“I Live by the Ten Commandments!” Really? Take the Test!

by Pastor Art Kohl

April 2004 Message of the Month

Listed below, in simpler terms, are the 10 Commandments. To study them in their actual wording, consult Exodus 20:3-17 and Deuteronomy 5:7-21 in the Bible. How many of these commandments have you broken? Pick either yes or no.

1. No other gods before Me.
Have you ever put yourself before God? Even once? Have you ever put money before God? Pleasure? Your family? Your children? Your house or possessions? Have you ever put anybody or anything before God? Even once? Yes or No

2. No graven images
Have you ever prayed to, adored, or just simply owned a picture or statue of Jesus, Mary, a saint, an angel, or a cherubim? Even once? Yes or No

3. Don’t use God’s name in vain
Have you ever cursed God’s name? Jesus’ name? Have you ever used His name lightly with a phrase such as “Oh, my God”? Even once in your life? Yes or No

4. Keep the Sabbath day holy
The Sabbath (Saturday) was a perpetual sign between God and the nation of Israel (Exodus 31:16). The only thing we have similar to this is the Lord’s Day (Study Revelation 1:10; 1 Corinthians 16:1,2; Acts 20:7; Hebrews10:25). Have ever used a Sunday to do anything but honor Jesus Christ? Yes or No

5. Honor your father or mother
Have you ever embarrassed your father or mother? Did you ever disobey them? Even once? Ever talk negatively behind their back? Yell at them? Argue with them? Fight with them? Ignore them? Yes or No

6. Do not kill
“Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer...” 1 John 3:15. Have you ever hated anyone? Even once? Yes or No

7. Do not commit adultery
Have you ever had premarital or extramarital sexual relations? The Bible also says, “...whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28) Have you ever looked at someone and lusted after them? Even once? Yes or No

8. Do not steal
Have you withheld tithes and offerings from God? See Malachi 3:8. Have you ever taken a paper clip or candy bar without paying? Cheated on your taxes? Worked under the table? Even once? Have you kept your life back from God? Have you ever not given your employer a full day’s work for a full day’s wage? Yes or No

9. Do not lie
Ever exaggerated? Embellished a story? Told a half-truth? White lie? Outright lie? Were you ever dishonest? Even once? Yes or No

10. Do not covet
Have you ever seen something in a store, magazine, or ad that you began to crave? Have you ever desired anything someone else owned? Such as a house, car, money, or possessions? What about someone else’s husband or wife? Ever had money burn a hole in your pocket over something? Clothes? Jewelry? Yes or No

So how did you do? If you did not answer “no” to all ten, you are in big trouble with God, Who will judge us by His law. The Bible says, “For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10).
The very law we try to live by ends up putting a curse on us: “For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” (Galatians 3:10,11).
Christ is the only One who can save us from our sins and the curse of law. “Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:” (Galatians 3:13).
The law condemns us. It does not justify us. It was not meant to save us but to bring us to the Saviour. “Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.” (Galatians 3:24,25).
This subject is wrapped up in a nutshell in Romans 3:28, “Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”
Trust in Jesus Christ today as your Saviour. Do not trust in yourself or in the 10 Commandments to save you. These condemn us.