Are the Ten Commandment important? Does God really want us to keep them? - Page 2

lunamoth · 05-13-2005, 03:24 PM

Dear Paultoo,

Why are you always yelling?

Love,
lunamoth

Bandit · 05-13-2005, 03:52 PM

hee hee Luna

. I think that is why we need the gift of Holy Ghost, so we don't yell at each other too much.

For the promise is unto you and to your children and to all those who are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

In case anyone is wondering, there are over 900 commandments when we put the OT & NT together.

lunamoth · 05-14-2005, 02:37 AM

Dear Paultoo/Precept,

Well, it's not the scripture you quote that I was refering to. I meant why are you always using bolds and underlines so much that it hurts my head to read the posts? Online it really does make it feel like you are shouting.

But now that you mention it, you do tend to pick the harsher scripture to quote, kind of fire and brimstone, eh?

Best wishes,
lunamoth

added in edit: BTW, I have found that punishing my children does not work, but loving them does. Regardless of how others judge me.

mynameisstephen · 05-25-2005, 06:48 PM

I apologies for the length of this post but when I saw this topic I just had to put my comments in

The Ten Commandments are very important espically in Evangelism

I try to get out on the streets at least twice a week to share the Gospel, I record some of these encounters and then post them on my site (you can listen to them at my website if you like - the address is at the bottom of this post)

what you are about to read is how I present the Gospel to someone by using the Law first to show a sinner what sin is before giving the good news of the Gospel. you may not agree so I welcome your thoughts and opinions- thanks

p.s before you start shouting legalism please read the whole post

Of all the questions you will ask yourself in life, probably the most important is, Am I good enough to go to Heaven? The way to find this out is to ask yourself if you have obeyed the Ten Commandments. Most would answer the question, "Well, I've broken one or two, but nothing too serious, like murder, etc." So, let's go through them and see how you do:

1. "You shall have no other gods before Me."

Is God first in your life? Do you love God above all else? Many years ago, I purchased a T.V. for our children, but the first evening we had it, I arrived home from work and found that they didn't even bother to greet me. They were too busy watching television. I turned it off and explained to them that if they ignored me because they preferred to watch T.V. they were setting their love on the gift rather then the giver, a wrong order of affections. In the same way, if we love anything—husband, wife, children or even our own lives—more than we love God, we are setting our affection on the gift rather than the Giver, which is a transgression of the First Commandment. In fact, the Bible says that we should so love God that our love for Mum and Dad and brother and sister should seem like hatred compared to the love we have for the God who gave those loved ones to us.

We are also commanded to love our neighbor as much as we love ourselves. Jesus spoke of a Samaritan who found an injured stranger, bathed his wounds, carried him to an inn, gave money for his care and told the inn-keeper that he would pay for his expenses. We call him the good Samaritan, but in reality he wasn't "good" at all, he merely obeyed the basic command to love his neighbor as himself. That is a picture of how God expects us to love our fellow human beings. We should love them as much as we love ourselves...whether they be friend or foe.

Have you loved God with all your heart? Have you loved humanity as much as you love yourself? You be the judge. Will you be innocent or guilty on Judgment Day of breaking that Commandment? I'm not judging you—I'm asking you to judge yourself before the Day of Judgment. The sentence for breaking this Commandment is death.

2. "You shall not make for yourself any graven image."

This means that we shouldn't make a god to suit ourselves, either with our hands or our mind. I was guilty of this. I made a god to suit myself. My god didn't mind a "white" lie or a fib here and there—in fact, he didn't exist. He was a figment of my imagination, an "image" which I shaped to suit myself. Is your God the One revealed in Holy Scripture? If not, then you have made your own god to suit yourself—you have committed the oldest sin in the Book. Scripture warns that no idolater will enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

3. "You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain."

Have you ever taken God's name in vain—instead of using a four-letter word to express disgust, you've used His name? Hitler's name wasn't despised enough to use as a curse word. If you have used His holy name in that manner, you are a blasphemer and will not enter the Kingdom of God.

4. "Remember the Sabbath Day, to keep it holy."

I ignored this command for 22 years. Even though God gave me the gift of life, never once did I ask what He required of me. I was guilty of breaking this Commandment.

5. "Honor your father and your mother."

