How does Psalm 19 describe God’s Law?
(Ex. 20:1-13; 34:28; Psa. 119:165; James 1:21-25; 2:8-13; Rev. 12:17; 14:12) Blog Oct. 11-17, 2020
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: Through manual employment, governing responsibilities, and divine instruction God educated our first parents. They were given perfect freedom to follow God’s instruction or to choose another course and eat the one forbidden fruit. When they chose disobedience God in mercy provided a Substitute in whom they were given hope of restoration to their original home. It is through loving obedience that true education is received and when it comes from One who provides our every need it should be supremely appreciated.
The Law of God (Ex. 34:28; Deut. 31:24-26; Psa. 19:7-11; 119:77, 165; Acts 15:10; 2 Cor. 3:13; Gal. 3:21-22; Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14-17; Rev. 22:14)
1. What two basic forms of law did God give to Israel? The Ten Commandments & the Law of Moses.
2. According to Acts 15, Ephesians 2, and Colossians 2 are Christians today responsible to keep the Law of Moses? No! That law which Peter called “a yoke” was nailed to Christ’s cross for it was “against us.”
3. How are Christians to use the Law of Moses today? Today Christians are to find principles to apply in their lives from the Law of Moses, just as Paul did in First Corinthians 9:9.
4. What law of God is eternal? The Ten Commandments, written on stone & written on believers’ hearts, & not the Law of Moses which was written in a book & placed on the side, rather than inside the ark.
5. Why should Christians study the Ten Commandments? Because they are a revelation of God’s character & of his will for his creatures. They are the “words” of the everlasting covenant in which is our only hope of salvation, they are the true formula for living, & “in keeping of them there is great reward” & blessing.
6. How does Psalm 19 describe God’s Law? As a perfect means of conversion; as pure, bringing light & rejoicing; as sweet & very valuable for educating & warning us.
7. According to Romans 3:20 what other function do the Ten Commandments have for Christians? They point out our sins.
The Law of Christ (Ex. 20:1-17; John 13:34; 15:12; Gal. 6:2; 1 John 4:21)
8. To what does Paul refer by the term “the law of Christ” in Galatians 6:2? The Law of Christ is the “new commandment” that Jesus gave his disciples, that of loving one another as he had loved them. In other words, it is obedience to the Ten Commandments as exemplified in the life of Jesus who always lifted other’s burdens.
9. What does the preamble to the Ten Commandments teach us? That God is our Lord & Deliverer.
10. What does the first commandment teach us? That God is to have the first place in our lives = loyalty.
11. What does the second commandment teach us? That God is unwilling to share our love, service, or worship of himself with any image or representation for he is not comparable to anything we see = true worship.
12. What does the third commandment teach us? That our service to God is to be whole-hearted = holiness.
13. What does the fourth commandment teach us? That as Creator & sovereign over this world God gives us a special time of communion with him in which we are reminded that he is our Maker & Sovereign.
14. What does the fifth commandment teach us? That respect for human authority results in blessing = honor authority.
15. What does the sixth commandment teach us? That respect for human life is always the will of God.
16. What does the seventh commandment teach us? That marriage is a divine institution uniting only one man with only one woman = purity.
17. What does the eighth commandment teach us? That we are always to respect the property of others.
18. What does the ninth commandment teach us? That our words should always be truthful = truth.
19. What does the tenth commandment teach us? That we should always be content with what God has given us = contentment.
The Law of Liberty (Matt. 5:17; John 8:29; Rom. 2:12-13; James 1:21-25; 2:8-13)
20. What law is James referring to that he calls “the perfect law of liberty” and “the royal law” that brings blessing for obedience? James is referring to the Ten Commandments for he quotes Jesus’ summary of the last six & specifically quotes two of them.
21. To what two kinds of judgment does James refer when the Law in its final function in this life is the basis for judgment? Judgment without mercy & judgment with mercy.
22. Can we be eternally saved by keeping the Ten Commandments? No, for we are fallen in nature & incapable of perfectly keeping them but in their innocence Adam & Eve were capable of keeping the Ten Commandments which in Eden were summarized in “love to God (Sabbath)” & “love to man (marriage).
23. If according to Romans 2:13 God requires obedience to the Ten Commandments in order to be accepted into his kingdom what hope do we as sinners have of being eternally saved? Our only hope is in the mercy of God who provided perfect obedience to his Law in the gift of his Son, which obedience is credited to us when we believe the Gospel.