by Rev Dr Stephen MK Brunswick, ThD, PhD.<\/p>\n
Professor, Priory of Salem, Institute of Theology
\nPrimace, St Andrew’s and St Joseph’s Orthodox Church of the Culdees
\nhttps:\/\/orthodoxchurch.nl
\nhttps:\/\/celticorthodoxy.com<\/p>\n
Many today claim, \u201cThere are only two commandments now,\u201d as if Christ somehow abolished the eternal laws of God. Yet in truth, most people who say there are only two commandments actually hate God<\/strong>. Scripture teaches plainly: we only know Him by His laws (1 John 2:3\u20134<\/a>), and we only know sin by the law<\/em> (Romans 3:20<\/a>; Romans 7:7<\/a>). Without law, there is no standard by which sin or holiness can be discerned.<\/p>\n Someone once asked me if this refers to the so-called Noahide laws<\/em>. My answer was this:<\/p>\n If you believe you are not related to Israel, then yes\u2014you may rely on some pre-Abrahamic code for yourself. For example, Noah possessed the complete knowledge of clean and unclean animals (Genesis 7:2<\/a>; Genesis 8:20<\/a>), and Adam himself knew the feasts (Genesis 1:14<\/a>; Genesis 4:3\u20134<\/a>), which Moses later told Israel only to \u201cremember\u201d (Exodus 12:14<\/a>; Leviticus 23<\/a>).<\/p>\n Throughout both Old and New Testaments\u2014and even into the new heavens and the new earth\u2014Scripture repeatedly warns of what happens to those who fail to discern between the clean and unclean (Leviticus 10:10<\/a>; Ezekiel 22:26<\/a>; Ezekiel 44:23<\/a>), whether in foods or in other forms of purity and holiness (Isaiah 66:17<\/a>). These distinctions were so central that the Levites were full time employed to teach the full definitions of \u201clove\u201d and \u201cuncleanness\u201d to the people<\/strong> (Deuteronomy 33:10<\/a>; Malachi 2:7<\/a>), and now Christians make up the foretold \u2018Melchizedek priesthood\u2019 \u201d\u2014grouped so it reads cleanly in one parenthetical:<\/p>\n (Christ as our High Priest of the Order of Melchizedek: Genesis 14:18\u201320<\/a>; Psalm 110:4<\/a>; Hebrews 5:5\u201310<\/a>; 6:19\u201320<\/a>; 7:1\u201328<\/a>. For Scripture insists: the only definition of liberty is the law (Psalm 119:45<\/a>; James 1:25<\/a>; James 2:12<\/a>). Only sin is bondage (John 8:34<\/a>).<\/strong><\/p>\n \u042f\u043a 1 John 3:4<\/a> declares: \u201cSin is the transgression of the law.\u201d<\/em> There is no ambiguity here. Transgression of the eternal laws of God remains the only Biblical definition of sin. Therefore, to confess sin\u2014as every sincere believer does\u2014we must know what<\/em> to confess. It cannot be reduced to vague moral feelings or arbitrary standards. The sinner\u2019s prayer itself assumes this: we repent of any and all<\/em> sins defined by God\u2019s eternal law (Proverbs 28:13<\/a>; 1 John 1:9<\/a>).<\/p>\n Some people try to place themselves outside of Christ\u2019s bride\u2014outside of Israel itself\u2014and invent separate standards like the \u201cNoahide laws.\u201d Yet the New Covenant was never made with \u201cNoahides\u201d at all<\/strong>. As Jeremiah 31:31<\/a> \u0456 Hebrews 8:8<\/a> affirm, the covenant is made \u201cwith the house of Israel and the house of Judah.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Romans 9:4<\/a> confirms this further: \u201cTo them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.\u201d<\/em> Verse 5 continues: \u201cTo them belong the patriarchs, and for their race, according to the flesh, Christ came.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n Thus, anyone in Christ becomes part of this covenant people (Romans 11:17\u201324<\/a>; Galatians 3:29<\/a>). As Paul insists, we are grafted into Israel\u2019s olive tree\u2014not into some vague \u201cNoahide\u201d law system. Therefore, the same law given to a thousand generations applies to us (Deuteronomy 7:9<\/a>; Psalm 105:8<\/a>):<\/p>\n We still confess sins as transgressions of that law (1 John 3:4<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n We still recognize that \u201cby the law is the knowledge of sin\u201d<\/em> (Romans 3:20<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n We still affirm that \u201cno jot or tittle shall pass from the law till all be fulfilled\u201d<\/em> (Matthew 5:18<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n Even after the new heavens and the new earth appear, the prophets foretell that these standards remain as the nations come before God (Isaiah 2:2\u20133<\/a>; Micah 4:1\u20132<\/a>; Zechariah 14:16\u201319<\/a>). His moral order is eternal (Psalm 119:160<\/a>).