A Long-Forgotten Truth From the Past!
Seven
Uses Of The Law Of God
The moral law for our day
The leaders of the Protestant Reformation
taught that the Old Testament Law of God was not completely abolished for the Christian,
and that seven important main uses of that law are for us today.
1. TO REVEAL SIN
"To uncover and reveal transgression"
James 1:23-25 Like
a looking glass
Romans 7:7 We would not know what sin is without law
Gal 3:19 Law makes us conscious of our wrongdoings
Romans 5:20 The Law makes our transgressions obvious
2. TO RESTRAIN SIN
"To restrain transgressions and to set bounds and banks"
Romans 2:8-9 Those
who do wrong will suffer wrath
Prov. 3:3 Be bound to mercy & truth
Deut. 28 Blessings for obedience as well as curses for disobedience
3. TO REPROVE SIN
"A reprover and corrector for sin"
James 2:12-13 The
law is a standard for judgement
2Peter 2:9 Object-lesson for the godless
Jude vv. 6-15 God executes judgement
4. TO HUMBLE FOR SIN
"To humble men for their sins"
Gal 3:22 Law
points to need for a savior
Psa 143:2 No one living is guilt-less
5. TO SPUR TO OBEDIENCE
"A spur to quicken us to obedience"
Rom 2:23 Lawbreaking
dishonors God
Gal 3:24 A tutor to discipline us for Christ
Psalm 19:7 An agent in conversion
6. A RULE FOR WALKING
"For a direction of Life"
1John 5:3 Loving God means obeying His commands
Rom. 2:13, 21,22 Those who obey will be recognized as upright
2Tim 3:16 All scripture...for resetting the direction of a man's life and for moral
discipline
7. TO GAIN APPRECIATION OF GOD'S GOODNESS
AND MERCY
"To cause sinners to value the promise"
2Pet 1:5 Enter the kingdom blameless!
2Cor 7:1 Having such promises, let us obey!
PSA 84:11 Blessings to the upright
HISTORIC CONFESSIONS
OF FAITH
UPHOLDING THE VALIDITY OF BIBLE LAW
The Waldensian Catechism, c. 1500 AD
Luther's Small Catechism, 1529 AD
The Anglican Catechism, 1549, 1562
Scottish Confession of Faith, 1560
The Heidelburg Catechism, 1563
Second Helvetic Confession, 1566
Thirty-Nine Articles of Religion
(Church of England), 1571
Formula of Concord (Lutheran), 1576
Irish Articles of Faith
(Irish Episcopal Church), 1615
Westminster Confession of Faith, 1647
Confession of the Waldenses, 1655
Savoy Declaration(Congregational)1658
Confession of the Society of Friends (Quakers), 1675
Philadelphia Confession, (Baptist) 1688
25 Articles of Religion (Methodist) 1784
The Longer Catechism of the Orthodox Catholic Eastern Church, 1839
GOD'S LAW IN HISTORIC CREEDS
"Thus far is the law of God abrogated, in that
it has no power to condemn believers ...Notwithstanding, we do not disdainfully reject
the law, but condemn them as heresies which are taught against the law, that it is
not a rule for walking."
-Helvetian (Swiss) Church
"We acknowledge the law of God, whose abridgement
is in the Decalogue, to command the best, the most just and perfect works, and we
hold that man is bound to obey the moral precepts of the Decalogue. Neither are those
precepts which are contained in the apostles' writings a new law, but are branches
of the old law...It is needful to teach men that they must not only obey the law,
but also how this obedience pleases God."
-Wittenburg Confession
"Although the law given of God to Moses in
regard of the rites and ceremonies does not bind Christians, neither is any, although
a Christian, loosed from the obedience of the commandments which are called moral."
-Church of England
COMMENTS ON DIVINE LAW
"The observance of the law is necessary for
a Christian man, and it is not possible to separate such observance from faith."
-Jerome Zanchius
"Let us put far from us the ungodly notion
that the law is not to be our rule, for it is our changeless rule of life."
-John Calvin, 1509-1564
"The law serves the cause of the Gospel, because,
convicting men of their works of condemnation, it prepares them to seek the grace
which is found in the Gospel."
Daniel Chamier, 1565-1621
LAW AND SANCTIFICATION
"We claim to be free from the curses of the law; they would have us free from the guidance...of the law. We say we are free from the penalties, but they would abolish the precepts of the law. They say we make a false mixture together of Christ and Moses, and that we mingle law and gospel together. How unjustly they lay this charge against us, let men of understanding judge. We cry down the law in respect of justification, but we set it up as a rule of sanctification. The law sends us to the Gospel that we may be justified; and the Gospel sends us to the law again to inquire what is our duty as those who are justified." -Samuel Bolton, 1645, "The True Bounds of Christian Freedom"
TO REVEAL SIN
JAS 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and
superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is
able to save your souls.
JAS 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
JAS 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding
his natural face in a glass:
JAS 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what
manner of man he was.
JAS 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein,
he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in
his deed.
ROM 7:7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin,
but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
Rom 7:7 TCNT What are we to say then? That law and sin are the same thing? Heaven forbid!
On the contrary, I should not have learnt what sin is, had not it been for Law. If the
Law did not say, 'Thou shalt not covet,' I should not know what it is to covet.
GAL 3:19 Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till
the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in
the hand of a mediator.
Gal 3:19 TCNT What then, you ask, was the use of the Law? It was a later addition, to
make men conscious of their wrong-doings...
ROM 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were
made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
ROM 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded,
grace did much more abound:
Rom 5:20 Amp But then Law came in, only to expand and increase the trespass, making
it more apparent and exciting opposition...
