Of the Law of God: The Moral Law & Our Salvation____
Letter from the Pastor 2/4/2025, Part 6 of 7
INTRODUCTION
What is legalism? What makes someone a legalist? Is it legalistic to pay attention to and obey the law of God? These are questions we’ll answer today as we consider the relationship between the moral law of God and our salvation.
Without getting too deep in the weeds, let’s define legalism as an improper use of the law, whereby an individual believes they can justify themselves before God through personal obedience.[1] If that sounds like justification by works instead of justification by grace to you, then you’d be correct. In this letter, we’ll make it clear that we cannot justify ourselves by our own obedience. But, this does not mean the law is now useless for us, or that we are free to disregard the commands of God. We must have a balanced relationship between the law and our salvation otherwise we will become legalists (who try working for our justification) or we will become antinomians[2] (those for whom grace is cheap and the law is worthless).
1: The Law of God Given to Adam[3]
2: The Nature of the Moral Law
3: The Mosaic Ceremonial Laws
4: The Mosaic Judicial Laws
5: The Perpetuity of the Moral Law
6: The Moral Law and Our Salvation
7: The Moral Law and the Gospel
SECOND LONDON CONFESSION, 19:6
Let’s begin by reading Confession 19.6
Although true believers are not under the law as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned, yet it is of great use to them as well as to others, in that as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinful pollutions of their natures, hearts, and lives, so as examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against, sin; together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ and the perfection of his obedience; it is likewise of use to the regenerate to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin; and the threatenings of it serve to show what even their sins deserve, and what afflictions in this life they may expect for them, although freed from the curse and unallayed rigour thereof. The promises of it likewise show them God’s approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof, though not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works; so as man’s doing good and refraining from evil, because the law encourages to the one and deters from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law and not under grace.
EXPOSITION
A Rule for Life
The Confession reminds us that true believers are not “under the law as a covenant of works.” In other words, our obedience to the moral law of God is not required for the purpose of justification. If a Christian obeys the law that obedience does not result in his or her acceptance by God. Conversely, if a Christian disobeys the law, that disobedience does not result in their condemnation. We are justified not by our moral record. We are justified by grace through faith in the moral record and sacrificial death of Christ. (Rom. 6:14)
Though we are not under the law as a covenant of works, the law is still of use to us as a “rule of life.” The law teaches us what God requires of us. It informs us of our duty to God. How does it do that?
A Tool for Discovery
The law is a tool for discovering sin and convicting us. Romans 3:20 teaches us that “through the law comes conviction of sin.” We commit many sins knowingly, but there are many that we commit in ignorance. Reading the law expands our understanding of lying, deceit, manipulation, anger, hatred, bitterness, envy, jealousy, etc.
Not only does the law reveal sin, but it also convicts of sin. By meditating on the law, we see how great our sin and misery is. The law humbles us out of any sense of moral superiority. It promotes hatred of sin.
A Lens for Sight
Having convicted and humbled us, the law also gives us a “clearer sight” of the need we have for Christ and his perfect, full obedience. You might call this the evangelical use of the law. The law can only condemn, but in its condemnation of us, we begin to feel or sense the need we have of God’s salvation. God’s law is like a taskmaster driving us with the biting whip to God’s grace in Christ.
A Restraint for Sin
As we read the law, we learn the stern warnings and threats God makes toward sinners. These threats ought to terrify us, not because we fear losing our salvation, but because they show how serious sin is and its terrible cost. The threats of the law ought to restrain sin in our lives. Though we cannot lose our salvation, our sins break fellowship with God and can even incur temporal afflictions and hardships. “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” (Heb. 12:6) When we experience suffering and difficulty, we ought to examine ourselves in light of the law.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
(Ps. 139:23, 24)
A Promise of Blessing
It is not wrong for a Christian to obey the law out of fear of consequences on the one hand or of a desire for blessing on the other. Just as the law threatens affliction for disobedience, the law also promises blessing for obedience. This is not legalism for we are not speaking of the promise of eternal life. So, what kind of blessings ought we to expect from obeying God.
The first blessing is ongoing fellowship with God. We cannot enjoy close communion with a God we disobey. The second blessing is that of a clear conscience. There may also be temporary, earthly blessings associated with obedience to the law. As a general rule, the fifth commandment (honor parents, those in authority) promises long life on the earth.
CONCLUSION
The law of God is good. Though it condemns us in our sin, it drives us to Christ, restrains evil in the world, and offers us a rule of life whereby we enjoy many blessings.
Christian, do not despise the law of God. Read it. Meditate upon it. See how Christ has fulfilled it in your place and obey it through his supply of empowering grace.
In Christ,
Pastor Jonathan
[1] Another form of legalism is the binding of conscience where God has allowed liberty. (e.g. only permitting women to wear dresses, not pants; or requiring men to be clean shaven.)
[2] Antinomian comes from the Latin meaning against the law.
[3] I have found Pastor Tom Hick’s expositions on the confession helpful. They can be accessed here: https://www.fbcclintonla.com/ss-1689-Confession.html