New City Catechism #13

Q: Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly?
A: Since the fall, no mere human has been able to keep the law of God perfectly, but consistently breaks it in thought, word, and deed.

Romans 3:10-12
None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.

New City Catechism 13

Can anyone keep the law of God perfectly? No. It is impossible for human beings to perfectly keep the law of God.
The Bible talks about the sinfulness of man. Sin is universal, and there is no exception – everyone is a sinner by nature and by conduct.
“God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all fallen away; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one.” (Psalm 53:2-3)
“Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins.” (Ecclesiastes 7:20)
The Bible knows that we all do evil. We think evil, we act evil, we live evil lives. Why is it the case that human beings do evil? It is because our very nature as human beings is evil.
“What is man, that he can be pure? Or he who is born of a woman, that he can be righteous?” (Job 15:14)
“Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.” (Psalm 51:5)
Evil is not a learned concept, but it is rather something that one is born with. Sinfulness is passed on from parent to children as it is part of one’s nature.

Wickedness can be even observed in the human life. The Bible understands that the heart of man is deceitful and sick.
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9)
The passion in man’s heart desires for the self and one’s own agenda. Man is in love with himself. Even when one does good things, it is for oneself and one’s own agenda.
This self-love of an individual can be seen from an early age. A child does not learn how to be selfish and get angry at others. It is typical to see kids hoard all the toys or all the candies to himself. It seems that lying is inherent in all human beings when no one teaches a kid how to lie, yet she does it.
When we look at the religions of the world, we see that a clear case is made about the universality of sin. The religions teach how for one to be better conductors of oneself. They do not deny the fact that there is some sort of innate wickedness in human beings that we need to improve from.
The saints in these different religions also testify of personal sins and their struggle to overcome the desires of their heart.

Human beings, according to proper theology, are under the influence of sin. This nature of sin that we have just observed, theologically and practically, are enslaving. A person cannot free himself by his own efforts.
In Calvinism, this theology that one is so caught up in the nature of sin is summarized by the phrase “Total Depravity.”
This doctrine explains how, by our human nature, we will never genuinely seek after God. There is a total rebellion against God, and there is no desire to glorify Him. There is no desire to delight in Him nor to submit to God.
In man’s total rebellion, all the things that he does is sin. This is not reject that those who do not believe in God cannot do any “good” things. Sure, he can do “good” things, but it is not good because it is done apart from dependence on God or for the reason to glorify Him.
“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.” (Romans 8:7-8)
The sinful and rebellious flesh cannot reform himself, or save himself. He is not capable of any possible life with God. And because he is incapable of this life with God, he is to receive punishment. He that cannot live a life which he was created to live receives punishment from the Creator.

“We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.” (Isaiah 64:6)
This is the very state of mankind. The good works that we might even do are, to God, “filthy rags” or “polluted garment.” We cannot possibly save ourselves with good deeds because, to God, we are so filthy.
“Who then can be saved? (Matthew 19:25)
“With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)
“In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 2:4-6)
By human standards, it is impossible for a man to be saved through his good works. Good works mean nothing to God apart from Him. The only way that a man can be saved is through the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ.
Though the world and the people in it are totally depraved, living their lives apart from the goodness of God, it is God who makes the great invasion in our lives.
In our own effort, we would have never sought Him. In His grace, He meets us where we can finally understand Him as the great Immanuel. Oh how precious is God’s love for us that He meets us even when we are so depraved a people!

New City Catechism #12

Q: What does God require in the ninth and tenth commandments?
A: Ninth, that we do not lie or deceive, but speak the truth in love. Tenth, that we are content, not envying anyone or resenting what God has given them or us.

James 2:8

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.

