Psalm 19v7: “The Law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.”
Many of us don’t really understand the role of God’s Law – particularly the 10 Commandments – so we immediately jump to his grace. This shift broadly happened from the beginning of the 20th century. So John 3:16 became our favorite text: “For God so loved the world that he gave (Jesus) for us…” But the sinner needs to be told that he needs saving as a Law-breaker before he’s told how to be saved; his conscience needs wounding (Law) or he will see no need for his wounds to be bandaged (grace).
Jesus always preached Law to the proud and arrogant and grace to the meek and the humble (Luke 10:25,26, 18:18-20, John 3:1-17). He never gave good news to proud Pharisees. They needed humbling. In a similar vein, Wesley said that people need 90% Law followed by 10% grace. Why? Because the Law breaks hardened hearts whilst the gospel of grace heals broken hearts. You need to plough the land before you sow in order to reap after that same sowing.
D.L.Moody said: “It is a great mistake to give a man who has not been convicted of sin certain passages that were never meant for him. The Law is what he needs… Do not offer the consolation of the gospel until he sees and knows he is guilty before God. We must give enough of the Law to take away all self-righteousness. I pity the man who preaches only one side of the truth – always the gospel and never the Law.”
I look back to my own conversion and question whether the gospel I heard struck the right balance. The consequences of misunderstanding are significant. We potentially end up with a diminished view of sin and its consequences, and of our need for a Saviour.
It’s food for thought. We’ll explore further tomorrow!
Lord, thank you for both your Law and your grace. Help me grow in understanding and living out your beautiful gospel. Amen!
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