If I Were Told the Future	Lesson 10
	The Commandments of God
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Welcome to this new Bible lesson! Let’s pray together:

Our Father, To understand Your prophetic Word, we must properly fill our toolbox, which now contains the faith of Jesus. Should we also add Your commandments to it? Please enlighten us on this subject. In Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.

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Revelation 12:17	Comments
And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.	Bible prophecy often mentions the importance of the commandments of God, the law of God. Why are they so essential? Let’s see together.
Revelation 14:12
Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

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Ezekiel 7:26	Comments
Mischief shall come on mischief, and rumor shall be on rumor. Then shall they seek a vision of the prophet; but the law shall perish from the priest, and counsel from the ancients.	The understanding of Bible prophecy is closely linked to obedience to God’s law. When this law is neglected, or entirely set aside, then it is impossible to unveil the secrets of Bible prophecy.
Lamentations 2:9
The law is no more; her prophets also find no vision from the Lord.

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Proverbs 29:18	Comments
Where there is no vision, the people perish. But he that keeps the law, happy is he.	On the other hand, God will allow the student who keeps His law, who obeys His commandments, to succeed in understanding Bible prophecy.
John 14:21
He that has My commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves Me. And he that loves Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.

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Genesis 2:16,17	Comments
And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, «Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat thereof you shall surely die.»	From the very beginning, man received from God precise instructions about the things to do and not to do. The aim of these laws was not to oppress man, but rather to show him the only way to happiness.

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Romans 5:12	Comments
By one man sin entered into the world.	Choosing to disobey God’s law, Adam became a sinner, thus separating himself from God. If there had been no law in Adam’s time, he could not have been judged as a sinner, in other words, a transgressor of God’s law.
1 John 3:4
Sin is the transgression of the law.
Romans 4:15
Where no law is, there is no transgression.

	If I Were Told the Future	Lesson 10
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Genesis 26:5	Comments
[The Lord said,] «Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws.»	Kept by Adam and Eve, the commandments of God were thereafter taught from generation to generation. We can see that, centuries later, Abraham knew these commandments well, and obeyed them.

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Exodus 1:13,14	Comments
And the Egyptians made the children of Israel to serve with rigor. And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage, in mortar, and in brick, and in all manner of service in the field: all their service, wherein they made them serve, was with rigor.	Thereafter, the Israelites were reduced to slavery for more than four centuries. After their liberation from bondage to the Egyptians, God considered it advisable to give them His law once again, solemnly...
Exodus 12:40
Now the sojourning of the children of Israel, who dwelled in Egypt, was four hundred and thirty years.

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Exodus 19:16,18	Comments
There were thunders and lightning, and a thick cloud on the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. (...) And Mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended on it in fire.	The proclamation of the law was an unforgettable demonstration of power.
Hebrews 12:21
And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, «I exceedingly fear and quake.»

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Exodus 34:28	Comments
[The Lord] wrote on the tables the words of the covenant, the Ten Commandments.	The text of the law, that is, the Ten Commandments, was written on two tablets of stone.
Deuteronomy 4:13
[The Lord] declared to you His covenant, which He commanded you to perform, even Ten Commandments; and He wrote them on two tables of stone.

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Exodus 31:18	Comments
And [the Lord] gave to Moses, when He had made an end of communing with him on Mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.	The Ten Commandments were of such a great importance in the eyes of God that He decided to write them Himself, with His own finger!
Exodus 32:16
And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven on the tables.

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Matthew 22:36-40	Comments
«Master, which is the great commandment in the law?» Jesus said to him, «“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like to it, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.»	Obedience to the first four commandments demonstrates our love for God. Obedience to the last six commandments demonstrates our love for our neighbor.

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John 14:15	Comments
[Jesus said,] «If you love Me, keep My commandments.»	God wants to give us the power we need to keep His commandments. If we love Him, we will let Him work within us: and soon, keeping His commandments will be for us a delight, and no longer a burden.
1 John 5:3,4
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not grievous. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.

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Psalm 119 teaches us that following God’s law brings happiness:

«Open You my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Your law.» (Psalm 119:18) «Make me to go in the path of Your commandments; for therein do I delight.» (Psalm 119:35) «I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I have loved.» (Psalm 119:47) «O how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day.» (Psalm 119:97) «Trouble and anguish have taken hold on me: yet Your commandments are my delights.» (Psalm 119:143) «Great peace have they which love Your law.» (Psalm 119:165)

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Deuteronomy 4:2	Comments
You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish ought from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.	As we will see in a future lesson, men have often tried to modify the text of the Ten Commandments, a move strictly forbidden by God.
Job 23:12
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of His lips; I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.

