The Purpose of God's Commandments

Is Only To Make Us See Our Need of a Savoir?

It is sometimes stated that the only reason God gave us His commandments is that we might see we cannot keep them and thus have need for a savoir.

Perhaps this strange idea came from such passages as the following:

Now we know whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. (Romans 3:19-NIV)

But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe. (Galatians 3:22-NIV)

I suppose someone could get this wild notion from the above two verses, but if he would read the remainder of the Bible he would soon discover God means for us to keep His commandments. He did not issue them just to frustrate us and drive us to Himself.

Do God's holy requirements drive us to Christ? Yes, they do; not for perpetual forgiveness but for deliverance from sin and change into His moral image.

The idea that God does not expect us to keep His commandments is ridiculous.

Did God give us commandments in order to frustrate us, to make it impossible for us to please Him? Or has He made a way for us to please Him through Jesus Christ (and I am not speaking of the grace of forgiveness, the atonement, the remission of sins, but of the grace of wisdom and power to live differently)?

Did your earthly father ever tell you to do something? Did he expect you to do it or did he give you jobs to do you could not possibly perform so you would tell him how wonderful he is and how you need his mercy?

If you took this attitude he would tell you to stop flattering him and start obeying him.

Isn't this what Jesus said? "Why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord' and don't do what I command you to do?"

How in the world did we Christians ever get ourselves into such a doctrinal mess?

God has commanded us to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God.

Does God expect us to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with God, or did He command this behaviour so we would see how high His ways are above us, go to Christ for forgiveness, and then continue in unjust, unmerciful, and proud behaviour?