1. Some so-called Christian religions claim that the Law of God was given by God to the Israelites only and to no one else, here is an example.
“On the one hand, the covenant of the Mosiac law was a temporary, ad interim, dealing with God, which was deliberately chosen by the nation Israel, and which applied to them only.” Lewis Sperry Chafer, Grace The Glorious Theme, pp. 216-217.
In the same book we are further told.
“… the law was never given to any people other than Israel …” Ibid, p. 219.
“Judaism was based on the law and, like the law, applied only to Israel and passed out of force with the death of Christ. So, likewise, Israel alone was delivered from the written commandments of Moses through the death of Christ.” Ibid, p. 242.
This refusal to see the Law of the Ten Commandments as applicable to people other than the Israelites is aimed at denying the Seventh-day Sabbath, the fourth clause of the Ten Commandments.
“The Sabbath is never by any subsequent Scripture applied to Gentiles … It is therefore evident that Christ said, in harmony with all Scripture, that the Sabbath was made for Israel; for there is no Biblical evidence that Christ ever imposed the Jewish Sabbath on either Gentiles or Christians …”. Ibid, p. 255.
4. Thus we must understand that the whole Law is attacked because the whole issue is to deny the Sabbath; or anti-nominaism is for the sake of anti-sabbatarianism really.
“Of the whole Decalogue, it is the Sabbath-day commandment only which is not carried forward in any manner whatever into the reign of grace, nor could it be.” Ibid, p. 245.
The actual events associated with the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai reveals that God spoke the Law to the actual Children of Israel that were in the desert before the mountain. Exodus 19:1-11,16-20; Exodus 20:1-3.
But the internal evidence in the Ten Commandments, in God’s seal in the Law itself, reveals that as the Sabbath is to be kept by the “stranger” a term that relates to races other than Israelites, then the Law itself was for other people also and not only for the Israelites alone. Exodus 20:8-11.
God intended that all the nations of the earth were to hear of the Law from Israel. Certainly this was not for mere idle curiosity, but for obedience; so that the Law of God was meant for all nations. Deuteronomy 4:5-8.
God outlines various sins which are breaking the Ten Commandments, and shows how civil penalties should be applied to those who break them; then He explicitly states that one Law shall be for Israel as well as the stranger or Gentile. This means that the Law of God was for other races as well as the Israelites. Leviticus 24:16-22.
Even the ceremonial laws were also for the Gentiles, then how much more the Ten Commandments. Number 9:14; Numbers 15:12-16.
The fact that the priest in Israel were to make atonement for the stranger (gentile) who sinned (which is breaking God’s Law), this shows that the Ten Commandment (one Law) was for both the Israelites and the Gentiles. Numbers 15:28-31.
We can observe that the congregation of Israel can receive forgiveness for sin which is transgression of the law, thus they are to keep the Law. Well, if another race of people (like Edomites or Egyptians) can enter into the congregation of Israel, they too are to keep the Law as them, showing that the Law was for other people as well, and not only for Israel. (Leviticus 4:13,14; Deuteronomy 23:7,8).
We also see that the stranger or Gentiles together with the Israelites were to all hear and do the Law of YHWH God, so that the Law was not for Israelites only, but for all men of other nations as well. Deuteronomy 31:12.
13. Rahab, a Canaanite woman, was saved by Faith out of Jericho, and dwelt in Israel. She married an Israelite, and was of the linage through which Jesus came. Surely, she must have kept the Law, showing that the Law was not just for Israel only, but also for other peoples. (Joshua 6:25; Matthew 1:1,4-6; Hebrews 11:31; James 2:20,25,26).
Wasn’t Ruth, a Moabitess fully accepted in Israel as one who worshipped God so that she became one of the ancestors through which Jesus came? This means that although she was a Gentile, she had to keep the Law as the Israelites, showing that the Law was for Gentiles also. (Ruth 1:3-5,14 - 17; Ruth 4:9,10,13,17-22; Matthew 1:1,5,6).
15. The Bible plainly shows that the Gentiles were to serve YHWH and keep His Sabbath, for God intended that His house be a house of prayer for all people. This shows that the Law with its seal of God — the Sabbath — were for all peoples and not the Israelites only. Isaiah 56:3,6,7.
