What About the Commandments? (Lesson 20) - Bible Basics For Smart People Who Do Not Want To Be Dummies About God and the Bible (Parts I, II, III), written by J. George Cover, former missionary to Sierra Leone, West Africa

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Bible Basics

For Smart People
Who Do Not Want To Be Dummies
About God and the Bible
(Parts I, II, III)
By J. George Cover

Lesson 20 - What About the Commandments? ^{(Text Version)}

Scripture References: 1 John 2:4; Exodus 20:1-20; Isaiah 48:17-18; Revelation 22:14.

A commandment of God is something God has commanded to do or not to do. God's commandments are His laws. "Sin is the transgression of the law" (1 John 3:3).

When we think of commandments, we usually think of the Ten Commandments given by God to Moses as recorded in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 6. There were, however, commandments given by God before and after the Ten Commandments were given. The first commandment was given to Adam and is recorded in Genesis 2:16-17. Adam and Eve broke that commandment and sin entered into mankind and his world.

God's approval and his blessings are upon those who obey His commandments.

"I will make thy (Isaac) seed to multiply as the stars of heaven, and will give unto thy seed all these countries; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept My charge my commandments, My statutes, and My laws" (Genesis 26:4-5).

The commandments of God are not the suggestions of prophets or preachers. God meant what He said.

"Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip.

"For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward;

"How shall we escape... " (Hebrews 2:1-3).

"And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him" (1 John 2:3-4).

"I (God) am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me. And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments" (Exodus 20:5-6).

"Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God" (Deuteronomy 11:24-28).

"All his commandments are sure. They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness" (Psalm 111:7-8).

Keeping God's commandments is man's duty.

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:13 -14).

"His commandments are not grievous" (1 John 5:3).

Most people seem to believe Satan's lie which he told to Eve. He inferred that God was withholding something good from them and was not telling them all the truth and even lying to them,, and that they would not suffer any bad consequence. "Ye shall not surely die. For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil" (Genesis 3:4-5).

"Please tell me more."