The Commandments of Christ
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man
Ronel, and Pete, my beloved husband, to the church in Christ Jesus, Grace be unto you from God, our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Speaking to the Church to edify, exhort and comfort you and us together:
1Co 14:3 But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort.
Christ commands us to submit ourselves to every ordinance of man:
1Pe 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
1Pe 2:14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.
1Pe 2:15 For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:
In troubled times, when every man’s hand is against his neighbor without in the physical world, near us, in the countries we live in, or in countries far away, we need not be anxious about how to react, what to think, or what to do when trouble comes. We have the written Word that always guides us into the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. We are complete in Christ today; we have His commands in any given situation and have no need that the world with its lies deceive us, stealing our reward, which we have in Christ. Christ is head of ALL principality and powers that exist, in the spiritual and in the natural. Our hearts are being changed by our standing in the Commandments. We are being transformed, and the gap between us and the carnal world grows into a giant gulf.
Col 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Col 2:7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Now, our hearts faint with fear and uncertainty when we hear with carnal ears as men hear and see with carnal eyes as men see and understand with carnal mindsets as humanity understands, but in Christ, we are new and complete creatures, hearing differently, seeing and understanding differently. We discern. hear, see, and understand spiritually according to Christ, the Commandments that live in us. We do not discern according to our own ideas or reasonings about the laws and what is right before God. We know that God, the Father, through Christ, works ALL things to the counsel of His own Will. We fear not what any man can do to us. We only fear Him which keeps us in subjection to the Commandments.
Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Mat 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
The question is then: how are we to behave towards the authorities God has placed over us in our lives, whether the laws of our country, the laws of the state or province, the housing estate we live in, or a myriad of other authorities? It is through Christ that all things consist and are held together. The Lord has put every existing authority into place in the past, in the present, in the future to come, and forever more. Christ commands us to submit ourselves to every ordinance of man, whether good or bad.
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God.
Rom 13:2 Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
Rom 13:3 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same.
Rom 13:4 For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil.
Rom 13:5 Therefore you must be subject, not only because of wrath but also for conscience’ sake.
Rom 13:6 For because of this you also pay taxes, for they are God’s ministers attending continually to this very thing.
Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their due: taxes to whom taxes are due, customs to whom customs, fear to whom fear, honor to whom honor.
A second witness tells us to be submissive to rulers:
Tit 3:1 Remind them to be submissive to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good work,
Therefore, we pay taxes and tolls, parking fines, levies; we obey traffic laws, estate rules, and we honestly complete forms and make disclosures as necessary. We are Christ in this world and are to be a light into what is otherwise darkness. We give to Caesar that which is his, notwithstanding the fact that whether the authorities placed over us are good or evil. We strive to do the right thing, that is, to morally excel for the Lord’s sake. We owe no man anything but to love one another, which is to keep the commandments of Christ. This is the love that Rom 13:8 is talking about:
Luk 20:25 And he said unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which be Caesar’s, and unto God the things which be God’s.
Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
If the Government misbehaves and is corrupt and evil, we still obey the laws of the land because we are Christ’s bondservants and belong to Him, doing everything to please our Lord and Saviour, thus doing it unto Him and not unto men. It goes without saying that we obey the authorities and those who rule over us in what we know is reasonable and right [what is right for each man if he is a true Christian is that our consciences towards Christ do not condemn us].
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ
Act 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.
There is an exception to obeying every ordinance or ruling and it is where our obedience to the authority causes us to disobey the Commandments in other areas. The greater truth is we are to obey God and not men. Peter and John were told by the temple authorities not to preach Jesus Christ in the temple. Yet the Lord commanded them to go and preach the Gospel that is His Name, the Commandments. We willingly suffer the reproach of men and obey the Lord always.
Act 5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
Act 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us.
Act 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
A second example is Daniel disobeying the decree of Darius and praying to the Lord in obedience to the Commandments to pray daily. Daniel feared God and would rather risk going into the lion’s den than disobey the Lord. Better to obey God rather than men.
