Purpose of the Moral Law
Written by Dale Ebel
In this teaching I will address the purpose of the Moral Law, as summarized in the Ten Commandments, when used in sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with people outside the Faith, and for present-day Christ-followers.
Prior to this teaching, consider reading a recent article I wrote titled “Categories of the Law,” dated February 3rd, 2026, on page one of my blog: daleebel.org. That article might serve as a template for you to identify the various “laws” mentioned in Scripture.
Please remember that the word “law” simply means “instruction” and “teaching.” Practice using these definitions instead of only the word “law” in your daily conversations, in your Bible studies, or other endeavors. You will discover this to be rather illuminating for other people and, of course, for yourself.
Below is a paragraph that I wrote in that article that is worth repeating.
For years I have mistakenly lumped God’s Law all under one category, simply stated as “The Law.” Also, I mistakenly relegated it only to the Book of the Covenants (OT), and embarrassingly many times considered it as legalistic, restrictive, punitive, unattainable and irrelevant—all of which are untrue!
The Application of the Moral Law for the Conviction of Sin
[Romans 7:7, 12-13 LSB] 7 What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! Rather, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law. For I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.” … 12 So, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. 13 Therefore did that which is good become [a cause of] death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by working out my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.
[Hosea 8:12 NLT] 12 Even though I gave them all my laws, they act as if those laws don’t apply to them.
One of the most significant tragedies in modern Christendom is that we have relegated God’s Moral Law—the very standard summarized in the Ten Commandments—to the back burner when presenting the Good News of Jesus Christ to non-believers. Partially, this has resulted in a generation of people who profess Christ without ever facing the bad news of violating God’s moral standard. This leads to cheap grace. Grace (unmerited favor) is offered when they do not appreciate the favor, because they are either unaware of their need or do not live in deep gratitude for that favor because they do not see the gravity of their sin.
This “cheap grace” has produced countless “professing Christians” in name only, who are either:
- Not Christians (tares) — Matthew 13:24–30
- Consistently weak Christians — Hebrews 5:11–14
- Perpetually carnal (lower nature dominated) Christians — 1 Corinthians 3:1–3
- Ineffective Christians — 2 Peter 1:5–11 (please confirm this reference—see note at the end)
- Myopic Christians that are ignorant of, or disregard, the whole counsel of God — Acts 20:21
- A generation of people that have forgotten God’s Laws (instructions), and because of this have lost their voice and influence in the broader culture—Hosea 4:6, 8:12. This is significant because much of the instructions (laws) in the Torah have direct application to how a broader society ought to operate, and therefore thrive.
This is evident when statistics show that far too many “professing Christians”:
- Do not believe the Bible is inerrant (incapable of error) — Psalm 19:7.
- Believe that Christ sinned — 2 Corinthians 5:21.
- Approve of gay marriage and/or identity constructs based on subjectivism, not biology — Romans 1:32; Genesis 1:26–27.
- Never repent of their false belief systems — 1 Timothy 1:3-4.
- Drift away from their faith, displaying a lack of perseverance, usually caught up with materialism and sexual sins, and embracing false ideologies such as leftism, social justice theories, and political platforms that are opposed to the Bible—Colossians 2:8—therefore manifesting apostasy—Jeremiah 2:19 ESV.
- Believe that faith in Christ is meant exclusively to be personal, and that the focus should be on our walk with Christ, not cultural or societal concerns — Deuteronomy 4:5-8; 2 Timothy 3:16&17.
- Support or participate in abortions at alarming rates — Psalm 139:13.
- Follow or justify their children’s deviant lifestyles or philosophies at the expense of Truth — Luke 14:26 NLT.
- Have an overwhelming desire for unity at the expense of Truth, leading to error — 1 John 2:18.
- Disregard the Nation of Israel as God’s chosen people — Romans 9:4&5.
- Do not interpret the Bible literally, historically, grammatically, contextually, culturally and with common sense — Genesis 2:4; Exodus 20:11; Matthew 19:4.
Friends, if people never manifest repentance or brokenness over sin, and perpetuate false doctrines, it indicates that they are most likely Christians in name only.
Some Missing Ingredients
[Romans 2:14-16 NKJV] 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves [their] thoughts accusing or else excusing [them]) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
Dwight L. Moody (1837–1899) was a prominent 19th-century American evangelist, publisher, and educational founder who revolutionized mass evangelism in the US and Great Britain. Known as the “Billy Graham of his generation,” he founded the Moody Bible Institute, Moody Church, and Moody Publishers.
Here is what he said:
“It is a great mistake to give a man who has not been convicted of sin certain passages that were never meant for him. The moral law is what he needs… Do not offer the consolation of the Good News of Christ until he knows he is guilty before God. We must give enough of the moral law to take away all self-righteousness. I pity the man who preaches (proclaims) only one side of Truth—always the Good News and never the Moral Law.”
Today, in many cases, because we lack the correct use of the Moral Law, there are crucial Scriptural elements often missing that are essential for one to be an overcoming Follower of Christ.
Below are 7 essentials that I believe ought to be present in our walk with Christ, and especially when someone first becomes a Follower of Christ.
1. The message of God’s judgment, which, when received and embraced, will lead to repentance.
The Necessity of Judgment
“Riches do not profit in the day of wrath, but righteousness delivers from death.” — Proverbs 11:4
[Acts 17:30-31 NLT] 30 “God overlooked people’s ignorance about these things in earlier times, but now he commands everyone everywhere to repent of their sins and turn to him. 31 For he has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man he has appointed, and he proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead.”
[1 Peter 4:17 NLT] 17 For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?
[1 John 3:4 NKJV] 4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness.
