Whatever Happened to the Ten Commandments?, Ernest C. Reisinger

committed to historic Baptist & Reformed beliefs

history

documents

library

biography

ten commandments

Whatever Happened to the Ten Commandments?

Ernest C. Reisinger

Ignorance of, and even opposition to, the absolute standard for human behavior found in the Ten Commandments is seen in every area of life. Drawing extensively on the neglected Larger Catechism of the Westminster Assembly, this book examines the scope of each of the commandments in turn and helps us towards a right understanding of God's perfect requirements for our lives. "Though the commandments themselves are brief," the author writes, "their scope is vast and the whole of Scripture is a commentary on them." One of the great strengths of this book, as of the Catechism, is the sheer quantity of Scripture quoted to show the duties required and the sins forbidden by each of the commandments. ―Trinity Books

Today?s lack of concern about the Ten Commandments, not to mention ignorance of what they are, is traceable to the secularization of society which has sought to destroy any absolute standard for behaviour. Educational systems in the western world have attempted, over the last fifty years, to establish an amoral society The fruit of this is now seen in the home, the school, the college, the work-place, and ever so clearly in the political arena. Doing whatever pleases oneself is the norm (see Judg. 17:5?6). This state of affairs is well described by the evangelical prophet: ?Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter? (Isa. 5:20).

The professing church is largely to blame for this decline. Modern theology has cut itself adrift from the pattern of righteousness found in the Decalogue. But equally serious is what some evangelical churches have done to the law of God. They have emphasized the love of God at the expense of his holiness and have not shown unbelievers his hatred of sin nor believers his demand for righteousness. The result is that the sins of society are also found in many churches.

The material in these studies is not original. I am indebted to the Rev. Glen Charles Knecht?s sermons on the Ten Commandments preached in the First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, South Carolina. But the principal sources which I have used are Francis Turretin?s Institutes of Electic Theology, Thomas Watson?s Commentary on the Ten Commandments, Robert Shaw?s Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith and, in particular, The Larger Catechism of the Westminster Assembly. Sadly, the Larger Catechism has taken a secondary place to the Shorter Catechism, with the result that the detailed questions and answers about the commandments, the church and preaching which it alone contains are overlooked.

The main purpose of these pages is to focus attention on the Ten Commandments and to present the duties required and the sins forbidden in each of them. But before doing that, and by way of introduction, I will emphasize their collective importance, point out how they relate to justification and sanctification and give principles for their right understanding and use. I pray that these studies will help to establish the absolute standard of righteousness required by our great Creator and Redeemer.