Well, this is a interesting question, and the answer given should be a reality check for most Christians.

"The helpful website, gotquestions.org, has over 10,000 answers to frequently asked Bible questions, such as this one: "Do Christians have to obey the Old Testament law?"

After briefly explaining some of the laws that were given to God's people, (Ten Commandments, civil, ceremonial) their website states, "None of the Old Testament law is binding on Christians today."

Do you see any problem with their answer?

While it is true that God does not expect believers today to follow the Old Testament laws regarding the sacrificial system, food and clothing rules, etc., it is unwise in my view to claim that the Ten Commandments are not "binding on Christians today."

After all, examine the New Testament instructions given to Christians in the words of Jesus, and the writings of Paul, Peter and James. While Scripture makes it clear that Christians "are not under law, but under grace," (Romans 6:14) followers of Christ are presented with many rules for holy living in the New Testament. And these godly instructions line up beautifully with the Ten Commandments.

While Christians never earn God's forgiveness and salvation by obeying the Law, believers are nevertheless clearly called to "aim for perfection," (2 Cor. 13:11) "do everything in love," (2 Cor. 16:14) and "say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions" (Titus 2:12). The Ten Commandments convey essentially the same message.

Pastor Andy Stanley authored a book in 2018 in which he wrote, "The Ten Commandments have no authority over you. None. To be clear: Thou shalt not obey the Ten Commandments."

While Pastor Stanley certainly does not encourage Christians to steal, kill and commit adultery, or deliberately break any of the Ten Commandments, his willingness to toss aside these historic edicts as nothing more than a remnant of biblical history is shocking.

You see, every instruction for believers in the New Testament came from the same God who gave His people the Ten Commandments. The New Testament instructions, like the Ten Commandments, teach God's people to love the Lord and to love others.

It is terribly misleading at best to suggest that Christians today should disregard these inspired Old Testament commands, especially since God graciously gave them for the benefit and spiritual growth of His people.

Rather than lowering the bar during His earthly ministry, Jesus actually raised the bar for His followers. For example, Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, 'Do not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart" (Matthew 5:27-28).

Likewise, Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder' ... but anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of Hell" (Matthew 5:21-22).

Jesus used the Ten Commandments as a jumping-off point when He raised the bar. Jesus would not have pointed to them if He wanted His followers to think that the Ten Commandments have no relevance for New Testament believers.

In reality, the Ten Commandments are the authoritative Word of God, revealing His will for His people. God did not change His mind about those commandments when Jesus came to Earth to purchase our salvation by dying on the cross for our sins. I see no value whatsoever in downplaying the importance of the Ten Commandments for Christians today.

Pastor Kevin DeYoung wisely wrote, "The church has historically put the Ten Commandments at the center of its teaching ministry, especially for children and new believers. ... For virtually all of church history, when people asked, 'How do we do discipleship? How do we teach our kids about the Bible? What do new Christians need to know about Christianity?" Their answer always included an emphasis on the Ten Commandments."

Jesus said, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law" (Matthew 5:17-18).

God's Law is critically important. For one thing, "The Law was put in charge to lead us to Christ" (Galatians 3:24). The Law is a mirror that when looking into it reveals our sin and our need for the Savior. But the Law has another important purpose. It teaches believers how to live in a way that is pleasing to God.

The Apostle Paul instructed the saints in Ephesus, "Find out what pleases the Lord" (Galatians 5:24). The Ten Commandments show followers of Christ what God expects of us. When believers meditate upon instructions in the New Testament, along with the Ten Commandments, we learn what pleases the Lord.

Christians seek to obey God not in order to be saved, but because we have already been saved through faith in Jesus. And since we are no longer under law but under grace, we are highly motivated and greatly empowered by the Holy Spirit to engage in thoughts and behavior that bring glory to the Lord.

While we ourselves are far from perfect, we are forgiven by our Savior whose perfect life, death and resurrection guarantee our eternal inheritance in Heaven.

So go ahead, Christian. Apply the Ten Commandments to your life of discipleship. You will be stronger for it."... https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...ce57b96ee443e0afc0db35e317be86&ei=32

Many good thoughts and valuable observations in the above article.

Indeed "God's Law is critically important."
-- revealing His will for His people
-- teaches God's people to love the Lord and to love others.
-- The Law was put in charge to lead us to Christ" (Galatians 3:24)
-- The Law is a mirror when looked into reveals our sin and our need for the Savior
-- shows followers of Christ what God expects of us, what brings glory to His name and pleases HIM.


What has always been rather puzzling, when discussing the ten commandments with Christians of various denominations, is their positive comments on the ten commandments. They want to see them back on the wall in the schools and government type buildings. They see God's ten commandments as good --

UNTIL one starts pointing out that the 4th commandment is not about Sunday. It is about remembering to keep holy the seventh day which the Lord blessed and sanctified at creation. Then we hear all kinds of rationalization that the ten commandments no longer have to be observed, at least not in a strict adherence to what it actually says.

NATURAL LAW or SPECIFIC LAW.

What I've found -- and there may be other opinions on this --
Is that these Christians believe in what is called "Natural Law".
Natural law is "sensible law" a law that everyone should be able to understand thanks to the conscience God has put in people's minds.

First, I think we need to step back and think about natural law --good, sensible law. If God is the author of both the ten commandment law and natural law, those laws cannot contradict one another."

Conscience already helps people know there is something wrong with lying, stealing, killing, adultery, betrayal, etc. God, has given people a conscience, He has also made laws that are non negotiable because it's just right, good and obviously makes society a better place when people adhere to these laws.

However, a large majority of Christians still see the ten commandments as the "Mosaic" covenantal law, the covenant made with ancient Israel. The Ten Commandments, in their minds, though exhibiting natural law good for everyone, yet they were given as a covenant between God and his people, literal Israel.

What happens with this thinking is that even though they believe the principles in the ten commandments are all part of God's "natural law", which is important for all, yet, for them, the ten commandments are still specifically a legal document God made with the children of Israel. As Christians, they see the ten commandments as representing a different covenant, even though they still hold the "natural law" concept as important to all, but the specific legality of it was for ancient Israel.

In this line of thinking, they look at the fourth commandment as yes -- the principle of resting on one day in seven is part of "natural law", for people need periods of rest, and that God desires people to take time to slow down and rest, for it has natural benefits, BUT the time or day itself isn't important.
The ten commandment law is seen as a legal document for the Israelite nation, given specifically for them, thus those commands don't hold that same legal binding nature over Christians, who only accept those commandments as they fit into the "natural law" paradigm.

This line of thinking will grow more pronounced as we head into the final crises. The "natural law" concept of the ten commandments will be heralded, and we, as Adventists will recognize the truth that indeed the ten commandments are sustained by the fact God's law is naturally the best way to live.
BUT if that's all people see, they will fail to see that God has also set a SIGN in the fourth commandment -- a sign to show who is just sort of acknowledging His law because it's reasonable for good life and it sounds like good "natural law", or if they have made HIM their LORD and Master and Savior.
Sunday will be made to sound like the "natural" way to better the world situation, but is the fourth commandment still binding as it was written? Or is it just a good "natural law" with no binding specifics, by which we can keep any day, like Sunday, as the "day of rest"?

The move to seeing God's Ten Commandments as good natural law, isn't a bad thing, as God's commands are good and right, but they also contain specifics that may not "feel" natural. For those who go beyond just "natural law" and take the step to seek to "Find out what pleases the Lord" , will also choose the day the Lord has blessed and made holy and asked them to remember.