Every culture in history has recognised the need for justice. It’s an innate human instinct. We’re all wired to cry out when we witness wrongdoing.
Who would disagree that a murderer, rapist, or thief deserves punishment? We may argue about the punishment itself, but not the principle: wrongdoing deserves recompense.
This instinct comes from somewhere. Every human being has a conscience, a God-given barometer of right and wrong. We can suppress it or ignore it, but its mere existence points to a divine moral-giver. That’s why it matters to understand God’s standards.
And if right and wrong exist, we naturally want an incorruptible judge, someone to appeal to when morality is broken. As creator and sustainer of the universe, only God is qualified for that role.
We Will All Be Judged
The Bible is clear: we will each face Jesus Christ for judgement.
You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. (Romans 14:10 NIV)
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10 NIV)
How do you think you’ll fare on that day? Most people assume the worst offenders go to Hell, and everyone else gets into Heaven. But that assumption deserves scrutiny. We need to know the standard we’ll be judged against.
God’s standard is His law, summed up in the Ten Commandments, which He wrote with His own finger. Jesus confirmed this law still applies today:
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:17-19 NIV)
Paul adds:
So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:24 NIV)
It makes no sense to invent our own rules of morality when it’s God’s standard we’ll be judged by. Unlike shifting cultural norms, God’s law never changes – though how it applies has evolved alongside Western culture.
Let’s walk through the Ten Commandments, and what they mean for us today.
The Ten Commandments
1. You shall have no other gods before me (Exodus 20:3)
Has God’s will genuinely come first in every decision you’ve made — career, family, relationships? Or has something else quietly taken priority?
2. You shall not make for yourself an image… You shall not bow down to them or worship them (Exodus 20:4-5)
Have you ever put service to a boss or family member ahead of service to God? Idolised a sports star, actor, or band? Bowed to any image or religious symbol? Dabbled in the occult — horoscopes, spiritualism, or similar?
3. You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God (Exodus 20:7)
“OMG” and “Jesus Christ” as exclamations are common — but both take God’s name in vain. Any irreverent use of His name reduces it to just another profanity. Are you guilty of this?
4. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy (Exodus 20:8)
Have you set aside one day in seven, free from work, to focus on God?
5. Honour your father and your mother (Exodus 20:12)
Have you always treated your parents with dignity and respect — obedient, even as a child, without question?
6. You shall not murder (Exodus 20:13)
Jesus raises the bar here: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” (Matthew 5:21-22)
That’s sobering. God defines “killing” as unjustified anger. Have you ever been angry with someone, only to later realise there was no real cause? This commandment also extends to modern issues like abortion and euthanasia.
7. You shall not commit adultery (Exodus 20:14)
Jesus again raises the standard: “Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:28) By that definition, any sexual activity outside heterosexual marriage falls foul of this command.
8. You shall not steal (Exodus 20:15)
Ever taken something, regardless of value? Exaggerated an expense claim? Taken paid time you didn’t work?
9. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbour (Exodus 20:16)
Have you ever lied? Exaggerated the truth? Gossiped or spread slander?
10. You shall not covet (Exodus 20:17)
Have you looked at someone’s house, spouse, car, or income and wished it were yours? In a materialistic culture, this is one of the hardest commandments to keep.
We Fall Short
Every person in history except Jesus Christ has broken every one of these commandments, especially by Jesus’s own definitions. And even if you dispute that, everyone has broken at least one.
Jesus summarised the entire law in two commands:
Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. (Matthew 22:37-40 NIV)
No one has kept these two perfectly. Which leaves us in a difficult position:
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (Romans 3:23 NIV)
For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. (James 2:10 NIV)
What This Means
God is completely holy. Sin cannot exist in His presence. If even one imperfect person entered Heaven, it would no longer be perfect.
Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. (Revelation 21:27 NIV)
Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you so that he will not hear. (Isaiah 59:1-2 NIV)
This leaves everyone in a dire position. If God simply forgave and forgot sin, He would compromise His own justice. Sin must be paid for.
But the law wasn’t given only to convict us, it exists to turn us towards God, not away from Him. It should lead us to humble repentance, and into the arms of Jesus Christ.
Despite the seriousness of our situation, there is a way out.
because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2 NIV)
See our How to be Saved page to find out more.