Is the keeping of the Ten Commandments required for salvation?

This question is based on the premise that a person can keep the Ten Commandments and overcome temptation by sheer determination and will-power. No one can keep even the tiniest bit of the Law by human effort. Whoever we are, the reason why we are not committing particular sins, have success over temptations that come our way and seem to be doing great at keeping the Ten Commandments is because God did not allow us to get tempted beyond what we can bear. 

This reason why we are not wallowing in sins and why those who depend on their ability to obey the law think that they are doing good all by themselves is evident in 1 Corinthians 10:12-13:

"12 So beware if you think it could never happen to you, lest your pride becomes your downfall. 13 We all experience times of testing, which is normal for every human being. But God will be faithful to you. He will screen and filter the severity, nature, and timing of every test or trial you face so that you can bear it. And each test is an opportunity to trust Him more, for along with every trial God has provided for you a way of escape that will bring you out of it victoriously."

Our success at doing the right thing and not devolving into sin has got nothing to do with our strong moral resolve or non-existent prowess at keeping the Ten Commandments for the purpose of morality before or after we got saved. It is because of God's restraining hand that restrains us from falling. It is by Grace but Satan, through his ministers behind many pulpits, is preaching that it is by works of the law so that sin can have dominion (Romans 6:14.)

If God was not screening and filtering our trials, we would all see the extent of the sinfulness of human nature in ourselves. Paul addressed this in Romans 1 where a group who “suppress the truth” of righteousness by faith (verses 16-19) DEVOLVED into sin after “God lifted off His restraining hand…” —

“24 This is why God lifted off His restraining hand and let them have full expression of their sinful and shameful desires…”

If God lifted off His restraining hand that restrains us from devolving into committing heinous sins, left you and I to our own devices and let us rely on our human effort and will-power at keeping the law in order to be saved or for whatever reason, we would all devolve into sin. Like Peter who was resolute in his determination to not deny Christ, if temptation comes, we will all do the very things we swore not to do and copiously too, because the arm of flesh will fail. 

Remember Peter seemed to be making good on his promise to not deny Jesus at first — he slashed off someone's ear when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus in Gethsemane, ready to defend Christ. Then his circumstances changed and he sang a different tune…three times. 

Can you imagine an air-conditioner that is not connected to electricity boasting to its maker that it can work by itself and all to show that it loves its maker? No matter how much it tries, it cannot work unless its maker plugs it into electricity, services it and makes sure that it is in good working condition. But many of us do not know how fallen humanity is. Paul said it well in Romans 7:18- 

“For I know that nothing good lives within the flesh of my fallen humanity. The longings to do what is right are within me, but will-power is not enough to accomplish it.”

Jesus knew Peter's default mode from the start, the same as all mankind- to commit sin even though the longing to do what is right is there. But Peter had no idea that the reason why he could slash off someone's ear for Jesus (a work which Christ does not even want!) was because he had not been tempted beyond what he could bear, otherwise he would have scampered off! Same thing with all mankind. 

With all of the knowledge of the Ten Commandments, man’s default mode is to do wickedness (Romans 3:9–18.) Of ourselves, there is no good in anyone of us. Peter knew and heard the Ten Commandments probably more than anyone reading this today, "but will-power is not enough to accomplish it." 

We also often think that "other people" (but definitely not us!) who are sinning want to wallow in their sins and don't want to stop so we have to tell "them" to stop fornicating, coveting, etc- as if we are the only ones who hate sin! No friend. This is the height of Phariseeism- thinking that you are better than others in terms of holiness. Outside God's gift of righteousness to us in Christ, everybody has the same standing: Wicked. In Christ, we all have the same standing; Righteous by Faith. I believe that Romans 7:18 above is true for all mankind: "...but will-power is not enough to accomplish it." 

The more such try to keep the law in order to be saved and escape God's wrath as they are told to do in church, the more sin has dominion- "For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under Grace." Romans 6:14.

