The Law of God - who is it meant for and why?

Deuteronomy · Nov 4, 2020

Hello brothers and sisters, I posted this short article about certain "purposes" for the Law of God in the middle of someone else's thread today, but I thought that it might be interesting to continue to discuss it in a thread of its own.

So here you go

What do you think of the different "purposes" or "uses" for the Law of God that are mentioned in the article and/or what do you think of Dr. Sproul's short commentary about all of it and why

THE THREEFOLD USE OF THE LAW

Every Christian wrestles with the question, how does the Old Testament law relate to my life? Is the Old Testament law irrelevant to Christians or is there some sense in which we are still bound by portions of it? As the heresy of antinomianism becomes ever more pervasive in our culture, the need to answer these questions grows increasingly urgent.

The Reformation was founded on grace and not upon law. Yet the law of God was not repudiated by the Reformers. John Calvin, for example, wrote what has become known as the “Threefold Use of the Law” in order to show the importance of the law for the Christian life.

The first purpose of the law is to be a mirror. On the one hand, the law of God reflects and mirrors the perfect righteousness of God. The law tells us much about who God is. Perhaps more important, the law illumines human sinfulness. Augustine wrote, “The law orders, that we, after attempting to do what is ordered, and so feeling our weakness under the law, may learn to implore the help of grace.”2 The law highlights our weakness so that we might seek the strength found in Christ. Here the law acts as a severe schoolmaster who drives us to Christ (Galatians 3:24-25).

A second purpose for the law is the restraint of evil. The law, in and of itself, cannot change human hearts. It can, however, serve to protect the righteous from the unjust. Calvin says this purpose is “by means of its fearful denunciations and the consequent dread of punishment, to curb those who, unless forced, have no regard for rectitude and justice.”3 The law allows for a limited measure of justice on this earth, until the last judgment is realized.

The third purpose of the law is to reveal what is pleasing to God. As born-again children of God, the law enlightens us as to what is pleasing to our Father, whom we seek to serve. The Christian delights in the law as God Himself delights in it. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). This is the highest function of the law, to serve as an instrument for the people of God to give Him honor and glory.

By studying or meditating on the law of God, we attend the school of righteousness. We learn what pleases God and what offends Him. The moral law that God reveals in Scripture is always binding upon us. Our redemption is from the curse of God’s law, not from our duty to obey it. We are justified, not because of our obedience to the law, but in order that we may become obedient to God’s law. To love Christ is to keep His commandments. To love God is to obey His law.

Summary

1. The church today has been invaded by antinomianism, which weakens, rejects, or distorts the law of God.

2. The law of God is a mirror of God’s holiness and our unrighteousness. It serves to reveal to us our need of a savior.

3. The law of God is a restraint against sin.

4. The law of God reveals what is pleasing and what is offensive to God.

5. The Christian is to love the law of God and to obey the moral law of God.

Biblical passages for reflection:

~Excerpt from Essential Truths Of The Christian Faith by R. C. Sproul © (Tyndale 1992)

Thanks

~Deut
p.s. - some of the ideas that are found in the following passage were brought up a couple of times in the other thread (that I mentioned above), so I'll post it here because chances are good that it will be brought up again. Unbelievers are the ones principally in view here, just FYI.

Romans 2

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law,

15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.

16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

GraceAndTruth · Nov 4, 2020

well said

Deuteronomy · Nov 4, 2020

GraceAndTruth said:

I agree sister. Most of what I've read and/or heard from those two theologians always seems valuable, and certainly worth taking the time to consider

~Deut

JaumeJ · Nov 5, 2020

You choose, heart or stone.

throughfaith · Nov 5, 2020

Deuteronomy said:

Hello brothers and sisters, I posted this short article about certain "purposes" for the Law of God in the middle of someone else's thread today, but I thought that it might be interesting to continue to discuss it in a thread of its own.

