> God’s law, given in holiness and wisdom, serves several indispensable roles in our spiritual lives. While it cannot save anyone from sin, it powerfully reveals our spiritual need and directs us to Jesus Christ, the only Savior. This article explores the purpose of the law, its moral demands, and how Christians are to relate to the law, not as a means of salvation but as a response of gratitude for salvation already secured in Christ.
✨ Discover FAQs of Faith Mobile App! ✨Looking for a convenient way to access all your favorite faith-based content? Introducing the FAQs of Faith mobile app, your go-to resource that combines insightful and inspiring content from Faith Answers Press LLC into one easy-to-use platform. Whether you’re seeking answers to faith questions, daily inspiration, or spiritual growth resources, our app has it all. 📲 Download now and start your journey! Click on FAQs of Faith
The Law as a Mirror of God’s Holy Character
The law reveals the righteous character of God and His standards for humanity. The psalmist declares,
“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple” (Psalm 19:7).
Paul echoes this in the New Testament: “So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Romans 7:12).
The Law Reveals Our Sin
One of the chief purposes of the law is to awaken our conscience and reveal our sinful condition before God:
“Through the law comes knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).
Without this exposure, we remain blind to our plight. As Charles Spurgeon wrote:
“The law is the needle, and you cannot draw the silken thread of the gospel through a man’s heart unless you first send the sharp needle of the law to make way for it.”
The law thus acts as “our guardian until Christ came, that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24).
The Law Has No Power to Save
Despite its goodness, the law offers no power to save. Salvation comes only through faith in Christ:
“For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight” (Romans 3:20, see also Galatians 2:16).
Martin Luther profoundly stated,
“The law discovers the disease. The gospel gives the remedy.”
Reliance on the Law for Salvation Is Spiritually Deadly
To trust in obedience to the law as a means of reconciliation with God is to misunderstand its purpose and to fall into a deadly spiritual trap. Paul warns, “For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse” (Galatians 3:10), because none can attain the perfect standard God requires.
The Law Points Us to Christ
The glorious news is that the law’s demands are fully met in Jesus. He declared, “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” (Matthew 5:17).
As John Calvin wrote, “Moses had no other intention than to invite all men to go straight to Christ.”
The Essence of the Law: Love for God and Neighbor
Jesus summarized the law in two commandments: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ … And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:37–40).
With the exception of the Sabbath command, the moral law is reaffirmed in the New Testament as God’s ongoing will for Christian conduct.
New Testament writers see the Sabbath as a shadow pointing to Christ’s completed work and the rest believers find in Him – Hebrews 4:9–10. In the early church, believers began gathering on “the first day of the week” (Sunday), commemorating the resurrection of Jesus (Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:2; Revelation 1:10).
The Christian’s Relationship to the Law
Christians do not obey the law to earn God’s favor. Rather, being transformed by Christ, they strive to live out the law as an act of love and gratitude: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15).
J.C. Ryle explains, “Obedience is the only sound evidence of saving faith.”
Conclusion
God’s law, far from being a burden or an end in itself, is a precious gift. It reveals our need, leads us to Jesus, and shows us how to express our love for God and others. We are justified solely by faith in Christ, who met the law’s demands on our behalf. Our obedience, then, is not to earn salvation but to honor and thank the Savior who completed the work for us.
Visit our companion site
Discover the Truth About Jesus Christ
Are you new to the Christian faith or seeking answers about Jesus? Visit JesusIsLordBlog.com for insightful articles, compelling reasons to believe, and a deeper understanding of what it means to follow Jesus as Lord and Savior. Start your journey today!
