Lesson No. 12. The Ten Commandments Minus the Sabbath?
  TEXT: Galatians 2:17,18.
  QUESTION: "Did Jesus abolish the Ten Commandments and then reestablish nine of them leaving the Sabbath out in the Gospel Age?"
  ANSWER: No, the law that was abolished is still abolished (Ephesians 2:15). It was taken out of the way and nailed to the Cross (Colossians 2:14). If the Ten Commandments were abolished, then and there all Ten Precepts ended, and not a single one of them remains for Christians to obey. The Sabbath stands or falls with the Ten Commandments. If we admit that nine of those Ten Precepts are still binding upon Christians, then we must admit that they were not abolished and nailed to the Cross.
  Some claim that Jesus abolished all the Ten Commandments at the Cross and then reestablished nine of them in a new Law given this side of the Cross. This claim admits the binding force of nine of the Ten Commandments, but no Bible proof has ever been given that they are part of a new law given this side of the Cross. If such a new Law were given this side of the death of Christ, it would be an easy matter to find the time and place that it was given and also a copy of that Law so that Christians would know definitely what that new Law requires. No such new Law was given by the Lord or His Apostles. It can't be found in the New Scriptures for there was no such Law given. Since there is no new Law given this side of the Cross enforcing obedience to those Nine Precepts, and since it is admitted that they are binding today, there can be only one reason why they are binding; they were never abolished. The Ten Commandments were not nailed to the Cross. If nine of those precepts are binding, then all ten are binding and the Sabbath was not left out (James 2:10-12).

THE ABOLISHED LAW.

  Jesus did abolish a law, but He did not abolish the Ten Commandments. Paul clearly defines the law that was abolished as "even the law of commandments contained in ordinances" (Ephesians 2:15). "The handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us. . ." (Colossians 2:14). Could this description possibly fit the Ten Commandments? Are they contrary to a Christian? For example, "Thou shalt not steal." Is that contrary to you, my Christian friend? There is not one single one of the Ten Commandments that is contrary to a Christian. Read Exodus 20:1-17. Furthermore, Paul describes the law that was contrary to us as "the law of commandments contained in ordinances." The Ten Commandments do not meet this description either, but if you will turn to Hebrews 9:1-10, you will find an explanation of these ordinances given under the Old Covenant. They were "ordinances of divine service" in the Tabernacle. In other words, they were "rites and ceremonies" imposed upon then until the time of reformation (see margin for "ordinances").
  In Galatians 3:10 Paul speaks of the book of the law and in verse 19 he tells us that this book of the law was added because of transgression until the Seed (Christ, verse 16) should come. The book of the law was given by Moses (John 1:17; 2 Chronicles 34:14). The book of the law contained the laws that regulated the offering of animal sacrifices and other rites and ceremonies, all of which foreshadowed the death of Christ on the Cross (Hebrews 10:1-12). When Jesus died on the Cross for our sins, He abolished the law that required those rites and sacrifices because they had served their purpose in pointing men forward to the Cross. It is now contrary to Christians to offer animal sacrifices for sins because Jesus has offered the one Supreme Sacrifice that atoned for the sins of all (Hebrews 2:9).

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS NOT ABOLISHED.

  Jesus did not come to destroy, or abolish, His Father's Law. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, "Think not that I am come to destroy the Law or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill" (Matthew 5:17). This is positive. Jesus did not come to destroy His Father's Law, but some do misunderstand the word "fulfill". Some seem to think that Jesus did away with the Law by fulfilling it. This could not be true, else Jesus would contradict Himself and do the very thing that He said He came not to do. By fulfilling the command "Thou shalt not steal" He did not abolish it, but rather He set us an example of obedience that we are commanded to follow (John 8:12; 15:10). We, too, must fulfill the righteousness of the Law if we are led by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:4). Baptism was administered so that Jesus might set us an example in fulfilling all righteousness (Matthew 3:12-15). Did He abolish all righteousness when He fulfilled it?
  Now back to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:18,19). "Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the Law, till all be fulfilled." Not one letter of God's Law is to pass away until all that His prophets have said has been fulfilled. Verse 19 makes it even plainer when Jesus says, in substance, that we are not to break one of the least Commandments, but that we must do and teach them. The Law that we are to do and teach is identified when He quotes from the Ten Commandments in verses 21 and 27. He strictly enforces obedience to all the Ten Commandments from the heart. Read Matthew 5:21-28 and 1 John 3:15, please.

WAS JESUS A TRANSGRESSOR?