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Matthew 5:18,19	Comments
For truly I say to you, till heaven and earth pass, one stroke or one pronunciation mark shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.	Jesus has made it clear: no one has the right to change a single commandment in order to adapt the text of God’s law to the customs of society!

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1 Thessalonians 5:21

Comments

Prove all things. Hold fast that which is good.

When confronted with God’s Ten Commandments, some people claim that they were changed, that they were given only to the Jews, or that they were abolished a long time ago. Nevertheless, the Ten Commandments possess all the qualities which belong to God: in fact, they perfectly reflect the character of the Creator. So, let’s be careful before saying that the law has been changed or abolished... We walk on holy ground! Let’s look together at the following table, showing that both God and His law display the same character.

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Romans 6:14	Comments
You are not under the law, but under grace.	If the Ten Commandments have not been abolished, then what does this declaration from the apostle Paul mean? What does he want to express by the words «not under the law, but under grace»? Does he mean that the Christian, being under grace, is not required to obey the law of God?

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Galatians 4:4,5	Comments
God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law.	First, what does it mean to be «under the law»? According to these verses, to be under the law simply means to be under the condemnation of the law.
Galatians 3:13
Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus.

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Romans 6:14,15

Comments

You are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

We often stop reading after the words «You are not under the law, but under grace.» Yet, the next verse clearly shows that the expression «not under the law, but under grace» does not allow the Christian to live as if the law was no longer in existence! Indeed, sin is the transgression of the law, and the apostle Paul declares that we should not sin, even if we are under grace... and especially since we are under grace!

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Galatians 5:13	Comments
Brothers, you have been called to liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh.	If a policeman arrests you for speeding, warns you and lets you go without a fine, you are then «under the grace» of this policeman. Does this grant you the right to transgress the highway code? Of course not! If you reoffend, the policeman will stop you again, and this time for good! Likewise, the grace of God forgives us, but that certainly doesn’t give us permission to transgress His law.

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Romans 3:31	Comments
Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid. Yes, we establish the law.	Let’s take again the example of the policeman: what would be the best way to show him your gratitude, when he let you go without giving you a fine? It would be to do your best from now on to keep the highway code, wouldn’t it? Likewise, if we are truly grateful toward God for His grace, we will seek to better keep His commandments, day after day, through His power working within us.

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Hebrews 5:9	Comments
[Christ] became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey Him.	God expects us to obey Him. Through His power in our hearts, we will be able to keep His law, not to be saved, but rather to show the sincerity of our repentance and our conversion. We repeat this important point: we keep God’s law, not to be saved, but because we are saved.
Acts 5:32
We are [God’s] witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God has given to them that obey Him.

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God asks us to do His will, which is expressed in His law:

«I delight to do Your will, O my God: yes, Your law is within my heart.» (Psalm 40:8) «Not every one that said to Me, “Lord, Lord,” shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of My Father which is in heaven.» (Matthew 7:21) «You have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.» (Hebrews 10:36) «He that does the will of God stays for ever.» (1 John 2:17) «Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.» (Ecclesiastes 12:13)

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Galatians 2:20	Comments
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me.	We cannot keep God’s commandments on our own. But by accepting Jesus as our personal Savior, we obtain not only the forgiveness of our past sins, but also the power to do, from that time onward, the will of God, by the presence of Christ living within us through the Holy Spirit.

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John 15:5	Comments
[Jesus said,] «He that stays in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without Me you can do nothing.»	If Jesus dwells within us, we will spontaneously bear good fruit, as a tree bears fruit without effort. Let’s note that the law is not against this fruit.
Galatians 5:22,23
The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance. Against such there is no law.

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Ezekiel 36:27	Comments
I will put My Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you shall keep My judgments, and do them.	God can accomplish these wonderful promises within us, if we sincerely ask Him. Indeed, God greatly desires to give us His Holy Spirit, so that we may keep His commandments which show us the way to happiness!
Hebrews 8:10
I will put My laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to Me a people.

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Psalm 119:47	Comments
I will delight myself in Your commandments, which I have loved.	The believer who is truly converted will not try to lessen the importance of the commandments of God. On the contrary, he will take great delight in keeping them, knowing that God has given him the power he needs to do it.
Romans 7:22
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man.
1 Corinthians 7:19 (NKJV)
Keeping the commandments of God is what matters.

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Deuteronomy 5:29	Comments
O that there were such a heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!	God’s law shows us the only way to happiness. The choice to obey is ours, knowing that, one day, we will all reap the consequences of our choices.
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

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Dear friends, let’s pray together:

Our Lord, What a great message You have given us today! Now we know that You expect us to do Your will, which is clearly expressed in Your Ten Commandments. But alone, we can do nothing: this is why we turn to You to ask, according to Your promise, that You grant us Your Holy Spirit, in order that we may learn to better keep Your law day after day. We thank You, in Jesus Christ. Amen.

