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The Law

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What Law? – Tullian Tchividjian. Is the Law Gracious? Is the law gracious? Like many important questions, this one is thorny. There are lots of ways to prick yourself if you’re not careful. First of all, it’s beyond dispute that God is gracious and that the law is an expression of his character—as well as the norm for what it means to have loving relationships to him and to each other. In other words, the God whose law it is, is gracious. Second, God uses the law for gracious purposes. Third, it’s crucial to distinguish the nuda lex (the bare law summarized in the Ten Commandments) from the totus lex (the law in its totality as a covenant of works). This is how law functioned in Paradise. In a covenant of works, personal fulfillment of the law’s commands is the condition for inheritance; in a covenant of grace, Christ’s personal fulfillment merits our right-standing and now the only role the law can have is to direct—it cannot condemn us. Q.

But is the law itself gracious? The law isn’t intrinsically judgmental; it’s simply just. Antinomianism, Legalism And The Relationship Between Law And Gospel – Tullian Tchividjian. There is some talk these days regarding big terms like antinomianism (a word coined by Martin Luther which simply means “anti-law”) and legalism. I’ve written about that here and address it at length in Chapter 9 of One Way Love. But, at the center of any discussion regarding antinomianism and legalism is how one understands the Biblical distinction between God’s law and God’s gospel. I hope the following thoughts are helpful and further this important conversation. The theological lifting here is a bit heavy, but I think it’s worth your time and effort to think on these things.

One of the problems in the current conversation regarding the relationship between law and gospel is that the term “law” is not always used to mean the same thing. This is understandable since in the Bible “law” does not always mean the same thing. For example, in Psalm 40:8 we read: “I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” So, it’s not as simple as you might think. Dr. A Conversation About the Law. There are few theological issues more important and more difficult than the relationship of the Christian to the law. In recent years in particular there have been a lot of conversations and controversies about the proper use of the law in the believer’s progressive sanctification.

We all know we are justified by faith apart from works of the law, but what is the place for obedience to the law after we are justified? One explanation—and the best succinct one I know of—comes from Chapter XIX of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). For Reformed Christians in general, this ought to summarize what we believe. I’ll ask the questions, and let Chapter XIX give the answers. Me: Hey, thanks for being willing to meet with me WCF. WCF: God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience, promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it. WCF: Right. WCF: True. WCF: Wrong. If’s Kill – Tullian Tchividjian.

My friend Kevin DeYoung has put together a creative dialog with sections of the Westminster Confession of Faith on the role of the law in the life of the Christian. To further this important conversation, I thought I’d repost some thoughts that I posted here just over a year ago. I hope this helps. One of the problems in the current conversation regarding the relationship between law and gospel is that the term “law” is not always used to mean the same thing.

This is understandable since in the Bible “law” does not always mean the same thing. For example, in Psalm 40:8 we read: “I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” Here the law is synonymous with God’s revealed will. So, it’s not as simple as you might think. Discussion of the law and it’s three uses (1) usus theologicus (drives us to Christ), (2) usus politicus (the civil use), and (3) usus practicus (revealing of God’s will for living) are helpful. Or take another example, John 8.11 . A Conversation About the Law. There are few theological issues more important and more difficult than the relationship of the Christian to the law. In recent years in particular there have been a lot of conversations and controversies about the proper use of the law in the believer’s progressive sanctification. We all know we are justified by faith apart from works of the law, but what is the place for obedience to the law after we are justified?

One explanation—and the best succinct one I know of—comes from Chapter XIX of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). For Reformed Christians in general, this ought to summarize what we believe. I’ll ask the questions, and let Chapter XIX give the answers. Me: Hey, thanks for being willing to meet with me WCF. WCF: God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience, promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it. WCF: Right. WCF: True. WCF: Wrong.