Why did God give us laws / commandments (i.e., the ten commandments - Exodus 20:1-17, John 13:34)?
This is a VERY IMPORTANT question. Why? Among many reasons:- (1) Because of the laws, many will go to Hell (i.e., Revelation 21:8, etc), (2) Law distinguishes what is Christ-like and what is not (this is very important as we are all called to be Christ-like).
First of all, remember laws and commandments are all about loving God with all you have and loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40). To LOVE LIKE THAT is to be Christ-like. Since God calls us to be Christ-like (precisely the human Christ), he gave us laws and commandments to distinguish which actions are Christ-like and what are not.
Some Frequently Raised Objections
Yea, there are many who reject God saying they do not want anyone to tell them what is right and is wrong. They want to have full control of their lives and do whatever they want. Well this kind of lifestyle is anyways not possible. At home, at work, I am sure you have many "dos" and "dont's". Why? For instance, you would agree that to maintain order in a community, we at the very least need rules and regulations, right?
Also God has made us and he knows us infinitely better than we know ourselves. He also loves us infinitely more than anyone else. So I would trust His ways, for my life, over my ways! God gave us laws because He loves us and cares about us. God's laws and commandments are for our good, as they are purely about love (i.e., Matthew 22:37-40). If you find a way of life, better than one defined by God's laws and commandments, let me know! (Yea there are many practiced & believed "ways of life" in this world. Some are 'OK' with even eating other humans - In this world, it can get very confusing trying to figure out what is right and what is wrong. Thankfully we have God's laws that help us differentiate between right and wrong). On this note, recall Deuteronomy 4:6:- "Observe them (God's laws and decrees) carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people'."
Indeed at times God's commandments seem very hard or even impossible to follow. Such as:- (1) "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me" (Deuteronomy 5:7; meaning, we are to surrender our whole life to God), (2) When Jesus asked the rich young ruler (of
Mark 10:17-27) - "sell all you possess and give to the poor,", he "ran away"!
One may think that God's commandments are quite "stifling of life" - And that is SO WRONG! God wants to liberate us, to the fullest extent, and not choke us! Jesus says in Matthew 10:39 "Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest".
Also, indeed, we cannot follow God's commands on our own strength. People who fled from Jesus, such as the rich young ruler (of Mark 10:17-27) and the disciples of John 6:66 thought that they had to follow Jesus on their own strength. On Peter's request, Jesus clarified that one has to rely on God's strength, and not on one's own strength, to follow Him into eternal life (Mark 10:26-27).
This is a VERY IMPORTANT question. Why? Among many reasons:- (1) Because of the laws, many will go to Hell (i.e., Revelation 21:8, etc), (2) Law distinguishes what is Christ-like and what is not (this is very important as we are all called to be Christ-like).
First of all, remember laws and commandments are all about loving God with all you have and loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-40). To LOVE LIKE THAT is to be Christ-like. Since God calls us to be Christ-like (precisely the human Christ), he gave us laws and commandments to distinguish which actions are Christ-like and what are not.
Some Frequently Raised Objections
- "Who is this God to tell me what is right and what is wrong?"
Yea, there are many who reject God saying they do not want anyone to tell them what is right and is wrong. They want to have full control of their lives and do whatever they want. Well this kind of lifestyle is anyways not possible. At home, at work, I am sure you have many "dos" and "dont's". Why? For instance, you would agree that to maintain order in a community, we at the very least need rules and regulations, right?
Also God has made us and he knows us infinitely better than we know ourselves. He also loves us infinitely more than anyone else. So I would trust His ways, for my life, over my ways! God gave us laws because He loves us and cares about us. God's laws and commandments are for our good, as they are purely about love (i.e., Matthew 22:37-40). If you find a way of life, better than one defined by God's laws and commandments, let me know! (Yea there are many practiced & believed "ways of life" in this world. Some are 'OK' with even eating other humans - In this world, it can get very confusing trying to figure out what is right and what is wrong. Thankfully we have God's laws that help us differentiate between right and wrong). On this note, recall Deuteronomy 4:6:- "Observe them (God's laws and decrees) carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, 'Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people'."
- "I cannot follow God as His commandments / teachings seem very hard"
Indeed at times God's commandments seem very hard or even impossible to follow. Such as:- (1) "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me" (Deuteronomy 5:7; meaning, we are to surrender our whole life to God), (2) When Jesus asked the rich young ruler (of
Mark 10:17-27) - "sell all you possess and give to the poor,", he "ran away"!
One may think that God's commandments are quite "stifling of life" - And that is SO WRONG! God wants to liberate us, to the fullest extent, and not choke us! Jesus says in Matthew 10:39 "Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." In Matthew 11:28, Jesus said - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest".
Also, indeed, we cannot follow God's commands on our own strength. People who fled from Jesus, such as the rich young ruler (of Mark 10:17-27) and the disciples of John 6:66 thought that they had to follow Jesus on their own strength. On Peter's request, Jesus clarified that one has to rely on God's strength, and not on one's own strength, to follow Him into eternal life (Mark 10:26-27).
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