Have you always honored your parents in a way that's pleasing in the sight of God? Ask Him to remind you of the sins of your youth. You may have forgotten them, but God hasn't.

6. "You shall not murder."

Jesus warned that if we get angry without cause we are in danger of judgment. If we hate our brother, God calls us a murderer. We can violate God's Law by attitude and intent.

7. "You shall not commit adultery."

Who of us can say that we are pure of heart? Jesus warned, "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery already with her in his heart." Remember that God has seen every thought you have had and every sin you have ever committed. The day will come when you have to face His Law, and we are told that the impure, fornicators (those who have sex before marriage) and adulterers will not enter the Kingdom of God. Punishment for transgression of this Commandment is the death penalty.

8. "You shall not steal."

Have you ever taken something that belonged to someone else (irrespective of its value)? Then you are a thief—you cannot enter God's Kingdom.

9. "You shall not bear false witness."

Have you ever told a lie? Then you are a liar. How many lies do you have to tell to be a liar? Just one. The Bible warns that all liars will have their part in the Lake of Fire. You may not think deceitfulness is a serious sin. God does!

10. "You shall not covet."

That means we shouldn't desire anything that belongs to another person. The covetous will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

Who of us can say we are not guilty of breaking these Commandments? All of us have sinned, and just as with civil law, you don't have to break ten laws to be a lawbreaker, so the Bible warns, "For whoever shall keep the whole Law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all."

A little girl was once watching a sheep eat grass and thought how white it looked against the green background. But when it began to snow she thought, "That sheep now looks dirty against the white snow!" It was the same sheep, but with a different background. When we compare ourselves to man's standard we look pretty clean, but when we compare ourselves to the pure snow-white righteousness of God's standard—His Law, we can see ourselves in truth, that we are unclean in His sight. That Law is the holy standard by which humanity will be judged on Judgment Day.

This may sound strange, but the worst thing you could do at this point of time is to try and clean up your lifestyle—you realize that you have sinned, so from now on you will keep the Ten Commandments, do good deeds, say the right things and think only pure thoughts. But should a judge let a murderer go because he says he will now live a good life? No, he's in debt to justice and therefore must be punished.

The Law of God is merely like a mirror—all a mirror does is show you the truth. If you see egg on your face, you don't try and wash yourself with the mirror, it's purpose should be to send you to water for cleansing. Neither should you try and wash yourself with the mirror of God's Law...that's not its purpose.

The sight in the mirror is not a pretty one, but if you don't face it and acknowledge that you are unclean, then all that "dirt" will be presented on Judgment Day as evidence of your guilt, and then it will be too late to be cleansed.

Perhaps you think that God is good and will therefore overlook your sins. But if you were guilty of terrible crimes in a civil court and said to the judge, "Judge, I am guilty but I believe that you are a good man and will therefore overlook my crimes," the judge would probably respond by saying, "You are right about one thing; I am a good man, and it's because of my goodness that I am going to see that justice is done, that you are punished for your crimes." The very thing that many are hoping will save them on Judgment Day, God's "goodness," will be the very thing that will condemn them. If God is good, He should punish murderers. liars, thieves, etc., and Hell will be their dreadful fate.

What a terrible place Hell must be. If you read in the newspaper that a man received a £5 fine for a crime, you could conclude that his crime was insignificant. But if a man received multiple life sentences, you could conclude that his crime was heinous. In the same way, we can catch a glimpse of how terrible sin must be in the sight of God by looking to the punishment given for it—eternal punishment. Ungrateful humanity never bothers to thank God for His wonderful blessings of color, light, food, joy, beauty, love, and laughter, so He will take those blessings away from them. Instead of proving their gratitude by obedience to His will, they use His name to curse. Their punishment will be just but severe to the uttermost. Take the time to read what Jesus said Hell was like in Mark 9:43-48. I am afraid for you...please, look honestly into the mirror of the Law, then seek the "water" that cleanses every sin. If you don't believe what I am saying about the reality of Hell, it means you think God is corrupt (that He hasn't the moral backbone to seek justice), that Jesus was a liar, that the Apostles were false witnesses, that God's promises are nothing but prefabricated lies, and there is no greater insult to God than to call Him a liar. By doing so, you are adding to your transgressions. Imagine if you reject the Savior, die in your sins and find that what I have told is the Gospel truth? Then it will be too late, you will be judged for you sins. If that happens, and your eyes meet my eyes on the Day of Judgment, I'm free from your blood. I have told you the truth, but if you choose to ignore it your blood will be upon your own head...you will have no one to blame but yourself.