The unsaved world does not need extra lessons on morals and sins. The world needs to hear about the Way out of sins. The Way has got nothing to do with our “strong moral resolve, will-power or determination” which will all fail whenever one gets tempted beyond what he can bear. The Way is Grace. Grace is a Person. His name is Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11 says of Him: 

"11 God’s marvelous grace has manifested in person, bringing salvation for everyone." 

See verse 14 of the same Titus 2: "He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds."

Christ came to free us from every kind of sin and to transform us to right living, just as He transformed Simon (meaning "Reed"- easily swayed by the elements) into Peter (meaning "Rock"- bold and unshakable in any kind of weather.) The one who can transform himself by will-power that can never be enough does not need Grace, and only by Grace through faith are we saved.

Telling people to "stop sinning" is not enough. Telling people to "pay tithe" or "stop fornicating" or "honour your parents" so that God can bless you is quite pointless if it is not accompanied with plugging them into the "Electric Charge" that is Christ who saves from sins. People already know these things and many desire to do them but the will-power is just not enough in any of us.

Christ says In John 15:5- “I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."

See the TPT: “I am the sprouting Vine and you’re My branches. As you live in union with Me as your Source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from Me you are powerless."

Once a person is "plugged in" and is being "serviced and maintained" by Christ the same way you plug an AC to electricity and maintain it with good service and repair, you won't have to tell him to work well before he works well. He will automatically work well (bear fruit) because of the work of Christ in us- "He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds." Titus 2:14.

We are plugged in aka "abide in Christ" and get to bear much fruit when we believe John 3:16; when we believe John 3:16; when we believe what Romans 5:9 says of God: 

"And there is still much more to say of His unfailing love for us! For through the blood of Jesus we have heard the powerful declaration, “You are now righteous in My sight.” And because of the sacrifice of Jesus, you will never experience the wrath of God."

But fake pastors tell you who believe that you are no longer righteous  and that you will still experience the wrath of God for the sins and judgment that Christ died to save us from. Such tell you to "do your best" to keep the Law in order to get right with God- but this is how to get separated from Christ as we see in Galatians 5:4-

"For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace."

Remember John 15:5- "But Christ said “I am the sprouting Vine and you’re My branches. As you live in union with Me as your Source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from Me you are powerless."

To live separated from Christ is to be powerless and this happens when a person is trying to make himself right with God by keeping the law- smack where Satan wants everyone to be! Believer, run away from any pastor that preaches the slightest dependence on human effort for godliness. This is the same strategy that Satan used on Eve in the garden of Eden when he told her that she can be godly (be like God) by human effort at doing something.

Remember "And each test is an opportunity to trust Him more,". Sometimes, God opens our eyes to see how weak we are through our failures as he did with Peter. Peter's three-time denial of Christ was an opportunity for him to see the futility of trusting himself. It made him trust in the Lord with all his heart -  Christ restored him personally and powerfully. He was restored and transformed by Christ, not condemned. Judas on the other hand still depended on himself with his efforts at restitution and he died.

For anyone that believes that he is not sinning because his own will-power and wonders why "some people just won't stop sinning," beware. Such are at the stage of Peter boasting that he would never deny Christ and even slashing off someone's ear for Jesus. Confidence in human effort at doing right is folly. The arm of flesh will fail.

Repeating laws that sinners already know by heart and telling them to go and accomplish it by will-power is quite useless. Hearing the Law alone is not enough. Deut. 28:15 says- 

"However, if you do not obey the Lord your God and do not carefully follow all His commands and decrees I am giving you today, all these curses will come on you and overtake you:" 

This verse is followed by a host of curses. Notice "carefully follow all His commands"? The "all" here is not just to fill up space. Those who are trying to keep the law in order to get the blessing of Abraham and remain saved have to keep ALL of the Law. Nothing like "I will do my best to obey the Law and God will see that I have really tried and consider me and bless me" in the story of our salvation. This horrid mixture that is neither Law nor Grace is the "neither cold nor hot" that Christ spoke of in Revelation 3. One is either saved by Grace through faith or not saved at all. The law is not of faith. 

