Saturday, September 22, 2012

"You Don't Have to Keep Those Ten Things"

The title? those aren't my words, but a-sort-of-a-quote from a man who said he heard them fall from the lips of preacher Creflo Dollar. They were a sideswipe at the Ten Commandments during a sermon that emphasized Grace...which is something we all need...in large and frequent servings.
Of course I started wondering which of the Ten Words should be trashed; that is if I choose to follow CD's advice. So I thought and thought until my mind hurt from thinking and still I could not find a "bad" Commandment that needed to be tossed.
Come to think of it...more brain pain...Jesus had a lifestyle...we know He did but what was it like? Did He steal; did He lie; covet the stuff of other's that He didn't have? Did He take His Father's name in vain (swear)? No! because if He had sinned in any way He would have been disqualified to be our Redeemer.
Didn't the Christ come to save mankind from sin? And how was He  able to do that? Or in today's parlance, how was He able to pull that off? By living a perfect and sinless life as a man and bruising the head of the serpent...Satan. It's all there in the first few chapters of the Bible.
If the Ten Words had an expiration date, when was it? At the cross? Again I have to say no. It is Satan, who is the enemy of all righteousness, who hates the Ten Words. Throughout the history of the world Satan has done his best to destroy the government of God; and on what is it based? Love to God and love to our neighbor as ourself (Deut 10:12; 30:6; Matt 5:43).
Interesingly, in Matthew chapter five, the first part of the Sermon on the Mount series (5-7), Jesus talks about the Ten Commandments, references two as examples (murder and adultry), enlarges on them and pronounces a blessing on those who "do" or keep the Commandments. How is this done? There is only one way; through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Read the whole 7th chapter of Romans. Paul is usually credited (quoted) as saying the law was done away with. Three laws were laid out before Israel's children; The Ten Words (Commandments), the Ceremonial Law that had to do with the sacrificial system for sin and the Civil Law. Which one(s) expired at the cross...and why?
No mean spirited criticism of Creflo intended...I believe the man is well intended with respect to grace and faith but in error regarding the foundation of God's government and His lifestyle...which BTW is the lifestyle of Heaven.
Think on these things. ec  

1 comment:

sischacolate said...

16And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? 17And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. 18He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, 19Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 20The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. St. Matthew 19