Chronicles of a Fisher of men: The Function of the Law

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

The Function of the Law

It is amazing for a soul to discover that God gave a law to be observed, but that its observance is not even taken into account as a means of salvation. Then why was the law given? What good are moral standards? They were not given because God had the illusion that we could conform our lives to them. God knows that we are a degenerate race and that there is nothing good in our carnal nature.

"The law serves another purpose: to show us our sins. Man is confronted with a moral law that is just and good. His mind, while acknowledging that here is the truth, confesses at the same time that he does not live according to this law. And no matter how hard he tries, he realizes he does not reach the ideal. This is how he discovers he is a lost sinner.

"This is the great purpose of the law. It teaches us what sin is and it shows us how wrong we are, just as a mirror reveals to us how filthy we are and what needs cleansing. But just as a mirror does not and cannot wash us but only reveals our condition, so the law cannot correct us but only shows what great sinners we are.

"The purpose of the law is to make you know your sin so that you will begin to pray with the psalmist, 'Do not enter into judgment with Your servant, for in Your sight no one living is righteous' (Psalm 143:2)."

~ Richard Wurmbrand
(The Evidence Bible by Ray Comfort, page 806)

Galatians 2:16 reads ~ knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

So there is nothing else that shows you that you have sinned against God and that you need to repent and be justified. Scripture refers to the law bringing sinners to Christ (Galatians 3:24).

MISSION

The mission of this blog is to encourage Christians to be obedient to The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8) given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ and to Glorify our God by proclaiming the Law and the Gospel of Grace to the unsaved.

This blog is to give all praise and glory to the One and only True and Living God Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

I hope to be faithful "rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15b) in recording sound biblical doctrine and theology and that the posts are not to solicit personal praise, but to give rightful honour and glorious praise to all the victories belonging to our Lord and Saviour - King Jesus.

For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but to us which are saved it is the power of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:18

For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumblingblock, and to the Greeks foolishness; But to them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. ~ 1 Corinthians 1:22-24

And he said to them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
~ Matthew 4:19

Let Down Your Nets
There is no exclusion put upon any tribe or clan, no classes are laid under ban, no individuals are exempted. Therefore, Church of Christ, by the love you bear to your crucified Master, by His wounds and death for you, and by His living love to you, seek out the lost and gather together the outcasts. You fishers of men, launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a draught. You sowers of holy seed, go abroad, and sow the untrodden wastes. You consecrated builders, break away from old foundations, and lay fresh groundwork for a larger temple for your God and King. Surely the Spirit of love in a church will suggest this.
Spurgeon Gold