Lesson No. 2. God's Perfect Law of Liberty for All Mankind
  Our questions are 1. Why do you speak of the Ten Commandments as a perfect Law for all men?
2. Do you have Bible proof for that statement? 3. Do you really believe that God's Law is perfect and that man's disobedience to that Law is the cause of our troubles on earth today?
  ANSWER NO. 1: We believe that the Ten Commandments is a perfect Law for all mankind because it condemns sin for both Jews and Gentiles and the Lord God calls it a perfect Law.
  Answer No. 2: We have abundant proof that the Ten Commandments is a perfect Law and that it is as good for the Gentiles as it is for the Jews. There is Bible proof which we will give in this lesson.
  Answer No. 3: I do believe that the Ten Commandments is a perfect set of laws to regulate man's conduct and that our troubles in this old world come as a result of man's wholesale disobedience of that perfect Law as taught by Jesus Christ. It follows, therefore, that the cure for our world-wide, national, social and economic ills is a return to whole-hearted obedience to that perfect Law. Sin is destructive. "Sin is the transgression of the Law" (1 John 3:4). "By the Law is the knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20). The Ten Commandments were given to give a knowledge of sin. Paul reveals that fact in Romans 7:7.
  The Law of God is not sin, but it gives a knowledge of sin, because sin is the transgression of  that Law. This same Law, Paul says, is "holy" and it is just and good (Romans 7:12). By it sin becomes exceeding sinful (verse 13).
  John says, "All unrighteousness is sin" (1 John 5:17). There is no unrighteousness but which in some way transgresses this perfect Law of God.
  God gives a beautiful word picture of how perfect God's Law is in Psalm 19:1-7. David uses six verses to describe the glories of the heavens and how they declare the glory of God in that everything in the heavens is orderly, regulated by God's law of nature,  for those heavenly bodies all stay in their places as God ordained. There is a time and a place for each and all in the heavens. David gives a vivid picture in those first six verses. "The Law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul." In short, David is saying in these seven verses, that God has a perfect law in the heavens to regulate the heavenly bodies and that He has just as perfect a Law to regulate man's conduct here on this earth. That is only reasonable, my dear friends. If God gave a perfect law to keep the heavenly bodies in order, He most certainly did not neglect to give man a perfect Law to regulate our conduct so that we can have peace and harmony here on this earth.
  The heavenly bodies have no power of choice since they are inanimate, but we human beings do have the power of choice. We can either choose to obey or to disobey the Law of God. To obey means life, but to disobey means death (Deuteronomy 30:15,19).
  Father Adam disobeyed God, and death entered this world because of sin (Romans 5:12; Genesis 3). Sin not only brings eternal death, but it also places man out of harmony with his Creator and brings discord and trouble among men, because peace and harmony among men can only be had by obedience to God's perfect Law of conduct.
  James calls the Ten Commandments (James 2:10-12), "the perfect Law of Liberty" (James 1:23-25). If all men would obey from the heart this perfect Law, all would have liberty--all would be secure--there would be peace on earth.
  God's Law hangs upon two Great Commandments of Love. This was true in the so-called Old Testament (Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18). It is also true in the Gospel Age (see Matthew 22:36-40). These two Great Commandments are to love God with all our heart and to love our neighbor as ourselves, and on these two Commandments hang all the Law and the prophets. Paul says that love works no ill to his neighbor, "therefore love is the fulfilling of the Law" (Romans 13:8-10). Now, these two Great Commandments do not annul, or make void, God's Law, but love is the fulfilling of God's perfect Law.
  One of the holy precepts in God's perfect Law says, "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13). Jesus taught obedience to that Law from the heart (Matthew 5:20-23). John said, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer" (1 John 3:15). From this we see that God's perfect Law now condemns hatred as sin. Before God, hatred is now the same as murder and condemned as sin, and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Here is an example of how God's Law is indeed a perfect Law to regulate the conduct of all men (Isaiah 42:21).
  To obey the Sixth Commandment we must remove hatred in all of its forms from our minds. Suppose that all hatred were removed from all peoples of the earth today. What would be the results among the nations, in the churches and in the homes? Take all national, political, religious and racial hatred and prejudice out of men's hearts and then remove grudges from each person and there would be perfect harmony in so many, many places today. Much of earth's sorrow would be removed for the very cause of it would be removed by a return to full obedience to that one holy Precept of God's Law. Hatred must be replaced by love in order to fully obey God's will. This love is given by God's Holy Spirit after we obey the Gospel of Christ (Romans 5:5; 6:17,18).
