In the age of grace, when the message of the New Testament takes center stage in Christian thought, the Old Testament is often relegated to the background—especially the Ten Commandments. Yet Scripture reveals that these commandments are not only foundational but enduringly relevant for spiritual growth, moral discernment, and understanding God’s redemptive plan. Far from being obsolete, the law continues to serve a vital purpose in the life of every believer.
Walking Before Running: Foundational Faith
Spiritual maturity, like physical growth, requires process. Just as a child learns to walk before running, believers must learn foundational truths before diving into deeper revelations. The Ten Commandments are that spiritual "milk"—basic yet essential. They are not optional training wheels but the very frame upon which a believer's moral and spiritual awareness is built.
To disregard the Ten Commandments is to attempt a spiritual life without direction or discernment. As the Apostle Paul affirms, “the law is spiritual” (Romans 7:14), revealing that these divine precepts transcend cultural and ceremonial boundaries. They mirror God’s character, express His will, and unveil His standards for righteousness.
The Law’s Enduring Role in Christian Life
Contrary to the popular view that the Old Testament law has been abolished, the New Testament consistently affirms its moral relevance. Paul wrote that the law is “the embodiment of knowledge and truth” (Romans 2:20), and Jesus Himself declared, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them” (Matthew 5:17).
The law serves several purposes: it exposes sin (Romans 3:20), convicts the conscience (Romans 7:7), and leads us to recognize our need for a Savior. It acts as a mirror, showing us what we truly are apart from divine grace. When properly understood, the Ten Commandments point not away from Christ but directly to Him.
This distinction is crucial. While ceremonial laws—rituals, dietary restrictions, and sacrifices—were shadows pointing to Christ and now fulfilled in Him, the moral law remains. Murder, adultery, theft, and idolatry are not cultural taboos but eternal violations of God’s righteousness.
The Authority of "It Is Written"
One of the most powerful endorsements of the Old Testament comes from the New Testament itself. The repeated phrase “It is written” saturates the teachings of Jesus and the apostles. Whether in refuting temptation, teaching the crowds, or writing epistles to the early church, New Testament authors relied heavily on the authority of the Hebrew Scriptures.
For example, when Paul speaks of moral issues, he cites the commandments. When Jesus confronts Satan, He quotes Deuteronomy. This is not mere historical reference—it is theological endorsement. The Old Testament was the Scripture of the early Church. Timothy, we are told, “from childhood... was acquainted with the sacred writings” (2 Timothy 3:15), referring to the Old Testament texts.
To claim the Old Testament is obsolete is to amputate the root of Christian faith. The commandments provide context for Christ's mission and clarity to His teachings. Romans 15:4 reminds us that “whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction.”
The New Covenant and the Law’s Fulfillment
It is vital to grasp how the New Covenant interacts with the Old. The New Covenant, inaugurated by the blood of Christ, does not negate the law but fulfills its righteous requirements. Jesus’ death was not the dismissal of justice but its satisfaction. His atonement was a legal transaction—He paid the penalty required by the law, thus ransoming us into a new relationship with God.
Hebrews 10:1 calls the law “a shadow of the good things to come,” and while shadows are surpassed by reality, they are not meaningless. Rather, they are essential for understanding the form and substance of divine truth. The law taught us about sin, justice, holiness, and the need for sacrifice—each fulfilled and embodied in Jesus Christ.
Faith, Works, and the Role of the Holy Spirit
While the law reveals sin, it cannot save. That role belongs to faith in Christ alone. Galatians 3:10 makes clear that “all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse,” because no one can keep the law perfectly. Salvation comes through faith, and faith—when genuine—produces the works that the law demands. This is not legalism but transformation.
Here enters the Holy Spirit. Through Him, believers are not only justified but sanctified—empowered to walk in alignment with God’s character. The Spirit does not lead believers into lawlessness but into obedience. As Paul teaches in Romans 8, “the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
The Spirit's fruit (Galatians 5:22–23) is the moral outworking of a heart transformed—not unlike the moral imperatives embedded in the Ten Commandments. Love, patience, goodness, and self-control are not new virtues but spiritual fulfillments of ancient truth.
Jewish Identity, Gentile Inclusion, and God’s Eternal Covenant
Circumcision, a key marker of Jewish identity, signified covenant membership. Yet Paul argues that true circumcision is of the heart (Romans 2:29). This reflects the transition from external signs to internal transformation. The Old Covenant required obedience written on stone tablets; the New Covenant writes God’s law on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33).
Gentiles, once “aliens from the commonwealth of Israel” (Ephesians 2:12), are now grafted in through faith. But grafting into the tree of Israel doesn’t nullify its roots—it unites the wild branch with the cultivated tree. In doing so, believers—Jew and Gentile alike—are called into the full legacy of God’s moral, covenantal, and redemptive purposes.
Conclusion: A Call to Whole-Bible Christianity
The Christian who neglects the Old Testament or dismisses the Ten Commandments as relics of a bygone era risks building their faith on a partial foundation. The law is not the enemy of grace but its stage. It prepares the heart for Christ, convicts the soul of sin, and guides the believer toward righteousness.
To meditate on God's law is to meditate on God's heart. Psalm 1 tells us that the blessed man “delights in the law of the LORD,” and this delight leads to fruitfulness and spiritual vitality.
Engaging deeply with both covenants, understanding their unity and distinct roles, and submitting to the Spirit’s guidance is the path toward mature, transformative faith. The commandments still matter—not as a means of salvation but as markers of the life salvation produces.
“It is written” should remain not just a phrase of the past but a daily guide for every believer. Let the whole Word shape your whole life.
