Throughout the years of growing in my faith I have viewed the Ten Commandments in many different ways. When I first decided to seek Christ and learn about Him, I viewed the commandments as a bunch of rules that were created to keep Christians in line or boring. Then I grew some and realized that the Ten Commandments are actually our way as Christians to see how we could never fulfill the law perfectly. Therefor we need Grace. I grew even more and began to understand that it is only through the sole power of the Holy Spirit working through us that we can even obey the law of God.

Today I am in a place of growth and understanding where I view the Ten Commandments in much of the same latter ways just with more clarity. The law is meant to be the christians moral code. The commandments are not arbitrary commandments, but an explanation of God’s basic instruction for human living by the Creator of human life. As christians we should not live a life that is full of sin and disobedience to God. A life of sin, though we may think is fun while living it, actually leads to destruction and death. However, our obedience should be a reaction to our love for Christ not a result of obligation to fulfill the law. Still we all need grace and the power of the Holy Spirit, but why? What does the Ten Commandments teach us besides how much we sin and how much we need God because we sin?

As I thought about the Ten Commandments I thought about the cross. The cross is the universal symbol of Christianity. Why? Because Jesus was crucified on a cross, but what else? The vertical beam of the cross can also symbolize our relationship with God. The first four commandments are about our relationship with God. Observing the commandments will foster a correct understanding of God. While the horizontal beam of the cross can symbolize our relationships with others. In the remaining six commandments, God stipulates how we are to treat each other because God is profoundly ethical, and He expects and enable us to manifest His character in all our relationships.

Questions:

How do you view the Ten Commandments?

What can you share with me about t your understanding of them?