God’S Law

Copyright © 2011 Captain Sonny Paago

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ISBN: 978-1-4497-3437-4 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-3438-1 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4497-3436-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011963618

WestBow Press rev. date: 05/07/2012

Contents

Introduction

Special Introduction From the President of IKAT School 

 of Theology, Pastor Dr. Jimmy M. R. Lumintang, MA, 

 MBA, MTh

Remarks of the Director General, Christian Community 

 Guidance, Ministry of Religion of the Republic of 

 Indonesia Dr. Jason Lase, S.Th.M.Si

A Foreword from the Chairman of the Communion of 

 Churches in Indonesia, Pastor Dr. A. A. Yewangoe

Second Edition Introduction Founder and 

 Chairman, Indonesian Missionary Fellowship Pastor 

 Dr. Petrus Octavianus, DD, PhD

Chapter

1.   The Love of God

2.   The Law

3.   The Moral Law

4.   The Ceremonial Laws

5.   The Civil Law

6.   The Law of Love

Conclusion

Author’s Biography

Appendices

Electronic Sources

Endnotes

List of Tables

Table 1:   Division of the Ten Commandments

Table 2:   Sin Offering

Table 3:   Passover Activities

Table 4:   Passover and the Lord’s Supper Compared

Table 5:   Offerings During the Feast of Tabernacles

Table 6:   The Festivals or Feasts (Jewish Sabbaths) Celebrated in the Early Part of the Jewish Calendar and Fulfilled at the First Coming of Jesus

Table 7:   The Festivals or Feasts (Jewish Sabbaths) Celebrated in the Latter Part of the Jewish Calendar and Fulfilled around the Second Coming of Jesus

Introduction

All the gratitudes are offered by the author to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Creator of the heavens and earth and all the things in it, the Redeemer of all sinners, and the one who sustains the life of every person who believes in Him for the opportunity that He gave to complete this book.

This book is focused on the understanding of God’s law, which He gave to the children of Israel and which He Himself has written on the two tablets of stone but has been perverted by the scribes. However, it was straightened by Jesus Christ in His teachings and prayer and in His dialogues with the Jewish leaders.

May this book be a benefit to every reader who will surely be led by the Holy Spirit to obey what the Lord has commanded and will not be confused by human teachings which have many times been perverted from the Word of the Lord.

On this occasion, the author would like to extend his gratitude to several parties who have been of great help in the Straight Path Fellowship Ministry, specially to the pastors: Alex Hendriks, Timotius Bakti Sarono, Imanuel Ethan Pangaibali, and the other brethren whose names are not mentioned here. May the Lord bless all of you who are in the ministry to the Lord Jesus Christ. Special thanks from the author goes to Dr. Wempie J. Lintuuran, who despite his activities as the Coordinator of the Straight Path Fellowship Ministry, has spent his valuable times in preparing the manuscript for this second edition.

Finally, the feedback in the form of suggestions and recommendations which are sent by the readers through e-mail to sonnypaago@yahoo.co.id would be greatly appreciated by the author. If you, after reading this book, are impressed by the whispering voice of the Holy Spirit to graciously stretch your hand to help the Straight Path Fellowship Ministry, send your gift of love to Yayasan Persahabatan Jalan Lurus (Straight Path Fellowship Ministry). May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you.

Jakarta, June 16, 2010

Dr. Capt. Sonny Paago, M.Mar.

Special Introduction 

From the President of 

 IKAT School of Theology 

 Jakarta, Indonesia

President of the Institut Keguruan Alkitab dan Teologi/Sekolah Tinggi Teologia IKAT (IKAT School of Theology) gladly presents this actual response in connection with the publication of the book entitled God’s Law by Dr. Capt. Sonny Paago, D. Min.

Doctor Sonny Paago is one of the best alumi of the graduate program of the IKAT School of Theology who graduated in 2009 after successfully defending his dissertation project titled, The Relevance of the Ten Commandments in Pastoral Counseling. This book is an elaboration of the dissertation of Dr. Sonny Paago.