  The doctrine that Jesus abolished all the Ten Commandments and then reestablished nine of them, if true, would make Jesus a transgressor or sinner. For proof, let us read Galatians 2:17,18: "But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor." If Jesus destroyed, or abolished, His Father's Law, the Ten Commandments, and then built again nine-tenths of that same Law, He is a transgressor for He would be building again the very thing that He destroyed. It is a serious matter when our Saviour is accused of being a transgressor. Don't be guilty of that, my friends. Be honest enough to admit that since you know that nine of these Commandments are in force today, they were never abolished. If those nine Commandments were not abolished, then it is true that the Sabbath Commandment was not abolished either, because it is part of the same Law, the Ten Commandments.

ALL TEN COMMANDMENTS IN THE NEW COVENANT . . . OR TESTAMENT

  Did Jesus teach obedience to nine of the Ten Commandments and leave the Sabbath Command out? No, Jesus taught obedience to all Ten Commandments. We will give Bible proof shortly, but we have another question to present, and will answer both together: Where do we find the Law of the New Testament or New Covenant? Was it given before or after the death of Christ? We find the Law of the New Testament in the teachings of Jesus before His death on Calvary. A Law given after His death could not be part of the will, or Testament, that was sealed by His death.
  Paul says that Jesus is Mediator of the New or better Covenant (Testament--see margin. Hebrews 8:6-10). "He is mediator of the New Testament, that by means of death . . . they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance" (Hebrews 9:15-18). "For where a testament is, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator." "For a testament is of force after men are dead." Jesus became surety for the New or better Testament (Hebrews 7:22). A testament is a will. Jesus' death made possible the eternal inheritance that God wills to His children. There are conditions that all have to meet in order to receive this inheritance. Jesus, as Mediator of the New Testament, or Will, gave, or rather made known, the conditions required in order to become an heir and qualify for the eternal inheritance. A testament or will comes into force at the death of the testator, but the testament itself is made by the testator before his death. No changes can be made after the death of the testator. The same is true of the Testament that was ratified by the death of God's Son. That is made plain in Galatians 3:15. Paul, in speaking of the Covenant which Christ sealed by His death, said, "Though it be but a man's covenant, [margin says testament] yet if it be confirmed, no man disanulleth, or addeth thereto." Note that the word "covenant" is used but the margin says "testament." The same is true in Hebrews 8:6. The words are used interchangeably by Paul when speaking of the Old and New Covenants. Each one is both a Testament and a Covenant. Note carefully what Paul says about changing or adding to a will or testament after it has been confirmed. Even a man's testament cannot be changed or added to after being confirmed by his death. That is as much as saying that much more the Testament of God cannot be changed or added to after being confirmed by the death of His Son.
  With these facts before us, we see that Jesus, as Mediator of the New Testament, was duty bound before God to make known all the conditions of inheritance under the New Testament before it was confirmed by His death. Nothing could be added to it after His death. If there were a new Law to define sin, or if there were any changes to be made in the Law that God had given to define sin, Jesus must needs give all such information during His ministry before the Cross. The Law that defines sin under the New Testament must be found in the Gospel that Jesus taught before His death. Again we say that all New Testament requirements are found in the teachings of Jesus before His death. The ordinance of baptism was required and practiced in the ministry of Christ (John 4:1-3). The Lord's Supper was instituted by a command before He died (Luke 22:19,20). The disciples were commanded to teach those who were converted and baptized to "observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:19,20; 24:14). Now we are ready to answer the question.

WHAT IS THE NEW TESTAMENT LAW?

