Wednesday: Different Functions of God’s Law
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 20th of August 2025
The law of God reveals God’s character, who He is. As God is holy, righteous, and good, so also is His law. Paul confirms: “So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Romans 7:12, ESV).
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In the Bible, the law of God is seen in a very positive light (Matthew 5:17-18; John 14:15; 1 Corinthians 7:19). One may create poems on the law (see Psalms 119:1-176), sing about the law (Psalms 19:1-14), and meditate on it day and night (Psalms 1:2, Joshua 1:8). The law helps keep one from evil and gives wisdom, understanding, health, prosperity, and peace (Deuteronomy 4:1-6; Proverbs 2:1-22; Proverbs 3:1-35).
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God’s law is like a fence that creates a large free space for life and warns that—beyond a specific point—danger, problems, complications, and even death await (Genesis 2:16-17; James 2:12).
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The law is also a signpost pointing to Jesus, who forgives our sins and changes our lives (2 Corinthians 5:17, 1 John 1:7-9). In this way, it leads us as a paidagogos, a custodian/guardian, to Christ (Galatians 3:24).
Read James 1:23-25. What is he saying, and how do these words help us realize what the function and importance of the law is, even though it cannot save us?
A mirror can reveal your defects, yes. But there is nothing in the mirror that can cure them. The mirror points to the problems but offers no solution to the problems. It’s the same with God’s law. Trying to be justified before God by keeping the law would be like staring at the mirror in hopes that, sooner or later, the mirror will make your defects go away.
Because salvation is by faith and not by works—including works of the law—some Christians claim that the law is done away with and that we no longer have to keep it. Of course, considering that the law itself is what defines sin—“I would not have known sin except through the law” (Romans 7:7, NKJV)—this claim is a gross misinterpretation of the relationship of the law to the gospel. The existence of the law is precisely why we need the gospel.
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How successful have you been in your attempts to obey God’s law? Well enough to base your salvation on it? If not, why do you need the gospel? |
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We often argue that that the Ten Commandments have two sections. The first section is about our relationship with God, while the second section is about our relationship with others. I submit there is a third element implicit in these commandments, the relationship we have with ourselves. We can easily describe the first nine commandments about things we should do and not do, but the tenth commandment is really about who we are. It is about what goes on in our hearts and minds, that we are experts in hiding from others. If you run off with someone’s spouse, even a blind person can see what you have done. But holding the thought in your mind is something that can be hidden and nurtured without anyone knowing. That is why Commandment Ten holds us accountable to ourselves.
If we look at the biblical literature that describes the failure of the Hebrews (and if we are honest, our failures too), the weak point in our obedience generally starts with number 10.
When we were created God placed his law in our hearts. The fall occurred when we replaced that law by our own selfish desires. God’s greatest desire is for us to have the law back in our hearts again.
The Bible is filled with references to this principle. The Psalmist wrote:
Paul takes up the theme:
The restoration is not a republication of the Ten Commandments sculpted into the walls of public buildings, nor in the distribution of moral manifestos on the Internet but is the changes that occur when we allow God to renew our hearts. Understanding the application of Commandment Ten is the key to understanding the other nine. How easily we hide that commandment from ourselves!