Paul in many instances seems to take the 10 commandments as common knowledge and recognizes those who break them as sinners. He mentions Idolaters in 1cor 8, and Ephesians 5. Paul repeats and explains the commandment to honor your parents in Ephesians 6(also Colosions 3:20), describing it as the first commandment to contain a promise. Paul would never forsake the precepts contained in the 10 commandments, but he held a different view on their impact on Christians than on Jews. Romans 7: 12. “So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”
Paul recognizes that even the gentiles follow the Ten Commandments, even without knowing them. He expresses this in Rom 2: 14. “For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, 15. In that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness, and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them,” (NAS) it seems that the law that Israel had was universal as far as the morality, and those who do not even know God follow the basic moral law.
Paul’s message concerning the 10 commandments is not a message of neglect or rejection. Paul is saying that if Christians love God and love their neighbor (Jesus’ “greatest commandment”) then the 10 commandments are unnecessary. We ought not to be bound by a set of rules telling us how to act; it should come naturally, as an outgrowth of our Christian ideals. Love would never lead to adultery (lust might). If you live your life putting others first and loving those around you then the prohibition of murder, stealing, coveting, and any other commandment will naturally be obeyed. Paul sums up the last 5 commands in Rom 13: 9. For this, "You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, it is summed up in this saying, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law.” (NAS) Paul repeats this principal in Galatians 5: 14. ”For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”(NAS) Paul views the indwelling Holy Spirit as a conscience and a guide, if you listen to and live by the Spirit, the law is unneeded. Galatians 5 says: “18. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.” (NAS)
The apostle Paul never advocates forgetting the Old Testament law of God, who is the same unchanging God of the New Testament. Paul was a Pharisee, an expert on the law. He saw how the law convicted of sin. He also was able to look back upon the strict legalism that was practiced in relation to the law. Paul knew what sin was, and used the law to define it. Paul’s message is one of hope- releasing the believer from following a strict set of external rules, designed to point out sin. Releasing the believer from living a life focused on ritual and trying to earn salvation through adhering to an impossible list of do’s and don’ts.
Galatians 5 tells how the Christian ought to live: “19. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality,
20. Idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,
21. Envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you just as I have forewarned you that those who practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23. Gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law...”
William Barclay says “There is a famous saying, ‘Love God--and do what you like.’ If love is the mainspring of a man's heart, if his whole life is dominated by love for God and love for his fellow men, he needs no other law” .(Barclay Rom.13) The believer has the law of God internalized in the person of the indwelling Holy spirit, but is not lawless. Mathew Henry in his concise commentary says “Christians are neither under law nor without law, but possess the internalized law promised in the New Covenant and are therefore ennomic ("in-law").”
“Galatians 5:25. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”(NAS)
