No Greater Burden Than These Requirements

It is fashionable among Christian churches to either say that there is no law for Christians, just grace; or for them to add more laws and obliterate grace. 

We have to remember that our Christian walk is a calling; the church being “called out of the world.”  God calls us and accepts us in our sinful state.  In fact, He had already redeemed us and reconciled us to Himself, before we were born; from the foundations of the world.  We are saved by the LORD’s grace, a free gift that we can not earn.  Once called, we have to make a commitment to God if we want to be a part of the body of Christ, the church which is a spiritual organism and not a manmade organization.  Jesus Christ is the head of the Church.  Jesus Christ is the WAY!  We are to embrace the WAY; a Christian is a follower of the WAY, a follower of JESUS, the LORD. 

During His ministry, Jesus identified the two commandments upon which all of the law and the prophets are founded; 1) Love God above all and 2) Love Fellowman as oneself.  At the Last Supper, He gave a new and third command; 3) Love one another

During His ministry, Jesus identified the two commandments upon which all of the law and the prophets are founded; 1) Love God above all and 2) Love Fellowman as oneself.  At the Last Supper, He gave a new and third command; 3) Love one another.

When the Gospel began to go to the Gentiles, the Holy Spirit led the apostles to not require circumcision and the ceremonial laws of worship; but brought forth four commands for the Church.  They are to; 4) abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and 5) from blood, and 6) from what has been strangled, and 7) from sexual immorality.

As the Church began to become more and more established in the first century, three other requirements became obvious, in order to avoid confusion.  The Church needed to embrace 8) Order; 9) Peace and Unity and 10) Regular worship meetings.  These statutes along with the Apostles Commands and the Great Commands of Jesus total ten.  We as Christians today, should strive to incorporate these laws in our daily lives.

Matthew 22:36-40 ESV "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?"  (37)  And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  (38)  This is the great and first commandment.  (39)  And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  (40) On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."

John 13:34-35 ESV A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  (35) By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Acts 15:28-29 ESV For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements:  (29) that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell."

1 Corinthians 14:33 KJV (33) For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.

Psalms 133:1 KJV A Song of degrees of David. Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Hebrews 10:25 KJV Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

THREE GREAT COMMANDS GIVEN BY JESUS CHRIST (LAW & PROPHETS).

1.   Love God first and foremost; with all of your heart, soul and mind (outward).

2.   Love your neighbor (fellow man, including strangers) as yourself (outward).

3.   Love those of the household of faith as family & friends (reciprocal).

FOUR COMMANDS OF THE HOLY GHOST (THE APOSTLES)

 4.   Abstain from (meat) what has been sacrificed to idols (pagan practices).

 5.   Abstain from blood

 6.   Abstain from that which has been strangled

 7.   Abstain from sexual immorality (adultery & fornication)

STATUTES OF THE CHURCH
  8.   Order is to be established in the local church.

  9.   Peace and Unity is to be pursued among the leadership and members.

 10.  Worship is to be held together on a regular basis.

Today we have discussed, in essence, THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF THE CHURCH.  We have been called by God to prepare for an eternal life to work with Him; to be the leaders in His glorious Kingdom.  We obey the LORD because we love Him.  Our calling is about so much more than just salvation.  It is about an eternal relationship with Jesus Christ, the Mighty God.