What is the most essential guidance for Christians living in today’s world? How should Christians respond to the challenges of war, economic disparity, the marginalized, and the loss of justice? Furthermore, how can they resist the chaotic messages that infiltrate their Christian worldview? Few would refute the notion that the church has lost much of its influence in today’s world. In an age where it seems like the world has lost its way, what beacon should Christians look to as they navigate their lives?
When facing chaotic times, the wisdom of history urges us to turn to the classics. C. S. Lewis, for example, argues that one of the best ways to overcome the biases and assumptions of the present age is by engaging with classical works. These works offer insights into the enduring nature of humanity and universal truths.
The Ten Commandments as a Classical Anchor
Can the Ten Commandments guide Christians through crises like ours? Michael S. Heiser describes them as one of the most enduring elements of Judeo-Christian thought, shaping Western civilization.1 James Packer—an architect of modern Christian classics—in Keeping the Ten Commandments, similarly affirms their significance, noting that they form the essential framework for Christian conduct (p. 12).2 Rather than remaining at the level of intellectual study, the commandments must be learned intentionally and passed down. They shape a believer’s life and witness in the church. Packer emphasizes that Christians must be intentional learners, and what they learn must include the Ten Commandments—timeless pillars of Christian instruction. Learning them is not about memorization alone but involves grasping the essence of the Christian faith, leading to growth in Christ and conformity to His image (p. 12). True discipleship demands more than cognitive knowledge; it calls for transformation of life and alignment with God’s character.
At the outset of his work, Packer uses a compelling analogy: just as a car, with its thousands of parts, needs a manual for proper functioning, so the Christian life needs guidance. The Ten Commandments, like the manufacturer’s manual, offer essential wisdom for life (pp. 11–13). Ironically, manuals are among the least-read books—clean, untouched, and often ignored despite their importance. This analogy raises a vital question: Are Christians neglecting the core truths of Scripture, treating them like unread manuals?
As previously noted, classical works provide a corrective to the biases of our age. While Scripture is far more than an ancient classic, the Ten Commandments offer enduring truths that transcend cultural moments. Packer states that God gave the law for the same reason He gave the gospel—because He loves us (p. 12). Jesus did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill it (Matt 5:17). If the law is gospel, as Packer suggests, then the Ten Commandments must remain central to the Christian life, not as burdens but as gifts.
Upholding the Ten Commandments as Moral Absolutes
Packer asserts that the Ten Commandments provide the blueprint for life and contain essential wisdom (p. 24; cf. pp. 12, 20). They also lead believers to reflect on the core of true relationships. Packer highlights the difference between personal and impersonal relationships (p. 29), and Exodus 20:1 affirms a personal relationship between God and His people. The phrase “I am your God” presupposes a covenantal bond, not an abstract moral code. This relational foundation speaks to modern Christians who live in a society prone to objectifying others. Today, people are often seen not as persons in relationships but as tools for personal fulfillment. Such objectification is evident in how the marginalized are portrayed and treated, and it reflects a society that has forgotten how to love, respect, and truly engage with others (pp. 26, 30). The Ten Commandments call us back to honoring personal relationships—with others and with God.
Another pressing concern is how believers receive and respond to the law. Will they embrace the commandments through the lens of absolute ethics or interpret them situationally? This is especially relevant in a world where laws often seem applied unevenly—harshly for the weak and leniently for the powerful. When biblical truth conflicts with cultural values, will Christians treat God’s word as flexible or unchanging?
Situational ethics argues that commandments can be adapted to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number. But this line of reasoning can justify the means by the ends (pp. 35–36). Relativistic thinking weakens moral clarity and can open the door to secularism, convenience-based ethics, and spiritual compromise. Packer counters with two truths: God’s law reflects His character, and it fits human nature exactly (pp. 37, 110). If Christians truly want to reflect God, they will desire to obey His commandments. To selectively obey based on convenience or social trends is to distort the image of God within us.
Therefore, the Ten Commandments are not optional, nor are they outdated. They are moral absolutes that call for full submission. And this commitment must extend to all of Scripture, not just the commandments. Christians are to receive the entirety of God’s word with the same conviction and reverence. The authority of God’s law does not depend on changing circumstances but on the unchanging nature of the One who gave it.
Living Out the Ten Commandments in Today’s World
Amid today’s moral confusion, believers must rediscover how the Ten Commandments can be lived out. This task is not easy. As relativism becomes more culturally dominant, the gap between Christian conviction and popular worldview grows. Yet clarity can be regained when Christians return to Scripture and root themselves in the truth that does not change. To live out the Ten Commandments, Christians must first develop a clear and accurate understanding of who God is. The commandments reflect His character. If believers desire to resemble God, they must know Him rightly. God is the Creator and Covenant Keeper, and His sovereign lordship shapes all of life.
Exodus 20:2 reminds us that God is also Redeemer. He delivered Israel so that they might endure in the land He promised. Verse 6 reveals the condition: obedience. The law, then, is not bondage—it is freedom (pp. 43–44). Many view the commandments as burdensome, partly because most are framed negatively (“You shall not…”). But these prohibitions are designed to lead believers into liberty within the divine order. What seems restrictive at first glance is actually protective, guiding us away from destruction and toward life.
Obedience to the commandments means living a life centered on God (pp. 44, 49–50). But how can one tell whether one’s life truly revolves around God? Packer offers a penetrating insight: “Your god is what you love, seek, worship, serve, and allow to control you” (p. 47). Christians must continually examine their hearts: Am I worshiping God in this moment? Who or what have I served today? Has God remained first in my life?
The Power to Obey: Christ and the Ten Commandments
Despite the desire to obey, no one can perfectly keep the commandments. Yet Packer explains that although Jesus, as the incarnate Son of God and perfect man, possessed full authority to go beyond the Ten Commandments and reveal something greater if necessary, He did not do so. Instead, He affirmed their eternal authority, upheld them as central to true religion, and made it clear that He Himself had kept them faithfully (cf. John 14:31; 8:29; Matt 5:18–20; 19:17–19; Luke 6:6–10; p. 38). Believers can obey the commandments, not through their strength but through Christ. Scripture teaches that the Holy Spirit empowers obedience (John 14:26; Rom 7:18–19; Gal 5:16). The Christian life is not about striving alone but about yielding to God’s power to do what is pleasing to Him. The same Spirit who inspired the law now indwells believers, enabling them to fulfill its righteous requirements.
Conclusion
How are Christians to live in an age of confusion? By embracing the Ten Commandments as absolute truth and embodying them daily. In a world that often rejects absolutes, the commandments offer a stable path that anchors the Christian life. Their relevance extends far beyond personal morality—they shape how we view God, how we treat others, and how we walk in freedom. As Packer reminds us, they are not rules to weigh us down, but truths meant to free us into the life God designed. And though no one obeys perfectly, believers have both the example of Christ and the power of the Spirit to walk in righteousness.
This article is a shortened, revised version of an essay originally published in the February 2025 issue of Ministry and Theology, a Korean pastoral journal published by Duranno. It is republished here with permission.
