Is the Christian obliged to keep the Ten Commandments?
The question really relates to
whether the Christian should keep not just the Ten Commandments, but any law!
It arises from the supposition that the Christian, being ‘under grace’ is exempt
from obedience to the law of God. The short answer is: the Ten Commandments are
still applicable to the Christian, but not the other aspects of Old Testament
Law. However, the reader must first have
a clear understanding of what it means to be ‘under law’ and ‘under grace’
respectively. I refer you to the two short synopses on these topics (or the
sound recordings) which will be helpful in this regard. The answer to this
question, which deals with the relevance of God’s law for the Christian,
presumes you have laid that foundation.
Firstly, let
us examine the true believer’s understanding of ‘the law’. Under the new
covenant, the true nature of the law becomes apparent. We come to the
realisation that the law is spiritual. Let me explain by analogy. We are still
required to offer sacrifices, but they are of a different nature and purpose.
They are no longer sacrifices for sin, but sacrifices of thanksgiving and
praise. The subjects of sacrifice are no longer animals or grain, but hearts
and lives consecrated to God in service. God’s law is no longer to be found
externally on tablets of stone or parchment, or even in our Bibles, as a visual
reminder, but written on our hearts!
We no longer need ‘the blood of bulls and goats’ to be offered for forgiveness
of sin, but have merely to accept the provision of God’s own Son as our ‘once
for all sacrifice’ for sin. We are not required to perform ritual washings
before we come into the Lord’s presence. We no longer require temples in order
to worship God, because we ourselves are the Lord’s temples and God does not
dwell in temples made by human hands. The list is endless! In essence, we no longer have to follow the
letter of the law (that is, comply with every minute physical detail of its
requirements) but now follow the spirit of the law. I have only touched on a
few examples to help us see that the law is spiritual. In addition,
we have come to the realisation that (as Paul discovered) the law is good. Just
think about it! Would you approve of murder, or rape or child abuse, for
example? Therefore, we must conclude that the law is good. Since it is both
spiritual and good, and we are spiritual people, we now desire to keep it! The Holy Spirit himself teaches us that
obedience is evidence of our love for God. Jesus’ words “If you love me
keep my commandments” and “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and not do as I say?”
now take on their true spiritual meaning.
Legalism is out! We are no longer
motivated to keep God’s law for fear of
punishment or to attain a righteous standing with God (as we would be required
to do if we were ‘under law’), but because we
have a deep desire and longing in our hearts to keep it. If that is the way
we feel, we are truly ‘under grace’. We are being sanctified. Moreover, during
this process we soon discover that sanctification is closely related to, and in
fact is grounded in, obedience. Get the drift?
Secondly, we
must understand which aspects of the
broad spectrum of OT Law still apply to the person ‘under grace’. If we do not,
we will still be in bondage to the righteous requirements of the law. So let us examine some of those aspects. The
ceremonial and sacrificial requirements of “The Law”, including its
requirements for temple worship and its dietary and social constraints, do not
apply to those ‘under grace’. The New Testament epistles give ample evidence of
this. On the contrary, the Epistles clearly endorse all but one of the Ten
Commandment without reservation or modification.
The exception is the Sabbath
commandment. In place of the OT Sabbath, we have, under the new covenant, the
Lord’s Day. (See Colossians 2:16 for Paul’s refutation of the OT Sabbath
keeping). The obvious conclusion is that we are obliged to observe them. Having
said this I must emphasize this important proviso: that the believer keep in
mind, that the proper obligation to keep these commands is spiritual, not
legal.
Some put forward the view that the
Ten Commandments no longer require obedience because “Christ is the end of the
law” (Rom. 10: 4 a). By this, they imply that believers do not need the law
anymore! However, the New Testament does
not support this view. Proper exegesis of that phrase reveals the truth that
those who still want keep the law in
order to prove that they are righteousness and thus claim salvation, cannot
be saved. The word ‘end’ does not mean termination, but rather the culmination or fulfilment. Jesus himself said, “Do not think that I have come to
abolish the law or the prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil
them” (Matt. 5: 17). What could be clearer?
Watch out for those who pervert the gospel and advocate antinomianism
(lawlessness). They are false teachers.
In conclusion, if the law has not been done away with, if we have come to understand it as being both spiritual and good, why should we not want to keep the Ten Commandments?
© Preach The
Word-with Pastor Joseph Rodrigues - www.kerysso.org