The commandments were not done away with.
It was the added sacrificial law that was no longer needed after the death of Christ.
God's commandments are still in effect.
I will present a scriptural study on this truth followed up with a Message Manuscript
suitable for your Home Sabbath Gathering.
Concluding with a One-Page Teaching Chart
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This is a foundational biblical distinction, and Scripture is very clear when it is allowed to speak for itself.
I’ll lay this out step by step, showing:
- What law was never done away
- What law was added later
- What Christ’s death actually accomplished
- Why God’s commandments still stand today
No tradition. Just Scripture.
1. God’s Commandments Existed Before Sacrifices
The Ten Commandments did not begin at Sinai in the sense of being newly invented.
✔ Commandments existed from the beginning
- Genesis 26:5 – Abraham kept God’s commandments, statutes, and laws
- Genesis 4 – Cain sinned (sin requires law: 1 John 3:4)
- Genesis 2:3 – The Sabbath was sanctified at creation
Romans 5:13 – “Sin is not imputed when there is no law.”
There was law before Moses—therefore the law was not invented at Sinai.
2. The Ten Commandments Are Separate and Unique
God treated the Ten Commandments differently from every other law.
✔ Written by God Himself
Exodus 31:18 – “Written with the finger of God”
✔ Spoken directly to the people
Deuteronomy 4:12–13 – “He declared unto you His covenant… even ten commandments”
✔ Placed inside the Ark
Deuteronomy 10:1–5 – The tablets were placed inside the Ark
These commandments form God’s covenant, not ceremonial regulation.
3. The Sacrificial Law Was Added Because of Sin
Now notice what Scripture says about sacrifices.
Galatians 3:19 – “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come…”
Added means:
- it came later
- it was not original
- it served a temporary purpose
✔ Sacrificial law pointed to Christ
Hebrews 10:1 – “The law having a shadow of good things to come”
Hebrews 9:9 – “Which was a figure for the time then present”
Sacrifices existed because people broke God’s commandments—they did not replace them.
4. Where the Sacrificial Law Was Kept (Key Proof)
This distinction is often missed—but it is decisive.
✔ Ten Commandments
- Written by God
- Placed inside the Ark
✔ Sacrificial & ceremonial laws
- Written by Moses
- Placed beside the Ark
Deuteronomy 31:24–26
“Take this book of the law, and put it in the side of the ark… that it may be there for a witness against thee.”
Why against them?
Because it condemned sin and required sacrifices.
5. What Was Nailed to the Cross?
This verse is often misused.
Colossians 2:14 – “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us… nailing it to his cross”
The Ten Commandments were never handwriting of ordinances:
- God wrote them
- They are righteous
- They define sin
But sacrificial ordinances:
- were handwritten by Moses
- were against the sinner
- condemned the transgressor
Christ took the penalty system, not the law defining sin.
6. Christ Did NOT Abolish God’s Commandments
Christ’s own words settle this completely.
Matthew 5:17–18
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law… Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law.”
Heaven and earth are still here.
7. The New Covenant Writes the Law on the Heart
The New Covenant does not remove God’s law—it internalizes it.
Jeremiah 31:33 – “I will put my law in their inward parts”
Hebrews 8:10 – same promise, same law
God does not write abolished laws on hearts.
8. Sin Is Still Defined by the Commandments
If the law were gone, sin would not exist.
1 John 3:4 – “Sin is the transgression of the law”
Romans 7:7 – “I had not known sin, but by the law”
Grace forgives sin.
Grace does not redefine it.
9. The Apostles Kept and Taught Obedience
After the cross:
James 2:10–12 – calls the Ten Commandments the “royal law”
Romans 3:31 – “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid”
Revelation 14:12 – “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus”
End-time believers are commandment-keepers.
10. Summary: What Changed and What Did Not
❌ Done away:
- Animal sacrifices
- Temple rituals
- Levitical priesthood system
- Ordinances pointing forward to Christ
✔ Still in effect:
- God’s Ten Commandments
- Definition of sin
- Sabbath sanctified by God
- Moral law reflecting God’s character
Closing Scripture
Ecclesiastes 12:13
“Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
Not was.
Is.
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SABBATH MESSAGE MANUSCRIPT
Title:
“The Law That Stands and the Law That Was Added”
Opening Scripture:
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”
— Matthew 5:17
INTRODUCTION
Brethren, few subjects have caused more confusion in Christianity than the law of God.