So here you go

What do you think of the different "purposes" or "uses" for the Law of God that are mentioned in the article and/or what do you think of Dr. Sproul's short commentary about all of it and why

THE THREEFOLD USE OF THE LAW

Every Christian wrestles with the question, how does the Old Testament law relate to my life? Is the Old Testament law irrelevant to Christians or is there some sense in which we are still bound by portions of it? As the heresy of antinomianism becomes ever more pervasive in our culture, the need to answer these questions grows increasingly urgent.

The Reformation was founded on grace and not upon law. Yet the law of God was not repudiated by the Reformers. John Calvin, for example, wrote what has become known as the “Threefold Use of the Law” in order to show the importance of the law for the Christian life.

The first purpose of the law is to be a mirror. On the one hand, the law of God reflects and mirrors the perfect righteousness of God. The law tells us much about who God is. Perhaps more important, the law illumines human sinfulness. Augustine wrote, “The law orders, that we, after attempting to do what is ordered, and so feeling our weakness under the law, may learn to implore the help of grace.”2 The law highlights our weakness so that we might seek the strength found in Christ. Here the law acts as a severe schoolmaster who drives us to Christ (Galatians 3:24-25).

A second purpose for the law is the restraint of evil. The law, in and of itself, cannot change human hearts. It can, however, serve to protect the righteous from the unjust. Calvin says this purpose is “by means of its fearful denunciations and the consequent dread of punishment, to curb those who, unless forced, have no regard for rectitude and justice.”3 The law allows for a limited measure of justice on this earth, until the last judgment is realized.

The third purpose of the law is to reveal what is pleasing to God. As born-again children of God, the law enlightens us as to what is pleasing to our Father, whom we seek to serve. The Christian delights in the law as God Himself delights in it. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). This is the highest function of the law, to serve as an instrument for the people of God to give Him honor and glory.

By studying or meditating on the law of God, we attend the school of righteousness. We learn what pleases God and what offends Him. The moral law that God reveals in Scripture is always binding upon us. Our redemption is from the curse of God’s law, not from our duty to obey it. We are justified, not because of our obedience to the law, but in order that we may become obedient to God’s law. To love Christ is to keep His commandments. To love God is to obey His law.

Summary

1. The church today has been invaded by antinomianism, which weakens, rejects, or distorts the law of God.

2. The law of God is a mirror of God’s holiness and our unrighteousness. It serves to reveal to us our need of a savior.

3. The law of God is a restraint against sin.

4. The law of God reveals what is pleasing and what is offensive to God.

5. The Christian is to love the law of God and to obey the moral law of God.

Biblical passages for reflection:

~Excerpt from Essential Truths Of The Christian Faith by R. C. Sproul © (Tyndale 1992)

Thanks

~Deut
p.s. - some of the ideas that are found in the following passage were brought up a couple of times in the other thread (that I mentioned above), so I'll post it here because chances are good that it will be brought up again. Unbelievers are the ones principally in view here, just FYI.

Romans 2

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law,

15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.

16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

I think this is a good topic . I cannot endorse R.C. Sproul and Augustine as I do consider them false teacher s . But the post gives food for thought. ....

Blik · Nov 5, 2020

Such a wonderful study. I have worked hard to understand the law, especially as so many people have such different ideas about it, even that it is cancelled. My thoughts about it are a bit unorthodox.

God created us and our earth in His image. We call His instructions to us law, but that is misleading. Scripture calls it the Torah. It is the Lord telling us how the spiritual world operates. It is truth, something we only see darkly and need the Holy Spirit to help us understand. To say it is cancelled or to say it is only for sinners is only a small drop in the bucket for scripture to try to get the concept of law into our fleshly brains.

The law is like a river that is swiftly flowing. You can accept it and go with the flow of it or buck it, and try to make it upstream.

The law tells us what prevents us from having eternal life, it is something only Christ can deal with so we can live on eternally.

