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Bible Studies/The Ten Commandmants
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Question
A child at our church asked... In the bible, it says that you can shorten your days by disobeying your parents. Is it possible to earn those days back?
Jennifer,
Well, actually in Exodus it says:
Ex 20:12
12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be prolonged in the land which the LORD your God gives you.
This is the fifth of the Ten Commandments. Under the old law, a child could be put to death for dishonoring their parents (see 21:15-17). This would certainly short one's days, with no ability to earn those back.
Most importantly, the commandment is a positive, not a negative. God wants us to honor our mother and father, and doing so will result in promises.
Eph 6:1-3 repeats the commandment, again as a positive.
6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother (which is the first commandment with a promise), 3 that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.
This is a great commandment that shows the love of God. He could have focused on the negative, like so many people do (especially during the time of the Pharisees).
So, teach your children that God is a loving God, who does have commandments, but they are all commandments with which we can obey (1 John 5:1-4).
thanks,
LE
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LEBoyd
Expertise
I am available to answer questions on most subjects dealing with the Old and New Testaments. I have more than 30 years of detailed study in both Testaments. Additionally, I have studied the many facets of evolution, including a detailed study of Darwin's Origin of the Species. I am a fundamentalist, in that I believe that all Scripture is inspired, or God-breathed, (II Tim. 3:16). I believe that there are no contradictions in the Bible, and that the Bible is complete in telling us our purpose on earth, how to gain salvation and how we should live to obtain salvation. I believe in sin, Satan, heaven, hell, choice-immersion, grace as the free-gift of God and that one can fall from grace. I am a 'layman' in that I taught myself Hebrew (in the English alphabet) and Greek (in the Greek alphabet).
Experience
I have taught many adult classes on the Scriptures on many different subjects over the last 25 years. I have also debated many people (several at once) over subjects such as evolution, original sin, the Diety of Jesus, whether Jesus was perfect by choice, and so-called Biblical contradictions.
Education/Credentials
I am a layman, so I come as a self-trained "expert". I can provide copies of sermanets, classes and emails where I have debated Scripture with others.
I do have a BBA and an MBA from a Top-10 MBA School. I also have several NASD/SEC licenses.
Awards and Honors
In Bibilical areas, I have scored the highest score, or in the top 10, with other adults in an all day annual test on specific Bible books. Some of these books were Luke, Revelation, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronmy, Joshua, Judges, II Kings, and others. Currently, I am teaching an indepth study on the book of Judges.
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