The Various Functions of God's Law
(1)
The law declares the character of God and so reveals His glory.
To see the difference between pagan gods and the living and true God, just take a look at the difference between their commandments. The burning of children was demanded by Moloch, while the LORD commanded nurture and care for children (Eph. 6:4). Also Christ shows us the perfection of God in which he desires for us (Matthew 5:21-48).
(2) The law displays the demand of God upon our lives as men.
We must obey God’s law if we are to imitate His character. Praying “Thy will be done” is the same as praying “Thy will be done on earth.” The will of God is communicated by his commandments explaining to us what holiness means on a human level (Leviticus 20:7-8)
(3) The law pronounces blessing upon adherence to its demands.
The commandments of God were giving to us for our good (Deut. 10:13), and obedience to them is the pure delight of the righteous man (Ps. 1:1-2). Paul taught, “Godliness is profitable in all things (1 Tim. 4:8). Obey God’s law and be blessed. Disobey God’s law and be cursed (Lev. 26, Deut. 28).
(4) The law provides a definition of sin.
Sin is transgression of the Law of God (1 John 3:4). Paul tells us where no law is there can be no sin (Romans 4:15, 5:13). By the law men come to know what sin is (Romans 3:20, 7:7).
(5) The law exposes disobedience and convicts of sin.
The law-word of God goes down deep into the heart of men and exposes their evil and depravity (Hebrews 4:12)
(6) Even more, the law works to incite rebellion in sinful men.
(Romans 8:7) God’s law serves to confirm one’s bondage to sin by provoking intensified rebellion. The power of sin is in the law (1 Cor. 15:56)
(7) Consequently, the law condemns all transgression as deserving God’s
The Law of God shows sinners that they are cursed because they have not obeyed all 613 commandments (Galatians 3:10). The sinner breaks all of the commandments when he breaks just one (James 2:10). The Law works wrath (Romans 4:15) on the children of wrath (Eph. 2:3).
(8) The law drives us to Christ for salvation.
The Law of God shuts everyone’s mouth by bringing the knowledge of sin and brings the entire world under the judgment of God (Romans 3:19,20). It exposes our sin and drives us to Christ to be justified by faith (Galatians 3:23-24). It makes us know we need the Savior.
(9) The law guides the sanctification of the believer.
The violation of the Law of God is the reason Jesus Christ came to die for sinners. It now stands to reason that those delivered from sin’s guilt and slavery would now desire to follow the previously hated law. God says, “You shall keep my statues and practice them; I am the LORD who sanctifies you (Leviticus 20:8). Christ delivers us from the law of sin and death in order that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us (Romans 8:2-4). Since sin is breaking God’s commandments (1 John 3:4) Christians should obey God’s Law in their sanctification in order to please Jesus out of their love for him (John 15:14).
(10) The law also serves to restrain the evil of the unregenerate.
If the unbeliever is not driven to the Savior by the condemning finger of the law, the law should be utilized within a civil society to restrain the outward evil of ungodly men (Romans 13:1-8, 1 Timothy 1:9-10).
To see the difference between pagan gods and the living and true God, just take a look at the difference between their commandments. The burning of children was demanded by Moloch, while the LORD commanded nurture and care for children (Eph. 6:4). Also Christ shows us the perfection of God in which he desires for us (Matthew 5:21-48).
(2) The law displays the demand of God upon our lives as men.
We must obey God’s law if we are to imitate His character. Praying “Thy will be done” is the same as praying “Thy will be done on earth.” The will of God is communicated by his commandments explaining to us what holiness means on a human level (Leviticus 20:7-8)
(3) The law pronounces blessing upon adherence to its demands.
The commandments of God were giving to us for our good (Deut. 10:13), and obedience to them is the pure delight of the righteous man (Ps. 1:1-2). Paul taught, “Godliness is profitable in all things (1 Tim. 4:8). Obey God’s law and be blessed. Disobey God’s law and be cursed (Lev. 26, Deut. 28).
(4) The law provides a definition of sin.
Sin is transgression of the Law of God (1 John 3:4). Paul tells us where no law is there can be no sin (Romans 4:15, 5:13). By the law men come to know what sin is (Romans 3:20, 7:7).
(5) The law exposes disobedience and convicts of sin.
The law-word of God goes down deep into the heart of men and exposes their evil and depravity (Hebrews 4:12)
(6) Even more, the law works to incite rebellion in sinful men.
(Romans 8:7) God’s law serves to confirm one’s bondage to sin by provoking intensified rebellion. The power of sin is in the law (1 Cor. 15:56)
(7) Consequently, the law condemns all transgression as deserving God’s
The Law of God shows sinners that they are cursed because they have not obeyed all 613 commandments (Galatians 3:10). The sinner breaks all of the commandments when he breaks just one (James 2:10). The Law works wrath (Romans 4:15) on the children of wrath (Eph. 2:3).
(8) The law drives us to Christ for salvation.
The Law of God shuts everyone’s mouth by bringing the knowledge of sin and brings the entire world under the judgment of God (Romans 3:19,20). It exposes our sin and drives us to Christ to be justified by faith (Galatians 3:23-24). It makes us know we need the Savior.
(9) The law guides the sanctification of the believer.
The violation of the Law of God is the reason Jesus Christ came to die for sinners. It now stands to reason that those delivered from sin’s guilt and slavery would now desire to follow the previously hated law. God says, “You shall keep my statues and practice them; I am the LORD who sanctifies you (Leviticus 20:8). Christ delivers us from the law of sin and death in order that the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us (Romans 8:2-4). Since sin is breaking God’s commandments (1 John 3:4) Christians should obey God’s Law in their sanctification in order to please Jesus out of their love for him (John 15:14).
(10) The law also serves to restrain the evil of the unregenerate.
If the unbeliever is not driven to the Savior by the condemning finger of the law, the law should be utilized within a civil society to restrain the outward evil of ungodly men (Romans 13:1-8, 1 Timothy 1:9-10).
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