Obedience

© 2013 Rear Admiral Joseph H. Miller. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 7/8/2013

ISBN: 978-1-4817-7357-7 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-7356-0 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4817-7355-3 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2013912118

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Outline Part I

I. Introduction

II. The Requirement of Obedience

III. With Obedience Comes Disobedience

IV. The Commandments (Laws) Of Christ

A. The Ten Commandments:

B. Jesus repeats part of the Ten Commandments in:Matthew 19:18,19; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20.

C. Other Commandments

D. Jesus’ Teachings and Commandments can be Numbered in the Hundreds

E. The Jewish Law Had 2,500,000 Words and 613 Precepts

F. More On The Commandments (Law) of Christ (100 are listed here)

G. Jesus’ specific Discussion of His Commands

V. The Gospel and Epistle Commands

VI. The Baseline For Obedience is Christ’ Example

God

Government

Parents – Children

Teachers

Husbands – Wives

Employers –Workers

VII. Disobedience

VIII. The Baptism of Jesus (Matthew 3:13)

IX. Persevere in Faith and Prayer

a. Faith Is More Precious Than Sight

b. Duty to Christ

c. Joseph Obeys God

X. The God of Grace and Providence

XI. The Eye is the symbol of The Motive

a. Eye Symbol of Motive

b. The Star Seen By Believers

c. One Cannot Worship Without Gifts.

d. False Teachers

e. Not All Disciples Will Be Saved

f. Jesus Ended His Teachings on the Mount With A Great Crash.

XII. The Way For Our Lives Is a Narrow One

a. Prompt Obedience Proves Our Faith

b. All Things Are Possible For Believers

c. Peacemakers Shall Be Children of God

d. Do Jesus’ Commands and We are Children Of God

e. The Deeds of Life Determine The Relationship With Christ.

f. We Are One In Christ.

XIII. What Does It Mean To Be Called?

a. The Objective Is To Do God’s Will

b. It Ends With:

c. Ignorance Has Not Been Our Tyrant

XIV. How Do We Recognize A Call When It Comes?

a. Every Man Hath Received The Gift,

b. Our Passport To Heaven Is Obedience

c. Jesus Spoke With The Voice Of Authority

XV. He That Keepeth My Commandments

a. Believe Jesus Is The Highest of Commandment

b. Love Is The Essential Basis Of Obedience

c. Where Does Happiness Come From?

d. Our Objective:

e. Jesus exercise Of Loving Obedience

XVI. God Is The Supreme Teacher

a. Our Minds Must Be Opened to the Truth

b. What Is The Motive Of Obedience?

c. Pitfalls Of Obedience

d. Law And Love Is Blended Only In Christ

1. He Stands At The Door

2. Keep My Words

e. The Comforter Shall Teach You

f. My Peace I Leave With You

XVII. The Beginning Of The Gospel

a. Man’s Sin May Come From His Own Nature.

b. Be Still And Know

c. We Must See Christ As An Authority

d. We Are Not Owners Of Anything

XVIII. We Are Most Free To Obey

XIX. We Need The Spiritual Armor Of God

a. Obedience To God Is a Victory Over Self

b. Jesus Was Alone In His Temptation As We Are

XX. The Freedom Of Choice

a. The Death Of The Soul Is With Evil

b. Obedience From Our Father

c. Ye Must Be Born Again

d. Disobedience Casts Off God’s Authority

e. The Promises Of God Depend On Our Obedience

f. We Must Assemble Ourselves Together.

h. We Must Be Faithful Unto Death

XXI. Paul Is The Great Example Of Obedience

a. Paul Was Obedient To the Heavenly Vision

b. Do Not give Up With Obedience

XXII. We Must Recognize God’s Claims

a. Obedience Begins With Children.

b. Obedience Is The First Duty Of Children In The Lord.(In Christ)

c. We Are To Love One Another

d. Justified Freely By His Grace

XXIII. The Obedience Of Abraham

XXIV. The Problem Of Disobedience

XXV. The Word Perfect From Scripture:

XXVI. Moral Influence to Be Obedient To A Lawful Superior

XXVII What Would You Do In The Presence Of God Or Christ?