Can you see your predicament? You are guilty of sinning against God Himself, and, because you have a conscience, you have sinned "with knowledge." Isn't it true that every time you lied, stole, lusted, etc., you did it with knowledge that it was wrong?

Does the fact that you have sinned against God scare you? It should. You have actually angered Him by your sin. The Bible says His wrath abides on you, that you are an "enemy of God in your mind through wicked works." But let fear work for your good in the same way that a fear of jumping out of a plane at a great height would make you put on a parachute. Let your will to live open your heart to the Gospel of salvation.

I am not the only one who doesn't want you to end up in Hell. God Himself is not willing that you perish. To make clear what an incredible thing He has done for you in the Gospel, let's look again to civil law: You are standing in front of a judge, guilty of very serious crimes. All the evidence has been presented and there is no doubt about your guilt. The fine for your crime is £250,000 or imprisonment, but you haven't two pennies to rub together. The judge is about to pass sentence...he lifts his gavel, when someone you don't even know steps in and pays the fine for you. The moment you accept that payment, you are free to go. Justice has been served, the law has been satisfied, and what's more, the stranger who paid your fine showed how much he cares for you. His payment was evidence of his love.

That's what God did for you, in the person of Jesus Christ. you are guilty, He paid the fine 2,000 years ago. It is that simple. The Bible puts it this way: "he was bruised for our iniquities . . . Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us...God commended His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

It was no small thing for Jesus to die for us. The only thing that would satisfy the demands of Eternal Law was the suffering death of the sinless Son of God. What love God must have for you! He suffered unspeakable agony, so that you wouldn't have to be punished for your sins. His sacrificial death and resurrection mean that you need no longer be in debt to the Law, and God can now grant you everlasting life if you obey Him -- death no longer has a legal hold upon those who belong to Jesus Christ.

Two men were offered a parachute while seated in a plane. The first man was told it would improve his flight, but the second man was informed he had to make a 25,000 foot jump. when the flight struck severe turbulence the first man took his parachute off because as far as he was concerned it didn't improve the flight. but during the same violent turbulence, the second man clung tighter to his parachute. Each man's motive for putting the parachute on determined whether or not they would keep it on. In the same way, the reason you should "put on the Lord Jesus Christ" shouldn't be to find peace, joy, true happiness, to have your marriage healed or your problems fixed, etc. (to have your flight improved), but it should be to escape the jump to come—because of the fact that you have to pass through the door of death. Then, when the flight gets bumpy (when problems come) you won't fall away from the faith.

What should you then do? Simply repent and put your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord. Don't put it off until tomorrow.

Would you sell an eye for a million pounds? How about both for £20 million? No one in his right mind would. Your eyes are priceless to you, yet they are merely the windows of your soul. Your life (your soul) is of such value, Jesus said that you should despise the value of your eye compared to it. He said that if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you, for it is better to enter Heaven blind than to go to Hell seeing. In other words, of all the things you should prioritize in your life, it's not your health, your vocation, etc., it's your eternal salvation.

Think of a man who has committed adultery. His faithful wife is more than willing to take him back, so what is the attitude in which he should approach her? It should be one of tremendous humility, asking for forgiveness, and determining in his heart never to even think of committing adultery again.

That's how you should approach God. If you are not sure how to pray, read Psalm 51 and make it your prayer. Then put your faith in Jesus Christ in the same way you would put your faith in a parachute. You don't just "believe" it will benefit you, you actually trust yourself to it by putting it on. Then, once you have made peace with God, read the Bible daily and obey what you read.

your brother in Christ
Stephen

Faithfulservant · 05-25-2005, 08:58 PM

beautiful post Stephen thank you.. great website also I am now listening to the discussions.

Quahom1 · 05-25-2005, 10:37 PM

Interesting Stephen and welcome to CR !

I am of the opinion that your approach might work with certain people and not with others.

