You Shall Not

“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.”  Exodus 20:4

Many secularists criticize Christianity as being a religion of negativism filled with prohibitions. In response, Christians often try to blunt this criticism by stressing Christian love and freedom from the law.

The fact is, however, that the New Testament also contains many prohibitions, including a restatement of all those in God’s laws as expressed in the Ten Commandments. The first of these in our text prohibits idolatry. Six others also begin with “you shall not.” “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain....You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet” (Ex. 20:7, 13-17).

It is inappropriate for any Christian to ignore these commandments. Godly behavior is more important now than every before. Not only are these prohibitions all repeated in the New Testament, but there are numerous other “shall nots” as well, all directed to Christians saved by grace, apart from the works of the law.

For example: “do not get drunk with wine” (Eph. 5:18); “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Eph. 4:26); “do not be haughty in mind...Do not be wise in your own estimation” (Rom. 12:16); “Never take your own revenge” (Rom. 12:19); and many, many others.

There are numerous positive aspects to the Christian life, of course, but there are also things a Christian should not do. We do not work for our salvation, but we must work out our salvation, putting off the works of the flesh and putting on the works of a regenerate life.