God's Precepts

Precepts-General rules intended to regulate behavior or thought. The Word of God gives us many, not only in print to read, but by example to follow, as Jesus did all His life.

1)Why is it that we must obey them? A) We cannot obey if we do not know them. B) And if we not know them, we cannot believe them. If we do not obey, it is because of lack of faith. If the Devil can keep us from believing them, he can keep us from obeying them. If these things are denied, they cannot be obeyed. "If you will indeed obey My voice, and keep My covenant, then you will be My own possession among all the peoples."(Ex.19:5)"For this is the love of God, that you keep all My commandments and that My commandments are not burdensome."(1John 5:3)

2)The sum of all the commandments is to love the Lord thy God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength and your neighbor as yourself. A) What is before love is knowledge. We cannot love God if we do not know Him. To do this is to delight in Him. (Ps.37:4) B) If we love God, we will want to follow after Him. To be reading the Bible, praying to Him, and meeting with His people. C)Our love faints and fades away if we do not see the One we love. If we love health, we must hate poison. If we love God, we must hate sin. "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love." (John 15:10)

3)Who gives these commandments? "So, you shall keep My commandments and do them, I am the Lord."(Lev.22:31) A) Two things that qualify one to be a law-giver. Wisdom, He is omniscient, all-knowing and all-wise. He must be wise if He is to give laws. Authority, God is omnipotent, all-powerful. He that gives us our lives, has most right to give us our laws. The moral law is not here to justify us, but it is here to instruct us. All that God speaks is worth remembering. The Word says He does not lie. It is a copy of God's will, It shows us what sins to avoid, and what duties to pursue. "But flee from these things, you man of God, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness."(1Tim.6:11)

4)Lastly, what use is it to us to keep these commandments? 1)It is a mirror to show us our sins, to force us to fly to Jesus Christ for forgiveness, to save from future wrath in Hell. Gal. 3:24,"The law is our tutor(schoolmaster) to bring us to Christ, so that we might be justified by faith." The Word is our guide, our road-map, our tutor to lead us all the days of our lives. It is always for our good and also for our survival. They who will not have the Law to rule them, shall never have the gospel to save them. John 15:7,"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." The great reformer John Calvin states, "Of the many excellent recommendations, is there any better than the key principle, Be thou holy, for I am holy." "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Jesus.

Elder Randy Slak