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Crucial Questions
How Does God's Law Apply to Me?
Christians often struggle to understand the role of God’s law in their lives. They may distort the law, turning it into a checklist to try to earn God’s favor, or they may live as though the law doesn’t apply to them.
In this booklet, Dr. R.C. Sproul explains the purpose of the moral law and how it applies to Christians today. As he walks through each of the Ten Commandments, we see that the law doesn’t merely expose our sin; it also reveals the character of a holy and gracious God and shows us how to live lives that are pleasing to Him.
The Crucial Questions booklet series by Dr. R.C. Sproul offers succinct answers to important questions often asked by Christians and thoughtful inquirers.
In this booklet, Dr. R.C. Sproul explains the purpose of the moral law and how it applies to Christians today. As he walks through each of the Ten Commandments, we see that the law doesn’t merely expose our sin; it also reveals the character of a holy and gracious God and shows us how to live lives that are pleasing to Him.
The Crucial Questions booklet series by Dr. R.C. Sproul offers succinct answers to important questions often asked by Christians and thoughtful inquirers.
124 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 9, 2019
178 people are currently reading
336 people want to read
About the author
R.C. Sproul
673 books1,996 followersDr. R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.
Ligonier Ministries began in 1971 as the Ligonier Valley Study Center in Ligonier, Pa. In an effort to respond more effectively to the growing demand for Dr. Sproul’s teachings and the ministry’s other educational resources, the general offices were moved to Orlando in 1984, and the ministry was renamed.
Dr. Sproul’s radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul produced hundreds of lecture series and recorded numerous video series on subjects such as the history of philosophy, theology, Bible study, apologetics, and Christian living.
He contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, and academic institutions around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone’s a Theologian. He signed the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and wrote a commentary on that document. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible, previously known as the New Geneva Study Bible.
Dr. Sproul had a distinguished academic teaching career at various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Jackson, Miss. He was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
September 25, 2023
A helpful little book that emphasizes the Christian’s need to maintain the law. The last 10 chapters walk through a New Testament understanding of the Ten Commandments and how they still apply today.
August 22, 2025
We are to love the law of God, and love how Christ perfectly kept it and how He saved us from our failings to do so.
April 28, 2019
In this new book from R.C. Sproul in his helpful Crucial Questions series (which are free in the Kindle edition), he looks at God’s law, and in particular the Ten Commandments. He writes that the notion of celebrating God’s law may seem completely archaic in our day because we are familiar with the teachings of the New Testament. Even some popular church leaders consider the Old Testament law completely irrelevant to our Christian lives today. Some reason that the law was for Old Testament believers, not for us today. For some of us, the Christian life is Christ, not Moses; it’s gospel, not law. But the author tells us that for a Christian to say, “I once loved the law, but now I love Christ and ignore the law,” is simply not to love Christ, because Christ loved the law. Jesus viewed His entire life as a mission to fulfill every single point of the law and to achieve perfect obedience to the commandments of God.
In this book, the author explores the nature of the law in the Bible, and particularly in the Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue. He addresses how the law functioned in the life of Israel in the Old Testament, and what the relevance of the old covenant law is now that we are in the new covenant. He asks if there is any application of the Old Testament law to our day. Historically, the church has sought to answer the question of whether Old Testaments laws are still binding today by drawing a distinction between the different types of Old Testament law. The author tells us that in his classic work Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin looked at what he called the threefold use of the law. Calvin wrote that first, the law functions as a mirror; second, it functions as a restraint; and third, which Calvin saw as the most important, the law functions as a revealer. The author then looks at each of these uses of the law.
After establishing that Old Testament law is still relevant to New Testament Christians, the author then looks at each of the Ten Commandments in detail, studying their meaning, and considering how they apply to our daily lives.
I highlighted a number of passages as I read this book. Below are 10 of my favorite quotes:
1. When we are called to obey the law of God, that means that we are called to obey Him.
2. What is right and what is wrong is not a matter of relativity. Instead, the ultimate standard is the character of God, and this character is manifested in His law.
3. If a Christian today says, “I don’t care about the Old Testament law,” that is tantamount to saying, “I don’t care about pleasing God.”
4. There is no better place to learn what is pleasing to God and what He wants His people to do than by looking in His law.
5. Idolatry takes place when any attribute of God is stripped from His glory, and we replace the biblical God with a god that we create in our own image.
6. The ultimate end for which we were created is to glorify God.
7. Because human beings are made in God’s image, regard for the sanctity of human life must be chief in our minds.
8. If there is any area in which we see the modern culture on a collision course with the teaching of Scripture, it is in the area of sexual behavior.
