God's Law Before Sinai
Many professing Christians today claim that the ten commandments began only at Sinai and not before. Is this the Bible truth? Or did God have a law, ie, the ten commandments before Sinai? This is what we will explore on this page.
How long has sin reigned? ..... 1 John 3:8 .....'He that committeth sin is of the Devil; for the Devil sinneth from the beginning.' ..... So we have had sin from the beginning of this world, but the important question is, can sin exist without there being any law? ..... Romans 4:15 .....'Because the law worketh wrath; for where no law is, there is no transgression.' ..... So if no law existed, then there could be no sin and no one could be found guilty of sin because there would be no law to sin against. So if we have had sin from the beginning, then it stands to reason that we have had the law of God from the beginning (way before any Jews were on the scene).
What was the difference between the characters of Cain and Abel? ..... 1 John 3:12 .....'Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.' ..... Now notice that this Bible verse says that the works of Cain were evil, but the works of Abel were righteous. So there must have been a standard by which their characters could be weighed against. This standard must have defined the difference between right and wrong, good and evil. And what standard was that? The law of God. Take a look at these following Bible verses:
Genesis 13:13 .....'The men of Sodom were wicked and sinners before the Lord exceedingly.'
2 Peter 2:7-8 .....'And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked; for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.'
Genesis 15:16 .....'But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again; for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.'
Now how could the men of Sodom be wicked and sinners if there was no law in place? And how could the Amorites be guilty of iniquity if there was no law? And for the most clear cut Bible verse, have another look at 2 Peter 2 above. It says that the people of Sodom did UNLAWFUL deeds. Now how can someone be UNlawful where there is no law? There had to have been a law in place for the people to obey, and that law was the ten commandments.
Now take a look at this following Bible verse: ..... Genesis 26:5 .....'Because that Abraham obeyed My voice, and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes and My laws.' ..... What did Abraham do (before Sinai)? He KEPT GOD's COMMANDMENTS!! So how can anyone say the law of God didn't exist before Sinai, when Abraham KEPT God's law?
If we belong to Christ Jesus, then who are we? ..... Galatians 3:29 .....'And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.' ..... We are Abraham's seed. And what should we do if we are Abraham's seed? ..... John 8:39 .....'Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham.' ..... We should do the works of Abraham. What works? Obedience to God. Abraham kept the commandments of God and so should we.