The Ten Commandments
By Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist
Read Exodus 20:1-26
“And God spoke all these words.” Exodus 20:1
Many churches today have lost the biblical concept of the majesty and authority of God as expressed in his law. This deficiency has cheapened our worship, turned evangelism into religious salesmanship, and converted the Bible into a self-help book that’s guaranteed to make you a success. A.W. Tozer was right when he said that “no religion has ever been greater than its idea of God.”
No person receives salvation by keeping the Ten Commandments Romans 3:19-20 and 23. The purpose of the law of God is to reveal the God of the law, and when you focus on him, you find it a delight to obey his commands Psalm 40:8. Moses closed his review of the Ten Commandments by reminding the new generation that at Sinai God revealed his glory and his greatness. The God of Israel is not to be trifled with because he is a holy God. Israel would never again go to Sinai and see the fire, the cloud, the darkness, and the lightning, and hear the awesome voice of God speak from the mountain; but they needed to remember the majesty of their God and the authority of his word.
In his appeal to Israel, Moses urged them to remember the majesty of God and respect the Word of God. He quoted Jehovah’s own words, “Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always” Deuteronomy 5:29. Obedience is always a matter of the heart, and if we love the Lord, we will keep his commandments John 14:15, 21-24. There’s no conflict between the greatness of God and the grace of God, his transcendence and his immanence; for we can love the Lord and fear the Lord with the same heart Psalm 2:10-12; 34:8-9. The immature believer with a shallow theology sees a contradiction here, but the mature believer rejoices in the balance revealed in the word: “God is love” and “God is light” 1 John 4:8; 1:5.
Even though God’s children live under grace and not under the Mosaic Law Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:1, it’s important for us to know the law of God so that we might better know the God of the law and please him. Christ has fulfilled the types and symbols found in the law, so we no longer practice the Old Testament rituals as Israel did. Christ bore the curse of the law on the cross Galatians 3:10-13 so that we need not fear judgment Romans 8:1. But the moral law still stands and God still judges sin. It’s as wrong today to lie, steal, commit adultery, and murder as it was when Moses received the tables of the law at Mount Sinai. In fact, it’s worse, because we have today the full revelation of God’s will through Jesus Christ, and we sin against a flood of light — the Bible. “I will not forget your word” Psalm 119:16b.
Read Ron Purkey’s free Bible study outlines at rcpbibleoutlines.com. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.