The Statutes Guard the Ten Commandments

Neh 9:13 Thou camest down also upon mount Sinai, and spakest with them from heaven, and gavest them right judgments, and true laws, good statutes and commandments.

The statutes and judgments–the laws given privately to Moses to guard the ten commandments–and the commandments are all included in the law given from Sinai.

Mat 5:17-19 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Continue reading “The Statutes Guard the Ten Commandments”

God’s Law Includes More Than We Thought

We once thought that the only laws in the Old Testament we needed to keep were the Ten Commandments. But in studying the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy we found out we were wrong. God has many other laws that we are still required to keep as well.

Almost the entire book of Deuteronomy is filled with laws that we are still supposed to obey. These laws were given for our good. Ellen White says they were “not shadowy types to pass away with the death of Christ. They were to be binding upon man in every age as long as time should last. These commands were enforced by the power of the moral law [Ten Commandments], and they clearly and definitely explained that law.” (RH, May 6, 18750, brackets added) Continue reading “God’s Law Includes More Than We Thought”

Simple Explanation of What the Covenant Includes

The Everlasting Covenant was given to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob long before the Children of Israel ever arrived at Mt. Sinai (Gen. 9:16; 17:7; 17:19; Ps. 105:8-10). The conditions of this covenant were known to Adam, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and they obeyed the laws of the covenant and taught them to their children (Gen. 26:5). But when Jacob’s children went to Egypt, they forgot God, and they forgot the laws of His Covenant. So after He had freed them from slavery, He brought them to Mt. Sinai to renew His Covenant with them and remind them of the terms and conditions of His Covenant. These laws He gave at Mt. Sinai were nothing new; He was just reminding them of the things they had forgotten during their time of slavery.
First He gave them the Ten Commandments (called the “Ten Words” in Hebrew) with an audible voice from the top of Mt. Sinai. These “Ten Words” were a summary of all the laws of His Covenant (Ex. 20). But the people were terrified and asked God not to speak to them anymore or they would die (Ex. 20:19). So God spoke the rest of His laws to Moses privately and had Moses write them down in a book and tell them to the people (Ex. 21-23). These other laws which God gave were the detailed descriptions of what the Ten Commandments meant (see PP, ch. 27). Continue reading “Simple Explanation of What the Covenant Includes”

How do the Commandments, Statutes, and Judgments relate to the 144,000?

Fact 1: The Bible and Sister White tell us that the Statutes and Judgments which were given to “explain”, “illustrate”, and “guard” the Ten Commandments are part of God’s Covenant with His people. (PP ch. 27 and Ex. 19-23). We are still under obligation to obey these Statutes and Judgments:

“In the day of judgment we shall be asked whether we have lived in harmony with these specifications.” {AUCR, March 25, 1907 par. 3}

“These statutes were explicitly given to guard the ten commandments. They were not shadowy types to pass away with the death of Christ. They were to be binding upon man in every age as long as time should last. These commands were enforced by the power of the moral law, and they clearly and definitely explained that law.” {RH, May 6, 1875 par. 10} Continue reading “How do the Commandments, Statutes, and Judgments relate to the 144,000?”

The Everlasting Covenant Includes More Than We Once Thought

The Everlasting Covenant:

My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. (Ps 89:28)

He hath remembered his covenant for ever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations. (Ps 105:8)

He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name. (Ps 111:9)

“The salvation of the human race has ever been the object of the councils of heaven. The covenant of mercy was made before the foundation of the world. It has existed from all eternity, and is called the everlasting covenant. So surely as there never was a time when God was not, so surely there never was a moment when it was not the delight of the eternal mind to manifest His grace to humanity.” (ST, June 12, 1901) Continue reading “The Everlasting Covenant Includes More Than We Once Thought”

Deeper Meanings from God’s Laws

Following are some of the deeper meanings in the Laws that God gave to us:

Deut 22:9 Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.

What is seed?
Gen 13:16 And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, [then] shall thy seed also be numbered.

What is mingling?
Gen 6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they [were] fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
Dan 2:43 And whereas thou sawest iron mixed with miry clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men: but they shall not cleave one to another, even as iron is not mixed with clay. Continue reading “Deeper Meanings from God’s Laws”

Comparing Dispensationalism and Evolution

I find it interesting how closely Dispensationalism parallels the Theory of Evolution. Just as Evolution divides the history of the world into epochs, so Dispensationalism divides history into dispensations.

Here is how the story might go……..

“In the early dispensation of Law, there was a primitive race called the Jews. They were at times barbaric, and did not have much knowledge. They had incomplete DNA (just the Old Testament). They had many vestigial organs – Sabbaths, feasts, dietary laws, cleanliness laws, and the like. These vestigial organs were very inconvenient, cumbersome, and made their lives a burden. They spoke a primitive language called Hebrew, and live under a different set of laws. It was a violent era of history and love, mercy, and forgiveness were only vaguely understood. They were like children who had to be “under the law” because they had not yet reached the stage of development necessary to be able to understand the principles of the Gospel. According to some experts, they also lived under a different Covenant – a Covenant of works. Life was a constant struggle to perform all the necessary works. Continue reading “Comparing Dispensationalism and Evolution”

Of Blue Healing Blossoms and Prophets Who Part Water with their Wings

Introduction:

In this study we are going to be looking at some very amazing symbolism in the outer garments worn by people in Bible times, and the tassels attached to them. I have been astounded by the depth of meaning that is to be found in this subject!

As many times happens, I sat down to start writing the study with only a few thoughts to share – thoughts I had gleaned from other people’s writings. But as I began to write, more and more depth of meaning and symbolism began to rush into my mind – ideas that I had never even thought of before! They came to my mind faster than I could write them down. The symbolic meaning of various stories I had never understood before suddenly flashed into my mind. I believe it is the fulfillment of the promise that as we share what we have with others, more will be given to us! So much of what is in this study is just as new to me as it may be to other people. I felt like I was exploring a gold mine, and every corner I turned I found more gold and gems. As I explored I saw more and more tunnels branching off in all directions with gold and precious jewels in them! It seemed like there was no end to it! So if you find wonderful spiritual gems here, don’t think it came from me; it’s as new to me as it is to you! I pray this study will be a great blessing to many! Continue reading “Of Blue Healing Blossoms and Prophets Who Part Water with their Wings”