Do a simple exercise with me. Measure your life against just these four standards from the Ten Commandments. “You must not steal.” Have you ever stolen anything? A paper clip? A parking space? You thief. “You must not lie.” Those who say they haven’t just did. “You must not commit adultery.” Jesus said if you look at a woman with lust, you’ve committed adultery in your heart (Matthew 5:28 NIV). “You must not murder.” Before you claim innocence, Jesus said, “Anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder” (Matthew 5:22 MSG).
Jesus made his position clear. “Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14 NCV). So where does that leave us? Well it leaves us drawing hope from 1 Corinthians 15:3: Christ died for our sins. In place of, on behalf of! So don’t measure yourself by keeping commandments. Measure yourself by the cross.
