The Ten Commandments Part 1

In starting a series on the exposition of the Ten commandments, it is first necessary to understand the correct place of the Law in the Christian life. There are 2 principle errors in the viewing of the law – Antinomianism and Legalism. The one views the law as abolished or at least of no importance to the believer. The other tends to emphasize it to a degree which makes it the basis of justification, or at least a source of confidence before God.
Against both of these stand the Scriptures and most especially, 1 Timothy 1:5-11, “But the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned: from which things some having swerved have turned aside unto vain talking; desiring to be teachers of the law, though they understand neither what they say, nor whereof they confidently affirm. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully, as knowing this, that law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and unruly, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for abusers of themselves with men, for menstealers, for liars, for false swearers, and if there be any other thing contrary to the sound doctrine; according to the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.”

The law is good, it was not issued out of caprice, but as part of an ongoing revelation of a holy God to sinful man. Before the law, as Paul tells us in Romans 5:14, men still died even though they had not sinned in an actual transgression of a commandment like Adam, since there was no commandment to transgress. However, death still reigned, because sin was still within man, as a latent propensity which would spring forth whenever a command was given, and thus opportunity was granted for its manifestation. In the same way that a fox kit may look harmless enough, and even be allowed into a hen house, but sooner or later it would fulfill its nature and devour the chickens. In the same way God cannot take unredeemed man into His Kingdom, even though there be no law to convict them, their nature only awaits a command, any command of God to set up their own will in opposition to His. Unconverted man would quickly re-enact the fall of Lucifer again in heaven, and were they allowed to remain there they would turn the celestial harmony of will found there into the dissonant discord of hell.

Hence God sent His law, this was and is a self-revelation of His good nature, and a revelation of the fallshortishness of humanity. Each precept was a hammer blow to drive nails into the coffin of human pride and self-reliance so that man would realize his guilt, need of redemption and utter unfitness to enter God’s kingdom in the state he is born. The law shows where we fall short and is the basis of Christ’s declaration to Nicodemus, “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God” (John 3:3). A new and heavenly birth is essential, because it provides a new nature (Christ’s) which can enter into God’s kingdom. Using the law as a source of justification is like using a hammer to drive a screw into wood (Something many Malawian carpenters do). It is a misuse of a tool which is good for its intention, and not to be blamed for its misapplication.

With this part being given as an introduction, I desire now to look at the Ten Commandments. If we study these and look at the amplifications of these given in the New Testament, we are sure to be challenged in areas where the old nature needs to die and the new nature come forth. His law is perfect converting the soul.