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!
Very True! I had never thought of it this was! No. 10 is truly hiding in plain sight, is really a fundamental factor that spurs us to be in rebellion with God. Thank you
I agree with what you said about the 10th commandment. For a long time I have maintained that the first sin committed was Lucifer's sin of coveting.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” (Psalms 19:7-8, NIV).
Besides the spiritual aspects of the moral law, literally, this world would be a better place to live in if all countries of the world applied it as part of their code of law. The practical benefits of God’s law cannot be overemphasized enough. God wants us to live a happy and more fulfilled life before He comes to take us home. This was God’s intent before sin caused the wreckage of perfect creation. I just want to highlight the practical and tangible benefits that accrue from the application of God’s moral law.
1. “Do not kill” – Societies where violence, murder, and oppression are minimised flourish, are peaceful, and live a happier life.
2. “Do not steal” and “Do not bear false witness” – Trust and stability among people are promoted. Honesty and fairness are cherished. Economic and legal systems cannot work in the absence of trust.
3. “Honor your father and mother” and “Do not commit adultery” – Family is the very foundation of happiness, peace, and joy here on earth. God knew so, and hence He created the first human family. Strong families create strong communities, and strong communities create stable and prosperous nations.
4. “Keep the sabbath holy” – Rights and equality are the very foundations of peaceful, stable, and happy nations. Dignity, respect, and rest are the basic rights of all people and animals. Workers need rest, animals need rest, the earth needs rest, and machines need rest.
5. “Do not covet” – Jealousy promotes corruption, theft, and wars. Covetousness is destructive and inherently evil. May we learn to be content (Philippians 4:11).
Before God comes to take us home, He desires this world to be livable, just, and humane. One may wish to call it “a divine social contract”.
Most people often view life as merit-based structured system whereby If I obey the law, then I am good and God is pleased. This way of thinking is in line with Aristotle, who assumed that the outside determines the inside—that behavior defines identity. The Pharisees thought this way too, guarding outward purity to secure inward holiness. Yet Jesus turned this upside down when he taught that defilement comes not from what enters the mouth but from what proceeds from the heart (Matt. 15:10–11, 18–20). God’s law exposes not just external conduct but the inner root of sin.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus presses the law to its true depth: anger equals murder, lust equals adultery, and perfection is the standard (Matt. 5:21–48). The law, then, is not merely about avoiding bad actions but about the heart’s condition before God. Its purpose is to reveal that righteousness cannot be earned from the outside in but must flow from an inner purity that only God provides.
The law demonstrates that we are unable to be good on ourselves like seen in Paul’s struggle in Romans 7:19: “For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” This captures the deep tension between our desire to obey God’s law and the reality of our sinful nature. Paul concludes that deliverance does not come from our own willpower or efforts but from Christ: “Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Rom. 7:24–25). Thus the law shows us our need, and the gospel supplies the answer—Jesus fulfills the law perfectly on our behalf and gives us new hearts by his Spirit so that we may walk in newness of life (Rom. 8:1–4).
The question at the end of today's study is again so much on point. The author, after clearly outlining the in-depth function, intent, and purpose of the law, throws a spanner to the works with that question.
I pray we could really pause and reflect on the question.
Maybe we could rephrase it to be more like: With the commandments, the statutes, and with the prophets, how then do we miss out on understanding that the law represents God's character and points us to a need for a Savior and Advocate who is Christ? (1 John 2:1)
Just like in history, humanity has a tendency to see or believe what they want to believe. The children of Israel, after God's intervention through the bronze serpent on the stake, over time forgot the miracle of God's mercy and saving grace. As it is written,
In the end, they started to bring offerings, sacrifices, and worship to the bronze snake as a savior, which is reminiscent of the scripture that says,
Today, we might be in the same quagmire. We have kept the Sabbath, observed the commandment, but we might have forgotten "the function of the law". Now, we might have begun the process of worshipping the Sabbath, being perfect in our standard, comparing the Sunday worshipper, and even condemning them to damnation.
Our minds and lack of study deceive us into believing that through our own effort, we can access heaven.
I was intrigued by the lesson author’s use of the term, paidagogos. It was an unfamiliar word to me. So, I asked Dr Google what it meant. I learned that “in ancient Greece and Rome, a paidagogos (παιδαγωγός) was a slave or freedman entrusted with the care and supervision of a young boy, typically from the age of seven until he reached adulthood. Their role extended beyond mere guardianship, encompassing moral guidance, discipline, and ensuring the boy's proper conduct and education.”
I learned from my word study that God’s commandments, like the paidagogos, are responsible for my safety. They ensure that I am not exposed to danger or negative influences. They offer moral guidance and help to shape my character according to God’s expectations for members of His family. While the law is not my primary instructor (the Holy Spirit is), the paidagogos plays the role of ensuring I pay attention and follow the Holy Spirit’s lessons.
I learned that the paidagogos's authority was temporary, ending when the boy reached adulthood. Likewise, the Law of God is only necessary until I reach the stage of maturity where God’s character will be written on my heart. What a powerful analogy!
Jocelyn, I am not sure if it is your intent to say that once we come to Christ the law no longer applies by the following: "I learned that the paidagogos's authority was temporary, ending when the boy reached adulthood. Likewise, the Law of God is only necessary until I reach the stage of maturity where God’s character will be written on my heart."
My understanding is that the paidagogos had temporary authority, guiding the child until maturity. In a similar way, the Law served as a guardian, pointing us to Christ. Once we belong to Him, we are no longer under the Law’s condemnation, but that doesn’t mean the Law is discarded. Instead, God writes His character on our hearts so that obedience flows from love rather than compulsion. What a powerful analogy of how the gospel transforms our relationship to God’s Law!
