A Three-Fold Use of the Law

For some, there is a distinguishing view of the covenants in the Bible. Some will argue that only two covenants matter: the old covenant of works and the new covenant of grace. The law is associated with the covenant of works, and the covenant of grace is the gospel. Many will argue that the law, and with that, the covenant of works, is now obsolete and has no bearing on our lives because of the covenant of grace and the freedom found in the gospel. But this is where we must be careful and consider how the law is helpful for Christians today. On the one hand, all grace and no law can lead to antinomianism; on the other hand, all law and no grace can lead to legalism. Consider John Calvin’s three-fold use of the law.

The Law Condemns

Calvin’s first use of the law is that in its condemnation of our conscience, we are driven to implore Divine assistance (Inst. II, vii, 9). Augustine says about the law itself, “But God commands some things which we cannot do, in order that we may know what we ought to ask of Him.” The law reveals within us what we cannot do, which is to keep the law, and drives us to our knees to seek the grace of God in helping us. The law exposes us; it lays open the fact that we are powerless to keep the law as it was given, and we are powerless to bring our own justification and righteousness by keeping it. If we are powerless, we must rest in the arms of Christ, who has kept the law perfectly for us, for He is not powerless as we are. So, the law reveals and condemns while simultaneously moving us toward Himself in Christ.

The Law Restrains

Restraint of the Wicked

In this second use of the law, the law acts as a restraint on a society of unjust men, as the law is written on the hearts of all humankind (Inst. II, vii, 10). Paul reveals this use of the law in Romans when he says, “They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus. (Rom. 2:15-26)” We all know murder is wrong. We all know that lying is wrong. We all know that stealing is wrong. This is because of the moral law that God has written on the hearts of men to restrain an evil society from indulging in the sinful lusts of the heart. Our conscience bears witness to this; it convicts us, and for some, it is used as a justification.

Restraint of those not yet Regenerated.

But there is yet another aspect of this second use of the law, namely how it applies to those whom God will regenerate unto life by the power of Christ at some other point in time. In the first place, this second use of the law serves to restrain all those who are unregenerate and unfit to receive the grace of God in Christ until the law humbles them. In the second place, it serves to restrain those whom God will call unto himself, from “giving full scope to their passions, and thereby utterly losing all desire after righteousness. (Inst. II, vii, 11).” From one degree to another, even before we are found in Christ, God keeps us for himself, restraining us from the sinful passions of our hearts. For a time, the law is a schoolmaster, training us, preparing us, and finally, bringing us to Christ (Gal. 3:24). The law is a good grace given by God to restrain us and move us toward Himself.

The Law Sanctifies

In Calvin’s third use of the law, it is the law that reveals the will of God and urges us on into sanctification. “For it is the best instrument for enabling them daily to learn with greater truth and certainty what that will of the Lord is which they aspire to follow, and to confirm them in this knowledge; just as a servant who desires with all his soul to approve himself to his master, must still observe, and be careful to ascertain his master’s dispositions, that he may comport himself in accommodation to them. (Inst. II, vii, 12).” The law not only reveals the will of God to us, but it urges us to conform ourselves to that will. The law shows us precisely what God expects of his people. Calvin then says, “The Law acts like a whip to the flesh, urging it on as men do a lazy sluggish ass. (Inst, II, vii, 12).” The law never lets us rest. It reminds us that we have work to do and can always get better at obeying God, even though we war against our flesh. As we look at the law, we are looking at the very will of God, and we see what ought to be. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the law is still relevant in the life of Christians and society. The law stands to reveal our weaknesses, restrain evil hearts, and show us God’s will in sanctification. In each of these views of the law, the law drives us to our knees in humility as we seek our strength and justification in Christ alone. Therefore, the law is a God-given grace that brings us to our King’s throne. It is not that the old covenant is obsolete and no longer helpful in our lives; we don’t see it rightly, as the church fathers like Calvin saw it. Let us not despise the law, for the law is good and reveals the Lord to us. Instead, let us know the law as a good and helpful means that ultimately leads us to Christ.

Augustine of Hippo. “A Treatise on Grace and Free Will.”Saint Augustin: Anti-Pelagian Writings, edited by Philip Schaff, translated by Peter Holmes, vol. 5, Christian Literature Company, 1887, p. 457.