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The Ten Commandments - Are They Required Today?
Section 5
Wresting the Scriptures
God’s desire is that each of us would live forever (2 Pt. 3:9). But we were not created to eternally exist while exhibiting any kind of perverted behaviors that we might choose. We were designed for the purpose of doing good works (Eph. 2:10). Such acts of love can only be performed by observing the Ten Commandments. These rules of conduct were designed for the purpose of defining what is good and what is not. They are the only way to continual peace and prosperity. They are the way that God’s divine influence affects the values by which we are to live.
In his second epistle, Peter begins to explain why many have misunderstood this wonderful truth. The apostle writes:
…our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction (2 Peter 3:15-16).
This passage explains what has happened within the professing Christian community. Theologians have twisted the scriptures in an attempt to render the Ten Commandments obsolete. This is sheer lunacy! God states that we must obey these laws to have eternal life (Mt. 19:17), but according to most of these believers, Christ’s unmerited pardon is equivalent to abolishing them.
While seeming to elevate the role of grace, these so-called scholars have led unsuspecting congregants to draw a wrong conclusion. Michael Horten explains this perverted definition of God’s grace in his book, The Agony of Deceit:
Augustine’s response on this point was similar to Luther’s. He said that the doctrine of justification led to the maxim, ‘love god and do as you please’ (Moody Press, 1990, p. 143-144).
Peter warned of this error that Augustine, Luther, and others have made. To believe that we can love God and not do what he says is a fatal mistake. The apostle continues:
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever (2 Peter 3:17-18).
This verse does not admonish us to grow in unmerited pardon. The scriptures do not tell us to expand our gift of forgiveness by abandoning God'sz moral code. Instead, we are to grow in the influence and understanding of Jesus Christ.
As we have already seen, grace is defined as God’s divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the way we live. This is how the term is used throughout the entire Bible. Therefore, we are not to be led away by the error of the wicked—those who do not obey God. Instead, we are to become more and more like Him by learning how to properly express love through our obedience to His Commandments.
The Election of Grace, not Works
While Peter’s statement should be self evident, various theologians continue to misrepresent the scriptures. By taking verses out of context, they have come to the erroneous conclusion that law and grace are in conflict with one another. For example, false teachers have distorted the following verses in the book of Romans:
Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work (Romans 11:5-6).
By isolating these verses, religious leaders have taught that God’s law and His grace are mutually exclusive. However, when taking these words out of their proper context it causes readers to lose perspective and misinterpret Paul’s intended meaning.
In this passage, the apostle is making a comparison between God’s people during the time of Elijah and those living in his age. He explains that in the days of the ancient prophet, God had reserved a number people who truly obeyed Him. Likewise, in Paul’s time there were a similar number of individuals who did not succumb to the vain traditions of Judaism or the influence of Gnostics and pagans.
God did not set these obedient people aside because they were better or more righteous than anyone else. They were sanctified by His grace; not because of who they were or any works they did. As Paul stated in the preceding verses:
Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal (Romans 11:3-4).
Putting the verses together and reading them as they were intended, it is obvious that Paul was not saying the law was no longer required! He was explaining that in Elijah’s time, even though the people killed the prophets, God had reserved seven thousand who had not bowed down to the false god Baal or observed false religious practices. In other words, God was encouraging Paul by saying that a similar number of people were still worshipping the true God by keeping His laws. However, their obedience was not according to their human works. It was a direct result of God’s calling and His grace influencing the way they lived.
Not Under the Law, but Under Grace
Tragically, this practice of taking verses out of context is continued by many today. Because of this approach, vast numbers of people have been deceived into thinking that the time for obeying God’s law is over. They have come to believe that we are now under grace and the Ten Commandments are no longer applicable. In an attempt to support their belief, they quote Paul saying:
…for ye are not under the law, but under grace (Romans 6:14).
Sadly, when quoting this verse, they again purposefully omit the context. Notice what Paul was actually saying:
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid. Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness (Romans 6:14-18).
This verse clearly shows us that sin (the breaking of God’s law) shall not have dominion over us. The reason sin will not dominate us is that, as a part of God’s grace, He has made His Spirit available. Through this Spirit, Christ lives in us, and we can be led by His influence instead of our human nature, the pulls of Satan, or this world.
In addition, the verse above clearly states that we are made free FROM sin—not made free TO sin. This means that we can be freed from the death penalty that sin requires. If we continue to transgress the law, we make ourselves the servants of sin and our ultimate end will be death. Paul continues saying that, having been reconciled to God, we should serve righteousness. We should be keeping the Commandments from the heart. Not because we have to, but because we want to.