I recommend this book to be read by every student studying theology—especially theology students of IKAT School of Theology. This book will be of great help in broadening the horizon of the servants of the Lord in understanding the Word of God, especially the part of the Word that has to do with the law of God which was given through Moses and the ones presented by Jesus Christ in His sermons.

May this book become a blessing for everyone who reads it.

Best Regards,

Pastor Dr. Jimmy M. R. Lumintang, MA, MBA, MTh

REMARKS OF THE DIRECTOR GENERAL, 

 CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY GUIDANCE, 

 MINISTRY OF RELIGION OF THE REPUBLIC OF INDONESIA

Shalom!

We gladly welcome the publication of this book titled God’s Law authored by Dr. Capt. Sonny Paago, M.Mar. This book encourages us to gain better knowledge of the law of God, and if possible, implement the law—the law of love—in our daily lives as we live in the community and the people of our nation.

This book may function as a source of inspiration and motivation for Christian adherents in Indonesia—especially the leaders of Christian institutions/organizations—to begin an introspection of our participation in the development and renewal towards a better world according to the will of God as presented in God’s Law.

May our faith in and understanding of the law of God be strengthened so that we will be empowered to implement the law in doing our duties and services in the midst of the community and the people of our country.

Finally, I pray that this book may become a blessing to all of us especially for the praise and glory of the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Director General

Dr. Jason Lase, S.Th.M.Si.

NIP 150178157

A Foreword 

from the Chairman of the 

 Communion of Churches in Indonesia

The book you are holding in your hand is a paper masterwork written by a layman who is thirsty for the Word of the Lord. The author of this book, Capt. Sonny Paago, is a professional seaman who has dedicated himself as a servant of the Lord through the writing of this book, titled God’s Law.

Capt. Sonny Paago is not a minister of the gospel. Nevertheless, his desire that his fellowmen can better understand the law of the Lord and rightly apply it has motivated him to offer his interpretation in the form of this good book. This book presents his interpretation about the law of the Lord and proposes its applications in our daily life.

I extend a warm welcome to the publication of this book that has enriched the existing treasure of Christian literature. Moreover, this book can serve as a reference for Christian individuals who are eager to dig deeper into the meaning and purpose of the law of the Lord—especially the way of its implementation in daily life. Although this book is not written in accordance with the standard systematic theology, it can be a blessing for anyone who reads it.

It is my hope that this book of Capt. Sonny Paago can be used in a good way for the glory of the Lord. May every person who reads this book be blessed with spiritual knowledge and become stronger in applying the will of the Lord in his life.

Best Regards,

Pastor Dr. A. A. Yewangoe

Chairman

Second Edition Introduction 

Founder and Chairman, Indonesian Missionary Fellowship 

 Pastor Dr. Petrus Octavianus, DD, PhD

It is an honor for me to write an Introduction to this book entitled God’s Law by Dr. Capt. Sonny Paago, M.Mar.

After reading the content of this book, I have several recommendations. Even though I myself have authored sixty books and fifty-six working papers in Indonesian, English, and Dutch and 90 percent of the ideas in them I took from the Bible—especially those that have to do with Christians’ faith, the life for the Lord, and fellowmen—I have never authored a book about the law of the Lord. Thus, this book must be the first to discuss exhaustively but be easy to understand, systematically written, and simple to be implemented about the law of the Lord.

The things which stand out and are clearly distinguishable and very useful in this book are:

1.  All ideas are based on the law of love, which functions as the center and guidelines for the whole contents of the book.

2.  The law of God (the law of love) is positioned in such a way that all other laws are considered less important.

3.  The systematic arrangement in the application of love and the law of love based on the love as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 becomes the foundation that has clear boundaries, is easy to understand, and is easy to be accepted and implemented so the life of a Christian may become a blessing for the Lord and fellowmen—and this is true to all religious individuals and all believers without any exceptions.

