Many Christians today believe that we are no longer under the law, or what’s better known as the Ten commandments. They believe they were nailed to the cross when Jesus was crucified and we’re no longer obligated to it. But, before I share my thoughts on this let’s look at what the Ten Commandments actually are which is found in Exodus 20:3,17

1. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
2. 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:
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10. Thou shalt not covet thou 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 tht is thy neighbour’s.

So if you notice majority of the commandments are already used in our society today, at least they were. For example; killing, stealing and lying in a court case, or to law enforcement, are crimes which would get you thrown into jail. Disobeying your mother and father has consequences and often lead to punishment. And committing adultery creates trust issues, hurt feelings and often affected others which could lead to breakups. Then there’s the issue of not taking the name of the Lord thy God in vain, and, where I was raised, you just didin’t do that. Which brings me to the very first commandment, no other gods before me. America was built on God, in fact, our money is printed with, in God we trust.  So having said all of this, why is it so difficult for many Christians to believe that the Ten Commandments aren’t relevant today? Let’s take a  look and see what Jesus has to say about it.

Do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the Kingdom of Heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you certainly will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 5:17,19(NIV)

Couple of things I want to point out. First, Jesus says until heaven and earth disappear, not one letter, not the least stroke of a pen will disappear from the law until EVERYTHING is accomplished. This is the scripture many Christians use to justify abandoning the Law because their argument is Jesus accomplished what he set out to. He was sacrificed on the cross, therefore, the Law was no longer valid. But, if you continue reading the scriptures Jesus goes on to say unless your righteousness exceeds the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will NOT enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

For me it’s pretty simple, the Ten Commandments are just as relevant today as they were when God gave them to Moses. Yes, we are saved by grace through Jesus Christ, but the law, makes us better people! Jesus Christ saves us but it is the law that prevents additional sin and this is why it’s so important to follow them. Plus, Jesus also said in Matthew 22:37 the greatest command is to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, all our soul and all our mind. But notice what he says in verse 40, On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Because if you “truly” love the Lord you’ll follow his commands.

If more of us followed these commandments today our world wouldn’t be in such a decline!

But, that’s just my thoughts……