We acknowledge that many objections, to what has been presented, have been raised in the minds of some believers. Most of the problems that people have with Bible doctrine is that they do not take the Word of God as a whole. They take one or two verses and build their whole system of theology upon them, ignoring the plain truth of other Scriptures. Those who promote living by the Ten Commandments are among this group. Therefore, to address some of those Scriptures which may present problems to what we have put forth, we present the following section. These verses are strictly from the New Testament, as we hope everyone acknowledges the difference between the Old Covenant economy between Israel and God, and the New Covenant relationship between believers and God. The importance of the Ten Commandments in the Old Testament is certainly not debatable and we are not trying to do so. Please note the reversal of our previous sections where we offered our commentary first and then the Scriptural basis second. Here we begin with the Scripture in question and end with our comments and those verses which we base our viewpoint upon. We have also placed divisions between each Scripture in question.
 

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Matt 5:17 Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.
18 For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
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.
20 For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Although we have somewhat covered this Scripture from the Sermon on the Mount, the importance of what Jesus said is too important to pass over. Having studied how Christ fulfilled the law by His life and sacrificial death, what is meant by “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.” Jesus Christ did not have a contrary attitude toward the law and neither should we. He came to “magnify the law, and make it honourable.” The Ten Commandments were a part of the greater law of God and were “holy, and just, and good.” The Apostle Paul went so far as to say that “if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.” The problem with the law was not in the law itself, but in man’s ability to obey the law. The law is spiritual, but man is “carnal, sold under sin.” Except for a superficial adherence to the carnal aspect of the law, man falls terribly short in trying to measure up to the law’s standard of righteousness. Through the new birth and our union with the Spirit of Christ we have now been enabled to keep the “righteousness of the law”—not by trying to obey the letter of the law, but the spirit of the law.

Isa 42:21 The LORD is well pleased for his righteousness' sake; he will magnify the law, and make it honourable.

Rom 7:12 Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.

Gal 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Rom 7:14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Rom 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Jesus in no way was implying that obedience to the Law of Moses could in anyway make us righteous before God, because immediately following He said that “except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was the Law of Moses; and as we have seen, some of these religious men and women were so meticulous to their adherence to the law that they claimed to be blameless before God. Furthermore, Jesus would not have made the written law the pillar of the Christian life when so much of the New Testament so plainly teaches against that very thing.

Phil 3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.

Gal 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
12 And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them.
13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:
14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Rom 7:6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

 
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Matt 19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19 Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
25 When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?
26 But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

Here in these verses, Jesus seems to be telling this young man that by keeping the Ten Commandments he could earn eternal life. However, the key to understanding these verses is what Jesus saw in the man’s heart. In asking the question, “Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?” he was expressing the common misconception of all people that there is something that a person can do in order to earn their way to Heaven. Jesus’ reply to him was that “if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments”; and truly, if any person were to perfectly obey the law of God throughout their whole life they would be sinless and not subject to death. However, we already know that “There is none righteous, no, not one,” “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” The young man, as did many Jews, believed he had perfectly kept the commandments; that in himself he was already righteous; and therefore had no need of a Saviour. In order to make known to this man the deeper aspects of sin that are in everyone’s heart, Jesus revealed his covetousness and lack of love and concern for the poor and needy. He told him that “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.” At this saying “he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.” The young man’s love of money was greater than his love for God and he could not bring himself to obey the Master’s request. When the disciples of Jesus saw how hard He was making it for someone to earn eternal life they asked, “Who then can be saved?” To this Jesus replied “With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” It is impossible for any man, rich or poor, to earn eternal life; it is equally impossible for any man to come to Christ for salvation unless God draws them. The barriers that sin and Satan have put up in our lives, keep all of us from coming to Christ on our own. No one can keep the Commandments; no one can earn eternal life; and no one can come to Christ. We are all at the mercy of God to save us from our sins and take us to Heaven.

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Rom 10:1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.
2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

John 6:44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Tit 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
 

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1 John 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment which ye had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.

