4:2 NKJV

  1. Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

God is not an allusion. An allusion is a type of figurative language. It functions as a figure of speech by making a subtle, indirect reference to a well-known person, place, event, or literary work to add deeper meaning or emotional context without overtly addressing it.

Now, the fact that we adopt this approach illustrates that we know saying “oh my God” is wrong, so we replace it with “gosh”. But that’s like putting a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound. We are simply attempting to blend in with the world—Period!

My friends, we are not to copy, imitate, or emulate the world. It’s a slippery slope heading to become, as the Scripture reads, “an enemy of God.”

Let’s look at what David wrote to God about His enemies in Ps. 139:20: NKJV 

  1. For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain.

It is a dangerous position to profess Christianity and claim to be a disciple of Christ, yet use God’s name in vain. Profession alone is not enough, because it must be followed by action.

Let’s look at what Jesus said in Matthew 7:21 NKJV 

  1. “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Not everyone who professes Christ, “Lord, Lord” is saved, but the ones who genuinely love Him and do His will.

And the will of the Father, as He expressed in the third Commandment, is: honor His name. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.”

Understand that there is nothing wrong with calling on the name of the Lord! Scripture says in Acts 2:21 NKJV 

  1. And it shall come to pass That whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved.

The point: when we call on the name of the Lord, mean it—with honor, reverence, and respect. Not flippantly, and as a figure of speech—as slang.

Using God’s name in a way that disrespects Him or His character is considered taking His name in vain.

Hypocrisy — Claiming God but Living Contrary 

Thirdly, we must never take the name of the LORD God in vain hypocritically what we call a hypocrite. A hypocrite in this context is a person who professes the name of God but lives for themselves and the world.

They claim belief in God, but they act for personal gain. They use religious actions (praying, tithing, fasting) as works to be seen by others rather than as an earnest expression of love for God. There is a sharp contrast between their public persona and their private actions, with their daily lives often filled with selfish pursuits, greed, or immorality.

A marked discrepancy exists between their public façade and private conduct, as their daily activities frequently reflect self-interest, materialism, or actions not aligned with widely accepted ethical standards.

Now, Jesus called out this behavior. Matthew 15:8 NKJV

  1. “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.

He went into greater detail in Matthew 23:23-28 NKJV

  1. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone.

You see, they (the religious leaders) were tithing, but not practicing the serious matters of the law. Jesus said, they should have done it all! 

  1. Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!
  2. “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence.
  3. Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness.

  1. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

These religious leaders were hypocrites to the core. Squeaky clean on the outside, stinky and filthy on the inside. They were a dishonor to God’s name.

False Swearing and Oaths

Moving to the fourth and last, an individual misuses God’s name through false swearing. Perjury—providing false testimony under oath—is improper. Invoking God as a witness to deliberate untruths constitutes misuse of the divine name. False swearing may occur before various parties, including neighbors, business associates, spouses, or judicial authorities. Unfortunately, when called upon to testify or affirm our honesty, individuals sometimes resort to dishonesty and make false oaths. God hates false oaths, and He gets extremely specific about this.

Lev. 19:12 NKJV

  1. And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.

And lastly

Zech. 8:16-17 NKJV 

  1. These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace;
  2. Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a FALSE OATH. For all these are things that I hate,’ Says the Lord.”

What is Required by the Third Commandment?

So, what is required by this commandment? We are expected to refrain from cursing and swearing; instead, we should seek salvation and forgiveness from God. Specifically, one should:

  • abstain from cursing and swearing,
  • avoid using God’s name irreverently or carelessly,
  • refrain from invoking God’s name hypocritically.
  • Avoid using God’s name falsely in oaths.

Why This Commandment Still Matters Today

We need to take God seriously. Scripture says in Prov 9:10, NKJV “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” In the Bible context, “fear of the Lord” is to have reverence for Him, not be afraid.

Now, we say that we want to have a relationship with Him, but how can we if we dishonor His name? How many of us would have a relationship with someone who dishonored our name?

Honoring and having reverence for God—fearing Him—is the beginning. That’s step one after recognizing God for who He is (the first Commandment). Remember the last part of the third Commandment, “for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

To use God’s name in vain is a violation of His Law and is sin. As we saw in Part 2: No Idols, sin is idolatry.

God’s name is sacred; God’s name is powerful. Let’s look at what Peter said during his sermon to the Sanhedrin concerning God’s name in Acts 4:12:

  1. Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

The third commandment is “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

Amen!

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

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The Second Commandment: No Idols

In The Second Commandment: No Idols, God commands His people, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image… you shall not bow down to them nor serve them” (Exodus 20:4–5).

In part one, The Ten Commandments (Part 1): No Other Gods, I addressed the first Commandment, “You shall have no gods before me.” This presentation will address the second commandment, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image.”

Now these two Commandments are closely related in that they both address worship. The first one addresses who we worship, while the second addresses how we distort worship.

The Ten Commandment Series

– Part 1: No Other Gods

– Part 2: No Idols (current)

– Part 3: The Meaning of God’s Name in Vain

– Part 4: The Truth About the Sabbath (Saturday or Sunday?) 

The Commandment Explained

The Second Commandment – Exodus 20:4–6 Scripture image The Second Commandment Pt. 2: No Idols

Let’s look at the second Commandment found in Exodus 20:4-6

4.You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;

  1. you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
  2. but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

In the first Commandment, God established Himself as the only and true God, and we see in this second that He is the only one to be worshiped.

While we can recognize God as the one and true God on one hand, we can worship another god. How many times have we heard: “I believe in God,” but they don’t accept Jesus and continue living in the world.