It is our privilege also to glory in the cross of Calvary, our privilege to give ourselves wholly to Him who gave Himself for us. Then with the light of love that shines from His face on ours, we shall go forth to reflect it to those in darkness. (RH April 29, 1902)
The question is asked, "Why do we need the gospel?" The words of the following song by F E. Belden provide the answer and point out the role of the law:
1 Look upon Jesus, sinless is He;
Father, impute His life unto me.
My life of scarlet, my sin and woe,
Cover with His life, whiter than snow.
Refrain
Cover with His life, whiter than snow;
Fullness of His life then shall I know;
My life of scarlet, my sin and woe,
Cover with His life, whiter than snow.
2 Deep are the wounds transgression has made;
Red are the stains; my soul is afraid.
O to be covered, Jesus, with Thee,
Safe from the law that now judgeth me!
3 Longing the joy of pardon to know;
Jesus holds out a robe white as snow;
“Lord, I accept it! Leaving my own,
Gladly I wear Thy pure life alone.”
4 Reconciled by His death for my sin,
Justified by His life pure and clean,
Sanctified by obeying His word,
Glorified when returneth my Lord.
The term “Paidagogos” is not necessary to make the intended point.
Yes, I agree with that ‘the existence of the law is precisely why we need the gospel'. Though, in my understanding, it is not necessarily the ‘why’ we need the gospel as it is more because I see them as brothers, witnesses, inseparable twins, expressing the revelation that man has a Creator who offers/invites man to unite with Him.
There is something ‘limiting’ about defining God’s attributes/aspects as His ‘character’. One could accept that pagan gods have a humanlike ‘character’ – good and bad, but what about God who declares Himself to be Spirit, worshipped in Spirit and Truth? How does ‘character’, implying ‘change’, fit in with God’s declaration of Himself as - ‘I AM WHO I AM – "I never change"? Malachi 3:6.
Maybe we try to simplify our understanding of God because He manifested in the form of His Son Jesus Christ who displayed a ‘character’. But this is only the visual, observable evidence of Himself and His Being. Christ's ’Being’ would need to be understood in it’s spiritual application – Love. Therefore, I do not think it wise to give God a ‘character’, as He transcends/encompasses all ‘identifiers’ – He is not ‘good’ or ‘bad’ – He just IS -, the essence of Love.
Rev.1:8 - When considering the different 'functions' of God’s Law, one would need to consider the author of the Law. I understand the Law giving form to His Spirit in ways man can understand and relate to. When considering His immutable Law with/from a spiritual perspective, ‘Love’ is coming to mind. He is Love - the singular, working principle of Spirit and Truth which undergirds and fills all life – 1 John 4:8; 1 John 4:16. .
The gospel was preached before there was The Law, the Ten Commandments, the Old Covenant (Jn 8:56; Gal 3:8). The gospel makes manifest the Covenant of Salvation, the New Covenant, the everlasting covenant administered by the Holy Spirit and mediated by Christ with its peculiar priesthood, the Melchizedek priesthood. The Law, Old Covenant was mediated by Moses with its peculiar Levitical priesthood.
God was specific about His purpose for bringing in the Old Covenant, the Law:
i. “… whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God…for through Law comes the knowledge of sin (Rom 3:19,20)
ii. “Law came in so that the transgression would increase…” (Rom 5:20)
“…Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good (the Law). So that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.” (Rom 7:13).
iii. “Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions … until the Seed would come to to whom the promise had been made… but before Faith came, we were kept in custody under law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefor the Law has become our tutor to Christ, so that we may justified by faith. But now that Faith has come we are no longer under a tutor. For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:19-26).
Sons/daughters are not put under law (Gal 4:4-7). Servants/slaves in the house are put under law and they are put out of the house unless they are freed by the Son (Jn 8:34-36; Gal 4:21-31).
Those who clamor for the Law, Old Covenant, must know that a Levitical priesthood is needed to administer it. The priesthood cannot be separated out of the covenant (Heb 7:11,12). Christ could not be a priest on earth because they offer gifts according to the Law (Heb 8:4). According to the New Covenant Christ so thoroughly dealt with sin He pledged to remember our sins no more (Jer 31:34; Heb 10:17). Why would the Law, the power and strength of sin, be prominent in this covenant of grace?
Perhaps the lesson needs to answer the question of what law is. As Adventists, we usually mean law = 10 commandments and interpret the texts accordingly, but as I read the verses in today's lesson, it's pretty clear that some of them do not refer to the Ten Commandments or do not refer to them exclusively. Law for Israel refered to many laws and sometimes even the Torah itself. We have to be careful that we are being honest with the text, even in our zealousness for the law. For example, when Jesus said "If you love me, you will keep my commandments", was He talking about the Ten Commandments? In a sense, yes, as He gave them. But when looking at the context of that verse, the focus is on living in love. This isn't at odds with the 10 commandments of course, but so much more.
Also, saying the law reveals God's character is not wrong, but again, if we reduce the Law to the 10 commandments we can have some pretty funny concepts. Can God honor father and mother? Commit adultery? Obviously not. The principles behind the laws are attributes of God and ultimately the laws reflect love which is the ultimate law, but the 10 commandments are specific applications for humans.
I'm not saying this because I don't believe in the Ten Commandments. I absolutely do, but we have to be honest about them and not be terrified that somehow people will decide not to keep the Sabbath if we are.
I agree Christina that there are many aspects to the "Law". Romans 8:1-4 explains that there are 2 "Laws". ...the "law" of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus and the "law" of sin and death. If Christ is in us than we are no longer under the law. Could we say we are above the law?!. "There is therefore no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. Rom 8:1 Wonderful promise!!