Here in these verses, the Apostle John tells us that the evidence of knowing Christ is if we keep His commandments. It is clear from the context of these verses that he is not talking about how we come to know Christ or how we stay in fellowship with Him, but what is the outward manifestation that we know Him already.  There are two possible ways that we can look at what commandments John is talking about and they are actually interrelated. The first is the Ten Commandments as well as all the other moral laws found in the Bible—here referred to as “the old commandment.” As a believer begins to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ and starts to walk in the spirit, he will, by the divine nature within him, begin to fulfill the law of God. The Holy Spirit never leads a child of God to walk contrary to the Word of God, and anyone who lives a life of continual unrepentant sin does not know Christ. Therefore, “the old commandment” is like a thermometer that measures our spiritual temperature and tells us if we are truly in Christ and walking in Christ. The second way to look at what commandments John is referring to, are those commands that Jesus gave to His disciples that would be the foundation of the New Covenant of Grace. Jesus told His followers “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” What then were the commandments that Jesus gave to His people that would manifest their love for Christ? Although He gave other commands for them to follow such as evangelism, baptism, the Lord’s supper, and others, the following would form the basis for the Christian life: “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake”; “Abide in me, and I in you”; “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.” Faith in Christ, abiding in Christ, and love for one another—these essential commands for believers would consummate their love for Christ and bring them into intimate fellowship with Him. The Apostle John would later emphasis these commands as the evidence of our knowing Christ— “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”

John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

John 15:4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Rom 13:8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
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.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
19 And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.
20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

As we have also said, the Old Testament law and the laws of Christ are interrelated. Christ taught his disciples to love Him and then to love one another; but that is the basis of all the Old Covenant laws as well. “The first and great commandment in the law” is to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” “The second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” The purpose of the Ten Commandments was to teach Israel how to love God and also how to love their fellowman. However, because of their spiritual blindness, all the law could really do was to restrain their carnal tendency to sin. The “new commandment” of Christ was the “old commandment” given under a new covenant to new creatures in Christ who could fulfill the spiritual intent of the law. The love of Christ in a believer’s heart gives to him a love for God and for our fellowman as well, and at the same time fulfills the law's demands.

Deut 6:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Lev 19:18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Matt 22:35 Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying,
36 Master, which is the great commandment in the law?
37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

1 John 3:21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

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

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1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

The Apostle again shows that the evidence of walking after the Spirit and the fruits of the Spirit is a love for God and others. John is not teaching a legalistic obedience to the written law of God, but the Spirit leading us “in the paths of righteousness.” Love always fulfills the law because that is the essence of the spiritual law of God. God is love and the law of God reveals what love will do in every situation. Obeying God’s law is “not grievous” to a child of God who walks “not after the flesh, but after the Spirit” because that is now his nature to do so. The Law of Moses was given to control the carnal desires of fallen man; but it was only a temporary measure until Christ came to give us the New Birth and spiritual life.

2 John 1:5 And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.
6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.

Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Rom 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

1 Tim 1:8 But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;
9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers,
10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

Gal 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
 

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James 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

The book of James has, throughout the Church Age, brought about much controversy in the minds of many believers in Christ. Some leaders of the Reformation even suggested that this book should not be included in the canon of Scripture because it seems to promote a law-works salvation. However, as we shall see, James was not in disagreement with the other writers of the New Testament, but simply presented the practical aspect of Biblical faith. James argued against, what we might call today, easy believism. This doctrine, which has become so prevalent in the modern church, promotes a gospel where true repentance and Biblical faith has been exchanged for “asking Jesus into your heart”—without any evidence of true conversion. Those who evangelize, in their effort to make decisions, have designed shortcuts to the Gospel message. What we have today are millions of professing Christians who claim to have accepted Jesus, but show no evidence of being born-again by the Spirit of God. James was writing to awaken those professing believers who had associated themselves with the church but were not a part of the spiritual body of Christ. He was appealing to false Christians to examine themselves whether they had any evidence that Christ was living in them. God cannot come to live in a person’s heart without there being some kind of change in their life. A faith that does not show any outward evidence is a dead faith. In using the example of Abraham, James was showing how the faith of Abraham was made a reality by his obedience to the will of God. His faith in God and the promises that God had given him, made him willing to sacrifice his son through whom the promises would come; for he believed “that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead.”

Rom 4:1 What shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found?
2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.
4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations; according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara's womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

2 Cor 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Heb 11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

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Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

James also appealed to believers to be “doers of the word, and not hearers only.” However again, he was not promoting legalism but the “perfect law of liberty.” Christians do not obey commandments written on tables of stone, but “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.” We are to behold our “natural face”—the natural man apart from Christ—in the looking glass of God’s Word; this causes us to remember our deadness apart from Christ; and then abide in the only One who can give us life and cause us to live according to God’s Word. As believers under the New Covenant, we are to walk in the precepts of God’s Word, however, “not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

Rom 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

2 Cor 3:2 Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
3 Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
4 And such trust have we through Christ to God-ward:
5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;
6 Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.
 

