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).
“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).
Jesus made his position clear: “Anyone whose life is not holy will never see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14). 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.
