Law of God

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 248

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Day 248

Of the Law of God.

Chapter 19, Paragraph 7.

“Neither are the forementioned uses of the Law contrary to the Grace of the Gospel; but do sweetly comply with it; the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the Will of man, to do that freely and cheerfully, which the will of God revealed in the Law, requireth to be done.”

Scripture Lookup

Galatians 3:21
Ezekiel 36:27

Reflection

…sin is lawlessness… (1 John 3:4)

When I think of the Law and the Gospel, I picture them on opposite sides of a spectrum. In one corner, we have Law, cold, harsh, and unyielding; in the other corner we have Gospel, warm, gracious, and forgiving. The two don’t meet without sparring. Justification does not happen by keeping the law; it is an act of grace alone by faith alone. In the initial boxing match, the Gospel always wins. Grace is greater than the sin pointed out by the Law. Yet the Law and the Grace of the Gospel, rather than mortal enemies, are great friends in the life of a believer.

God in the Grace of the Gospel, after regenerating the heart of the elect, brings the sinner back to the moral law. The Spirit, through His grace alone, enables her to freely will and do that which is good. These good works are the obedience to God’s commands. In other words, good works are obeying the law. Without obeying the law of God, the believer would still be constantly sinning, for to sin is to not obey the law. Holiness is not cancelled out by grace. It is enabled by it.

…the one who practices righteousness is righteous… (1 John 3:7)

Isn’t it interesting that we bristle when told we are to keep God’s revealed will, but we spend so much time wondering what God’s will is for our lives? It may be more fun to ponder whether I should be a doctor in a city or an artist in the country, but striving to keep those commands that God has plainly showed in His Word should be the first priority. Through the Spirit, we can obey those commands freely and cheerfully.

He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

 

Questions to Consider

  • Do you struggle with the idea of the Christian life as one that obeys God’s moral law? Why or why not?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 247

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Day 247

Of the Law of God.

Chapter 19, Paragraph 6.

“Although true Believers be not under the Law, as a Covenant of Works, to be thereby Justified or condemned; yet it is of great use to them as well as to others: in that, as a Rule of Life, informing them of the Will of God, and their Duty, it directs and binds them, to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinful pollutions of their Natures, Hearts, and Lives; so as Examining themselves thereby, they may come to further Conviction of, Humiliation for, and Hatred against Sin; together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ and the perfection of his Obedience; It is likewise of use to the Regenerate to restrain their Corruptions, in that it forbids Sin; and the Threatenings of it serve to show what even their Sins deserve; and what afflictions in this Life they may expect for them, although freed from the Curse and unallayed Rigour thereof.  The Promises of it likewise show them God’s approbation of Obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof, though not as due to them by the Law as a Covenant of Works; so as man’s doing Good and refraining from Evil, because the Law encourages to the one and deters from the other, is no Evidence of his being under the Law and not under Grace.”

Scripture Lookup

Galatians 2:16

Romans 8:1, 10:4

Romans 3:20, 7:7, etc.

Romans 6:12-14

1 Peter 3:8-13

Reflection

Present all too often in nominally Christian mommy blogs is a post like this:

“Mommy, I know your days are hard. I know you strive to measure up. I’ve been there! But you know what? You are enough. Your heavenly Father loves you, warts and all. You don’t need to be perfect.”

Now, all of this is true…to an extent. If you are in Christ, you are loved. As Christians we are no longer condemned for not conforming to the law. Nothing we do to obey it will earn us salvation. Jesus is our representative, and His perfect righteousness is applied to us. We are accepted before God because of our union in Christ, and should not rely upon  perfectionism to be women who are holy and blameless before Him.

The problem with such blog posts is that they stop there. The reader is left feeling warm and fuzzy, not called to do anything that might be a hardship. Being justified by faith, however, does not mean that we are free to do whatever feels “good”. “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” But how do we know what gives God glory? By how we feel?

Despite emotions being a popular indicator of right and wrong, Scripture shows that adherence to God’s moral law gives Him glory: “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48); “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16);  “So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Romans 7:12).  As we grow in sanctification, we are conformed more and more to the moral law, God’s standard of holiness. These are the good works we are created to do.

