SEVEN USES OF THE
LAW
1. Reveal Sin
2. Restrain Sin
3. Reprove Sin
4. Humble for Sin
5. Spur to Obedience
6. Rule for Walking
7. Appreciate Mercy
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.
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