The law is useful. It helps non-Christians to see their sin and turn to Christ. It helps us to understand how our societies should live. And it helps us as Christians to live in obedience to God. Today, we will talk about using the law to live as God wants us to live.

Throughout the Bible, we read that the moral law is a delight for Christians, since it helps us to follow our God. However, there are a few verses that seem to say otherwise, like Romans 6:14 and Ephesians 2:14-15. Verses like these have led some people to say that the Ten Commandments should not have impact on how Christians live. If we read these verses in context, however, we can see that they do not teach what some people say they teach. The Romans verse teaches that we are free from the law as a pathway to heaven. The verses in Ephesians teach that we are free from the ceremonial law. These verses do not teach that we are free from the Ten Commandments. Understanding the relationship between the Gospel and the law helps us to live happier, more joyful lives.

International English Central Baptist Church Okinawa Japan Baptist Convention Michael Kessler 10 Commandments
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Exodus 20:12

Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.

あなたの父と母を敬え。これは、あなたの神、主が賜わる地で、あなたが長く生きるためである。

The Fifth Commandment is a commandment that affects all of human society.  Children learn to respect and obey authority figures at home with their parents.  If they fail to learn this useful skill at home, all of society will suffer.  It is essential for children to treat their parents with respect.  They should speak to them in a respectful manner, act respectfully, speak respectfully, and even think of their parents respectfully.  They should obey their parents in everything, except if their parents tell them to do something that is against God’s law.  Parents have great responsibility also.  They must teach their children to be respectful and to obey, and they must teach their children everything that the children need to know about God’s law and about the gospel of Jesus Christ.

“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore theLord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

安息日を覚えて、これを聖とせよ。 9六日のあいだ働いてあなたのすべてのわざをせよ。 10七日目はあなたの神、主の安息であるから、なんのわざをもしてはならない。あなたもあなたのむすこ、娘、しもべ、はしため、家畜、またあなたの門のうちにいる他国の人もそうである。11主は六日のうちに、天と地と海と、その中のすべてのものを造って、七日目に休まれたからである。それで主は安息日を祝福して聖とされた。

What is work? The Bible helps us to understand what we should do and what we shouldn’t do on Sunday.  Sunday is to be a day of rest set aside for worship, so we should not work, nor should we require or encourage others to work.  We should worship and rest, strengthening our bodies and spirits for the other six days of the week.  There are some things that we must do that are necessary for maintaining normal life, but we should prepare for Sunday in such a way that we minimize things other than worship on Sunday.  We should also do merciful things, to display the mercy of God to the world.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates.11 For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Why then the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. 22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.

それでは、律法はなんであるか。それは違反を促すため、あとから加えられたのであって、約束されていた子孫が来るまで存続するだけのものであり、かつ、天使たちをとおし、仲介者の手によって制定されたものにすぎない。 20 仲介者なるものは、一方だけに属する者ではない。しかし、神はひとりである。
21 では、律法は神の約束と相いれないものか。断じてそうではない。もし人を生かす力のある律法が与えられていたとすれば、義はたしかに律法によって実現されたであろう。 22 しかし、約束が、信じる人々にイエス・キリストに対する信仰によって与えられるために、聖書はすべての人を罪の下に閉じ込めたのである。
23 しかし、信仰が現れる前には、わたしたちは律法の下で監視されており、やがて啓示される信仰の時まで閉じ込められていた。 24 このようにして律法は、信仰によって義とされるために、わたしたちをキリストに連れて行く養育掛となったのである。 25 しかし、いったん信仰が現れた以上、わたしたちは、もはや養育掛のもとにはいない。26 あなたがたはみな、キリスト・イエスにある信仰によって、神の子なのである。

Learning about the Ten Commandments makes us realize that we cannot keep the Ten Commandments. We see in these standards the holiness of our God, and the depth of our own sin. The Ten Commandments force us to understand that God cannot accept us just as we are. We need to hear of the promise of God concerning the Savior, Jesus Christ, who forgives people of their sins and makes them perfectly acceptable to God.