Let’s do a quick examination of this Commandment:

Verse 4 says, “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth;” That means, you shall not make any image—period full stop!

Verse 5 says, “you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God.” So, nor should we worship any idol whatsoever. God Himself spoke these words as it states in (vs.1).

This commandment also prohibits creating any image of God Himself, as He is a heavenly being. It’s important to note that “no image or form or likeness of anything in heaven is to be made” since God exists in heaven—a spiritual realm or dimension. For this reason, making an image of God is not allowed.

This commandment absolutely forbids the making and worshiping of anything other than God Himself.

Do We Bow to Idols Today?

Now, there are some who will say, “That doesn’t apply to us today; we don’t bow down to idols and statues.” Well, actually, some do, but that is to be discussed another time. But the point I want to make very clear is we don’t have to bow down to statues to serve idols.

Many of us today have idols in our minds. We can believe in God, and that’s a good start. But if we have the wrong mindset—the wrong frame of mind—the wrong way of thinking, we will build idols in our minds. More on that as we move forward.

We may not bow down to idols and statues today, but we certainly do have our idols today. The fact is, idolatry did not disappear. It evolved. Our idols are more sophisticated — but they are idols, nonetheless.

When Moses walked down the mountain after receiving the Law on the tablets of stone, he saw the golden calf that the Israelites had produced and were worshipping. In his dismay, he threw down the tablets of stone and broke them. That was just one idol.

Moses breaking the tablets in The Second Commandment: No Idols after Israel worshiped the golden calf (Exodus 32)
One idol was enough to shatter the tablets.

 

But if Moses walked down from the mountain today, he would be very busy!

In our modern society, money, fame, work, and pleasure can quietly rise to a place they were never meant to occupy. When we rely on them for identity, meaning, or security, they begin to control us.

Although we do not intentionally elevate these elements to a central role, the time and attention we invest in them can lead to disproportionate influence over our thoughts and actions. Maintaining appropriate priorities helps prevent these factors from becoming dominant in our lives.

Today’s Idols

Idolatry is not always loud or obvious. Often, it grows quietly in the ordinary areas of life.

Now let’s look at some of the things we can allow to become idols:

  • Money
  • Education
  • Success
  • Politics
  • Relationships
  • Even ministry

Money—

Money is at the top of the list. The almighty dollar! There are so many individuals, including professing Christians, who worship money. Making money is all they think about. No amount is enough! As the Scripture reads in Ecclesiastes 5:10, “He who loves silver [money] will not be satisfied with silver; Nor he who loves abundance, with increase. This also is vanity.”

We set goals, and when we reach those goals, we set higher ones. I was guilty of this before I was saved. We can be very materialistic, desiring the best that money can buy! They work from sunup to sundown to attain it.

Simply put, it is a dangerous mindset. As the Scripture warns us in 1 Timothy 6:10, “ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Therefore, if we’re not careful, money will pull us right out of God’s reach. Not money itself, but the love of money. The materialistic culture that we live in today makes this love a genuine force.

But we must recognize that God is the source; money is a resource. We are reminded of this in Deuteronomy 8:18, which says,

  1. “And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth,”

The fact of the matter is we forget the source — and when we forget the source, we begin to worship the resource.

Education—

It may be hard to believe that education can be an idol. To some, their degrees are their idol. It becomes an obsession. Their degrees are their god.

Education is great—education is necessary, but it must be kept in its proper place, and not a preoccupation in our souls.

Success—

Success can be another idol. Some individuals can be so wrapped up in their success that it literally goes to their head. In their minds, they are the greatest on earth. And they, too, can never achieve enough. They set goals on top of goals. Success and reputation are their god.

Some individuals let success go to their heads, becoming puffed up and prideful, which God hates and judges. Proverbs 16 :18 says “Pride goes before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Politics—

When it comes to leadership of our villages, towns, states and country, we forget about  God and focus on man—through politics. Our society today has turned further from God to the government. But notice that the government has become increasingly dysfunctional.

A few years back, a politician said on national television that the nation is depending on the government more and more, and that’s a problem. Now imagine that—from a politician! Now, let’s look at what God says about it in His Word in Jeremiah 17:5 NKJV

  1. Thus says the Lord: “Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord.

One thing about God—He pulls no punches!

Now the Scripture says, “cursed is the man.” But think about this, if enough men, and enough women, and enough children trust in man instead of God, the whole nation—is cursed.

Relationships—

Boyfriends, girlfriends, spouses, and children can all become idols—if we allow them to. But Jesus said this in Luke 14:26 NKJV:

  1. 26. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciple.

The Lord is very direct. If an individual desires to follow Him, he must hate father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and even his or her own life. The meaning of “hate” carries a proportional weight here. The idea is that, regarding Jesus, if we are forced to choose, the winner in that choice must be Jesus.

Ministry—

Yes, even the ministry can become an idol. We can get so caught up in ministry that we forget who we are serving, thus becoming an idol. Pride can overtake us, and we end up serving ourselves.

Ourselves—

We can make ourselves an idol. By focusing on our own survival, provision and comfort to the point that we can forget all about God—the one who can help us the most! This is an easy trap to fall into due to the narcissistic culture that we live in.

Six mindsets have been addressed that can lead us down the road of idolatry. None of which are idols themselves, but if handled inappropriately, can become one. We must realize that these things are resources, but God, and only God is the source—of all things.

There are more, and anything that takes the place of God’s authority in our lives becomes an idol. God is to be first in all aspects of life.

