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commandments, expository, Gospels, holiness, J.C. Ryle, Quotes, ten, thoughts
“Let us beware of despising the law of the Ten Commandments. Let us not suppose for a moment that it is set aside by the Gospel, or that Christians have nothing to do with it. The coming of Christ did not alter the position of the Ten Commandments one hair’s breadth. If anything, it exalted and raised their authority. (Rom. 3:31).
The law of the Ten Commandments is God’s eternal measure of right and wrong. By it is the knowledge of sin. By it the Spirit shows men their need of Christ, and drives them to Him.
To it Christ refers His people as their rule and guide for holy living. In its right place it is just as important as “the glorious Gospel.” – It cannot save us. We cannot be justified by it. But never, never let us despise it. It is a symptom of an ignorant and unhealthy state of religion, when the law is lightly esteemed. the true Christian “delights in the law of God.” (Rom. 7:22).
- From Ryle’s ‘Expository Thoughts On The Gospels
Where does it say the law is the 10 commandments? I understand the law consists of all those commandments given in Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deutoronomy.
But we Christians don’t become moral and live righteously by reading those. The Spirit transforms into the likeness of Christ when we behold Him (2. Cor. 3:17-18) the Gospels and other apostolic writings, and also seeking the face Christ in the Old covenant writings, like the Levitical law. So in that sense we should esteem the law.