PURPOSE: To help listeners realize that God's standard is absolute and thus we have no hope without a Savior.

I talked with someone recently who said that she really endeavored to keep the Ten Commandments. She said she felt they were a great rule for living.

I. What do you think people mean when they say they keep the Ten Commandments?

They think of a few of the commandments that they know, and because they haven't murdered or committed adultery or stolen, they think they are home free. They are like people who say, "I always keep the traffic laws," which means most of the time.

It could mean that they have no real idea what the Ten Commandments are. These are people who really live with three or four commandments but mean, "I think I live a generally good life."

II. If you really try to keep the Ten Commandments, you have to keep all of the commandments all of the time.

They are impossible to keep.

You sense that if you are to have a relationship with God by keeping the commandments, then you're condemned.

III. When you really understand that you stand condemned before the Law, that's the best thing that can happen to you.

You recognize that you need another way to God.

Jesus Christ, by dying for us on the cross, has settled the account against us and we are then brought into a relationship with God apart from the Law.