For example: The "rich man" at the front of the church boasting in his prayers how much better he is than the rest, and how much he gives and keeps the laws...your approach might get to those types of people. Likewise with people who think they are just moving along fine, neither good nor bad (fence walkers).

But for the poor wretch in the back of the church who can't even lift his eyes up to the alter, and who keeps thumping his breast and asking God to have pity on him...or those who are actively searching, and know something better is out their, if they could only get hold of a piece of it, I don't think that approach would work very well at all.

Pardon the cliche, but "shock and awe" doesn't allways work.

I also have a different idea of what "blasphemy" is:
blasphemy : [from Greek; blas- (to curse, bring harm, or treat with contempt) + -pheme (speech)] Speaking about God with contempt, hatred or disdain; trash-talking against God. It's not about letting loose a swear word or doing some religious act in a so-called "profane" style. It's not even about being angry with God. Even the truest saints have done such things, in part because they were so true that they could be honest with God and humankind. (Remember that when the charge of so-called 'blasphemy' is used by authorities to silence their opponents.) However, true blasphemy is verbally abusing the God who loves you.

Can man really hurt the Almighty Creator of the Universe, All Stars and All Time? When you were a child, you probably said things that brought your parents to tears and anger; if so, you hurt them the way you can hurt God. Or think of someone you had a close friendship with, but somehow your trust was betrayed. You were close, but bitter things were said and you're now distant and separated. And it stings. Blasphemy is when it's done willfully, with intent and meaning. God forgives blasphemy, and tries to do something about the separation. But the true blasphemer won't accept that forgiveness, as if to say : "Let me get this right : you forgive me?? HA !! What nerve!". And so they seal their future. The bigger problem is that too often others join in the harangue, and when that happens, those others also are separated from God.

Taking the Lord's name in vain is just that using the Lord's name in a useless, and unproductive way. I think that commandment is put in place for a simple but profound reason...when the name of God is invoked, a tremendous amount of power builds up for immediate release. Now how the invoker uses that power determines whether it was wasted or constructively issued. Have you ever said to someone "Godd#*mn you" in anger? What instant reaction do you observe from the recipient of that "curse"? Hurt, recoil, anger, shock, lowered self esteem, loss of composure and words. The response is almost allways a weakend attempt at defending themselves against that attack. The "sin" is the wrath behind the curse. The curse itself is a waste of the power of God.

On the other hand, I have observed people using "God Bless your heart" as a response while angry with someone. Totally different reaction. Chastised yes, but not beaten down, and not feeling less than human. The power from invoking God's name is positive here, even in an angry situation.

The OT's Ten Commandments taught us not to "Act" in certain ways. But the NT teaches us to not "Think" in certain ways, which preceeds action.

Do not become proud, do not envy, do not be wrathful, do not be lazy, do not be greedy, do not be a glutton, do not lust. Do not think these ways, for therein lies sin.

Hey, you asked for comments...

v/r

Q

mynameisstephen · 05-25-2005, 11:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quahom1

Interesting Stephen and welcome to CR !

I am of the opinion that your approach might work with certain people and not with others.

For example: The "rich man" at the front of the church boasting in his prayers how much better he is than the rest, and how much he gives and keeps the laws...your approach might get to those types of people. Likewise with people who think they are just moving along fine, neither good nor bad (fence walkers).

But for the poor wretch in the back of the church who can't even lift his eyes up to the alter, and who keeps thumping his breast and asking God to have pity on him...or those who are actively searching, and know something better is out their, if they could only get hold of a piece of it, I don't think that approach would work very well at all.

Q

Thanks for your comments they are always welcome

I think you can see the difference between the two above the first is proud and the second is humble, the verse (and I hope i quote it correct as I cant find it) that comes to mind " God gives Law to the proud and grace to the humble" if these people were standing in front of me then to the first man I would keep going through the Law because he is not ready for the Gospel as Jesus said we are not to throw the Beautiful pearl of the Gospel before swine but the second person is ready for the Gospel he is humble and realises he has sinned against God

I do not disagree with you on Blasphemy but if I heard someone use the name of our Lord flipantly then I would class that as taking the Lords name in vain

when I ask people if they Have ever taken the Lords name in vain they never ask me to explain what i mean, most know that they are guilty of it

