Does it matter whether we obey the Ten Commandments? Wouldn't it be wonderful
if we could ask Jesus Christ if keeping the Ten Commandments is still necessary,
especially to receive eternal life?
The longest chapter in the Bible is an extended praise of God's Word and
law. "Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make
them stumble," it tells us. "I wait for your salvation, O LORD,
and I follow your commands. I obey your statutes, for I love them greatly" (Psalm 119:165-167, NIV).
If only the whole world would view God's law in that light! But, to our
shame, the Ten Commandments have been rejected as the standard of human behavior
by our society. Even many who profess to follow Christ today treat them as
irrelevant because they have been taught that God's law was abolished at
Christ's death.
Yet God's Word tells us that His law is "perfect" and His ordinances "are
sure and altogether righteous" (Psalm 19:7,9). Accordingly, the enthusiastic
author above again affirmed, "I will always obey your law, for ever
and ever" (Psalm 119:44, NIV).
Does it matter whether we obey the Ten Commandments?
Finding the answer
Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could ask Jesus Christ if keeping the Ten
Commandments is still necessary, especially to receive eternal life?
Actually, that is not as difficult as it may seem. That question was directly
put to Jesus, and the Bible preserves His reply for us. "Now behold,
one came and said to Him, 'Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that
I may have eternal life?' So He said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? No
one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep
the commandments'" (Matthew 19:16-17). That is about as clear as one
can be. Jesus said that He expects any who desire to receive the gift of
eternal life to keep God's commandments.