Taking this further, sin itself is idolatry. The fact is, every time we choose our will over God’s, we bow to self and become idolaters.

Scripture addresses this in Ephesians 5:1-6 NKJV

1.Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

  1. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
  2. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
  3. neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
  4. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an IDOLATER, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
  5. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

This broadens the umbrella; this Scripture casts a big net.

Since this is New Testament Scripture, the question must be asked: Is the second Commandment only for Israel? Is it out of date?  It doesn’t appear to be the case. And notice — the New Testament speaks just as clearly about idolatry as the Old Testament. Therefore, this second Commandment is in full force as long as sin exists!

Understand that sin promises pleasure, power, identity, or control, and when we believe that promise, we’ve bowed.

Bottom line: sin is idolatry, and anyone who is disobedient and lives a life of sin and rebellion is an idolater. Period—full stop!

The Remedy for Idolatry

So, what must we do to fall in line with the second Commandment? What’s the remedy? Well, of course, the prescription is in the Scriptures. 1 Peter 5:8-9 NKJV reads:

  1. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
  2. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

To be sober is to be alert, serious. Lions typically prey on sick, young, or isolated animals, often targeting individuals who appear vulnerable or inattentive.

To be vigilant is to be watchful, observant—on the lookout for the enemy who is in this case, Satan the Devil.

Lion representing Satan the Devil in The Second Commandment: No Idols, based on 1 Peter 5:8
“Your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion…” (1 Peter 5:8)

Satan is crafty, and idolatry can be a very insidious condition. We can be in an idolatrous state without realizing it.

Verse 9 says, “resist him,” being “steadfast in the faith.” We must resist him (the devil) by being steadfast in our faith, knowing that if we do, we will be victorious. As the Scripture says in James 4:7-8 “ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

While we may not physically bow down to Idols and statues these days, we bow to them in our minds. When we allow this, they become strongholds in our minds. Because this isn’t physical, we can’t fight this battle on our own. It is a Spiritual one—this is Spiritual Warfare, and we can’t fight it in the physical—tanks, guns, or fighter jets mean nothing in this war.  2 Corinthians 10:3-5 NKJV

  1. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.
  2. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,
  3. casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Our weapons for this battle are not carnal or physical, for the pulling down of strongholds.

We must use our Spiritual armor.

The bottom line is, there’s competition for worship, and a battle for souls between God and Satan, and we’re in the middle.

I’m not going to address Spiritual Warfare any further. There is a whole series on this website that addresses it.

The Battle for Worship

So, to close: we must be sober, vigilant, and resist.

The Scripture says, we are to cast “down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself” against God.

To repeat—the second Commandment:

4.“You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.

We may not bow to statues…but if something controls us more than God does, we have built an idol.

Therefore, we must be sober and vigilant, paying attention to where our focus is and directing it to God.

As Jesus said in Matthew 22:37-38, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first and great commandment.

We must worship God only!

Amen!

Please leave your questions, comments, and concerns below.

Blessings!

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The Ten Commandment Series

Part 1: No Other Gods

– Part 2: No Idols (current)

– Part 3: The Meaning of God’s Name in Vain

– Part 4: The Truth About the Sabbath (Saturday or Sunday?) 

The Ten Commandments (Part 1): No Other Gods

Introduction

In the previous presentation titled “Law or Grace: Are Christians Still Under the Law Today,” I laid the foundation of this series on the Law. In it, I made clear, through the Scriptures, that we are under both the Law and grace. Now that it is clear that the Law applies to us, the balance of this series will be an exposition of each of the Ten Commandments, which are the base of the Law, and how they apply to our lives today as Christians. This article, The Ten Commandments (Part 1): No Other Gods, is the first of ten articles addressing each of these Laws.

Part 1: No Other Gods

– Part 2: No Idols

– Part 3: The Meaning of God’s Name in Vain

– Part 4: The Truth About the Sabbath (Saturday or Sunday?) 

What are the Ten Commandments?

With the foundation of the Law in place, the next question becomes simple and necessary. What are the Ten Commandments? The Ten Commandments are ten Laws handed to Moses from God on Mt. Sinai, also known as Mt. Horeb. God presented them on tablets of stone.  As mentioned earlier, these Laws are the basis of the Mosaic Law. All of the Commandments contained in the Old Testament Law (613) derive from these Ten Commandments.

Moses holding the Ten Commandments tablets on Mount Sinai.

The Ten Commandments Listed

They are as follows:

1.                    You shall have no other gods before me

2.                    You shall not make for yourself a carved image

3.                    You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain

4.                    Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.

5.                    Honor your father and your mother

6.                    You shall not murder

7.                    You shall not commit adultery

8.                    You shall not steal

9.                    You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor

10.              You shall not covet

The Structure and Purpose of the Law

When we look at these ten laws together, it becomes clear why they stand at the heart of all moral law. Because if the world obeyed these Laws, what a different world would we live in!

The initial four commandments focus on how we connect with God, while the remaining six address how we interact with other people—a complete package. We can’t go wrong if we follow God’s Laws!

Therefore, these commandments are not random or disconnected; they are carefully ordered to address every relationship in life.

The First Commandment

In this article, we will begin by discussing the first Commandment. To understand the weight of the first commandment, we must hear it directly from God Himself.

The First Commandment in Scripture

So, let’s look at this Commandment in Scripture, Exodus 20:1-3 NKJV:

1. And God spoke all these words, saying:

2.“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3.“You shall have no other gods before Me.

Before we look at the command itself, notice how God introduces it by looking closely at verse 2, which quotes God as saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.”

