"Perhaps you have heard this statement before. Please allow me to quote it as it has been quoted to me several times throughout my walk with our Father; "We keep the 10 Commandments of God spiritually (as to say, not literally)". So..............not literally? Not physically? Only spiritually? What does this mean? Can somebody please tell me?
I have given this much thought, and I believe there is a problem with this. How does one keep the Commandments of the Father "spiritually" but not "literally"? Why would one keep the Commandments of the Father "figuratively", but not "literally"? Has anyone else ever pondered this statement? Is there anyone who can explain this in truth backed by the word of God?
It seems to me that if one were to "inwardly" keep the Commandments of the Father, there would be an outward proclamation of the keeping? Would there not be evidence of the keeping on the exterior, mortally, physically?
Sadly, I believe this is deception. Is this statement saying that we have liberty, only in the flesh of course, to do as we please, even if it's not of Yahweh? We have liberty, only in the flesh of course, to continue in sin, but only in the flesh? That while we are walking in lawlessness of the flesh (anything contrary to God's law), we are A-OK in the eyes of God because by the Spirit we are obedient? Because "by the spirit" we keep the Commandments of Yahweh? When we were adopted into the family of God, did God give to us a "multiple personality disorder"? I'm sorry to be so forward, but I'm really frustrated. I think that this idea is absurd. We either make the decision to follow Christ, who IS God in the form of a man, or we don't. We either observe the Commandments of God, or we do not. We cannot have it both ways. We cannot say, "I observe the 10 Commandments spiritually, but not literally". We cannot serve two masters, only one~ We will either hate the one and love the other or we will be devoted to one and despise the other~
But wouldn't a disciple of Christ, in all honesty, say that we live in obedience to the moral Law of God? I mean, most Christians today, whether we know it or not, are prompted by the Spirit of God to keep His Royal Commandments. We know that it is wrong to steal, kill, covet, lie, commit adultery, dishonor our mother and father and the rest of God's beautiful and Royal Laws, so why do we, as a body of believers, argue the keeping or not keeping of the Royal Laws of the Father? I believe it's because of the fourth Commandment. Many believers do not feel it is necessary to keep the fourth, "Remember to keep my Sabbath holy". And as a matter of fact, many believers are taught this way in church institutions. However, we feel it is of the utmost importance not to have any gods but Yahweh, not to make for ourselves any idols of worship, not to steal, not to kill, not to covet, etc, am I right? So, if we, as a body of believers, felt as though it was of the utmost importance to ALSO observe the fourth commandment, would the question of the keeping or not keeping of God's Law even be in question? So, what is it? Do we keep God's commandments literally, or spiritually, or both? Although, I still don't understand how one "keeps" them spiritually only, without any evidence physically or on the exterior of our mortal bodies.~
We, as believers, have choices to make. Choices to make on a minute by minute basis. Follow God or follow the ways of the world. Which one? Paul, lead by the Spirit of God, shows us in the book of Romans, this struggle. Picking up where I left off in the last article, let's go to Romans 8:6:
"The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;"
So, we see in the above verse that there is a choice, sin, which equals death, or to be lead by the Spirit resulting in life and peace. Sin is anything contrary to the Law of God (10 Commandments). Sin (per 1 John 3:4) is the breaking of the Commandments of our Heavenly Father. In order that one does not remain a "sinful man" he must be "controlled" by the Spirit. We have choices to make. We can either live according to our sinful nature, or we can live according to the Spirit of God. Once again, we cannot serve both. We cannot serve two masters. If we serve the world, if we serve ourselves, we will hate God and His ways. If we are devoted to the world, if we are devoted to ourselves, we will despise God and His ways.
The above verse (Romans 8:6) makes reference to the following verse for greater clarity.
Romans 8:13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live,
Don't we see? Can we gain understanding? If we live according to our sinful nature we will die~ BUT if we live by the Spirit we will STOP, or put to death, the misdeeds (anything contrary to God), and we will live. If we live in obedience to God, to His Spirit which indwells us, we will live and have peace. But if we live not according to His Spirit, His ways, His Commandments, the result is death. Notice the verse also says IF we live by the spirit we put to death the misdeeds of the BODY~ the flesh~ this is externally, and our sinful human desires. We have to put to death the sinful nature in order to live by the Spirit. We have to turn from sin, "go and sin no more". Sin is the breaking of the Commandments of Yahweh. We have to "be ye converted", turn from sin and live according to the Spirit of God. To turn from sin means to turn to the Law of God in obedience. For sin is transgression from God's Law.
So, to say that "we keep the commandments spiritually", is not the "false" part of the statement, but that if one keeps the Commandments of God spiritually, then one would ALSO keep the Commandments literally, physically. There has to be an outward expression of an inward keeping~
Galatians 6:8 The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life
We see again in Galatians there are, yet again, options: please the sinful nature or please the Spirit of God. If one aims to please the Spirit of God, he will reap eternal life. To live by the Spirit is to live our every day lives by His Spirit. In all things. It is to submit to the ways of Yahweh and to "walk" according to His ways, His Commandments. This submission will ultimately show in our external actions. This submission will control the members of our bodies by the Spirit of the Living God. That He would control our mortal bodies, our physical being. So to say that one "keeps the commandments spiritually, but not literally", is like saying that it is okay to walk in our sinful desires, but "Spiritually", I am obedient to God. No! Absolutely not~ It doesn't work that way.
