Do Christians Need to Keep the Law?

I have often heard it said that Christians do not need to keep the law — and by law they mean the Mosaic law, or primarily the Old Testament law — and that therefore believers are not required to keep the Ten Commandments. But is this the view of Scripture?

Some even go further, suggesting that believers in the New Testament church age do not look to the law for sanctification. Yet the testimony of Scripture is directly the opposite.

In our Lord’s high priestly prayer in John 17, He prays to the Father on behalf of His disciples, saying in John 17:17,

“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”

Clearly, the Lord Jesus is referring to the whole of the Old Testament Scriptures that existed at that time — the Word of God. And it is equally clear that the Word of God includes the law of God.

In Psalm 119:142, we read,

“Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.”

In Psalm 119:151,

“Thou art near, O LORD; and all thy commandments are truth.”

And in Psalm 119:160,

“Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.”

The literal sense of verse 160 is, “The sum of thy word is truth.” Thus, the same expression appears in the Lord’s prayer — “Thy word is truth” — showing that our Lord’s prayer that His disciples be sanctified through the truth is a direct echo of the Psalmist’s words concerning the law and Word of God.

Furthermore, Jesus Christ Himself is described as “the truth” in John 14:6,

“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

And the Spirit of God likewise is said to be “the truth” in 1 John 5:6,

“…and it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.”

Thus, the Spirit of God sanctifies the believer; Christ is our sanctification; the law, the commandments, and the whole Word of God are instruments of sanctification. We are washed by “the water of the word” (cf. Ephesians 5:26).

Let us look into this more closely. Not only did our Lord Jesus Christ pray that His disciples would be sanctified by the truth — that is, the Word of God — but we also read throughout the New Testament that believers are called upon to fulfil, to keep, and to obey the Word, the law, and the commandments of God.

In Matthew 5:17–19, our Lord declares:

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.”

Clearly, our Lord Jesus Christ affirms the abiding validity of the moral law and commends His disciples to do and teach it.

In Matthew 7:12, He summarises the moral law, saying:

“Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

This so-called “Golden Rule” is, in essence, the summary of the moral law.

In Matthew 19:17–19, in His conversation with the rich young ruler, Jesus said:

“…if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

Here, our Lord did not list any ceremonial commandments, but the moral commandments contained in the Ten Commandments. A similar emphasis appears in Luke 10:25–28, where Jesus says,

“This do, and thou shalt live.”

Turning to Paul’s writings, we find the same emphasis. In Romans 2:13, he writes:

“For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.”

This does not mean that men are justified by the works of the law, but rather that it is the doing of the law — and not merely the hearing of it — that corresponds to true righteousness. Those who are truly justified by faith are those who will also keep the law.

Again, in Romans 3:31, Paul asks:

“Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.”

Faith does not abolish the law; it upholds and establishes it.

In Romans 8:3–4, Paul teaches:

“For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”

The Spirit of God enables believers to fulfil the righteous requirements of the moral law.

In Romans 13:8–10, Paul writes:

“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet;
and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Here again, love is the inward principle by which the outward commandments are fulfilled.

In 1 Corinthians 9:21, Paul describes his ministry to both Jews and Gentiles:

“To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.”

Believers, then, are not lawless; we are under the moral authority of Christ — “under the law to Christ.”

In Galatians 5:14, Paul declares:

“For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

And again, in Galatians 6:2:

“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”

The moral law is fulfilled in love, the law of Christ being the law of love, perfected in the believer’s life through the Spirit.

In Ephesians 6:1–2, Paul directly cites one of the Ten Commandments and applies it to Christian children in the present age:

“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
Honour thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise;).”

Here Paul explicitly appeals to the Ten Commandments as the rule of Christian obedience.

James teaches along similar lines. In James 1:25, he writes:

“But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

The “law of liberty,” which is the moral law as fulfilled in Christ, is to be obeyed.

In James 2:8–12, we read:

“If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well:
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all…
So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.”

Christians, then, remain accountable to God’s moral law, described as royal and liberating.
And in James 4:11,

“He that judgeth the law… thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge.”

Believers are called to do the law, not to sit in judgment upon it.

John likewise speaks emphatically on this subject. In 1 John 2:3–4, we read:

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”

In 1 John 3:22–24, he says:

“And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.
And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”

And in 1 John 5:2–3:

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”

Before he became a believer, Peter could speak of the law of God as a yoke and a burden upon the neck (cf. Acts 15:10); but John, as a believer, can now speak of the commandments of God as “not grievous.”

Indeed, the whole of Psalm 119 expresses the psalmist’s love for the law, the Word, the statutes, the precepts, the commandments, and the judgments of God. Only true believers love the law of God and desire His Word.

At this point, someone may be tempted to object, saying, “But does not Paul himself tell believers that we are not under the law?” For example, we read in Romans 6:14,

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

Because of this particular expression—“we are not under the law, but under grace”—many have misconstrued Paul’s words to mean that we are therefore not obligated to keep the Ten Commandments, or any part of God’s law given in the Old Testament. This, however, is clearly not the case, for such an interpretation would contradict the many other passages in the New Testament which speak of believers fulfilling the law of God. Moreover, it would make Paul appear to contradict himself, which is impossible.

In the same Apostle’s First Epistle to the Corinthians, chapter 9, we read in verse 20:

“And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law.”

Now, someone might say that Paul merely meant he conformed to Jewish customs in order to evangelise those who regarded themselves as under the law. Yet observe what he says in the very next verse (1 Corinthians 9:21):

“To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.”

These words are extremely significant. Paul makes it clear that at no point did he consider himself to be “without law to God”—that is, lawless—but rather “under the law to Christ.” Thus, even under the New Covenant, Paul affirms that he remained under divine moral obligation, now as one subject to the authority of Christ.

