In the New Testaments, the
Holy Scriptures clearly state EVERYONE can be SAVED and ACCEPTED into God’s
eternal family by FAITH in His beloved Son, the Lord Jesus Christ (e.g., see
John 1:12-13, 18; John 3:16-17; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:5, 8-10). FAITH in
the living and true LORD God has ALWAYS been required for salvation and declaration
as righteous before God (e.g., see Genesis 15:6). Faith essentially means
trust.
With the message of
salvation by faith in Jesus Christ, some people began to question obeying the Law
of Moses. Some of the Pharisees who had converted to the Way – faith in Jesus –
still argued that all believers in Jesus must be circumcised and obey the Law
of Moses (e.g., see Acts 15:1, 5). The early apostles of the church, including
Peter and Paul, both proclaimed that the living LORD God knows
the heart and accepts ALL PEOPLE by FAITH in Him and His beloved Son Jesus from our whole hearts (e.g., see Acts 10:43; Acts 15:8-9). Salvation and acceptance are always the grace
of God and His Son, Jesus (e.g., see Acts 15:11; Acts 16:31; Romans
3:24; Galatians 2:16).
What about the Ten Commandments? The Ten Commandments declare the
broad principles of the living LORD God’s moral law. These moral and holy
commands were spoken and
written by the true and living LORD God of heaven at Mount Sinai, affirmed
by His Son Jesus at the Sermon on the Mount, and His servants (e.g. see,
Exodus 20:1-17; Exodus 31:18; Exodus 32:15-16; John 14:15, 21, 23; John 15:10;
Romans 7:7, 12-14, 16; Romans 13:8-10; 1 Timothy 1:8; 1 John 2:3; 1 John 5:3;
Revelation 14:12). Jesus NEVER abolished the moral commands of His
Father the living LORD God but preached obedience to the moral
commands (e.g., see Matthew 5:17-20, 21-48; Matthew 19:17-19; Luke 18:19-20;
Matthew 23:1-3l John 15:10). The essence of the moral commands is LOVE and FAITH in the living and true LORD God – Yahweh first and foremost and love and
care for your neighbors (e.g., see Genesis 15:6; Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Matthew
6:33; Matthew 7:12; Matthew 22:34-40; Galatians 5:14; Ephesians 2:8-10; James
2:8).
The Lord Jesus
specifically proclaimed that the lawless and ungodly workers of Satan elevate their
man-made rules, traditions, ceremonies, and rituals over the actual
commandments of His Father, the living LORD God (e.g., see Matthew
23:15-22, 28; Mark 7:3, 5-10, 13; Galatians 1:14). In fact, these evildoers’
hearts are filled with sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed,
malice, deceit, vulgarity, wickedness, self-indulgence, envy, slander, pride,
self-importance, violence, and foolishness (e.g., see Matthew 23:5-7, 25-27;
Mark 7:20-23; Luke 11:39; Luke 16:14; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10).
