A young female caller to a radio talk show mentioned that she was living with her boyfriend. The host asked her what she thought God's view might be of her living arrangement. Without missing a beat she replied, "No problem. I am a Christian, and the Bible says that 'we are not under the law but under grace'" (Romans 6:15). Wow! Is that how this verse in Romans is being taught in Christian circles today?

In the short space of 43 verses in Ephesians 4:25-6:2 the apostle Paul affirms to the Christian nearly all of the Ten Commandments of the Old Testament: (1) having no other gods (5:5); (3) no corrupt language (4:29); (5) honoring parents (6:2); (6) not killing or having sinful anger (4:26; see Matthew 5:21,22); (7) not committing fornication (5:3); (8) not stealing (4:28); (9) not lying (4:25); and (10) not coveting (5:3).

The reason we are told that "we are not under the law but under grace" is that our standard of holy living as Christians is much, much higher than what the children of Israel had under the law. Let us see what each of the Ten Commandments might mean to the Christian as being "under grace" and "not under the law."

The First Commandment. "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me" (Exodus 20:3). The Christian does not simply avoid worshiping other gods. We have a far more positive goal—the much higher standard of living for Christ who is our supreme object and pattern (Philippians 2:5; 1 Peter 2:21). We seek to bring God glory in every thing we do, every moment of every day.

The Second Commandment. "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing" (Exodus 20:4). In other words, God cannot be represented by anything that we create with our hands. Man might try to picture God by drawing an eagle to depict His heavenly character, or an ox to depict His supreme strength, or a lion to depict His majesty. But none of these pictures does justice to God. God is a spirit, is infinite, is transcendent, and cannot be represented by anything that we can draw or shape.

As Christians, our goals rise far above the avoidance of making an image of God. As those who are saved and have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us, we acknowledge that "God is a Spirit" (John 4:24) by desiring to be filled with the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to do His work of ministering Christ to our souls (John 14:26; 16:13-15), and manifesting the fruit of the Spirit—that is the characteristics of Christ—in our lives (Ephesians 5:18; Galatians 5:22,23).

The Third Commandment. "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain" (Exodus 20:7). Far from using the names of God and of Jesus Christ in empty, profane ways, we have the privilege of preaching Christ as the only name by which one can be saved (Acts 4:12).

The Fourth Commandment. "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy" (Exodus 20:8). The Sabbath, or Saturday, was for the children of Israel a day of rest, commemorating the completion of God's creation. As Christians, we are privileged to devote the first day of the week—resurrection day—to our Lord and Saviour in commemoration of God's new creation brought about by the death and resurrection of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. In addition, we are privileged every day of the week, as the Lord enables, to use any time available for reading God's Word, praying to God, worshiping God, serving God, and instructing our families and others in the Word (Luke 24:25-49; John 20:19; Acts 2:42,46; 5:42; 17:11; 20:7-11; 2 Corinthians 11:28; Hebrews 3:13).

The Fifth Commandment."Honor thy father and thy mother" (Exodus 20:12). Under grace we honor and show respect, not just to those in our immediate families, but to all men, loving even our enemies (1 Timothy 2:1; 1 Peter 2:17; Matthew 5:44; Romans 12:10).

The Sixth Commandment. "Thou shalt not kill" (Exodus 20:13). As Christians we are not satisfied merely to refrain from taking one's life, or from murdering one's reputation (Matthew 5:22). Rather, as motivated by God's great gift of eternal life to us, we are privileged to lead the souls of others to eternal life in Christ (John 3:16; 5:24).

The Seventh Commandment. "Thou shalt not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:14). A husband might say, "I have been faithful to my wife and I have provided for her and for our family throughout our life together; what more could one ask of a husband?" Much more! Under grace, a husband loves his wife self-sacrificially, "as Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself for it" (Ephesians 5:2,25). While he may not physically lay down his life for her sake, he is privileged to give up hobbies, activities, attitudes, behaviors, and habits in order to increase time spent together with his wife and to enhance his relationship with her.

The Eighth Commandment. "Thou shalt not steal" (Exodus 20:15). We can do no better than quote a verse of Scripture for this one: "Let him who stole steal no more: but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth" (Ephesians 4:28). Under law one merely refrains from taking from others; under grace one has the desire to give to others in response to God's love in giving His only begotten Son for us (John 3:16).

The Ninth Commandment. "Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor" (Exodus 20:16). Under grace we are enjoined to speak "the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15; Proverbs 27:5,6) and to proclaim the truth of the gospel (Acts 26:25; Galatians 2:5,14; Ephesians 1:13; 1 Timothy 2:4).

The Tenth Commandment. "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house," etc. (Exodus 20:17). Under grace we covet or desire the salvation of others (Romans 10:1); we "desire the sincere milk of the Word" (1 Peter 2:2); we desire that all "be filled with the knowledge of [God's] will" (Colossians 1:9); we "covet earnestly the best gifts" (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1); and we "desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better" (Philippians 1:23).

These are just a few suggestions for starters as to how we are to live as "under grace." In all things, it is the Lord Jesus Christ Himself who is our rule of life. He is our motive, pattern, and source of power. "The love of Christ constraineth us … that they who live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him who died for them, and rose again" (2 Corinthians 5:14,15).

—Paul L. Canner