Romans 8:7-8 "the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God."
If we give control to the sinful "human" mind, our sinful "human" nature, we cannot submit to God's law (aka 10 Commandments of Yahweh). It is not possible. Walking according to our sinful nature after it has been nailed to the cross with Christ is walking in complete disobedience and lawlessness.
Romans 8:9 "You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ."
Paul, being controlled by the Spirit, tells us that those in Christ are not controlled by the sinful nature. Why? Because those who are in Christ "choose" to be controlled by the Spirit of God. If we are not submitting to the Spirit of God, we are being controlled by the sinful nature. If we habitually ignore the Spirit of Yahweh, if we willingly disobey Him, we are walking in lawlessness and not according to Him, not according to His Spirit, but rather the sinful nature thus resulting in death, thus not belonging to Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:19 Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;
1 John 3:24 .And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us. (KJV)
Those who keep the Commandments of Yahweh dwell in the Lord and the Lord in them. Those who obey the Commandments of the Father are OF the Father. Those who receive the Spirit of God obey His Commandments. The keeping of Yahweh's holy Commandments are ABSOLUTE evidence of the indwelling of His Holy Spirit. Those who are indwelled by the Spirit of the Living God keep His Commandments.
Going back to Romans;
Romans 8:10 "But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness."
The only way to live in Christ, to be of Christ, and to be of our Heavenly Father Yahweh is to be controlled by His Spirit. To be of our Heavenly Father is to choose not to walk in sin. To choose to die to our flesh. To live by the Spirit. Our body is no longer ours, but we are the body of Christ. And if we are His body, He is the head, He rules the members of the body. Not in our sinful nature, our sinful desires, but by His Spirit, by the ways of Yahweh, by His Commandments.
Romans 8:11 "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you."
This is amazing! Absolutely amazing~ Yahweh dwells within us, His Spirit gives life to our mortal bodies. His Spirit controls or rules over our mortal bodies, this shell that houses our souls. Our mortal bodies and our hearts will be ruled by His Spirit. AWEsome! If I live according to His Spirit, according to His ways, His statutes, His Commandments, Yahweh will give life to my mortal body through His Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. This is my physical body. Not only will Christ rule over me through my mind and through my heart, but also my body, this mortal body or shell. My mortal body and my inward being will be in one accord with the Spirit of God because He rules over me. Thus resulting in the "spiritual" AND "physical" and "literal" keeping of God's 10 Commandments.
Romans 8:12-14 "Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Our obligation, as children of the living God, is to live according to the Spirit of Christ~ That we may be called "sons of God".
Now many may read this and say that I am trying to earn salvation through works. And that is not at all what I am saying, for we do not need to keep the Commandments of God to receive the gift of salvation through Yeshua, but rather, we need salvation through our Messiah to keep the Commandments of the Father. This is His great love for us. That we would not fail this time. When we receive Yeshua, God gives to us a new heart. He has written His laws on this new heart, He has written His laws in our minds by the Spirit of Christ, that if we abide in Him, if the Spirit of Christ indwells us, the Law of God, His Law of love would be met in us~ We have become a new creation, the children of God. And yes, there will be physical evidence of the keeping of God's Commandments. Evidence that the world will "physically" see. One cannot obey or follow the 10 Commandments of Yahweh without the Spirit of the Living God dwelling within us. One cannot obey the Law of Yahweh when living according to the sinful nature, but only by the Spirit of God. It is a choice~
Romans 8:15 "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father."
Our Father's Spirit frees us from the spirit of fear, He liberates us from the fear of our outcome based on the breaking of His Holy Law. By writing upon our hearts and in our minds His Holy Laws, sealed by His Spirit, a believer can now live according to His Spirit, obeying the Commandments of the Father. In God's great mercy, in His love for us, He has written upon our hearts His Laws that we would not fail this time. This time the Law is within us, this time our hearts convict us, this time we can find forgiveness because the blood of the Son covers all sin. No longer having to offer up sacrifices. This time, in the new covenant, we no longer have to turn to earthly High Priests to make intercession for us. Christ is our High Priest. He sits at the right hand of the Father pleading our case. We, as adopted children of Yahweh, can cry out "Abba, Father", in full submission to the will of our Creator. Just as Yeshua cried out (Mark 14:36) "Abba, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
Romans 8:16 "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children."
Acts 5:32 "We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who OBEY him."
1 Thessalonians 4:8 "Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit."
Jeremiah 17:10 "I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve."
Interestingly, Yahweh states that He searches the heart and examines the mind, the same two inward places that He has written His laws within us by His Spirit. So you see, obeying the 10 Commandments of the Father is a manifestation of the Spirit of God living within us. So yes, we obey them "spiritually" as His Spirit convicts our hearts, but we obey them literally as well. If we walk in a way that is contrary to the very Law of God, then our Heavenly Father says that we are not His children. He has sealed us with His Spirit with His Commandments, they are a sign of ownership over us, this Law of Love and walking in obedience to it is the evidence that the Spirit of God has taken residency within us. We must live according to His Spirit thus putting to death our sinful nature. We must obey His Commandments spiritually and literally, for to be a child of the most High God is to live according to His Spirit~
(*note to reader* all scripture was copied and pasted from biblos.com and is from the NIV translation unless otherwise noted)"