The Lord did not make this covenant with our fathers, but with us, all of us who are alive here today. (V. 5)

What I am saying is this: the Law, which came 430 years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise. (Galatians 3:17-18)

And I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven; but the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 8:11-12)

The Reformation in the 16th century was God’s grace shown to the afflicted who were slaves of false Christianity. However, the Reformation changed its course and started to teach people lies about God. Theologians modified Anselm’s erroneous theory called the Active Obedience of Christ. Then the Protestant churches turned to law-based salvation. Many cult religions have one thing in common – misinterpretation of the law, especially the Ten Commandments.

The law of God is about love (agape).

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ Upon these two commandments hang the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:36-40)

This love is not something we can generate. We do not have love in us. Similarly, we are not born with faith or knowledge of God. We are born dead. We are born blind. We do not know God until the Holy Spirit comes and makes us understand God’s words.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us. (1 John 4:18-19)

When interpreting the Ten Commandments, we need to understand the reason why God gave the law. Self-sacrificing love is not something that we can earn by will and effort. When we read 1 Corinthians 13, we admire the greatness of love (agape). But that does not mean we can love. Likewise, we admire the holiness of the law, but that does not mean we can keep the law or become holy by keeping the law.

I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. For I joyfully agree with the law of God in the inner person, but I see a different law in the parts of my body waging war against the law of my mind, and making me a prisoner of the law of sin, the law which is in my body’s parts. Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. (Romans 7:21-25)

The Ten Commandments were given for us to know God’s love for His people. The Father’s love is given to us so that we would love one another. And we understand God’s love shown in the cross of Christ. We eagerly wait for the kingdom of God where love is abundant and flows unceasingly.

We must keep in mind that Christ came to free us from slavery. All humans are born to be destined for destruction. The law reveals that we are sinners. Where there is no law, conscience acts as the law as written in Romans 2:14-16. And yet, Christ did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it. The written code kills while God’s love (agape) resurrects people. The law as the written code leads us to God’s love shown in the cross of Christ eventually but it does not bring life.

Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill. (Matthew 5:17)

Therefore the Law has become our guardian to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24)