The Nature of the Law

 

So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good. Romans 7:12

There are a number of aspects that are bound within the nature of the law. These refer to judgment, a way of living, God’s holiness and a reflection upon the self. It is important that Christians know and understand the ‘engineering’ aspect of the law, how it works and the nature of its purpose. By this we will have a greater understanding of what it means to be under a law of grace (Romans 6:14) and a greater appreciation for all that Christ has achieved.

 The Law Reflects God’s Nature

As Moses wrote down the 10 commandments, a statement by God was made that provided reason for the law. “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the place of slavery” (Exodus 20:2) This statement alone reflects the character of God, one who has the capacity to deliver a people out of slavery, revealing His attributes of grace and mercy. This is also the premise for the law, in other words the Lord does not want the Israelites to forget their deliverance from Egypt. We can see from the law itself, God is a jealous God, which is explained in verses 3 – 4 of how we ought not to have any other gods nor worship idols.

 We can also conclude that the law itself is good as it is provided by God and reflects the character of God’s holiness. The Apostle Paul explains this in Romans 7

 What should we say then? Is the law sin? Absolutely not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin if it were not for the law. For example, I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, Do not covet.^{[d] 8} And sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind. For apart from the law sin is dead. ⁹ Once I was alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin sprang to life ¹⁰ and I died. The commandment that was meant for life resulted in death for me. ¹¹ For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me, and through it killed me. ¹² So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and just and good. Romans 7:7-14

The law than reflects back what is sin as measured by God Himself. The unit of measurement isn’t anything but God; therefore God demands holiness, perfection, purity, an honest heart etc. The unity of man and God bound together united before sin entered the world is found in the book of Genesis. Everything that Adam did prior to eating the forbidden fruit was perfect in the Lord’s sight! From what we consider simple things like naming animals and working the garden of Eden was actually a perfect union between God and man, no law was present and thus no sin was present (at least until Genesis 3).

The Law Condemns

The law cannot offer grace, it cannot save nor can anyone work to achieve the law’s requirements. Since the law is the perfect requirement of God, none can achieve the law’s required standard of perfection, which is reflected in the above passage of Romans 7:7-14. The purpose of the law is simply put, to reflect the holiness of God upon that which is sinful. Thus since we have broken all of God’s laws, it is right that we ought to be condemned by the law. This condemnation is deserved, since we don’t know the full extent of our sin, we must humbly conclude that condemnation under the law is good.

And so how does the law and the nature of Christ’ grace and mercy fit into this picture? Praise God for verses like Romans 7:4!

Therefore, my brothers, you also were put to death in relation to the law through the crucified body of the Messiah, so that you may belong to another—to Him who was raised from the dead—that we may bear fruit for God. Romans 7:4

This is the established union of how grace, mercy and the law are perfect and how we as God’s elect are saved through the death of Christ! Our old self was crucified by the law; Christ offers Himself as propitiation upon the cross and died the death we deserve.  The law was perfectly fulfilled through the life of Christ, thus we have a separation between the old self and the new self. We can conclude that our old self has no part with the new self, since we were judged by the law but now we are under a law of grace and mercy. Christ has established what was impossible for all of mankind to achieve! Thus it is right to confess that Christ is Lord, king and deliverer. He has reconciled a people for Himself for the purpose of glorifying the Father.

And so knowing this should reflect how we ought to have a greater appreciation for the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. What Christ achieved upon that cross is greater than what can be said or demonstrated. He reigns supreme as one who has victory over death and thus our lives should be aligned more with following Christ and less of our own desires. As we are being sanctified we still fall back into sin, but there should be a fight against it. The reason is honouring all that Christ has done! If Christ’ work upon the cross isn’t precious to us, than Christ Himself isn’t precious to us. We must have right affections that give glory to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords!

My Two Coins

For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she possessed—all she had to live on. Mark 12:44

This is one of those narratives that should cause each and every one of us to pause in our tracks. For the focus of this narrative from Mark 12:41-44 observes the heart of a widow and it’s the heart that the Lord takes into consideration. Let us then consider the ministries that we’re involved in and ask ourselves the question “do we give our time, energy, money, praise, worship out of a surplus of convenience or are we like the widow who gives her everything?”

Sitting across from the temple treasury, He watched how the crowd dropped money into the treasury. Many rich people were putting in large sums. ⁴² And a poor widow came and dropped in two tiny coins worth very little.^{[u] 43} Summoning His disciples, He said to them, “I assure you: This poor widow has put in more than all those giving to the temple treasury. ⁴⁴ For they all gave out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in everything she possessed—all she had to live on.” Mark 12:41-44

I’ve read and heard stories on reformers of the past, men who I consider ‘giants’ for the Lord. These ministries of which involve John Calvin, Charles Spurgeon, George Whitfield, David Brainard and Jonathan Edwards are admirable in their own right. And admittedly I fall into the trap of pride at times, presupposing that my ministries are of little value in comparison to these men. And yet when I read of a poor widow who puts two coins into the temple treasury, I’m humbled. What we don’t know about this woman is of equal importance to what we do know of this woman! We don’t know her name and nor do we know if she had any monetary blessing by the Lord. And yet, in her calling as a poor widow, she provides two coins offered up to the Lord. Perhaps this may have been enough for her to eat for one day. The point that Christ makes in verse 44 is simply put, she gave her everything! And though we may not know her name, she ought to be considered as a spiritual giant as well; someone whom we can look up to in admiration of their ministry to the Lord.

