4. Why is God’s law exceedingly important to you personally?
“Speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty” (James 2:12).
Answer: Because the Ten Commandment law is the standard by which God examines people in the heavenly judgment.
5. Can God’s law (the Ten Commandments) ever be changed or abolished?
“It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail” (Luke 16:17).
“My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips” (Psalm 89:34).
“All His precepts [commandments] are sure. They stand fast forever and ever” (Psalm 111:7, 8).
Answer: No. The Bible is clear that the law of God cannot be changed. The commandments are revealed principles of God’s holy character and are the very foundation of His kingdom. They will be true as long as God exists.
This chart shows us that God and His law have the exact same characteristics, revealing that the Ten Commandment law is actually God’s character in written form—written so that we can better comprehend God. It is no more possible to change God’s law than to pull God out of heaven and change Him. Jesus showed us what the law—that is, the pattern for holy living—looks like when expressed in human form. God’s character cannot change; therefore, neither can His law.
GOD ISTHE LAW ISGoodLuke 18:191 Timothy 1:8HolyIsaiah 5:16Romans 7:12PerfectMatthew 5:48Psalms 19:7Pure1 John 3:2,3Psalms 19:8JustDeuteronomy 32:4Romans 7:12TrueJohn 3:33Psalms 19:9Spiritual1 Corinthians 10:4Romans 7:14RighteousnessJeremiah 23:6Psalms 119:172Faithful1 Corinthians 1:9Psalms 119:86Love1 John 4:8Romans 13:10UnchangeableJames 1:17Matthew 5:18EverlastingGenesis 21:33Psalms 111:7,8
6. Did Jesus abolish God's law while He was here on earth?
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law. … I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. … Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17, 18).
Answer: No, indeed! Jesus specifically asserted that He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill (or keep) it. Instead of doing away with the law, Jesus magnified it (Isaiah 42:21) as the perfect guide for holy living. For example, Jesus pointed out that “You shall not murder” condemns anger “without a cause” (Matthew 5:21, 22) and hatred (1 John 3:15), and that lust is a form of adultery (Matthew 5:27, 28). He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
7. Will people who knowingly continue to break God’s commandments be saved?
“The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
“He will destroy its sinners” (Isaiah 13:9).
“Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).
Answer: The Ten Commandment law guides us into holy living. If we ignore even one of the commandments, we neglect an essential part of the divine blueprint. If only one link of a chain is broken, its entire purpose is undone. The Bible says that when we knowingly break a command of God, we are sinning (James 4:17) because we have refused His will for us. Only those who do His will can enter the kingdom of heaven. Of course, God will forgive anyone who genuinely repents and accepts Christ’s power to change him or her.
8. Can anyone be saved by keeping the law?
“By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight” (Romans 3:20).
“By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
Answer: No! The answer is too plain to miss. No one can be saved by keeping the law. Salvation comes only through grace, as a free gift of Jesus Christ, and we receive this gift by faith, not by our works. The law serves as a mirror that points out the sin in our lives. Just as a mirror can show you dirt on your face but cannot clean your face, so cleansing and forgiveness from that sin come only through Christ.
9. Why, then, is the law essential for improving a Christian’s character?
“Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all [whole duty]” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
“By the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).
Answer: Because the full pattern, or “whole duty,” for Christian living is contained in God’s law. Like a six-year-old who made his own ruler, measured himself, and told his mother that he was 12 feet tall, our own standards of measure are never safe. We cannot know whether we are sinners unless we look carefully into the perfect standard—God’s law. Many think that doing good works guarantees their salvation even if they ignore keeping the law (Matthew 7:21–23). Hence, they think they are righteous and saved when, in fact, they are sinful and lost. “By this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments”
(1 John 2:3).
“Speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty” (James 2:12).
Answer: Because the Ten Commandment law is the standard by which God examines people in the heavenly judgment.
5. Can God’s law (the Ten Commandments) ever be changed or abolished?
“It is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail” (Luke 16:17).
“My covenant I will not break, nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips” (Psalm 89:34).
“All His precepts [commandments] are sure. They stand fast forever and ever” (Psalm 111:7, 8).
Answer: No. The Bible is clear that the law of God cannot be changed. The commandments are revealed principles of God’s holy character and are the very foundation of His kingdom. They will be true as long as God exists.
This chart shows us that God and His law have the exact same characteristics, revealing that the Ten Commandment law is actually God’s character in written form—written so that we can better comprehend God. It is no more possible to change God’s law than to pull God out of heaven and change Him. Jesus showed us what the law—that is, the pattern for holy living—looks like when expressed in human form. God’s character cannot change; therefore, neither can His law.
GOD ISTHE LAW ISGoodLuke 18:191 Timothy 1:8HolyIsaiah 5:16Romans 7:12PerfectMatthew 5:48Psalms 19:7Pure1 John 3:2,3Psalms 19:8JustDeuteronomy 32:4Romans 7:12TrueJohn 3:33Psalms 19:9Spiritual1 Corinthians 10:4Romans 7:14RighteousnessJeremiah 23:6Psalms 119:172Faithful1 Corinthians 1:9Psalms 119:86Love1 John 4:8Romans 13:10UnchangeableJames 1:17Matthew 5:18EverlastingGenesis 21:33Psalms 111:7,8
6. Did Jesus abolish God's law while He was here on earth?
“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law. … I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. … Till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled” (Matthew 5:17, 18).
Answer: No, indeed! Jesus specifically asserted that He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill (or keep) it. Instead of doing away with the law, Jesus magnified it (Isaiah 42:21) as the perfect guide for holy living. For example, Jesus pointed out that “You shall not murder” condemns anger “without a cause” (Matthew 5:21, 22) and hatred (1 John 3:15), and that lust is a form of adultery (Matthew 5:27, 28). He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).
7. Will people who knowingly continue to break God’s commandments be saved?
“The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
“He will destroy its sinners” (Isaiah 13:9).
“Whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all” (James 2:10).
Answer: The Ten Commandment law guides us into holy living. If we ignore even one of the commandments, we neglect an essential part of the divine blueprint. If only one link of a chain is broken, its entire purpose is undone. The Bible says that when we knowingly break a command of God, we are sinning (James 4:17) because we have refused His will for us. Only those who do His will can enter the kingdom of heaven. Of course, God will forgive anyone who genuinely repents and accepts Christ’s power to change him or her.
8. Can anyone be saved by keeping the law?
“By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight” (Romans 3:20).
“By grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8, 9).
Answer: No! The answer is too plain to miss. No one can be saved by keeping the law. Salvation comes only through grace, as a free gift of Jesus Christ, and we receive this gift by faith, not by our works. The law serves as a mirror that points out the sin in our lives. Just as a mirror can show you dirt on your face but cannot clean your face, so cleansing and forgiveness from that sin come only through Christ.
9. Why, then, is the law essential for improving a Christian’s character?
“Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all [whole duty]” (Ecclesiastes 12:13).
“By the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).
Answer: Because the full pattern, or “whole duty,” for Christian living is contained in God’s law. Like a six-year-old who made his own ruler, measured himself, and told his mother that he was 12 feet tall, our own standards of measure are never safe. We cannot know whether we are sinners unless we look carefully into the perfect standard—God’s law. Many think that doing good works guarantees their salvation even if they ignore keeping the law (Matthew 7:21–23). Hence, they think they are righteous and saved when, in fact, they are sinful and lost. “By this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments”
(1 John 2:3).