One thing is clear: our God is not shy! Here He is making his position crystal clear. It is He who freed the Israelites from bondage. It is He that bought the Israelites out of Egypt, it is He that provided for them in the wilderness into the Promised Land, and as a result He is to receive the honor and the glory—nobody else!

Therefore, in verse 3, He said, “You shall have no other gods before Me.”

What the First Commandment Declares About God

This first commandment addresses what is forbidden and how it can be violated. It focuses on the nature of God, declaring that only He is the Supreme Being and the ultimate authority in the universe. No other being or god shares His role as Creator, ruler, or sovereign over all existence. God alone is the living and true Lord and Creator.

This commandment is not vague or symbolic; it establishes clear and uncompromising boundaries regarding who God is.

Three Uncompromising Truths of the First Commandment

This commandment establishes three clear and uncompromising truths.

Firstly, individuals should refrain from regarding themselves as deities. It is important to recognize that neither humans nor any other entity or force within the universe constitutes the ultimate origin of existence.

Secondly, people should not consider animals, other creatures, or material objects to be God. Individuals are also advised not to look to the sky, the earth, or the sea and claim that anything found there is divine.

Thirdly, Man is not to believe in many gods (polytheism). There is only one living and true God, only one true Architect, only one Lord and Majesty of the universe (monotheism). Therefore, man is to have no other gods of any kind. All other so-called gods are nothing more than things created by the imaginations and thoughts of individuals.

Modern Forms of Idolatry

Moreover, if we allow something else to take priority in our hearts and minds—if it demands the love and devotion meant only for the true God—it essentially becomes a different god to us. Anything that our heart holds onto above all else transforms into our god.

When the true God is displaced from the heart, something else inevitably takes His place.

Common Modern Examples of False Gods

Consequently, let’s consider some common modern examples:

• The proud person worships themselves.

• The ambitious seek approval as their highest aim.

• The covetous make wealth their priority.

• The greedy hold possessions above all else.

• The immoral elevate desire for sex.

• The glutton values food most.

• The doting lover puts another person before everything else.

Anything we value, love, fear, or serve more than God can become our “god.” Essentially, whatever our hearts cling to fills that role—even ourselves. In fact, many people are primarily devoted to pleasing themselves, prioritizing their own values, feelings, comfort, desires, and pleasures. They act according to their own wishes and follow their personal path, effectively putting themselves in the place of God. Others might turn different things into their gods, from heavenly bodies to recreation.

A god can be anything or any person. However, our first allegiance, first loyalty, first devotion is to be to the Lord God. The Lord God is to be first in an individual’s life; He is to be enthroned in the heart of mankind. An individual is to know and acknowledge that there is one God and one God alone.

Bottom line: The first commandment of the Lord is to be obeyed.

False Worldviews That Reject God

Now let’s look at this in today’s world. Again, verse 3 quotes God as saying, “You shall have no other gods before Me. On the contrary, we have all kinds of doctrines of the world advancing principles contrary to God.

This commandment is not confined to ancient Israel; it directly confronts the belief systems shaping our world today.

For example:

We are not to deny God, declaring there is no God (atheism).

⇒           We are not to question God, saying God may exist but He also may not exist (agnosticism).

⇒           We are not to declare that man himself is the supreme being, the ultimate authority of his world (humanism).

⇒           We are not to look to science and technology as the ultimate power in life (secularism)

Here are a few of the doctrines in the world today that refute God.

The Consequences of Obeying and Disobeying

Scripture does not leave this commandment in the realm of theory—it reveals real consequences tied to how we respond to it.

Now, let’s look at the Biblical consequences of obeying and disobeying this first Commandment.

The Consequences of Disobeying

God is grieved when we don’t follow Him and sin.

We often think first about how sin affects us, but Scripture shows that rejecting God first affects God Himself.

Consequences Upon God

Foremost, we must realize that there are consequences upon God himself when we disobey. Especially this Commandment. There is a reason why it is the first Commandment.

The first consequence is: the individual who chooses not to follow God pierces the very heart of God, causing pain and hurt for Him.

Let’s look at some examples, 1 Samuel 8:7-8: NKJV

7.  And the Lord said to Samuel, “Heed the voice of the people in all that they say to you; for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.

8 According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt, even to this day—with which they have forsaken Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.

The pain in God’s heart can be seen here. This is when Israel demanded to be ruled by a king rather than by God. They desired man over God? What a foolish choice!

Let’s look at another example, Psalm 81:11 NKJV

11.“But My people would not heed My voice, And Israel would have none of Me.

Again, you can see God’s pain and disappointment.

Moving to the next example of how rejecting God pierces His heart. Despite the rejection of His people (including us today), He patiently waits.

2 Peter 3:9 NKJV

9. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

We’ve seen how not accepting God affects Him, but in this verse we see that He is still patiently waiting, hoping that all will come to repentance.

The next consequence is—the individual who does not follow God causes the name of God to be blasphemed.

Before we go further, in the Bible, blasphemy refers to speaking or writing with disrespect, mockery, or insolence to God, His name, His works, or the Holy Spirit. This serious sin involves slandering God’s character or sacred things. In the Old Testament, blasphemy was punishable by death; in the New Testament, it also includes denying Christ or wrongly claiming the Holy Spirit’s work is of Satan.

Let’s look at Romans 2:23-24 NKJV

23. You who make your boast in the law, do you dishonor God through breaking the law?

24. For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you,” as it is written.

This is a strong admonition of hypocrisy. Professing Law keepers were, in actuality, breaking the Law. This caused God’s name to be blasphemed.

