Are the 10 commandments for non jewish unbelievers?

Evan, my argument is that those who are lost need to be confronted with the fact that they have violated God’s law as revealed in their consciences and as explained in the Bible. The lost are under condemnation and need to understand their brokenness (sinful and fallen nature – their condemnation). My issue is with viewing it as a necessity to bring these lost under the OT Law as a Schoolmaster because I don’t think that this is the intent of Paul’s words. The Law as a Schoolmaster was not only the Ten Commandments and it was dealing with those who were under the Law. So to say that we must use the OT Law to convict seems to be the opposite of Galatians 3:23.

I stated that in the past I thought it was appropriate to use the Ten Commandments, and that it still is depending on the situation – but as we live in a post-Christian society I am not sure that this is always the best method (not that it is “not appropriate in today’s day and age”). Since placing the “world” under OT Law in order to convict them is not prescribed in Scripture to reach the lost, I think it reasonable and biblical to evangelize with the expectation that the Holy Spirit brings people under conviction – they are under conviction outside of the OT Law – and this “law” written in their own conscious is just as valid in terms of Gentile condemnation. People do not live up to their own expectations perfectly, much less live up to what they would view as divine perfection or ideal perfection (if they don't believe in God). I have yet to find a verse that states Judaism is the first step to Christianity.

I will say, however, that I do appreciate the “Way of the Master,” and I don’t think that the Ten Commandments no longer apply. This type of evangelism is excellent as long as one can come to an agreement regarding the Ten Commandments. My view is that they are fulfilled in Christ and Christ in us. If we love God with all of our heart, soul and strength and we love our neighbor as ourselves then we cannot be condemned under the Law as this is fulfilling the Law. If we love God we will obey Him.

“Easy believism” is not limited to the Fundamentalist movement – it is a serious problem. But it has nothing to do with placing the lost under the OT Law.

If you don’t mind, please expand on this topic. When do you believe it is not wise to use the Ten Commandments to evangelize and why are these instances seldom?

 

:thumbsup: I agree. But the discussion is whether one must bring the lost under the OT Law in order to share the gospel or if the law written upon the hearts of the non-believers can adequately show that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

 

If that is the meaning, then I would agree. But Evan references Galatians 3:24 to indicate that we are to bring the lost under the Old Testament Law so that the Law can convict the lost of sin. But if that verse is taken in context of Galatians 3, then it appears Paul was stating something different.

 

I agree, the whole genre of the OT reveals the nature of God’s holiness as related to mankind. I think that we (the contemporary church as a whole) tend to ignore holiness as taught in the OT – but the Law stood as a self-revelation of God and should not be ignored.

I also was not saved through the Ten Commandments, or the OT Law for that matter. It was through the Gospel of John and Romans. What reached me was that without being in Christ I was condemned. Even as a child I realized that I had done wrong (for me, that was evidenced through my conscience – I knew that I did not always live as I should live). From Romans I realized that the consequence of sin was death – but this was true well before the OT Law was given. This death then couldn’t have been a result of transgression (of the Law), but of a sinful state. The necessity of being “born again” was made apparent to me through the NT – although the foundational understanding of these passages relate to the OT.

My disagreement with the necessity of bringing the lost under the OT Law is, for one, the OT Law is not only the Ten Commandments. But even if it were, this is fulfilled in the command to love God with all of your heart, soul and strength and your neighbor as yourself. Too often we focus on sins rather than the heart – we focus on the manifestation rather than the cause.

If the only way you can speak of our sinful state is through the OT Law, then so be it – but I don’t think that one should criticize other’s who witness strictly from the standpoint of the gospel and rely on the conviction of the Holy Spirit to speak of our sinful state – this is actually what Paul did to prove Gentile guilt. I have yet to meet anyone who believed they had done no wrong or had a perfect nature – and if I do, I’d highly expect they are not being honest with themselves or me.

 

Interesting passages (I had not thought of Genesis). I was thinking of Romans 2:14. Paul tells us that God is revealed apart from the Biblical revelation (through creation) and that Gentiles are guilty apart from the OT Law. I can't see how such a general revelation through nature or conviction through our conscious could be a saving revelation - but I do believe it is suitable for condemnation as through it we all fall short. This is why I don't believe it necessary to bring the lost under the OT Law as a starting point to explain the gospel (although depending on the person using the Ten Commandments may be the best way - it depends on their presuppositions).