Praise God for His Moral Law that condemns us!

And God spoke all these words, saying: "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. "You shall have no other gods before Me.” Exodus 20:1-3

The preamble to the Ten Commandments was to remind Israel, and us, that God is always the Initiator and we are to be responders. God acts on behalf of His people to save, and His people are to respond by obeying Him—starting with the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments are a part of the law, but they are specifically the summary of God’s Moral Law. Some have said that the rest of the law is God’s commentary and instruction on how to obey the moral law found in the Ten Commandments.

Some of the of the particulars in the rest of the Law are specifically and exclusively for the biblical Jewish religion of Israel. These regulate religious ceremonial matters and are therefore called the “Ceremonial Law.” (These last are about the tabernacle, the priests, and the sacrifices.)

Others of the particulars in the rest of the Law are specifically and exclusively for the ancient nation of Israel. These regulate civil matters and are therefore called the “Civil Law.”

Those who are neither citizens of ancient Israel nor members of the biblical Jewish religion are not bound by the ceremonial or the civil law. But the moral law is timeless for every tribe, tongue, and nation. The moral law is found in the Ten Commandments, throughout the rest of the law, and in moral principles within the ceremonial and civil laws.

The moral law cannot save, nor was it ever intended as a means by which to save anyone, anywhere, at any time. Rather, the moral law was and is intended to point out our sin and condemn everyone, everywhere, at all times. Remember, “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Remember also that any and every sin has dire consequences for “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a).

But rejoice in God’s grace, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

Let us praise God for His moral law that condemns sinners, for as Paul wrote:

What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, "YOU SHALL NOT COVET." 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. Romans 7:7-8