Replies

The commandments are given to all of us (believers and non-believers) to show us how we all fall short of God's standards. Please note 1 Timothy:

1Ti 1:9 understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient,

Showing our failings or falling short of God's glory is precisely what all the commandments are about. They are good but we deliberately and willfully don't keep them. Like all the other commandments, our Lord gave the example of the Good Samaritan to show our failings. Our Lord concludes, "Go and do likewise and you shall live." This is a very sly and pointed remark to us to show us that we will not go and do likewise. Sure we might try to do something nice for someone once in a while, but it's a standard we cannot keep up. And if we break one of the laws we break it all.

While admittedly it helps us to think of doing good things, it really is pride and arrogance on our part to think that we do any good works. All good things come from the Father who works through us. God gives us our good works. We understand that we do nothing good apart from the Father and the Son. Only when we abide in Christ, does Christ work through us by means of the Holy Spirit to create our good works.

We don't follow the commandments because it is a "rule". We follow the commandments because God has put it on our heart. And if it wasn't for the Holy Spirit and God writing this upon our hearts, none of us would do anything pleasing to God. It is folly to think otherwise. We don't reciprocate the love of God because that implies our work and strength. We imitate the love because of Christ because of the Holy Spirit working through us. And God has already created our good works to the praise of His glory.

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

From my dictionary:

com·mand·ment Noun /kəˈmandmənt/

Synonyms: noun: command, order, dictate, behest, injunction, decree, precept, dictation

commandments plural
A divine rule, esp. one of the Ten Commandments
A rule to be observed as strictly as one of the Ten Commandments

God wrote the commandments with his own finger. Strive to do your best to keep them and you will be happy.

Romans 7:17 But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. 19 For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. 20 Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. 21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. 24 O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God--through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.