TO RESTRAIN SIN
ROM 2:5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart
treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous
judgment of God;
ROM 2:6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
ROM 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and
immortality, eternal life:
ROM 2:8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness,
indignation and wrath,
ROM 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew
first, and also of the Gentile;
PROV 2:21 For the upright shall dwell in the land,
and the perfect shall remain in it.
PROV 2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall
be rooted out of it.
PROV 3:1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments;
PROV 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.
PROV 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them
upon the table of thine heart:
PROV 3:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.
PROV 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
PROV 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
PROV 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil.
PROV 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
DEUT 28 (all)
TO REPROVE SIN
JAS 2:12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.
JAS 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and
mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
JAS 2:14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have
not works? can faith save him?
2PET 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell,
and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be served unto judgment;
2PET 2:5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher
of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
2PET 2:6 And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with
an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly;
2PET 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:
2PET 2:8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed
his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;)
2PET 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve
the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:
2PET 2:10 But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness,
and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to
speak evil of dignities.
2PET 2:6-8 NEB The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah God burned to ashes, and condemned
them to total destruction, making them an object-lesson for godless men in future
days. But he rescued Lot, who was a good man, shocked by the dissolute habits of
the lawless society in which he lived; day after day every sight, every sound, of
their evil courses tortured that good man's heart.
JUDE 1:5 I will therefore put you in remembrance,
though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land
of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.
JUDE 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation,
he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great
day.
JUDE 1:7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving
themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an
example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.
JUDE 1:8 Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and
speak evil of dignities.
JUDE 1:9 Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about
the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord
rebuke thee.
JUDE 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know
naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.
JUDE 1:11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after
the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.
JUDE 1:12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding
themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees
whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;
JUDE 1:13 Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to
whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.
JUDE 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold,
the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,
JUDE 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them
of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard
speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
TO HUMBLE FOR SIN
GAL 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of
God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily
righteousness should have been by the law.
GAL 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of
Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.
GAL 3:22 PHILLIPS But, as things are, the scripture has all men "imprisoned" for
their sins, because they are found guilty by the Law, that to men in such condition
the promise might come to release all who believe in Jesus Christ.
PS 143:2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant:
for in thy sight shall no man living be justified.
PS 143:2 KNOX Do not call thy servant into account; what man is there living that can
stand guiltless in thy presence?
TO SPUR TO OBEDIENCE
ROM 2:23 Thou that makest thy boast of the law,
through breaking the law dishonourest thou God?
ROM 2:24 For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is
written.
GAL 3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster
to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
GAL 3:24 WEYMOUTH So that the Law has proved a tutor to discipline us for Christ, that
through faith we may be justified.
PS 19:7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting
the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
PS 19:7 RKHARRISON ....promoting spiritual vigor....
PS 19:7 SMITH/GOODSPEED ....renewing the life....
PS 19:7 REVISED VERSION ....restoring the soul....
PS 19:8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of
the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
PS 19:9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord
are true and righteous altogether.
PS 19:10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also
than honey and the honeycomb.
PS 19:11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great
reward.
A RULE FOR WALKING
1JN 5:2 By this we know that we love the children
of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
1JN 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments
are not grievous.
1JN 5:3 GOODSPEED For loving God means obeying His commands
ROM 2:13 (For not the hearers of the law are just
before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
ROM 2:13 GOODSPEED For merely hearing the Law read does not make a man upright in the
sight of God; men must obey the Law to be made upright.
ROM 2:14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained
in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
ROM 2:15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also
bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
ROM 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according
to my gospel.
ROM 2:17 Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast
of God,
ROM 2:18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being
instructed out of the law;
ROM 2:19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them
which are in darkness,
ROM 2:20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge
and of the truth in the law.
ROM 2:21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that
preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
ROM 2:22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery?
thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
ROM 2:18-20 GOODSPEED And from hearing the Law read can tell what is right and you are
sure that you can guide the blind, enlighten people who are in the dark, train the foolish,
teach the young, since you have knowledge and truth formulated in the Law.
2TIM 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ
Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2TIM 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being
deceived.
2TIM 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured
of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the
holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which
is in Christ Jesus.
2TIM 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2TIM 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
2TIM 3:16-17 PHILLIPS All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the
faith and correcting error, for resetting the direction of a man's life and training
him in good living. The scriptures are the comprehensive equipment of the man of God,
and fit him fully for all branches of his work.
2TIM 3:16-17 MOFFAT All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching,for
reproof, for amendment, and for moral discipline, to make the man of God proficient
and equip him for good work of every kind.
2TIM 4:1 I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge
the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom;
2TIM 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort
with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2TIM 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after
their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2TIM 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto
fables.
TO APPRECIATE GOD'S MERCY
2PET 1:1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of
Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the
righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2PET 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of
Jesus our Lord,
2PET 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto
life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
2PET 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these
ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in
the world through lust.
PET 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue
knowledge;
2PET 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
PET 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2PET 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither
be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2PET 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath
forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.
2PET 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election
sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2PET 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting
kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
2PET 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these
things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.
2COR 6:14 Be ye not
unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness
with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2COR 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth
with an infidel?
2COR 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple
of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will
be their God, and they shall be my people.
2COR 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and
touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2COR 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith
the Lord Almighty.
2COR 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from
all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
PS 84:7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before
God.
PS 84:8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob.
PS 84:9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine annointed.
PS 84:10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper
in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
PS 84:11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no
good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
PS 84:12 O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.
PS 85:1 Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity
of Jacob.
PS 85:2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin.
Selah.
PS 85:3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness
of thine anger.
PS 85:4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease.
PS 85:5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations?
PS 85:6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?
PS 85:7 Shew us thy mercy, O Lord, and grant us thy salvation.
PS 85:8 I will hear what God the Lord will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people,
and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly.
PS 85:9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our
land.