Antinomianism, from the Greek words anti, meaning "against," and nomos, meaning "law," is a short-sighted ancient doctrine that states that Christians are, because of God's grace, somehow free from obeying God's Law. While it is entirely correct to say that salvation is a gift from God that cannot be earned (e.g. Ephesians 2:8-9), it is also vital to understand that the gift of salvation will only be given to those who obey God's Law (e.g. James 2:24). Gifts aren't earned, but gifts are given for a reason.
Saved By Grace
Christians can only be saved by the grace of God, through the blood sacrifice of Jesus Christ. There is nothing that we can ever possibly do to save ourselves. We don't have the power to do it, and no amount of "law keeping," or "righteous acts," or "Levitical rituals," or "works" can possibly make God owe it to us. We can't earn salvation.
But, does that mean that God's Commandments were "nailed to the cross," and that we are now somehow lawless? Are we free to worship false gods, or bow down to idols, or blaspheme God's name, or ignore His Sabbath Day, or abuse our parents, or commit murder, or run wild in adultery, stealing, lies and coveting? Of course not.
Grace To The Obedient
Our salvation is made possible by grace, but whether or not we will be saved depends upon our repentance and obedience to God. God isn't going to grant His gift of eternal life to those who do not obey Him. The unrepentant lawless are going to find themselves in the lake of fire with the wicked and lawless Satan.
Are God's Ten Commandments now abolished? What does the New Testament have to say about it? What does The Savior Himself have to say about it?
In The Savior's Own Words
"Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfil them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Whoever then relaxes one of the least of these Commandments and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but he who does them and teaches them shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:17-19 RSV)
"And behold, one came up to Him, saying, "Teacher, what good deed must I do, to have eternal life?" And He said to him, "Why do you ask Me about what is good? One there is who is good. If you would enter life, keep the Commandments." He said to Him, "Which?" And Jesus said, "You shall not kill, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 19:16-19 RSV)
Plain Language From Your Holy Bible
"My little children, I am writing this to you so that you may not sin; but if any one does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and He is the expiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world. And by this we may be sure that we know Him, if we keep His Commandments. He who says "I know Him" but disobeys His Commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him; but whoever keeps His word, in him truly love for God is perfected. By this we may be sure that we are in Him: he who says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked." (1 John 2:1-6 RSV)
"Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ is a child of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the child. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey His Commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His Commandments. And His Commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is He who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ, not with the water only but with the water and the blood." (1 John 5:1-6 RSV)
Satan Does Not Want You To Obey God
"Then the dragon was angry with the woman, and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring, on those who keep the Commandments of God and bear testimony to Jesus." (Revelation 12:17 RSV)
"And another angel, a third, followed them, saying with a loud voice, "If any one worships the beast and its image, and receives a mark on his forehead or on his hand, he also shall drink the wine of God's wrath, poured unmixed into the cup of his anger, and he shall be tormented with fire and sulphur in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever; and they have no rest, day or night, these worshipers of the beast and its image, and whoever receives the mark of its name." Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. And I heard a voice from heaven saying, "Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord henceforth." "Blessed indeed," says the Spirit, "that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!" (Revelation 14:9-13 RSV)
The Reward Of The Obedient
"Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense, to repay every one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and fornicators and murderers and idolaters, and every one who loves and practices falsehood." (Revelation 22:12-15 RSV)
Fact Finder: Did James say that "as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also"? James 2:26