What Are God’s Rules?

When someone asks, “What are God’s rules?”, they may be wondering what God expects from us.

What are we allowed to do? What is considered sin? What does God want us to avoid?

And if there are so many commands in the Bible, how are we supposed to know which ones apply to Christians today?

The Bible contains many commandments, instructions, warnings, and principles. They are not all simply a list of arbitrary rules designed to make life difficult.

God’s commands reveal His character and teach us how to live in relationship with Him and with other people.

Jesus gave us a helpful starting point when He was asked which commandment was the greatest.

Quick Answer

The Bible contains many commands, but Jesus summed up the heart of God’s law in two great commandments: love God with all your heart, soul, and mind, and love your neighbour as yourself.

That does not mean the rest of God’s commands no longer matter. Rather, these two commandments show us the heart behind them.

God calls us to worship Him, reject idolatry, speak truth, honour others, practice sexual purity, forgive, show mercy, care for people in need, avoid greed, pursue holiness, and live according to His Word.

For Christians, obedience is not a way of earning salvation. We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and obedience becomes part of our response to that grace.

Jesus Summed Up God’s Law

When Jesus was asked which commandment was the greatest, He did not respond with a complicated list.

Matthew 22:37–40 — Love God and Love Your Neighbour

“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

This is the first and great commandment.

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”

This gives us an important framework for understanding God’s commands.

First, we are called to love God.

Second, we are called to love other people.

But biblical love is more than simply having warm feelings toward someone. Love affects how we behave.

If I love God, I should want to honour Him.

If I love other people, I should not want to deliberately harm, deceive, exploit, or abuse them.

God’s commands teach us what that kind of love looks like in practice.

What Are the Ten Commandments?

When people talk about God’s rules, they often think first of the Ten Commandments.

God gave the Ten Commandments to Israel through Moses, and they are recorded in Exodus 20.

They include commands concerning worshipping God, idolatry, God’s name, the Sabbath, parents, murder, adultery, stealing, false testimony, and coveting.

Exodus 20:2–6 — Have No Other Gods

“I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Thou shalt have no other gods before me.

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.”

The first commandments deal directly with our relationship with God.

God does not want to be treated as one option among many.

He calls His people to worship Him alone.

God Calls Us to Honour His Name

Exodus 20:7 — Do Not Take God’s Name in Vain

“Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”

God’s name represents who He is.

Using God’s name carelessly, falsely, or disrespectfully does not treat Him with the honour He deserves.

Our speech matters because it reflects what is in our hearts.

God Calls Us to Honour Our Parents

Exodus 20:12 — Honour Your Father and Mother

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.”

The Bible places importance on honouring parents.

However, honour does not mean that every parental demand is automatically right, nor does it mean someone must tolerate abuse or remain in an unsafe situation.

The command teaches respect and honour while the wider teaching of Scripture also places responsibilities on parents and calls all believers to obey God.

God Forbids Murder

Exodus 20:13 — Thou Shalt Not Kill

“Thou shalt not kill.”

The broader biblical teaching concerning murder, hatred, anger, and the value of human life shows that God cares deeply about how we treat other people.

Jesus later addressed the heart behind murder by teaching about anger and reconciliation.

Matthew 5:21–22 — Jesus Addresses Anger

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”

Jesus was showing that obedience to God is not merely about avoiding outward actions. God also cares about the condition of our hearts.

God Calls Us to Sexual Faithfulness

Exodus 20:14 — Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery

“Thou shalt not commit adultery.”

God’s design for sexual relationships is addressed throughout Scripture.

Jesus also showed that sexual sin begins deeper than outward behaviour.

Matthew 5:27–28 — Purity of the Heart

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

This does not mean that an unwanted thought or moment of attraction is automatically deliberate lust. Jesus is addressing the intentional cultivation of lustful desire.

God cares not only about what we do but also about what we choose to entertain in our hearts.

God Forbids Stealing and Lying

Exodus 20:15–16 — Do Not Steal or Bear False Witness

“Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.”

God cares about honesty and justice.

