Homes of Hope & Healing Evangelistic Series
November 7, 2024
Issue #10
The Commandments: Still Relevant, Still Needed
Pastor Anthony Hall delivered a stirring message that delved into the heart of modern society’s moral confusion, pointing to the erasure of sin as a concept and the shifting blame from personal accountability to external influences. His sermon, drawing on psychologist Carl Menninger’s book Whatever Became of Sin, shed light on how people increasingly view their behaviors as products of their environment, trauma, or even biology, rather than taking responsibility for them.
Hall passionately argued that these modern psychological labels are not solutions but excuses. “When yuh lie, it’s sin. When yuh tek what en yours, it’s sin. Simple and straight!” he proclaimed, urging the congregation to see sin for what it is— a transgression against God’s perfect law. He warned that preachers who claim the 10 Commandments are obsolete lead society toward moral decay, stressing that God’s law is unchanging, eternal, and necessary for a truly righteous life.
Pastor Anthony Hall. Photo by Ansuni Hall
By Guido Reni - Web Gallery of Art: Image Info about artwork, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=15885392
Long Before Moses
When God called Cain a murderer, He wasn’t mistaken. This moment challenges the idea that the law only started with Moses. If there were no commandments at the time, Cain couldn’t have sinned. But God’s confrontation shows that His law has always been in effect, etched into the very fabric of human conscience and morality. God’s law existed in Heaven, which is why we know Lucifer sinned and brought rebellion to Earth, tempting Adam and Eve and making all of humanity fall into sin. The commandments were not just for a moment or a people; they are eternal truths that reveal sin and our need for redemption.
Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, lived centuries before Moses, yet Genesis 26:5 tells us he obeyed God's statutes and laws. How could Abraham follow laws that supposedly did not exist? This makes it clear: the commandments were in place even before they were written on stone. God inscribed them into His creation and revealed them to those who walked with Him. When Israel was enslaved for 400 years and lost sight of these truths, God, in His mercy, gave them back through Moses, not as a new decree but as a divine reminder of eternal standards.
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No Moral Compass?
Society has strayed into a space where there is no right or wrong. This lack of a moral compass leads to chaos and confusion. It’s time to remember that the boundaries set by God’s Word are there for our own good.
The Ten Commandments Stand Firm
The Bible declares, “The commandments of God are just and true.” Even in the face of changing societal norms, these words stand fast. They are not outdated relics but pillars of moral integrity.
Baptism: Sabbath, November 9th
The Eternal Law Stands
Jesus made it plain when He said, “Till heaven and earth pass away, not one jot or tittle will by any means pass from the law.” Heaven and earth will only pass when He returns. In Luke 16:17, Jesus emphasized that it’s easier for them to vanish than for a single stroke of the law to fail. Ephesians 2:15 refers to commandments “contained in ordinances”—rituals that ended when Jesus, the perfect sacrifice, died. The torn veil in the temple showed that the sacrificial system was abolished, not the eternal moral law.
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Under Grace, Not Lawless
Yes, the Bible says we’re not under the law but under grace. But here’s what Paul clarifies in Romans 6:14-15: “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.” Yet he doesn’t stop there—he asks, “Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?” His answer? “Certainly not.” Grace isn’t a license to sin; it’s a call to live righteously.
A World Without Law?
Without the law, sin disappears, grace isn’t needed, and the gospel loses purpose. No law means no Jesus, no preachers, and empty churches. Anyone who claims the law is abolished is leading us astray.
When Preachers Mislead
Not Abolished!
False theology that dismisses the Commandments misguides people. When we affirm God’s Word and its standards, society has a chance at finding true peace and order.
Flair Without Guilt
Why do people sin without shame today? It’s because the laws of God have become foreign to them. The old paths have been forgotten, replaced by ‘feel-good’ teachings.
What’s Perfect Needs No Fixing
People discard what’s broken. So why would anyone discard God’s commandments, which are perfect? The answer lies in human rebellion, not divine imperfection.
Me reminding everyone that God’s commandments are still top-tier advice
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Sin, Grace, and the Unbreakable Law
Pastor Anthony Hall’s sermon reminds us that the Ten Commandments are timeless and essential. In today’s world, many try to excuse sin through psychological labels, but sin is sin, no matter how it’s defined. Human behavior cannot be explained away by modern science or trauma; at its core, it is rooted in disobedience to God’s law. God's commandments are not outdated or restrictive but are based on His eternal character and are meant to guide us towards righteousness.
While some argue that the Ten Commandments are abolished, the Bible clearly teaches that they stand firm forever. Jesus affirmed the law, not to destroy it, but to fulfill it. He summarized the commandments into two main principles: love for God and love for others. This love, however, leads to obedience, not lawlessness. Without God's law, there would be no sin, and without sin, there would be no need for grace, Jesus, or the gospel.
The Ten Commandments serve as the moral compass for all believers. They are not simply a set of rules but a reflection of God’s perfect will for our lives. We must resist the temptation to dismiss them as irrelevant and instead uphold them as the standard for right living. As believers, we are called to honor God’s law and live by it, demonstrating love and respect for God and others in everything we do.
What Ever Happened to Right & Wrong?
