本周，魏泰德牧师将谈论上帝的律法，这是基督复临安息日会基本信仰第十九条的主题。

第一条基本信仰宣称：“圣经，新约圣经及旧约圣经，乃是写下的上帝的圣言。由上帝所默示，借着圣洁的神人被圣灵感动说出及写成。在这项圣言中，上帝将得救所需的知识赐给人。圣经是上帝旨意之无误的启示。它是品格的标准，经验的试金石，是各项教训之权威性的显示，并是上帝在历史中的作为之忠实的记录。”

与此可联想到诗篇119:105:“你的话是我脚前的灯，路上的光。”这是基于上帝的话——《圣经》——这是我们所有基本信仰的基础。

现在，让我们专注在基本信仰19条上：上帝的律法。

还记得摩西在西奈山，收到上帝亲自用手写十诫的两块石版吗？在写下之前，这些诫命是如此的重要，祂向以色列人颁布，提醒他们记得：“我是耶和华你的 神，曾将你从埃及地为奴之家领出来。”（出埃及记20:2）

但上帝的律法早在被写在石版上之前就存在了。它从亘古以来一直存在。

总而言之，前四条诫命描述了我们如何向上帝表达我们的爱:

1. 除我以外，你不可有别的神。

2. 不可为自己雕刻偶像。

3.不可妄称耶和华你 神的名。

4. 当纪念安息日，守为圣日。

另一方面，以下六条诫命描述了我们如何向他人表达爱:

5. 孝敬父母。

6. 不可杀人。

7. 不可奸淫。

8. 不可偷盗。

9. 不可作假见证陷害人。

10. 你们不可贪恋。

不像人类的律法只规范外在的行为，上帝的十条简短而全面、权威的诫命要深入得多。

 “但在上帝的律法中却没有不解之谜。人人都能理解它所体现的伟大真理。最弱的心智也能掌握这些准则；最无知的人也能管制生活，按照神圣的标准塑造品格。”(怀爱伦《信息选粹》卷一，217页)

基本信仰第19条宣称：“上帝律法的诸般伟大原则表达在十诫中，也表现在基督的生活里。它们表达上帝的爱，上帝的旨意，以及上帝对人的品行及各种关系上的要求，各世代的人都要遵行。这些命令乃是上帝与祂子民立约的基础，也是上帝审判的标准。藉着圣灵的工作，它们指出罪恶，唤醒人对救主的需要感。得救全是出于恩典，不是出于行为；但是其果子是遵行诫命。这项顺从发展基督徒的品格，并带给基督徒康宁幸福感。它是我们对主的爱及对同胞关心的凭据。出于信心的顺从显明了基督改变人生的大能，因此，基督徒的见证便得以加强。”

约翰一书3:4将罪定义为“违背律法”，罗马书3:23告诉我们“众人都犯了罪，亏缺了 神的荣耀”，上帝的律法指出我们需要一位救主，祂借着自己的血和圣灵称我们为义，使我们成圣，并赐给我们能力来守祂的诫命。

 “我们爱,是因上帝先爱我们”(约翰一书4:19)。耶稣也告诉我们:“你们若爱我，就必遵守我的诫命”(约翰福音14:15)。使徒约翰向我们保证“他的诫命不是难守的。”(约翰一书5:3)。

上帝的律法是灵魂的启示。诗人大卫说:“ 我何等爱慕你的律法，终日不住地思想。”(诗篇119:97)。所以我爱你的命令胜于金子，更胜于精金。(127节)。“我遭遇患难愁苦，你的命令却是我所喜爱的。”(143节)。

上帝赐下祂的律法，这律法伴随着丰盛的福气，引导他们与上帝建立救赎的关系。让我们献上感恩，感谢祂通过大能赐下不可思议的礼物——祂所启示永恒的爱的律法。 欲知更多详情，欢迎登录网站：www.adventist.org/the-law-of-god。

This week, Pastor Ted Wilson talks about the law of God, the subject of the nineteenth fundamental belief of the Seventh-day Adventists.

Our first fundamental belief states that “the Holy Scriptures, Old and New Testaments, are the written Word of God, given by divine inspiration. The inspired authors spoke and wrote as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. In this Word, God has committed to humanity the knowledge necessary for salvation. The Holy Scriptures are the supreme, authoritative, and the infallible revelation of His will. They are the standard of character, the test of experience, the definitive revealer of doctrines, and the trustworthy record of God’s acts in history.”

In line with this, Psalm 119:105 (KJV) says, “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” It is upon God’s Word—the Bible—that all our fundamental beliefs are based.

Now, let’s focus on Fundamental Belief #19: The Law of God.

Remember Moses at Mount Sinai, receiving the Ten Commandments written by God’s own hand on two tables of stone? These commandments were so important that before writing them down, He spoke them to the Israelites, reminding them that He is the “Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage” (Exodus 20:2).

But God’s law existed long before it was written upon the tables of stone. It has existed since eternity.

In summary, the first four commandments describe how we show our love to God:

1. You shall have no other gods before Me.

2. You shall not make for yourself any idols.

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

4. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.

On the other hand, the following six commandments describe how we show love to others:

5. Honor your father and your mother.

6. You shall not kill.

7. You shall not commit adultery.

8. You shall not steal.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

10. You shall not covet.

Unlike human laws that only regulate outward behavior, God’s ten brief yet comprehensive, authoritative precepts go much deeper.

“There is not mystery in the law of God. All can comprehend the great truths which it embodies. The feeblest intellect can grasp these rules; the most ignorant can regulate the life, and form the character after the divine standard” (Ellen White, Selected Messages, book 1, page 217).

Our Fundamental Belief #19 says: “The great principles of God’s law are embodied in the Ten Commandments and exemplified in the life of Christ. They express God’s love, will, and purposes concerning human conduct and relationships and are binding upon all people in every age. These precepts are the basis of God’s covenant with His people and the standard in God’s judgment. Through the agency of the Holy Spirit, they point out sin and awaken a sense of need for a Saviour. Salvation is all of grace and not of works, and its fruit is obedience to the Commandments. This obedience develops Christian character and results in a sense of well-being. It is evidence of our love for the Lord and our concern for our fellow human beings. The obedience of faith demonstrates the power of Christ to transform lives, and therefore strengthens Christian witness.”

While 1 John 3:4 defines sin as “the transgression of the law” and Romans 3:23 tells us that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God,” God’s law points out our need of a Savior, Who justifies and sanctifies us through His blood and His Spirit, giving us His power to keep His commandments.

“We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). Jesus also tells us, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). And the Apostle John assures us that “His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).

God’s law is an inspiration to the soul. Psalmist David exclaims, “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97). “I love Your commandments more than gold, yes, than fine gold!” (verse 127). “Trouble and anguish have overtaken me, yet Your commandments are my delights” (verse 143).

God gave His law to provide people with abundant blessings and to lead them into a saving relationship with Him. Let’s thank Him for the incredible gift He offers through His power as revealed in His eternal law of love.

To learn more about this fundamental belief, visit http://www.adventist.org/the-law-of-god.