Introduction

Today we find more and more Christians are being taught that the Ten Commandments that were given in such incredible fiery majesty by God Himself have been abolished. Never is there a consistent reason as to why. It just happens to be whatever lie the enemy was able to perpetuate, and was believed by someone who was innocently deceived or perhaps even because they did not want to acknowledge one or more of the Commandments themselves. Sometimes the justification used is that God and His Son Jesus Christ are responsible for them being “abolished” at the Cross. Others insist that they are still in force with the exception of the one Commandment that God said to remember to do rather than the Commandments that say what we should not do. Why would any Christian born of God even consider living in the very sin that caused our loving Saviour all that suffering? The Ten Commandments reflect the very character of God Himself and are the very fabric of why we were created. To love and worship God with all our heart, might and soul and to love our neighbour as ourselves is the purpose of our existence. To desire not to live by them is to desire to live an un-Godly and sinful life that has only one conclusion that is my earnest heartfelt prayer that not one will ever experience. See also what are the Ten Commandments.

Below are the main scriptures that demonstrate the eternal nature and the real truth about the Decalogue. The most common arguments our adversary uses to try and deceive Christians are covered. Suggestions for missing arguments are welcome.

Perhaps it would be a good idea to start with the Bible definition of SIN.

1 John 3:4 “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.”

Many do not stop and realize that teaching the Ten Commandments are abolished also does away with our need for a saviour. If there is no law then we can do as we please, because where no law is, there is no transgression or sin and if there is no sin, then there is no need for our Saviour Jesus Christ. Two translations are given for extra clarity. Compare with 1 John 3:4 above.

Romans 4:15 CEV “God becomes angry when his Law is broken. But where there isn't a law, it cannot be broken.”
Romans 4:15 KJV “Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.”

Paul clarifies in the following verse what the purpose of the law is which gives more insight to the above verse.

Romans 7:7 “What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. No, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, You shall not covet.”

So Paul says that the law has an important purpose, but is the law a good thing that still remains today? Paul gives clarity to this question in verse 12 and exhorts that the law is a lot more than just good. Would God or any Christian born of God, dispose of something that is HOLY, JUST and GOOD? Of course not. The law is a reflection of God's character which is also HOLY, JUST and GOOD. See the Ten Commandments compared to God's character.

Romans 7:12 “Wherefore the law is HOLY, and the commandment HOLY, and JUST, and GOOD.”

A classic and common misunderstanding is that now we are under grace we can sin by breaking the law some claim is gone but Paul informs us otherwise.

Romans 6:1-2 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2 God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?”

Romans 6:14-15 KJV “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.”
Romans 6:14-15 NKJV “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace. 15 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!”

Some respond, “But it is impossible to keep the law perfectly so why bother trying.” While it is true that the law cannot be kept perfectly, there is a big difference between wilful sin and our fleshly failures that we genuinely repent of and through faith in Jesus and the Grace of God we are forgiven. This is the purpose of God's grace. This following verse is one we need to take very seriously. God means what He says and says what He means and I would hope that no one would want to tread the Son of God underfoot. The following verse states that there is no entrance into heaven for wilful un-confessed sin.

Hebrews 10:26-29 “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,... 28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose you, shall he be thought worthy, who has trodden underfoot the Son of God, and has counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and has done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”

The most common reason used to avoid the truth of the following passage is that fulfilling the law abolishes the law. If this were true then fulfilling the law would destroy the law and Jesus would be saying “I did not come to destroy the law, I came to destroy the law.” Jesus goes on to say we are not only to obey the law but we are TEACH it also. And in subsequent verses Jesus informs us how He is not only not destroying the law but is even going to magnify the law as Isaiah 42:21 foretells Jesus would actually do. This is obviously something you do not do if you are about to destroy the law. When those that use this justification are asked can they break the Commandments 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10, they say of course not. It seems that fulfilling the law to these individuals is really only doing away with the 4th Commandment. This is the main reason why this argument is used, because it proves that all Ten Commandments are unchanged and that has to include the Sabbath. To add to the absurdity of this, if they still admit they have to obey even nine of the Commandments then those laws have to still exist. It is a total contradiction to say the law is gone but we can't disobey nine of the Commandments. If they say you can't murder then the law that says you shall not murder has to exist. Plain common sense should tell us this. Remember Romans 4:15 and Romans 7:7 quoted above? Also, this same Greek word used for “fulfil” here is used elsewhere in the Bible, and if this particular one means bring an end to, then righteousness, God's Word, the scriptures, our Joy and our obedience are also destroyed or ended. This of course is no possible. For more information on this verse, read the Ten Commandments purpose, meaning and definition. For very detailed information on this subject, see misunderstandings on meaning of fulfilling the law.

Take special note that the moral law is to last as long as heaven and earth and not one stroke of the pen is going to pass from the law. If the Sabbath were changed, that would be a lot more than a stroke of the pen!