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.
それにひれ伏してはならない。それに仕えてはならない。あなたの神、主であるわたしは、ねたむ神であるから、わたしを憎むものは、父の罪を子に報いて、三四代に及ぼし、
Taking “the name of the Lord your God in vain” involves speaking or thinking of him lightly.  God is a great God, who deserves our complete respect and honor and worship.  We cannot take his name lightly.  Certainly, we should not use God’s name in a curse.  Yet, in order to keep this commandment, we need to do more.  We must honor who he is, what he has commanded us to do, and accept his offer of salvation.  We must make sure that our actions glorify him.  And, we must make sure that we show proper honor to the people he has created and not complain about the situations he has put us in.  Use God’s name with great care, making sure that you bring glory to him as you speak of him.

Exodus 20:4 – Summary

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

あなたは自分のために、刻んだ像を造ってはならない。上は天にあるもの、下は地にあるもの、また地の下の水のなかにあるものの、どんな形をも造ってはならない。5それにひれ伏してはならない。それに仕えてはならない。あなたの神、主であるわたしは、ねたむ神であるから、わたしを憎むものは、父の罪を子に報いて、三四代に及ぼし、6わたしを愛し、わたしの戒めを守るものには、恵みを施して、千代に至るであろう。

You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.

あなたは自分のために、刻んだ像を造ってはならない。上は天にあるもの、下は地にあるもの、また地の下の水のなかにあるものの、どんな形をも造ってはならない。5それにひれ伏してはならない。それに仕えてはならない。あなたの神、主であるわたしは、ねたむ神であるから、わたしを憎むものは、父の罪を子に報いて、三四代に及ぼし、6わたしを愛し、わたしの戒めを守るものには、恵みを施して、千代に至るであろう。

Idols are a part of every nation and culture that has ever existed. Not everyone makes idols out of wood or stone, but everyone has a sinful tendency towards idolatry. An idol is anything in creation that functions in the place of the one, true God. There are certain things that only the one, true God can give, if you try to get these things somewhere else, you are worshipping an idol.

Often, we seek to meet our needs in things other than God. In Okinawan society, the need for safety and the need for life is met through the totome. In Western society, the needs for happiness, fulfillment, meaning, and security are met through the idols of money, sex, and human relationships. We are all idolaters, no matter where we were born.

Only Jesus Christ is able to give us the things that we need. He gives us safety, a real relationship, eternal life, and so many other blessings. Through him, we are set free from idolatry to have what will truly make us happy: God himself.

We, as a church, have certain responsibilities to the deacons and to God. We should commit ourselves to being a church of Jesus Christ. This will involve three commitments. First, we should commit ourselves to being a church that has the true teaching of the Bible. That means that every person in the congregation must devote themselves to studying the Bible, so that they will know false teaching when they hear it. Second, we must commit ourselves to the proper administration of baptism and the Lord’s supper. We will try to do the best job we can administering these important signs ordained by Christ. Third, we must commit ourselves to the practice of church discipline. We will love God’s reputation more than the reputation of men, and we will confront sin in our church. Through this, we hope to see the sinner repent and our church maintain holiness before God.

Religious pluralism is the belief that all religions lead to God, and so people in any religion can be saved by God. The first commandment tells us that religious pluralism is not correct. It lets us know that there is one, true God who has revealed himself, and it is only through his revelation that men can be saved. Indeed, salvation comes only through Jesus Christ, and we must know about him and personally trust in him in order to be saved (John 14:6). We must follow the one, true God by following Jesus, and obey the commandments he has given to us.

神はこのすべての言葉を語って言われた。2「わたしはあなたの神、主であって、あなたをエジプトの地、奴隷の家から導き出した者である。

People often think of the Ten Commandments as a list of rules that God uses to ruin people’s fun. Nothing could be further from the truth.The introduction to the Ten Commandments teaches us that God is a gracious God who has given his people wonderful blessings. He has set them free from slavery in Egypt. More than that, he has set them freefrom the slavery of sin. The Ten Commandments are a declaration offreedom, and they provide a guide for living lives of freedom. Goddoes not want his people to live like slaves ever again. If we followthe Ten Commandments, we will have happier, healthier lives.