The moral law is still to be followed by the Christian. To strive to obey God’s commands is not to be a legalist; it is to demonstrate the heart regenerated, the “fruits, and evidences, of a true and lively faith” (LBCF 16.2). Christian, do not shy away from following God’s moral law. It does not condemn you anymore, but guides you saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Questions to Consider

  • If you are not striving to keep God’s commands as outlined in the Ten Commandments, what is holding you back?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 246

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Day 246

Of the Law of God.

Chapter 19, Paragraph 5.

“The moral law does for ever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof, and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it; neither does Christ in the Gospel any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.”

Scripture Lookup

Romans 13:8-10

James 2:8,10-12

Matthew 5:17-19

Romans 3:31

Reflection

Civil and ceremonial laws given to Israel are no longer binding. Does the same hold true for the moral law? In the United States, the Ten Commandments used to be displayed in public schools. There was an outcry when such plaques were removed from various government buildings. Isn’t the Ten commandments, however, a relic of a bygone era, an outdated checklist? Is anyone obligated to obey them? What about the commands of Jesus?

Ten Commandments codify the moral law, the law that everyone inherently knows. It was written on the heart of Adam by God, where it was deformed by the Fall, and this defect passed on to all his posterity born of ordinary means. It was written down by God Himself on Mount Sinai. This is the law that condemns everyone who does not conform to it. Why does it condemn? Because all are still obligated to keep it.

Jesus reiterated the commands during His ministry. Rather than dismissing the moral law, He strengthened its obligation upon humanity. Not only is the moral law to be obeyed to the letter, but also to the spirit. All of a person’s thoughts, words, and actions  are to conform to this law. Any lack of conformity unto, or transgression of, God’s moral law, is sin.

Humanity has some sense of morality. They universally agree that there are things which are good, and things which are bad. Such morality is an echo of the true moral law that has been distorted in their hearts. Without such a universally binding moral law, there would be no sin, and no need for a Savior.

Questions to Consider

  • Should you hold an unbeliever accountable to the Ten Commandments??

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 245

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Day 245

Of the Law of God.

Chapter 19, Paragraph 4.

“To them also he gave sundry judicial Laws, which expired together with the state of that people, not obliging any now by virtue of that institution; their general equity only, being of moral use.”

Scripture Lookup

1 Corinthians 9:8-10

Reflection

With all the laws that God gave to the people of Israel, we can see three categories: moral, ceremonial, and judicial or civil. The moral law was codified in the Ten Commandments, and is the law that is all people know intrinsically, although their knowledge is faulty due to the Fall. The ceremonial laws regulated the worship of Israel. When Christ came, He abrogated those laws, as they were types that pointed to Him. The final category of laws given to Israel are civil laws. Are they to be obeyed today?

The civil laws are those laws given to govern the nation of Israel in everyday occurrences. Disputes over property, punishment for crimes, and other applications of justice were among these laws. When Israel ceased being a nation, those laws ceased with them. No longer does stoning have to be a punishment, or cities specifically set aside for rash murderers avoiding revenge. Other nations are not expressly set up by God, and thus do not need to follow Israel’s laws to the letter.

While not applicable for other nations, the civil laws given to Israel serve a moral use to Christians today. Through them, we see principles that we can apply to our own situations. How do we deal with our neighbor? What is our obligation when we damage someone’s property? The action taken may be different than what the law to Israel specified, but the spirit of the law is implemented in our response to the modern-day situation.

Questions to Consider

  • Can you take a civil law given to Israel and see how the general equity can apply to yourself?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 244

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Day 244

Of the Law of God.

Chapter 19, Paragraph 3.

“Besides this Law commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel Ceremonial Laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly holding forth divers instructions of moral duties, all which Ceremonial Laws being appointed only to the time of reformation, are by Jesus Christ the true Messiah and only Law-giver who was furnished with power from the Father, for that end, abrogated and taken away.”

Scripture Lookup

Hebrews 10:1

Colossians 2:17

1 Corinthians 5:7

Colossians 2:14,16,17

Ephesians 2:14,16

Reflection

The Ten Commandments are the universal law that was written on the heart of Adam, and remains (albeit disfigured) on the hearts of all his descendants. These were not the only laws given to the nation of Israel, though. What about them? Do they apply to believers today? Why were they given to Israel?