New City Catechism 12

The ninth commandment is that one shall not bear false witness against one’s neighbor. This show how important truth is to God. Why? Because God is the God of truth and He cannot lie. It is who He is. What He is not, He detests.
“So that he who blesses himself in the land shall bless himself by the God of truth, and he who takes an oath in the land shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten and are hidden from my eyes.” (Isaiah 65:16)
God is the God of truth, and this means that He speaks and acts only in truthful way. Whatever God has to say will always come true and there is no deception in God’s actions. He is not like men who are prone to lying.
“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?” (Numbers 23:19)
Unlike our truthful God, we are so full of this sin of lying. The writers of the Scripture were sure of this problem in mankind.
“I said in my alarm, “All mankind are liars.”” (Psalm 116:11)
Is there anyone who has not told lies? We all have told lies. Some of the ways that we have told lies are through flattery, deception, slander, false teaching, and lying. We do it because we don’t want to face consequences for telling the truth. We do it because we want something that we think will benefit us.
What is the real consequence for lying? The real consequence is that there may be temporal benefits of lying, but it ultimately hurts the other person.
“A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.” (Proverbs 25:18)
The New Testament writer, James, tells us how powerful the tongue is. He compares it to the rudder of a ship and horseshoe. He compares it to a fire that can set a forest ablaze.
The real Christian must be able to control his tongue as he desires to love his neighbor. Why should he love his neighbor? Because God loves His people, and we are to “be imitators of God” (Ephesians 5:1).
This is, of course, very impossibly hard to do. We really need the grace of God if we desire to be truth bearers. How can we begin to speak more truth? Speak about Jesus, who is the truth! (John 14:6)
The answer to solving the problem of the impossibility of man to keep the ninth commandment is Jesus Christ! It is all about Jesus. He speaks the truth; he does the truth; and he is the truth. Don’t be a false witness, but be a truthful witness whose life revolves around Jesus Christ.
“What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.” (Philippians 1:18)
Be so ever joyful like Paul was that the truth is proclaimed! We, as Christians, should delight in proclaiming the truth of Jesus Christ. You can never share any false testimony when you are preaching the gospel!

The tenth commandment is that one shall not covet. The tenth commandment makes it clear to us that God is not only concerned with crimes and sinful actions, but that He is actually concerned more so with our hearts and our minds.
Being concerned with having right intentions and having right motivations for holy living did not start with Jesus and how he interpreted the Law in the Sermon on the Mount. However, it started from the Old Testament when God gave the Law to Moses. This is why the tenth commandment is so important.
What then is coveting? It is desire that is ungodly and not content with what God has given to you in your life. It is when you do not want what God desires you to have in your life.
How difficult is it to control this urge? However, God really wants of us to keep our hearts in check. Though we might think that we are good people, in keeping the Law externally, we definitely have a work to do with keeping the Law internally.
Paul writes about how we should properly view what God has given to us. He reminds us that we are just stewards of what God has to freely given to us out of his goodwill.
“As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.” (1 Timothy 6:17)
What is the proper view on what God has given to us? We are supposed to enjoy it! Enjoy it because God has richly provided for us. And set the view on God, being thankful to Him for His wonderful gifts and enjoy it!
Jesus also warns us against the dangers of covetousness and tells a parable about those who are not satisfied by what God has richly given them.
“And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”” (Luke 12:15)
Jesus’s words show clearly that we must guard against this desire for us to want more. It is so easy to get caught up in material possessions and the consumerism mentality to want more. Jesus wants us, however, to live with the eternal perspective.
Why does Jesus teach us to guard against all covetousness? Because it is harmful for ourselves and for others.
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.” (James 4:1-2)
We know that coveting is bad and that coveting does not honor God because we are saying that what God has given to us is not enough. Furthermore, when we covet, we are not asking God and creating conflict with other people. We definitely do not glorify God when we covet.
Then how do we put an end to covetousness? You can do it by living a life of contentment by the power of the Holy Spirit.
“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.” (Philippians 4:11)
What then is contentment? It is the opposite of covetousness. It is wanting what God wants for me. It is godly and enjoying what God has given richly.
Do you desire what God wants for you to desire? Replace the unholy desire of material things with holy desires of eternal things.
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)
God has graciously given us His Son! Remember that and how God is a generous Father. He will, according to His foreknowledge and goodwill, give us what we need and deny us what we do not need. Trust in this awesome God and replace the unholy desires with holy desires by the power of the Spirit.

New City Catechism #11

Q: What does God require in the sixth, seventh, and eighth commandments?
A: Sixth, that we do not hurt, or hate, or be hostile to our neighbor, but be patient and peaceful, pursuing even our enemies with love. Seventh, that we abstain from sexual immorality and live purely and faithfully, whether in marriage or in single life, avoiding all impure actions, looks, words, thoughts, or desires, and whatever might lead to them. Eighth, that we do not take without permission that which belongs to someone else, nor withhold any good from someone we might benefit.

