Re: WHY DID GOD GIVE THE TEN COMMANDMENTS?
The law points to Christ, and works like a mirror to reflect our sinful nature. But, it also provides a standard in Christ. Where I think we have issues some times is in understanding that Christ is that standard and not us, but that in Christ we meet the standard and we also strive for that standard.
Basically the book of James in a nutshell.
Yes, I'd say the book of James presents a good explanation of how we are to view the law in our relationship to the real salvation we have, not in the law, but from the law, in Christ Jesus. But, there are many such examples in the bible.
James 1:22-27
22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.
26 Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. 27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
If we focus on salvation in the law we fail to have faith in Christ, but if we focus only on salvation in Christ, we fail to see the value of the law.
Clearly, there is a great value in Gods law. No, the law itself can not save us, but only because we can not keep it, but faith in the one who can and did guides us in the law of God, and is a testament to Gods wholly righteousness, our sinful nature and God's Love. Yet, this is not always clear to believers, and because it's not always clear, is also proof of what we are, compared to what God is.
Some want to bask in the mercy of of Christ only, while others feel a need to try and fulfill something they can not, with perhaps a little less understanding that what they may be trying to fulfill has already been fulfilled. And so, we like to argue in the church on these very points when in fact it is both!
We are to be doers of and by the law, but we are not to place our faith in our ability to do so, but in Jesus Christ who has. We can quote scripture all day that seems to suggest one or the other, but we should not forget that, that same scripture, ALL OF IT, is beautifully woven into the tapestry of Gods full word, and contains both.
The warnings we read in the NT, are also not leveled at just people who focus heavily on faith and light on works, but also the heavy of works and light on faith. We should not discount the law, or Christ, or swap one for the other. Both are equally important to our salvation, our growth, and our relationship with God. You can not have one without the other.
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...I don't think that was a documentary, but good one.