Before I answer the question, I think I should address the issues of the answer. First, we do not have to follow the old covenant (or testament). It is old and vanishing away, and God has established a new one for us (Hebrews 8:13). If we did have to follow the old covenant, we would have to follow all of the Mosaic Laws, including the ones about forgiveness of uncleanness (Leviticus 15). Second, we are to follow only one of the covenants. If we follow the law of Moses (old covenant) as well as the law of Christ (new covenant), we are in a way of committing spiritual adultery.
You may know the answer already, but before you stop reading, read the whole thing first.
Because the Ten Commandments are part of the old covenant, we should not follow them. This, however, does not justify killing or the like. 1 John 3:15 says, "Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him."
All but one of the Ten Commandments are given in the new covenant, even though they are scattered around and not found together in one book like the Ten Commandments in the old covenant. The one that is not commanded is the fourth: You shall remember the Sabbath and keep it holy. Therefore, we no longer have to do that; that was part of the Mosaic Law.
More information: http://www.wcg.org/lit/law/sabbath/sabbath.htm
http://www.bethelministries.com/ten_commandments.htm
http://www.christiancourier.com/articles/1355-is-the-law-of-moses-torah-still-binding
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Watching What We Say
Almost everyone thinks swearing is wrong, and it is. Ephesians 4:29 says, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." So not only is swearing wrong, but "unwholesome talk" is too.
So what is meant by the phrase unwholesome talk?
For one thing, there are lies. Lies, Paul (the guy who wrote Ephesians) says, are falsehood (Eph. 4:25); and falsehood does not help to build up others. Even if it is a lie used to "help" someone, does it really benefit those who listen?
When you say things out of anger, you are likely not making good judgement about the things you are saying, and after you say them you may wish you could take those words back. "Angry talking" is unwholesome talk; it also does not build up others.
Using God's name in vain, swearing, using vulgar words, and telling dirty jokes are all unwholesome talk (Eph. 5:4).
Paul also talks about when we are not thankful and are complaining and criticizing instead (Eph. 5:4). Then we are letting unwholesome talk come out of our mouths. Who would complaining and criticizing benefit?
Those who are really born again and are renewed in Christ will guard what comes out of their mouths. Because we do not swear does not always mean that what we say is pleasing to God; other things can be just as bad.
So what is meant by the phrase unwholesome talk?
For one thing, there are lies. Lies, Paul (the guy who wrote Ephesians) says, are falsehood (Eph. 4:25); and falsehood does not help to build up others. Even if it is a lie used to "help" someone, does it really benefit those who listen?
When you say things out of anger, you are likely not making good judgement about the things you are saying, and after you say them you may wish you could take those words back. "Angry talking" is unwholesome talk; it also does not build up others.
Using God's name in vain, swearing, using vulgar words, and telling dirty jokes are all unwholesome talk (Eph. 5:4).
Paul also talks about when we are not thankful and are complaining and criticizing instead (Eph. 5:4). Then we are letting unwholesome talk come out of our mouths. Who would complaining and criticizing benefit?
Those who are really born again and are renewed in Christ will guard what comes out of their mouths. Because we do not swear does not always mean that what we say is pleasing to God; other things can be just as bad.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Not Everyone Who Says "Lord, Lord". . .
Why is it that people sing songs about God, and are like, "I love You," "You saved me," and "Help me?" Why would we sing worship songs if we do not do what God says, what He commands us? (What makes us think God should help us if we disobey Him anyway?) Everyone who says, "Lord, Lord" will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Instead, Jesus will say to those who disobey God, " I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers!" (Matt. 7:21-23) Would that not be awful, standing in front of Jesus when we are judged thinking that we are going to Heaven, then getting rejected by Christ Himself?
Why we are separated from God, Who is in Heaven, in the first place is because of sin. So we who sin and will not change our ways will always be separated from God, which means condemnation; not Heaven, but hell.
I think those who still sin, and possibly plan to change their ways later, will wait too long and wish they would have obeyed God when it is too late; then they will know what the place called hell is really like. And they cannot go back, because it lasts forever. However, many people do not seem to take that seriously.
Why we are separated from God, Who is in Heaven, in the first place is because of sin. So we who sin and will not change our ways will always be separated from God, which means condemnation; not Heaven, but hell.
I think those who still sin, and possibly plan to change their ways later, will wait too long and wish they would have obeyed God when it is too late; then they will know what the place called hell is really like. And they cannot go back, because it lasts forever. However, many people do not seem to take that seriously.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Stuck in a Situation
There's another guy at my school whom I talked to- I'll just call him Joe for now. I talked to Joe because I had wanted to, I suppose, show him the way that people really inherit the Kingdom of God (if you've ever seen the TV series Way of the Master, or know what it is, then that's what I did- or tried). He said he was saved already, but I continued with the questions (I think a lot of people who say they're saved aren't). Then the conversation got a bit off subject; he began talking about his encounters with demons. I had learned something more about him.