We should not take what belongs to someone else, deliberately deceive people, or use false accusations to harm them.

Truthfulness is part of loving our neighbour.

God Warns Against Coveting

The final commandment addresses something that can be hidden inside the heart.

Exodus 20:17 — Do Not Covet

“Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.”

Coveting is more than noticing that someone else has something we would like.

It involves an unhealthy desire for what belongs to someone else.

This is one reason God’s commands cannot simply be reduced to outward behaviour. God cares about our hearts.

Jesus Did Not Abolish God’s Law

Some people wonder whether Christians can simply ignore the Old Testament commandments because Jesus brought the New Covenant.

Jesus Himself addressed this question.

Matthew 5:17 — Jesus Came to Fulfil the Law

“Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.”

Jesus did not present Himself as someone who came to throw away God’s revelation.

He fulfilled what the Law and the Prophets pointed toward.

At the same time, Christians need to understand the difference between Israel’s covenant law and the way believers are called to live under the New Covenant.

The New Testament applies, explains, and fulfils Old Testament teaching in light of Christ. Christians therefore should not simply take every Old Testament command and assume it applies in exactly the same covenantal way today.

This is why we need to read Scripture carefully rather than treating the Bible as one flat list of rules.

Are Christians Saved by Keeping God’s Rules?

No.

This is one of the most important things to understand.

The gospel is not:

“Follow enough rules and God will finally accept you.”

Salvation is God’s gift of grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 2:8–9 — Saved by Grace

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

You cannot earn salvation by becoming good enough.

You cannot accumulate enough good deeds to cancel out your sin.

Salvation is a gift of God’s grace.

But that does not mean obedience is irrelevant.

Paul continues by explaining what believers are saved for.

Ephesians 2:10 — Created for Good Works

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

Good works do not earn salvation.

They are part of the transformed life that follows God’s grace.

That distinction is extremely important.

Obedience Is a Response to God’s Grace

If someone genuinely loves God, obedience should matter to them.

Jesus said:

John 14:15 — “If Ye Love Me, Keep My Commandments”

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Jesus did not describe obedience as a way of purchasing His love.

Instead, obedience is connected to loving Him.

When we understand what God has done for us through Christ, our response should not be, “How little can I obey while still being saved?”

The better question is:

“How can I live in a way that honours the God who has saved me?”

God’s Rules Are About More Than Following a Checklist

It is possible to follow outward rules while having a heart that is far from God.

Jesus repeatedly confronted this kind of religious hypocrisy.

Matthew 23:23 — Justice, Mercy, and Faith

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.”

The problem was not that obedience mattered.

The problem was that they could focus on religious details while neglecting justice, mercy, and faith.

God is concerned with both what we do and why we do it.

The Greatest Rule Is Love

Paul explains how love relates to God’s law.

Romans 13:8–10 — Love Fulfils the Law

“Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Love does not make God’s commands unnecessary.

Rather, genuine love produces behaviour that is consistent with God’s commands.

If I genuinely love my neighbour, I should not want to steal from them, lie about them, sexually exploit them, or deliberately harm them.

Biblical love has moral substance.

What Does God Want Us to Do?

If you want a simple biblical picture of how God calls us to live, Scripture gives us many examples.

God calls us to:

Love God. Put Him first and worship Him.

Love other people. Treat others with compassion, honesty, justice, and respect.

Tell the truth. Do not use deception to benefit yourself or harm others.

Forgive. Release bitterness and seek reconciliation where appropriate and safe.

Practice sexual purity. Honour God’s design for sexuality.

Reject idolatry. Do not allow money, relationships, possessions, success, pleasure, or anything else to take God’s place.

Care for people in need. Scripture repeatedly calls God’s people to generosity and compassion.

Be humble. Do not make yourself the centre of everything.

Control your words. Avoid gossip, slander, cruelty, and dishonest speech.

Pursue holiness. Allow God’s Spirit to transform your character.

Seek wisdom. Bring decisions before God and learn from His Word.

Repent when you sin. Do not hide from God; turn back to Him.

God Calls Us to Care for Others

Jesus made love for other people central to Christian living.

