How did we miss it all this time? Even our brother, Paul, the Apostle missed it! But then, though an Apostle, like us he is human – imperfect – only God is perfect. Even an angel, a covering cherub, erred – except he did not repent. Paul’s oversight was not a sin, just human imperfection. Paul said that the commandment to honour our Father and mother (the fifth commandment) was the first commandment with promise (Eph. 6:2), but there is a promise in the second commandment as well.

Read it for yourself – mercy is promised to those who love God and keep His commandments – “shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.” (Ex. 20:6). This is not a description of something past, it is speaking about mercy being extended to thousands of generations, as the same is repeated elsewhere – “Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations” (Deut. 7:9). We have not exhausted a thousand generations since Adam, based on Bible chronology, so this promise still stands and extends to us.

So, all those who think the commandments are done away with and refuse to keep them, perhaps because they want to avoid keeping the Sabbath, they are forfeiting mercy that God Himself has promised. I want mercy, so I will ask God to help me to love Him and keep His commandments.

“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear” (Matt. 11:15).

For further information, please visit Patience of the Saints at http://thecommandmentsofgodandthefaithofjesus.com/

Questions and comments may be sent by e-mail to: commandmentsofgodandfaithofjesus@yahoo.com