The Importance of The Ten Commandments in Modern Times

There are always some heated debates amongst Christians and non-Christians about the importance of the Ten Commandments or God’s Law, whichever term that you prefer to use. On one-side of this debate are the people (both Christian and non-Christian) that believe that the Ten Commandments are of no importance, because Jesus Christ paid for our sins and on the other side of the debate are the Christians who believe that the Ten Commandments are of great importance in the modern day that we all live now.

The Ten Commandments (King James Version)

Exodus 20:1-17

 1And God spake all these words, saying,  

2I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

4Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

 6And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

7Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.

8Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

9Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:  10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

11For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

12Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

 13Thou shalt not kill.

 14Thou shalt not commit adultery.

 15Thou shalt not steal.

16Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

17Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

The Bible teaches that God’s Law has not passed away after Jesus Christ died and rose again to pay the price for our sins. The sacrifice that Jesus Christ paid for our sins, just goes to show how much God loves us all, but did not lessen the importance God’s Law or the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments have 2 completely different purposes depending on if a person has willingly accepted Jesus Christ into their hearts and accepted Jesus’ gift of Salvation or if a person has willingly rejected Jesus Christ and have not accepted Jesus’ gift of Salvation. These 2 differences make all of the difference in the world.

For the unbeliever, the Ten Commandments is used as a measuring stick that God will use to judge the sinner by and since they have rejected Jesus Christ whom can forgive them for their sins and give them Salvation, then these people by their own choosing will pay for their sins in Hell. The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the only way to receive Salvation (a pardon) for their sin (past, present and future) more than 300 times and teaches us about the blood of Jesus Christ about 700 times throughout the scriptures. The Bible teaches no other way to Salvation.

For the Christian, the Ten Commandments are much like a user’s guidebook to live a full and fruitful life and pleasing God. Since born-again Christians have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior and have entered into a personal relationship with God and have been freed from the penalty of their sin (the second death “eternity in Hell paying for their sins”), the Ten Commandments will help them live a life pleasing to God and gain a fuller and richer life because of their faith obedience in the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Bible teaches that we all are sinners and fall short of the Glory of God. It also teaches that the Law of God wasn’t sent to save us from our sin. The Bible teaches us that Jesus Christ (God’s Only begotten Son) was sent into the world to save it.

If anyone chooses to reject Jesus Christ and the Salvation that He offers to them and chooses to go it alone, then in the end and on Judgment Day you will be standing before God alone and having to take account for every sin that was committed in the present of God. When God measures a person who hasn’t accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior according to His Law (the Ten Commandments), then these people will have to pay the price for breaking the Law and according to God’s Word (the Bible) that person will serve eternity in the Lake of Fire (Hell) paying for their sin.

The Ten Commandments serve as both a blessing and a condemner in the world. It is a blessing to Christians and a condemner to unbelievers. No person in the world can or has kept all of God’s Law (except for Jesus Christ (who is God), so being perfect is out the window. God teaches us that the penalty of sin is death (a spiritual death “Hell” and an eternal separation from God), but all isn’t lost, because God loves us so much that He sent is only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ to pay the price for our sins (past, present and future sin) and if anyone believes in Him (Jesus Christ “God’s Son”) shall have everlasting life

If a Christian should get caught stealing something, then the price that will have to be paid in jail is the penalty that just will have to be paid. If a Christian had gotten caught committing adultery and the husband or wife caught them in the act and files for a divorce or even worse, shoot them dead where they stand, then that is the price that they pay for what they had chose to do.

However, in my experience as a born-again Christian, I do not have the desire to do any of those things mentioned. Yes, I am a sinner, just like the rest of you, but I have accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior and have received a pardon from the second-death at the time of God’s Judgment (Judgment Day). When I stand before God, I will not be standing alone as Jesus Christ will go before the Father (God) and represent my case before God on my behave, just as He will do for all whom accepts Him and the Salvation that only He can give.

The only time that a born-again Christian should and can refuse to abide by the laws of their government; is when the government mandates them to follow a law that would cause them to reject Jesus Christ (God). There are things that the Bible teaches us about regarding “The Last Days”, such as receiving a mark (tattoo) and a number (possibly a implantable microchip) in the right hand or on the forehead, which if any man refuses it, then they will not be able to buy or sell or hold a job without having it, then clearly Christians should refuse it and choose to obey God’s Word – even if it means that they will be put into prison or even put to death.

The price that a person will have to pay for accepting “the tattoo and the number or The Mark of the Beast” it will be much worse than being put to death for refusing to accept it. The Bible teaches that if any man or woman who accepts the mark and the number will be condemned and spend an eternity in Hell. There will be no do-overs or second chances if a person choose to accept it, when they go before God to answer for what sins that they committed.

There also will not be any second-chance opportunities to accept the Lord Jesus Christ and the Salvation, which only He can give, once a person dies. So, if anyone is sitting on the fence still trying to make up their mind about Jesus Christ and whether or not they want to have a personal relationship with Him (receive Salvation) and they should fall off the fence and get killed before deciding, then it will be too late to decide.

So, the real question is, do you want to stand before the Lord God accounting for your sins alone or do you want to have Jesus Christ standing before you and representing your case before God Almighty on Judgment Day? Either way, the sins that you commit during your life will be paid for by you spending eternity in Hell or by Jesus Christ who has already paid the price for your sins, so you won’t have to serve eternity in Hell paying for your sins yourself.

All anyone needs to do to receive Salvation, is confess their sins to the Lord Jesus Christ and ask Him to forgive you for your sins, and then ask Him to come into your heart, but you must really believe (have Faith) in Him and the price He paid for your sins. That is all that is required.

The rest of your walk with the Lord is between you and God, but reading the Word of God “The Holy Bible” everyday to cleanse your mind will assist in your growth as a born-again Christian. Salvation is not something that can be earned by performing good works or by having a lot of money or by being a good person; it only can be received once you have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ into your life.

Other studies by this author:

Old Testament Reveals (Part 1): From Noah’s Ark to God’s Ark From Wrath

Why All True Born Again Christians Should Want To Read The Old Testament

The Names of God by George W. Knight: A Book Review

The Greatest Book Ever Written