Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law. Romans 3.31

The Law is useful in the life of the Church, in the first instance, because the Spirit of God uses it to teach and convict us concerning sin.

Second, Paul insists that the Law of God marks out the path of holiness, righteousness and goodness for the believer, who has been redeemed by grace through faith unto a life of good works (Rom. 7.12; Eph. 2.8-10). Again, the Spirit within us works not only to convict us of sin, but also to convict us of righteousness (Jn. 16.8-11), and the holy and righteous and good Law of God is His curriculum of choice (Ezek. 36.26, 27).

Finally, the Law of God puts in stark relief the law of sin that operates within us as result of the lingering effects of the fall (Rom. 7.21-23); thus the Spirit uses the Law to warn us of divine displeasure, should we choose to follow the law of sin instead of the Law of God, and of Fatherly discipline which will surely ensue (Jn. 16.8-11; Heb. 12.10, 11). By appealing to the Law of God, the Spirit of God convicts the world, and us the people of God, of sin, righteousness, and judgment.

The Law of God is thus essential to such elemental aspects of the life of faith as spiritual growth, being equipped for ministry, exercising church discipline, stimulating one another to love and good works, raising our children unto the Lord, admonishing, correcting, and teaching one another, and understanding and learning from the trials and afflictions God brings our way from time to time.

Shall we abolish this holy and righteous and good Law? As Paul would say, “Heaven forbid!”

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