The next consequence that is upon God is – the person who does not follow God lives a life that is detestable to God.

Titus 1:16 NKJV

16. They profess to know God, but in works they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good work.

Here we have more hypocrisy. Though they profess God, they live a life that, as the Scripture reads, is “disqualified for every good work.” A life that is despicable to God, as well as abominable, morally disgusting, and utterly loathsome to God, provoking His intense displeasure and judgment. Think He’s happy about this?

So, we see that when we choose not to follow God, He suffers.

These are the consequences for God.

Rejecting God not only wounds His heart—it also devastates the life of the individual who turns away.

Consequences Upon the Individual

Next, we look at the consequences on oneself, an individual’s day-to-day life.

First, the individual who does not follow God follows after dumb, lifeless idols, man-made gods that can never help them.

Jeremiah 16:20 NKJV

20. Will a man make gods for himself, Which are not gods?

Idolatry was the major reason for Israel’s judgment. In this verse, Jeremiah addresses idolatry as being utterly dumb and useless — lifeless objects incapable of saving, speaking, or acting..

Now think about it. How can we make an object ourselves and worship it, and expect to be blessed by it? It makes no sense! It’s dumb!

1 Corinthians 12:2 NKJV

2. You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led.

Here, Paul reminded the Corinthians Christians that in the past they followed “dumb idols.”

The next consequence is – The person who does not follow God lives a life of hopelessness.

Ephesians 2:11-12 NKJV

11.  Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—

12. that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

Here again, Paul is addressing the previous state without God. This time to the Ephesians, that they were aliens and strangers from the covenant and had no hope without God.

Lastly, the person who does not follow God lives a life that is enslaved to sin.

Galatians 4:8-9 NKJV

8. But then, indeed, when you did not know God, you served those which by nature are not gods.

9. But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

Here, Paul rebukes the Galatians for leaving the false gods and knowing the true God, only to return to the bondage of following the false gods again. When we don’t follow God—don’t obey God—or keep His Commandments, we are in bondage to sin.

If rejection of God remains unrepentant, Scripture shows that it ultimately leads to judgment.

The Consequence of Judgment

Next, we look at the consequence of Judgment.

The person who does not follow God will not inherit the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NKJV

9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites,

10. nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

Now this passage covers a gamut of unrighteous behaviors; all of which are against God’s Laws. The point is, you cannot be a follower of God and engage in sinful behaviors—live lives of iniquity. Those who do are under the influence of Satan. Sin is ubiquitous in the world, and as a result, the world will be judged. As Jesus said in John 16:11 regarding the functions of the Holy Spirit, He says, “of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” This ruler is none other than Satan.

Next, the individual who does not follow God displeases God and arouses His anger and wrath.

In order to please God, the Father, and receive eternal life, we must believe in His Son. Let’s look at John 3:36 NKJV

36. 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.”

Let’s look at what Jesus said in John 14:6, NKJV

6. ““I am the way…, the truth…, and the life… No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Now, it doesn’t get any clearer than this—but let’s go further:

John 8:24 NKJV

24. Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”

Jesus was addressing the Pharisees firmly because they didn’t believe He was who He said He was (He had previously said He was the light of the world). So because of their unbelief, they were sinners, and He declared that they would die in their sins.

Today, individuals will die in their sins if they reject Jesus, because they are rejecting the only way to be rescued from sin. Regrettably, many are so preoccupied with the values of this world that they are blind to the priceless gift that only Christ offers.

Next, 2 Thessalonians 2:12 [NKJV]

Paul was recounting the events preceding the second coming of the Lord. And he said in verse 12:

12. that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

Those who don’t believe the truth of God and Jesus and instead choose unrighteousness will be condemned and judged.

Next, the person who does not follow God shall face the fierce judgment of God and perish.

2 Peter 3:7 NKJV

7. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

The first seven verses of this chapter 3 address mockery in the last days, and speak to judgment on the ungodly that was implemented in the past by the Word of God. And in verse 7, the Scripture makes clear that the same Word is preserving the world for the day of judgment on the ungodly; those who do not follow God.

Let’s look at John 12:48 NKJV

48. But all who reject me and my message will be judged on the day of judgment by the truth I have spoken.

The initial mission of Jesus on earth was to guide individuals toward salvation and eternal life, rather than to pass judgment. However, upon his return, a principal objective will be to evaluate individuals based on their actions during their lives on earth. According to Christ’s teachings, those words that are not accepted and followed will serve as grounds for condemnation.

Bottom line – those who reject Jesus and live any way they please will face eternal punishment (cf. Revelation 20:11–15).

So, we have seen, in Scripture, the terrible consequences of not following the true God and following other gods.

The Consequences of Obeying

But God does not leave humanity under condemnation alone—He provides a way of redemption and blessing through Jesus Christ.

Next, we look at the blessed consequences—the benefits of keeping this Commandment of not following false gods.

Keeping this commandment brings blessings from the Lord, the only living and true God, to those who believe in and follow Him.

Now, originally this applied to the Jews, and everybody else was cursed by the Law, but with the advent of Jesus, His death and resurrection opened the way for all. Let’s look at this in Galatians 3:13-14, 28-29: NKJV

13. Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),

14. that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

With the Advent of Christ, this curse was lifted and opened to all who accept Christ Jesus, the covenant God made with Abraham.

Let’s look at the result.

28. 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.

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

PRASE God!

So, for us today, following God through His Son Jesus Christ opens the door to the wonderful benefits of His grace.

Let’s look at some Scripture illuminating these benefits.