  What Law defines sin under this New Testament? Did Jesus give us a new Law, or did He give us the Ten Commandments minus the Sabbath as so many believe? Jesus did not give us a new Law to define sin in the New Testament. He taught obedience to all the Ten Commandments including the Sabbath. Under the New Testament God promised to write His Law in our hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-33). He did not say that His Son would give us a new Law, but the Father did say, "Also I will make Him my Firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. If his children forsake my law . . . If they break my Statutes, and keep not my Commandments: then will I visit their transgression with the rod . . ." (Psalm 89:27-32). In Isaiah 42:21 we read "He will magnify the Law and make it honorable." Jesus did teach obedience to His Father's Law in its magnified state. We must obey the Ten Commandments from the heart. That perfect Law now condemns the lusts of the heart as sin. If we hate our brother or even our enemy we are guilty of murder before God (Matthew 5:21,22,43-45; 1 John 3:15). The Seventh Commandment condemns lust in the heart as adultery (Matthew 5:27,28). No one can say that Jesus was teaching a new Law in chapter 5 of Matthew. He was teaching obedience to a Law that was well known to the Jews, the Ten Commandments. He was teaching the Ten Commandments as the Law of the New Testament that defines sin. He did not come to change one single word of that perfect Law of God (Matthew 5:17,18).
  In John 8:3-11 we have the account of a woman who had broken the Seventh Commandment and her accusers brought her to Christ to see what His verdict would be as to the penalty. They were tempting Him, trying to find some fault. Moses in the book of the law commanded that such willful transgressors, or sinners, should be stoned to death. This was the penalty in Israel for most willful transgressions of the Ten Commandments. This adulteress would have died without mercy under Moses' ministration (Hebrews 10:28). After telling of the penalty under Moses' law her accusers asked Jesus, "But what sayest Thou?" Jesus rebuked them for their own sins by saying, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." Her accusers, being condemned in their own hearts, departed, and Jesus asked the woman, "Where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?" She said, "No man, Lord." Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." Jesus forgave the sin but He strictly enforced obedience to the Ten Commandments which she had broken, by saying, "Go, and sin no more." That same Command is for all who receive forgiveness of sin (1 John 2:1). Those who are under grace are forbidden to continue transgressing God's Law (Romans 6:1,2,6). The adulteress in John chapter 8 did not transgress a new Law, but she did transgress one of the Ten Commandments. Jesus extended mercy and pardon, but He also commanded obedience to the Law from that time on. This proves again that the Law of the New Testament is the Ten Commandments.
  In ancient Israel, under the Old Covenant, they were required to obey two laws, the Law of God, the Ten Commandments,  and the Law of their mediator, Moses. Read 2 Kings 21:8; Deuteronomy 4:12-14; Exodus 24:1-12; Deuteronomy 28:1-15. Likewise, Christians, under New Testament regulations, are to obey two laws, the Ten Commandments and the Law of our Mediator, Jesus Christ. This fact is given in the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to Him (Revelation 1:1). Let us read from Revelation 12:17: "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the Testimony of Jesus Christ" (Revelation 14:12). "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the Commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." These two texts show that true Christians must keep both the Commandments of God and the Testimony, or Gospel, of Jesus Christ. In fact, the Gospel of Christ enforces obedience to the Ten Commandment Law of the Father.
  Eternal life is a New Testament inheritance, and surely we can't afford to ignore the conditions which Jesus gave in answer to the question, "What good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?" The answer, "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." To identify the code of Law that He referred to, Jesus quoted, in brief, five of the Ten Commandments (Matthew 19:16-20). Thus Jesus taught that one of the New Testament requirements to inherit eternal life is to keep God's Law, the Ten Commandments. Sin is the transgression of that Law (1 John 3:4; Romans 7:7,8). Through faith and obedience to the Gospel we receive forgiveness of sins (Romans 6:17,18). A life of obedience is required thereafter (Phil. 1:12,13).

THE SABBATH INCLUDED . . .

  Although broken many times by professing Christians, nine of the Ten Commandments are acknowledged by most of them as part of the New Testament Law. The Fourth or Sabbath Command is the only one of the entire Law that is repudiated. Is it not strange that Christians believe that they are to obey nine tenths of God's Law, but refuse to obey that one Precept in the same Law? Did Jesus abolish, or change, the Sabbath Commandment? No, Jesus did not abolish the Sabbath, and He did not change the Sabbath Commandment at all. He did teach Christians how to keep the Sabbath day (read Matthew 12:1-12). In these verses Jesus set aside certain traditions about Sabbathkeeping and taught the right way to keep the Sabbath day. He did not change the Sabbath Commandment, but He did teach how to lawfully keep the Sabbath day in this age.
  "It is lawful," means that it is in accord with the Law. Jesus was therefore teaching men how to keep the Sabbath day according to the Commandment. The faithful women that followed the teachings and example of Jesus, "rested the Sabbath day according to the Commandment" (Luke 23:56). It was Jesus' custom to teach in the synagogues on the Sabbath days (Luke 4:16). The Sabbath is the Christian's Lord's Day because Jesus is "Lord even of the Sabbath day" (Matthew 12:8; Luke 6:5; Mark 2:28). Jesus said, "The Sabbath was made for man . . ." (Mark 2:27). It was made and sanctified at Creation for mankind (Genesis 2:1-3). Jesus is our Example for Sabbathkeeping (John 8:12; 1 John 2:6; John 15:10). The Sabbath of the New Testament is the day before the first day of the week (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-3).
  Paul followed the custom of Christ in Sabbath observance (1 Corinthians 11:1). It was His "manner" to reason in the synagogues on the Sabbath days (Acts 17:1,2). At Corinth he reasoned in the synagogue "every Sabbath." He continued there for a year and six months teaching the Word of God to the Jews and Greeks (Acts 18:1-11). Why did Paul have the custom of attending worship on the Sabbath day if the Sabbath had been abolished or changed? He did not shun to declare all the counsel of God (Acts 20:27). If it were the counsel of God for Jesus to change or abolish the Sabbath day, then Paul would have taught the people that the Sabbath had been changed. Not once in the book of Acts was he ever accused of breaking the Sabbath Law, nor did the Jews ever accuse him of teaching the people not to keep the Sabbath. There can be only one answer to these facts. The Sabbath was not changed by the Lord Jesus Christ.