Volume 1: The Contrast between good and evil
Nehemiah 8:1-2
And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had commanded to Israel. And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.
Nehemiah 8:8-10
So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the Lord your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the law. Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
The law was read and explained. It was called the word of God and when the people were saddened, perhaps convicted, Ezra encouraged them that the joy of the Lord was their strength.
God’s word stands forever! Scriptures for reference:
- Isaiah 40:8
- Psalm 119:89
- Psalm 119:60
- 1 Peter 1:23-25
The word of God has no expiration date, it is the will of God and it allows us to discern what is good and evil.
(reference Hebrews 5:12-14)
Acts 28:23
And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
Our salvation comes from Jesus Christ. Because of what He did on the cross, we no longer have to sacrifice a four-legged lamb. Since Jesus, the method of salvation has changed but God has not changed His position on His word and commandment.
(reference Romans 6:1)
Romans 7:7
What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
It is important to have the law. It teaches us what sin is. If someone is lost, they need to know what sin is so that they may realize they need salvation.
Romans 7:12
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Matthew 5:17-19
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
God’s commandments are still relevant. He says not one jot or tittle shall pass from the law (His commandments) until all is fulfilled. Our position in the Kingdom of God is based on how we live the word of God and teach others to live it too.
Revelation 12 is a chapter that features the past, present & future all at the same time.
Revelation 12:17
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
We should know the testimony of Jesus AND keep the commandments of God. We shouldn’t have Jesus and ignore the commandments. His word is His word, He has not changed on the position of His word.
There is no other authority that can say what is in God’s will other than the bible.
Leviticus 18:5-23
These verses give us specific instructions not to see anyone naked we are not married to. It begins with the commandment not to look at your kin/family members naked. From adopted siblings, to an aunts and uncles, and to someone else’s husband or wife. Next the verses deal with sexual sin. Before the Lord deals with sexual sin, He Deals with seeing others naked because prior to someone walking in sexual sin, the enemy must first plant an image in their mind as the doorway to sexual sin. Once the image is there, lust will burn until you commit sin. The Lord goes on to command us against sacrificing our babies (abortion) and homosexuality and same sex relations which He calls an abomination. Last, the Lord commands us not to have sex with with animals. It is sad but true that in another nation, the marrying of humans to animals was legalized in 2010.
You don’t stop the acting out until you stop the pouring in! Don’t feed your mind an image that will lead to lust and sin. Cell phones make it easy to see things you’re not supposed to see and when you combine that with a culture that accepts everything and then tells you to have pride in it.
These commandments are not outdated Old Testament scriptures.
New testament scriptures reference:
- Romans 1:26-28
- 1 Corinthians 6:9
- 1 Timothy 1:9-10
Scriptures to reference:
- 1 Corinthians 10:6-8 – examples of those who lived in lust
- 2 Timothy 2:13-14 – last days seducers will only get worse
2 Peter 2:2, 5-9
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly; And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
Love tells the truth and we should learn to discern between good and evil and teach our children how to discern. Whatever goes into our hearts is what comes out of our lives.