Exodus 20:3-17 - The Liberty of the Law

The Christian life is not at all legalistic. In fact, God has given us a great deal of freedom. The 10 commandments recorded in Exodus 20 are a perfect example. All the commandments are either phrased negatively (ie. "You shall not...") or very specifically (ie. the 4th and 5th commands). Rather than stipulating masses of things to do and observe in order to please Him, God has essentially marked off a NO GO zone. Note that the same thing happened in the Garden of Eden - Adam and Eve could eat any fruit they wanted EXCEPT the fruit from one particular tree. The 10 commandments define the kind of behaviour that God regards as sinful and rebellious. Everything else is open to us to explore and enjoy. Although Christians don't need to observe the 10 commandments in order to gain salvation, they do need to observe them in order to be obedient, indeed, the 10 commandments were reinforced by Christ during His ministry on Earth. It is important to realise that God has given us the commandments for our own benefit. It is not that God wanted to spoil our fun or to make our lives dull and miserable. Rather, following these commands, ensures that we will live life to the max. Consider what a different world it would be if everyone observed these commandments. There would be no need for all the thousands of laws, bills and statutes we now have - or the courts and tribunals we need to administer them. As theologian G K Chesterton wisely observed: "If men will not be governed by the Ten Commandments, they shall be governed by the ten thousand commandments." Jesus summed up the Law with 2 commandments: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength, and ... Love your neighbor as yourself." (Mark 12:30-31). Imagine how different our church and community would be if we were all more dilligent in loving God and loving others...