Once the subject of the “The Law of God” comes up in a conversation among Christians, things can get tense. All of us want to remain friends, but we may quickly realize that we each have different beliefs about such a core subject. Some churches take great pride in their understanding of the Ten Commandments, but no matter what the position of any particular church is, there is almost always a disparity among its members in how they view this understanding. It usually requires a private conversation to discover these alternate views.
There is a wide difference in how all Christians view the Commandments, so this topic falls into the same category as all other issues that are hard to discuss among friends. It isn’t discussed.
The most strict way of interpreting the Commandments of God is to say they are still in full force and still must be obeyed in full. Even the speaker knows he or she cannot do this.
Some say you must keep the Commandments, and Jesus accepts your efforts.
Some say you must keep the Commandments, and Jesus will make up the difference.
Many Christians say the Commandments were nailed to the cross and are no longer required.
God’s law will never go away. It is His constitution for this Earth. It must always be obeyed. It is a paradox. How can we obey a law that cannot be obeyed? The Sermon on the Mount shows us part of what Jesus expects. It certainly cannot be kept by ourselves, alone.
As you study the New Testament, you will find that the people of Earth will be judged by two different laws. The righteous will be judged by the Law of Liberty (James 22:12). The unrighteous will be left subject to the Law of Sin and Death because they have not been set free from this law by the blood of Jesus (Romans 8:2). These two laws are the same. They will be applied differently.
There are many names for God’s Ten Commandments.
The Law of Liberty (James 1:25)
The Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2)
The Perfect Law (James 1:25)
The Royal Law (James 2:8)
The Law of God (Romans 7:25)
The Law of Sin (Romans 7:25)
The Law of Sin and Death (Romans 8:2)
The Ministry of Spirit (2 Corinthians 3:8)
The Ministry of Condemnation (2 Corinthians 3:9)
The Ministry of Righteousness (2 Corinthians 3:9)
The Ministry of Death (2 Corinthians 3:7)
The Law of God is so simple and direct. How can we, as Christians, object to keeping them? They make sense. How do they fit into the big picture? It has become a mystery. It seems most pastors tell their people to keep the commandments, but the people get frustrated because they cannot.
The most important point to realize when speaking or thinking of God’s Law is the law has nothing to do with our salvation. Our salvation was purchased by the body and the blood of Jesus at the cross. No works of the flesh were required; it was by faith.
For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Romans 3:28)
Do we then nullify the law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the law. (Romans 3:31)
The next important thing to realize about the law is it’s our being made holy after the cross. The law is not about salvation. It is about sanctification. This is where you might review the blog about the “Abiding Relationship, Sanctification Part 2 of 3”. As you abide with Jesus and become one with Him, He will put His Law into your heart and write it in your mind. (Hebrews 10:16)
He condemned sin in the flesh so that the requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. (Romans 8:3-4)
We are His people. He knows when we love God and others. He has fulfilled God’s law in us and through us.
We should stop worrying about God’s law. Stop trying to keep God’s law by the “flesh.” It can only be kept by the “Spirit.” Our work is to abide in Him through the abiding relationship and become one with Him. He is then able to put the law in our hearts and minds so our values and actions are changed. Jesus wants us to keep the law instinctively, without thinking about it. Our sanctification is also by faith, not works. “Our” keeping the law will be Christ working through us. This is not our work. Yes, we will step off the path like the woman caught in adultery. Jesus told her she was not condemned, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11). Get back on the path. Use the “Cleansing Relationship” (also in this blog) to address the sins the Holy Spirit points out in your life.
Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another, for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. (Romans 13:8)
Our Lord wants you to be full of His love and share this love with others day by day. His love working in us fulfills the law.
