Catechism Question 66
Even as a Christian can you perfectly keep these commandments?
No. Even those who have been regenerated and given the Holy Spirit will continue to struggle with sin and will break God’s law in thought, word, and deed.
Focus and Purpose of this Question
This question is the first of three that will look at the moral law in the life of a believer. We have spent a lot of time looking at the content of the Ten Commandments. But this does not mean that even as believers we will be able to keep God’s Law as we should. There will always be a struggle with sin.
Some have taught that there is a special group of Christians who become so spiritual they can nearly or completely overcome the power of sin in this life. This idea is simply wrong. Paul, speaking of his present experience as an apostle of Christ, details his own continuing struggle with sin. James notes that we all stumble in many ways – particularly our words. John tells us that if we claim that we do not sin (present tense), we are deceived and we make God a liar. Sin will be an ever-present reality in our lives.
The purpose of the law in the life of a believer and the role of the Spirit in empowering us to grow in our sanctification and experience a greater degree of freedom from the power of sin will be explored in the next two questions. For now, it is important that we remind ourselves that even as believers we break God’s law.
Additional Questions:
Can you keep all of the Ten Commandments perfectly?
Scripture References:
Romans 7:14–25
We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do — this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.
James 3:2
We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.
1 John 1:8–10
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.
Philippians 3:12–14
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Questions for Further Discussion:
Can you as a Christian keep the Ten Commandments perfectly?
As a Christian, you have been regenerated, given a new heart, put off the old man in water baptism, filled with God’s Spirit, and given spiritual gifts. Then why are you not able to walk free from the power of sin? Will you ever be able to be completely free from sin in this life?
Does Paul’s description of himself in Romans 7 sound familiar to you? Are there any areas that you find to be a particular struggle?
What should we do when we sin? Do we need to confess it to God, or should we just assume He forgives us? Why would God want us to confess our sins specifically?
If we can never perfectly keep God’s law, then why even try? Why should we even teach God’s law if no one – unbeliever or Christian – can keep it?
Additional Information:
This question is based on question 114 of the Heidelberg Catechism, question 82 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism, and question 13 of the New City Catechism. Any resources you find on the Heidelberg, Westminster Shorter, or New City Catechisms will have a good discussion on this question.
For additional information, see the teachings “Right and Wrong Responses to Sin” (January 18, 2015), “Authentic Atonement” (April 26, 2015), “UnCommon Confession in Prayer” (April 7, 2013), and “The Seven Root Vices” (February 4, 2018).
Suggested Worship Song:
Come Thou Fount (Robert Robinson (1758), fourth verse alternate words by Bob Kauflin.)
(This song reminds us that even as believers our hearts are prone to wander – until the resurrection when we will be freed from sinning.)
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace
Streams of mercy never ceasing
Call for songs of loudest praise
Teach me some melodious sonnet
Sung by flaming tongues above
Praise the name! I’m fixed upon it
Name of Thy redeeming love
Hitherto Thy love has blessed me
Thou hast brought me to this place
And I know Thy hand will bring me
Safely home by Thy good grace
Jesus sought me when a stranger
Wandering from the fold of God
He, to rescue me from danger
Interposed His precious blood
Oh to grace how great a debtor
Daily I’m constrained to be
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter
Bind my wandering heart to Thee
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it
Prone to leave the God I love
Here’s my heart, oh take and seal it
Seal it for Thy courts above
Oh that day when freed from sinning
I shall see Thy lovely face
Full arrayed in blood-washed linen
How I’ll sing Thy sovereign grace
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry
Bring Thy promises to pass
For I know Thy pow’r will keep me
Till I’m home with Thee at last