Blain · Nov 5, 2020

Deuteronomy said:

Hello brothers and sisters, I posted this short article about certain "purposes" for the Law of God in the middle of someone else's thread today, but I thought that it might be interesting to continue to discuss it in a thread of its own.

So here you go

What do you think of the different "purposes" or "uses" for the Law of God that are mentioned in the article and/or what do you think of Dr. Sproul's short commentary about all of it and why

THE THREEFOLD USE OF THE LAW

Every Christian wrestles with the question, how does the Old Testament law relate to my life? Is the Old Testament law irrelevant to Christians or is there some sense in which we are still bound by portions of it? As the heresy of antinomianism becomes ever more pervasive in our culture, the need to answer these questions grows increasingly urgent.

The Reformation was founded on grace and not upon law. Yet the law of God was not repudiated by the Reformers. John Calvin, for example, wrote what has become known as the “Threefold Use of the Law” in order to show the importance of the law for the Christian life.

The first purpose of the law is to be a mirror. On the one hand, the law of God reflects and mirrors the perfect righteousness of God. The law tells us much about who God is. Perhaps more important, the law illumines human sinfulness. Augustine wrote, “The law orders, that we, after attempting to do what is ordered, and so feeling our weakness under the law, may learn to implore the help of grace.”2 The law highlights our weakness so that we might seek the strength found in Christ. Here the law acts as a severe schoolmaster who drives us to Christ (Galatians 3:24-25).

A second purpose for the law is the restraint of evil. The law, in and of itself, cannot change human hearts. It can, however, serve to protect the righteous from the unjust. Calvin says this purpose is “by means of its fearful denunciations and the consequent dread of punishment, to curb those who, unless forced, have no regard for rectitude and justice.”3 The law allows for a limited measure of justice on this earth, until the last judgment is realized.

The third purpose of the law is to reveal what is pleasing to God. As born-again children of God, the law enlightens us as to what is pleasing to our Father, whom we seek to serve. The Christian delights in the law as God Himself delights in it. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). This is the highest function of the law, to serve as an instrument for the people of God to give Him honor and glory.

By studying or meditating on the law of God, we attend the school of righteousness. We learn what pleases God and what offends Him. The moral law that God reveals in Scripture is always binding upon us. Our redemption is from the curse of God’s law, not from our duty to obey it. We are justified, not because of our obedience to the law, but in order that we may become obedient to God’s law. To love Christ is to keep His commandments. To love God is to obey His law.

Summary

1. The church today has been invaded by antinomianism, which weakens, rejects, or distorts the law of God.

2. The law of God is a mirror of God’s holiness and our unrighteousness. It serves to reveal to us our need of a savior.

3. The law of God is a restraint against sin.

4. The law of God reveals what is pleasing and what is offensive to God.

5. The Christian is to love the law of God and to obey the moral law of God.

Biblical passages for reflection:

~Excerpt from Essential Truths Of The Christian Faith by R. C. Sproul © (Tyndale 1992)

Thanks

~Deut
p.s. - some of the ideas that are found in the following passage were brought up a couple of times in the other thread (that I mentioned above), so I'll post it here because chances are good that it will be brought up again. Unbelievers are the ones principally in view here, just FYI.

Romans 2

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law,

15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.

16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

What do I think? Here you go

seed_time_harvest · Nov 5, 2020

I chose A. unbelievers
Romans 7:20-23
King James Version

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Nehemiah6 · Nov 5, 2020

Deuteronomy said:

Many Christians fail to remember that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself summed up the Ten Commandments with the two Greatest Commandments, both of which include the word "love" -- (1) perfect love towards God and (2) perfect love towards others. This then became the Law of Christ, also called the Law of Liberty, or the Royal Law. So Christians are under the Law of Christ, which is written on hearts and minds under the New Covenant. And Paul said that love is the FULFILLING of the Law.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (Heb 8:10)

While this quotation from the OT mentions "the house of Israel", the context of Hebrews makes it perfectly clear that it applies to both Jews and Gentiles.