Many are told that the commandments were nailed to the cross—yet Scripture says something very different.
Today we will examine:
- Which law God established from the beginning
- Which law was added later
- What Christ’s death actually removed
- Why God’s commandments are still in effect
This is not about legalism.
This is about truth, obedience, and understanding God’s plan.
I. GOD’S COMMANDMENTS EXISTED BEFORE SIN OFFERINGS
Before there were sacrifices, there was law.
1 John 3:4 – “Sin is the transgression of the law.”
Sin existed long before Sinai:
- Cain sinned (Genesis 4)
- Abraham obeyed God’s commandments (Genesis 26:5)
- The Sabbath was sanctified at creation (Genesis 2:3)
Romans 5:13 – “Sin is not imputed when there is no law.”
Therefore, God’s commandments existed from the beginning.
II. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE UNIQUE AND SEPARATE
The Ten Commandments were not treated like any other law.
Exodus 31:18 – “Written with the finger of God”
Deuteronomy 4:12–13 – “He declared unto you His covenant… even ten commandments”
They were:
- spoken directly by God
- written by God Himself
- identified as His covenant
Deuteronomy 10:1–5 – placed inside the Ark of the Covenant
No other laws were given this status.
III. THE SACRIFICIAL LAW WAS ADDED BECAUSE OF SIN
Now Scripture explains why sacrifices existed at all.
Galatians 3:19 – “It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come”
Added means:
- not original
- not eternal
- temporary
Sacrifices existed because God’s commandments were broken.
Hebrews 10:1 – “A shadow of good things to come”
They pointed forward to Christ—the true sacrifice.
IV. WHERE EACH LAW WAS KEPT (A CRITICAL DISTINCTION)
Scripture makes a physical distinction that reflects a spiritual truth.
The Ten Commandments:
- written by God
- placed inside the Ark
The sacrificial and ceremonial laws:
- written by Moses
- placed beside the Ark
Deuteronomy 31:24–26
“Put it in the side of the ark… that it may be there for a witness against thee.”
Why against them?
Because it condemned sin and demanded sacrifices.
V. WHAT WAS NAILED TO THE CROSS
Colossians 2:14 – “Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us… nailing it to his cross”
The Ten Commandments were:
- not handwritten by Moses
- not against us
- righteous and holy
Romans 7:12 – “The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good”
What was nailed to the cross was:
- the sacrificial system
- the ordinances tied to animal blood
- the law that condemned the sinner
Christ removed the penalty system, not the standard of righteousness.
VI. CHRIST DID NOT ABOLISH THE COMMANDMENTS
Christ Himself answers the question:
Matthew 5:18 – “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law.”
Heaven and earth still stand.
If the law were abolished:
- sin would no longer exist
- repentance would be meaningless
- judgment would be unjust
VII. THE NEW COVENANT WRITES THE LAW ON THE HEART
The New Covenant does not remove God’s law—it moves it.
Jeremiah 31:33
“I will put my law in their inward parts”
Hebrews 8:10 – same promise, same law
God does not write abolished laws on hearts.
VIII. THE APOSTLES CONFIRMED THE LAW
After the cross:
Romans 3:31 – “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid”
James 2:10–12 – calls it the “royal law”
Revelation 14:12 – end-time saints “keep the commandments of God”
Faith and obedience walk together.
CONCLUSION
Brethren:
- God’s commandments define sin
- Christ’s sacrifice removes its penalty
- Grace forgives, it does not abolish righteousness
Ecclesiastes 12:13
“Fear God, and keep His commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.”
Not was.
Is.
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ONE-PAGE TEACHING CHART
Moral Law vs. Sacrificial Law
Moral Law (Ten Commandments) | Sacrificial / Ceremonial Law |
Existed before Sinai (Gen 26:5) | Added after sin (Gal 3:19) |
Written by God’s finger (Exod 31:18) | Written by Moses |
Spoken directly by God | Delivered through Moses |
Defines sin (1 John 3:4) | Addressed sin through sacrifices |
Placed inside the Ark | Placed beside the Ark |
Called God’s covenant | Called ordinances |
Holy, just, and good (Rom 7:12) | A shadow pointing to Christ |
Still in effect | Fulfilled and removed at the cross |
Written on hearts in New Covenant | No longer required |
Obedience shows love (John 14:15) | Fulfilled by Christ’s sacrifice |
Key Teaching Point:
Christ did not die to abolish God’s law—He died to pay its penalty.
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