Yesterday he told me that he had dabbled in witchcraft before he "got saved."
When we were in the gym, he started saying (in different terms) how divinations (seeing into the future- like psychics) can be good. God says that that is an abomination (Lev. 19:26, Deut. 18:9-13), and Joe kept saying something like God gave him those visions.
Another guy sat next to me and asked me if I was friends with Joe. I told him that I wasn't sure, and- I'm not sure. Then Joe began calling me his friend and asked me (for the second time, I think) to go to his church.
I really don't want to, and I feel that I don't want to be his friend either. Maybe I should, but it seems weird I guess. Not something I would want to do.
Yesterday he told me that he had dabbled in witchcraft before he "got saved."
When we were in the gym, he started saying (in different terms) how divinations (seeing into the future- like psychics) can be good. God says that that is an abomination (Lev. 19:26, Deut. 18:9-13), and Joe kept saying something like God gave him those visions.
Another guy sat next to me and asked me if I was friends with Joe. I told him that I wasn't sure, and- I'm not sure. Then Joe began calling me his friend and asked me (for the second time, I think) to go to his church.
I really don't want to, and I feel that I don't want to be his friend either. Maybe I should, but it seems weird I guess. Not something I would want to do.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Just Do It
Stop thinking about it so much and just do it.
There's a guy at my school who seems lonely a lot. Usually I see him walking alone around the campus with his head down. He seemed friendless; I had decided to talk to him, and possibly befriend him if he hadn't had any friends.
I'm really not that good at walking right up to people and saying hi (I should probably work on that), and I think it took me three days to carry out my plan (nevermind, I really need to work on that). But the truth really is it took a while for me to jump off the diving board and into the water; I kept thinking so much about what to do and what to say, and how to do and how to say it, that it took a long time for me to actually do it.
I was in the gym (where we had to go at lunch time) and saw him standing there, alone as usual. I had a good chance to talk to him. I kept thinking about it and thinking about it . . . and thinking about it. I never did talk to him that day.
The next day I was in the gym again, and the guy sat on the floor against the wall. I reminded myself not to judge or make assumptions just because he didn't seem "normal" like the rest of us. It took nearly the whole period before I took the first step of walking towards him. I think by that time he had stood. Then he headed towards the exit, which was away from me. I probably stood there screaming to myself. Why wouldn't I just say, "Hi?"
One morning I finally did it, and I think that's because I told God that I would do it. He was walking around outside. I walked up to him (my heart probably beating like who knows what) and said, "Hi." (Wow, it took me three days.) Then I asked how he was, and his name (he had to tilt his head to hear me- maybe I should carry a megaphone with me). I asked him if he had any friends- his reply was yes. So I said good bye, and he seemed friendly. I felt good after that.
Well, after my life's story (...) I hope you get my point: just do it. There are so many opportunities you can miss by just thinking about something (like I've probably done), and it would be worth it to do it. If it doesn't work the way it was supposed to, maybe you'll learn something new (like I do at times). So go do something that you've been thinking about and feel that you should; it can change someone's life, as well as yours, for the better.
One day at school I felt I could tackle a lot after doing what I had just done (it's another story), so I said hi to the "lonely guy." :) He probably thinks I'm a freak or something now.
There's a guy at my school who seems lonely a lot. Usually I see him walking alone around the campus with his head down. He seemed friendless; I had decided to talk to him, and possibly befriend him if he hadn't had any friends.
I'm really not that good at walking right up to people and saying hi (I should probably work on that), and I think it took me three days to carry out my plan (nevermind, I really need to work on that). But the truth really is it took a while for me to jump off the diving board and into the water; I kept thinking so much about what to do and what to say, and how to do and how to say it, that it took a long time for me to actually do it.
I was in the gym (where we had to go at lunch time) and saw him standing there, alone as usual. I had a good chance to talk to him. I kept thinking about it and thinking about it . . . and thinking about it. I never did talk to him that day.
The next day I was in the gym again, and the guy sat on the floor against the wall. I reminded myself not to judge or make assumptions just because he didn't seem "normal" like the rest of us. It took nearly the whole period before I took the first step of walking towards him. I think by that time he had stood. Then he headed towards the exit, which was away from me. I probably stood there screaming to myself. Why wouldn't I just say, "Hi?"