Nehemiah6 · Nov 5, 2020

seed_time_harvest said:

That is only a partial application.

GraceAndTruth · Nov 5, 2020

throughfaith said:

If you heeded RC and Augustine your theology wouldn't be the mess it is today.

throughfaith · Nov 5, 2020

Deuteronomy said:

Hello brothers and sisters, I posted this short article about certain "purposes" for the Law of God in the middle of someone else's thread today, but I thought that it might be interesting to continue to discuss it in a thread of its own.

So here you go

What do you think of the different "purposes" or "uses" for the Law of God that are mentioned in the article and/or what do you think of Dr. Sproul's short commentary about all of it and why

THE THREEFOLD USE OF THE LAW

Every Christian wrestles with the question, how does the Old Testament law relate to my life? Is the Old Testament law irrelevant to Christians or is there some sense in which we are still bound by portions of it? As the heresy of antinomianism becomes ever more pervasive in our culture, the need to answer these questions grows increasingly urgent.

The Reformation was founded on grace and not upon law. Yet the law of God was not repudiated by the Reformers. John Calvin, for example, wrote what has become known as the “Threefold Use of the Law” in order to show the importance of the law for the Christian life.

The first purpose of the law is to be a mirror. On the one hand, the law of God reflects and mirrors the perfect righteousness of God. The law tells us much about who God is. Perhaps more important, the law illumines human sinfulness. Augustine wrote, “The law orders, that we, after attempting to do what is ordered, and so feeling our weakness under the law, may learn to implore the help of grace.”2 The law highlights our weakness so that we might seek the strength found in Christ. Here the law acts as a severe schoolmaster who drives us to Christ (Galatians 3:24-25).

A second purpose for the law is the restraint of evil. The law, in and of itself, cannot change human hearts. It can, however, serve to protect the righteous from the unjust. Calvin says this purpose is “by means of its fearful denunciations and the consequent dread of punishment, to curb those who, unless forced, have no regard for rectitude and justice.”3 The law allows for a limited measure of justice on this earth, until the last judgment is realized.

The third purpose of the law is to reveal what is pleasing to God. As born-again children of God, the law enlightens us as to what is pleasing to our Father, whom we seek to serve. The Christian delights in the law as God Himself delights in it. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). This is the highest function of the law, to serve as an instrument for the people of God to give Him honor and glory.

By studying or meditating on the law of God, we attend the school of righteousness. We learn what pleases God and what offends Him. The moral law that God reveals in Scripture is always binding upon us. Our redemption is from the curse of God’s law, not from our duty to obey it. We are justified, not because of our obedience to the law, but in order that we may become obedient to God’s law. To love Christ is to keep His commandments. To love God is to obey His law.

Summary

1. The church today has been invaded by antinomianism, which weakens, rejects, or distorts the law of God.

2. The law of God is a mirror of God’s holiness and our unrighteousness. It serves to reveal to us our need of a savior.

3. The law of God is a restraint against sin.

4. The law of God reveals what is pleasing and what is offensive to God.

5. The Christian is to love the law of God and to obey the moral law of God.

Biblical passages for reflection:

Thanks

~Deut
p.s. - some of the ideas that are found in the following passage were brought up a couple of times in the other thread (that I mentioned above), so I'll post it here because chances are good that it will be brought up again. Unbelievers are the ones principally in view here, just FYI.

Romans 2

12 All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.

14 Indeed, when Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature things required by the law, they are a law for themselves, even though they do not have the law,

15 since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.

16 This will take place on the day when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares.

Its interesting that ....
Rom 5.20
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Gal 3
23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

2 Corinthians 3:6

“Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

GraceAndTruth said:

Augustine is the only reason we have Calvinism.

GraceAndTruth · Nov 5, 2020

The law is our tutor, not our master.