Some of the other laws God gave to Israel dealt with worship. These laws were types: they pointed to a greater reality that was to come. Some of them pointed to Christ and what He would accomplish. For example, the sacrifice of animals for sin pointed to the reality of Christ’s sacrifice atoning for sin. Some were instructions that pointed to a higher moral duty. Unleavened bread pointed to remaining free from sin. These ceremonial laws existed for Israel until something, or rather Someone, greater came along.

Through His life and death, Christ fulfilled that to which these ceremonial laws pointed. Christ is the One who has authority to give or take away such laws, and since His coming those laws are no longer needed. Our righteousness and forgiveness of sin is found through His mediatorial work! Because of this, ceremonial laws are not to be followed today.

Unfortunately, there is a fascination with ceremonial laws that goes beyond understanding how they are fulfilled in Christ. Some groups wish to bring back the food laws, the festivals, and other ceremonial laws. Those who follow such do not understand how Christ is the reality those laws shadowed. Do not live in the shadows. Live in the light of the Lawgiver!

Questions to Consider

  • Are you more fascinated with ceremonial laws than the One they point to?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 243

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Day 243

Of the Law of God.

Chapter 19, Paragraph 2.

“The same Law that was first written in the heart of man, continued to be a perfect rule of Righteousness after the fall, and was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in Ten Commandments, and written in two Tables; the four first containing our duty towards God, and the other six our duty to man.”

Scripture Lookup

Romans 2:14,15
Deuteronomy 10:4

Reflection

Blurred writing exists on the heart of all humanity who has been born of ordinary generation. This writing is the law of God, written in the heart of Adam, yet smudged when he transgressed and fell from his state of righteousness. As a result, people know there is a God and that He should be obeyed, but that knowledge of what is required of them is faulty.

In His mercy, however, God revealed that law written upon the heart of Adam to the Israelites. Ten commandments summarize that standard of righteousness that, although broken by Adam, have remained in effect to this day. Four deal with our actions towards God; six deal with our actions towards our neighbors. This is the law of God that is present, albeit fuzzily, on the hearts of every single ordinary person that has ever lived:

More than a plaque on a wall, or a relic of a bygone nation, the Ten Commandments were expressly written by the finger of God. What was written there was written upon the heart of Adam and continues to be the rule of righteousness for all mankind. Since the Ten commandments are given such prominence by God, doesn’t it make sense that we should learn what they are? Doesn’t it make sense that we should strive to obey them?

Questions to Consider

  • What role does the Ten Commandments play in your life?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 242

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Day 242

Of the Law of God.

Chapter 19, Paragraph 1.

“God gave to Adam a Law of universal obedience written in his Heart, and a particular precept of not eating the Fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; by which he bound him, and all his posterity to personal entire exact and perpetual obedience; promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it; and endued him with power and ability to keep it.”

Scripture Lookup

Genesis 1:27

Ecclesiastes 7:29

Romans 10:5

Galatians 3:10,12

Reflection

Rules. Regulations. Do’s and don’ts. Not something many people enjoy. Not something many Christians like to study. Why learn about God’s law anyway? Aren’t we saved by grace? Aren’t we simply told to love God and love our neighbor?

Knowing about God’s law and its role in the life of the believer is crucial to understanding just what loving God and loving our neighbor looks like. Understanding what was broken in the Garden, and what is broken today, helps us to see just how much we need God’s grace. Through understanding what God’s law actually is, we steer clear of putting demands on others that God does not require. Knowing what delights Him aids us as we grow in sanctification.

To understand the law of God, we need to revisit Adam in the Garden. When Adam was created, he had knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. The law of God was written on his heart. What does that mean? It means that there were commands of God that were intrinsic to Adam’s nature. Adam originally did good because those good works flowed from the law of God written upon his heart. He knew what God required of him, and had the ability to fulfill those requirements.

However, God gave Adam a command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. This specific command Adam would not have known, since it was not part of the law written upon his heart. This is why in the Confession the command not to eat is called a particular precept. It was specifically charged to Adam to obey at that time in history. Through Adam’s obedience to the universal law and the particular precept, he and his posterity would enjoy life, but if disobeyed would bring death. This universal law as well as the specific precept was to be kept not only by him but also his descendants, completely and exactly, forever.