XXVIII. Defining Faith

XXIX. Jesus’ commands to the Seven Churches in Revelation

XXX. Who is Jesus? Some Profound Truths

XXXI. Obedience in the Old Testament

A. Genesis and Exodus

1. Noah

2. Abraham

a. Do not say God will provide as He has already provided.

b. Abraham sends for Rebekah

3. Moses

a. Obedience to the building of the temple given to Moses

b. Obedience is necessary to salvation.

c. Man must obey God not his wife.

d. God gave them wisdom to build.

B. Deuteronomy (Moses tells the Israelites of their history and God’s laws.)

1. Acceptable Obedience

2. Love is the Mother of Obedience

3. God is Faithful

C. Numbers (The faithless Israelites wander forty years in the wilderness.)

D. Joshua (The surviving Israelites capture and settle in the Promised Land of Canaan.)

E. Judges (Israel goes from sin to suffering to salvation)

F. Leviticus (God explains how to worship Him.)

G. Jeremiah (After years of sinful behavior, Judah will be punished.)

H. Psalms (An ancient songbook of prayer, complaints to God, and praise.)

I. Ecclesiastes (Without God, life is empty and comfortless.)

J. Proverbs (Encourages is to pursue wisdom.)

K. Micah (Israel and Judah will suffer for their injustice and idolatry.)

L. I and II Kings (Both the North and South nations are destroyed for their disobedience to God.)

N. Amos (Real religion is treating people with justice.)

O. Jonah (Running from God and swallowed by a whale!)

P. Hosea (His marriage to a prostitute reflects God’s relationship with Israel.)

Q. Daniel (Faithful to God, Daniel is blessed.)

R. Ezekiel (Israel is in exile, but will be restored.)

S. Isaiah (The coming Messiah will save people from their sins.)

T. I and II Chronicles (I Chronicles King David is analyzed, II Chronicles Israel goes with Solomon to division to destruction.)

U. Ezra (Spiritual renewal begins after exile.)

V. Nehemiah (Returning exiles rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.)

W. Esther (Beautiful Jewish girl queen saves fellow Jews from slaughter.)

Summary: End of The Old Testament

Obedience

How Does One Define Himself?

"If ye love me, keep my commandments…He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him." (John 14:15,21)

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments…But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. (I John 2:3,5)

Rear Admiral Joseph H. Miller

Prologue

If one is guilty of one sin they are guilty of all sins.

James 2:10

Dedication

To all who have loved me

and

taught me during the days of my life.

My Wife: Mrs. Cathy Gail Parker Miller

My Parents: Dr. and Mrs. Joseph H. Miller, Sr.

By His Preaching: Dr. Tommy Green, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church Brandon, Florida

By His Life: Mr. Oscar Lastinger, A pioneer of First Baptist Church Brandon, Florida

The 326 plus members of First Baptist Church Brandon, Florida, who wear their testimony as being men of prayer and patriotic Americans.

The fifty men and women of First Baptist Church Brandon, Florida, who wear their testimony that they have played a part in winning someone to Christ and causing the saints in Heaven rejoice. (Luke 15:7)

A Plea To Us All

Study and Obey The Word!

An accumulation of our studies and our experiences makes our Empirical Knowledge as we progress in the Facts of Our Lives.

Our reason is God’s best gift to us, through it we succeed to the knowledge of God. (Charlesworth)

A man is judged faithful or unfaithful by his works. (Spinoza)

Behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with Me, to give every man according as his work shall be. (Revelation 22:12) Jesus Christ

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:17)

Acknowledgment

To God and The Word of God That has penetrated my soul!

What Is The Method To Give All?

Individual voluntary solitary confinement was a Christian condition early in the fourth century. A monk raised his hand to Heaven saying, So should this hermit be: denuded of all things of this world and crucified…so God leds us to victory. He would seek Christ as his master being ever mindful of the Cross till he reached the crucified Jesus. To them, this world slips away like running water, the joys fade like a dream, life in this world is nothing, but a deception, and with all this they seek the love of true faith.

They fight inner temptations of two kinds:

1. Bodily - lechery, gluttony, laziness

2. Spiritually – pride, envy, anger, covetousness

Even today there are monasteries where one can go and not speak for one to two weeks and live in solitary mediation. I had a friend who did this yearly. He was a great Christian.

Voluntary solitary confinement definitely is not being obedient to Christ as we are to be his representative in his world and do his will for our lives, not our own will as we see it. (Anchoritic Spirituality)

Obedience (Those Who Do!)

The Bible Is The Only Reference

Obedience is part of the structure of a Christian’s Life. There is no eternal life without obedience to God.

