The Nine Commandments

The Nine Commandments of God
by David J. Stewart

And God spake all these words, saying...

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain.
5. Honour thy father and thy mother.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
10. Thou shalt not covet. . . any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Look in Exodus 20:1-17 for the complete text.
Commandments four is a "ceremonial law" which was ONLY for Old Testament Israel. Ceremonial laws were a specific set of laws, for a specific group of people (Israel), for a specific time period (Old Testament). When Jesus died on the cross, He became our Sabbath. The six day work week in the Old Testament pictured man foolishly trying to earn salvation through good works (which is impossible). The Sabbath day of rest represented our precious Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, who died in our place to pay for our sins (that we who are sinful could be made the righteousness of God) (2nd Corinthians 5:17). We are saved by ceasing from our own efforts (works) and resting upon the finished work of Jesus Christ (His death, burial and resurrection and blood atonement for our sin). Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay. Only through the shed blood of Jesus Christ can anyone be saved. Colossians 2:14 mentions "the handwriting of ordinances which was against us." When Jesus died on the cross, the veil in the temple was torn in two, signifying a new covenant between God and His people. The ceremonial laws were done away with. Ceremonial laws were "reminders" to Israel of divine truths. Please understand that the way of salvation did NOT change, all people of all times have been saved the same way...by grace through faith in the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8,9). There is NO Sabbath day today. The Israelites were forbidden to light a fire on the Sabbath. This was possible in their climate, but not for people who live in much colder climates. Obviously, the Sabbath was NOT intended for everyone. Also, moral laws are applicable 365 days a year (all the time). We are never to violate a moral law! We are never to commit murder. We are never to commit adultery. We are never to bare false witness, etc. However, the Sabbath day was ceremonial and to be kept only ONCE a week. It could not be a moral law. Also, moral laws apply to ALL humanity, the Sabbath was only for Israel, it was a ceremonial law. As a matter of fact, Jesus broke the Sabbath! Jesus would never break a moral law! Jesus was strict on moral law, but lenient on the Sabbath. This should make very clear that the Sabbath is not valid today. So when you here people talking about the "Ten Commandments;" in fact, there are only nine remaining, which are moral laws (which do not change).

Source: http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/the_nine_commandments.htm