Why The 10 Commandments Are Significant Today

Introduction

Are you in synch with God? Is your goal to walk according to God’s plan for your life? Unless we know God’s commands we will constantly find ourselves at odds with Him simply because we don’t know what we’re supposed to do. There was a time and day when almost everyone could say the 10 Commandments. They are also known as the Decalogue. They were given to Israel by God through Moses on Mt. Sinai. How did they read when God gave them to Moses? Simple and clear. 1) You shall have no other gods before Me. 2) You shall not make for yourself an idol. 3) You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God. 4) Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 5) Honor your father and mother. 6) You shall not commit adultery. 7) You shall not steal. 8) You shall not give false testimony. 9.) You shall not murder. 10.) You shall not covet.

I. The bondage of Egypt was over.

A. God delivered the Israelites.

God had brought the Israelites to the Red Sea and freedom. They had been redeemed and were on their way to the Promised Land. Life was good; God’s presence was evident; the future was bright; success was a sure thing.

B. God put His condition on Israel’s blessings.

Whenever God does a work He has a blueprint for us to follow. Exodus 19:5-6 Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. God’s people must accept and fulfill the obligations put on them by God if they are to receive His blessings. Exodus 19:8 And all the people answered together, and said, All that the LORD hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the LORD. It’s easy to start on the right foot when we begin our journey with God. God never expects us to do something without first giving us clear directions. Exodus 20:2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. God gave this code of conduct to the redeemed to show how people under agreement with God should live. God could not accept a lower standard.

II. The Law of God begins.

A. The 10 Commandments call for spiritual and moral restraint.

We don’t do the 10 Commandments as an obligation to each other. We do them to God! …I am the LORD thy God… vs. 2. We cannot be right with God and at odds with each other – or visa-versa. Offending someone offends God. The 10 Commandments aren’t only in effect when we “feel” like doing them.

B. The laws are not civil.

These are God’s laws for God’s people on both sides of the cross. The Decalogue not only imposes negative action; but also positive duties. Action throughout the bible before the writing of the Law indicated that God had always disapproved of these things. Genesis 4:8-16. We’re not seeing God change His mind. He’s only enforcing what He’d already shown the people He disapproved of. The 10 Commandments are for God’s redeemed