What about the Ten Commandments?
It seems a constant source of confusion among Christians to determine our relationship to the Ten Commandments. How do we sort all this out?
On the one hand, Paul said, For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace (Ephesians 2:14-15).
On the other hand, churches today often aggressively bind things, like tithing, out of the Old Testament. Yes, it is confusing. We must not overlook the obvious, Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written, "that you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged" " (Romans 3:4).
We may learn from the Old Testament, For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope (Romans 15:4). But, our practice, and our faith, is driven by the New Testament not the old. Then said He, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first that He may establish the second (Hebrews 10:9).
Distinguishing (or failing to distinguish) between the Old and New Testaments is one of the telltale differences between what we might describe as Christianity indeed and Denominational Christianity. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed. John 8:31 Paul describes such as, Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 6:11). The significance of the term indeed in both passages is the fact that there is often a disconnect between rhetoric and reality. Today, in common usage, Christian means many things. In scripture, it means a baptized believer in Jesus Christ.
So, what of the Ten Commandments? It is okay to violate them? With the exception of the Sabbath Day provision, they each have a New Testament counterpart. Submitting to Christ's teaching in the New Testament means submitting to nine of the Ten Commandments because they are in the New Testament.
#1 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Exodus 20:3
"You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons; you cannot partake of the Lord's table and of the table of demons. Or do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than He?" (I Corinthians 10:21-22).
#2 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. Exodus 20:4
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 6:9-10).
#3 Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. Exodus 20:7
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God" (I Corinthians 6:9-10).
#4 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Exodus 20:8
The Sabbath is nowhere to be found. What is found?
"So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ" (Colossians 2:16-17).
The Lords Day replacement
"I was in the Spirit on the Lord's Day ..." (Revelation 1:10).
"Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight" (Acts 20:7).
#5 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long Exodus 20:12
" "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with promise: "that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth." " (Ephesians 6:2-3).
#6 Thou shalt not kill. Exodus 20:13
"For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" " (Romans 13:9).
#7 Thou shalt not commit adultery. Exodus 20:14
"For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" " (Romans 13:9).
#8 Thou shalt not steal. Exodus 20:15
"For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" " (Romans 13:9).
#9 Thou shalt not bear false witness. Exodus 20:16
"For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself"" (Romans 13:9).
#10 Thou shalt not covet Exodus 20:17
"For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself"" (Romans 13:9).
Jesus pretty much summed up the ground rules of Christianity when asked, "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 neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets" " (Matthew 22:36-40).
The Father let His attitude be known publicly, And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear Him (Mark 9:7).
Today, in a church that believes in Jesus, you'll not hear admonitions to tithe, or to follow the Ten Commandments. You'll not hear phrases like the Christian Sabbath, etc. Each of these was a part of the old law. Jesus told his disciples, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me (John 14:6).
We cannot claim to believe in Jesus if we do not also believe in what He said. We believe Him!