The Whole Ball Game

I. Introduction

Obedience is seen in numerous situations including, government laws, military discipline, to parents, etc. In this report we use obedience only when referring to obedience to God and His will. Jesus was the only one with perfect obedience. In His words, If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. (John 15:10,11) Our example, Jesus was obedient unto death. And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name. (Philippians 2:8,9) "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him." (Hebrews 5:8, 9)

II. The Requirement of Obedience

In the New Testament there is obedience to God (Romans 5:19; Philippians 2:8; Hebrews 5:8) God’s Commandments (I John 2:3-5) to faith (Romans 1:5; 16:26), to Christ (John 3:36; Hebrews 5:9), to the gospel (Romans 10:16; I Peter 4:17) to the state (Romans 13:1-5) of slaves, children, and wives (Ephesians 5:21-6:9; Titus 2:9,10) Harpers Dictionary: There is no Hebrew word meaning obey. It is translated in Hebrew to, to hear.

The word obey is related to the idea of hearing. Obedience is a positive and active response to what a person hears. Man’s failure to obey God results in judgment. The perfect obedience to Christ brings grace, righteousness and life. "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?" (Romans 6:16) "Hear in the Bible means to obey. We may hear the words and not obey. In the Scriptures this is to disobey. But my people would not hearken to my voice… So I gave them up into their own counsels." (Psalms 81:11,12) This is one of several Scriptures that if one does not listen to God and do His will a time may come that He will give you up. Jesus said, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 11:15)

"And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not; Therefore will I do unto this house, which is called by my name, wherein ye trust, and unto the place which I gave to you and to your fathers, as I have done to Shiloh. And I will cast you out of my sight, as I have cast out all your brethren, even the whole seed of Ephraim. Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up cry nor prayer for them, neither make intercession to me: for I will not hear thee." (Jeremiah 7:13-16) If we do not hear the LORD He will not hear our prayers. My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations. (Hosea 9:17)

If one is not obedient by a spiritual life they cannot worship. But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. (John 4:23,24) Samuel said, to obey is better than sacrifice. (I Samuel 15:22)

By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name…But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 1:5;10:16,17) Obedience is attached to faith and obedience secures God’s blessings. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me. These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you. (John 14:21, 23-25) These were among Jesus last words to us.

Then If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. (John 13:17) Obedience to God produces the fruit of faith.

"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." (James 2:20, 22,23,24,26)

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21) One must obey to enter Heaven! Love for God is proved when we obey Him as noted above in John 14:21. Jesus death was a sacrifice of obedience. By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. (Hebrews 10:10) When one is disobedient to God’s Word it is due to a sinful heart.

Obedience is required before one can receive the Holy Spirit. (Acts 5:32; 10:44) This refers to obeying by believing in Jesus as Messiah. Priests were saved by being obedient to the faith. (Acts 6:7) Jesus is the author of salvation of all who obey Him. (Hebrews 5:9) Paul received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations. (Romans 1:5) Here Paul describes faith as obedience. This includes the Gentiles. "But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith." (Romans 16:26) This is made known to all nations. The Scriptures do not relate that God asked believers to pray for the filling of the Holy Spirit. (Ryrie) Prayer is needed for the power to meet the demands of obedience, but prayer alone does not bring a filling of the Holy Spirit, as some religions seem to think. Obedience is the condition and Scripture explains what is meant by obedience as it relates the already filling of the Holy Spirit. When we fail to respond in obedience and we confess our sins then God forgives us. Every thought is required to be brought into obedience. (II Corinthians 10:5) We must be obedient of all things from God. (II Corinthians 2:9) In the Old Testament obedience was the basis for knowing God’s blessings and favor to them. (Exodus 24:7) Perfect obedience to Christ brings grace, righteousness, and life. (Romans 5:17) Obedience is before grace.

There is an active and passive obedience of Christ. His death on the Cross and His suffering was active obedience to God. His Holy Life is connected to salvation and His sacrifice would not have been accepted without the spotless life that preceded it. (I Peter 1:18,19; 2:21-23; John 13:15; I Corinthians 11:1) As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (I Peter 1:14-16) The Christian life is consistently one of living in obedience to God.

