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Chapter 6
 WHAT ABOUT THE
TEN COMMANDMENTS?
by Daniel
LeEarl Hall
First, all Christian religion and prayer was removed from our schools. Then this
guy in California decided that he didn't want the words "under God" in the
pledge of allegiance. Then they removed the Ten Commandments from a courthouse
in Alabama. Should we be Concerned about these attacks on Christianity and God?
Whether words are in a pledge or not, God is in control of all the nations and
God's prophecies regarding the nations are all coming true. (Rom. 13:1)
What about the Ten Commandments? The Old Law Covenant was perfect; a reflection
of a holy God. Why did God give His perfect, holy, righteous law to imperfect
people? To prove to them that they needed the Son as their redeemer. (Gal. 3:19)
Concerning the removing of the Ten Commandments from the courthouse, God did a
lot more than take them out of a courthouse; He wiped them out! Paul said,
"Having WIPED OUT the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was
contrary to us. And, He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the
cross" (Col. 2:13,14) So, the Old Law Covenant was:
1. AGAINST US! 2. CONTRARY TO US! 3. IN THE WAY
It was nailed to the cross with Jesus. The Old Law Covenant, including the Ten
Commandments, was our enemy because we could not keep it. Paul said, "For as
many as are of the works of law are under a curse; for it is written, 'Cursed is
everyone who does not continue in all things which are written in the book of
the law, to do them.' " Do you want to be under a curse? Of course not. Paul
continued, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a
curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree. ' "
(Gal. 3: 10-13)
Most of us are Gentiles and never were under the Old Law Covenant, unless we
were in a religious cult or legalistic church. To be justified in the flesh,
some want to bring the Old Law Covenant back and try to live under it. James
said that if we break one point, we have broken the whole law. (James 2:10) Even
if we could live up to the law, which we can't, that could never justify us. If
it could, then Christ did not need to come, suffer, and die for us! (Gal. 2:21)
Of all the people who have ever lived, how many lived up to the law? ONE!
"Through the obedience of ONE! many will be declared righteous." (Rom. 5:19)
Only Jesus obeyed the law.
We are under the blessings of the New Covenant and God has written His law of
love on our hearts and minds. Paul said, "Behold, the days are coming, says the
Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel this is the
covenant that I will make with the house of Israel I will put My laws in their
mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be
My people...! will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins, and
their lawless deeds I will remember no more." (Heb.8:1 0-12; Rom.13:1 0) .
Christians do not live under the curse of the law. "There is therefore now no
condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus...For the law of the Spirit of
life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death." (Rom.
8:1,2)
We are free from the curse of the Old Law Covenant, the "law of sin and death."
We are under the New Covenant of love and we are the recipients of all its
blessings and benefits.
If we are trying to live up to rules formulated by men we will live our life in
the flesh on a treadmill of failure and defeat, we will not receive the peace of
Jesus Christ which is beyond all understanding, (Phil. 4:7) and will not enter
God's rest. (Heb. 4:9,10)
The Old Law Covenant was an external form of worship from God, to lead us to
Christ. The religion which God established with that covenant does not exist
today, therefore, all religion today is from man. Some confuse religion with
Christianity. Christianity is not a religion; but a relationship with God the
Father through Jesus Christ.
Once we believe and receive the Son of God, we are free to worship God any way
we wish, within Godly parameters. James said that if we want "religion," a form
of worship which is acceptable to God, go and take care of the orphans and
widows. (James 1 :27)
Jesus said, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through him. n (John 3:17) Jesus Christ came to save
sinners, so God's salvation is for the unworthy, for sinners, and is not based
upon a person's religious denomination, theology. or good works. (1Tim. 1 :15;
Isa. 64:6)
Our past life course has no bearing on our salvation because when we receive
Jesus Christ, God forgives all of our sin. God accepts us just as we are and
makes no demands for performance on us. (2Cor. 5:17-19; Col. 2:13»
The salvation of God is available to all who come to Him. He excludes no one and
He doesn't deal exclusively with one group, organization, or religion. He deals
with individuals.
During this era of grace, our salvation is contingent on our relationship with
God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son, and nothing else. No one will be saved
and receive eternal life without believing and receiving Jesus Christ. Jesus is
the only WAY to God, He is the only TRUTH, and He alone has eternal LIFE.
He said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." (John 14:6)
The apostle John said, "He who acknowledges the Son has the
Father also. "He never said it the other way around. One cannot go directly to
the Father. (1John 2:23) John also said. "He who has the Son has eternal life"
(1John 5:13)
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