1イスラエルの人々は、エジプトの地を出て後三月目のその日に、シナイの荒野にはいった。2すなわち彼らはレピデムを出立してシナイの荒野に入り、荒野に宿営した。イスラエルはその所で山の前に宿営した。3さて、モーセが神のもとに登ると、主は山から彼を呼んで言われた、「このように、ヤコブの家に言い、イスラエルの人々に告げなさい、4『あなたがたは、わたしがエジプトびとにした事と、あなたがたを鷲の翼に載せてわたしの所にこさせたことを見た。5それで、もしあなたがたが、まことにわたしの声に聞き従い、わたしの契約を守るならば、あなたがたはすべての民にまさって、わたしの宝となるであろう。全地はわたしの所有だからである。6あなたがたはわたしに対して祭司の国となり、また聖なる民となるであろう』。これがあなたのイスラエルの人々に語るべき言葉である」。

7それでモーセは行って民の長老たちを呼び、主が命じられたこれらの言葉を、すべてその前に述べたので、8民はみな共に答えて言った、「われわれは主が言われたことを、みな行います」。モーセは民の言葉を主に告げた。

9主はモーセに言われた、「見よ、わたしは濃い雲のうちにあって、あなたに臨むであろう。それはわたしがあなたと語るのを民に聞かせて、彼らに長くあなたを信じさせるためである」。モーセは民の言葉を主に告げた。10主はモーセに言われた、「あなたは民のところに行って、きょうとあす、彼らをきよめ、彼らにその衣服を洗わせ、11三日目までに備えさせなさい。三日目に主が、すべての民の目の前で、シナイ山に下るからである。12あなたは民のために、周囲に境を設けて言いなさい、『あなたがたは注意して、山に上らず、また、その境界に触れないようにしなさい。山に触れる者は必ず殺されるであろう。13手をそれに触れてはならない。触れる者は必ず石で打ち殺されるか、射殺されるであろう。獣でも人でも生きることはできない』。ラッパが長く響いた時、彼らは山に登ることができる」と。14そこでモーセは山から民のところに下り、民をきよめた。彼らはその衣服を洗った。15モーセは民に言った、「三日目までに備えをしなさい。女に近づいてはならない」。

16三日目の朝となって、かみなりと、いなずまと厚い雲とが、山の上にあり、ラッパの音が、はなはだ高く響いたので、宿営におる民はみな震えた。17モーセが民を神に会わせるために、宿営から導き出したので、彼らは山のふもとに立った。18シナイ山は全山煙った。主が火のなかにあって、その上に下られたからである。その煙は、かまどの煙のように立ち上り、全山はげしく震えた。19ラッパの音が、いよいよ高くなったとき、モーセは語り、神は、かみなりをもって、彼に答えられた。20主はシナイ山の頂に下られた。そして主がモーセを山の頂に召されたので、モーセは登った。

21主はモーセに言われた、「下って行って民を戒めなさい。民が押し破って、主のところにきて、見ようとし、多くのものが死ぬことのないようにするためである。22主に近づく祭司たちにもまた、その身をきよめさせなさい。主が彼らを打つことのないようにするためである」。23モーセは主に言った、「民はシナイ山に登ることはできないでしょう。あなたがわたしたちを戒めて『山のまわりに境を設け、それをきよめよ』と言われたからです」。24主は彼に言われた、「行け、下れ。そしてあなたはアロンと共に登ってきなさい。ただし、祭司たちと民とが、押し破って主のところに登ることのないようにしなさい。主が彼らを打つことのないようにするためである」。25モーセは民の所に下って行って彼らに告げた。

Before we begin looking at the 10 commandments, it is good to remember
why we need the 10 commandments. We need the 10 commandments because
we are sinners, just like our first parents were. The 10 commandments
remind us of our need for Gods grace.

Genesis 3 tells us about how man was tempted to sin, how he denied his
sin, and how God provided salvation for his sin. Satan enticed man
by tempting him to doubt Gods word through the lust of the flesh, the
lust of sight, and the lust of pride. If we know and trust in Gods
word, it helps us to avoid falling like Adam did. When Adam sinned,
he avoided true repentance by shifting the blame onto Eve. God was
not fooled by his trickery. God then does something unexpected.
Rather than destroying Adam and Eve, he promises to send them a Savior
who will provide a way for their sins to be forgiven

People write books for many different reasons. John wrote his book so that people would be able to know Christ and have eternal life.

