The ten commandments are familiar to most people, even many who are not Jewish or Christian. We could view them as rules for living and they would provide a basis for interacting with family and neighbors that would improve relationships. In fact, if just those of us who call ourselves Christians, evangelicals, or followers of Christ, actually followed these ten simple rules for living in peace, we wouldn't have many of the problems we see around the world, let alone in our nation or city.
But these are more than simply rules for living; these are God's standard for human behavior. Failure to measure up to this standard not only ruins relationships with those around us, but separates us from a Holy God.
And if the rules themselves were not enough, Jesus clarified that simply not acting out sin isn't enough, we must take every thought captive. To look on someone to lust after them is as sinful as the act of adultery. To proclaim our hatred for our brother is as sinful as murder.
Thankfully, for all our sakes, God also knew that our fallen hearts and minds are not capable of perfection. So Jesus came not just to set an example of what it looks like to live this way, but more important and life-changing for us, to pay the penalty for our sins so that even when we fail miserably, as I often do, our relationship with God remains intact.
An NBA player could show me all day long how to score from the 3 point line, and I guarantee that at the end of the day, I'd be no closer to making the team. I could have Simone Biles show me how she does those amazing flips, and it would not help me to do the same.
Christ not only showed us how to live, and gave His life for us so that we could live, but He sent the Holy Spirit, the very power that raised Him from the dead to life and gave that power to each of us.
Romans 8:11 "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you."
But these are more than simply rules for living; these are God's standard for human behavior. Failure to measure up to this standard not only ruins relationships with those around us, but separates us from a Holy God.
And if the rules themselves were not enough, Jesus clarified that simply not acting out sin isn't enough, we must take every thought captive. To look on someone to lust after them is as sinful as the act of adultery. To proclaim our hatred for our brother is as sinful as murder.
Thankfully, for all our sakes, God also knew that our fallen hearts and minds are not capable of perfection. So Jesus came not just to set an example of what it looks like to live this way, but more important and life-changing for us, to pay the penalty for our sins so that even when we fail miserably, as I often do, our relationship with God remains intact.
An NBA player could show me all day long how to score from the 3 point line, and I guarantee that at the end of the day, I'd be no closer to making the team. I could have Simone Biles show me how she does those amazing flips, and it would not help me to do the same.
Christ not only showed us how to live, and gave His life for us so that we could live, but He sent the Holy Spirit, the very power that raised Him from the dead to life and gave that power to each of us.
Romans 8:11 "And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you."
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