Read 'em and Reap!: Written in Stone

Written in Stone – Phillip Graham Ryken
God gave His law to the Israelites to be the standard by which they lived. It was such for hundreds of years. Of course, over time it became a perverted, twisted code that had very little resemblance to what it was when Moses received it. When Jesus came, He seemingly reinterpreted the Ten Commandments when He said, “you’ve heard it said….but I say….” (In reality, He was vindicating it). He also said that He fulfilled the Law. So, that begs the question: “Do the Ten Commandments have any abiding relevance for Christians and the culture in which we live?” The answer is a resounding YES!

Phillip Ryken has offered up a very vital and relevant book about the Ten Commandments and the moral crisis we are facing. He meticulously explains each of the commandments and exactly how they are still binding today. One will quickly notice that the Ten Commandments have far reaching ramifications. Ryken explains that each one is given in its extreme. For example, “Do not murder” is an extreme case of bitterness, anger and wrath, all of which are covered under the sixth commandment. “Do not covet” is presented in its extreme as it pertains to a neighbor’s wife, servants or animals. But this commandment is really a command to be content with what you have. All ten of the commandments ultimately reach to the heart, but the last one gets there much quicker, for it deals with our thoughts right from the start.

I encourage you to take some time and reacquaint yourself with the Ten Commandments; to understand them and the implications of them. God’s moral code was given once. It still has authority over all people of all times. It is perfectly consistent with the teachings and life of Jesus Christ. The Swiss theologian Francis Turrentin said, “Jesus does not act as a new lawgiver, but only as an interpreter and vindicator of the Law of Moses”. John Calvin referred to Jesus as the Law’s best interpreter.

This book is a great starting place to help you understand all the implications of the Ten Commandments and how far you are from keeping even one of them. It truly is designed to drive us to Christ. Other books that will help are Thomas Watson’s “The Ten Commandments”, Michael Horton’s “The Law of Perfect Freedom” and Ernest Reisinger’s “The Law and the Gospel”. Read ‘em & Reap!
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Comments

Thanks for the tip, Brad. Our church's singles pastor and I were just discussing recently what Sunday School topic we should pick for the next quarter, and the Ten Commandments was one of the ideas we considered -- how should the Christian living under grace today treat them? Are they still valid, etc. Sounds like good reading for "prep work" if we decide to go that route....