III. With Obedience Comes Disobedience

We see in Malachi similar problems with God’s people as today, all their actions had selfish motives; they faked to be what they were not and faked to believe what they did not. The priests were divided in purpose, and lacked commitment. (Malachi 1:1-8) The people had no purpose and were not conscientious. (1:9-10) The economy was bad. They were living self-centered and self-fulfilling lives without regard for others. They paid no attention to God and ignored Him. They refused to give their tithes. God asked the famous question, "Will a man rob God? (Malachi 3:8) Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation." (Malachi 3:9) Their offerings were the least desirable things they had and were unacceptable to God. (Malachi 1:10) They had profaned God’s name and thus His character also. (Malachi 1:12) God warns the people to "repent and obey." (Malachi 3:7; 4:5) God’s warning to the priests is one of the worst in the Bible. I have sent a curse upon you and will throw you out with the dung of your feasts. (Malachi 2:2,3) (For you too highly educated people dung means manure I will not repeat the name for the less educated.) God’s people who do not perform their obligations are called "a traitor. Teaching (bagad) is used five times in Malachi 2:10-16. They profaned worship and the altar in Malachi 2:13. Recurrent sin renders worship meaningless. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." (Luke 1:16-17) which quotes Malachi 4:6)

The requirement of obedience to God is to be free from mixture, it is exact. "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." (James 2:10) This is human mathematics, but it is not a human precept. A breach of one command is as guilty as a breach of all since all of the commandments of God are one. It is the number one example of the all or none law. If we break one of Gods commandments we are not doing God’s will, but our own and from God’s viewpoint we break them all. Thy will be done on earth as in Heaven. (Matthew 6:10) The duty of obedience to God’s commandment is one duty only. All His commandments are one Divine will and rest on one authority. Harmony in music is spoiled if only one note is out of tune. The perfect circle is no longer a perfect circle if there is a flaw in one part of it. So breaking one commandment is to violate the whole principle of obedience. We cannot pick and choose which commands to keep. If we murder and do not commit adultery we are a murderer and violator of the whole law. If we commit adultery and do not murder we are an adulterer and violator of the whole, etc, etc. God’s commands are absolute which means there are no exceptions.

This does not say that all sins are equal, but that all carry the some contempt of the authority of God, the Lawgiver. This shows us what a vanity it is to think that our good deeds will atone for our bad deeds. Obedience is acceptable when all is done within the will of God. Disobedience is condemned because it is contempt of God’s authority. If we offend in one point we condemn the authority of God who gave the whole law and thus we are guilty of all.

The entire gospel can be considered a law. Christ is king to rule, a prophet to teach, and a priest to intercede for us. We are under the Law of Christ. This concept is very strict. "Abstain from all appearance of evil." (I Thessalonians 5:22) In the beginning God gave us the knowledge of good and evil. (Genesis 2:9; Deuteronomy 1:39; II Samuel 14:17; Psalms 34:14; Ecclesiastes 12:14; Isaiah 5:20; Mark 3:4; Romans 3:8; Hebrews 5:14; Romans 12:21 and For thus saith the LORD unto the house of Israel, Seek ye me, and ye shall live: (Amos 5:4)

Who is this man? Who is Jesus? Who is He that even the winds and the seas obey Him? And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! (Matthew 8:26-27) He created us, the winds and seas obey Him so we would be wise to also obey Him and keep His Commandments.

The average man will never be able to comprehend this as this is not human mentality, but is the Divine law. God does not classify sin. There is only one sin to Him and that is His will for man. If man breaks one law of God he is out of God’s will.

IV. The Commandments (Laws) Of Christ

Commandments To Be Kept: The Ten Commandments (The Oxford Dictionary, pp.282-283)

The Ten Commandments are groups of God given religious and moral laws. They contain rules of life that involve all mankind.

A. The Ten Commandments:

Exodus 20:3,4,7,8,12-17

I. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. (v.3)

[This is the object of worship, God.]

II. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image (v.4)

[This is the behavior of worship, which is only to the only true God.]

III. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain (v. 7)

IV. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. (v.8)

[III and IV deal with the true reverence and genuine devotion of God. The day of rest must be kept holy by sharing the spiritual rest with God. The commandment is not six days of loafing, but six days of working.]

V. Honour thy father and thy mother (v. 12) and Mathew 19:18.

VI. Thou shalt not murder (v.13)

VII. Thou shalt not commit adultery. (v. 14)

"And He saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her. And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.

(Mark 10:11,12)

VIII. Thou shalt not steal. (v. 15)

IX. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (v. 16)

X. Thou shalt not covet (v. 17)

B. Jesus repeats part of the Ten Commandments in:

Matthew 19:18,19; Mark 10:19; Luke 18:20.

