What Laws do we Need to Keep?

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 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.
- Matthew 5:17-19 (KJV)

There are two types of Law in the Old Testament:

1) God's Laws, e.g. the Ten Commandments.
2) Moses' laws, e.g. Deuteronomy, etc.

But which ones (if any) do we keep?

From the law of Moses:

And it shall be, when he shall be guilty in one of these things, that he shall confess that he hath sinned in that thing: And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin.
- Leviticus 5:5-6 (KJV)

Surely we're not still sacrificing lambs, or kids. That was all done away with when Jesus' was crucified (once for all). We're under a new covenant.

In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.
- Hebrews 8:13 (KJV)

So we definitely don't need to keep the Old Testament laws of Moses.

How about God's Laws?

Jesus says this about it:

If ye love me, keep my commandments.
- John 14:15 (KJV)

Can it really be that simple? Yes my friend, God's Laws were never meant to be burdensome.

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
- 1 John 5:3 (KJV)

God's Laws are a reflection of God's Character. It's how we know Him.

He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
- 1 John 2:4 (KJV)

Aren't we under grace you might say?!? Well, yes we are, but should we then keep on sinning?

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
- Romans 6:1-2 (KJV)

Remember that sin is a transgression of God's Laws. We need God's Laws to know what commandment we broke, and need to ask forgiveness for (and repent of course).

Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
- 1 John 3:4 (KJV)

Would you like some more proof that we need to keep the Commandments?

Check out the most prophetic book in the Bible, the book of Revelation, and see that God's Commandments are mentioned there at least three times.

And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.
- Revelation 12:17 (KJV)

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
- Revelation 14:12 (KJV)

Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
- Revelation 22:14 (KJV)

It's quite clear really. We should definitely keep the Commandments.

Even Jesus confirmed the Ten Commandments:

But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
- Matthew 22:34-40 (KJV)

Note that the first four commandments are of the type "Love God", and the remaining six commandments are of the type "Love thy neighbor".

If the Commandments are a reflection of God's character, then surely God is Love.

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
- Romans 13:10 (KJV)

I think most people can agree with the above so far, e.g. "thou shalt not kill", etc.

On close examination of the Ten Commandments, there is also the issue of Sabbath.

Isn't that just some weird Jewish thing?!?

As it turns out, no, far from it. God hallowed that day, and made it a special day of coming together.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.
- James 4:8 (KJV)

Should we really keep the Sabbath?

For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
- James 2:10 (KJV)

So yes, we should!!

The Sabbath is also known as a sign.

Moreover also I gave them my sabbaths, to be a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD that sanctify them.
- Ezekiel 20:12 (KJV)

It is a sign of the relationship we have with our Creator. When we keep the Sabbath, God will bless us.

God doesn't change, and His Laws are therefore eternal.

For I am the LORD, I change not.
- Malachi 3:6 (KJV)

God's Laws were in place for Adam and Eve (verbal), Moses (written down on stone tablets), and you and me (written in our hearts and minds).

God's Laws are eternal, and so are the Sabbaths.

Note in the verse below that Sabbaths will still be kept on the new heaven and the new earth.

For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain. And it shall come to pass, that from one new moon to another, and from one sabbath to another, shall all flesh come to worship before me, saith the LORD.
- Isaiah 66:22-23 (KJV)

Aren't the laws written in our hearts and minds though?

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.
- Hebrews 10:16-17 (KJV)

That's correct, but at no point were God's Laws ever cancelled. Sin is against God's Laws, so you've got to know them, so you can repent.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.
- Romans 3:20 (KJV)

I believe that even for Sabbath, the Holy Spirit would have tried to show this to you, but probably gave up at some point. Pray to God, and ask for clarity. He'll give it to you.

God loves those who keep His commandments, and that's all we're being asked.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13 (KJV)

The Sabbath commandment is also known as the "Seal of God", and satan's modified commandment (Saturday to Sunday) is known as the "Mark of the Beast".

Do you see now how important God's Commandments are?

The only way satan can get people to worship him, is by first destroying the relationship you have with God. The Holy Day (satan's Sabbath counterfeit) is designed to block you from having a loving relationship with God.

By not keeping Sabbath on the seventh day (Friday sunset - Saturday sunset), you are not keeping God's Commandments.

You might say: "It's just a day". But remember that Sabbath is a sign between you and the Creator. In other words: it matters to God!!

And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.
- Romans 13:11 (KJV)

Even though we don't have to keep Moses' laws (all 613 of them), there's nothing wrong with studying them, and maybe learn a thing or two.

But when the Pharisees had heard that he had put the Sadducees to silence, they were gathered together. Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.
- Matthew 22:34-40 (KJV)