FAQs Mondays: What Happens If We Can't Keep the Commandments?

Last week, we answered the question, "What is the tenth commandment?".  You can read that post here. This week, we turn our attention to the question, "What happens if we can't keep the commandments?".

Is any man able to keep the commands of God perfectly?

No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life, to keep the commands of God perfectly, but daily falls short of inward and outward perfection.  Solomon said, "Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins" (Ecc. 7:20). Genesis 6:5 states, "The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (See also: Gen. 8:21).   John states, "If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). James says, "For we all stumble in many ways, and if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole mouth. . . . but no human being can tame his the tongue.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison" (Jam. 3:2-8).  Paul states, "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own" (Phil. 3:12, see also Rom. 7:15).  He also reminds us, "For all  have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23). 

What then is the purpose of the law since the fall?

The purpose of the law, since the fall, is to reveal the perfect righteousness of God, that his people may know the path of faith that leads to life, and that the ungodly may be convicted of their sin, restrained from evil, and brought to Christ for salvation.  Paul teaches, "For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin" (Rom. 3:20, see also Rom. 7:7).  Again he instructs, "But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. . . . So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith" (Gal. 3:22-24). Further Scriptures for meditation: Psalm 19:7-11; Luke 10:25-28, and Titus 2:12-14.

Are all transgressions of the law equally heinous?

Some sins in themselves and by reason of several aggravations are more heinous in the sight of God than others.   Ezekiel reports, "He [the LORD] said also to me, 'You will see still greater abominations that they commit" (Ezk. 8:13).  The Scriptures say, "Jesus said to him [Pilate], 'You would have no authority over me at all unless it had bee given you from above.  Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin'" (John 19:11).  John states, "If anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life--to those who commit sins that do not lead to death. There is a sin that leads to death; I do not say that one should pray for that" (1 John 5:16).

What does every sin deserve?

Every sin deserves God's wrath and curse, both in this life, and in that which is to come.   Paul states, "Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God come upon the sons of disobedience" (Eph. 5:6).  Paul also says, "For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written: 'Cursed by everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them'" (Gal. 3:10).  Solomon says, "The Lord's curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the dwelling of the righteous" (Prov. 3:33).   David cried, "Let him [the LORD] rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup" (Psalm 11:6).  John writes, "But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murders, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death" (Rev. 21:8).

Summary

What happens if we can't keep the commandments?  We come under God's wrath and curse.  This condemnation is just and right.  God as the holy sovereign would have to deny his own nature if he did not judge sin.  The reality is that even if we were to try real hard we could never stop sinning.  We are born into this world with a nature that is bent away from God.  This bend in our natures leaves us chasing after everything but God.  The commandments show us what God is like, what he desires from us, and how far away from him we truly are.

Since we know that no one (besides Jesus) can avoid sinning and everyone who sins is under God's wrath, we must ask an important follow up question.  How does a sinner escape the wrath of God?  This question will be the focus of next weeks post.


Unless otherwise stated all Scripture references are from the English Standard Version (ESV).