To begin, an individual who sincerely holds faith in God will attain salvation, eternal life, and not face condemnation through God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let’s look at the promise by Jesus in John 3:16-18 NKJV

16. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

17. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18. “He who believes in Him is not condemned;

Here we have the promise by the Lord Himself. He came to save the world that the world through Him might be saved; saved from eternal death to eternal life.

Let’s look at some benefits while we are here on earth today.

An individual who maintains faith in God is likely to experience a sense of peace, serenity, and confidence throughout life, as they place their trust in God and remain mindful of Him.

Let’s look at Isaiah 26:3 KJV

3. Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on thee: Because he trusteth in thee.

This verse is part of Israel’s kingdom song, singing to the Lord, and stating that those who keep their mind on Him, and trust Him, will be in perfect peace.

New Testament—Romans 5:1-4 NKJV

1.Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2. through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;

4. and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

This just get’s better and better. Even during our time in tribulations, we have peace because we recognize that they work for good. [Romans 8:28]

Continuing on trials and tribulations, let’s look at Psalm 34 19: NKJV

19. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the Lord delivers him out of them all.  

If we follow and trust God, He will be our source, and He will deliver us from our afflictions and trials.

This brings us to another advantage: those who have faith in God receive ongoing strength from Him each day, even sharing in God’s own enduring power.

Isaiah 26:4 NKJV

4. Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord (Yahweh), is everlasting strength.

As we trust in the Lord, the true God, we have the assurance of His everlasting strength.

Finally, individuals who maintain faith in God, trust that they will be guided, supported and directed by God’s divine care.

Psalm 37:5 NKJV

5. Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV

5. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding;

6. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

So, the first Commandment is “thou shalt have no other gods before me. If we follow Him—obey His Commandments, we will be blessed!

The Heart of the First Commandment

At its core, the first commandment is not merely about restriction—it is about love.

As Jesus answered the lawyer regarding the greatest commandment in Mark 12:37,  ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment.

The first commandment is foundational because all other commandments flow from it.

Loving God is the greatest thing we can do!

Amen!

Questions, comments, and concerns may be left below.

Next, we’ll look at the second Commandment:

You shall not make for yourself a carved image

Blessings!

👉 Watch the Full Video Presentation

👉 Watch the 60-Second Version

The Ten Commandments Series

Part 1: No Other Gods

– Part 2: No Idols

– Part 3: The Meaning of God’s Name in Vain

– Part 4: The Truth About the Sabbath (Saturday or Sunday?) 

 

Law Or Grace? Are Christians Still Under The Law?

Law or Grace? Are Christians Still Under the Law? Are Christians under the Law, or are we under Grace? This question has generated debate and confusion within the church for generations. Some conclude that the Law no longer matters at all. Others attempt to return believers to the Law as a means of righteousness. Scripture, however, presents a balanced and unified answer when we allow it to speak for itself.

This article follows the biblical flow of the accompanying video teaching and explains how God’s Law and God’s Grace work together in the life of a believer—without legalism and without license.

What is the Law?

When Scripture speaks of “the Law,” it primarily refers to the Law given by God to Israel through Moses, often called the Mosaic Law or the Torah. This Law is recorded in the first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), and includes moral commandments, ceremonial instructions, and civil regulations.

The Law was not merely a list of rules. It revealed God’s holiness, defined righteousness, and showed humanity what obedience to God looks like. It governed Israel’s worship, community life, and moral conduct, and it distinguished God’s people from the surrounding nations.

Most importantly, the Law revealed God’s standard—perfect righteousness.

What is Grace?

Now that we have defined the Law, what is grace?

In the Scriptures, the word “grace” comes from the Greek term charis in the New Testament and the Old Testament Hebrew ḥēn. It refers to God’s unearned favor, love, and kindness freely given to people who do not deserve it. Grace enables forgiveness, salvation, and blessings through Jesus Christ—not because of human efforts or merit. This concept highlights God’s generous and benevolent power offered to sinners, making transformation and a relationship with Him possible, as illustrated in Ephesians 2:8-9 NKJV.

8. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.

Law or Grace
Grace is the gift of God’s love

Grace is the very core of the Gospel, showing God’s great love by offering freely what individuals cannot achieve on their own, which enables reconciliation and the promise of eternal life.

So, we have the definitions of Law and Grace. So, the question: Are we under the Law, or are we under Grace? With the arrival, death, and resurrection of Jesus, are we no longer subject to the Law? Was the Law done away with in the New Testament?

The Purpose of the Law?

So let’s take a good look at this. What was the purpose of the law? The purpose of the Law was to set a standard of conduct. This involves worship to God as well as everyday life. It separated Israel from the other nations as God’s special nation.

So, is the Law for Israel only? Is the Law only part of the Old Testament? Hardly! Let’s take the Ten Commandments, the very base and foundation of the Law. There is not one Scripture in the New Testament that refutes any of the Ten Commandments—not one.

In fact, the opposite applies. Let’s look at some Scripture.

1 Timothy 1:8-10 NKJV

 8. But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully,

The New Testament Scripture says: “the law is good.” What makes the Law good? God’s Law gives direction for living a holy life. But it is to be used “lawfully” for its intended purpose, not to hold those who are righteous in bondage, but for those who have not recognized and repented of their sins.

Let’s continue:

9. knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,

10. for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,

It is clear that the law is for the unrighteous—which we all were at one time.

Next, Romans 5:12-13 NKJV [cf. Rom 4:15]

12. Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—

13. (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.

Romans 4:15:

15. because the law brings about wrath; for where there is no law there is no transgression.