One morning I finally did it, and I think that's because I told God that I would do it. He was walking around outside. I walked up to him (my heart probably beating like who knows what) and said, "Hi." (Wow, it took me three days.) Then I asked how he was, and his name (he had to tilt his head to hear me- maybe I should carry a megaphone with me). I asked him if he had any friends- his reply was yes. So I said good bye, and he seemed friendly. I felt good after that.
Well, after my life's story (...) I hope you get my point: just do it. There are so many opportunities you can miss by just thinking about something (like I've probably done), and it would be worth it to do it. If it doesn't work the way it was supposed to, maybe you'll learn something new (like I do at times). So go do something that you've been thinking about and feel that you should; it can change someone's life, as well as yours, for the better.
One day at school I felt I could tackle a lot after doing what I had just done (it's another story), so I said hi to the "lonely guy." :) He probably thinks I'm a freak or something now.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Don't Just Speak Out; Be Heard
At my school, we are required to do "Bell Ringers," small assignments we are to do individually when the bell rings. In one of my classes, my teacher might hand some of us a marker to write our answers on the board. One day I was one of those whom she handed a marker. She would call out each number on the board, asking who did it, and for the person who did it to tell what his or her answer is (even though it's on the board). She finally got to the one I did and asked who did it. I said, "I did." But I'm guessing she didn't hear me because she asked again. "I did," I said a little louder. Some of my classmates started saying things like, "Who did it! Stop playing!" What? How could they not hear me? Was my voice that quiet? Well, I gave up saying "I did" and I think she called on someone else to say the answer.
This is what we shouldn't do in life. We shouldn't only speak out about the things that are important to us, that we believe in; we should speak out and be heard too. And if we're not heard the first time, or even the second or third (etc., etc.), we shouldn't give up (like I did ...) to make known what we know.
This is what we shouldn't do in life. We shouldn't only speak out about the things that are important to us, that we believe in; we should speak out and be heard too. And if we're not heard the first time, or even the second or third (etc., etc.), we shouldn't give up (like I did ...) to make known what we know.
Sex Is Not Everything
I sat alone at one of my school picnic tables one day looking through my backpack, when someone sat beside me on top of the table. I did not bother to see who it was and kept looking through my backpack. Then more guys came along and hung around the guy who was there first. They were loud, and they swore. I was probably thinking how rude it was to invade my quietness with their clamor. I thought about what it would be like to ask them to stop swearing; they probably would not hear me (my voice is not always so loud) or they wouldn't care what I said. Of course those were excuses. Then they started talking about sex. Using more vulgar terms, one of them said sex solved everything.
If you think sex solves the need for contracting sexually transmitted diseases, then sure, it solves a lot.
If you think it is a pleasant way to experience a broken relationship, abuse, and guilt, then it is alright, isn't it?
The truth is sex is not a good way to cope with problems in life. Just think about it: when you have a problem and turn to sex for the solution, it's like food: after you're full, you get hungry again. You have to eat again. The same is with sex. When you feel satisfied after "solving your problem" with sex, another problem occurs, and you have to have sex again. A problem with this is that there is always a risk of becoming infected with an STD, something sex is just not worth.
Sex is also addictive. Maybe that's why those guys who sat by me agreed that it solved everything. Or maybe they only agreed because the "cool" guy thought it was good. But if they really agreed, then it only goes back to what I said before: it never fully satisfies you.
I must be sexually pure if I am a true Christian. Fornicators (those who have sex outside of marriage) will not inherit God's Kingdom (go to Heaven- check out Galatians 5:19-21).
There is a better way to solve problems than by having sex. Go to God for help. There's no risk of STDs or emotional abuse by doing that. Actually, God wants you to go to Him for help; we can't stand on our own.
If you think sex solves the need for contracting sexually transmitted diseases, then sure, it solves a lot.
If you think it is a pleasant way to experience a broken relationship, abuse, and guilt, then it is alright, isn't it?
The truth is sex is not a good way to cope with problems in life. Just think about it: when you have a problem and turn to sex for the solution, it's like food: after you're full, you get hungry again. You have to eat again. The same is with sex. When you feel satisfied after "solving your problem" with sex, another problem occurs, and you have to have sex again. A problem with this is that there is always a risk of becoming infected with an STD, something sex is just not worth.
Sex is also addictive. Maybe that's why those guys who sat by me agreed that it solved everything. Or maybe they only agreed because the "cool" guy thought it was good. But if they really agreed, then it only goes back to what I said before: it never fully satisfies you.
I must be sexually pure if I am a true Christian. Fornicators (those who have sex outside of marriage) will not inherit God's Kingdom (go to Heaven- check out Galatians 5:19-21).
There is a better way to solve problems than by having sex. Go to God for help. There's no risk of STDs or emotional abuse by doing that. Actually, God wants you to go to Him for help; we can't stand on our own.
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