Are We Saved by Keeping the 10 Commandments? – The Law and the Gospel of Salvation

Introduction

The Ten Commandments are revered across the Christian Pacific. From a young age, many of us were taught “Thou shalt not steal,” “Thou shalt not lie,” and so on. Some might conclude that being a good Christian is all about obeying these rules – and indeed, obedience is important. But does keeping the law save us? This question has real implications. A recent survey (though in the U.S.) found that a majority of self-described Christians (52%) believed in a “works-oriented” means to God’s acceptance, rather than solely relying on Christ christianpost.com. This indicates many sincere people think being “good” or commandment-keeping will get them to heaven.

In our Pacific context, where respect for God’s law is high, we must clarify how law and grace work together. In this sermon, we’ll explore the doctrine of the law and salvation. We will see that while the law is holy and good, it is not the means of our salvation – Jesus is. Yet, understanding grace does not abolish the law; rather it establishes it in our lives (Romans 3:31). Let’s unpack this crucial balance.

Biblical Insights

The Purpose of the Law: The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17) reflect God’s character and moral order. They serve as a mirror to show us what is right – and by extension, to reveal our sins when we fall short. Romans 3:20 explains, “By the law is the knowledge of sin.” In other words, the law diagnoses our problem; it’s like an X-ray that reveals a broken bone. However, an X-ray cannot heal the fracture – it only shows it. Galatians 3:24 uses the analogy of a tutor or guardian: “the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” The law’s role is to lead us to our need for a Savior by showing that we cannot attain perfection on our own. Every honest person, looking at the commandments, realizes at some point, “I’ve lied, I’ve harbored hatred (which Jesus equated with murder in the heart), I’ve coveted.” James 2:10 states that if we stumble in one point, we’re guilty of all – meaning even one sin breaks our relationship with a perfect God. Therefore, the law alone would leave us condemned (2 Corinthians 3:7). This sets the stage for the gospel.

Saved by Grace through Faith: The heart of salvation is expressed in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” We are not saved by keeping the Ten Commandments, because none of us can keep them flawlessly. We are saved by Jesus’ perfect life and His sacrificial death on the cross. He kept the law perfectly on our behalf and then took the penalty of our law-breaking (sins) upon Himself. Romans 5:8 declares, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” When Jesus hung on the cross, He essentially paid the fine for our lawbreaking so that justice could be satisfied and mercy extended. Our part is to accept this gift by faith – trusting in Jesus alone. Just as people in the survey who think “being good” earns salvation are mistaken christianpost.com, Paul was very clear: “by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight” (Romans 3:20, NKJV). Justification (being declared righteous) is a gift we receive, not a wage we earn (Romans 6:23). The thief on the cross is a great example: he could do no good works hanging there, but he turned to Jesus in faith and was promised paradise (Luke 23:42-43).

The Role of Obedience in the Saved Life: Does this mean the Ten Commandments are irrelevant for a Christian? Certainly not! Ephesians 2:10, right after saying we’re saved by grace, says “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” Obedience is the fruit of salvation, not the root. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15, NKJV). Love is the motivation, and the Holy Spirit gives power to obey out of gratitude. When we accept Christ, He writes His laws in our hearts as part of the new covenant promise (Hebrews 8:10). That means a truly converted person will actually desire to follow God’s law, not as a means of salvation, but as a joyful response to salvation. Think of Zacchaeus: after Jesus extended grace to him, he stood up and voluntarily promised to repay anyone he cheated (Luke 19:8). His obedience (restitution) followed as a result of accepting Jesus’ grace, not as a condition for it. Similarly, in Titus 2:11-12 we read that God’s grace “teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives.” Grace is not a license to sin; it’s a teacher of righteousness. The Ten Commandments then remain a moral compass and standard for holy living, showing us what love for God and love for others looks like (Matthew 22:37-40). They just aren’t the vehicle of salvation – Christ is.

Application to Our Lives

Understanding this balance protects us from two dangers: legalism and license. Legalism is trying to earn salvation by our performance – this leads to either pride (if we think we’re successful) or despair (if we feel we’re failing). License (or cheap grace) is disregarding God’s law because “I’m under grace” – this leads to destructive sin and a warped witness. Instead, God calls us to a relationship where obedience flows naturally from love. For a Pacific Island youth, this might look like this: You keep the Sabbath not to score points with God, but because you delight in the gift of rest and communion with Him (Isaiah 58:13-14). You honor your parents (5th commandment) not merely because it’s a rule, but because you recognize God’s love in placing them in your life and you want to reflect Christ in your home. When tempted to lie or cheat, you remember both God’s command and Christ’s sacrifice for you – which gives a deeper reason to choose honesty. The question “Will this please the Lord who saved me?” can guide our choices better than “What’s the minimum I must do to avoid hell?”

It’s also important to experience the freedom and assurance the gospel gives. If you slip up and break a commandment, Satan might accuse you: “Now God won’t accept you, you’re not a good Christian.” But remember 1 John 2:1, “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” You can repent, confess, and know you are forgiven because of Jesus’ righteousness, not your own record. That assurance actually empowers you to get back up and obey from the heart. One practical step is to memorize promises of grace, like Ephesians 2:8-9 or 1 John 1:9, so that when you feel either self-righteous or self-condemned, you recalibrate to the truth: we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone – unto a life of good works prepared by God.

Another application is sharing this balanced truth with others. Many outside (and inside) the church are confused about Christianity, thinking it’s just a set of rules or, oppositely, that it doesn’t matter how you live. We can share that the Ten Commandments are like guardrails on a road – they keep us safe and show God’s ideal, but when we’ve crashed through them, Jesus is the ambulance and the healer to save us. Once healed, we’re grateful for the guardrails even more. Use personal testimony: maybe you tried to “be good enough” and found it exhausting until you discovered grace. Or perhaps grace transformed a bad habit in your life and now obedience is a joy. Our lives should reflect both holiness and humility, which will attract others to the true gospel.

Conclusion

So, are we saved by keeping the 10 Commandments? The biblical answer is a resounding No – we are saved by Jesus Christ’s righteousness and sacrifice, received through faith. However, the 10 Commandments remain a critical part of God’s plan – they show us our need for a Savior and, once saved, they become the path we walk in loving response. Imagine someone who was drowning; the law is like seeing the “No swimming – dangerous currents” sign. It can’t save you once you’re drowning, but it shows why you need rescue. Jesus is the lifeguard who pulls you out and revives you. Afterward, you’ll respect that sign all the more, not wanting to fall in again, but your gratitude will chiefly be towards your rescuer. Similarly, Christians in the Pacific hold God’s law in high esteem, yet we boast only in the cross of Christ for our salvation. This balance brings glory to God – His justice and mercy meet in harmony. Let us live out this truth: obeying God not to be saved, but because we are saved. In doing so, we uphold the law in its rightful place and exalt the Savior who alone can save.