Expert: Dean Gade - 5/19/2006

Question
Why did the ten commandments come into play and why are they in a negative form (don't do this, don't do that). With kids, for example, if you tell them NOT to do something they get curious, but if you tell them to do this they are more likely to obey ... so why not have the commandments in such way?  

Answer
God gave the ten commandments because the people He had called to be His, have His blessings and be prepared to recieve the Messiah had been living without Him so long.  They no longer knew what sin was.

The FIRST USE OF THE LAW is a general guidance for a society to exist.  It can be looked at as a curb to restrain those who are selfishly reckless. For instance all societies which are formed and survive  know that we should not murder each other, and so have their own laws proclaiming this.

A SECOND USE OF THE LAW is as a mirror for those who are seeking the creator God.  When we look into the Law our human nature is revealed.  We see ourselves as we really are.  The Law was never given as a way to get to heaven but many believe this is the promise.  St. Paul, a former Pharisee(teacher of the Law) explains it this way:

Rom 7:4-13
5 For when we were controlled by the sinful nature, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our bodies, so that we bore fruit for death. 6 But now, by dying to what once bound us, we have been released from the law so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit, and not in the old way of the written code.   

7 What shall we say, then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! Indeed I would not have known what sin was except through the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, "Do not covet."   8 But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire. For apart from law, sin is dead. 9 Once I was alive apart from law; but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life and I died. 10 I found that the very commandment that was intended to bring life actually brought death. 11 For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment put me to death. 12 So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good.

13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! But in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it produced death in me through what was good, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful.
(from New International Version)

Recognizing the state we are in is intended to cause us to seek redemption from GOD... and not through our attempts to be better.  The Law has one standard: perfection.  Those who cannot attain and maintain this total perfection are sinners and the wages of this is death.  The Law kills.

Rom 3:19-20

19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.
(from New International Version)



By God's plan of sending a savior we have freedom from the condemnation of the Law.  AND AS YOU NOTE, THE LAW CONDMENS!

Jesus Christ perfect life allowed Him to be a sacrifice for others.  His perfect righteous is given to us as a free gift to show God's love for each of us.  In Jesus Christ we are not under the Law since Jesus is the fulfillment of the Law.

Rom 8:1-4
8:1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,   2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man,   4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
(from New International Version)

It is important to note and remember that "there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus".
Any condemnation is from our own flesh or the devil against our spirit which was given us in our rebirth.

That brings us to THE THIRD USE OF THE LAW.  This use is only for those who have been born again into the Kingdom of God in Christ.

John 3:3-17

3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb to be born!"
5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.' 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."
9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked.
10 "You are Israel's teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven-the Son of Man.   14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.   
16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
(from New International Version)

This use is as a Guideline.  Since many things, including the devil, the world and our own flesh throw us into confusion in our daily life. The Law is always there to make known and  guide us to the will of God.  It is when we have to make these  choices that we need to look again to the 10 Commandments. In this way it is a guide.       If one of the choices breaks any commandment, then we need to dismiss it.

The Law is then no longer to condemn us because in Christ we are saints redeemed by God out of His love.

IN DEALING WITH CHILDREN:  You are more likely to have a relationship with your children as your relationship is with God.  You KNOW He loves, wishes what is best for you and directs (commands) you with words of encouragement.  
Your children can receive your commandments in the same way, ie. knowing that you command them for their good.

When they don't believe or obey this....they may need discipline (NOT condemnation)

Heb 12:5-13
5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, 6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son."   
7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees. 13 "Make level paths for your feet," so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed.
(from New International Version)