Surely you've seen the bumper stickers... "Keep the Ten Commandments". And the yard signs... "I Support the Ten Commandments" But do the Ten Commandments have any relevance in the walk of a Christian?

No.


What if I told you the Christian does not have to worry about keeping the Ten Commandments? What would you think of such a claim? Surely the Ten Commandments are important! Right?

Sure they're important. They are the clear and perfect description of holiness... Godliness. But they cannot save anyone. And for the sinner, that is of the utmost importance: "Will the Ten Commandments save me?

Short answer? No. They will not.

Question: "So what do they do, if not save?"

Answer: They completely and thoroughly describe Godliness in terms humans can understand. They won't save anyone, but they WILL judge the unsaved on the last day. The Ten Commandments-- or, "The Law" --will judge everyone who has not accepted Jesus Christ as Savior. That will be their only purpose for you, if you die without Christ. But BEFORE you die, they are a guide and teacher-- a mirror by which we can see our sin and our need for a savior.

Anyone who tells you you must keep the Ten Commandments to be or keep yourself saved is either misguided or a liar. The only thing that will save you is the Death, Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. And, consequently, its the only thing that keeps you saved... That, and God Himself.

Speaking of Jesus' death, Ephesians 2:15-16 says...

Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; and that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby...

'the Law of Commandments contained within ordinances....' the Ten Commandments within the Torah as part of more than 600 other 'laws'. All of these are abolished and nailed to the cross. Just as Paul said in Romans 7:4 that Christians are 'Dead to the Law' so too is the Law made dead to Christians, because when Christ died on the cross so too did the Law die for all who believe on Him.

Cool, huh? Christians don't have to worry about the Law. No more tossing and turning in the bed wondering if he'll end up in hell because he may have forgotten to confess something. That is fear. And loves casts out fear... the Love of God has freed the Christian from fear.

Not sure you want to take my word for based solely on Ephesians 2:15-16? Well, let's look at Colossians 2:13-17...

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; and having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

There it is again... 'blotting out the handwriting of ordinances... nailing it to his cross....' The Law is put to death for the Christian [the man or woman who has accepted Christ as his or her savior. Many people call themselves 'Christian' but not everyone who does so IS]

Question: "So how are Christians kept saved, if not by keeping the Ten Commandments, or doing good deeds?"

Answer: God keeps them saved.

Let's look at the Lord's Prayer in the Gospel of John. Not the prayer he taught His disciples, but the prayer He Himself prayed the night of His arrest:

I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are....

I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.

--John 17:9-11,15

Jesus prayed for His disciples, asking God to keep them... not to take them out of the world, but to keep them from evil. Interesting side note here: Jesus prayed for the all Christians throughout the history of the Church even to the present, new, twenty-first century Christians. From the same chapter...

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.

--verses 20-21

But back to the point... Jesus, being one in essence, spirit, and mind with God the Father asked that He keep all whom He had given His son. The question now is this:

Did God honor that prayer?

Short Answer? Yes. And the proof is, as they say, in the pudding.

Question: "How so? What proof have you that God honored Jesus' prayer?"

Answer: The Resurrection.

Question: How does that prove that God has and is continuing to honor His Son's request?

Answer: Well, the whole point of the Cross was the Payment of Sin. A payment only God Himself could make. Imagine that! The infinite God and Creator of the universe, cloaked His majesty in human flesh, lived a sinless life, and allowed His physical self to be sacrificed as a payment for every sin that ever was or ever will be committed. Only an Infinite God could perform such a feat, and the very fact that God resurrected Himself, shows his pleasure at having accomplished His purpose. And being of one Essence, one spirit, and one mind with His fleshly counterpart, if He was pleased enough with the Sacrifice of His son, choosing to resurrect Him, honoring a prayer He prayed to Himself... Well. It was a done deal the moment Christ spoke it.

And it has been God who has kept the Christian from the just and righteous judgment of the Law ever since. When Christians sin-- and they do... as often as the UNsaved --there are no longer any legal hoops to jump through; no unblemished lambs need to be slaughtered upon a priestly altar. Christ was that Lamb, and that Lamb's blood was sufficient for ALL sin.

Need more proof that it is God who keeps the Christian saved?

And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. I and my Father are one.

--John 10:28-30


And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

--Philippians 4:7


Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy...

--Jude 24


Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

--Revelation 3:10

So no Christian need ever worry about keeping the Ten Commandments. It is God who keeps the Christian by working through His spirit within the Christian, to build up in him a child who obeys the commands that Christ gave the Church. By following His commands the Law of God is fulfilled in the Life of the Christian. Keeping the Laws and Ordinances of the Old Testament is made moot by the Spirit living in, and working through, the Christian, who is also kept from judgment by the shed blood of God Himself...

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

--Acts 20:28