9. Jealousy reflects a heart that does not trust in God and is not satisfied with the hand of God’s providence.
10. The law also reveals to us our sinfulness, and perhaps that’s why we tend to minimize it or avoid it altogether.
In this book, the author explores the nature of the law in the Bible, and particularly in the Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue. He addresses how the law functioned in the life of Israel in the Old Testament, and what the relevance of the old covenant law is now that we are in the new covenant. He asks if there is any application of the Old Testament law to our day. Historically, the church has sought to answer the question of whether Old Testaments laws are still binding today by drawing a distinction between the different types of Old Testament law. The author tells us that in his classic work Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin looked at what he called the threefold use of the law. Calvin wrote that first, the law functions as a mirror; second, it functions as a restraint; and third, which Calvin saw as the most important, the law functions as a revealer. The author then looks at each of these uses of the law.
After establishing that Old Testament law is still relevant to New Testament Christians, the author then looks at each of the Ten Commandments in detail, studying their meaning, and considering how they apply to our daily lives.
I highlighted a number of passages as I read this book. Below are 10 of my favorite quotes:
1. When we are called to obey the law of God, that means that we are called to obey Him.
2. What is right and what is wrong is not a matter of relativity. Instead, the ultimate standard is the character of God, and this character is manifested in His law.
3. If a Christian today says, “I don’t care about the Old Testament law,” that is tantamount to saying, “I don’t care about pleasing God.”
4. There is no better place to learn what is pleasing to God and what He wants His people to do than by looking in His law.
5. Idolatry takes place when any attribute of God is stripped from His glory, and we replace the biblical God with a god that we create in our own image.
6. The ultimate end for which we were created is to glorify God.
7. Because human beings are made in God’s image, regard for the sanctity of human life must be chief in our minds.
8. If there is any area in which we see the modern culture on a collision course with the teaching of Scripture, it is in the area of sexual behavior.
9. Jealousy reflects a heart that does not trust in God and is not satisfied with the hand of God’s providence.
10. The law also reveals to us our sinfulness, and perhaps that’s why we tend to minimize it or avoid it altogether.
March 19, 2022
Many Christians today don’t see the point in God’s laws in the Old Testament for them in the New Testament covenant. But is that true? In this book from the Crucial Questions Series, R.C. Sproul explores the laws of the Old Testament and then dissects each of the Ten Commandments to showcase how they apply to Christians. A bit longer than the usual CQS booklet, this is a good book to read for Christians new and old, especially those that have questions about the law and how it applies to us today.
July 6, 2019
10 commandments in modern era
The book argues why law is an important things, either in the Bible and also in society. The rest of the book explained about 10 commandments and it's practical uses. The book written systematically and the content was easy to understand.
The book argues why law is an important things, either in the Bible and also in society. The rest of the book explained about 10 commandments and it's practical uses. The book written systematically and the content was easy to understand.
January 8, 2022
A very good and challenging read. Takes a look at each law in the Ten Commandments and how it applies today. It is not a book of this is what you must do or not, but to think through everything we do and how does it bring glory to God. Must read book…
March 18, 2022
How many lies do you think you have told?
One lie is all it takes to be a liar. Do you promote honestly and truth? Do you desire what others have? Are you not satisfied with what you already have? Why do you need more? Ask yourself. The Ten Commandments are time less.
One lie is all it takes to be a liar. Do you promote honestly and truth? Do you desire what others have? Are you not satisfied with what you already have? Why do you need more? Ask yourself. The Ten Commandments are time less.
March 24, 2024
Road Map for Life
The law of God is meant to be lived by as it guides us to live a life of freedom. The author does an excellent job navigating through the Scriptures on living the best version of ourselves
The law of God is meant to be lived by as it guides us to live a life of freedom. The author does an excellent job navigating through the Scriptures on living the best version of ourselves
June 3, 2024
Ten Commandments Summary
Dr. Sproul always has a simple way of explaining things! Here he takes each commandment and explains not only the direct meaning but also gives the implied meanings just as Jesus said "You have heard it said, but I say to you."
Dr. Sproul always has a simple way of explaining things! Here he takes each commandment and explains not only the direct meaning but also gives the implied meanings just as Jesus said "You have heard it said, but I say to you."
December 14, 2019
Excellant read
Eye opening. Totally enjoyed it. Dr Sproul was and is still a blessing. I highly recommend this read. Well worth your time
Eye opening. Totally enjoyed it. Dr Sproul was and is still a blessing. I highly recommend this read. Well worth your time
December 23, 2020
You can read this in a day. An short exposition on the 10 commandments. So important. Great book.
August 26, 2020
Extremely short treatment on the subject, great for those who are new to the faith or learning about this subject.
May 2, 2020
An important reminder to Christians that the law still applies to us now followed by a short exposition of the ten commandments showing they're more than just simple rules to follow but an expression of God's character.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews