7 day Adventists generally teach that the word law in 1 John 3:4 refers to the ten commandments only, but does it?
(1John 3:4[KJV])
Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.

TTGM’s Response to this Adventists’ belief.
The words “transgression of the law” in 1 Jn 3:4 does not mean or refer to the 10 commandments. The word can also be translated as illegality/lawlessness or one who violates the law (Torah). What is the Torah? The Torah is the first five books of the Bible that were written by Moses. Here is the meaning of the words shown in Strong’s concordance.

Transgression of the Law (1John 3:4) = G458 ἀνομία anomia (a-no-miy’-a) n.
1. illegality, i.e. violation of law.
2. (genitive case) wickedness.

nb. Not Roman law, but rather God’s law (Torah)

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7 day Adventists also teach that the following verses confirm that the law is only the ten commandments. Why? Because some of the ten commandments were mentioned. 
(Rom 13:8-10 [KJV])
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. 9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

TTGM’s Response to this Adventists’ belief.
The word law in the verse (Rom 13:8) can also be translated Torah. Again, let us consult the concordance. 

Law (Rom 13:8) = G3551 νόμος nomos (no’-mos) n.
1. (of antiquity) a regulation and its principle.
2. (hence) law (through the idea of prescriptive usage).
3. (specially) the Torah-Law (of Moses (and of Yahweh), including the volume, Psalms, and the Prophets. see John 10:34 and 1 Corinthians 14:21).
4. (of flesh) the Law-of-Moral-Failure (see Romans 7:23, i.e. the law of the serpent).
5. (of love) the Royal-Law of Scripture (see James 2:8, i.e. love Yahweh, and love your neighbor as yourself).
6. (of tradition) the Oral-Law (of tradition), the Mishnah or Pharisaic law.
7. (of redemption) the complete Law-of-Liberty in Jesus for the redeemed (see James 1:25, James 2:12, Romans 8:2).
8. (of trust) a Law (of Trust).

Yes, some of the ten commandments were mentioned, but to conclude he (Paul) only meant ten is nothing more than a false assumption. IMPORTANT TO NOTE, as you can see from the concordance, the word he used can also be translated Torah-law, NOT 10 COMMANDMENTS. Again, it is important to note that the Torah contains more than just ten commandments. See “TTGM’s Response to the Adventists we love on this doctrine” that follows. 

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7 day Adventists agree that the first 5 books of Moses are called the law, BUT the only part that reflects sin are the 10 commandments that are found written therein. So the question is, what are we to do with the other “instructions” that are written in the Torah? Again, see “TTGM’s Response to the Adventists we love” which follows on to understand what is happening. 

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TTGM’s Response to the Adventists we love on this doctrine. We look outside of the 10 commandments and mention the other instructions.

Are the following not commandments, and if someone transgresses them, is it not sin to do so? 

1. Should we not make good; is it sin?
   (Exod 22:14 [KJV])
   And if a man borrow ought of his neighbour, and it be hurt, or die, the owner thereof being not with it, he shall surely make it good.
   

    

    

2. If we add or take away from the word; is it sin?
   (Deut 4:2 []KJV])
   Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

    

3. If a man lies (sex) with another man; is it sin?
   (Lev 18:22 [KJV])
   Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
   

    

    

4. If a person eats swine (pig); is it sin?
   (Lev 11:7-8 [KJV])
   And the swine, though he divide the hoof, and be clovenfooted, yet he cheweth not the cud; he is unclean to you. 8 Of their flesh shall ye not eat, and their carcase shall ye not touch; they are unclean to you.

The four examples above come out of 500 plus that is written in the Torah. You can clearly see that these are instructions that were written by Moses, were given to him by God. In other words, these instructions were given to us by God; we have them because Moses wrote them down.

If they originated from God, and we transgress them, is it not sin against God? TTGM knows that the Adventists obey the dietary commandments (ex. 4), but why not the other commandments? Are we to pick and choose which we will obey?

AT THIS POINT, if you agree that examples 1-4 are instructions that came from God, then we will now explain the commandments and how they are structured.  

Again, the first five books of the Bible, written by Moses, are called the Torah/law. The law contains the 10 commandments and more (including 1-4). Why do we sometimes use the word instructions to describe what is written in the Torah? The word Torah can also be translated as instructions. From this, we can say the instructions of God (Law of God – the commandments are contained in the law). Here is a commentary on the Hebrew word Torah.

The word “Torah” in Hebrew is derived from the root ירה, which in the hif’il conjugation means ‘to guide’ or ‘to teach’ (cf. Lev 10:11). The meaning of the word is therefore “teaching”, “doctrine”, or “instruction“; the commonly accepted “law” gives a wrong impression.

IMPORTANT TO NOTE, the greatest and first commandments are NOT written on the tablets (not one of the ten, but are also in the law). Here our Lord was asked which is the great commandment, and He mentioned two – we can add these to the four mentioned above that are not found on the tablets.
(Matt 22:36-40 [KJV])
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Here are the two greatest commandments found in the law.

1. Love for God, Yeshua quoted from here.
(Deut 6:5 [KJV])
And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

2. Love for neighbour as thyself, Yeshua quoted from here.
(Lev 19:18 [KJV])
Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Are not the greatest commandments, the commandments of God?

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The structure of the commandments as found in the Torah.

The commandments can be broken down into three groups (Primary, General, and Specifics).

Let us show you how they HANG (Matt 22:40).

We have the two great/first commandments (Primary).
1. Love for God
2. Love for your Neighbour and yourself
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Then we have the 10 commandments (General).
The first four of the ten hang on 1 = Love for God
The last six hang on 2 = Love for your Neighbour and yourself
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Last, we have the other commandments/instructions that hang on either the first four and then the other six of the ten – approx 500+ (Specifics).

The 500+ commandments instruct us how to keep the ten. These instructions also tell us what to do if any of the ten are transgressed.

Read more about Understanding the Commandments of God.

Finally:
When we read sin is the transgression of God’s law (1John 3:4), it refers to the transgression of all or any one of the commandments/instructions given by God, not only ten. 

God gave us the two greatest (primary) commandments, then He gave us the 10 (general) commandments that He wrote Himself. He did not leave us to figure out how to keep the ten, He was gracious enough to give us over 500 plus instructions to follow, to show us how to keep the ten – The law of Moses/ Torah. If you study the law you will notice every single commandment that God gave Moses to write is based on love. When you transgress one against God or your neighbor/self, you are showing hate. Why? Sin is hate. 

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Why did God write the ten commandments on two stones?

A. The commandments are part of the covenant. 
God wrote ten on the stones in His hand and Moses wrote in his hand a copy of the ten commandments and the others that make up the entire law. 

Read more about the two covenants, the Old and New to understand why God wrote in His hand (the finger of God).

This paper was put together out of love for our Adventist friends and others that want know. Should there be something said that you disagree with, feel free to write us at TTGM info@truthgospel.org

Our King said..
(John 14:15 [KJV])
If ye love me, keep my commandments.

We at TTGM keep the ten commandments by following the 500+ instructions/commandments of God.

Be blessed in understanding.