 The test of Lesson 10 is waiting for you!

Source of the Pictures of this Lesson

Screen 1: Picture Collection «Corel Gallery Magic» by Corel, 1997, CD #7, Photo Library 1, 52073.PCD. Screen 2: MANISCALCO, Joe. In: «Images from the Bible and Sacred History CD», Chosen Works, MLI Software, JM213.BMP. Screen 3: MUNSELL, Richard. In: «The Living Bible Encyclopedia in Story and Pictures, volume 6», New York, H.S. Stuttman Co. Inc., 1968, p.708-c. Screen 4: In: «The Bible for Children - Retold by Bridget Hadaway & Jean Atcheson», London, Octopus Books Limited, 1973, pp.84-85. Screen 5: ZINGARO, Charles. In: «Votre Bible et Vous» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.250. Used by permission. Copyright ©1959, 1987 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. Screen 6: In: «The Bible for Children - Retold by Bridget Hadaway & Jean Atcheson», London, Octopus Books Limited, 1973, pp.12-13. Screen 7: HARLAN, Russell. In: «The Bible Story, volume 1» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.144. Used by permission. Copyright ©1953, 1981 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. Screen 8: In: «The Children’s Bible, volume 3», Golden Press, 1981, p.141. Screen 9: In: «The Children’s Bible, volume 4», Golden Press, 1981, p.203. Screen 10: DORÉ, Gustave. In: «La Bible de Gustave Doré», Lausanne, Edita, 1994, p.67. Screen 11: In: «The Watchtower» magazine (June 15, 1987), New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, p.5. Screen 12: LEE, Elfred. In: «Revelation Seminars», Seminars Unlimited, 1986, lesson #11 («L’Observation du Dimanche et l’Apocalypse»), p.3. Table of Screen 12: In: «Revelation Seminars», Seminars Unlimited, 1986, lesson #10 («Le sceau de Dieu dans l’Apocalypse»), p.3. Screen 13: In: «Egermeier’s Bible Story Book» (EGERMEIER, Elsie E.), The Warner Press, 1963, p.434. Screen 14: QUADE, Lester. In: «The Bible Story, volume 9» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.67. Used by permission. Copyright ©1957, 1985 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. Screen 15: HARLAN, Russell. In: «The Bible Story, volume 2» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.152. Used by permission. Copyright ©1954, 1982 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. Screen 16: TANK, Duane. In: «La Sentinelle» magazine (October 1991), Pacific Press Publishing Association, p.8. Screen 17: In: «Egermeier’s Bible Story Book» (EGERMEIER, Elsie E.), The Warner Press, 1963, p.395. Screen 18: Picture by: EASTMAN, Bryant. Unknown source. Screen 19: ANDERSON, Harry. In: «The Bible Story, volume 2» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.166. Used by permission. Copyright ©1954, 1982 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. Screen 20: In: «The Children’s Bible, volume 12», Golden Press, 1981, p.735. Screen 21: GRACE, Robert. In: «Signs of the Times» magazine (August 1989), Pacific Press Publishing Association, p.15. Screen 22: STEEL, John. In: «The Triumph of God’s Love, volume 2» (WHITE, Ellen G.), Pacific Press Publishing Association and Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1950, p.398. Screen 23: In: «Réveillez-vous» magazine (February 22, 1992), New York, Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, p.10. Screen 24: Photo by BLUE, Betty. In: «Signs of the Times» magazine (March 2000), Pacific Press Publishing Association, p.32. Screen 25: In: «Uncle Arthur’s Bedtime Stories, volume 1» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.43. Used by permission. Copyright ©1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1976 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. Screen 26: RAPHAEL. Stanza di Eliodoro, Vatican. In: «Charlton Heston Presents the Bible», GT Publishing, New York, 1997, p.108. Screen 27: ANDERSON, Harry. In: «The Bible Story, volume 10» (MAXWELL, Arthur S.), p.140. Used by permission. Copyright ©1957, 1985 by Review and Herald® Publishing Association, USA. All Rights Reserved. Screen 28: Picture Collection «Corel Gallery Magic» by Corel, 1997, CD #8, Photo Library 4, 802084.PCD. Screen 29: In: «Adventist Review» (May 1996), p.15. Screen 30: PROVONSHA, Clyde. In: «Premiers pas» (PADDOCK, Charles L.), Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1964, p.45. Screen 31: ANDERSON, Harry. In: «The Triumph of God’s Love, volume 2» (WHITE, Ellen G.), Pacific Press Publishing Association and Review and Herald Publishing Association, 1950, p.416. Screen 32: Picture Collection «Corel Gallery Magic» by Corel, 1997, CD #7, Photo Library 1, 178012.PCD.

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 The test of Lesson 10 is waiting for you!