Quahom1 · 05-25-2005, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mynameisstephen

...I do not disagree with you on Blasphemy but if I heard someone use the name of our Lord flipantly then I would class that as taking the Lords name in vain

when I ask people if they Have ever taken the Lords name in vain they never ask me to explain what i mean, most know that they are guilty of it

LOL, no worries, I still "catch myself" doing it. Only there is an immediate awareness of what I've just done, and a quick "sorry" to the Man upstairs.

v/r

Q

Quahom1 · 05-25-2005, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mynameisstephen

...I think you can see the difference between the two above the first is proud and the second is humble, the verse (and I hope i quote it correct as I cant find it) that comes to mind " God gives Law to the proud and grace to the humble" if these people were standing in front of me then to the first man I would keep going through the Law because he is not ready for the Gospel as Jesus said we are not to throw the Beautiful pearl of the Gospel before swine but the second person is ready for the Gospel he is humble and realises he has sinned against God...

How do you approach the second party, with the state that they are already in? Surely your message must be modified?...

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Q

mynameisstephen · 05-25-2005, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quahom1

How do you approach the second party, with the state that they are already in? Surely your message must be modified?...

v/r

Q

sorry I should have explained a bit better, I would go straight into the Good news of the Gospel

path_of_one · 05-25-2005, 11:55 PM

Stephen, I understand where you're going with that, but I must say I don't find it inspiring. Perhaps that method works for some people. But I just don't find worship out of fear of Hell correct. "Fear" as it is translated in the English Bible, actually was a word that meant closer to "awesome respect" in Greek manuscripts. I don't worship God because I am afraid of Hell- that doesn't seem like genuinely loving God with my whole heart to me. No offense, but it looks like self-preservation, which is a selfish attitude.

As an example, I'll take the way I love (and obeyed as a child) my mother. I desired to obey my mother out of love. I did not obey her or love her because she could punish me for my wrongdoings, but rather because she continually showed her unconditional and deep love for me from the time I was born. Experiencing this love was inspiring and humbling, and so I sought to please her out of reciprocal love for her, not because I was afraid of punishment (or alternatively because I wanted to get a reward). Now, on occasion I'd screw up, because no one is perfect. And so I'd get grounded, and I'd also get a clear talking-to about what I did wrong and why it was wrong. This was not punishment, it was teaching- for my own betterment and learning. God's Law, to me, is like this. It is not for demoralising people, but rather for our betterment and learning. It is to teach us the proper way to behave, and is a tremendous gift. It is God trying to help us understand what we are doing wrong and why, and to coach us into better behavior that will help us grow closer to Him. Yet, like I obeyed and pleased my mother out of love for her and not out of desire for reward or avoidance of punishment, I also seek to obey and please God out of my deep love for Him, and not out of desire for Heaven or avoidance of Hell.

I worship God because He's given me this tremendous life- not only physical, but spiritual- the amazing capacity to have His comfort, guidance, and love. I don't worship God because I'm trying to get anything- not now, and not after I die. I don't worry about the afterlife. I know that I worship God and follow Jesus the best that I can, and I love God and His entire creation with my whole heart. I am not perfect, but the God of the Bible never demanded perfection- study Judaism and the Old Testament and you will find people that God denoted as righteous and good who were far from perfect. God is forgiving as well as just.

No offense, I completely acknowledge your arguments are very common in Christianity. I've heard them before, numerous times. But I must politely disagree in how they set up the human-God relationship, in their motivations for worship. God deserves worship purely because He is God, not because we have a celestial carrot stick or whip flashed before us. If all I ever got was this one day on earth, and then ceased to exist, I'd still be worshipping God for giving me this one day. I'm grateful for His promises, but the blessings I've received in being alive are more than enough to warrant worship.

mynameisstephen · 05-26-2005, 12:32 AM

In the late 1980s, a TV commercial asked, "What goes through the mind of a driver who is not wearing a seat belt in a head- n collision?" Then they showed a crash dummy having its head crushed by a steering wheel in a collision, and said, "The steering wheel!" Those were scare tactics, but no one complained because they were legitimate scare tactics. That’s what happens in a head-on collision if you are foolish enough to not put on a seat belt. To warn of hell is fearful, but it is absolutely legitimate, because the Bible says that it is a fearful thing for a sinner to fall into the hands of the living God

