The Law and the Christian

            One of the reasons I started this blog was to help those who are "young and reformed" become more knowledgeable about the Reformed faith. I have seen many calvinists who seem to believe that the summary of the Reformed faith is in the five points of Calvinism. As precious as these truths are to me, there is plenty more to the Reformed faith than just the five points. Unfortunately, this has created a ton of young people who are ignorant of the other gems of Reformed thology. The relation between the law and the Christian is one of those "gems". Some will say: "But the law has nothing to do with us anymore, for we are under grace". The latter part of the statement is true- we are indeed under grace but the former is false, there is still a relation between the Christian and the law. Before I continue, let me say this: I believe that the law does NOT save. Obedience to tablets on stone never have and never will save a soul. The Reformed position is that the Moral Law (or commonly reffered to as the Ten commandments) is for all people, at all times. These ten commandments are perpetual. This law, God wrote in the heart of Adam, and is in the hearts of all men. Romans 2:15 teaches this:

¹⁵They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them ¹⁶ on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (ESV)

Here is a quote from Robert Shaw:

 " That fair copy of the law which had been inscribed on the heart of the first man in his creation, was, by the fall, greatly defaced, although not totally obliterated. Some faint impressions of it still remain on the minds of all reasonable creatures. It's general principles, such as, that God is to be worshipped, that parents ought to be honoured, that we should do to others what we should reasonably wish that they should do to us- such general principles as these are still, in some degree, engraven on the minds of all men"- (An Exposition of the Confession of Faith) Here is the link

Further proof of the law being engraved in the heart of man since creation is this: Romans 4:15 says

For the law brings wrath, but when there is no law there is no transgression

And Romans 5:13 says

“ For sin indeed was in the world before the law was given but sin is not counted when there is no law"

We are given examples before Exodus 20 (when the Ten commandments were written) of transgressions committed. This is because the law was written on the hearts of men. There was a law. Though, not yet given on tablets of stone. Reading before Exodus 20 will show you the sins committed. Remember- if it is sin, then there was a law in place. 

Now what does this prove? This proves that the moral law (Ten commandments) are perpetual. They are binding on all people- at all times. The London Baptist Confession of Faith reads:

" 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."- Chapter 19 Of the law of God 

Christ repeats this truth in Matthew 5:17-19

¹⁷ “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. ¹⁹ Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.

There is Christ- the law giver- in His own words. What He did on earth, as a man, does not negate our responsibility to obey the laws He has given. The beauty of this is that once we are in Christ, our relationship to the law changes. In that- no longer are we condemned for our inability to keep the law. No longer are we cursed for not keeping the law of God. "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us"- (Galatians 3:13).

Further, after we drawn to God, the law is rewritten on our hearts. No longer does it condemn us. 

¹⁰ For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
   after those days, declares the Lord:
I will put my laws into their minds,
   and write them on their hearts,
and I will be their God,
   and they shall be my people. - Hebrews 8:10

Now it is a delight. We can now say with the Psalmist: " I will delight in your statutes" (119:16) and "Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works" (Psalm 119:27). 

The beauty of the law is that it takes our eyes off of us. For who has ever keep the law of God? No one. All of us have fallen short of the glory of God. The law is to be preached so that the sinner will see his utter inability to ever keep God's law. Paul writes of this in Romans 7:7

⁷What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. For I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, "You shall not covet."

He repeated the same idea earlier in Romans 3:20:

 ^"For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin."

At this point, one can only see his own misery. The sinner then needs a Savior. One who has kept the law. And that is the risen Christ. Our mighty savior. Paul never says that the law has no relevance in the life of a Christian. Paul had a high esteem for the law even after his conversion. In verse twelfth of Romans chapter seven- Paul describes the law as " holy, righteous and good". In Romans three- After Paul tells us that the there is no boasting in salvation, and that one is justified " by faith apart from works of the law " (Romans 3:28). He says in verse 31: "Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law."

Paul even called people to obedience using the law (in this case children). We see this in Ephesians 6:1-3. He references the fifth commandment.

 ¹Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.

 2.Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;

 ³That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.

He does this again, when speaking of love being the fulfillment of the law. In Romans chapter 13:9 

" ⁹ The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,”and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”¹⁰ Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Christians do not go from slavery to sin- to being free to do whatever they want. Not at all. Christianity is from slavery to slavery (this is an idea Atheists hate). We are no longer slaves of sin, but now we are free to be slaves of Christ! (Romans 6)

Further, how ought a Christian to know what the will of God is if there is no law? How would he know how to live? Are we left to ourselves to decide what is pleasing to the Lord? Negative. Christ has given us His law. And they are inscribed now in our hearts . And He commands us to obey them if we love Him (John 14:15). 

Horatius Bonar said it well- when he said:

"Conformity to the will of God can only be carried out by observance of this law, for we know His will, only through His law. "

You can read his article on " The Saint and The Law" here

And here is a book I recommend for a lengthier exposition: book

         In summary, the law does not save. It has not and will never save a soul. The purpose it serves- is that of showing us our sinfulness. God became incarnate and kept the law as a man. He kept it for His people. He was obedient in all of its demands. The believer is now seen as perfectly righteous before the Father because he believes in Him who has kept the law and was our propitiation. Yet, the believer is still called to be obedient to the law. He does not do this out of fear of condemnation. But rather because it is now his delight and joy to be obedient to his heavenly Father.

³³ Teach me, O LORD, the way of your statutes;

   and I will keep it to the end.
³⁴ Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
   and observe it with my whole heart.
³⁵ Lead me in the path of your commandments,
   for I delight in it.
³⁶Incline my heart to your testimonies,
   and not to selfish gain!
³⁷ Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
   and give me life in your ways.
³⁸ Confirm to your servant your promise,
    that you may be feared.
³⁹Turn away the reproach that I dread,
   for your rules are good.
⁴⁰Behold, I long for your precepts;
    in your righteousness give me life!- Psalm 119:33-40

In Christ, Awretchsaved