You have to be a doer of ALL the Law in order to have life by it. No one can be a doer by human effort. To be a doer, you have to do ALL. But James 2:10 says: 

"For whosoever shall keep the whole law yet stumble at one point, he is guilty of all." 

For any who depend on the Law: so you don't fornicate or murder but you wish for your kids to go to school abroad like Atiku's kids? You are guilty of the tenth commandment- You shall not covet- and thus guilty of ALL. This might not seem fair since murder is a worse sin.... until you realise that the reason why you are not committing murder for a living is because you have not been tempted beyond what you can bear.

Believer, let's be for the Law for the purpose for which it was given: Romans 3:- 

"19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are."

Also Galatians 3:19- "Well then, why were the laws given? They were added after the promise was given, to show men how guilty they are of breaking God’s laws. But this system of law was to last only until the coming of Christ, the Child to whom God’s promise was made...."

The law was not given for us to use as a means of attaining right-standing with God. The law was given to show us how sinful we are. The letter kills. In fact, boasting in one's ability to keep the Law like Peter did gives Satan the opportunity to sift a person like wheat. Failure is always the result because “There is none righteous…” (Romans 3:10.) But pride in the arm of flesh that will fail deceives many. Proverbs 16:18 counsels us:

“Your boast becomes a prophecy of a future failure. The higher you lift up yourself in pride, the harder you’ll fall in disgrace."

No sin is beneath anybody. The arm of flesh will fail. The potential to commit heinous crimes is in everybody. God sees this potential and how favourable circumstances can make some people think that some sins are beneath them and that they can keep the law for whatever reason.

This is what happens to anyone who is trying to keep the Ten Commandments for Salvation:

“For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God's grace.” Galatians 5:4.

The Law is not of faith. Romans 3 says of God: 

"26...for He himself is fair and just, and He makes sinners right in His sight when they believe in Jesus. 27 Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith. 28 So we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law."

In Christ, we are not under law but under Grace where sin shall not have dominion over you- "For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under Grace." Romans 6:14. But many have this verse backwards. 

The Law cannot save anybody or help you to live right. The Law makes no concessions for anybody. The Law will tell you what to do and all who try to get right with God by the law will fail: "For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are." Romans 3:20.

Romans 7:6 says: "Now, however, we are free from the Law, because we died to that which once held us prisoners."

Mr. Law will adjudge you guilty, condemn and imprison you as soon as you start a relationship with him for whatever reason. The letter kills. Pride in human effort (the arm of flesh) makes many believe that they can keep even the tiniest bit of it…until God lifts His restraining hand and eyes get opened like Peter's did after he denied Christ. 

Bride of Christ, 1 Peter 2:3 tells us of our Bridegroom, Jesus Christ: "By His divine power the Lord has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of the One who called us by His own honor and glory.”

Under Grace, we have EVERYTHING we need to live a life of moral excellence that exceeds even that which the law demands THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST and NOT through the knowledge of the law.

Believer, NEVER TRUST YOURSELF. Trust in the Lord who  will not let us be tempted beyond what we can bear and is the Way of escape from every test, trial and temptation.

Only when we receive God's abundance of Grace and His gift of righteousness to us in Christ do we get to “live in triumph over sin and death through the One, Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:17.

When the love of God, expressed in His undeserved, unmerited favour (Grace - our Saviour Jesus Christ) towards us, is unveiled from the pulpit, the people will live right. We love because He first loved us. Under Grace, we have all the moral excellence we need to live a life of morality. 

By Grace, let's keep on believing that "By His divine power the Lord has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of the One who called us by His own honor and glory.”

By grace, let’s keep on believing Galatians 5:1- “So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law.”

In Christ, we have been freed from the law, not so that we should go on sinning sprees as many who try to redefine God's saving Grace say but that we should live in triumph over sin and death through Jesus Christ:

"For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one Man, Jesus Christ." Romans 5:17.

Right believing always produces right living.