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1 Thes 4:1 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
3 For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
4 That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
5 Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
6 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
8 He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

In these verses, Paul the Apostle is exhorting the brethren at Thessalonica about the need for moral purity. He reminds them of the “commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.” However, what commandments was he referring to? We could say that he was talking about the commandment against adultery, and that would not violate the meaning of these verses. Paul certainly promoted the moral aspects of the law and warned against negating the plain prohibition against sexual immorality; but again, he was not teaching legalism or all the aspects of the Law of Moses. In the book of Acts, the assembly of the Apostles discussed what things were needful to instruct young Gentile believers about, and foremost was to abstain from idol worship and fornication. The importance of moral purity to the testimony of believers is so vital that Paul wrote, “For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.” Christian liberty does not promote any kind of sin, but rather frees us to walk after the Spirit and live according to the righteousness of the law; and for those who would walk pleasing to their Lord and serve Him, moral purity is essential.

Matt 5:27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
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.

Acts 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.
2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.
3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.
4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.
6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.
13 And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things.
18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world.
19 Wherefore my sentence is, that we trouble not them, which from among the Gentiles are turned to God:
20 But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood.
21 For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.

* * * * *

Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
14 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 city.

In the last book of the Bible, in the last few verses of God’s written Word, is Jesus negating all that the New Testament has said concerning salvation by grace? Is He saying that by obeying the Ten Commandments we earn the “right to the tree of life”? Although many students of the Bible use this and similar passages to promote their law-works salvation, we realize that Jesus is not implying any such thing. We have already discussed what is meant by “his commandments” and there is no need to be redundant. When Paul and Silas were imprisoned at Philippi, God set them free by a great earthquake. The jailer who was in charge of their custody—under penalty of his own life—was about to kill himself. Paul, seeing what was about to happen cried out “Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.” The jailer, who had heard about or witnessed their being beaten, had shackled them, and then heard their praying and singing praises to God, came into the prison and fell down at their feet saying “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” He did not come as the self-righteous young man about whom we have already studied; but he came as someone who was convicted of his sin and his need of a Saviour. He saw something special about these two men that made him believe that God was in their life and they could tell him the way of salvation. Did Paul and Silas tell him to start living a perfect life by keeping the Ten Commandments?—no; they gave him the only commandment that will save any sinner if they obey it— “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”

1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
24 And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Acts 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27 And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, had been raised under the Mosaic Law; he was a strict adherent of all of its commandments; and yet God had brought him to see Christ as his only hope of salvation. Paul counted all of his heritage, his religious prestige, and his self-righteousness “but dung,” that he might “win Christ.” Paul was not speaking about “winning Christ” by some human effort, but that he might “be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:” Although he knew every aspect of the Mosaic law, throughout his ministry he exhorted men to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” as the only way of salvation. Paul had been personally taught, by Christ, the Gospel of Grace; and now preached, not obedience to the law, but “obedience to the faith.” Therefore, we conclude, that neither Jesus nor any of His Apostles taught that keeping the Mosaic Law had anything to do with eternal salvation; and that neither Jesus nor any of His Apostles taught that the Christian life is lived by keeping the Ten Commandments or any other set of laws.

Phil 3:4 Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:
5 Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Rom 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:

Gal 1:11 But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man.
12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.
13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.
15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,
16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

In closing, we say to anyone who is struggling to find peace with God—stop trying to obey any set of laws or rules as your effort to be self-righteous. Come to God as an empty-handed sinner who deserves nothing but judgment, and who can do nothing to save their self. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ”—believe He is the Son of God; believe that His blood sacrifice paid your sin debt; and believe that He arose from the dead to give you new life. God’s commandment for you is to repent of your own dead works and to believe in His Son. “This is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ.” We urge you to meditate on the following verses; ask God to open your blinded eyes that you might see the truth; and then to cast all of your hope of heaven and eternal life upon the mercies of God in Jesus Christ.

Tit 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

John 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

1 Cor 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

1 Pet 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:
20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,
21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently:
23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

John 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 John 3:23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

John 12:44 Jesus cried and said, He that believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
45 And he that seeth me seeth him that sent me.
46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
47 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world.
48 He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
50 And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak.