Colin Wong Supporter Founder, eBible.com

Abraham stood righteous before God, even before the Ten Commandments were given. His righteousness was counted to him strictly from his faith, not from his works (observation of law). 

Romans 4:13
For the promise to Abraham and his offspring that he would be heir of the world did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith.

To the exact question of whether Abraham fulfilled "moral" law as defined exactly by the Ten Commandments, we first have to understand the act of sinning. Is a sinful action i.e. cheating, stealing considered a sin by God before the Ten Commandments were given? The answer is yes.

By what rule of law then does this come from? The Bible does not specifically provide details even though Genesis 26:5 mentions it. But we do have some understand of how things worked even before the Ten Commandments. 

Romans 2:14-15
For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.

So we know, even apart from the Ten Commandments we all share a sense of right and wrong that God had built into our conscience.

With regards to your quote of Luke 16:17, here's what we know.

Matthew 5:17-18
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

All the laws are still in effect. There is no abolishment. If you are not a Christian, the law condemns you today in God's eyes. 

Now as Christians, praise God! Jesus stands in our place. We are justified by faith. Every sin has been blotted out - yesterday, today and tomorrow because Jesus fulfilled the penalty of death for our sins. For those who accept him, the law has been fulfilled. We stand righteous today by grace through faith in him, not through our works (observation of law).

Does this mean now we can sin all we want? Of course not. Even before Moses received the Ten Commandments, even before Abraham's time, going back all the way to Genesis, when Cain killed Abel, a sin is still a sin. The law that is written in our hearts, our conscience bears witness.

Romans 6:1-4 
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

So while we no longer are bound to the law, we must continue to lead a righteous life. We do not continue to sin that grace may abound. We should not test God's kindness in the grace that He affords us.

November 26 2013 • 4 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Vincent Mercado Supporter Skeptic turned believer, Catholic, father of 3

Most probably, Abraham obeyed the Noahide Laws, which are a set of moral imperatives that, according to the Talmud, were given by God as a binding set of laws for the "children of Noah" – that is, all of humanity.

According to Judaism, any non-Jew who adheres to these laws is regarded as a righteous gentile, and is assured of a place in the World to Come (Hebrew: Olam Haba), the final reward of the righteous.

The seven laws listed in the Talmud are:
1. The prohibition of Idolatry.
2. The prohibition of Murder.
3. The prohibition of Theft.
4. The prohibition of Sexual immorality.
5. The prohibition of Blasphemy.
6. The prohibition of eating flesh taken from an animal while it is still alive.
7. The requirement of maintaining courts to provide legal recourse.

November 26 2013 • 6 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

John Smith Supporter

God does not change his law. Psalms 89:34. God has specifically and positively forbidden men to change His law by deletions or additions. Deuteronomy 4:2. "Every word of God is pure....Add thou not unto his word, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar." Provebs 30:5,6

Breaking the Ten Commandments found in the Old Testament book of Genesis:
Genesis 3:1-24 Adam and Eve.
Genesis 4:1-16 Cain.
Genesis 6:5-11.
Genesis 18:20-23 Sodom and Gomorrah.
Genesis 20:1-20 Admelech and Abraham.
Genesis 26:5-10 Abmelech and Isacc.
Genesis 39:7-9 Joseph & Petiphar's wife.

Abraham understood the gospel and God's Ten Commandments. God "preached before the gospel unto Abraham," (Galatians 3:8).

November 26 2013 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report