Discovery
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The law, according to John Calvin, has many various functions. Why is it so important to study this? For many reasons. The law and it’s functions are so important to study because they are the very rules and regulations that the God of the universe, who made us and knows what is best for us, gave us to follow. If God, knowing the temptation and struggles that entangle us gives us rules to follow, then they must go along with what He knows is best for us, and will keep us from the very things that entangle our lives (sin). Also, it’s important to study what functions of the law one believes because different denominations believe different functions of the law. The other part of the research I had to study was how Calvin’s view of the law and how it functions, differs from that of Martin Luther’s view of the law and how it functions. This is important to look at because it is good to know which theology and functions one agrees with. It’s important to have roots planted in what we believe because at one point or another, questions do arise in our lives where we are put in a position where we have to explain what we believe and why. That is why it is important to research and know deeply the roots of what we believe. This understanding of the law is so key in our relationship that we have with God because it sets the parameters that God holds us in because he knows and wants what is best for us.
The various functions of the law that Calvin writes about can be started off by saying that first of all, the law is not a set of rules set up in order to keep God’s people away from Him, but it is there to draw us closer. In the Old Testament’s case, the law was set up to mentally prepare God’s people for the coming of Christ. The law had to have sacrifices of beasts in order for the shedding of blood which would be overthrown with the death and forgiveness of sins with Christ. The law is ended with the coming of Christ to everyone who believes that He is the son of God. The law is put in place to show that man is not righteous and we are condemned under the law if Christ did not die for us. Also, eternal life is absolutely not given to us by following the law alone. Christ is the mediator and the gateway between us and heaven. However, those who have a personal relationship with Christ should see the law as a lifestyle that gives us a peace about our eternal reward. On the other hand, no man is perfect and can keep a full obedience to the law itself. It is in the Scriptures that we can not be perfect. “There is one who does not sin (1 Kings 8:46). When we really take a look at the law, it leads us to a certain death because we are not capable of following it whole-heartedly. So where do we go from there? God gives us the opportunity to obtain the means that we lack in understanding and obeying the law. Since we do sin, it is impossible for us to save ourselves, but with God in our lives, we have the ability to be saved because of God’s love and mercy. The law shows our weakness and the power of God. In our weakness we can go to God and be given strength. In Interpreting John Calvin by Ford Lewis Battles, he writes that the three function of the law are to reform the one who was punished, punishing the person to make the rest better, remove the bad individuals. As we can see, there are many different ways to interpret John Calvin’s views of the three-fold law. However, I feel that he words it in the easiest way that can be understood and broken down. Battles also looks more along the lines of the Old Testament Law to come up with his three-fold view and roles for the Law.
The moral law is given to us to “warn, inform, convict, and condemn.” The reason the law does these things is because it shows that we are unrighteous and that God is truly righteous. Also, if man were to make rules for himself, then it would lead to a spirit and false sense of pride. With the law, it gives us the ability to acknowledge and know that we are sinners if we disobey it. “Through the law comes knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20). In the Ten Commandments given to Moses, the people are given ten rules that are basically black and white of things not to do to others, and not to do period. The whole fact that we are sinners and have total depravity means that there is never a way for us to experience the perfect and wonderful life that God had planned for us under the law. This shows how much God loves us. Even though we can’t be perfect and enjoy the law, God’s grace, love, and mercy flows freely to us because it is needed. We have to rely on God because we are not capable of following the law on our own.
Augustine speaks on this subject wonderfully when he basically says that God set up rules and regulations that we, in no way, can meet the standards of or obey, so that we may seek God and His ways, so that we may be able to follow what He asks of us. So God commands of us the very things that are only capable when we seek Him wholeheartedly. Ultimately, the law, which we can not meet, draws us closer to the very heart of God.
On the other hand, not everyone is a follower of God, so what role does the law play in their lives? The law is set up in order to frighten men from doing what they ought not to be doing. They have no sense of what is actually just (just in God’s eyes) or what is right. So when the law was set, the consequences of breaking or disobeying the laws was motive enough for man not to go down the road that would lead them to walk outside of the boundaries set up by God. Just with anyone else though, the more they tried to keep from the disobeying the law, the more it burned in them, but they still did not act. Ultimately, it is a slight progress because they do still disobey inwardly in their minds, but the physical act is put at bay. 1st timothy 1:9-10 states that “the law is for the unjust, disobedient, ungodly, sinners, unholy, profane, murderers, manslayers, fornicators, perverts, kidnapers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else runs counter to sound doctrine.” This sums up that those who have yet to receive Christ into their lives are held in some sort of a check by fear of God.
The proper purpose of the law is found in the followers of Christ. The truth behind this topic is the fact that when one comes to a knowledge and a personal relationship with Christ, he or she has a longing desire to want to know God deeper. Ultimately this deals with the law because one wants to obey what God commands of them in order to glorify the one who has set them free. If one wants to know how to glorify and serve God, they seek an intimate relationship and knowledge of Him in order to serve Him the way that we are supposed to