The Ten Commandments: Law & Gospel in Action
The Ten Commandments are the best known example of “the Law” in Scripture. It’s a clear summary of what God commanded Israel to do (and not do). And yet, Christians are “not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14). Does this mean we can tear up the Ten Commandments and cast them aside? Of course not! The same Apostle Paul who wrote Romans 6:14 also wrote 1 Timothy 1:8, “The Law is good if one uses it lawfully.”
A previous article encouraged us to think carefully about Law and Gospel in Youth Ministry. Since Youth Pastor Theologian’s mission is to help youth workers build on a theological foundation, I thought it’d be good to demonstrate what Law and Gospel looks like in action.
The Ten Commandments
God issued 613 commandments to Israel in the Old Testament Law. Of those, 248 are positive and 365 are negative. The Ten Commandments reign as the most important summary statement of all the commandments and can be found in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. Christians have included the Ten Commandments in their catechisms throughout church history as an important guide to help us grow in godliness. Below is a very simple explanation of the Ten Commandments and their common interpretations.
You shall have no other gods before me
Our hearts are given only to the LORD our God. He is not to be first among other gods for us, but the one and only God to whom we commit our lives.You shall make no idols
Our worship is directly only to the LORD, recognizing that he is worshipped by faith and not by sight. We are not free to worship him through graven images, but only according to his Word.You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain
Our speech and our lives will bring honor to the name of God, rather than speaking and living in a way that brings dishonor upon him.Keep the Sabbath day holy
We will make sacrifices of our time and work in order to devote ourselves to worship, grow in our faith, and serve others in the name of God.Honor your father and mother
Similarly to the way we honor the LORD, we will honor our earthly parents. Submitting to earthly authorities is a reminder that we live under the authority of God.You shall not murder
God is the giver and taker of life, and we honor all people as those who are created in the image of God.You shall not commit adultery
Marriage is a worldly reflection of the intimate relationship between God and his people, and adultery is a reflection of idolatry. Therefore, we practice faithful love in marriage.You shall not steal
We will trust the LORD to provide for our needs and will live honestly and generously, rather than stealing from others in order to get what we want.You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor
God loves the truth and justice, and we will not twist either of them. Instead, we will speak the truth in love to and about each other.You shall not covet
We will not crave or lust after what other people have, but will live with contentment and thankfulness over what God has provided.
Law & Gospel and the Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments have played an important part of Christian discipleship since the Early Church for a reason. They clarify for us how we should live in a way that honors the LORD. But how can youth workers teach these commandments to students without becoming Law-givers? We want to be ministers who proclaim the gospel at all times - and that can be difficult to do when it comes to passages and topics that are literally “do this” and “don’t do that” types of passages.
The following questions will help youth workers reflect upon or discuss the Ten Commandments in a way that leads students back to the gospel.
Do you believe there are many ways to be right with God, or that Jesus is the only way? Do you think it’s arrogant or appropriate for God to want us to worship only Him?
What’s the big deal if we made an idol and used it to worship the LORD? Doesn’t he just care about our hearts? What are the implications of Jesus being the “image of the invisible God,” and worthy of our worship (see Colossians 1:15-16)?
What are some ways you think Christians can bring dishonor to Christ’s name? When you sin and are dishonorable, what does the gospel have to say about the way God responds?
What are your biggest obstacles to finding true rest and peace in your week? Think about the reasons why you’re so stressed and busy - what’s driving you to do those things?
God is the perfect parent who adopts us as sons and daughters through faith in Christ. In what ways does your relationship with your parents reflect your relationship with God? Do you know how to obey, or are you always trying to call the shots?
Have you ever lashed out with anger you didn’t realize was there? Without sharing details about the story, why do you think you did what you did? What would happen if we truly loved one another with the love of God? How do you think that might change your school?
Intimacy means “complete acceptance without fear of rejection.” In what ways should marriage be a reflection of that relationship we have with God?
What controls your free time and your daydreams? How could this reveal your “treasures on earth?” Is there anything that you have set up as an accidental idol, competing with Jesus for your heart’s affections?
What do you think it means to “speak the truth in love?” Why does this mean we should pray for opportunities to tell our neighbors about the gospel of Jesus Christ?
How do you know when you’ve crossed the line from appreciating what other people have to coveting what they have? What does it mean to find contentment in Christ rather than trying to find it in worldly things?
The above questions aren’t just about the Ten Commandments, but about the Law in general. As we teach the commandments of God to students, let’s renew our commitment to teach in a way that is always highlighting God’s provision through Jesus Christ. We rely on the perfect righteousness of Christ, not on our ability to keep the Law. So, while it’s important to teach the whole counsel of God and to give students practical guidance about what it means to walk with Jesus, we need to be deliberate about navigating the distinctions between Law & Gospel properly.
