Why Keep the Commandments? Nov 28, 2017.
AN AMAZING FACT: In the days when many public schools in America displayed the Ten Commandments, a higher percentage of the population was familiar with them. Now, according to one poll, less than 60 percent of Americans know the commandment regarding murder and only 34 percent are familiar with the Sabbath commandment.
Paul said, “The law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly” (1 Timothy 1:9). The Ten Commandments show people who are sinning where they are going wrong.
“Now the purpose of the commandment is love,” he adds. The Ten Commandments show us how to live in a way that reflects the love of our Creator.
Since “the law is not made for a righteous person,” does this mean that morally upright people don’t need to bother with keeping the law? Of course not. It means they are already keeping it!
God wrote the Ten Commandments on stone to signify their unchanging nature. While He was on Earth, Jesus always upheld the commandments as a reflection of His character of love; they were part of His teaching. And He says to all His disciples, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 1 Timothy 1:5-10