  Is this Law against murder, including hatred, given only to the Jews, or is it for the Gentiles too? You know that it is just as much a sin for the Gentile to hate as it is for the Jew. This Law is a just rule of conduct for all men.
  The Ten Commandments were never intended to be just a national Law for Israel. They were God's Law for man long before Moses' day, and through Israel God planned to teach the Gentile nations to love the only true God and to keep His perfect Law which condemns sin in the Gentiles as well as the Jews (Romans 3:9,19,20).
  First, I want to give proof that although the Ten Commandments were first written at Mt. Sinai in the days of Moses, those Ten Precepts had been God's Law from the days of the Garden of Eden, and condemned sin and sinners.
  First, we will let Paul speak on this topic. "Where no Law is, there is no transgression" (Romans 4:15). "Sin is the transgression of the Law" (1 John 3:4). From this testimony from Paul and John, we must conclude that where there is sin, there must be a Law of God that is being transgressed, for where no Law is, there is no transgression. Sin entered this world in the days of Father Adam (Romans 5:12).
  The flood was sent to destroy a wicked race in the days of Noah (Genesis 6:5-12). Man had corrupted his way. Noah was a just man and was saved with his family because he was righteous. This is proof that God had a Law at that time, else there would have been no sin to condemn."
  In the days of Abraham God destroyed Sodom because their "sin" was very grievous (Genesis 18:20-23,19).
  We are told that Abraham did keep God's Statutes, "Because that Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My Commandments, My Statutes, and My Laws" (Genesis 26:5). Yes, God did have Statutes to regulate man's conduct in the days of Abraham, who was born 292 years after the flood and 58 years before Noah died. Noah lives 350 years after the flood and died. Peter says that Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5). Where did Abraham and the people this side of the flood learn of God's Law? It was evidently from the teachings of Noah.
  What Law did Abraham obey? That is a good question. Paul says, "We have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin" (Romans 3:9). "Now we know that what things soever the Law saith, it saith to them who are under the Law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world become guilty before God" (verse 19). Here Paul makes it plain that the whole world is guilty before God, condemned by one and the same Law. That being true, Noah and Abraham obeyed the Ten Commandments, the same Law, that now condemns sin.
  We have further proof that Abraham obeyed the same perfect Law that Israel was commanded to keep in John 8:39-41. Jesus told certain Jews, "If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. But now ye seek to kill Me, a man that hath told you the truth . . .this did not Abraham." No one can help seeing that the same Law must rule both Abraham and his children, according to these words of Jesus Christ, and all who accept Christ are now children of Abraham (Galatians 3:28,29). In order to be children of Abraham, we must "walk in the steps of that faith of our Father Abraham, which he had yet uncircumcised" (Romans 4:11,12). If we are to walk in the steps of Father Abraham and we are told that Abraham obeyed God's Laws, it is evident that there is one perfect Law for all to obey.
  God did not give Israel a new Law when He declared the Ten Commandments. All of those holy Precepts were recognized as God's Statutes to regulate man's conduct from the days of Adam in the Garden of Eden. A study of the Book of Genesis and the first 16 chapters of Exodus will reveal that fact.
  Cain slew his brother, Abel--a plain case of murder. Was it wrong at that time? Did God condemn Cain for this? Was it a sin? It was a sin. God placed a curse upon Cain because of that very thing. Why did He rebuke Cain if there were no Law against taking human life? Read Genesis chapter 4. This shows that from the beginning the command of God, "Thou shalt not kill," was in force to safeguard human life. It has always been wrong to take human life.
  Marriage is a divine institution from the beginning, and the Precept "Thou shalt not commit adultery" was given to safeguard this institution. This is recognized throughout the Book of Genesis. Read chapter 20. Another example is found in chapter 34. Jesus also (Matthew 19:1-10).
  Lying was also recognized as sin (see Genesis 29:21-25).
  Stealing was a sin in those days and so was idolatry. In fact, it has always been wrong to do anything forbidden in the Ten Commandments, which was God's Law even before it was written on tables of stone.
  In Exodus chapter 16, before Israel had reached Mt. Sinai, God said, "Behold I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall gather a certain rate every day, that I may prove them, whether they will walk in My Law or no" (verse 4). God had a Law at the time He said these words, and this was before the Law was declared from Mt. Sinai. The same Law that was afterward declared to Israel from Sinai was the law that already existed, and God calls it, "My Law" in this sixteenth chapter.
  God tested Israel to see if they would obey His Law and the test was made on one Precept. God rained bread from heaven each day for six days, but on the seventh, which was and is the Sabbath day, there was none. Israel was told to gather twice as much on the sixth day because no manna would be rained on the Sabbath day. However, some did go out on the Sabbath to gather and they found none. God rebuked them saying, "How long refuse ye to keep my Commandments and my Laws?" (verse 28).