John 13:34–35 — Love One Another

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”

Christianity is not simply about knowing a list of rules.

The way we treat people matters.

Our faith should affect how we speak, how we forgive, how we serve, how we respond to conflict, and how we treat people who cannot give us anything in return.

God Calls Us to Be Holy

God’s commands also concern our character.

1 Peter 1:15–16 — Be Holy

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

Holiness means being set apart for God.

It does not mean pretending to be perfect.

It means that our lives are increasingly shaped by our relationship with Him.

Christian growth takes time. We may stumble, repent, learn, and grow repeatedly throughout our lives.

What About Rules That Aren’t Specifically Listed in the Bible?

This is where Christians sometimes become confused.

The Bible does not provide a specific verse naming every modern decision we will ever face.

It does not tell us directly which career to choose, which house to buy, which television shows to watch, or what modern technology we should use.

Instead, Scripture gives us principles for developing wisdom and discernment.

James 1:5 — Ask God for Wisdom

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Not every decision is answered by finding a verse that says “yes” or “no.”

Sometimes we need to apply biblical principles, pray for wisdom, examine our motives, consider how our choices affect others, and use sound judgment.

God’s Commands Are Not Designed to Rob Us of Joy

Some people hear the word “rules” and immediately think of restriction.

But God’s commands are not given because He wants His people to live miserable lives.

Psalm 119:45 — Walking in Liberty

“And I will walk at liberty: for I seek thy precepts.”

God’s commands can protect us from consequences that come through sin.

A command against stealing protects people from being harmed by theft.

God’s command against adultery protects marriages and families from betrayal.

A command against lying protects relationships and communities from deception.

A command to love protects us from becoming completely self-centred.

Obedience does not guarantee a painless life, but God’s wisdom is not intended to destroy the people who follow Him.

What If I Break God’s Rules?

Everyone has sinned.

The Bible does not divide humanity into people who have never broken God’s commands and people who have.

Romans 3:23 — All Have Sinned

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

That is why the gospel is necessary.

If salvation depended on perfect obedience, none of us could be saved.

We need Christ.

Romans 6:23 — The Gift of God

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

The Christian response to sin is not to pretend it does not matter.

It is to repent and trust in Christ.

God’s Rules Point Us Toward Jesus

The entire message of Scripture ultimately leads us to our need for Christ.

The law reveals God’s holiness.

It also reveals our inability to save ourselves through perfect obedience.

Jesus came to accomplish what we could never accomplish on our own.

Galatians 3:24 — The Law Points Us to Christ

“Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

The law helps us understand God’s standards and our need for grace.

The answer to discovering that we have fallen short is not despair.

It is Christ.

So, What Are God’s Rules?

If you are looking for a simple summary, start here:

Love God with all that you are.

Love your neighbour as yourself.

Then allow the rest of Scripture to teach you what that love looks like.

It means worshipping God rather than idols, telling the truth, rejecting theft, murder, adultery, greed, and coveting.

Love God and love your neighbour means forgiving, pursuing sexual purity, caring for the vulnerable, showing mercy, controlling your words, practising humility, seeking justice and it means repenting when you sin.

It means following Jesus.

God’s commands are not a checklist we complete so that God will finally love us.

They reveal how God calls His people to live.

Final Thoughts

So, what are God’s rules?

The Bible contains many commandments, but Jesus gives us the heart of them:

“Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

And:

“Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.”

Everything we do should be understood through that relationship with God and our responsibility toward others.

But remember something equally important: you are not saved because you have managed to obey God’s rules perfectly.

We all fall short, we all need grace and we all need Jesus.

Salvation is a gift from God through faith in Christ. Obedience is not how we earn that gift; it is part of how we respond to the God who has already shown us grace.

So don’t approach God’s commands simply asking, “How many rules do I have to follow?”

Instead, ask:

“How can I love God faithfully?”

“How can I love people well?”

“What does Scripture teach me about how to live?”

And when you fail, don’t run away from God.

Repent.

Receive His grace.

Get back up.

Keep following Christ.

— John 14:15

“If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

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