Posts Tagged ‘law’
Like a Child
by David Gibson A couple of 7-year-old girls were talking about parents’ rules. One said to the other, “If they didn’t care about you, they’d let you do anything.” Smart girl! She saw rules as evidence of love, and freedom to “do anything” as a disadvantage. A Healthy Perspective Like children, we grown-ups have Someone…
Read MoreAn Introduction to the Ten Commandments
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/An-Introduction-to-the-Ten-Commandments.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Exodus 20:1-18 I. Thousands of years ago, God gave Israel a law that has impacted the laws of mankind ever since. A. John Adams wrote, “As much as I love, esteem, and admire the Greeks, I believe the Hebrews have done more to enlighten and civilize the world.…
Read MoreBiblical Law
by Lynn Trapp via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 16 No.1, March 31, 1990 For several months now, I have agonized over the question of biblical law. Three factors have led to my consideration of this subject. First, having read Walther Eichrodt’s Old Testament Theology (Vol. 1), I began to perceive that how I had explained the relationship…
Read MoreIs the New Testament a Law?
by Jonathan Perz The Bible is undeniably divided into two key sections—the Old Testament and the New Testament. This division is described in the Bible in various ways, some literally and some figuratively. One such contrast is seen when the Bible refers to the Old Testament as the “Law of Moses” (cf. John 7:23, et…
Read MoreWhat Is the Law?
Original Author Unknown edited by Michael Garrison Have you wondered just what “the law” refers to in the New Testament? It does not always refer to the Ten Commandments. Note the following: Genesis is called the law. Galatians 4:21-23 refers to Genesis 16:15; 21:1-3. Exodus is called the law in Romans 7:7 which refers to…
Read MorePearls from Proverbs: Where There Is No Vision
by Irvin Himmel Guardian of Truth XXXI: 5, p. 134 March 5, 1987 “Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he” (Proverbs 29:18). The first part of this proverb is quoted frequently and pretty generally misapplied. Vision The “vision” under consideration is not an object of imaginative…
Read MoreWhere There Is No Law There Is No Sin
by Terry Wane Benton Some brethren are misusing Romand 5:13 and Romans 4:15 to say there is no law, therefore we can do what we want. That is not the point of these two passages nor any other passage. The point in Romans 5:13 is that there was sin even before the Sinai law was…
Read MoreConcern About Biblical Authority
by Doy Moyer Why be concerned about biblical authority? For this one simple reason: “Your God reigns!” (Isaiah 52:7). If we aren’t concerned about authority, then we place ourselves in God’s position of reigning. It really is just that simple. Jesus is Head (Colossians 1:18). We aren’t. Does stressing authority mean we don’t think grace…
Read MoreTruth and Law
by Terry W. Benton Today there is lawlessness going on at elevated proportions. Even churches that have claimed to be “of Christ” have been divided by a spirit of lawlessness. Some misuse “we are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:15) to give the undiscerning a scripture on which to justify their rebellion against…
Read MoreMy Own Worst Enemy
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/My-Own-Worse-Enemy.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Esther 7 I. There is a phrase popular in our culture, “I have become my own worst enemy.” A. It is the realization that in our struggles against what we perceive as evil or wrong, we end up realizing that we are the source of our greatest problems. B. I have…
Read MoreWhat law was Paul referring to in Romans 3:19-20?
Question: I have a few questions about the Law in the Bible that I hope you can help answer, please. I am looking for specific information or verses and not general information, please. I may have some follow up questions after you reply if I need to clarify my understanding regarding any of your responses…
Read MoreThe Source of Morality
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/The-Source-of-Morality.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 2:12-16 I. Where does the concept of right and wrong come from? A. Why are some things “right” and other things “wrong?” B. Paul points out that the Gentiles were able by nature to know right from wrong – Romans 2:14-15 II. Where morality doesn’t come from A. Some people want to…
Read MoreWhat are we to be obedient to?