  Here we have positive proof that God's Law was in force before it was declared from Mt. Sinai, and that the seventh-day Sabbath was a part of it. Israel was tested on that very Precept.
  Most people will agree that the other nine Precepts were probably in force before the Law was declared from Mt. Sinai, but there is strong opposition to the Sabbath Commandment. People have been taught that it was given to Israel only, and it was not for other peoples to keep before the covenant at Mt. Sinai, nor after the coming of Christ.
  It is strange indeed that men will overlook the fact that the Sabbath was sanctified, or set apart, as a holy day in the beginning as a memorial of God as the Creator. Read Genesis 2:1-3. In Exodus 16:26, the seventh day is called, "the Sabbath." The very Fouth Commandment itself shows that the seventh-day was blessed and sanctified at the end of Creation Week (Exodus 20:8-11).
  Jesus Himself said, "The Sabbath was made for man" (Mark 2:27). Man needs the Sabbath as well as the other nine Precepts. It was made for man and one Precept in God's perfect Law of Liberty commands us to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. The Sabbath stands or falls with the Ten Commandments. If nine of those Precepts are binding upon men, then all ten are binding. If the Sabbath were abolished, so were the other nine Commandments in the same Law. God's Law is a perfect Law and man cannot cut one Precept out of that perfect Law. The Law could not be perfect with one Commandment gone.
  The Oracles of God were committed into the hands of Israel (Romans 3:1,2) that they might be a light to the Gentiles and teach them God's Laws. Solomon understood this fact, and it is revealed in his prayer of dedication in 1 Kings chapter 8. Solomon dedicated the Temple at Jerusalem. He prayed for the strangers, or Gentiles, thus, "Moreover concerning a stranger, that is not of Thy people Israel, but cometh out of a far country for Thy name's sake; (For they shall hear of Thy great name . . .) when he shall come and pray toward this House; Hear Thou in Heaven . . .: that all people of the earth may know Thy name, to fear Thee, as do Thy people Israel . . ." (1 Kings 8:41-43).
  This is plain. Solomon knew that in God's plan for Israel other nations--yes, all peoples of the earth--were to know the true God and serve Him as did Israel. Israel had one Law for Israelites and Gentiles that sojourned with them (Numbers 15:16).
  In closing, I would like to say that Jesus is the perfect example of holy living. He kept His Father's Commandments (John 15:10). He did no sin (1 Peter 2:22), and He left us an example that we should follow His steps (1 Peter 2:21). Even Pilate said, "I find no fault in Him." Jesus kept God's perfect Law and His life and teachings give us the remedy for all of earth's sorrows. Read Matthew 19:1-9 where Jesus taught about marriage and the sin of adultery. Jesus taught that marriage is a sacred bond and that lust itself is sin (Matthew 5:27,28). Oh how much sorrow and trouble would be removed if all men would obey that Precept, "Thou shalt not commit adultery," in the way that Jesus taught! I cite this as another example of how God's Law is a perfect Rule of Conduct for all men.
  "Thou shalt not steal" and "Thou shalt not covet" are two Precepts in God's perfect Law that cover a lot of our business and social activities. While protecting the right to private property, selfishness is strictly condemned. Selfishness is at the bottom of most of man's troubles. Instead of coveting what our neighbor has, we are commanded to love him as ourselves. Paul says this love works no ill to his neighbor (Romans 13:8-10). Can we love our neighbors as ourselves and seek to profit from their misfortunes?
  God doesn't have a double standard. The rich and the poor are measured by the same perfect Law of Liberty. If a man's business practices bring hardships upon his neighbors, while laying up wealth for himself, he is guilty of violating that perfect Law of God. Every Precept of God's Law must be obeyed if we are to have God's blessing here and hereafter.
  When dealing with marriage, Jesus went beyond Moses' day--He went back to the original Law given at "the beginning" (Matthew 19:1-10). Marriage is a sacred institution given at Creation, and God's divine Laws concerning marriage and the home originated then. A perfect Law was given then to regulate man's conduct. The Sabbath originated at Creation too, and God's Law concerning the Sabbath was given then. Jesus referred to this when He said, "The Sabbath was made for man . . ." (Mark 2:27).
  To Israel God only gave in written form His perfect Law that had been in force since the creation of man. It has always been wrong for man to violate any of these Ten Commandments: marriage, the home and the holy Sabbath day all originated at Creation--before sin entered this world. The Laws concerning all these sacred institutions were given man at that time. Man did not spend 2,500 years on earth without a divine Moral Code.