Matthew 5:17-19 KJV “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 [by those] in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

This translation gives more clarity on the above verse and an accurate and true meaning of the Greek word used for fulfil here. There are several different Greek words for “fulfil” used in the Bible and they all have different meanings.

Matthew 5:17-20 CEV “Don't suppose that I came to do away with the Law and the Prophets. I did not come to do away with them, but to give them their full meaning. 18 Heaven and earth may disappear. But I promise you that not even a period or comma will ever disappear from the Law. Everything written in it must happen. 19 If you reject even the least important command in the Law and teach others to do the same, you will be the least important person in the kingdom of heaven. But if you obey and teach others its commands, you will have an important place in the kingdom. 20 You must obey God's commands better than the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law obey them. If you don't, I promise you that you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.”

Here is what Luke wrote in relation to the above passage in Matthew chapter 5.

Luke 16:17 “And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail.”

Some say that the following verse does not refer to the Ten Commandments and yet it is taken from the second Commandment! If people truly love God, then why do they try so hard to abolish any part of His law?

John 14:15 “If you love me, keep my Commandments. Exodus 20:6 ...showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my Commandments.”

Again Jesus tells us that His law is all about love and we should keep it just as He demonstrated.

John 15:10 “If you keep my Commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's Commandments, and abide in his love.”
John 14:21 “He that has my Commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”

The only way into the kingdom is through Jesus Christ and if we know Him we do keep His law and if we do not, then there can be no entrance into the kingdom. Remember that Jesus and the Word of God is truth.

1 John 2:3-4 “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.”

And for further clarity on the thoughts of Jesus for those who would practice wilful lawlessness.

Matthew 7:21-23 NKJV “Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' 23 And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!”

Keeping the law of God just to gain entrance into the kingdom is to put yourself under works and will not give you access to heaven at all. You cannot earn entrance into the kingdom by keeping the law. For those who would try and do so would have to keep the law perfectly which we cannot do. His law is something you keep because you truly love Him with all your heart and love your neighbour as yourself. If it grieves us to love then there is no point.

1 John 5:2-3 “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.”

Another common argument is that loving God with all your heart and loving your neighbour as yourself abolishes the law. You will note that Jesus said “ALL” the law hangs on these two Commandments. What is ALL the law? Jesus is speaking only of love here and there is only one law that has to do with loving God and your neighbour and that is the Ten Commandments. Therefore Jesus is saying that all the Commandments hang on these two laws. This does not change anything including the Sabbath. This once again is the typical justification used by those teaching this, thinking that this will free them from having to obey the fourth Commandment. The Sabbath Commandment is all about love and it defines who it is we love and worship. Therefore, loving God with all your heart, soul and mind could never bring an end to the 4th Commandment anyway. See also what is the greatest commandment for more information.

Matthew 22:35-40 “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, You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, You shall love your neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two Commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

Those using the above reasoning also often say this was a new law replacing what God wrote in stone. But Jesus was quoting the Old Testament as He often does and was cleverly responding to the lawyer who was trying to trap Him. This first one in Deuteronomy was quoted seventeen verses after the second reading of the Ten Commandments. Was the entire law valid then? Of course and nothing has changed. All the law hung on these two Commandments in the Old Testament and they still do in the New Testament as Jesus states.

Deuteronomy 6:5 “And you shall love the LORD your God with all thine heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”
Leviticus 19:18 “You shall not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.”

Paul also shows that this was a way of summing up the Ten Commandments as he quotes five of them and says...

Romans 13:9-10 “For this, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not kill, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, You shall love your neighbour as thyself. 10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

It grieves me that some Christians avoid the following verse using this illogical reasoning. “If we fail on anyone then we have broken the whole law so therefore it is not possible to keep so what is the point.” But the point of the following verse is to show us that keeping just nine or less of the Ten Commandments is not enough because if we decide not keep anyone of them we are still a transgressor of the law. It is not a hard verse to understand for those looking for truth. You will note that we are also told that this is the law that we will be judged by, so taking the attitude of we can't keep it will leave those out of God's kingdom. It is true that we cannot keep the law perfectly, which is why we have Jesus as our Saviour and that is not a reason to not do your best to keep the law in love as we have already seen. This is what the law is all about, striving to love God and our fellow neighbour. When we fail, we repent and through God's grace we are forgiven. It is not a hard concept to understand. Jesus said; if you love me keep my Commandments. He did not say the Commandments cannot be kept perfectly so do not bother.

James 2:8-12 “If you fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, You shall love your neighbour as thyself, you do well: 9 But if you have respect to persons, you commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if you commit no adultery, yet if you kill, you are become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak you, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.”
James 1:25 “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.”

What did Jesus say we should do if we want eternal life?

Matthew 19:16-17 “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 you me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if you will enter into life, keep the Commandments.”

What is truly important to God?

