If you ask most Christians if God expects us to obey the 10 Commandments, they would give a hearty, "Yes"! I want to challenge you today to more clearly examine the gospel. God's Word is our final authority on this subject.
Why did God give the 10 Commandments as well as the 613 other commandments?
Romans 3:19 says, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in His sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin." We see two truths here. First, no one can ever be accepted by God into His family even if they perfectly obey the 10 Commandments. Second, they were given to make people aware of their sins. Galatians 3:25, "So the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith." Being made aware of our sins through the 10 Commandments prepares a person to hear the gospel.
What happens to our relationship with God's law when we came to faith in Christ?
Romans 7:6 says, "So, my brothers, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit to God." This means that when we died with Christ on the cross, we died to being under the law and are now under Jesus' authority. Galatians 3:23, "Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law." Our faith in Christ means we are no longer obligated to the law.
Who is the law for?
It is made for those outside of Christ. 1 Timothy 1:8-9 says, "But we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person." How does someone become righteous? Through faith in Christ alone! 2 Cor. 5:21, "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." So, we, as Christians, don't need the law.
Why don't we, as Christians, need the 10 Commandments?
Because we have something so much better...Jesus! First, the law is now in us as our identity in Christ. Hebrews 10:16, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after that time, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds." The law is now in us, written on our hearts not outside of us. We have the Lawgiver Himself living in us which is so much better than the 10 Commandments. Hebrews 10:1, "The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming--not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship." Jesus was the one casting the shadow through the law. Now that He is in us, we don't need the law anymore.
How do we obey God and live a life which pleases Him without the 10 Commandments?
We rely on Christ in us to love us and to live through us. This enables us to obey the Scriptures which over and over exhort us to live like who we are in Christ. Spiritual maturity is a result of understanding this and living it out.
John Bunyan, the author of "Pilgrim's Progress" wrote,
"Run, John, run the law commands,
But gives us neither feet nor hands,
Far better news the gospel brings:
It bids us fly, and gives us wings."
Stop hanging out with the law and start enjoying your new BFF, Jesus! His gospel of grace will lead you there!!
Live Free In Christ,
Mark Maulding, President and Founder
GraceLifeInternational.com
All Content Copyright © 2012 Mark Maulding