We all know the result. Adam and Eve ate the fruit, disobeying God’s specific command. The law written on their hearts was blurred and smudged due to their transgression. All mankind born of ordinary generation inherit this corruption and blurry knowledge of the law of God.

Questions to Consider

  • What law of God is binding upon all mankind?

LBCF of 1677/1689 – Chapter Nineteen, Of the Law of God

/ William F. Leonhart III / Leave a comment

1. God gave to Adam a law of universal obedience written in his heart, and a particular precept of not eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience; promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it.
( Genesis 1:27; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Romans 10:5; Galatians 3:10, 12 )

2. The same law that was first written in the heart of man continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after the fall, and was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written in two tables, the four first containing our duty towards God, and the other six, our duty to man.
( Romans 2:14, 15; Deuteronomy 10:4 )

3. Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly holding forth divers instructions of moral duties, all which ceremonial laws being appointed only to the time of reformation, are, by Jesus Christ the true Messiah and only law-giver, who was furnished with power from the Father for that end abrogated and taken away.
( Hebrews 10:1; Colossians 2:17; 1 Corinthians 5:7; Colossians 2:14, 16, 17; Ephesians 2:14, 16 )

4. To them also he gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the state of that people, not obliging any now by virtue of that institution; their general equity only being of moral use.
( 1 Corinthians 9:8-10 )

5. The moral law doth for ever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof, and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it; neither doth Christ in the Gospel any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.
( Romans 13:8-10; James 2:8, 10-12; James 2:10, 11; Matthew 5:17-19; Romans 3:31 )

6. Although true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned, yet it is of great use to them as well as to others, in that as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinful pollutions of their natures, hearts, and lives, so as examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against, sin; together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ and the perfection of his obedience; it is likewise of use to the regenerate to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin; and the threatenings of it serve to shew what even their sins deserve, and what afflictions in this life they may expect for them, although freed from the curse and unallayed rigour thereof. The promises of it likewise shew them God’s approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof, though not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works; so as man’s doing good and refraining from evil, because the law encourageth to the one and deterreth from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law and not under grace.
( Romans 6:14; Galatians 2:16; Romans 8:1; Romans 10:4; Romans 3:20; Romans 7:7, etc; Romans 6:12-14; 1 Peter 3:8-13 )

7. Neither are the aforementioned uses of the law contrary to the grace of the Gospel, but do sweetly comply with it, the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely and cheerfully which the will of God, revealed in the law, requireth to be done.
( Galatians 3:21; Ezekiel 36:27 )

LBCF of 1677/1689 – Chapter Sixteen, Of Good Works

/ William F. Leonhart III / Leave a comment

1. Good works are only such as God hath commanded in his Holy Word, and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intentions.
( Micah 6:8; Hebrews 13:21; Matthew 15:9; Isaiah 29:13 )

2. These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith; and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end eternal life.
( James 2:18, 22; Psalms 116:12, 13; 1 John 2:3, 5; 2 Peter 1:5-11; Matthew 5:16; 1 Timothy 6:1; 1 Peter 2:15; Philippians 1:11; Ephesians 2:10; Romans 6:22 )

3. Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ; and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure; yet they are not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit, but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.
( John 15:4, 5; 2 Corinthians 3:5; Philippians 2:13; Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 6:11, 12; Isaiah 64:7 )

4. They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.
( Job 9:2, 3; Galatians 5:17; Luke 17:10 )

5. We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because as they are good they proceed from his Spirit, and as they are wrought by us they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God’s punishment.
( Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8, 9; Romans 4:6; Galatians 5:22, 23; Isaiah 64:6; Psalms 143:2 )

6. Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him; not as though they were in this life wholly unblameable and unreprovable in God’s sight, but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.
( Ephesians 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5; Matthew 25:21, 23; Hebrews 6:10 )

7. Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and others; yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith, nor are done in a right manner according to the word, nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive grace from God, and yet their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing to God.
( 2 Kings 10:30; 1 Kings 21:27, 29; Genesis 4:5; Hebrews 11:4, 6; 1 Corinthians 13:1; Matthew 6:2, 5; Amos 5:21, 22; Romans 9:16; Titus 3:5; Job 21:14, 15; Matthew 25:41-43 )