This truth is illustrated by the story of a man who once became involved with the wrong crowd. It seems that he got into a fight and unintentionally killed a man. He was arrested, tried, found guilty of murder, and received the sentence of death.
After hearing his fate, he was absolutely terrified. While sitting in his cell awaiting execution, He could think of nothing else. How had this happened? How did he fall in with this group of people and how did he get into so much trouble?
When the day of his execution came, he was told that the warden wanted to see him. Trembling in fear, he approached his office accompanied by two guards. As the door opened, he sheepishly faced the warden. As the keeper of the prison spoke, the man was stunned as he heard him say that the governor had pardoned him. He would not have to die. He was free!
The joy the man felt was overwhelming. His heart leaped inside and he beamed a massive smile as he left the bolted doors of the terrible prison.
But, did his pardon mean that he was free to go out and break the law again? Could he now kill with impunity? Of course not! The grace extended by the governor was gratefully accepted, and the response of this convict was to act more responsibly when choosing his lifestyle. He was now dedicated to staying within the confines of the law in order to remain free.
This story directly applies to all of us. By God’s mercy we can be forgiven of breaking the law. We are to then have a different spirit—a different frame of mind—a new perspective. We now see God’s grace present in ever aspect of life, and by it His law is established in our heart. We now have a passionate desire to obey Him. We want to practice the way of life He has designated for us. We become committed to obeying our Father in heaven—motivated by our loving gratitude.
Not Justified by the Law
Another false concept that is often taught is that since we are not justified by the law, there is no need to keep it. Of course it is true that the law alone can never justify us. Only the sacrifice of Jesus Christ can do that. However, what these dissidents of the law do not realize is that God designed the law for an altogether different but incredibly vital purpose. It is to show us what is right and what is wrong. It is to be a moral compass guiding us towards the right way to live as opposed to the wrong. As Paul powerfully states:
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20).
The purpose of the law is to show us what sin is. It is not to save us, but rather to function as a mirror to reveal our transgressions. As Paul continues:
But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference (Romans 3:21-22).
In other words, Gentiles could also attain God’s righteousness without having the written law. A new way has been made available. There is now a different kind of mirror. Christians are now able to display the righteousness of God by having His law written in their hearts. They can keep God’s Commandments through the faith of Christ. This conviction abides in their minds by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
This is God’s grace! Through His calling we can receive the Holy Spirit and begin to keep the law in spirit and truth (Jn. 16:13). It becomes His divine influence reflected in our daily conduct. Without the grace of God manifest to us through the sacrifice of Christ (Jn. 4:23) we would all fail in properly keeping the law. As Paul reminds us:
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:23-24).
Christians can accept the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and be justified. But, does that mean that we are no longer required to keep the Commandments? Absolutely not! We are justified, but only for sins that are past. God’s grace does not allow us to continue to practice sin. As the apostle Paul next states:
Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God (Romans 3:25).
After, a person has repented, they are baptized. Hands are laid on them to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:18; 1 Tm. 4:14; Heb. 6:2). Then, by the indwelling of God’s Spirit, Christ’s faith now lives in them. But this does not make us free from ever being found guilty of sin. Believers are still capable of sin (1 Jn. 1:8), but through God’s mercy they have the ability to repent and receive forgiveness. Juan Ortiz explains the process in the following way:
Christians are a little bit like a trapeze show. It is breathtaking as we see the dexterity and timing. We gasp at near-misses. In most cases, there is a net underneath. When they fall, they jump up, and bounce back to the trapeze. Christians live on the trapeze. The whole world should be able to watch and say, ‘Look how they live, how they love one another. Look how well the husbands treat their wives.’ People watch and say, ‘Aren’t they the best workers in the factories and offices? Aren’t they the best neighbors, and the best students?’ That is what it is like to live on our trapeze. We are a show to the world. What happens when we slip? The net is there for us. The blood of Jesus Christ has provided forgiveness for us. He provides both the net and the ability to stay on the trapeze. It is all due to God’s grace (Leadership, As I Have Loved You, Vol. 5, no. 4).
Mr. Ortiz sees this subject more clearly than many students of the Bible. The grace of God does not free us from keeping the Commandments. Instead, His grace is given to help us understand them more fully and keep them in their spirit. God’s law and His grace work together in bringing us to the point where we have the mind of Christ. They are both essential in our quest for salvation.