The purpose of the Law is to make us aware of sin. Without the Law, there’s no transgression—no sin. For us today, the purpose of the Law is to make us aware of sin, and lead us to Christ. It reveals God’s holiness and our sin.

Galatians 3:22-24 NKJV

22. But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

23. But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed.

24. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

The law is described as our tutor, teaching us the need for salvation because of our sins, thereby leading us to Christ.

To summarize, the purpose of the Law is to make us aware of sin and lead us to Christ.

Law or Grace

What is sin?

The New Testament provides a clear definition:

1 John 3:4 KJV

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

To transgress is to disobey. Now, note that we are looking at New Testament Scriptures, and the Scripture says, “Whoever commits sin transgresses the Law.” Now, what law is the Scripture referring to? The only Law in the Scriptures is God’s law.

Bottom line: to break God’s Law is sin! Period—Full stop!

Why We Need Grace

Grace has already been defined as unearned favor, love, and kindness freely given to those who do not deserve it.

But what is the purpose of grace? Why do we need it? All we have to do is obey the Law, right? Well, let’s see what Scripture says about this.

Romans 3:19-20 NKJV

19. Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.

20. Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

The Law convicts the whole world of being guilty of sin because no one can keep the Law perfectly. Therefore, as the Scripture reads, “no flesh”—no one will be justified by the Law.

The fact of the matter is, the Law condemns and convicts; it does not give the power to obey; only the Holy Spirit gives us that power.

 Therefore, we are all condemned by the Law, and we need a savior—we need grace—we don’t deserve it because we’ve broken the Law—we’ve sinned. But as the Scripture says in Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; BUT the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. It is by faith in Jesus Christ, given to us by the grace of God, that we are saved.

In a sense, Jesus is our get out of jail free card! Amen! He paid a debt that we could never pay.

So what is the purpose of grace? To save us from our sins!

Did Jesus Abolish the Law?

Back to the law. There are those who say, and it has also been written, that we are no longer under the law of Moses, but the law of Christ.

Now this is where confusion often enters—when people hear the phrase “the Law of Christ.” That phrase is interesting because Jesus said that He came to fulfill the Law of Moses. Let’s look at what He said in Matthew 5:17-19 NKJV

17. “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

18. 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.

19. 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.

It appears that Jesus was serious about the Law of Moses. Jesus said, DON’T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT – don’t even think about destroying the Law! He also made the point clear that anyone breaking one of even the least of the Commandments would be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jesus fulfilled the Law of Moses by fully obeying its commands, living without sin, and offering the ultimate sacrifice (shedding His blood), therefore completing its requirements and revealing its spiritual purpose centered on love for God and neighbor. Rather than abolishing the law, he brought it to fulfillment, setting believers free from condemnation of the Law and continual sacrifices.

“Jesus fulfills the Law – Matthew 5:17”

Bottom line, Jesus completed the Law of Moses—He did not replace it.

Reference to The Law of Christ may be based on the Scripture in Galatians 6:2, which reads:

2. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Law or Grace

Bearing one another’s burdens is a manifestation of love. But is that a new law? Absolutely not! Let’s look at some Scripture. Matthew 22:34-40

34. But when the Pharisees heard that He had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together.

35. Then one of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, and saying, 36. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

37. Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

38. This is the first and great commandment.

39. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’

40. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, said the greatest Commandment was love; love for God, and love for our neighbor. Jesus didn’t mention a new law or a law of Christ. He directed the lawyer to the Commandments—the Law.

Let’s look further at what Jesus said in John 13:34

34. “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

35. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

While loving others was already taught in the Old Testament (Leviticus 19:18), Jesus introduced a new standard: we are now to love others as he loved us— with sacrificial love. A new standard, not a new law.

Let’s look at another New Testament Scripture, Romans 13:8-10

8. Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has FULFILLED THE LAW.

9. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

10. Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is THE FULFILLMENT OF THE LAW.

Now look at this! The Commandments in the New Testament! The point is made very clear that love fulfills the Law. Love, the very act that Jesus promoted—fulfills the Law!

Bottom line, you can’t separate the Old Testament from the New Testament. A dog has a better chance of chasing and catching its own tail than of us separating the Testaments.

It’s not possible! In fact, the New Testament confirms the Old Testament!

The law teaches us the need for salvation; God’s grace gives us that salvation. The Old Testament still applies today. In it, God reveals his nature, his will for humanity, his moral laws, and his guidelines for living. But we cannot be saved by keeping that law only; we must trust in Jesus.

We just need to choose Him by faith.

Another passage used to dismiss the Law is Colossians 2:13-15.

13. And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,

14. having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

15. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. 

This passage explains the nature of Christ’s forgiveness. By forgiving our sins (vs.13), Christ removed our record of wrongdoing. This document served as a written account of our violations of the law. Humanity could not repay the debt of sin, so God erased it.

Christ eliminated the record of our wrongdoings by taking it to the cross, where He in essence (figuratively illustrated), nailed it and wiped out our debts with His blood. Because of His sacrifice, nothing can stand in our way or keep us from freedom. No human rules or religious rituals—whether from Judaism or false teachings—can replace or add to what Christ has accomplished for us. The death of Jesus fully settled believers’ obligations to God.

However, Christ’s death did not cancel the Law. As I mentioned earlier, it fulfilled the Law. Nailing it to the cross meant that the death of Jesus on the cross cancelled our debt of sin.

Now, let’s dig a little deeper into this fulfillment in New Testament Scripture found in Hebrews 9:22. It reads:

22. And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Now, the Scripture says, “according to the Law.” Now, what law is it referring to?

