Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Does keeping the 10 commandments make you a Christian?

A friend of mine on Facebook posted this question. WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN?

This was one of the responses. A Christian is someone who follows the Ten Commandments.

Let’s see if keeping the 10 commandments make you a Christian.

First question: What were the 10 commandments for?

God gave the children of Israel the commandments thru Moses about 2500 years after Adam and Eve were booted out of the garden. So under this theory, “keeping the 10 commandments makes you a Christian”, it would eliminate the first 2500 years of mankind. The first chance for there to be a Christian, according to this theory, would be the children of Israel. This theory would be contrary to the Bible. When was anyone called a Christian?

Acts 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

This was 1500 years after God wrote the 10 commandments and 4000 years after the fall of man.

I am going to list all the verses in the Bible which say Christian or Christians. (don’t worry it is only two more.)

Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.

1 Peter 4:16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

That’s it, just 3 verses in the whole Bible.
So what is a Christian? Simply, it is someone who follows Christ.

What does Paul tells us the commandments (the law) are for?

Galatians 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.
Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
Galatians 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.
Galatians 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Galatians 3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Galatians 3:26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.


According to the Bible the law was put into place to show us that we are sinners and need a savior. The law shows you that you need to be a Christian (follower of Christ), but in no way makes you a Christian. Once you have trusted in the completed work of the Cross you are no longer under the schoolmaster (the law). It is not even our faith that does anything. It is the faith of Jesus Christ.

Put your trust ON the faith of Jesus Christ (completed work at the cross) and you too will be a Christian.


By the way, here is a list of all the laws that God gave the children of Israel.
http://www.aish.com/jl/m/m/48945081.html        Guess how many?

Completed work at the cross = Died for your sins, was buried and rose again on the third day.

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