Twice during Easter I posted a blog about living the Christian life; on the 8th of April, and on the 12th. I was concerned to show that the Christian life is lived by faith, and in the power of the Spirit! I was careful to emphasis this, over against the keeping of law!
Of course “the Law” in Paul’s day, could mean the whole Torah, or just the 10 commandments. Christians have never, to my knowledge, thought that the whole Torah was binding on them; but the 10 commandments is another matter.
So what is the role of the 10 commandments, if any, in the life of a Christian?
JESUS
17 “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. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Mt. 5,17-18
First: Jesus fulfilled all righteousness (see Mt. 3,15) – he fulfilled the law, in a life of perfect obedience to the Father’s will. And he fulfilled the law for us! Romans 8,3-4 is key here.
Second: The law remains until everything is accomplished
PAUL
The relationship between Law and Gospel, is dealt with in Paul’s letters to the Galatians and to the Romans. That is where one must go to find Paul’s thinking!
Basically, he says this: The law is spiritual and good – it is a gift from God! The problem is that you and I can’t keep it! It shows me up to be the true sinner I am! We are therefore brought under condemnation! The law can determine the diagnosis, but not provide the cure! Jesus is the doctor with both the diagnosis and the cure! Lk. 5,31
So the law cannot cause the righteousness of Christ to grow in us, or produce the fruits of the Spirit in us! Gal. 5,22-23
But let’s be clear!
The law – talking now of the 10 commandments – is a permanent expression of the righteousness of God! However, notice that in Matthew chapters 5-7, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus reinterprets several of the commandments. He emphasises the inner motives of our heart, not just the letter of the law. He thus sharpens our concept of what the righteousness, the holiness of God looks like!
God has not changed! He is the same! His righteousness and holiness are the same, before and after the Cross!
But now having received Christ, we can in principle, obey from the heart the commandments of God; not just their letter, but their true meaning. That is because Christ and not the law; interpreted as letter, is the image we are being conformed to, by the Spirit (Rom. 8,29). I say in principle, because experience has shown down the centuries, that Christians have not lived sinless lives. Perfection must wait till we see him again – and we shall be changed, in the twinkling of an eye! 1 Cor. 15,52
THE REFORMERS
Luther and the other reformers saw 3 ways in which the law had a role to play:
1. A GOLD STANDARD FOR SOCIETY
We may think of this verse from Isaiah to see where this comes from:
9 My soul yearns for you in the night;
my spirit within me earnestly seeks you.
For when your judgments are in the earth,
the inhabitants of the world learn righteousness. Isaiah 26,9
2. THE LAW LEADS US TO CHRIST
This explanation of the role of the law in the economy of God, is explained by Paul in Galatians chapter 3:
19 Why then the law? It 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. 20 Now an intermediary implies more than one, but God is one.
21 Is the law then contrary to the promises of God? Certainly not! For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law.22 But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise. Gal. 3,19-29
The word “guardian” in verses 24 and 26, is παιδαγωγός/paidagōgos in Greek. This is the word from which we get the modern word pedagogue – or teacher!
In the ancient world it would often be a slave´s work to teach a child – a παιδαγωγός/paidagōgos in Greek means literally: one who leads a child!
So the argument is that the law was to lead us to Christ; i.e. through showing us that we are indeed in breach of God´s commandments, and so in need of his mercy, and so in need of Christ.
3. THE LAW AS A GUIDE TO RIGHTEOUSNESS
The third use of the law for Luther and the other Reformers, was that the law acts as a guide to Christians – guiding them in the ways of righteousness. Luther taught that a holy life arises spontaneously from the heart of a believer, but that the law helps the Christian to recognise and to confront, the sin that remains in him.
However, the law as a means to justification before God is DEAD!
In my opinion, the Reformed/Lutheran interpretation of the role of the law, is a balanced and biblical approach!
Two ditches are to be avoided:
- The ditch of legalism – that we revert to keeping a law of some description, in our efforts to “live up to Christian standards”!
- The ditch of what is called “antinomianism”: nomos in Greek means law, so the “antinomists” are those who reject any role for the law in the Christian life. This can lead to bad things, as Paul warns in Galatians 5, 13-15. But the whole of Galatians chapter 5 should be studied.
THE WAY FORWARD
It is no. 3 above then, which describes the role the 10 commandments have now, for the Christian. Their words keep us headed in the right direction – rather like a compass – as we sail off powered by the Spirit and our faith!
Do we need a compass you say, when we have the Spirit? The answer to that question is in principle no, we don’t. But because we are who we are; still not quite perfect – like Jesus – we need this written guide, to keep us on track. Then, if we get off course (if we sin), the commandment will bring us back!
I have been using metaphors from the life of a mariner; I have spent a lot of time sailing on the sea. I can tell you this:
The compass (law) points you in the right direction; but you then do not continue on your course, with your eyes glued to the compass! You keep your eyes glued to the horizon, or some point on the horizon, which is your goal! Jesus Christ is our goal – We need to keep our eyes on Jesus, powered by the Spirit! Stay focussed on him! Worship him! Develop our relationship with him! He is our life! He is our friend; he is our brother (Rom. 8,29)! He is our Master and Lord! You become what you keep your eyes and focus on!
GUARD AGAINST LEGALISM!
Let´s not be driven by the taskmasters of OUGHT AND SHOULD AND MUST! Can you hear the law? It is easy for all Christians to drift off course and to revert to some kind of law-keeping, whatever form that takes; and each church tends to have its do´s and don´ts.
Our motivation needs to be different, for
“The love of Christ compels us!” 2 Cor. 5,15 NIV
And «of Christ» is NOT an objective genitive, i.e. it is not “my love for Christ” that must motivate me – with Christ as object of the verb to love.
This is a subjective genitive: It is Christ who loves; he is the subject of the verb: It his love in us that motivates us!
We need to remember Paul’s injunction, nay warning in Galatians 3,1ff:
3 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified (another Gr. perfect). 2 Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?
It is common in Christian circles, that law in some form, again creeps in! The reason for this, I believe, is that the project God has given for our lives, runs on FAITH! Keeping a law, and congratulating yourself for the success you think you are having, is much easier! It is just that the Scriptures say that our own righteousness is as filthy rags (Isa. 64,6). No, you have to believe for the power of the Spirit to be active in you! You have to continue to believe whenever you fail, and ask God´s forgiveness. We have to continue to believe in the project; believe in the Spirit´s power, and the Gospel message of hope! We will be changed into his likeness one day; we will be changed, we will be glorified – IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP! NB! Rom. 8,29-30.
No form of law regulating our relationship with God, will do the trick for us! “T’is mercy all, immense and free”, wrote Charles Wesley. If we live under condemnation of any kind, we will never live by faith at the same time! Be joyful you child of God! In all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us! Rom. 8,37