Quahom1 · 05-26-2005, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mynameisstephen

In the late 1980s, a TV commercial asked, "What goes through the mind of a driver who is not wearing a seat belt in a head- n collision?" Then they showed a crash dummy having its head crushed by a steering wheel in a collision, and said, "The steering wheel!" Those were scare tactics, but no one complained because they were legitimate scare tactics. That’s what happens in a head-on collision if you are foolish enough to not put on a seat belt. To warn of hell is fearful, but it is absolutely legitimate, because the Bible says that it is a fearful thing for a sinner to fall into the hands of the living God

No. To discuss one's thoughts is fine. To disagree is fine. To proselytize or preach is not so fine. That is what is of concern. Besides, this is the Christianity forum. Most of us are there already.

You started out by stating this is what you teach on the street to non-believers or unknowns. Path of One said he dis-agreed with the method, because he sees God in a gentler light.

There was a time in my life, when someone told me I'd be damned if I didn't convert...and at that point in my life, I spat back that I was already damned, and at the time, I meant it. Perhaps the person set wheels in motion in my mind, but I wasn't ready to hear more hell than I was already in, and I didn't fit the proud, nor the poor in heart. I was just plain angry. So, you message might have gone right over my head.

Some may need to hear about hell, some may need to hear about heaven, and some may simply need to hear that the Lord is right there, ready to catch them, if they'd only take a chance and trust, or there to take the burdens off their shoulders if they would let Him.

That's all. Jesus has a different message for different people. But I do like the way you broke the ten commandments down. Can't argue with the basic facts...

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Q

mynameisstephen · 05-26-2005, 09:28 AM

I apologies if I started to stray off the subject of the topic when i started talking about Hell, The Topic is are the Ten Commandments important?..... my answer to that was yes they are important as Galations 3:24 says

"The Law was our School master to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith"

so here are some quotes from some of the great preachers of old

John Wycliffe, the Bible translator. He said, “The highest service to which a man may obtain on earth is to preach the law of God.”

“If you do not use the law in gospel proclamation, you will fill the church with false converts.”

Martin Luther: He said, “Satan, the god of all dissension stirs up daily new sects. And last of all which of all others I should never have foreseen or once suspected, he has raised up a sect such as teach that men should not be terrified by the law, but gently exhorted by the preaching of the grace of Christ.”

John Wesley said to a friend, in writing to a young evangelist, “Preach 90 percent law and 10 percent grace.”

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones: "The trouble with people who are not seeking for a Savior, and for salvation, is that they do not understand the nature of sin. It is the peculiar function of the Law to bring such an understanding to a man’s mind and conscience. That is why great evangelical preachers 300 years ago in the time of the Puritans, and 200 years ago in the time of Whitefield and others, always engaged in what they called a preliminary 'Law work.'”

John Newton (wrote "Amazing Grace"): “Ignorance of the nature and design of the Law is at the bottom of most religious mistakes.”

Charles Spurgeon: “I do not believe that any man can preach the gospel who does not preach the Law.” Then he warns, “Lower the Law and you dim the light by which man perceives his guilt; this is a very serious loss to the sinner rather than a gain; for it lessens the likelihood of his conviction and conversion. I say you have deprived the gospel of its ablest auxiliary [its most powerful weapon] when you have set aside the Law. You have taken away from it the schoolmaster that is to bring men to Christ . . . They will never accept grace till they tremble before a just and holy Law. Therefore the Law serves a most necessary purpose, and it must not be removed from its place.”

Jonathan Edwards: “The only way we can know whether we are sinning is by knowing His Moral Law.”

George Whitefield said to his hearers, “First, then, before you can speak peace to your hearts, you must be made to see, made to feel, made to weep over, made to bewail, your actual transgressions against the Law of God.”

John Wesley: "...it is the ordinary method of the Spirit of God to convict sinners by the Law. It is this which, being set home on the conscience, generally breaketh the rocks in pieces. It is more especially this part of the Word of God which is quick and powerful, full of life and energy and sharper than any two-edged sword."

Martin Luther: "The first duty of the Gospel preacher is to declare God's Law and show the nature of sin."