The Ten Commandments

I think I had these memorized by the time I was eight. Plus I had them memorized from the King James Version. Probably why I didn't spend much time reading my Bible as a child. I needed the "Hillbilly Version".
I am reading Deuteronomy 5. Moses was taking time to review the law and explain it further, before they entered the promised land.

In the side section of my bible it asks the question- Do these commandments apply to us? Answer(from Quest Bible)- Yes. The Ten Commandments provide timeless moral principles that form the fabric of the Judeo-Christian ethic.

Second Question from Bible- Should we obey or ignore Old Testament law?(go to Gal. 3 1-25) Which I did......so go with me.

Answer from Bible- God gave Moses, some 430 years after God established his covenant with Abraham. Paul points out that God has declared Abraham righteous before the law existed. Therefore, Paul claims, obeying the law could not be the basis for a relationship with God. Faith is the only basis for that relationship. The law was never intended to take the place of faith. It was never designed to give the people of Israel a list of rules by which they could earn salvation. Rather, the law served only to show them how far short of God's standards they fell.

It then goes on to explain how we are not bound to fulfill the requirements of the Old Testament to earn favor from God. You can't earn salvation. Paul claims it is a curse if it is used this way. Salvation is a free gift from God that we are able to receive through Christ who died on the cross.

So all this got me interested in Paul and Galatians. My Bible explained that Paul had written it to denounce and correct false teachings that had infiltrated the churches Paul and Barnabas had earlier established. Paul was being accused of teaching the gospel in a water-downed way to increase his popularity. His goal was to was to teach the gospel. The only way you could receive Christ.

It's funny how I had gotten so caught up in Religion. Even though I always hated being recognized for being a Baptist and not a Christ Follower. I was caught up in being "Baptist" Sometimes churches can do more harm than good. But that is a whole other subject!

God is teaching me so much. I see things differently and read my bible with more compassion! It's like Amanda talking about feeling inadequate about politics. I feel that way about being a Christian. I feel there is this painted picture that everyone expects you to look like. I can now accept I am not perfect, I don't have to pretend I am perfect and know the only opinion that matters is God's! Like I say... I am a work in progress.