C. Other Commandments

And thou shalt do that which is right and good in the sight of the LORD: that it may be well with thee, and that thou mayest go in and possess the good land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers,… To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good? (Deuteronomy 6:18; 10:13)

"And the LORD hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar people, as he hath promised thee, and that thou shouldest keep all his commandments." (Deuteronomy 26:18)

"But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul." (Joshua 22:5)

"And keep the charge of the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself…Concerning this house which thou art in building, if thou wilt walk in my statutes, and execute my judgments, and keep all my commandments to walk in them; then will I perform my word with thee, which I spake unto David thy father…That he may incline our hearts unto him, to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and his statutes, and his judgments, which he commanded our fathers…Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day…And it shall be, if thou wilt hearken unto all that I command thee, and wilt walk in my ways, and do that is right in my sight, to keep my statutes and my commandments, as David my servant did; that I will be with thee, and build thee a sure house, as I built for David, and will give Israel unto thee." (I Kings 2:3,6:12; 8:58,61; 11:39)

"Yet the LORD testified against Israel, and against Judah, by all the prophets, and by all the seers, saying, Turn ye from your evil ways, and keep my commandments and my statutes, according to all the law which I commanded your fathers, and which I sent to you by my servants the prophets. Notwithstanding they would not hear, but hardened their necks, like to the neck of their fathers, that did not believe in the LORD their God. And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them. And they left all the commandments of the LORD their God, and made them molten images, even two calves, and made a grove, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served Baal. And they caused their sons and their daughters to pass through the fire, and used divination and enchantments, and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger. Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight: there was none left but the tribe of Judah only. Also Judah kept not the commandments of the LORD their God, but walked in the statutes of Israel, which they made. And the LORD rejected all the seed of Israel, and afflicted them, and delivered them into the hand of spoilers, until he had cast them out of his sight. For he rent Israel from the house of David; and they made Jeroboam the son of Nebat king: and Jeroboam drove Israel from following the LORD, and made them sin a great sin." (II Kings 17:13-21)

Now therefore in the sight of all Israel the congregation of the LORD, and in the audience of our God, keep and seek for all the commandments of the LORD your God: that ye may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance for your children after you for ever. And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searcheth all hearts, and understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it…Wherefore David blessed the LORD before all the congregation: and David said, Blessed be thou, LORD God of Israel our father, for ever and ever. (I Chronicles 28:8-10; 29:19)

"For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children. That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments." (Psalms 78:5-7)

And in controversy they shall stand in judgment; and they shall judge it according to my judgments: and they shall keep my laws and my statutes in all mine assemblies; and they shall hallow My Sabbaths. (Ezekiel 44:24)

And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. (Matthew 19:17)

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (I John 5:3)

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)

The Lord’s Teachings on the Mount were summed up by Him with the dual concept of love towards God and one’s neighbor. (This never anywhere says, love all mankind, but only your neighbor. Family is further included. They have maintained a central place in human instruction. The Lord’s two Great Commandment were added in (Mark 12:29-31) "And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these." (All heart, all soul, all mind, all strength)

This is for my Catholic family and friends. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (1997) lists five precepts of the church:

1. Attend Mass on Sundays and Feast of obligation

2. Go to confession (See Penance) at least once a year

3. Receive Holy Communion during the Easter season

4. Keep holy the Feast of Obligation

5. Observe the days of fasting and abstinence

D. Jesus’ Teachings and Commandments can be Numbered in the Hundreds

In a study of the Scriptures the commands and teachings of Jesus can be numbered in the hundreds. The commands and teachings are frequently joined together and Jesus’ teachings should be considered together. No two lists will be the same. I have, however, tried to be selective and have placed the following as commands knowing that is this a questionable approach. Other wise it will fill pages and pages.

And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. (John 21:25)

Jesus commands and teachings concern:

1. Wisdom

2. Belief

3. Faith

4. Trust

5. Salvation

6. Prayer

7. The Scriptures

8. Family - Love of God

9. Our relationship to God and man

10. Issues- repentance

11. Forgiveness of our sins

12. Finances (The duty of providing for the finances of the church)

13. The new birth - Following Jesus

14. Our duty to neighbors

15. Preaching ministries

16. Going into all the world

17. Loving one another

18. Humility and meekness

19. The Holy Spirit in us

20. Letting our light shine

21. The perfect love

22. Faithful unto death

23. Health

24. Hypocrisy

25. Judgment

26. Sins noted in the Ten Commandments

27. Future-Christ’s Second Coming, which is referred to over 300 times

Referred to as the parousia, the day, the great day, an appearing (epiphaneia), coming to be present, a revelation (apocalypse) etc.

