The Purpose of the Law
Monday, November 17th @ 9:57 AM
The debate of faith verses works has been around since the time of Paul. Many Christians today wrestle with understanding the relationship between God’s Law and the Gospel. For example, the Law demands obedience to God’s moral will whereas God’s saving grace offers forgiveness of sins because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. With that being said I think that most of us understand that it is not the law verses the gospel. Yet it is important to understand the relationship between the two constructs especially since the way we view this relationship affects the way we read the Bible, live our lives, and minister to other people.
In order to understand this relationship it is important to define the Law. Boiled down to the most simplistic terms the Law is a list of do’s and don’ts in order to live a moral life (Deut 27:26). Yet there is more to the law than that. God gave us the Law so that we, as His people, would have a guide to live by and a standard by which we might recognize God’s purity and our sinfulness. In fact there are 613 commandments in the Old Testament. These commandments oversee moral, judicial, and religious behavior. In addition the Law is a reflection of God’s character since the Law comes from God’s heart. Therefore the law is good, pure, right, and holy. It is wrong to lie, steal, and commit adultery because it is against God’s nature. Since the Law is the standard for pure and right living and humankind is not pure and right, it is impossible for sinners to keep the Law (Romans 3:20, Galatians 3:10). In turn the Law became a stumbling block, an obstacle, a chasm because it is an unattainable perfect standard (Romans 7:7).
Jesus’ sacrifice has enabled us to come into God’s favor and His Kingdom. Yet does Christ’s sacrifice nullify the Law? Paul answers this question Do we, then, nullify the law by this faith? Not at all! Rather, we uphold the law. (Romans 3:31)
Since we uphold the Law I believe that it is important to take a quick glimpse at the purpose of the Law in light of grace.
The Law’s role in justification:
When we look at the Law we see our shortcomings. The Law tells us to be perfect and then shows us where we are imperfect. It tells us to be holy and then condemns us when we are not. Since it is not possible for us to keep the Law it is impossible for us to earn our way into God’s favor and His Kingdom. Since there isn’t a way for us to become holy we are in need of a Savior (Romans 3:20). Justification is not the forgiveness of a man without righteousness, but a declaration that he possesses a righteousness which perfectly and forever satisfies the law, namely, Christ's righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 4:6-8).(More on Justification)
The Law’s role in Sanctification:
Sanctification is the process through which the believer becomes more holy, or more Godlike in his or her character. Perfect sanctification is not attainable in this life (James 3:2; 1 John 1:8; Rom. 7:14-25; Phil. 3:12-14; and 1 Tim. 1:15) "The more holy a man is, the more humble, self-renouncing, self-abhorring, and the more sensitive to every sin [law he has broken] he becomes, and the more closely he clings to Christ. The moral imperfections which cling to him he feels to be sins, which he laments and strives to overcome.." (More on Sanctification)