John tries to avoid any praise for himself as he writes. He does not even tell us that he is the author of this book. In the book, he refers to himself as “the disciple who Jesus loved.” He gives us a good example. We should all try to get people to praise Jesus, not ourselves.

John tells us that he wrote so that we would know who Jesus is, and so that we would have life through him. Jesus was the promised one, who’s life was prophesied in the Old Testament. He was God and man. Anyone who trusts in him for forgiveness of sin will certainly be given eternal life.

John wants all of us to take the good news of Jesus Christ to the world. John did his part by writing a book about Jesus. It is our responsibility to explain this book to the peoples of the world.

It is good to understand Thomas’ doubt. His doubt was sin, since he
was disobeying one of the commands that Jesus had given him. Jesus
instructs all men everywhere to believe in him. It is difficult to
tell whether or not Thomas was really a Christian before this time,
but we know that the cure for his doubt was to look to Jesus and
believe Jesus’ words.

Jesus was under no obligation to prove himself to Thomas. However,
Jesus is compassionate towards Thomas, and give Thomas the proof he
wants. When Thomas saw the wounds, he learned of the great love of
Jesus, who died in his place. We should think of the love that Jesus
had for us, and praise him.

When Thomas realized that Jesus had fulfilled his promises, Thomas
said, “My Lord and my God!” This personal confession of faith is a
model for all of us. Like Thomas, we should proclaim that Jesus was
indeed God in the flesh, and submit to him ourselves as our Lord.
When we do so, we are blessed beyond our wildest dreams. 十二弟子のひとりで、デドモと呼ばれているトマスは、イエスがこられたとき、彼らと一緒にいなかった。25
ほかの弟子たちが、彼に「わたしたちは主にお目にかかった」と言うと、トマスは彼らに言った、「わたしは、その手に釘あとを見、わたしの指をその釘あとにさし入れ、また、わたしの手をそのわきにさし入れてみなければ、決して信じない」。26
八日ののち、イエスの弟子たちはまた家の内におり、トマスも一緒にいた。戸はみな閉ざされていたが、イエスがはいってこられ、中に立って「安かれ」と言われた。27
それからトマスに言われた、「あなたの指をここにつけて、わたしの手を見なさい。手をのばしてわたしのわきにさし入れてみなさい。信じない者にならないで、信じる者になりなさい」。28
トマスはイエスに答えて言った、「わが主よ、わが神よ」。29
イエスは彼に言われた、「あなたはわたしを見たので信じたのか。見ないで信ずる者は、さいわいである」。

After the resurrection, Jesus appeared to his disciples. In every New
Testament account of his appearance, he commissions his disciples to
carry on the ministry that he began during his time here on earth.
Throughout this age, he continues his work in the world through his
people.

The disciples, and all other Christians, are given a message of peace.
As they have found peace with God, so they must take this message of
peace to other people in the world.

Jesus sends out all of his followers as he had been sent. Just as
Jesus obeyed the Father, so Jesus’ followers are to obey all of his
commands. Jesus was sent from heaven to earth to bring the message of
salvation to men. His followers, though they are no longer a part of
the world in an important sense, are sent back into the world to bring
it the message of salvation. Jesus, the Son of God, had the fullness
of the Holy Spirit resting upon him throughout his ministry.
Likewise, the followers of Jesus are called the children of God, and
they have the Holy Spirit living within them. The picture is one in
which Jesus sends his followers as his representatives to a lost
world.

Should a Christian fast? Yes. Jesus said, “When you fast” (Matthew
6:17), not “if you fast.”

Are there physical dangers associated with fasting? Yes. You should
consult your doctor, particularly with a long-term fast.

Are there spiritual dangers associated with fasting? Yes! Some of these are:

1. Pride
Jesus said, “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the
hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be
seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward.
17 But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 that
your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in
secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matt
6:16-17)

2. Grumpiness
“Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight and to hit with a
wicked fist.” (Isaiah 58:4)

3. Trying to manipulate God
Some people think that they can fast to make God do what they want him
to do. God cannot be manipulated.

4. Temptation
Speaking about Jesus: “after fasting forty days and forty nights, he
was hungry.3 And the tempter came and said to him” (Matt 4:2-3)
Satan is not a dummy. He attacked Jesus when Jesus was weakest.

