Dear brother Isaac,

I owe you an apology. It has taken me a long time to get back to you due to a tight schedule.

Thanks for taking time to read the article and airing your opinion.

First of all, I need to state that all God’s children with or without education can, and have made great contribution in as far as the sure word of God is concerned. My experience has been that no one single person has all the answers to the word of God. It’s new every morning and therefore we should all be willing to learn and go as per the word of God.

Yes, you are right that the man of Galilee summed the commandments into two-love for God and love for our fellow human beings. The first of the two takes care of the first four, while the second part takes care of the six.

Once you and I get this understanding, then we are on the right track.The problem lies when we try to confuse them by simply saying that it doesn’t matter any more.

And so you ask “can anyone claim to have kept the commandment to love our neighbor?” Well, I don’t know of any one. But again that is not the question. I think the question should be”What does God expect of us in our time and age? And the answer is to follow
“thus said the Lord!”

As regards the Sabbath commandment, your question actually forms part of the answer. Again like I said, this is the one commandment that many have forgoten. Historical archives testifies to the fact that it was disregard to this commandment that was part of the reason that led the children of Israel into 70 years of captivity.

There is no need to use the commandment as a hideout from the cross. To the contrally, the cross will be meaningless if we forget the demands of the Lord of the cross.

In the end, you and I will be safe to pay close attention to what our Lord needs and not what other people say.

Let us continue to search my dear brother as that is the only solution.

Have a blessed Sabbath.

Pr Birai
www.themaranathasdachurch.org
Saturday,March 15,2008 @7:17 AM

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– Isaac wrote:

Pastor Birai, I made this remarks to your posting but it seems some individual, presumably a SDA was no too happy with it. I am blocked!!!. With my permission, you can forward my comments to forum members and they can see that there is nothing in
them to block or censure. Thanks.

Pastor Birai,

I will not dare argue with a theologian. Jesus did and it sure was deadly. Here is my point. Jesus summed up the ten commandments into two-fold: that we Love God with all our………….., and our neighbor as ourselves. First thing first. I have tried to love my neighbor as myself and found it humanly impossible. Is there anyone who can tell me that he/she has lived up to this commandment and how?

My second point: Yes the 4th commandment uses the word “Remember”, but If the Sabbath was a specific day of a seven day week, why would God tell the Israelites to “Remember” as though their memory was so short that they could easily forget which of the seven days was the Sabbath. Is there a danger of using the ten commandments as a hide out from the cross?

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Absalom Birai wrote:

This is my third posting and the last one on the commandments.

In my first posting, we saw that the 4th commandment, is the only one with the phrase” Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.”

In my second posting, we saw that the 5th commandment is the only commandment with the promise “Children obey your parents-that you may live long.”

All the other commandments simply begins with “you shall not….”

Is there a reason why God wrote the commandments the way He did? I strongly believe so. Here are some observations:

1. The 4th commandment is one that has been forgotten by many and one that has been subject to discussion for many years. Unfortunately, many have come to believe that the Sabbath issue was meant for the Old Testament era. Many have not only forgotten about
it, but have taught others that it doesn’t matter any more. Speak or write about the Sabbath, and you will sure cause an ending discussion even by those who sincerely love God and have served Him for many years.

Ever stopped to wonder why? You and I will do well to humble ourselves, forget all that others have written and said and search for the truth about this issue.

There is no need to be offended for anything. But before you approach this issue, pray like you have never prayed.

2. Many children have been a pain to their parents. So much a pain that many parents have gone into their graves in great bitterness. As though God wanted to give us an incentive, he attached a promise to this commandment. How we treat our parents will most definitely translate into how we will treat our God.

Just check and see. But I guess the question is” How have you treated your parents?

3. All the commandments were given for the benefit of God’s children to guide them. You and I have an obligation to ask the Lord of the commandments to help us understand the fine details.

Let us avoid the temptation of being like the Apostle Paul who persecuted God’s children thinking that He was doing the right thing.

When the man of Galilee was on earth, he attached love for him to obeying His commandments-and I mean all, including the 4th and 5th commandments. Let us take a few minutes every day, searching not only to understand them, but also to follow them.

I am willing to do everything possible to obey all of God’s commandments, not so that I can be saved, but rather because salvation has already been freely given to all. How about you my friend?

Just a thought.

Pr Birai

612-386-4608
www.themaranathasdachurch.org
Wednesday,March 12,2008 @ 5:30 AM