The Law
The Rev. Lou Tiscione, Pastor, Weatherford Presbyterian Church (PCA)
“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 5:13).
The law, “was added because of transgressions, until the offspring should come to whom the promise had been made, and it was put in place through angels by an intermediary” (Galatians 3:19).
Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Law perfectly. Paul wrote of the ongoing purpose of the Law. The Law magnifies sin and drives us to our knees before the holy God!
John wrote that sin is lawlessness (1 John 3:4). The Westminster Shorter Catechism defines sin as “any want [lack] of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God” (question and answer no. 14).
The Ten Commandments are recorded in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5. The first part concerns man’s relationship to God. The second provides the basis for men to co-exist.
Societies are built on law. All cultures depend upon the rule of law. Removing law condemns a society to destruction. Therefore, all men are expected to submit to the rule of law to guard mutual freedoms. In our country, the Constitution provides the basis for our rule of law. It specifies that no one is above the law.
Both God’s Law and civil law carry blessings and curses, blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. As God created man and woman in His image, we all have the moral code in our hearts. All men have a general knowledge of right and wrong. God’s Ten Commandments specify the details of right and wrong because they reflect the character of God. At its root, the Law of God expresses His grace and is part of what is called the Covenant of Grace.
We need the grace of God in the Law. Paul said that it was given by God because of sin. Man’s sinfulness leads to lawbreaking. Since the Garden, no man could keep the Law perfectly. The fundamental reason God gave the Law was to demonstrate man’s need for a Savior, who would keep the Law perfectly. The Bible reveals God’s grace through the Law. “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons” (Galatians 4:4).
Law, in a general sense, provides additional benefits. God’s common grace is experienced by the rule of law in sustaining relationships, contracts, economic prosperity, and in summary, the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness.
Emphasizing the blessing of God’s Law, the Church has taught three uses of the Law. First, it bounds sin. Second, it points to Christ. Third, it provides the guide for the Christian life.
The Old Testament also reveals two principles regarding the Law. God said blessing results from obedience and curse is the result of disobedience (Deuteronomy 11:26-28; 28). God declared that His way was the better way.
The importance of law will also be seen at the end of this world. The sign of the end will be apostasy. “Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). Paul was straightening out false teaching concerning the end of this world. Rebellion against God will be the first sign of the end. The visible sign of rejecting God is rejecting His Law. We are seeing glimpses of lawlessness even now.
History also records man’s awareness of his need for law. One example is the Code of Hammurabi, the ancient law code of the first Babylonian Dynasty ruled by Hammurabi (circa 1728-1686 BC). Much of his code parallels that of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Bible. Egyptian, Greek, and Roman civilizations likewise depended on the rule of law. As law broke down, those civilizations ceased to exist. They became unable to fight against invaders. Western civilization, especially our United States, will also stand or fall because of adherence to the rule of law.
Without law we will perish. Yet, because of God’s Law men are shown their desperate need for a divine Savior. May we commit to stand for the blessing of God’s Law and all law proceeding from it. May your submission to the rule of law reflect your desire to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God (Micah 6:8).