The Necessity of Repentance
[1 Kings 8:47 NLT] 47 But in that land of exile, they might turn to you in repentance and pray, ‘We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.’
[Mark 2:17 NKJV] 17 When Jesus heard [it], He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call [the] righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”
[Mark 6:12 NLT] 12 So the disciples went out, telling everyone they met to repent of their sins and turn to God.
2. The message of following Him, compared to salvation only.
The message of salvation emphasizes deliverance and being rescued from our sin, while Christ’s first words out of the gate were to follow Him, which draws us to obedience.
[Matthew 4:19-20 AMP] 19 And He said to them, “Follow Me [as My disciples, accepting Me as your Master and Teacher and walking the same path of life that I walk], and I will make you fishers of men.” 20
Immediately they left their nets and followed Him [becoming His disciples, believing and trusting in Him and following His example]. [Matthew 9:9 AMP]
[Matthew 16:24 KJV] 24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any [man] will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
3. The Fear of God, not just Reverence for God — Proverbs 3:7; 8:13.
Fear of God is living with the unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous. Friends, this is biblically healthy, but is a rare commodity in modern Christendom.
[Hebrews 10:31 KJV] It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.
Five Things God Requires of Us
[Deuteronomy 10:12-13 NKJV] 12 “And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to (1st) fear the LORD your God, to (2nd) walk in all His ways and to (3rd) love Him, to (4th) serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, 13 “[and] to (5th) keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes which I command you today for your good?
Moses placed fear of God as the first requirement that God asks of us, even before love. The reasons should be obvious: generally, more than anything else, fear of being judged prompts people to do the right thing.
[Hebrews 12:28 NLT] Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.
I revere (respect) George Whitefield, President Abraham Lincoln, etc., but I do not fear (consider them dangerous) them. I do not reverence Hamas, but I fear them.
4. Obedience is a proof that one’s faith is genuine.
Deuteronomy 10:12: “…to walk in all His ways, and to love Him…”
We must make the effort to walk in all the ways of the Lord God. Literally the commandment reads: “Walk in all His paths.” Travel through life on God’s pathways, because it is both easy and tempting to think our ways are better. But they are not. His “ways” are the expressions and actions of His desired will for our lives, including correct biblical doctrines and teachings found throughout Scripture. Post-biblical (that is, post-Judeo-Christian) value systems have led to a disaster expressed in the impotency of Christians to be salt and light in the broader culture and society.
[John 15:5, 8, 14 NLT] 5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. … 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. … 14 You are my friends if you do what I command.
The mark of a genuine Christian (Matthew 13:8) will be the fact that they will attempt to follow the Lord Jesus Christ in obedience. According to the Apostle John, this is the number one mark or indicator that a person’s conversion is sincere. If there is no fruit, there is no root—it’s that simple.
5. Perseverance of one’s faith will be evident.
“keep the commandments of the LORD and His statutes… Deuteronomy 10:13.
[John 15:4 NLT] 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
[Hebrews 10:35-36 NIV] 35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. 36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
It is crucial that we start out in our faith with the correct biblical DNA, which I am partially listing in these 7 ingredients. But it is also a proof that our faith was genuine in how we finish. The Bible is replete with the concept that Christ-followers will persevere, endure, and stay the course even to the end. 2 Timothy 4:7.
6. Surrendering to His leadership as the King of His Kingdom.
[James 4:7, 10 AMP] 7 So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. … 10 Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].
The Kingdom of God, which is the rule and reign of Christ in us and through us, must be paramount as a Christ-follower—new or seasoned—Matthew 4:17.
The Kingdom of God is the extension of salvation, but much more expansive. It is the living out of our salvation (Phil. 2:12), having a godly effect on others and our surroundings, including advancing His influence in the marketplace, the worlds of academia, politics, and one’s social relationships. The Good News of the Kingdom of God (Luke 8:1) means we will change our immediate surroundings wherever the Lord places us. Why? Because we will stand out, stand up, and speak up.
7. Serving Him.
“And to serve Him with all your heart, and soul (emotions and mind)” — Deuteronomy 10:12b.
Serving does not mean one needs a formal church ministry or Christian organization ministry; it means ministry and service as you live your life.
The new and seasoned Christ-follower will serve God expressed in a variety of efforts. Those actions might be simply testifying of one’s new conversion, being led by the Spirit of God to impact others, change in attitude, new desires, a new set of friends, or new priorities. These behaviors will be expressed in demonstrative behavioral acts that care for others or reveal who Christ is because of one’s ongoing transformation. He or she might even start a Bible study or prayer gathering, help others in need, or engage in a multitude of other expressions—with the additional element of identifying that they are doing this because of their faith in Christ.
Most new Christ-followers come out of the gate running. At the very least, they will demonstrate a moral behavior that is recognizable to others, and perhaps even make people feel guilt or uncomfortable about their own behavior, because they are now seeing someone who is “salt and light”—Matthew 5:13-16.
Please don’t domesticate them with institutionalized Christianity. Let them live on the edges, let them live in the danger zone—Hebrews 10:32-34! Remember, they are born from above by the Spirit of God—John 3:8—and they are meant to “go” and “follow” as the Spirit of God leads them—Galatians 5:25. Please do not limit them, confine them to the nursery, or cuddle them in a Christian child-care. Expect more from the very beginning, and they will respond.
Now What?
- Muse over the Sacred Scriptural References. Look them up in your own Bible and perhaps find your own passages that you like better.
- Who will you send this teaching to?
- Name one or two evidences that convicted you and/or motivated you, or both.
- How are you finishing the race? How are you starting the race? What will you do differently?
Following Christ with you,
Dale