Are the Ten Commandments the Moral Guide to the Christian Today?

Several years ago I was visiting a pastor in Greenville South Carolina. As I sat in this pasture's home talking with he and his wife the name of a brother came up. The topic turned to his stand on the law and grace. The wife told me that she did not agree with the teaching of this brother. The wife went on to say that it is not enough to listen to the Holy Spirit. But we need an objective standard by which to live by. That objective standard is the law of Moses as it is stated in the book of Exodus 20:8-17.

The Reformed tradition I came out of advocates this view. The believer in Christ is governed by the law of Sinai. Or the believer is bound under the The Ten Commandments.

Would the Forum agree with the sister above? We cannot listen to the Holy Spirit alone. But we need the moral law of Moses to guide us. It is not sufficient merely to listen to Jesus. But the moral law of Moses is a greater revelation and the standard by which we live by. Does the forum agree with this?

Respectfully posted.

But would your brothers say that we need to go back to Exodus and live by the moral law? In other words it is the moral law alone that is our objective standard by which we live.

In the Reformed Tradition I came out of there are those who advocate this view. It is not the Holy Spirit. But the moral law of God. And that as articulated at Sinai.

But would your brothers say that we need to go back to Exodus and live by the moral law? In other words it is the moral law alone that is our objective standard by which we live.

Brother,

It is clear from Scripture that the Holy Spirit leads into a life of godliness and following the ways and commands of God. So rituals and ordinances we do not have to follow, but "moral" commands against sin, the Spirit will lead believers in.

Note below that we are to follow the commands of our Lord Jesus and He summarized the moral law in 2 commandments.

Titus 2:11-12 New International Version (NIV)

11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say "No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age,

Matthew 7:24-29 New International Version (NIV)

The Wise and Foolish Builders
24 "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

If you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength how can you sin against God? And if you are loving your neighbor as yourself along with loving God as I just stated, then you will not be sinning against your neighbor, either. This is why love fulfills the law.

Romans 13:10
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

And if there be any other commandment (than just the 10)...

Rom 13:9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Did you know that if you favor some people over others you are sinning?

Jas 2:8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
Jas 2:9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.

Gal 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

1Ti 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:

How you can tell if someone is a Christian...

1Jn 4:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Keeping the 10 commandments prove nothing. You can be a "respecter of persons" and keep the 10 commandments.

1Jn 4:20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

You can obey the 10 commandments which if you only do so by the letter only regulate outward actions. You will look good in man's eyes but God sees the heart. The law is righteous and the Lord intended for people to understand that one should not even commit adultery in their heart. Internalize everything. Don't covet in your heart, don't lust, etc, etc. The law shows us we are abysmal failures. It is all about our hearts, isn't it?

To truly love God and your neighbor is impossible without the Spirit of God and regeneration. Impossible to have a pure heart and pure motives without the new birth.

Mat 5:19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

Matt 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
Mat 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Middletown Bible Church has some good articles.

The right use of the Law by Paris Reidhead

I listened to the sermon, thank you for recommending it. It explains everything clearly.

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