Often we hear this argument in an effort to belittle the law of God: "well, since we are not under the law but under grace, we do not need to keep the Ten Commandments any longer." Is this a valid point?
The Bible certainly does teach that we are not under the law, but does that imply that we are free from the obligation to obey it? The text is found in Romans. "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid." Romans 6:14-15
How easily we could prevent confusion if we accepted exactly what the Bible teaches! Paul gives his own explanation of his statement. After stating that we are not under the law but under grace, he asks, "what then?" This simply means, "How are we to understand this?" Then notice his answer. In anticipation that some will construe his words to mean that you can break the law because you are under grace, he says, "Shall we sin (break the law) because we are not under the law but under grace? God forbid." In the strongest possible language Paul states that being under grace does not give a license to break the law. Yet this is exactly what millions believe today, and they totally ignore Paul's specific warning.
If being under grace does not exempt us from keeping the law, then what does Paul mean by saying that Christians are not under the law? He gives that answer in Romans 3:19. "Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God." Here Paul equates being under the law with "being guilty before God." In other words, those who are under the law are guilty of breaking it and are under the condemnation of it!
Whose law did you break? Paul answers quickly, "I had not known sin, but by the law; for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet" Romans 7:7. There it is! The great Ten Commandment law is the one that was broken, and it demands death for the transgressor. In desperation the sinner searches for a way to be justified in the sight of that broken law. How can the sentence of death be turned aside? Can man atone for his sins by obeying the commandments of God for the rest of his life? Back comes the answer in language that no one can misinterpret: "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin" Romans 3:20. This is why works can never save the sinner! The penalty for sin is not ten years in prison or fifty years of hard labour. That unchangeable law with its unrelenting death sentence could no more be removed, than the throne of God could be toppled. The guilt of the past cannot be erased by resolutions of good behaviour in the future. The sentence is death, and the law cannot be satisfied except by the shedding of blood.
This is why if you are a Christian, you are not under it. You are not breaking it - not guilty and condemned by it, because you have accepted Jesus Christ as your Personal Saviour who has taken your penalty & died for your transgressions of Gods Law!(Romans 3:21-26, & Romans 4:24-25, Romans 5:8-10 & 18-19) Therefore, as a Christian you are not under it, but are under the power of grace instead.....
Later in his argument, Paul points out that the power of grace is greater than the power of sin. This is why he states so emphatically, "For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace." Romans 6:14 Grace overrules the authority of sin, giving power to obey God's law. This is the effective reason that we are not under the law's guilt and condemnation and also why Paul states that we will not continue to sin.
To further illustrate this fact further, suppose a murderer has been sentenced to death in the electric chair. Waiting for the execution. The man would truly be under the law in every sense of the word - under the guilt, under the condemnation, under the sentence of death, etc.
Just before the execution date the governor reviews the condemned man's case and decides to pardon him. In the light of extenuating circumstances the governor exercises his prerogative and sends a full pardon to the prisoner.
Now he is no longer under the law but under grace! The law no longer condemns him! He is free to walk out of prison and not a policeman can lay hands upon him!
But now that he is under grace and no longer under the law, can we say that he is free to break the law? Indeed not! In fact, that pardoned man will be doubly obligated to obey the law because he has found grace from the governor. In gratitude and love he will be very careful to honour the law of that state which granted him grace.
Is that what the Bible says about pardoned sinners? "Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." Romans 3:31. Here is the most explicit answer to the entire problem. Paul asks if the law is nullified for us just because we have had faith in Christ's saving grace. His answer is that the law is "established" and re-enforced in the life of a grace-saved Christian.
Further on in the book of Romans, Paul makes it clear that the Ten Commandments is our guide & mirror for grace saved Christians; "I had not known sin, but by the law..." Romans 7:7, "Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good." Romans 7:12, "Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful." Romans 7:13
Every individual will be judged by the mighty moral code of Gods law (Romans 2:12-16 & 1st James 2:12). Those who stand in the judgment will have to meet the acid test of the Ten Commandments. If a practicing thief should seek entrance into the kingdom, he would be rejected. Furthermore, the Bible specifically declares that liars, adulterers, idolaters, and covetous men will not be in the kingdom. Please note; not one person will be admitted into heaven who is wilfully violating anyone of the Ten Commandments, because breaking one is breaking all. 1st James 2:10-11.
To further elaborate on the truth about keeping the Ten Commandments, Paul makes it absolutely clear about the necessity for grace-saved Christians to uphold the law, for he teaches; "For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." Romans 2:13 So for Christians to say that we are no longer under the law is a tragic, tragic mistake!!
Someone might object that this is making works the basis of entering the kingdom. No! It is really making love the qualifying factor! Jesus said that the greatest commandment of all is to "love" God supremely (Matthew 22:37-38). Those who practise any known sin are really confessing that they do not "love" God with all their heart, soul, and mind. They will be confessing that they did not really appreciate the death of Jesus, in place of them for breaking Gods laws! So it is the lack of love that will shut them out of the kingdom. You see if you really love Jesus, obeying the commandments is not grievous.
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