The fact that the Gentiles were to come to the light of YHWH means that they have to keep YHWH’s Law, so that the Law of God is for Gentiles also, and not only for Israelites. (Isaiah 60:1-11; Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalms 119:105,130,142,151).
Some Second Witness (N. T.) Evidences
We are told that to the Jews were entrusted the Law of God. Romans 3:1,2.
The Jews themselves viewed themselves as teachers of the Law to the Gentiles, but their hypocrisy caused the Gentiles to blaspheme God, this implies that the Gentiles were to also keep the Law, and not the Jews only. Romans 2:17-29.
We can also see that if the uncircumcision which is the Gentiles were to keep the Law even though he was uncircumcised, he is counted as if he were circumcised and will judge the Jew. This means that the Law is not for the Israelites (or Jews) only, but also for other nations as well. Romans 2:26,27.
Both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin because the Law speaks to all men that all the world may become guilty before God, so the Law was meant for all men from the beginning. Romans 3:9-19,23.
Since God is the God of the uncircumcision or the Gentiles also, when they are justified by Faith, as also are repentant Jews, they all must not make void the Law, but must keep or establish it; so the Law is for all men, both Jews and Gentiles. Romans 3:28-31.
We are told that the Gentiles attained to the Righteousness which is of Faith, and since they were justified by this Faith, and Faith makes them keep the Law, then the Gentiles were supposed to keep the Law. This means that the Law of God is for everyone and not the Israelites only. (Romans 9:30; Romans 3:28,30,31).
The fact that the whole duty of humanity is to keep the Law of God, will mean that it was not given by God to the Israelites only, but was meant for the whole of humanity. Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
If they that do God’s Commandments have right to the Tree of Life, then it follows that both Jews and Gentiles must keep the Law to enter into the holy city. So that the Law was for all mankind and not the Jews only. Revelation 22:14.
The Law of God is also for the Christian Church which is made up of Jews and Gentiles. James 2:1,5,8-12; Romans 13:8-14; 1 John 5:1-4.
The church of God in the last days is to keep the Law of God showing that the law was actually given to all the churches for all of history right down to the last days. Revelation 12:17; Revelation 14:12.
Some Second Witness (N. T.) Evidences
We are told that to the Jews were entrusted the Law of God. Romans 3:1,2.
The Jews themselves viewed themselves as teachers of the Law to the Gentiles, but their hypocrisy caused the Gentiles to blaspheme God, this implies that the Gentiles were to also keep the Law, and not the Jews only. Romans 2:17-29.
We can also see that if the uncircumcision which is the Gentiles were to keep the Law even though he was uncircumcised, he is counted as if he were circumcised and will judge the Jew. This means that the Law is not for the Israelites (or Jews) only, but also for other nations as well. Romans 2:26,27.
Both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin because the Law speaks to all men that all the world may become guilty before God, so the Law was meant for all men from the beginning. Romans 3:9-19,23.
Since God is the God of the uncircumcision or the Gentiles also, when they are justified by Faith, as also are repentant Jews, they all must not make void the Law, but must keep or establish it; so the Law is for all men, both Jews and Gentiles. Romans 3:28-31.
We are told that the Gentiles attained to the Righteousness which is of Faith, and since they were justified by this Faith, and Faith makes them keep the Law, then the Gentiles were supposed to keep the Law. This means that the Law of God is for everyone and not the Israelites only. (Romans 9:30; Romans 3:28,30,31).
The fact that the whole duty of humanity is to keep the Law of God, will mean that it was not given by God to the Israelites only, but was meant for the whole of humanity. Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
If they that do God’s Commandments have right to the Tree of Life, then it follows that both Jews and Gentiles must keep the Law to enter into the holy city. So that the Law was for all mankind and not the Jews only. Revelation 22:14.
The Law of God is also for the Christian Church which is made up of Jews and Gentiles. James 2:1,5,8-12; Romans 13:8-14; 1 John 5:1-4.
The church of God in the last days is to keep the Law of God showing that the law was actually given to all the churches for all of history right down to the last days. Revelation 12:17; Revelation 14:12.
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