What are some of the benefits of fasting?

1. We are better able to stand up to temptation.
- Speaking about Jesus: “we do not have a high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been
tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Heb 4:15)
- Jesus never sinned, but fasting was one of the ways in which he
stood up to the Devil.

2. Fasting is used by God to change history
- Moses fasted: “So he was there with the Lord forty days and forty
nights. He neither ate bread nor drank water. And he wrote on the
tablets the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.” (Exodus
34:28)
- Esther fasted: “If you keep silent at this time, relief and
deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and
your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not
come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” 15 Then Esther told them
to reply to Mordecai, 16 “Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa,
and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days,
night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I
will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I
perish.” 17 Mordecai then went away and did everything as Esther had
ordered him.” (Esther 4:14-17)
- The early church fasted: “While they were worshiping the Lord and
fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for
the work to which I have called them.” 3 Then after fasting and
praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.” (Acts
13:2-3)
- And of course, the Son of God fasted

3. the ability to put lesser pleasures in their place
God is better than any of his gifts. Fasting helps us to appreciate
God more than stuff.

How do I fast?
- What to expect physically
- What to seek
- What to pray for
- What to expect spiritually

The story of Mary’s love for Jesus began long before the crucifixion.
Jesus had worked a remarkable act of grace in her life, saving her
from seven demons that controlled her. It is true that those who have
been saved from something terrible will often have a great love for
the person that saved them. Mary had this sort of a love. She helped
to support Jesus’ ministry financially, she was there at the cross
when he died, and she put spices on the grave later on. She loved her
savior more than life itself.

Jesus rewarded Mary’s love for him in several ways. All of Jesus’
followers were upset because of his death, but Mary was the first to
be reassured that her fears were needless. From this, we learn that
our fears are often needless as well.

Jesus rewarded Mary by reminding her that he was God as well as man,
and that he would soon ascend to be with God the Father. There, he
would make sure that she would have a home in heaven (John 14:2), send
the Holy Spirit (John 16:7), and ultimately return to earth again to
raise the dead (John 14:3). He will do the same for all of us who
love him as well.

Jesus rewarded Mary by his kind and gracious words. Though she had
doubted him, he lifted her up again and did not judge her for her
sins. He sent her to go and tell the disciples (who had doubted him
as well) about his resurrection, so that they would be encouraged. By
his death, he is able to forgive the sins of all who love him.

The passage focuses on two of Jesus’ followers, Peter and John.
They ran to the tomb and saw the traditional linen cloths and spices
laying there, but there was no body.  Gradually, the light finally
dawned on John: His master had risen from the dead.  His life was
changed, and your life will be changed if you can understand what he
understood.

The resurrection is important to our faith, because it assures us
that our Savior has conquered sin and death in our behalf.  It is
important to our witness to others, because it allows us to tell the
world that Jesus has proven that he is able to give eternal life.  No
other religion can say this.  It is also important to our hope, since
we know that we will be raised like he was raised.

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), “I thirst.”
29 A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. 30When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Jesus’ trial was not a search for truth and justice, but it was a
quest for power. Legal requirements were ignored. Both the trial
before the High Priest and the trial before Pilate revealed no
wrongdoing on the part of Jesus.

Yet, this travesty of justice was a necessary for us to be saved. He
was the righteous one who stood in the place of unrighteous men.
Peter tells us, “Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for
the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in
the flesh but made alive in the spirit.” (1 Peter 3:18). He became a
curse for us, so that we could escape the curse of death. This is the
truth that Pilate rejected.

Jesus’ earthly work is coming to a close, but the work of the disciples has just begun.  In order for them to be successful in this work, they must continue to remain in Jesus by remaining in his word.  Yet, to the extent that they do so, the rebellious world will surely hate them.  They may be tempted to reject Jesus, or make compromises with the world, or to withdraw from the world altogether, but taking any of these options would be sin.  If they did any of these things, they would cease to be the witnesses that they need to be.

Jesus prays that the disciples would be set apart for God’s service.  Specifically, he is setting them apart as witnesses to a lost world, though this calling will involve unpleasant consequences.  Just as he is set apart for pain and suffering, so they shall be also.