**The Ten Commandments Still in Effect **
We know that sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 1:3-4. So there has to be a law before there is sin, and this is made clear in Rom 4:15 which states “for where no law is, there is no transgression”
From these inspired bible truths we then know that God’s Commandments must have been known as far back as the time of Adam. This is evidenced by what God said to Cain after his sacrifice was rejected by God. " If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. (Gen 4:7) Of course Cain was later punished for murder, so he must have known the commandment against murder.
Joseph revealed that he was aware of the binding claims of the commandments, for he said to Potiphar’s wife, “how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). He knew adultery was sin.
We know that Jacob was guilty for stealing his brother’s birthright, and Ham was guilty of not honoring his father by seeing his nakedness.
In Ex 16:28 we read" And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? 16:29 See, for that the LORD hath given you the sabbath, therefore he giveth you on the sixth day the bread of two days; abide ye every man in his place, let no man go out of his place on the seventh day…(Note: this was approx 3 months before Commandments given at Sinai given at Sinai)
We also know that the Sabbath was one of the two institutions established by God at creation and both were given to mankind and not the Israelites. In fact Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for man (Mark 2:27) and the Greek word for man here means “mankind”
God commended Abraham’s obedience by saying, “Because that Abraham obeyed my voice, and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”(Gen 26:5) So I think we can all safely say that the commandments of God were not first given to the Israelites but were given to mankind at Eden.
The Israelites spent generations in pagan Egypt and all but lost their knowledge and respect for the commandments of God, so the Lord reintroduced his commandments by writing them on two tables of stone and having Moses put them in an ark in the most holy place of the earthly sanctuary. The ten commandments were known as the moral law, James referred to the ten commandments as the “royal law” and the “law of liberty”, and he said we would be judged by it. (James 2:8 and 2:12)
The ceremonial law was given to the Israelites alone and it consisted of civil statutes and judgments, dietary laws and rules and regulations governing the sacrificial system and priestly duties. These were designed to prefigure or shadow Jesus as the real lamb of God and the true and eternal high priest who was to become our mediator in the Heavenly sanctuary of which the earthly sanctuary was only a prefigure. ( see Heb 8:2)
When the sanctuary curtain was rent from top to bottom at Christ’s death, it signified the end of the ceremonial law , and in effect" nailed the handwriting of ordinances to the cross. ( note; ceremonial law was handwritten by Moses at God’s instruction)
We know that the 10 commandments were not done away with at the cross because the Bible says they are still in effect. If there were no commandments, there would be no sin and no need of forgiveness and of course no need for Jesus presently acting as our high priest and mediator in the Heavenly sanctuary, Yes the Ten Commandments written on stone by the finger of God are still in effect for Jesus said so.(Matt 5:17-19 & John 14:15. John said so (1John 2:3-50) Paul said so. (Rom 7-8; 7:12; 13:9) James said so.( James 2:8, 2:12)
Psm 111:7 The works of his hands [are] verity and judgment; **all his commandments [are] sure. 111:8 They stand fast for ever and ever, [and are] **done in truth and uprightness.
This is the use of sola scriptura. When anyone says the commandments were nailed to the cross you patiently show from scripture why this is not so. The Bible is its own best expositor
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15.