Yes! The God of heaven wrote the Ten Commandments on tablets of stone with His own finger. The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God.

Sin is the breaking of God’s Ten Commandment law. The law of God is perfect (Psalm 19:7), and its principles cover every conceivable sin. The commandments cover the whole duty of man (Ecclesiastes 12:13). Nothing is left out.

A. As a guide for happy, abundant living. God created us for happiness, peace, long life, and all the blessings for which our hearts long. His law is a road map that points out the right paths to true happiness, for by the law is the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7).

B. To show us the difference between right and wrong. God’s law is like a mirror — it points out wrongdoing in our lives much like a mirror points out dirt on our faces.

C. To protect us from danger and tragedy. God’s law is like a strong fence that protects us from falsehood, murder, idolatry, theft, and many other evils that destroy life and peace.

D. To help us know God (1 John 2:3).

Because the Ten Commandment law is the standard by which God examines people in the heavenly judgment.

No. The Bible is clear that the law of God cannot be changed. The commandments are revealed principles of God’s holy character and the very foundation of His kingdom; they will be true as long as God exists. God’s law has the very same characteristics as God — it is God’s character in written form:

Good: Luke 18:19 — 1 Timothy 1:8. Holy: Isaiah 5:16 — Romans 7:12. Perfect: Matthew 5:48 — Psalm 19:7. Pure: 1 John 3:2,3 — Psalm 19:8. Just: Deuteronomy 32:4 — Romans 7:12. True: John 3:33 — Psalm 19:9. Spiritual: 1 Corinthians 10:4 — Romans 7:14. Righteous: Jeremiah 23:6 — Psalm 119:172. Faithful: 1 Corinthians 1:9 — Psalm 119:86. Love: 1 John 4:8 — Romans 13:10. Unchangeable: James 1:17 — Matthew 5:18. Everlasting: Genesis 21:33 — Psalm 111:7,8.

No, indeed! Jesus specifically asserted that He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. Instead of doing away with the law, Jesus magnified it (Isaiah 42:21) as the perfect guide for holy living. For example, He pointed out that “You shall not murder” condemns anger without a cause, and that lust is a form of adultery. He said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15).

The Ten Commandment law guides us into holy living. If we ignore even one commandment, we neglect an essential part of the divine blueprint. If one link of a chain is broken, its entire purpose is undone. When we knowingly break a command of God, we are sinning, because we refuse His will for us. Of course, God will forgive anyone who genuinely repents and accepts Christ’s power to change him.

No! 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 dirt on your face but cannot clean it, so cleansing and forgiveness come only through Christ.

Because the full pattern, or whole duty, for Christian living is contained in God’s law. Our own standards of measure are never safe — like a child who made his own ruler, measured himself, and said he was twelve feet tall. We cannot know whether we are sinners unless we look carefully into the perfect standard, God’s law. Many think good works guarantee salvation even if they ignore the law, so they think they are righteous and saved when, in fact, they are sinful and lost.

Christ not only pardons repentant sinners; He also restores in them the image of God. Through the power of His indwelling presence, He brings them into harmony with His law. “You shall not” becomes a positive promise that the Christian will not steal, lie, or murder, because Jesus lives within and is in control. God will not change His moral law, but through Jesus He made a provision to change the sinner so we can measure up to that law.

No! The Scriptures teach the very opposite. Grace is like a governor’s pardon to a prisoner: it forgives him, but it does not give him freedom to break another law. The forgiven person, living under grace, will actually want to keep God’s law out of gratitude for salvation. A person who refuses to keep God’s law, saying he is living under grace, is sorely mistaken.

Yes, and very clearly so. Every commandment appears in both the Old and New Testaments:

1. Worship the Lord your God only — Matthew 4:10; Exodus 20:3. 2. Keep yourself from idols — 1 John 5:21; Exodus 20:4–6. 3. Do not dishonor God’s name — 1 Timothy 6:1; Exodus 20:7. 4. Remember the rest of the seventh day — Hebrews 4:4,9,10; Exodus 20:8–11. 5. Honor father and mother — Matthew 19:19; Exodus 20:12. 6. Do not murder — Romans 13:9; Exodus 20:13. 7. Do not commit adultery — Matthew 19:18; Exodus 20:14. 8. Do not steal — Romans 13:9; Exodus 20:15. 9. Do not bear false witness — Romans 13:9; Exodus 20:16. 10. Do not covet — Romans 7:7; Exodus 20:17.

No, they are not the same. Moses’ law was the temporary, ceremonial law of the Old Testament: it regulated the priesthood, sacrifices, and rituals that foreshadowed the cross, and it was added until the Seed — that is, Christ — should come. It ended at Christ’s death. But God’s Ten Commandment law stands forever. Compare the two laws:

Moses’ law: called “the law of Moses” (Luke 2:22); “the law of commandments contained in ordinances” (Ephesians 2:15); written by Moses in a book (2 Chronicles 35:12); placed beside the ark (Deuteronomy 31:26); ended at the cross (Ephesians 2:15); added because of sin (Galatians 3:19); was against us (Colossians 2:14); fleshly (Hebrews 7:16); made nothing perfect (Hebrews 7:19).

God’s law: called “the law of the Lord” (Isaiah 5:24); “the royal law” (James 2:8); written by God on stone (Exodus 31:18; 32:16); placed inside the ark (Exodus 40:20); will stand forever (Luke 16:17); points out sin (Romans 7:7); not burdensome (1 John 5:3); spiritual (Romans 7:14); perfect (Psalm 19:7).

The devil hates those who uphold God’s law, because the law is a pattern of right living. No wonder he bitterly opposes all who uphold it. In his war against God’s holy standard, he goes so far as to use religious leaders to deny the Ten Commandments while at the same time upholding the traditions of men. Christians must wake up and restore God’s law to its rightful place in their hearts and lives.