Are the commandments of God still valid today? Can one possibly keep the Ten Commandments? The Lord’s Spirit has been bringing so many Bible texts back to my mind that I am in a quandary as to what to write about next. “For unto whom much is given, of him shall much be required” (Luke 12:48).
Jesus said, “One sows and another reaps.” I am not a reaper. I am a sower of the Word. I rarely see the results of my labors. The Lord’s reapers have the satisfaction of seeing God’s Word take effect in believers’ lives. I do not.
Over and over again during His earthly ministry, Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” In today’s lingo He would say, “I am going to tell it like it is and you can take it or leave it.” On another occasion Jesus said, “Let these sayings sink down into your ears,” or, as we might say, “Hear and ponder well what I say.” Many of Christ’s statements were the total opposite of what most commonly believed. That was true then. It is true yet today. Jesus said, “My brethren are these which hear the word of God, AND DO IT!” (See Luke 8:21). Becoming a member of the household of God goes far beyond just believing some facts about God and Jesus Christ. James warned, “But be ye DOERS of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves” (See James 1:22). Pastors and preachers do their congregations no service when they assure them, “All you gotta do is believe.” Jesus Himself said, “If you will enter into life, KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS!” He then went on to quote six of those commandments so His hearers would know which commandments He spoke of. (See Matthew 19:16-19). Those commandments, of course, were the Ten Commandments. Decades after the founding of the church and the establishment of the New Covenant, the apostle John wrote “here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” (See Revelation 14:12). The two go hand-in-hand. True, genuine God-wrought faith inspires and enables one to keep God’s commandments – all of them.
And how does the Bible close? “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the (holy) city.” There are but seven verses of scripture left in your Bible after that statement is made. (See Revelation 22:14). And to leave no doubt as to which commandments this Alpha and Omega meant, He added “For without (banned from the Holy City) are…whoremongers, and murderers, and idolators, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie!” (verse 15). We had better make sure we have the right to reach forth our hand and take of the fruit of the tree of life and then enter into the Holy City.
“For by grace are you saved through faith….” Faith in what? Faith in Jesus Christ! Faith in what He said, believing what He said and then acting upon that belief.
Oh, and for those who say it is impossible to keep the Ten Commandments, read Luke 1, verses 5 and 6 as well as Genesis 26, verses 1 through 5. In short, READ YOUR BIBLE!
Christ’s Aged Servant (Galatians 1:10-12),
Donald Wiley