What then is the purpose of the law since the fall? (Catechism Question #62)

We are answering this question in five parts. The fifth and final part of this answer is that the law brings the ungodly to Christ for salvation. Paul writes in Galatians 3:22-24 that the law holds us captive so that we might be justified by faith in Christ Jesus.

But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. (Galatians 3:22-24)

The temporary law covenant with Israel showed us what sin is and prepared the way for the coming of Christ who would die as a sin sacrifice for those who believe. The law not only functioned historically to imprison Israel under sin until the Messiah should be born (Gal. 4:4-5) but it serves a similar function in our personal lives.

The law tells us God’s righteous demands and bids us to obey. We try to fulfill its requirements but soon become overwhelmed under it. It becomes a weight that we cannot bear. The law instead of justifying us before God condemns us and in our despair drives us to God’s grace found in Christ Jesus. The law is meant to “give us a knowledge of sin (Rom. 3:20; 4:15; 5:13; 7:7-11) and, by  showing us our need of pardon and our danger of damnation, to lead us in repentance and faith in Christ (Gal. 3:19-24)”. (J.I. Packer, Concise Theology, pg. 94)

The law is holy, righteous, and good. Meditate on it and let it teach you about God's perfect righteousness and your own sinfulness. Let it crush you so that you cry out to God for grace. Let it lead you to believe in Christ Jesus so that you might be justified before God. Let the law lead you to Christ for salvation.

With the (over) emphasis on positive thinking in our culture this prayer must sound like gobbledy gook.

"Teach me in health to think of sickness,
in the brightest hours to be ready for darkness;
in life prepare me for death." (Arthur Bennet, The Valley of Vision, pg. 71)

Isn't this backwards? Shouldn't we think of health when we are sick? Shouldn't we think of bright hours in times of darkness? Aren't we trying to escape death, not prepare for it?

Not if we are sinners living in a world where the wages of sin is death. If that is the case then death is the one certainty facing all men. Days of sickness, darkness, and eventually death are coming my way (Eccl. 11:8).

But lest I be charged with the great sin of being a sour puss let me say that there is good news. A heart of wisdom learns to number one's days (Ps. 90:9-12) and the wise are taught to come to Jesus (2 Tim. 3:15) who has conquered sin and death. So are you ready? Or is your head stuck in the optimistic sands of our day?

Weakness is a term Paul uses to refer to suffering, hardship, affliction, insults, persecutions, etc. that the Lord brings into the lives of his people (2 Cor. 12:10). These types of things are painful and generally makes us feel, well, weak.

These times of weakness often feel pointless but the Lord is at work in and through our weaknesses. Here are a few things that the Lord is doing in the suffering, hardships and weaknesses we encounter.

Weaknesses make us rely on the Lord and not ourselves.

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. (2 Cor. 1:8-9)

Weaknesses bring God glory by demonstrating that the power at work in us belongs to God and not to us.

But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair… (2 Cor. 4:7-8)

Weaknesses keep us humble.

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Cor. 12:7-9)

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." (James 4:6)

Weaknesses mean that the power of Christ rests upon us.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:9-10)

In your weakness be content, boast in it, and above all, trust the Lord.

If you are in the Helena, MT area you might want to think about sending your kids to our Vacation Bible School. Here are the details:

When: June 17th-20th 6:30pm-8:30pm
Who: Kids ages 2-12
Where: Calvary Baptist Church

For more information and to register go here.

“Self-denial in an affluent society is difficult. Some may even say it’s “heretical” – not the posture of the Kings Kids! We are constantly called by all kinds of media messages and images to a comfortable and self-satisfying life. This easy Christianity is even the melodious pitch of a “cross-less” church. Too often church programs and worship are geared to the entertainment and "event-full" gratification of its membership, while the preaching of the cross and the call to radical discipleship, incarnation, and justice are absent."
~ Eldin Villafane, Beyond Cheap Grace, pg. xii.

Psalm 91 provides a good opportunity to see the difference between trusting God and testing God.

Psalm 91 is a psalm of great confidence in the Lord. It is also a portion of Scripture that the devil quotes in the New Testament. Verse 9 states that because the faithful person trusts the Lord no evil will befall them (verse 10). No evil will befall them because the Lord “will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways. On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.” (Ps. 91:11-12)

When the devil quotes this Scripture he attempts to entice Jesus to jump from a high pinnacle of the temple (Matt. 4:5-6). If Jesus is the Son of God then God will surely rescue him by sending his angels to bear him up lest he strikes his foot against the hard stones below. What this would prove we aren’t told. Perhaps it would gain Jesus a great following. Perhaps it was more personal. Is he really the “Son of God” and would his Father really protect him? Jumping would prove his sonship and the Father's love.

Either way Jesus picks up on the devil’s motives. He responds by saying that you shall not put the Lord your God to the test (Matt. 5:7). But what is the test? Isn't Jesus really the Son of God? Isn't the Father going to protect him? After all he has to die by hanging and not by falling. Doesn’t Psalm 91 say that God will protect his man?

Yes but here is the difference between trusting and testing God.

Trust looks to the Lord for deliverance when you stumble or are pushed. Testing occurs when you jump and expect the Lord to deliver you. Trust looks to the Lord for help when the enemy is shooting at you. Testing occurs when you pull the trigger and expect the Lord to change the path of the bullet. Trust involves great humility and acceptance of God's plan (to rescue or not rescue in any given situation) whereas testing involves the pursuit of personal glorification (jumping will prove to all how great my faith is and how much God loves me). Trust leads to obedience to God. Testing demands God's protection.

Jesus, the Son of God, trusted and obeyed. He would not test the Lord God.

Ligonier Ministries is giving away an ebook edition of "The Masculine Mandate" by Richard Philips.This is a really good book for men and men to-be and I highly recommend it.

You get get the free ebook here.

You can read my review of The Masculine Mandate here.

I haven't posted a link to my sermons in a while but here is the current sermons series I am doing from 2 Timothy.

Awhile back I posted a list of twelve questions to ask as you prepare for the Lord's Supper. I revised/reworded those questions and narrowed them down to five groups of questions. Here they are:

1.  Since you have last participated in the Lord’s Supper, how has the Lord worked in your life to make you more like Jesus? Are you gaining ground or sliding backwards?

2.  Are you stronger in God’s grace and therefore more successful in striving against sin in your life? Do you more quickly and more frequently repent of sin?

3.  Do you love Jesus more? Are you more aware of God’s love for you in Christ Jesus?

4.  Do you love others more? Are you quicker and more eager to forgive others who have sinned against you? How is this working out in your family (wife, husband, children, parents, siblings, etc.)? Are you more eager to serve and help others in the body of Christ?

5.  Do you look forward to Jesus coming back and being with him forever and ever?

Take some time prior to observing the Lord's Supper and work through these questions. Take a spiritual inventory of your life. Repent of sin that the Lord brings to your attention. Be reconciled to others in the body if necessary (Matt. 5:23-24). Work though these questions and be prepared to eat and drink at the Lord's Table this week!

1.  Five Ways to Spend Time in God's Word
2.  The law reveals the perfect righteousness of God
3.  Entangled in Civilian Pursuits
4.  Questions to ask potential church elders
5.  What would revival look like?
6.  Pursuing Righteousness with Others
7. The law and God's will for your life
8.  Resistance and then Advancement of the Gospel
9.  7 Points about God and Suffering
10. Book Recommendation on Suffering in the Christian Life