Lord’s Day 44

Q115. Since nobody can perfectly obey the Ten Commandments in this life, why does God want them taught so strongly?

First, so that the longer we live, the more we see our sinfulness and eagerly look to Christ for forgiveness and righteousness. Second, so that while we pray for the grace of the Holy Spirit, we never stop trying to become more and more like God, until after this life we reach our goal: perfection.

Scripture Proofs — King James Version

Psalm 32:5

Romans 3:19–26

Romans 7:7, 24–25

1 John 1:9

1 Corinthians 9:24

Philippians 3:12–14

1 John 3:1–3

Parent Guide

Discuss this question together

Discussion Questions

1
What are the two reasons God wants the commandments taught even though no one can keep them perfectly?
2
How do the commandments point us to Jesus?
3
Why should Christians keep trying to obey even when they know they will fall short?

Illustration

A mirror shows you that your face is dirty, but the mirror cannot wash your face. The commandments are like a mirror. They show us our sin, and that drives us to Jesus who alone can wash us clean. Without the mirror, we would not know we needed washing.

Application

The next time you realize you have broken one of God's commands, take it straight to Jesus in prayer. Thank him that his blood covers that sin. Because the Law sends us to Christ, every failure is an opportunity to run to him rather than away from him.