And so we ought to consider the things that we have. What Christ mentions of in verse 44 can also be applied to any aspect of our own ministry. For this woman presented her heart for everyone to see, it was obvious she loved the Lord her God. And thus we ought to consider this question “is the Lord precious in our life?” Do we have right affections like this widow? Are we too willing to give our everything for the ministry the Lord has called us to? I imagine this woman had immense trust in the Lord when she placed those two coins in to the temple treasury, her life given into the Lord’s hands. Do we trust the Lord like this woman did? Do we honour the Lord as this woman did with her life?

This passage is not so much about money as it is about where affections are. Christ makes this clear in the final verse, affections matter! Let us then encourage one another to strive, to press on and give our everything to the Lord! Whether it’s money, time, praise and worship, whatever it is, let us with confidence say that we’re running this race and just like the Apostle Paul, let’s have that confidence at the end of our time to look back over our life and say with consideration unto the Lord “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

The Joy of Knowing the Removal of Sin

 As we look at Psalm 32, we observe the position of the believer, in light of the Lord’s attributes of mercy and grace bestowed upon them. What is wonderful about this Psalm is that it begins with great confidence, knowing the believer’s sins are covered, guilt is removed and joy is replaced. The Psalm beings with acknowledging the great work of the Lord, of whose power and strength removes the guilty stain upon the believer in verses 1 – 2.

How joyful is the one
whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered!
² How joyful is the man
the Lord does not charge with sin
and in whose spirit is no deceit!

We see the condition of the believer in a sinful state, much like our very own! How often do we keep silent of our own sins? Consider that famous question the Lord asks of Adam in Genesis 3:9 “where are you?” This was not a question of where his physical presence was, for we know the Lord is omnipresent. His question was far greater, “where are you Adam? You have drifted from my commands, from my ways, from my love, from my perfection.” And likewise the Psalmist stresses that same distance of keeping silent, O how often we all as believers keep silent of our sin, feeling the dread of shame ensnare us! We’re not told what sin the Psalmist has committed, nor do I believe we need to know. This is purely between the Lord and the Psalmist. But we see its effect take its toll on the believer in verse 4, the guilt will not leave.

For day and night Your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was drained^[a]
as in the summer’s heat.Selah

What we see in this verse is the Lord sovereign over the believer, His presence forever with them pressing the Law upon the believer’s heart. Not as one who is a tyrant, but as one who desires to forgive! This is what we see in verse 5, the removal of sin and the guilty stain washed clean. The Lord expresses His attributes of love, mercy and grace upon the believer!

Then I acknowledged my sin to You

and did not conceal my iniquity.
I said,
“I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and You took away the guilt of my sin.Selah

In verses 6-7 we see a change, the believer praises the Lord and encourages the believers to praise the Lord in light of His bestowed mercy!

Therefore let everyone who is faithful pray to You
at a time that You may be found.^[b]
When great floodwaters come,
they will not reach him.
⁷ You are my hiding place;
You protect me from trouble.
You surround me with joyful shouts of deliverance

The Psalmist acknowledges the work of the Lord, His deliverance, His comfort and the immovable rock that is our Lord! This is the condition of the believer, a change of heart, a position that is able to look back on the past and recognise who they were in their sinful state and recognise the Lord’s deliverance. We kept silent, but the Lord pressed upon His law on our hearts. We confessed our sin to Him and He forgave us. What then shall we do in light of this great transformation? As the Psalmist has paved the way, we must praise the Lord in light of knowing He has delivered us from a guilty place.

There’s a change in verses 8-9, we know it’s not as if the Psalmist is speaking, for the Psalmist himself would not instruct the Lord.

I will instruct you and show you the way to go;
with My eye on you, I will give counsel.
⁹ Do not be like a horse or mule,
without understanding,
that must be controlled with bit and bridle
or else it will not come near you.

Therefore this verse is spoken as the Lord speaks directly to the Psalmist. What a comfort this is! The Lord provides instruction, His counsel and His commands! He presents a way in which we ought to live, not as one who is controlled with constant discipline as the horse and mule are with bit and bridle. But as one who recognises His counsel in all things, as one who recognises the path that is made clear by the Lord.

Many pains come to the wicked,
but the one who trusts in the Lord
will have faithful love surrounding him.
¹¹ Be glad in the Lord and rejoice,
you righteous ones;
shout for joy,
all you upright in heart.

We see in this conclusion a contrast between the wicked and the faithful. Perhaps this is in light of knowing that the Lord’s counsel is upon the faithful and thus the wicked are without the direction of the Lord and His instruction. Thus it is right to suggest that “many pains come to the wicked”. But as the Psalmist suggests our trust ought to be in the Lord, for His love is never ending and His mercy covers a multitude of sins. Therefore it is right that the psalmist concludes by showing us where our affections ought to be. We must rejoice in the Lord, we must take delight in the Lord.

This Psalm pivots so much on the Christian walk of today! We easily fall into sin and become so ashamed that we are silent from seeking God. And yet, His hand is heavy upon is in a way that reveals the law of righteousness in conjunction with the sin we have committed. Not in an accusatory way, but in a way that reveals God’s mercy. Yes we may endure guilt from our sin, but we ought to remember how the Psalmist has acknowledged his sin and how the Lord removed a guilty stain. Thus the Lord’s attributes of love, grace and mercy are forever upon His people. We ought not to dabble in silence, away from the Lord but to confess our sin with many tears and seek the Lord for forgiveness.