Is the leviathan in Isaiah 27:1 really Satan?

Sincerely,
Asking Literally

Dear Asking Literally,

Isaiah 27 is dealing with the same topic as the proceeding three chapters – the blessings that exist in Christ and His victory over sin.  To be fair, the language used in this section of Isaiah is some of the hardest and most apocalyptic language found in all the Bible, so there is room for disagreement amongst good brethren.  Having said that, we believe that since the topic is Christ’s victory and the blessings found in the church – Satan is mostly likely the serpent that was slain in Isa 27:1.  If it doesn't represent Satan himself, it probably stands for the world powers that Satan would use to try and defeat God's plans to make Christ's church to flourish.  The language of Isaiah 27:1 is very similar to what is said in Rev 12:9-11.

If we don’t live by the Old Testament, what about the Ten Commandments?

Sincerely,
Longing For Laws

Dear Longing For Laws,

The ‘Ten Commandments’ were Old Testament laws, and you need to live by nine of them. The entire Old Testament law, including the ‘Ten Commandments’ was done away with in Christianity (Gal 3:23-25). The New Testament law supersedes the Old Testament one, and the law written on stone tablets (the Mosaic law which includes the Ten Commandments (Deu 4:13) has passed away (2 Cor 3:3-11).

Having said that, the New Testament reiterates nine out of the ten commands. Christians do obey nine of the ‘Ten Commandments’ because Christ thought nine of them were worth keeping in the New Testament.

1. Thou shalt not have any other god before me (Ex 20:3, 1 Cor 10:14)
2. Thou shalt not make graven images or bow down to them (Ex 20:4-5, 1 Jhn 5:21)
3. Thou shalt not take God’s name in vain (Ex 20:7, Heb 12:28)
4. Honor thy father and mother (Ex 20:12, Eph 6:1-2)
5. Thou shalt not kill (Ex 20:13, 1 Pet 4:15)
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery (Ex 20:14, Heb 13:4)
7. Thou shalt not steal (Ex 20:15, Eph 4:28)
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness (Ex 20:16, Rev 21:8)
9. Thou shalt not covet (Ex 20:17, Eph 5:3)

The only one of the ‘Ten Commandments’ left out is the keeping of the Sabbath (Ex 20:8). Christians aren’t bound to keep the Sabbath holy; Jews were. You have to keep the other nine though.

I have difficulty reconciling how Lot is considered righteous and worthy of saving when he unrepentantly offered his own daughters to rapists.

Sincerely,
Appalled

Dear Appalled,

Us, too!  The story of Lot offering his daughters to protect strangers makes our stomachs roll (Gen 19:6-9), and it is unfathomable to us how God could forgive such wicked behavior… but then again, we can’t imagine a God who would forgive David for murder (2 Sam 12:9), Abraham for letting another man take his wife (Gen 12:11-15), Peter for turning his back on Jesus in His darkest hour (Matt 26:73-75), or Paul for killing christians (Acts 26:10).  It all comes down to the unfathomable love of God, the depths of which we cannot plumb (Rom 8:38-39).  God doesn’t save us because we are perfect, but He reckons our faith as righteousness (Rom 4:5).  Lot was far from perfect, but he did trust God.  When God told him to flee the city – Lot listened.  No one else heeded God’s Word.  The righteous shall live by faith (Rom 1:17), and we have faith when we hear what God says (Rom 10:17) and do our best to act upon it (Jas 1:22).  Lot made some horrific decisions, but when push came to shove – he chose faith.  Lot was saved by the graciousness of a loving and benevolent Father.

What was the first sin that was committed?

Sincerely,
Back To The Beginning

Dear Back To The Beginning,

The first sin was committed by Adam and Eve.  The word ‘sin’ means ‘to miss the intended mark’.  Whenever someone does something that differs from God’s commands, they commit a sin.  When God placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, He commanded them to never eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Gen 2:16-17).  The devil deceitfully tempted Eve, and eventually Adam, to eat from the tree (Gen 3:1-6).  Adam and Eve’s behavior introduced sin into a perfect world – that sin corrupted them, and the curse of sin corrupted the entire creation (1 Cor 15:22).

In the Old Testament, why did God order holy garments to be made for Aaron and his sons when they were given the office of priest?

Exodus 28:2-3 “And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise-hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto Me in the priest's office.”

Why did God want them to have such extravagant garments?  Were they to be held in high regard and given honor by the Jewish people?

Sincerely,
Hemming And Hawing

Dear Hemming and Hawing,

The priesthood was to be held in high regard because, as Ex 28:3 says, they were ministering to God.  The priesthood had a holy job; they were the servants of Jehovah, and that set them apart (Ex 19:22).  Their clothing was to reflect that holiness (Ex 40:13).  The priests weren’t special because of their own worth, but because of their proximity to God.  Today, the church is called “the royal priesthood” (1 Pet 2:9).  The church is special because of its proximity to and blessing from God.  Christians are sinners, too (Rom 3:23), but we have been made holy by the cleansing blood of Christ (Rev 1:5).  We are special because our Savior is special.