What Must I Do To Be Saved?

  

FROM: 3/9/03 Radio Program

Question:

Do we live under the 10 commandments in New Testament times? Are not "thou shalt not murder" and "thou shalt not commit adultery," etc., found in the New Testament?

Answer:

In short, the answer to the first part of the question is "no," while the answer to the second part of the question is "yes." However, let us explain our answers in more detail and show from the Bible how we arrived at these answers.

We do not live under the 10 Commandments today because we are living under the New Testament, and not the Old Testament. The book of Hebrews (7:12-14, 8:13, 9:15-17) makes this clear. The Old Testament (including the 10 Commandments) was given to a specific group of people - the Jews. Exodus 19-20 tells us that the 10 Commandments were given to the Jews in order to separate them from the other nations (Ex. 19:3-6). Yet, upon reading the New Testament, we learn that God's plan today is that all people would be "one in Christ Jesus" (Gal.3:28). Therefore, there is a distinction to be respected between the Old and New Testaments. It was Paul who wrote to the Ephesians and said that Christ broke down the "middle wall of partition" and made both (Jews and Gentiles)"one" (Eph. 2:14-16). For someone to say that we are still subject to the 10 Commandments means:

1. The Jew and Gentile are still separated.
2. We are "without hope" (Eph. 2:12).
3. We have no peace (Eph. 2:14).
4. We are not reconciled (Eph. 2:16).
5. We do not have access to the Father (Eph. 2:18).
6. We are still "strangers" and"foreigners" (Eph. 2:19).

Then, the question becomes, "Aren't some of the 10 Commandments mentioned in the New Testament?" The answer is "yes." For instance, when we read Romans 13:9, we read 5 of the 10 Commandments in one verse. (An interesting note: The command to keep the Sabbath day is not mentioned anywhere in the New Testament!) Yet, just because some of the 10 Commandments are repeated in the New Testament does not mean that the Old Testament is still in force. People understand this in other areas of life, but when it comes to spiritual matters, they seem to misunderstand this basic concept.

To show that we understand this concept in other areas of life, consider the following. From our history, we know that the US was once considered a British colony until we won our independence from England. Now, when the Founding Fathers drafted the Constitution of the United States, and the various states began to make laws, they used laws that were similar to the laws drafted in England (Ex: Laws against murder, stealing, etc.) Yet, who in the United States (then or today) would say that because they do not murder, steal, etc., that they are following the Constitution of England? Nor does anyone (then or today) say that those in the US are keeping "both" the US and British Constitutions. Though similar, each Constitution is distinct from the other.

Another example: When a wife is widowed and marries again, perhaps the new husband has things he likes which are similar to what her dead husband liked. (Ex: Likes to eat steak at supper, or likes to go bowling.) If she cooks that steak, or goes bowling with her husband, is she doing it because it is what her dead husband wanted, or because it is what her current husband wants? Paul used this very same reasoning in Romans 7:1-4. He told those "who know the law" (i.e., the Law of Moses) that they had become "dead to the law" that they should be "married to another." In other words, these Jewish Christians were to understand that they were no longer under the Law of Moses, or 10 Commandments, but were now subject to Christ and His law/testament.

Today, it is no different. We are not subject to the Old Law; though there are some commands found in the New Testament which were in the Old Testament. We are subject to the New Law, the New Testament, and need to live according to that all the days of our lives.

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