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It is so human to have doubts, questions and want answers for the reason of their existence or why things happen (or don't happen) to them.  "What is the meaning of life?", "Why am I here?",  "What is God?", "Is there a God?", "Where is God?", "How many Gods are there?" "Why don't I feel or hear God?" Why doesn't God respond to my prayers?,  We can't begin to list all the questions humans have about the existence of a higher power however;  the Ten Commandments is a good place to start.  Martin Luther, as a biblical scholar, wanted to make it easier for people to learn what the Commandments (The Law) said and more importantly what they mean.  He gave definition to what scholars agree to be, the meaning and intent of each one from  a scriptural perspective, not from what mankind wants them to mean.  Then there is Grace (forgiveness).  

​ Unknowingly we often place our own needs as our God thus subjugating  Gods plan to our own. 

• The "Holy Trinity, Me Myself and I", wants us to pick and choose which commandments fits our perceived need. Check out the Recommended Reading list under Study Groups tab. Recommended Reading  It is an eye-opener, requires some reflection and internalization and hopefully a great starting point for you to look at the Ten Commandments  in a new light. When you get the first one down the other nine should be a little easier. 

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
 
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT

• You shall have no other gods.

What does this mean?

• We should fear, love and trust in God above all things.

 
THE SECOND COMMANDMENT

• You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain.

What does this mean?

• We should fear and love God, so that we do not curse, swear, practice witchcraft, lie or deceive by His name, but call upon Him in every trouble, pray, praise and give thanks.

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THE THIRD COMMANDMENT

• You shall keep the day of rest holy.

What does this mean?

• We should fear and love God, so that we do not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred and gladly hear and learn it.

 
THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT

• Honor your father and your mother, that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.

What does this mean?

• We should fear and love God, so that we do not despise our parents or superiors, nor provoke them to anger, but honor, serve, obey, love and esteem them.

 
THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT

• You shall not kill.

What does this mean?

• We should fear and love God, so that we do no bodily harm to our neighbor, but help and befriend him in every need.

 
THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT

• You shall not commit adultery.

What does this mean?

• We should fear and love God, so that we lead a chaste and decent life in word and deed, and that husband and wife each love and honor the other.

 
THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT

• You shall not steal.

What does this mean?

• We should fear and love God, so that we do not take our neighbor’s money or goods, nor get them in any dishonest way, but help him to improve and protect his goods and means of making a living.

 
THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT

• You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

What does this mean?

• We should fear and love God, so that we do not lie about, betray or slander our neighbor, but excuse him, speak well of him, and put the best construction on everything.

 
THE NINTH COMMANDMENT

• You shall not covet your neighbor’s house.

What does this mean?

• We should fear and love God, so that we do not craftily seek to gain our neighbor’s inheritance or home, nor get it by a show of right, but help and serve him in keeping it.

 
THE TENTH COMMANDMENT

• You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his cattle, nor anything that is his.

What does this mean?

• We should fear and love God, so that we do not tempt, force or coax away from our neighbor his wife or his workers, but urge them to stay and do their duty.

 
CONCLUSION
What does God say about these commandments?

• I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, and showing mercy to thousands of those who love Me and keep My commandments.

What does this mean?

• God threatens to punish all who transgress these commandments. Therefore we should fear His wrath and do nothing against these commandments. But He promises grace and every blessing to all who keep these commandments. Therefore we should also love and trust in Him and willingly do according to His commandments.

In a nutshell this is the Law part given to us as a blueprint for living with other people and in following the Law we honor God.  How is mankind doing with this, not so well?  There is a lot of brokenness because we want to make up our own rules. 
So where does Grace come into our life?  Looking inward at our problems doesn't solve our issues, it is looking outward and upward from where our healing comes. 

It's all about Jesus!   Content Place Holder

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