4.  Correct position of the law of love based on Matthew 22:37–40 has resulted in the balanced love—the love for the Lord God (vertical line) and the love for fellowmen (horizontal line).

5.  Moreover, the author has placed all the laws of the Lord, the law called Torah, and various policies of the church into their respective places in their relationship to the law of love.

6.  Various interpretations of the Ten Commandments by Bible-based religions—the Jewish religion, Roman Catholics, and various Christian denominations—have been well categorized.

7.  I am really amazed reading the book God’s Law, and I admire its author, Dr. Capt. Sonny Paago, M.Mar., who in spite of his profession and experience as a world-class ship captain whose life was mostly spent at sea, living with seamen who are limited in terms of numbers, writes what has become one of the valuable contributions to all Christians and every person who reads this book to live a life acceptable to the Lord by obeying and implement His law.

The law of the Lord that centers in the love of God for all men without exception means to say that whatever profession a person may have—whereever he may be brought in—if his life, his heart, and his living are faithfully founded on the law of the Lord and centered in the law of love—love to God and fellowmen—he will surely be acceptable to the Lord as well as to his fellowmen. How marvelous will be the life that has an everlasting and eternal value.

Conclusion: Because of the above mentioned equilibrium, the author, from his conscience, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, has sincerely written this book. Therefore I recommend it to be read by every Christian for the sake of getting a better, correct, and valuable understanding of the law of the Lord—the law of love—in order to appreciate all churches without exception.

It is my prayer that the Lord Jesus bless every Christian as well as all persons who read this book, God’s Law, by Dr. Capt. Sonny Paago, M.Mar.

Soli Deo Gloria—all the glory belongs to God alone.

Jakarta, April 1, 2010

Pastor Dr. Petrus Octavianus, DD, PhD

STRAIGHT PATH FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY

(Yayasan Persahabatan Jalan Lurus)

Office Address:

Ruko Mega Grosir Cempaka Mas Blok J No. 26, 27, 28

Jakarta Pusat 10640

DKI JAKARTA, INDONESIA

Phone: 62-21-42883480

Fax: 62-21-42883479

E-mail Address:

straightpathfm@yahoo.com

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Website:

www.straightpathfm.com

Regular Activities

WELCOME!

Website of the

Straight Path Fellowship Ministry

www.straightpathfm.com

Copyright © 2010, STRAIGHT PATH FELLOWSHIP MINISTRY

Chapter 1

The Love of God

Love surely is gentleness

Love creates a forgiving heart

Love is wonderfully generous

God’s love—a love so great.

Teach us to gently love others, we pray

Teach us to always be ready to forgive

Teach us your love, O God, night and day

The great, unlimited love only You can give.

From the command room of MV Setiabudi, one of the ships of the Djakarta Lloyd Shipping Lines that sailed the European seas, a tone singing the stanzas of the song of God’s love was faintly heard prevailing over the boisterous sound of the waves that tossed the ship in the notorious Bay of Biscay. The sky up there was bright with the flickering stars that lit the darkness of the night, urging all those who heard the song of God’s love and could not withstand the desire of their hearts to praise the dignity of God’s love and His mighty power.

Captain Sonny Paago, an experienced ship captain of the Djakarta Lloyd Shipping Lines, which is known for its ocean liners sailing between Indonesia and Europe and around the world, had determined in his heart to reflect the love of God in order that he could offer an utmost service to those on board his ship. This was made possible by the fact that the Lord had first set an example for him as expressed in every stanza of this song:¹

Let’s love our friends, let’s love our friends with all our hearts

Let’s love our friends, let’s love our friends with all our hearts

The Lord has first loved us He has loved me and loved you too

Let’s love our friends, let’s love our friends with all our hearts

Let’s serve our friends, let’s serve our friends with all our hearts

Let’s serve our friends, let’s serve our friends with all our hearts

The Lord has first served us He has served me and served you too

Let’s serve our friends, let’s serve our friends with all our hearts

Let us forgive, let us forgive with all our hearts

Let us forgive, let us forgive with all our hearts

The Lord has long ago forgiven me and you my friends

Let us forgive, let us forgive with all our hearts.

