Cartoonology. There is great theology in cartoons and comics.
The Ten Commandments given to Moses by God on Mount Sinai became major building blocks for society, then and into the future. They are part of God’s covenant relationship with mankind. All of our basic civil laws are based on these ten principles. They were the building blocks for the founding of our great nation. Unfortunately, many people view the Ten Commandments negatively, but viewed properly, they provide many benefits.
Several things need to be noted about the Ten Commandments.
1. The first 4 deal with man’s relationship with God. God wants us to know Him.
2. The last 6 deal with man’s relationships with others and provide protection. God wants us to relate properly to each other.
3. They all reveal the holy nature of God. God is pure and righteous.
4. They all reveal the sinful nature of man. Man is in need of God’s holiness and forgiveness.
The New Testament sheds further light on the Ten Commandments. Jesus spoke to them.
Matthew 22:37-39 (NKJV)
37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.'
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
Paul taught us the reason God gave them.
Romans 7:7 (NKJV)
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "You shall not covet."
Galatians 3:24 (NKJV)
24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
What was the greater purpose of the Ten Commandments? To teach us what sin is and therefore, to show us our need for Christ and His atoning death on the cross. Thus, the Ten Commandments were not intended to punish us but to lead us to Christ. They are just one more revelation of God’s mercy and love and have not been done away with. Instead, through Christ, they have been written on our hearts and minds (Hebrews 8:10 and 10:16).
Someone has said that you cannot break the Ten Commandments. Rather, they will break you when violating them. Wise words! 04-14-09
edrynn@verizon.net
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