Gateway To Jesus Ministries - Bible Study #5. Average Reading Time: 5 minutes.
I'll get right to the point. What does the Bible actually say about the 10 commandments. These are New Testament scriptures directed to us Christians by Jesus and the Apostles:
"(John 14:15) "If you love me, keep my commandments."
"(John 14:21) "He that hath my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."
"(1 John 2:3-4) "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that says, I know him, and keeps not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him."
It's really clear that we do not need to keep the commandments to earn salvation. Instead, Christians are justified by grace, as stated in Ephesians 2:8 and Galatians 2:15. Most Christians recognize that grace, not really law keeping, is the way to salvation. Yet, if we love Jesus, Christians will keep the law of God after being saved by grace. But which law? Even though we are really saved by grace, doesn't the Bible clearly state that obedience actually expresses how we feel for God? Was Jesus speaking about keeping His law in Matthew 5 when He said "THESE," followed by magnifying several of them?
(Matt 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."
Did Jesus say these are "least" because they are unimportant? Or was it merely a contrast to the two great ones found in Matthew 22? Are these not all actually the 10 commandment statutes which Jesus said believers are still under? When asked what was necessary to obtain eternal life in Luke 18:18-20, Jesus had an opportunity to state that the old legal statutes were actually no longer necessary. Instead, Jesus listed some of the 10 Statute Commands Christians should keep. "Do not commit adultery. Do not kill. Do not steal. Do not bear false witness. Honor your father and your mother".
(Matt 22:35-39) "Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 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. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these 2 commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
The Bible states that the 10 commandment Laws actually hang on the two great ones; it does not say they are replaced by them as many churches falsely teach. Nowhere does it really say that! There are separate laws we should keep, differentiated as 2 great and 10 least. Adding John 13:34 as another new commandment from Jesus shows that there are actually 13 commands for Christians.
"A new 10 commandment I give unto you, That you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another."
Does this in any way indicate that the previous 10 statute commands are now actually null and void? Are Christians still really under them today? This is a single law we need to keep, which appears to be an addition for Christs' followers. This seems clear as Jesus tells us what the Bible really says about Christians still under them. Was Christ indicating that some still actually apply? Elsewhere He states that we need His shed blood to cover our sins; here He also emphasizes obeying God by keeping these laws of His after salvation.
Whenever the word commandment appears in the New Testament, does it really refer to all of them? John 10:30 clearly shows that the Father and Son are one; therefore, wouldn't their laws also be unified?
"I and the Father are one."
Isn't it spiritually illogical to believe that God is really divided? Did He give one set of His eternal Law to the Jews and another set of magnified 10 commandments for Christians? Have we actually been deceived into thinking that references to obedience in the New Testament only pertain to 2 or 3 of them instead of all of them? Are we still under them today? Two of them that are magnified in Matthew chapter five are clearly part of the original ten. They are taught that both must be kept literally and in spirit. For example, regarding adultery and murder. The Bible states that not only can you not break them by committing adultery and murder, but you also must keep them in principle by not lusting or harboring anger. The Bible did not actually need to list all 10 again; They were already affirmed them earlier in Luke 18:18-20. Isn't it clear that Christ is magnifying all ten laws through these examples? Are we still under them today? Doesn't this indicate that keeping them applies to all 10, as He instructs us to obey them both literally and spiritually?
(Matt 5:27-28) "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' But I say to you, whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
"(Matt 5:21-22) "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not kill,' and whoever kills will be in danger of judgment. But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of judgment."
Many people resist God's laws. Regardless of biblical teachings, they prefer a simple emotional relationship with the Lord over the effort required to obey Christ's commands. They find it too disruptive to their lives. This "no effort" Christianity is often termed Easy Believism. This concept suggests that merely believing in Jesus suffices for salvation without a commitment to Christian discipleship or obedience to God's laws out of love. True faith in Christ will always lead to a transformed life. Genuine followers of Christ, saved by grace, will desire to obey God and keep His laws out of love. If we believe God's directive to keep His laws, there is no place for Easy Believism. Shouldn't we demonstrate our faith by adhering to what God commands? He affirms that His laws remain applicable today. To receive God's blessings and live a fulfilling life, we should follow these simple laws leading to eternal life.
"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments " (1 John 5:3)
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