This book is written for those who desire to understand more of God’s love for the people who have sinned against Him. God’s love is too deep and wide to be expressed in words or portrayed even in the most attractive paintings, yet we can study and experience it ourselves. We can share it with others and listen to those who have studied and experienced this profound love as they share it with us.

Sailing through the five oceans with Djakarta Lloyd’s ships is only a fond memory, but the love of God and desire to serve Him is getting more powerful in the heart of the author of this book. If it were not because of God’s love, the author would not be able to write this book. Indeed, it is the love of God alone that has enabled the author to share his understanding and experience of God’s love through the pages of this book.

1.   God’s Love

John the apostle wrote in his gospel a biblical text containing the good news for all sinful men—a text that exposes the depth and width of God’s love to the descendants of Adam and Eve, His creation, who have sinned against Him by violating His commands. This text has become the favorite text of the followers of Jesus Christ. For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.²

Adam and Eve God has loved Adam and Eve and their descendants with an everlasting love. He does not love only a certain group of people. He loves all men. He loves all those who are living at present as well as those who lived in the past and those who will live in the future till the end of time. The prophet Jeremiah wrote: The Lord hath appeared of old unto me saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.³

The tragedy of the fall in the garden of Eden ended the harmonious kind of life that God meant for humankind. The descendants of Adam and Eve have to bear the results of the tragedy of sin because their ancestors failed to obey God’s commands. They chose to believe Satan’s deceptions and lies, as described in the Scriptures:

Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the Lord God hath made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: But the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and the tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day; and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God amongst the trees of the garden.

And the Lord God called Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he sad, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Has thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

And the man said, the woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. And the Lord said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, the serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the the days of thy life; I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.⁴

Because of His love towards the sinners, God has sent Jesus Christ to be the Savior of man.

Jesus fully obeyed His Father’s will in that He was willing to die on the cross to save the sinners. Jesus’ death on the cross provided a way for God to pardon the sins of Adam and Eve and their descendants. His death on the cross also crushed the head of the serpent, as mentioned in the Scriptures quoted above.

The death of Jesus on the cross at Golgotha was a demonstration of the victory of God’s love over Satan’s wickedness and deception.

The tragedy in the garden of Eden could have been avoided had Adam and Eve obeyed God, and the death of Jesus on the cross would not have been necessary either. But sadly, Adam and Eve rebelled against their creator God. Sin then came to this world. But one thing remains—the unchanging love of God despite man’s continual rebellions. God did not create a new Adam and Eve; instead, He sent Jesus Christ to redeem the sinners. This demonstration of God’s great love should prompt us to reflect on the utmost importance of obeying God’s commands, because it is the disobedience to God’s commands that leads us to the center of problems.

Adam and Eve rebelled against their Creator, but in contrast, Jesus Christ fully obeyed the commands of His Father. The apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Philippians, wrote:

Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in a fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death on the cross. Wherefore God also had highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.⁵

Obeying what God has commanded is an expression of man’s love to God and to others as well.

Hosea and Gomer The love of God for sinners is clearly illustrated in the writings of the prophet Hosea about the life of Gomer, his wife, who plunged into sinful life of unfaithfulness to him. Hosea married Gomer in accordance to God’s leading. Then his wife left him for prostitution. God commanded Hosea to go and claim her back as his wife.⁶

The prostitution of Gomer portrayed the lives of sinners in general, as well as the lives of the Israelites, who were chosen to be God’s witnesses during the time before the birth of Jesus Christ.

Israel’s unfaithfulness in leaving the true God behind to worship idols and other gods was a spiritual prostitution against God, yet the true and living God did not forsake the people of Israel entirely. Yes, God will always love the sinners, no matter how deep they have fallen into the pit of sin, as Hosea’s wife, Gomer, did. He desires the sinners to look up from the pit of sin and come out again to extend their love to Him, although He does not force them to love Him.