Question: What are we being obedient to? Is it the Old Law? Is it God’s commands? What commands does God have? The old testament commands? I know about the plan of salvation and the steps to become a Christian, but where do we find out how to know we are doing the work of God…
Read MoreWorks of the Flesh: “Things Like These”
by Ethan R. Longhenry Having warned them regarding the danger of apostasy in committing themselves to the Law of Moses (cf. Galatians 1:1-5:16), the Apostle Paul reminded the Galatian Christians regarding the conflict between the desires of the flesh and the ways of God in the Spirit and exhorted the Galatian Christians to manifest the…
Read MoreThe Fullness of Time
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/The-Fullness-of-Time.mp3 Download Audio by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text Galatians 3:26-4:7 I. For a plan to succeed there must be preparation A. The plans of the diligent succeed – Proverbs 21:5 1. In part because he isn’t lazy about accomplishing what he plans – Proverbs 13:4 2. The lesson of the ant is that they prepare in advance of…
Read MoreWhich law is the law?
Question: I have a friend who has fallen into the World Mission Society Church of God which is an anti-Christian cult. I have been trying to witness to her and she had presented me with different beliefs that I’m having trouble answering in regards to the law. I was hoping you could help with a…
Read MoreShouldn’t we live by faith and not law?
Question: You said in one of your articles, “He offers forgiveness of sins if a person submits to God’s laws.” What about faith? Shouldn’t we live by faith and not law (Galatians 3:12)? Also, what about Romans 7:1-6? Answer: The requirement for faith is a part of God’s law. “And without faith it is impossible to…
Read MoreThe Mission of Christ
Text: Matthew 5:17-20 I. There is hardly a denomination in existence that does not appeal to the Old Testament for portions of their practices. A. Many of the rituals in the Catholic church find their roots in the Old Testament, such as the burning of incense. B. Protestants are not beyond dipping into the Old Testament. The…
Read MoreIf the Law was abolished, what is written in our hearts?
Question: Good sir, Please, just for clarification, I want to ask: If the law has been abolished, what laws did God promised beforehand that He will write in our hearts? Paul gave us the reason why the law (the Ten Commandments) was weak. He said, “the law was weak in that it was through the flesh.”…
Read MoreThe Nature of Law
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/NatureOfLaw.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Romans 7:1-14 I. Laws can be irritating at times. A. Do this, don’t do that. B. Of course, we never get it right. C. Why do we need laws? II. Law defines right and wrong – Romans 7:7-13 A. The law does not make things right or wrong, it simply states what exists. 1. We…
Read MoreMatthew was written for the Jews, so the law on marriage and divorce only applies to the Jews
Question: I was taught that you have to look at who’s talking and who they are talking to. In Matthew 19, Jesus was talking to the Jews, and the Law of Moses was given to the Jews and not the Gentiles, even though Matthew is a New Testament book, so the law on marriage and…
Read More“May I?” or “Must I?”
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/MayIOrMustI.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Genesis 4:1-12 I. Romans 15:4 A. As we read through our Bibles, it doesn’t take long notice how differently the Old Law is presented in comparison to the New Law. 1. The Old Law contains many regulations that spell out, some times in detail, what a person could and could not do.…
Read MoreYour exposé on the law, commandments, and the covenant is indeed superb
Question: Wow, your exposé on the law, commandments, and covenants is indeed superb. I am blessed and would study it in much depth. Answer: I’m glad you found the information useful for your studies.
Read MoreThe Nature and Character of the New Covenant
by Larry Ray Hafley via Guardian of Truth, May 17, 1984 Noting and quoting Jeremiah 31:31-34, the Hebrew writer (we will assume it was the apostle Paul) said: “Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the…
Read MoreWhy did the perfect God give an imperfect law?
