The Conclusion of the Whole Matter: Commandments Keepers

The Conclusion of the Whole Matter

(Ecclesiastes 12:13) "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."

Most believe the Bible is the WORD of GOD, at least the King James Version of the Bible. The above verse is not man's conclusion, but GOD's conclusion. Our God is telling us this IS the WHOLE duty of man. The KJV Bible supports this conclusion from beginning to end.

This has been the duty of man since the creation of Adam. Adam only had to believe AND obey God, (Genesis 2:17) "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."

Adam showed no fear (or reverence) of God and disobeyed this commandment. Adam didn't have faith in God, that God knew what was best for Adam and Eve. Of course we all know the result of that disobedience. Knowledge of good and evil (sin entering in), and the subsequent punishment and death of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

But this did not change the duty of man, it still remained the same. But with the knowledge came more commands. They had to be spelled out for mankind. They have been known from the fall of Adam, these are the 10 Commandments. How else was Cain condemned or adultery wrong? But this is not about the commandments, but about man's duty to keep those commandments.

Jesus said, and remember HE IS the Word of God come in the flesh, (Matthew 19:17) "And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." This restated the duty of man.

Now there are many anti-christs that have come into this world, that preach not this truth and we can know who they are. For anyone that comes preaching it is OK to break any one of the 10 Commandments, he is not of God. (Matthew 5:19) "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." It does not matter how many healings he does, or how high they raise their hands or how beautiful they sing. Or even that they have turned from a multitude of evil and seem to look and act so right and loving their neighbor, it is a lying deceiving spirit and there is NO truth in them. (Matthew 7:22-23) "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

(1 John 2:3-5) "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."

Jesus taught the keeping of the commandments, even as He kept His Father commandments. (John 15:10) "If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love."

Remember that Jesus had no word of His own, ONLY what the Father gave Him, so His commandments were really the Father's. (John: 12:48-50) "He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak."

(John 14:10) "Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works."

(1 John 5:1-6) "Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth."

(Ecclesiastes 12:11-14) "The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd. And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil."

(Psalms 111:10) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." (Proverbs 9:10) "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding."

(Revelation 12:17) "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ." (Revelation 14:12) "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."

So my friends, while we do have an ever so loving Lord and Savior, and a way of escape from our eternal punishment from our sins past, it does not diminish man's sole duty. Repent, go and sin no more.

So be of good courage, do not be swayed by the rhetoric of the wolves in sheep's clothing, keep the faith. (Matthew 7:14) "Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it."

(Ecclesiastes 12:13) "Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man."