Romans 13:9

For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Catechism 11

The sixth commandment commands not to murder. Throughout the Scripture, it is clear that God does not delight in murder. People are the image-bearers of God, and murder is a sin against God and what He has created to be special.
“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” (Genesis 9:6)
To God, murder is not a mere social or civic problem. God takes it personally because it has to do with what He created and what He enjoys fellowshipping with. Therefore, when murder is committed, murderer does not only kill a person, but he wrongs God.
Now, we are all responsible for the problem of murder and, as the result, have wronged God. The Bible does not fail to show us that we all have murderous hearts and we miserably break the sixth commandment that God has given to us.
“You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44)
One of the devil’s trait is that he wants to bring death – spiritual and eternal death – to all of us. Indeed, the deception against Adam and Eve was made in the Garden of Eden so that physical death befell on all mankind.
Ever since, it was not uncommon to see murder happen in the Bible. Cain and Abel, the very first sons of Adam and Eve, is a story of the older brother murdering his younger brother. Then, there is the story of Lamech in Genesis 4:23-24 where a man, Lamech, is prideful of having murdered another man.
Eventually, this leads up to the story of the Israelites wanting the death of Jesus. We, who are not exempt from being evil, would have done the same! We would have crucified Jesus had we been the Israelites. Indeed, we have murderous intents and the sixth commandment shows us that.
Jesus clarifies this intent that we have in our hearts when he discusses the problem of anger in the Sermon on the Mount.
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” (Matthew 5:21-22)
The intent of murder is seen in not the actual deed of murdering, but in the hearts of man. The hatred of a fellow man, a man created in the image of God, is the cause of murder. God looks at the hearts of the man rather than outward actions.
“But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16:7)
How is the state of your heart today? Are you perhaps not murdering someone in the intentions of your heart? Are you not hurting God by the intentions that you have?
Thanks be to God for we do not only murder others with our hateful intentions but, in our sin, we all have crucified and murdered Jesus Christ. Yet, God is still gracious and still forgives. Amazing Grace, indeed!

The seventh commandment commands not to commit adultery. Adultery is breaking of the marriage promises, or the marital covenant. This covenant is not mere social or civic promise. However, it is a covenant that God had created.
“Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” (Genesis 2:24-25)
Marriage is meant to be between one man and one woman. It is given to men by the divine authority of God to establish human relationship. Therefore, when one commits adultery, one commits it against God who has divinely appointed this covenantal relationship to exist between a man and a woman.
God has sanctified this covenantal relationship as He always likens the relationship between Himself and Church in this marital manner. God is the groom and the Church is the bride.
“I will greatly rejoice in the LORD; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10)
“Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.” (Ephesians 5:25-27)
When a man commits adultery, he is violating and disgracing this relationship that God intends to have with His people. Thus, the punishment for the violation of marriage is grievous and fatal.
“If a man commits adultery with the wife of his neighbor, both the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.” (Leviticus 20:10)
Death is a proper punishment to appease the wrath of God for those who have violated the covenantal relationship that God has created.
And, as we all know, from the Sermon on the Mount, adultery does not only have to do with actions but also the intentions of our heart, just like murder.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28)
With a lustful intent or look, a man already has committed adultery. That means that those who have had lustful intent or looked at a woman lustfully all deserve death!
Praise God in giving us His Son, Jesus that we are not deserving of this punishment by death. We, who have not only broken the seventh commandment by lusting, have also violated our covenantal relationship that we ought to have with God – God as our groom.
How many times have we desired other things apart from God? We definitely deserve death because we have many times cheated on God – our true husband! Praise God sincerely for Jesus!

The eighth commandment commands not to steal. When the Bible commands not to steal, this suggests that God wanted there to be private property rights and ownership. God is the ultimate owner of all things and He has graciously granted us with stewardship for the things that He owns.
Perhaps, you might consider yourself as a good keeper of this commandment. You have not really stolen from other people. However, we all have stolen from God.
“Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you? In your tithes and contributions. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you.’” (Malachi 3:8-9)
How have we robbed from God? We have robbed from Him when we began to see ourselves as the rightful owners of many great things that God has placed in our lives. How am I viewing money? Is it tending to my need or for the ministry of God?
Now, even if we think we are good stewards of what God has given to us, we need to realize that we are in debt because of sin. When we sin, we disobey what God created us to do (to glorify Him). When we disobey what God has created us to do, we are in debt because we have failed to live in accord to His purpose of creating us.
Now, the whole world sins and the entire world is in debt to God. Everyone has failed to pay back God what He deserves, His glory. We need a radical redemption because we are under such a huge debt because we have failed him innumerably.
Thank God for His Son, Jesus the Great Redeemer. He has paid back all the debt for us. We are debt-free and this is the freedom that the Scripture is talking about!
“And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” (Colossians 2:13-14)
Praise God for Jesus who has paid the debt of our sins! Rejoice now because though we have robbed aplenty from God, God is willing to still forgive us because Jesus died to set us free of debt!

The Ten Commandments point us to see that we are unable to keep the Law at all. However, Jesus Christ is the ultimate answer to the Law that we cannot keep. It points to Jesus. Look to Jesus.