The
10 Commandments

Up-Dated - Friday, April 04, 2014

Why is there so much confusion
about how the 10 Commandments
fit into the Christian Life?
Mainline denominations
do not even agree
amongst themselves

Table of Contents
* 1st, a look at the Commandments in their original form
* How does the Bible use the 10 Commandments
* The keeping of the Commandments are not necessary to maintain justification
* Jesus revealed the new relationship of true Christians with the Commandments

1st, a look at the Commandments in their original form as they appear in the Bible

1. Exodus 20:3-4
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

Idolatry is the most practiced infraction in every society, in every era, even amongst Christians.

2. Exodus 20:5-6
"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments."

The acceptance of religious icons in 21st Century society has promoted this sin.

3. Exodus 20:7
"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain."

Flippant use of the Lord's name is widespread even among true Christians.

4. Exodus 20:8-11
"Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:
But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:
For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it."

Sabbath infraction is the least understood by even the most ardent Bible students.

5. Exodus 20:12 ¶
"Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."

Parent disrespect is gaining popularity in the 21st Century.

6. Exodus 20:13
"Thou shalt not kill."

Cowards and God-haters enjoy using this one as a pry pole against true Christians.

7. Exodus 20:14
"Thou shalt not commit adultery."

Surely this is not about sex?

8. Exodus 20:15
"Thou shalt not steal."

Often interpreted as "Thou shalt not get caught".

9. Exodus 20:16
"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour."

Often quoted as the "do not lie" commandment.

10. Exodus 20:17
"Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's."

Coveting is widespread, but is exercised greatly amongst the industrialized societies, even the Victorians.

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How does the Bible use the 10 Commandments?

The 10 Commandments are often depicted as the Law in the Bible.  But, the Law also encompasses much, much more.

The Commandments have two functions:
1. To act as a tutor to show every individual where and how each has sinned.  They also reveal our need of a Saviour.

Galatians 3:24
"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."

This verse indicates that justification (forgiven forever) is by faith in Jesus Christ.  Dispelling the notion that the keeping of the Commandments justifies man before God.

2. To act as a guide for the justified in their relationship with God and the rest of mankind.  In other words, how to live your life after salvation.

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The keeping of the Commandments are not necessary to maintain justification.

Galatians 3:24
"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified (forgiven) by faith."
Galations 3:25
"But after that faith (forgiveness) is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster."

After Jesus has become each person's Saviour, by faith, obviously the Commandments are no longer needed to point the way to salvation.  Their business now is to show how best to live as a forgiven person.

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Jesus revealed the new relationship of true Christians with the Commandments.

Matthew 22:35-40
"Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
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 neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

To the unsaved, the Commandments say ...
"What are you going to do, now? ...
* Look what you have done. 
* You better find salvation (forgiveness) in The Saviour."

To the saved, the Commandments say ...
"Since you have found Jesus, as your Saviour (forgiven), busy your life with ...
* loving God with all you have
* loving your neighbors as you would yourself."

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Do you know for 100% sure
if you are going to Heaven,
or is there some doubt?
    Yes, I Know!
    No, I Don't Know!
    No, I Am Not Sure?

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G. Steven Andres
Psalms 45:17
Missionary Evangelist
Copyright - 1996 to 2010