10 Key paths to Heaven! - Part 2

  More of the 10 Key paths to Heaven!  -  Part 2  Thieves?

Have you ever thought what makes a thief?

It is of course when someone takes something from another; but to what extent?

Whenever something is stolen or taken - weighter it be: an idea, credit for some else's work, an actual item or thing, or even words - no matter how small -  it remains still remains stealing!

So what are some of the ways we steal?


 “When you kill a man, you steal a life.
You steal his wife's right to a husband, rob his children of a father.
When you tell a lie, you steal someone's right to the truth. When you cheat, you steal the right to fairness.”
― Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner


Matthew Henry, a Bible expositor and commentator, wrote that the:
 Eighth Commandment forbids us to " rob others by removing the ancient landmarks, invading our neighbor's rights, taking their goods from them, or house, or field, either forcibly or clandestinely, over reaching in bargains, not restoring what is borrowed or found, withholding just due debts or rents or wages.."

 

“Personal and relative duties must be done in obedience to his commands, with the aim at pleasing and honoring him, from the principles of holy love and fear of him.

 But there is an express and direct duty also that we owe to God;  namely, belief and acknowledgement of his being and perfections, paying him internal and external worship and homage - loving, fearing, and trusting in Him - depending on Him, and devoting ourselves to Him - observing all those religious duties and ordinances that He has appointed - praying to Him, praising Him, and meditating on His word and works.”
― Matthew Henry

Friedrich Schleiermacher  said:  "Before you think of being benevolent and supporting the needy, be just, set aside all injustice, however secret...  A society from which all injustice of this kind is not banished is not honored but shamed by even the most generous philanthropy."  

   **  because even a generous gift of " stolen" money does make a Godly gift.

Some examples show that which runs deeper -

The Ten commandments are not just set of free floating moral principles; they are the summery of all Laws that the Lord God has given to His people after He redeemed them out of Egypt {the World}...   ** remember Deut 15:15...

 **  ^{Deuteronomy 15:15}    Remember that while you were yet slaves in the land of Egypt {the world}and the Lord your God redeemed you.

 That is why I give you this command today. 

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So what good are the 10 Commandments?

June 05, 2005   Christian Crusaders What's the Purpose of the Ten Commandments? TEXT: Galatians 3:19, 23-25 What, then, was the purpose of the law? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come.  The law was put into effect through angels by a mediator.      **  The Faith of Abel, Enoch, Noah   Heb 11:6 …5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he would not see death; AND HE WAS NOT FOUND  BECAUSE GOD TOOK HIM UP; for he obtained the witness that before his being taken up he was  pleasing to God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God  must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.  7 By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark  for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of  the righteousness which is according to faith. Before this faith came, we were held prisoners by the law, locked up until faith should be  revealed. So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith.  Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law. What good are the Ten Commandments?  This is a much discussed question that solicits many  answers. Let us consider some of the answers. A popular answer in this post-modern culture is, “The commandments are of little or no value in  our society where people think everything is relative. There are no absolutes for all situations.  It is astounding to hear someone say, “Stealing and lying are not always wrong if these acts  benefit a good cause.” Unfaithfulness in marriage might not always be wrong if the relationship  between the husband and wife is already gone.” Because this is the conviction of millions of people in our society, we have a very confused  society.   ** A second answer to the question, “What good are the Ten Commandments?” comes from the  more moralistic or legalistic religions. Live obediently with God’s rule and you will win his favor.  “The golden rule is my religion. What a world this would be if only people would live with the ethic –  Do unto others as  you would have them do unto you.” While the Golden Rule does not summarize the Christian faith, many people prefer:   Matthew 7:12,  “So in everything, do unto others what you would have them do to you,” to:  John 3:16 - 17,   For God So Loved 16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that  whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.   17 "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the  world might be saved through Him.   18 "He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been  judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten  Son of God.…         ------------------------------------------------------------------ Since the Law was given by God, what does his Word claim is the purpose of the Ten  Commandments?   Paul raises this question. He writes, “What then is the purpose of the Law?”   God had established a covenant with Abraham that he would bless him and make him a  blessing to many. From Abraham would come the Jewish people and from these people would  come the Savior who would offer salvation to all in the world who would believe in him.   The relationship between God and his people would always be built on faith and not the  obedience to the Law.      **  have you got this  idea?   The relationship between God and his people would always be built on faith and not the  obedience to the Law.      This was the way the Almighty wanted them to live.  These were the absolutes, the rights and  wrongs. But the Law had another purpose.  Paul writes, “So the law was put in charge to lead  us to Christ, that we might be saved  through faith.” According to the Bible, the law reveals who I am. I am a sinner. I cannot never keep these laws.  I need a Savior to forgive my sins.  Jesus did for (me) you what you could never do for yourself!  This Savior is Christ, who is my only hope. When I trust Christ and his grace takes over and  builds a relationship between God and me, I am saved and  am his child forever.    **  Rev. Dr. Homer Larsen Christian Crusaders   -----------------------------------------------------------