His Second Coming will usher in the "final triumph of goodness over evil. There will be judgment and the beginning of the millennium. For true obedient followers of Jesus it will be a great day. For all others it will be the worst day that cannot even be comprehended in our human brains. Here are 27 Command groups (some are also teachings), which relate to hundreds of words for specific groups. To God be the glory!

E. The Babylonian Talmud (Jewish Law) had 2,500,000 words. Maimonides listed 613 precepts of Jewish law. (12, pp. 374, 271) That, of course, is impossible to understand. Jesus’’ Commands and teachings are combined of at least 300 of them. The difference is that Jesus gave certain principles of love, repentance, faith, belief, trust, and salvation that knowing these one can interpret his commands and teachings to match any practical thing in a Christian’s life. The best example is Paul’s answer as noted by Dr. Luke: And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. (Acts 16:30,31) For most people this book will be too academic, but for the Christian who loves to read and knows more it will be knowledge they can use. It is the spirit of obedience not the act of obedience that is important. The law was fulfilled in Christ and we are to obey His Law and not the old Law of Moses even though much of the Old Law, Jesus continued. (Galatians 6:2; John 13:34)

These laws come from God and due to His eternal character their moral value does not change. Jesus placed these laws on a higher plane so that the spiritual aspect as well as the legal aspects had to be kept. They are a special covenant between God and all His people including us.

And the LORD appointed a set time, saying, Tomorrow the LORD shall do this thing in the land. And the LORD did that thing on the morrow, and all the cattle of Egypt died: but of the cattle of the children of Israel died not one. (Exodus19: 5, 6) God here says, "if" which is to be the basis of Israel’s existence as a special people. They were not a set of Divine regulations to earn salvation, but were and act of God’s grace. The Commandments of God along with His teachings are the best pathway for our practical daily living known to man. Commands include. no other gods, no graven images, respect God’s Name, keep the Sabbath day holy, honor father and mother, do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not lie, and do not covet. Jesus added love your neighbor as yourself. If ones heart is fixed on the Lord, he will have the right attitude toward others. The right motive with love for God is to obey His Commandments. It is also the main proof of ones love for God. Jesus added, Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8) Obedience is a matter of knowing God’s Word, His Will and having our priorities on His will, not our will or pleasure.

F. More On The Commandments (Law) of Christ (100 are listed here)

Do Not Break the Ten Commandments (Old Law)

Obey the Commandments (Matthew 19:17)

Worship and serve God only (Exodus 20:3; Deuteronomy 5:7; Mathew 4:4;

Luke 4:8

Repent for the Kingdom is at hand (Matthew 4:17; Mark 1:15)

Do Not Murder (Matthew 5:21)

Do not call a brother a fool (Matthew 5:22)

Let your light shine before men. (Matthew 5:16)

Do Not Commit Adultery (Matthew 5:27)

Do Not Resist Evil (An evil person) (Matthew 5:39)

Do Not Divorce Except For Marital Infidelity (Matthew 5:31,32)

Do Not Swear (Matthew 5:34)

Love Your Enemies (Matthew 5:44; Luke 6:27,35)

Be Ye Perfect Even As Your Father In Heaven (Matthew 5:48)

Do Acts of Righteousness In Secret (Gifts, prayers, fasting) (Matthew 6:4)

Pray Like This…The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9)

Forgive Men When They Sin Against You (Matthew 6:14)

Do Not Worry (Matthew 6:25-32; Luke 12:22-29)

Pray and Fast in Secret (Matthew 6:6,18)

Lay Up Your Treasures In Heaven, Not on Earth (Matthew 6:19,20)

Ye Cannot Serve Two Masters (Matthew 6:24)

Do Not Judge (Matthew 7:1; Luke 6:37)

Ask, Seek and Knock (Matthew 7:7)

Do to Others As You Would Have Them Do Unto You (Matthew 7:12)

Seek The Narrow Gate (Matthew 7:13)

Ye Must Bring Forth Good Fruit Or Be Cut down (Matthew 7:19)

Must Do The Will Of God