Explore the relationship between God’s law and grace in the Christian life. Discover how the law reveals human shortcomings and highlights the need for faith in Jesus. Delve into the concept of self-reflection through divine holiness, recognizing personal imperfection. Understand the dual role of the law as a guide and taskmaster, leading believers toward spiritual growth. Experience the joy of loving God’s law, driven by a desire to please Him instead of mere legalistic righteousness.
God's law reflects His character and is designed for believers' benefit, fostering harmony between humanity and divine righteousness.
The law serves as both a mirror revealing human shortcomings and a guardian guiding believers toward righteous living and faith in Christ.
Deep dives
The Nature of God's Law
The nature of God's law is rooted in His character rather than an external standard of righteousness. When God reveals His law, He reveals Himself, demonstrating that following His commandments aligns individuals with His nature for their benefit. This connection emphasizes that the law is not meant to be a burden, but rather a means to cultivate harmony between humanity and divine righteousness. Understanding this relationship helps clarify the purpose of the law as it relates to the gospel and salvation, dissolving misconceptions that it serves as a harsh set of restrictions from a detached deity.
The Dual Purpose of the Law
The law serves multiple purposes, acting as both a mirror and a guardian for believers. As a mirror, it reflects both the perfection of God's character and the shortcomings of humanity, exposing sin and prompting self-reflection. Additionally, it functions as a guardian, restraining sinful inclinations and guiding people towards righteous living. Through these dual purposes, the law directs individuals toward Christ and the understanding that salvation comes not through works, but through faith.
The Desire for Righteousness
Even after understanding the law's role in leading to salvation through faith, Christians are called to cherish and adhere to God's commandments. The psalmist expresses a deep love for God's law, recognizing it as a tool for aligning life with God's desires rather than a means of earning salvation. This passionate embrace of God's law illustrates its function as a pathway to spiritual understanding and growth. Ultimately, the law becomes a source of delight for believers, guiding them to live in a way that pleases God, emphasizing their transformed relationship with Him.
Since we’re saved by God’s grace in the gospel, what role does God’s law serve in the Christian life? From his expositional series in the book of Galatians, today R.C. Sproul shows that our relationship to God’s law is closely tied to our relationship with God Himself.
Get R.C. Sproul’s commentary on the book of Galatians for your donation of any amount: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/3912/donate Meet Today’s Teacher: R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was known for his ability to winsomely and clearly communicate deep, practical truths from God’s Word. He was founder of Ligonier Ministries, first minister of preaching and teaching at Saint Andrew’s Chapel, first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine. Meet the Host: Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of ministry engagement for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, host of the Ask Ligonier podcast, and a graduate of Presbyterian Theological College in Melbourne, Australia. Nathan joined Ligonier in 2012 and lives in Central Florida with his wife and four children.
Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts
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