What, then, did Paul mean in Romans 6:14, when he wrote, “ye are not under the law, but under grace”? The immediate context provides the answer. He is speaking about the dominion of sin. “For sin shall not have dominion over you,” he says, because as believers in Christ, we have died to sin’s claims and, consequently, to the law’s condemnation. The law demands the death of the sinner, for “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). But since Christ has satisfied the law’s demands on our behalf—having died for us and in our stead—we are counted as having died with Him. Therefore, being united to Christ in His death and resurrection, we are set free from sin’s tyranny and from the law’s sentence of death.

In this sense, we are no longer “under the law”—that is, under its condemnation—but “under grace”—that is, under God’s favour in Christ. Yet this deliverance from the law’s curse does not mean that we are freed from obedience to God’s moral will. Far from it. The very promise of the New Covenant refutes such an idea. In Jeremiah 31:33, God declares:

“But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the Lord, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

Notice that He does not say, “I will take away My law,” but rather, “I will write My law in their hearts.” The righteousness of God is everlasting; His moral standards do not change. Sin remains sin—covetousness, murder, adultery, and every form of evil are always abominable in the sight of God. Therefore, the moral requirements of His law stand for ever. Christians who suppose that they need not keep or fulfil the moral law of God are sadly and profoundly mistaken.

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Now at this point, somebody might be tempted to ask: why is it that Christians need to keep the law or obey God? After all, we are saved by grace and not through our works. Yet the Bible is clear: although we are not saved on the basis of our good deeds, our righteousness, or our works, we are saved in order to do good works. We do not keep the law to gain life; rather, we keep the law because we already have life in Christ.

This leads naturally to a very important question that is often debated: can a believer lose his salvation? Personally, I believe that the question itself is framed incorrectly, and therefore the answers usually given are mistaken. Such a question does not appear in Scripture, particularly the phrase “can a believer lose his salvation.” The New Testament does not speak in terms of “losing salvation.”

Instead, let us ask a question that is scriptural: can a believer be cut off? This is a phrase that does appear in the New Testament. Consider Romans 11:19–23. Paul writes:

“Then thou shalt say, The branches were broken off, that I might be grafted in. Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear: for if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.”

Here, Paul clearly teaches that New Testament believers who do not continue in the goodness of God may be cut off.

A similar point is made in Colossians 1:21–23:

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unreprovable and unblameable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye have heard.”

Paul here emphasises the tremendous blessing that God provides by reconciling believers and presenting them holy, unreprovable, and innocent before Him. Yet he introduces a condition: this presentation depends upon believers continuing in the faith, being grounded and settled, and not being moved away from the hope of the gospel. In other words, there is a real possibility that New Testament believers may not continue in the faith that is rooted and grounded.

The same principle appears elsewhere. Consider 2 Corinthians 6:1:

“We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.”

Clearly, it is possible for believers to receive the grace of God in vain.

Likewise, 1 Corinthians 15:1–2 states:

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.”

Here, Paul warns that faith may be in vain if believers do not hold fast to the gospel.

In Galatians 1:6, he writes:

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel.”

This demonstrates that it is possible for believers to be moved away from the grace of Christ toward another gospel. Later, in Galatians 4:11, Paul expresses concern:

“I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.”

Throughout these passages, the New Testament consistently warns that while salvation is by grace, believers must continue in faith, remain grounded in the gospel, and persevere in obedience. Otherwise, there is the real possibility of falling away or receiving grace in vain.

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Let’s summarise some of the main warning passages in the NT that call for perseverance and continuance in the faith for NT believers in order to their full and final salvation.

1. Warnings About Falling Away / Apostasy

Hebrews 2:1–3

“Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;”

Warning: Neglecting the gospel leads to accountability; God’s salvation must be carefully preserved.

Hebrews 3:12–14

“Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end;”

Warning: Apostasy is possible; perseverance in faith is required.

Hebrews 6:4–6

“For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

Warning: Falling away after being enlightened has grave consequences; reinforces need for perseverance.

Hebrews 10:26–31

“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Warning: Willful rejection of truth after knowing it brings severe judgment.

2. Warnings Linked to Conditional Continuance

Romans 11:20–22

“Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear: For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.”

Warning: Continuing in God’s goodness is necessary; otherwise, believers may be cut off.

Colossians 1:21–23

“And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unreprovable and unblameable in his sight: if ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel which ye have heard, which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister.”

Warning: Presenting believers holy before God depends on continuing in the faith; a conditional aspect is clear.

1 Corinthians 15:1–2

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.”

Warning: Salvation is secure in grace, but faith may be in vain if believers fail to hold fast to the gospel.

Galatians 1:6

“I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:”

Warning: Believers can be moved away from the grace of Christ toward false teaching.

Galatians 4:11

“I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.”

Warning: Spiritual labour among believers can be frustrated if they do not persevere.

3. Exhortations to Persevere / Endure

Matthew 10:22

“And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”

Matthew 24:13

“But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

Revelation 2:10

“Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.”

Revelation 3:11

“Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.”

Exhortation: Perseverance is tied directly to reward and salvation experience.

4. Warnings Linked to Obedience / Works

James 1:22–25

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.”

James 2:14–26

“What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.”

Exhortation: Faith without works is dead; obedience demonstrates living faith.

1 John 2:3–6

“And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.”

1 John 3:6–10

Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.

Exhortation: Practising righteousness distinguishes children of God from children of the devil.

1 John 5:3–4

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.”

Exhortation: Obedience, love, and righteousness are evidence of genuine faith and perseverance.