We want to share our love with others; this is an honorable thing to do, of course. Unfortunately, our love is not as perfect as God’s love. It seems to me that we are too clean or too holy to love those who, in our perception, live like Gomer. Our love is shaped by those who are seemingly clean and holy to the extent that we might tend to admire them. We might be tempted to imitate the actions of the Jewish religious teachers and leaders who dragged the woman caught red-handed in sin.

And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.

And the scribes and the Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,

They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what saying thou? This they said, tempting him, that they might have accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. So when they continued asking him, he lifted himself, and said unto them, let him first cast a stone at her. And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.

And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

When Jesus has lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condem thee, go, and sin no more.⁷

We show a genuine love of the Lord if we love the way Jesus loved and do not imitate the way those religious teachers and Pharisees judged. Jesus showed love without condemnation, because He loves sinners. Nevertheless, Jesus did not condone sin, as we note in His command to the woman: Go and sin no more.⁸

Think of the text written by the apostle Peter concerning Jesus’s patience and desire for sinners to repent and be saved: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.⁹

Jesus offers forgiveness, not condemnation. He wants sinners to acknowledge sin, repent, and love Him who has first loved us. Jesus never hates sinners. He always loves sinners. He had even come to die for sinners.

We are wrong to say we love Jesus when we hate sinners. Let us then love, serve, and forgive others, taking Jesus as our example.

The Lost Son The genuine love of God is also illustrated in the Bible story of the love of the father towards his son, who left the house carrying with him a great amount of money. In a faraway land, the son spent the money on pleasures with his friends. When all his money was gone, his friends deserted him. He came to himself and went home. Of course, the father had not forgotten him. The father welcomed him back home and showered him with love, although his brother was not pleased.

This is the story of the prodigal son according to the gospel of Luke:

And he said, a certain man had two sons: And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living.

And not too many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey, into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. And he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want.

And he went and joined himself to a citizen of the country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger!

I will rise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee. And I am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And the son said to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in thy sight, and no more worthy to be called thy son.

But the father said to his servants, bring forth the best robe, put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

Now his elder son was in the field: and as he came and drew nigh to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants, and asked what these things meant. And he said unto him, thy brother is come, and thy father hath killed the fatted calf, because he hath received him safe and sound.

And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him. And he answering said to his father, Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet thou never gave me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends. Because as soon as this thy son was come, which hath devoured thy living with harlots, thou has killed for him the fatted calf.

And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine. It was meet that we should make merry, and be glad: for this thy brother was dead, and is alive again; and was lost, and was found.¹⁰

The youngest son represents those who are living in sin and then one day return to the heavenly Father. Of course, the heavenly Father has never forgotten the returning sinners.

There are sons and daughters of God who are allured by the lights of the city. Some are led into prostitution or drug abuse. Some end up homeless. Yet the Father in heaven loves them and is ever waiting for the return of His stray children.

The love of Jesus Christ is expressed in the following song:¹¹

Softly and tenderly, Jesus is calling,

Calling for you and for me;

At the heart’s portal, He’s waiting and watching,

Watching for you and for me.

Come home, come home,

Ye who are weary, come home;

Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,

Calling, O sinner, come home.

Think of the wonderful love He has promised,

Promised for you and for me;

Though we have sinned, He has mercy and pardon,

Pardon for you and for me.

But it is too bad—we often show our pride, as demonstrated by the eldest son who was displeased with the way his father welcomed his lost brother. We ought to come to our senses and repent from our pride and arrogance so that we do not model the eldest son.

In reality, the youngest son was not lost, but it was the eldest son who was lost because of his egotistical attitude. The father was not partial in loving his children. He loved both children equally. Our Father in heaven loves all of us equally, too.

Our heavenly Father wishes His children to love others just as He loves us. He also wants us to serve others, just as He serves us. And above all, He wants us to forgive others as He forgives us.

2.   Man’s Love

Man was created in the image of God. The Bible says, "So God created man