It goes right back to the Old Testament in Leviticus 17:11which reads:

11. For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.

It is the shed blood of Jesus on Calvary that made atonement for our souls.

Again, Jesus Christ fulfilled the Law. He did not condemn the Law.

The key point is that we are not free from the Law; we must still obey it. But we are free from the curse of the law. We are born cursed under the law, which is why we, as Jesus stated, “must be born again.”

Now let’s look at a passage of Scripture that addresses this clearly. Galatians 3:10-14.

10. For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of the law, to do them.”

11. But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “the just shall live by faith.”

12. Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them.”

13. Christ has redeemed us from the CURSE of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),

14. that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

This passage confirms it! We are free from the CURSE of the Law, we are NOT free from the LAW. The curse is—When we break the Law, we’re doomed. That’s where Christ comes in.

The bottom line: we need the Law, we still need to know right from wrong, we need to know when we have sinned so we can repent. Remember what we saw back in Romans 19:20, “Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

We need the Law, and we need to obey the Law.

Legalism vs. Obedience

Now, some say that obeying the Law is legalism. Well, actually it is, without Christ.

Let’s understand what legalism is; legalism is seeking salvation by strictly obeying the Law—being saved on our own—no Christ. But when we accept Christ by faith and are born again, we don’t obey the Law to be saved; we obey the Law because we are saved.

Listen, Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my Commandments.” We follow the Law of God out of our love for Him. Remember the greatest Commandment. “Love the Lord thy God…” We love God by keeping His Commandments.

We are to keep the Commandments of God—we are to obey the law.

Listen, this business of being free from the Law is simply NONSENSE!

This is yet another manifestation of Spiritual Warfare on mankind. It is an insidious assault by Satan to discount God’s Law, putting in the minds of unwitting professing Christians that they can sin and still be saved because they are free from the Law.

GRACE IS NOT PERMISSION TO SIN

Listen, grace does indeed give us freedom, but this freedom does NOT give us permission to sin! We are now warned about this in the Scriptures. First, Romans 5:20–6:2 NKJV

20. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,

21. so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

6:1. What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

2. Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?

This is not rocket science; it is common sense. If we are free from sin, how can we live in sin? It doesn’t make sense, and the Scripture proves it.

Now, here’s a Scripture that wraps this up totally, 1 Peter 2:16: NIV

16. Live as free people, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as God’s slaves.

It doesn’t get any clearer than this!

Here we have a paradox. One of several in Christianity: Christians are both free and called to serve. Our freedom should be used to glorify God, not as an excuse for wrongdoing. Christian liberty does not allow us Christians to act as we please or conceal sin; instead, service to Christ defines our boundaries.

Think of the grace Jesus extended to the woman caught in the act of adultery; he extended grace, but in John 8:10-11, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.”And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; GO AND SIN NO MORE.”

While we do have grace, we are not to continue in sin.

Bottom line: My friends, we are called to be free, but we are not to use our freedom to indulge our sinful nature.

We are to live in repentance because we will sin and need to repent. Not live a life of sin, or a life of iniquity as we did before. But sin in a Christians life should be an accident. We can commit sins without knowing it. But when we are convicted by the Spirit, we must repent—turn away from them with the intention to not repeat them again.

Once saved, always saved— That statement, as it is commonly taught, is a Misnomer—a statement of inaccuracy. The accurate statement is, once saved, always saved as long as we live a godly life—a life of repentance.

This is why we should pray each morning for the guidance of the Holy Spirit and pray each night for forgiveness of whatever sin we’ve committed during the day.

You see, society, both Christian and non-Christian, has a dangerous mindset. We want the results, but we don’t want to do the work. We want eternal life, but we want to live on our own terms. That’s not happening! If you want the results, you must do the work. We must live a life of repentance.

Conclusion

So, as I close, back to the original question, let’s bring all of this together. Are we under the Law, or under grace?

The unequivocal, unambiguous, unmistakable answer is – BOTH!

We are under the Law, and we are under grace. You can’t have one without the other. We simply cannot take the law out of the equation.

Now, let’s think about this. If there’s no Law, there’s no need for grace, and if there is no grace, we’re simply lost. To say I’m not under the Law but under grace raises the question, grace from what? The answer— grace from the Law. But only by faith in Jesus – That’s the only way.

I’m going to share one more Scripture, John 1:17 NKJV

17. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Here we have Law and grace are both expressions of God’s nature. Moses focused on law and justice, while Jesus Christ emphasized mercy, love, faithfulness, and forgiveness. Moses delivered the law; Christ fulfilled it.

My friends, the Law still applies today. It is still wrong to have idols, to lie, steal, disregard the Sabbath, commit adultery, bear false witness, and covet.

Let me take this further. The Laws in our nation today are based on the Ten Commandments. If you carefully examine any law on the books, you will see that it’s based on at least one of the Ten Commandments.

So, the bottom line: we can’t deny the Law, and we can’t deny the grace that comes through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. So let us grasp both and walk in the freedom that is bestowed upon us. Because it is Christ who fulfilled the Law and Christ who gives us grace.”—Amen!

INTRODUCING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS SERIES

With this foundation in place, the next natural question is how the Ten Commandments apply to believers today. The upcoming video and article series will examine each commandment, not as a means of salvation, but as a revelation of God’s character and His will for those who live under grace.

Any questions, comments, or concerns may be left below.

👉 Videos

▶️ Watch the Short (60 seconds):
https://youtube.com/shorts/II8rMjDnETM

 

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