Living in the Garden of Grace: Should Believers Keep the Ten Commandments?
"I was alive without the law once, but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." —Romans 7:9
"...that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." —Romans 8:4
The Tension in the Question
“Should believers keep the Ten Commandments?” This question often sparks debate, but the Apostle Paul offers clarity through his writings. The answer is both “no” and “yes,” depending on the context. Let’s explore this tension, not through human reasoning but by understanding the heart of Scripture.
The Problem with Self-Effort
Paul’s testimony in Romans 7 sheds light on why believers are not called to keep the commandments in their own strength. He reflects on his attempt to obey the tenth commandment—“You shall not covet”—and describes the result:
"But when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died." (Romans 7:9).
Paul’s effort to keep the law exposed his sin and led to spiritual and emotional “death”—failure, guilt, and a sense of inferiority. The law’s purpose was never to provide life but to reveal humanity’s inability to meet God’s standards in the flesh:
"For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son..." (Romans 8:3).
In other words, the law shines a spotlight on our need for grace.
Living Out the Righteousness of the Law
While believers are not called to keep the Ten Commandments through self-effort, Paul emphasizes that the righteousness of the law is still fulfilled in us:
"...that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:4).
Notice the passive tone—“fulfilled in us.” This indicates that it is not our striving but the Holy Spirit within us who accomplishes this. As we yield to the Spirit and live by grace, the righteousness of the law naturally flows through us.
Paul is not dismissing the law; rather, he points us to the source of true righteousness—Christ in us.
Grace Over Law
Living by grace means depending on God’s resources, not our own. Just as we were saved by grace, we live by grace through faith. The Holy Spirit works in us to express God’s righteousness, which includes the moral principles reflected in the Ten Commandments.
When we walk in the Spirit:
We don’t covet because we trust God as our provider.
We don’t steal because His love teaches us to respect others’ needs.
We don’t lie because His truth abides in us.
It is not about checking off a list of rules but about letting Christ live His life through us.
Practical Application: Walking in the Spirit
How do we live in a way that fulfills the law’s righteousness without striving?
Reckon Yourself Dead to Sin: Believe that your old self, incapable of keeping the law, was crucified with Christ (Romans 6:6).
Yield to the Spirit: Present yourself to God as alive in Christ and allow His Spirit to work in and through you (Romans 6:13).
Rest in Grace: Trust that God’s Spirit will lead you moment by moment, providing the wisdom and strength to live righteously.
Reflect & Respond
Are there areas where you are striving to meet God’s standards in your own strength?
How might yielding to the Spirit transform your approach to obedience?
Pray This
“Father, thank You that Your Spirit fulfills the righteousness of the law in me. I confess my tendency to strive in my own strength, which only leads to guilt and failure. I yield to You, trusting that You will express Your righteousness through me. Thank You for giving me the desire to rest in Your grace and to walk in the Spirit, living a life that honors You. Amen.”
A Final Thought
The question of whether believers should keep the Ten Commandments shifts when viewed through the lens of grace. It’s not about human effort but divine empowerment. The Holy Spirit, as Kuykendall writes, is the one who “lives out the righteousness of the law through us.”
When we walk by the Spirit, obedience ceases to be a burden and becomes a natural overflow of Christ’s life within us. Let us rest in this truth, allowing His grace to transform our lives and fulfill His perfect will.