Nathan W. Bingham posts on The Threefold Use of the Law:
Scripture shows that God intends His law to function in three ways, which Calvin crystalized in classic form for the church’s benefit as the law’s threefold use.
Its first function is to be a mirror reflecting to us both the perfect righteousness of God and our own sinfulness and shortcomings. As Augustine wrote, “the law bids us, as we try to fulfill its requirements, and become wearied in our weakness under it, to know how to ask the help of grace.” The law is meant to give knowledge of sin (Rom. 3:20; 4:15; 5:13; 7:7-11), and by showing us our need of pardon and our danger of damnation to lead us in repentance and faith to Christ (Gal. 3:19-24).
A second function, the “civil use,” is to restrain evil. Though the law cannot change the heart, it can to some extent inhibit lawlessness by its threats of judgement, especially when backed by a civil code that administers punishment for proven offenses (Deut. 13:6-11; 19:16-21; Rom. 13:3, 4). Thus it secures civil order, and serves to protect the righteous from the unjust.
Its third function is to guide the regenerate into the good works that God has planned for them (Eph. 2:10). The law tells God’s children what will please their heavenly Father. It could be called their family code. Christ was speaking of this third use of the law when He said that those who become His disciples must be taught to do all that He had commanded (Matt. 28:20), and that obedience to His commands will prove the reality of one’s love for Him (John 14:15). The Christian is free from the law as a system of salvation (Rom. 6:14; 7:4, 6; 1 Cor. 9:20; Gal. 2:15-19, 3:25), but is “under the law of Christ” as a rule of life (1 Cor. 9:21; Gal. 6:2).
3 comments:
LAW verses GRACE
(Do we keep the law, OR has it already been kept)
Romans 7 is one of the best depictions of law and grace ... and it was Paul who described it ... It was also Paul whom God chose to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul called the Gospel "My Gospel" (Rom 16:25).
The Transfiguration account of Luke 9, 28-36 tell us of the Law, The Prophets, and Jesus appearing together before the disciples, but in the end, the only One left is JESUS.
The first chapter of John tells us in verses 16,17, The Law was given Through Moses, but Grace and Truth was realized Through Jesus Christ, and that of His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. (Gal. 3:19)
No man, except One, was able to keep the law, and that was Jesus Christ. Jesus declared that He did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it. (Matt 5:17)
Jesus taught us the Law was Holy, and perfect in every way and He had no desire to do away with it. His intentions were to keep the Law, He did and in doing so, He became the perfect sacrifice. He by His own choosing and agreement with God the Father took our sin, and in exchange gave us His Righteousness. The Word of God teaches us that God Himself made Jesus, who knew no sin, to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Jesus. (2nd Cor. 5:17).
Paul in chapter 7 of Romans writes and depicts the Law as a picture of a man and woman who are married. The husband (the Law) is holy, he is perfect in every way, he never, never, never, ever makes a mistake and he is always right, he is never wrong, he is very astute, and misses nothing, he has never made a mistake in his entire life, and it is evident that he never will. Do any of the ladies have a husband like that? Of course not.
The wife is a good wife and tries so hard to please her husband (The Law). When she washes the dishes, and sets them out to dry, the husband inspects each dish each and every day always pointing out any dirty dish she may have left, and he is always correct in his observations.
When the wife washes, irons, an folds the clothes, the husband without exception each and every time points out any soiled cloths she did not get perfectly clean, he also points out any wrinkles she may have left, and once again he is always correct in his observations.
When the wife washes the windows, the husband is faithful to inspect them and point out any streaks she may have left.
In all the husbands (The Law) observations, he never lends a hand to help her, he only condemns her, after all he is always right and never yielding, never once bending, he is perfect.
Paul writes in verse 2, The woman is bound to her husband for life, BUT if her husband (The law) dies, she is free to marry another. Paul goes on in verse 7 to teach us that had it not been for The Law (the husband) (the wife) would not have known what sin (all her mistakes and shortcomings) was.
We go on further in the chapter and find Paul saying that he now realizes the sin he is doing is not him, he is not the one doing the sin, but sin which indwells him through the condemnation of the law. Paul cries out, "Wretched man that I am, who will set me free from this body of sin and death. After all the woman could never do anything right, hard as she may have tried. Paul was in the same boat, perhaps he was remembering when he was a man who sought to serve the law holding the coats of the men who put Stephen to death with Paul's hearty consent. Perhaps he was remembering all the saints he had imprisoned and tortured. It is very obvious Paul was referring to himself before he met Jesus, when he was trying to keep the law and always falling short.
For the end of the law is Christ, unto justice to every one that believeth (Rom. 10:4). The woman now has a new husband, and His name is JESUS. Jesus is Righteous, He is Holy, Blameless. He too is perfect in every way, BUT He takes the wifes shortcomings and gives her all His strengths.
This time when the wife does the dishes, or the clothes, or the windows, or anything else, IF JESUS sees a dirty dish, He washes it and puts it away and never says a word. If He sees a wrinkle in the clothes, He irons and puts them away, and never says a word. IF He sees a streak left on a window, He cleans it and never says a word. He loves His new bride and He covers her with Himself, and He never exposes her weaknesses. He only coaxes her with Loving kindness and Gentleness and whispers softly His Word into her ears.
For if someone after dying to the old husband (The Law) seeks to go back and keep the law, they commit spiritual adultery. Galations 5:4 teaches us that if we seek to be justified by the law, we have been severed from Jesus Christ, our new Husband who name is Righteousness, and have fallen from Grace.
As King David looked to the future promise of the coming Messiah, Jesus and the righteousness He would afford us, the King proclaimed Psalm 32:2, "How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, And in whose spirit there is no deceit!"
The Law REQUIRES ... Grace ENABLES
Thanks for sharing. Good stuff. Reminds me of Terry Virgo's "God's Lavish Grace" ...
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