Christian2 wrote:The Ten Commandments were given to the Jews.
Are Gentile Christians supposed to follow them?
If so, why?
Thanks.
Answer: Given to the Jews...
Why? God chose a people unto himself who would reveal who he is to the rest of the world as noted in Exodus 19:5,6 - Deut 10:15 -Isaiah 61:6... and they failed due to human sin nature issue witch later Jesus dealt with by the cross, resurrection, and new birth which now includes us as it is written in 1 Peter 2:9.
In other words, the Ten C's were for the whole world for several reasons such as
1-the world does not know God and they are lost without God
2-World is need of reconciliation and restoration back to God's original design for humanity
3-Sin needs to be defined
4-the most important, they reveal that God's love is actually-real. Love fulfills all the law...
Reason 4 is the most misunderstood aspect of the 10 Commandments. The Hebrew word translated as Commandment does not imply simply a ‘do it or else concept’ but rather denotes ‘Learning Responsibility concept.’
These are actually - Ten Responsibilities - on how to live right before God and each other.
God's great love is so idolized into human sentiment that the many in the church have no concept whatsoever of God's love.
Let me attempt to explain: We human beings raise children, we want our kids to grow up to be responsible, productive, knowing right from wrong. So, what do we do?
Do we define our love for our children to let them do whatever they want without limits, without guidance, without instruction, without disciple because love would never dare do that - because to do the opposite involves legalism…
No, most parents do not let their kids eat whatever they want, do whatever they desire, etc. Love first sets rules to teach responsibility that it is wrong to smack your siblings, tell lies, steal, be envious, jump out of a 3rd story window thinking you are super hero who can fly.
Love sets rules and defines what is right and what is wrong - objectively.
God so loved the world... he first set forth a people to shine through and set forth the rules of how to live responsibly before God and each other.
God, because of Love, first sent forth instructions on how to live responsible before Him and others. This defines what wrong and right is. Just like loving parents do to with our own kids - we first teach what? No, Yes, right, wrong...etc and etc. Logically, you got to start someplace.
However over time these responsibilities become weakened because they do not not deal with what is inside the human heart which produces and justifies manifestation of sin - the twisting and warping of love to gets one’s own selfish way.
For that reason, there is a need for an act of love to wake up humanity to what is inside their heart, Jeremiah 17:9,10. That act revealed by the events surrounding the cross, resurrection, and empowering work of the Holy Spirit in the heart brought forth by Jesus Christ. By which we learn what it means to love God and each other internally guided by faith in God's Grace rather than outwardly guided by legalism.
The 10 Responsibilities were first given in love by God like how we do so with our own Children. However, when kids get older responsibility is taught another way by trusting what Jesus accomplished and transformed as it is written in Rom 8:29
Read also: 2Co 3:18 - Eph 1:4 - Eph 4:24 - Php 3:21 - 1 John 2:5,6 -1 John 3:2 and Rev 1:5,6
Hope this helps
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