1 Corinthians 7:19 “Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the Commandments of God.”

How many times do you hear Galatians or Romans chapter three used to abolish the Commandments? The book of Galatians is a difficult book to understand at times as Paul is actually referring to the Mosaic law and not the Ten Commandments as many assume. The main issue that Paul is emphasizing and trying to make clear is that we are justified by faith and not by the works of either law. In the first eleven verses of chapter four, Paul is pointing out that observance of the ceremonial law Holy days was bondage and have ended. To still observe these Holy days is also justification by works of the law; the ceremonial law in this case. Since there is so much confusion in Galatians chapter three especially, we will just look at the main issue of this chapter that Paul speaks of in chapters two, three and four. This issue is clearly the issue of justification by faith and not by the works of any law. Since we are not justified by the works of the law, the question that remains is; does this bring an end to the law? The following two verses demonstrate the main issue which is justification by faith and not by works of the law. These verses refer to the Mosaic Law that was abolished at the cross.

Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law [Mosaic Law], but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Galatians 3:9-11 “So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 10 For as many as are of the works of the law [Mosaic Law] are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. 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.”

In Romans chapter three, Paul referring to the moral law gives perfect and one hundred percent clarity to the question as to if being justified by faith and not by works of the law removes our obligation to obey the law and the answer is an unmistakable NO! Firstly, note what the following commentary has to say on the book of Galatians.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
“The churches in Galatia were formed partly of converted Jews, and partly of Gentile converts, as was generally the case. St. Paul asserts his apostolic character and the doctrines he taught, that he might confirm the Galatian churches in the faith of Christ, especially with respect to the important point of justification by faith alone. Thus the subject is mainly the same as that which is discussed in the epistle to the Romans, that is, justification by faith alone. In this epistle, however, attention is particularly directed to the point, that men are justified by faith without the works of the Law of Moses.”

Below is the prominent part of Romans chapter three in regards to justification by faith and not by the works of the law. Note especially the answer to our question in verse 31 as to does justification by faith bring an end to the law.

Romans 3:19-31 “Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. … 27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? No: but by the law of faith. 28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. 29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also: 30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. 31 Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yes, we establish the law.”

Just for extra clarity on this pivotal question from the easier to understand New King James Version.

Romans 3:31 NKJV “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.”

So we are justified by faith and not by the works of the law and Paul makes sure there is no misunderstanding by finishing the chapter by clarifying that the moral law is NOT made void by faith and that we still uphold the law. And for further clarity; who is it that are justified before God?

Romans 2:13 “For NOT the hearers of the law are just before God, but the DOERS of the law shall be justified.”

For more information on the above topic, see Galatians and the law – what is the law in Galatians?

Do not forget the justification that we are under the New Covenant now. In the Old Testament we get told why God made a new Covenant with His children. They failed to keep it so God said He is going to write His law on our hearts and minds so we do not forget His law. Does anything here say a Commandment is going to go missing or that His law is going to change? No!

Jeremiah 31:31-33 “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: 32 Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: 33 But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

And in the New Testament we are told again now that this has happened. There is nothing here either that says God's law has changed in anyway. The only thing it says has changed is where God wrote His law. He is pleading with us not to keep on breaking His law as they did with the Old Covenant, which is why God now writes His law in our hearts and minds. See also the Old and New Covenants and the Sabbath.

Hebrews 8:10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:”

God's remnant Church keeps the Commandments of God just as the early Church did. To see evidence of keeping all the Commandments by the early Church, read the Ten Commandments and the Sabbath in the New Testament. Who is it that wants us not to obey God's Commandments? The very individual who wants to be worshipped like God which is why he changed the Sabbath to Sunday in favour of sun worship through his agent the Papacy. For more information read one or more of the following. Statements by the Catholic Church, mystery Babylon, what is the battle of Armageddon and 666 and the mark of the Beast. The fourth was the easiest of the Commandments for Satan to attack as you can see by the incredible number of reasons as to why God apparently screwed up by putting a supposed temporary law that is supposedly not love in His eternal law that is love. God did not really screw up of course. Didn't Jesus say that not one stroke of the pen was going to pass from law till heaven and earth pass? He certainly did. Therefore the law cannot be abolished. Not desiring the truth will not get us into the kingdom.

Revelation 12:17 “And the dragon [Satan] was wroth with the woman [Church], and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the Commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

This following verse speaks of those who do not get the mark of the beast because they keep the Commandments of God. For a full Biblical explanation without speculation see the mark of the Beast and discover the origin of 666.

Revelation 14:12 “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the Commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

This next verse speaks of the original Ark of the Covenant containing this magnificent law God personally wrote in stone in heaven. For some reason God has the original set of the Ten Commandments in His heavenly sanctuary that so many say one or all are gone! Maybe they are just there for nostalgic reasons. Not really. I apologize for the sarcasm.

Revelation 15:5 “And after that I looked, and, behold, the temple of the tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened:”

And finally, who is truly blessed and makes it into the kingdom...

Revelation 22:14 “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.”

The summation of Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes also says it beautifully.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his Commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.”