Question: Why did God give men an imperfect law as stated in Hebrews, that is, the Old Law, when God is all perfect? Answer: The Law given to Moses was a good law. “So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Romans 7:12). But there was a flaw…
Read MoreLaw and Legalism
by H. E. Phillips via Guardian of Truth – January 6, 1994 Law is: “A general rule of action or conduct established or enforced by a sovereign authority; as, a law of Caesar; a law of God” (Webster’s Twentieth Century Dictionary, Unabridged). Webster says of legalism: “Close conformity to law.” Law and legalism are not the same.…
Read MorePartiality in the Law
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PartialityInTheLaw.mp3 by Alan Feaster
Read MoreDoes God Require Too Much?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/DoesGodRequireTooMuch.mp3 by Raymond Warfel
Read MoreWhy does James say we will be judged by the law of liberty?
Question: I’m having some difficulties understanding James 2:8-13. When he talks about the royal law in verses 8-11, it clearly refers to some of the ten commandments. But I get confused in verse 12 “So speak and so act, as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty.” How does this verse…
Read MoreIs Christianity Rules or a Relationship?
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/2016Summer3IsChristianityRulesOrARelationship.mp3 by Tommy Peeler God Has a Plan
Read MoreDid Moses write a second book of Law and that was the one taken away?
Question: Greetings my brother, I’m very happy about the website. I have studied a lot from it. I count many subjects that helped me to teach better through your website. Thank you. Regarding the Ten Commandments: There is a claim that the book that stood against them was the one next to the ark of…
Read MoreAre We Under “Law” or “Grace”?
by Wayne Jackson “Why do some insist that Christians are ‘under law’ today? We are not under law, but grace. The law came by Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus (John 1:17).” We must respectfully point out that the question recorded above reflects a serious misunderstanding of the nature of both law and grace.…
Read MoreThe law is perfect, but the covenant was faulty, so they cannot be the same
Question: A quick question on your article Is the covenant different from the Law? If, as Psalm 19 says, “the law of the Lord is perfect,” and the law mentioned there is the same as the covenant mentioned in Hebrews, then why wouldn’t the covenant be faultless (i.e. “perfect”) as opposed to Hebrews 8:7? I believe…
Read MoreCan you calm my fears?
Question: To start it off: I am born half Christian, half Jewish, so my parents never really raised me on religion. We celebrate the holidays of both religions, but I never went to church. I personally do not know what I believe, and honestly speaking, maybe I do believe in God, but I am not…
Read MoreHow could the Gentiles be guilty of sin when they did not have the Law?
Question: I was trying to figure out the comparison (or contrast) between Romans 2:12-16 and Romans 7:7-11 “For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who…
Read MoreA Comparison of Romans 4 and James 2:14-26
by Jim Sasser Recently, we have been listening to a speaker on this radio station discussing the 4th chapter of Romans as compared to the 2nd chapter of James. It was obvious, from some of his statements, that he was trying to make Paul teach salvation by faith only and at the same time cause…
Read MoreThe Purpose of the Old Law
I. As we study the Bible, we learn that God has had three laws in effect at different periods of time – The Patriarchal, The Mosaical, and Christ’s Law. A. Much confusion has arisen because people do not distinguish between these laws B. While the laws are related, because they all derive from the same source, they are…
Read MoreHow many commandments are there now?
Question: How many commandments are there 10 or 9 or 11? Could you please confirm, one way or the other, that in the New Testament there are only nine commandments mentioned as commandments? Is that missing commandment is the fourth original commandment “Keep Holy the Sabbath Day”? So does this mean that in the Old…
Read MoreImagined Sins
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/ImaginedSins.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 30:5-6 I. Certain ideas get repeated in the religious world, often enough that people accept them as truth without stopping to ask if this is really in the Bible or not A. “You are saved by faith alone” – despite James 2:24 B. “Baptism is an outward sign of an…
Read MoreWouldn’t the Jewish Bible, the Torah, be the most accurate since Jesus was Jewish?
Question: Hi, I have a question” I googled “Which Bible is the most accurate?” and I stumbled upon your page. But my question is wouldn’t the Jewish Bible, the Torah, be the most accurate since Jesus was Jewish? Answer: “Torah” refers to the first five books of the Old Testament, which were written by Moses.…
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