All kinds of voices everywhere—on social media, online apps, peers, etc.—are trying to suggest to us something to do. But let’s face reality: Often it’s something not so good. But how can I be sure?

Most people would agree that it isn’t right to steal or to kill. But what gives them that moral intuition? How can a person know what’s right and what’s wrong? We can settle on the fact that right is the opposite of wrong, and wrong is the opposite of right. However, that really doesn’t get us any closer to an answer. There must be a definition of right—and a definition of wrong. In order to do so, we need an unchangeable standard. Cultures differ on their conception of right vs. wrong; time changes people’s opinions—something might be considered “okay” at one point in time, but “not okay” at another. Even ethics is the subject of many a debate, because each side approaches it with a different theory.

The real question though, isn’t what people accept to be right vs. wrong, but rather: “What is the absolute standard?” A standard that has never changed—a standard that’s applicable to all peoples, times, and circumstances. It is the standard that testifies that mankind fell into the wrong—into disobedience. Violation of this standard cost the life of God Himself, in the death of Christ on the cross.

1 Corinthians 15:3 tells us, “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures.” We find out what sin is in 1 John 3:4 where it says: “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” [Emphasis added.]

To what law is this referring? Exodus 24:12 says, “the Lord said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.” [Emphasis added.]

We find in Exodus 31:18 that these were “two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.” This is the only time in the Bible where God Himself engraved a message in stone. Obviously, this was something meant to be enduring!

Jesus, in the New Testament, also emphasized the importance of keeping the commandments. In John 14:15, He said, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” Therefore, loving Christ will result in obedience to His law. We will do the right things rather than the wrong ones. In John 15:10, He said, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.” If Christ kept His Father’s commandments, this gives evidence to the law being eternal and applicable to all.

When “a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answered by referring to the Ten Commandments. “Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.” (Luke 18:18, 20).

The Ten Commandments can be summarized in two: Love to God and Love to our fellow man. We find this in Matthew 22:37–40: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” [Emphasis added.]

Can you imagine a world based on these two principles—a world where everyone loved God and loved their fellow humans as much as themselves? There would be no violence, theft, lying, cheating, or anything bad. It would be a wonderful world!

Now, sometimes people try to say the Law was done away with—that it is no longer valid or important. But I would ask them if they really want to be taken advantage of in a business deal or to be cheated on or to have someone break into their home and steal their belongings or to become a victim of attempted murder. Probably not. So you see, the majority desire to receive the benefits of the law; they just don’t want to be held responsible for keeping it themselves.

Let’s look at some interesting New Testament verses regarding the moral law of Ten Commandments and its role in the Christian era.

Romans 10:4 says, “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”

Now what does this mean? Does this indicate that He ended or somehow destroyed the Law? Let’s compare the usage of the word “end”as it reads in James 5:11, “. . . Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”

Does this mean that the Lord somehow ended? Of course not! Or how about in 1 Peter 1:9, “Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” Does it imply that our faith should end or finish? No.

This word “end”in these three instances all refers to an objective or purpose.

Let’s go to Matthew 5:17 where Christ clarifies: “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” In Romans 3:31, Paul reiterates, “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Why? Because “the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good” (Romans 7:12).

God wants to give us a good life. He wants to take us to that wonderful world called Heaven, whose citizens are all governed by the perfect law of Ten Commandments and reflect God’s love in all their interactions.

In Revelation 14:12 the characteristics of the saved are given in the following introduction: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

We can’t keep the law on our own. That’s why so many are opposed to it. The law simply shows us our sins. It’s like a mirror. If you have mud on your face, you’ll need to look into the mirror to see that your face is dirty. But will the mirror clean your face? No, you’ll need to wash your face. Jesus is the water that will cleanse us.

Only through the sacrifice of Christ can we be made clean and perfected.

1 John 5:3–5 tells us, “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. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?” [Emphasis added.]