Brothers and sisters, here are 25 important theological points that every born-again Christian, whether a pastor or not, needs to understand about the Ten Commandments. This is written from a New Covenant Theology perspective to help us distinguish the difference between the Old Covenant ministry of condemnation and the New Covenant ministry of the Spirit.
The Historical & Covenantal Context
1. They are a Covenant Document
The Ten Commandments (or Decalogue) are the summary terms of the Old Covenant specifically made between God and the nation of Israel at Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:13). It is a contract between them.
2. For Israel, Not for Gentiles
It is clear in Psalm 147:19-20 and Deuteronomy 5:2-3 that this specific law code was given to the Israelites, not to the pagan nations surrounding them.
3. It is a "Package Deal."
You cannot separate the Ten Commandments from the other 613 laws of Moses. James 2:10 states that if you fail in one point, you are guilty of all. It is one entire legal system; you cannot chop it up.
4. It is a "Ministry of Death"
This is heavy, but in 2 Corinthians 3:7, Paul explicitly called the law "engraved on stones" (the Ten Commandments) a "ministry of death."
5. It is a "Ministry of Condemnation"
In 2 Corinthians 3:9, it is called a ministry that brings condemnation. It is compared to the New Covenant, which is a ministry of righteousness.
6. The "Moral vs. Ceremonial" Distinction is Artificial
We cannot read anywhere in the Bible that the Law of Moses was divided into "moral" (Ten Commandments) and "ceremonial" (ordinances). That is just a man-made theological construct and is not found in the text itself.
7. The Law is a "Tutor" (Guardian)
Galatians 3:24 describes the law as a guardian or tutor to lead us to Christ. But once faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor (Galatians 3:25).
The Fulfillment in Christ
8. Jesus Fulfilled the Law
In Matthew 5:17, Jesus did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill it. To "fulfill" means to complete its purpose and bring it to its intended goal or telos.
9. Christ is the End of the Law
Romans 10:4 declares that Christ is the "end" (telos) of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. He is the finish line.
10. When the Priesthood Changes, the Law is also New
This is a fundamental NCT principle found in Hebrews 7:12: "For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also." We are no longer under the priesthood of Aaron (Levi); we are now under the Priesthood of Melchizedek (Christ).
11. The Old Covenant is Obsolete
Hebrews 8:13 states that when God called the covenant "new," He made the first one obsolete (including the tablets of stone).
12. The Veil is Taken Away in Christ
2 Corinthians 3:14 explains that the "old covenant" remains veiled to those who have not yet turned to Christ. This veil is taken away only in the Lord.
The Fourth Commandment (Sabbath) Distinction
13. The Sabbath is Only a "Shadow"
Colossians 2:16-17 explicitly lists the Sabbath along with food, drink, and festivals as a "shadow of things to come," but the substance or body belongs to Christ.
14. The Sabbath is the Only One Not Repeated
In the New Testament, nine out of the Ten Commandments were repeated and deepened. But the command to keep the seventh-day Sabbath? That is missing in action in the letters to the churches.
15. Jesus is Our Sabbath Rest
Hebrews 4 teaches that the physical Sabbath rest of the Old Testament points to the spiritual rest we have found in the finished work of Christ.
16. Days are Treated Equally
In Romans 14:5-6, Christians have freedom regarding days. One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike.
The Christian's Relationship to the Law
17. We are "Dead to the Law."
Romans 7:4 says believers have "died to the law through the body of Christ" so that we may belong to another. You cannot be married to the Law and to Christ at the same time.
18. "Not under Law but under Grace"
This is the banner of our Christian walk in Romans 6:14. Sin shall not have dominion over us precisely because we are no longer under the law.
19. We are Under the "Law of Christ"
Being free from Moses does not mean we are lawless. It is clarified in 1 Corinthians 9:21 that we are under the "law of Christ" (Ennomos Christos).
20. The Law of Christ is Superior
The Law of Moses says: "Love your neighbor as yourself." The Law of Christ says: "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34). The standard has been raised from self-love to sacrificial love.
21. The Spirit Replaced the Tablets of Stone
2 Corinthians 3:3 says we are a letter of Christ, written not with ink but with the Spirit, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
22. Love Fulfills the Law
Romans 13:8-10 teaches that whoever loves has fulfilled the law. Love is the fulfillment of the law.
Practical Application
23. The Law is Good if Used Correctly
1 Timothy 1:8-9 reminds us that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, understanding that it is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and rebellious.
24. The Ten Commandments are Just a Historical Mirror
They show God's holiness and man's sin (Romans 3:20). They show that we need a Savior, but they have no power to save or change us.
25. Our Motivation is Grace, Not Fear
We do not avoid murder, adultery, or theft because we are afraid of the curse of the Law of Moses. We avoid them because Christ lives in us and Grace teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness (Titus 2:11-12).
Real Talk Reflection
"But now we have been released from the law, for we died to it and are no longer captive to its power. Now we can serve God, not in the old way of obeying the letter of the law, but in the new way of living in the Spirit." Romans 7:6 (NLT)
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