Dan 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
Dan 6:11 Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
Dan 6:12 Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
We are a little flock, we are the children of God hearkening unto the commands of Christ; nevertheless, our lights shine bright in this world of darkness, which know not Christ nor God, the Father. The Kingdom of God IS come into our hearts and minds today when we hear His Voice. We have clear instructions to follow:
1Pe 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
1Pe 3:16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1Pe 3:17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
Heb 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
Living a life subject to every ordinance of the authorities in the world results in us being thought of as strange. Indeed, we are peculiar people, set apart for the Lord’s purposes. For standing with Christ, the Commandments, we are hated for the commands of Christ, which is known as the Gospel or Good News, the New Covenant, Christ IS COME in our flesh:
1Jn 3:13 Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.
1Jn 3:14 We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.
1Jn 3:15 Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
Hating our brethren is not preaching and obeying the commands of Christ. Loving our brethren is preaching and obeying the commands of Christ. We fulfill the law through love. Love IS knowing and doing the commandments of Christ, which were given to Him by God, the Father of all [Eph 4:5-6]. Love always goes hand in hand with obeying the commandments of Christ. It is the fulfillment [making perfect] of the Law of Liberty:
Rom 13:10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.
Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
No one outside the faith is seeking peace. All humanity without Christ is disobedient and ready to fight. This is the way of the world. Righteousness means to obey Christ; it is our garments of fine linen, our garments of righteousness [Rev 19:8]. The world never seeks peace because it belongs to the prince of this world, Satan, and his angels, through God’s design.
Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.
Rom 3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Rom 3:13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:
Rom 3:14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Rom 3:15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Rom 3:16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:
Rom 3:17 And the way of peace have they not known:
Rom 3:18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.
Only the Words of Christ can change us from within, to change us from the heart. The law of Moses, which is the Ten Commandments, and all additional ordinances given to Moses in the Old Testament, and our own carnal thoughts, which are called the law of the gentiles [Rom 2:15], are not able to save us. Christ’s Law fulfills the law of Moses and the law of the Gentiles, making us complete/perfect in Him. Christ’s Law, the Law of Liberty IS love, is His Commands, His Words of Spirit and Life [John 6:63], and that is to be spiritually minded.
Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
The only way out is to REST in Christ. This is the way of Life. Only some enter into His rest in this life, only His true, many are called, few are chosen, and even still fewer faithful children enter into His rest. To rest in Christ is to obey Him and to not kick against the pricks. It is to cease from our own works:
Heb 4:9 There remaineth therefore a rest to the people of God.
Heb 4:10 For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his.
We look at everything with new eyes and a renewed mindset. The Name of the Lord saves us, and His NAME is the things He tells us to do:
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord [does the Commandments] shall be saved.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Rom 12:20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
As true Christians, we are appointed to suffer for the Word every day here and now:
1Th 3:3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
1Th 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
Here is what we strive to do now, TODAY, when we hear the Words of God.
1Th 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
1Th 5:16 Rejoice evermore.
1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
1Th 5:18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
We do not entangle ourselves with the actions and thought processes of the world; it is a snare, but we are rather soldiers of Christ:
2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
We pray for leaders so they pass laws and rule in ways that allow us to obey God and live a peaceable life in Christ.
1Ti 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;
1Ti 2:2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.
The Truth is always making us free today and every day, and we know the Truth:
Joh 8:31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;
Joh 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
We have certain expectations and promises in this life:
2Ti 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
1Pe 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
Heb 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
We do not worry about tomorrow; we focus on the trials given to us today that we may overcome and obey the Lord. He is our strength and guardian as we are the apple of His eyes.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
Mat 10:30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
Mat 10:31 Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.
There is a great reward promised to us. It is the Promise of eternal life, and eternal life is to know THEM [Father and Son].
Joh 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.
Our reward is the reward of the inheritance:
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.
We shall be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven if we teach and obey Christ:
Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
We want to be known by Christ and the Father and do not want to depart from the Living God:
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
We want to be God’s own people, by His design in this life.
Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.
Mat 19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
1Co 7:19 Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
The writer of Hebrews warns us not to depart from the Living God, that is, the Gospel and the Commandments.
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
We rejoice in this commandment to obey every ordinance as we do for all the Commandments. They, the Living Christ is keeping us safe and making us worthy to stand in His Presence:
Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.