Christians are not under obligation to the Law for salvation but ARE under obligation to the moral law in our sanctification.

James 2:10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all.

For as many as are under the works of the Law are under a curse Gal 3: 10

By the works of the Law, no flesh shall be justified Gal 2: 16

You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by the Law, you have fallen from grace. Gal 5:4

The Law is the ministry of death,….the ministry of condemnation 2 Cor 3: 7-9

We are not under law but under grace Rom 6:15

Being obedient from the heart Rom 6:17
By the obedience of ONE (Christ) the many will be made righteous Rom 5: 19

there is NOW no condemnation for those who re in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1)

for what the law COULD NOT DO, weak as it was through the flesh, God DID, sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled IN US, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Rom 8: 3-4

……the law made NOTHING perfect Heb 7: 19

throughfaith · Nov 5, 2020

Nehemiah6 said:

Many Christians fail to remember that the Lord Jesus Christ Himself summed up the Ten Commandments with the two Greatest Commandments, both of which include the word "love" -- (1) perfect love towards God and (2) perfect love towards others. This then became the Law of Christ, also called the Law of Liberty, or the Royal Law. So Christians are under the Law of Christ, which is written on hearts and minds under the New Covenant. And Paul said that love is the FULFILLING of the Law.

For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: (Heb 8:10)

While this quotation from the OT mentions "the house of Israel", the context of Hebrews makes it perfectly clear that it applies to both Jews and Gentiles.

But it says ' the house of Israel ' ? things different are not the same. God will cause Israel to walk in his statutes by putting the law in their minds . Future .

throughfaith · Nov 5, 2020

GraceAndTruth said:

The law is our tutor, not our master.

Christians are not under obligation to the Law for salvation but ARE under obligation to the moral law in our sanctification.

James 2:10. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is become guilty of all.

For as many as are under the works of the Law are under a curse Gal 3: 10

By the works of the Law, no flesh shall be justified Gal 2: 16

You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by the Law, you have fallen from grace. Gal 5:4

The Law is the ministry of death,….the ministry of condemnation 2 Cor 3: 7-9

We are not under law but under grace Rom 6:15

Being obedient from the heart Rom 6:17
By the obedience of ONE (Christ) the many will be made righteous Rom 5: 19

there is NOW no condemnation for those who re in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1)

for what the law COULD NOT DO, weak as it was through the flesh, God DID, sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled IN US, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Rom 8: 3-4

……the law made NOTHING perfect Heb 7: 19

I agree with you . But I would go further and say ,not even for sanctification. Its grace that teaches us .Paul said all things were lawful but not all things edify .

GraceAndTruth · Nov 5, 2020

throughfaith said:

Its interesting that ....
Rom 5.20
Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Gal 3
23But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

24Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

25But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

2 Corinthians 3:6

“Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.”

Augustine is the only reason we have Calvinism.

The bible is the reason we have "calvinism"

Nehemiah6 · Nov 5, 2020

throughfaith said:

And how do you think God regards the Church, and the Church Age? An anomaly? And why would Paul quote that verse for the Christians of his time, if it was all about the future of Israel?

Guojing · Nov 5, 2020

Nehemiah6 said:

How do you conclude Hebrews was definitely written by Paul?

The title of Hebrews itself tells you it is not written to the Body of Christ.

The very first verse also states the audience.

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

tells you the audience had fathers, in time past, spoken to by God by the prophets, which again could not mean gentiles.

laymen · Nov 5, 2020

1 Tim 1:8But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully,

American Standard Version. (1995). (1 Ti 1:8). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

Think about what using it Lawfully means!

throughfaith · Nov 6, 2020

Nehemiah6 said:

I'm saying that's not a verse I can use for Gentiles . Its clearly Israel. It says 'Israel '. It says things specific to Israel .
10For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

11And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
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The Law of God - who is it meant for and why?

Who Is The Law Of God Meant For?

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