<\/p>\n I often point people to my article, \u201cThe Biblical Definition of Sin Cannot Be Lawlessness\u201d<\/strong> (https:\/\/celticorthodoxy.com\/2014\/05\/definition-of-true-biblical-love-cannot-be-lawlessness\/<\/a>).<\/p>\n The point is simple: anyone who truly comes to Christ comes with a willingness to obey anything God commands (John 14:15<\/a>; John 14:21<\/a>; John 15:10<\/a>).<\/strong> They give Him their whole heart (Deuteronomy 6:5<\/a>; Mark 12:30<\/a>).<\/p>\n But modern rebellion twists this. People now claim that because some ancestors were allegedly \u201cracist,\u201d we must throw out God\u2019s laws on marriage (Ezra 9:12<\/a>; Nehemiah 13:23\u201327<\/a>; 2 Corinthians 6:14\u201317<\/a>), separation (Leviticus 20:24\u201326<\/a>; Deuteronomy 32:8<\/a>), or moral boundaries (Malachi 3:5<\/a>; Hebrews 13:4<\/a>). We are told to label Biblical obedience as \u201chate\u201d or \u201cbigotry.\u201d Yet this was the very lie Satan told in Eden\u2014that God\u2019s law is unfair, oppressive, or evil (Genesis 3:1\u20135<\/a>).<\/p>\n Ironically, I have personally seen many black believers showing far greater love and obedience to God\u2019s Word<\/strong> than the so-called \u201cprogressive\u201d white churches that mock His laws today. They recognize that His commandments define goodness itself (Psalm 19:7\u201311<\/a>; Romans 7:12<\/a>); they put no limits on what He may require. They acknowledge that repentance and holiness bring blessing (Deuteronomy 28:1\u201314<\/a>), while rebellion brings destruction (Deuteronomy 28:15\u201368<\/a>; Proverbs 13:13<\/a>).<\/p>\n By contrast, many modern churches reject not only God the Father but also the Son and the very words of Christ\u2014who is the same Lord that gave the law to Moses (John 5:46\u201347<\/a>; 1 Corinthians 10:1\u20134<\/a>; Hebrews 13:8<\/a>).<\/p>\n A generation ago, no one dared to justify sin so openly (Isaiah 5:20<\/a>). Today, entire denominations declare rebellion as righteousness (Jeremiah 6:15\u201319<\/a>; Jude 1:4<\/a>). Yet salvation itself assumes confession, repentance, and obedience to the God of Israel who never changes (Malachi 3:6<\/a>; James 1:17<\/a>).<\/p>\n The victory remains this: when anyone comes to Christ, whether by baptism (Acts 2:38<\/a>; Galatians 3:27<\/a>) or by prayer (Romans 10:9\u201310<\/a>), they renounce Satan (Ephesians 4:27<\/a>; 1 Peter 5:8\u20139<\/a>), sin (Romans 6:1\u20132<\/a>; Romans 6:12\u201314<\/a>), and lawlessness itself (Matthew 7:21\u201323<\/a>; 1 John 3:4<\/a>). They enter covenant with the same God who gave the law at Sinai (Exodus 19:5\u20136<\/a>), who confirmed it through the prophets (Isaiah 42:21<\/a>), and who wrote it on our hearts under the New Covenant (Hebrews 10:16<\/a>).<\/p>\n The core of the matter is this:<\/p>\n God\u2019s law defines love, liberty, and righteousness (Romans 13:8\u201310<\/a>; Psalm 119:142<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n Sin remains \u043f\u043e\u0440\u0443\u0448\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044f \u0437\u0430\u043a\u043e\u043d\u0443<\/em>, not a vague modern idea of \u201cbeing a good person\u201d (1 John 3:4<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n The New Covenant brings forgiveness, but only for those who admit what sin truly is and repent (Luke 24:47<\/a>; Acts 3:19<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n No cultural accusations\u2014whether \u201cracist\u201d or \u201coutdated\u201d\u2014can overturn what God Himself commanded for a thousand generations (Psalm 100:5<\/a>; Deuteronomy 7:9<\/a>).<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n To reject His law is ultimately to reject Him (Proverbs 28:9<\/a>; Hosea 4:6<\/a>). As Jesus said, \u201cIf you love me, keep my commandments\u201d<\/em> (John 14:15<\/a>).<\/p>\n
Believers as a priesthood under Him: Exodus 19:5\u20136<\/a>; Isaiah 61:6<\/a>; 1 Peter 2:5<\/a>, 9; Revelation 1:5\u20136<\/a>; 5:9\u201310<\/a>; 20:6<\/a>; Hebrews 13:15\u201316<\/a>; Romans 12:1<\/a>.
Sons of Zadok \/ priestly teaching in the age to come: Ezekiel 44:15\u201324<\/a>; 45:4<\/a>; 48:11<\/a>; cf. Isaiah 66:21\u201322<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n
\nThe Real Issue: Rebellion Against God\u2019s Word<\/h2>\n
\n\u0412\u0438\u0441\u043d\u043e\u0432\u043e\u043a<\/h3>\n
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