The Misuse of the Law
Many people misunderstand the role of God’s law in sanctification. Some think the law is the source of holiness and attempt to obey it in their own strength, believing they can earn God’s favor. Others reject the law entirely, assuming it has no relevance to the Christian life. Both errors lead to spiritual ruin.
The truth is that the law cannot make us holy by itself. It reveals God’s perfect standard of righteousness and convicts us of sin, but it does not have the power to transform us. Paul writes:
“By works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).
The Law as a Guide
Although the law cannot sanctify us, it remains a vital guide for the Christian life. It shows us what pleases God and directs us in how to live as His redeemed people. As David declared:
“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97).
The law also serves as a mirror, reflecting the holiness of God and our need for His grace.
The Relationship Between Law and Gospel
To properly understand the role of the law, we must see it in light of the gospel. The law and the gospel are not opposed to each other; instead, they work together in God’s plan of salvation.
The Law Drives Us to Christ
The law reveals our sin and our inability to keep God’s commands, leading us to despair of self-righteousness and turn to Christ for salvation:
“So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith” (Galatians 3:24).
The Gospel Empowers Obedience to the Law
Once we are united to Christ by faith, the gospel empowers us to obey God’s law out of gratitude and love, not as a means of earning His favor. Paul explains:
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives” (Titus 2:11–12).
The Law Written on Our Hearts
Through the work of the Holy Spirit, the moral law is written on our hearts in the new covenant. This fulfills the promise given through the prophet Jeremiah:
“I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people” (Jeremiah 31:33).
When the law is written on our hearts, we obey not out of fear of punishment but out of a sincere desire to please God. Our obedience is a response to His grace and an expression of our love for Him:
“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3).
The Spirit’s Role in Sanctification
The Holy Spirit is essential in helping us obey the law. He renews our minds, strengthens our wills, and produces the fruit of righteousness in our lives. Paul reminds us:
“Walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
It is only by the Spirit’s power that we can fulfill the righteous requirements of the law:
“For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:3–4).
Avoiding Legalism and Antinomianism
In our pursuit of holiness, we must avoid two dangerous extremes:
Legalism
Legalism occurs when we rely on the law as the basis of our acceptance with God. It leads to self-righteousness, pride, and despair. We must remember that our justification and sanctification are grounded in Christ’s finished work, not in our obedience to the law.
Antinomianism
Antinomianism rejects the law entirely, claiming that grace frees us from any obligation to obey God’s commands. This mindset leads to licentiousness and dishonors the gospel. Paul strongly refutes this error:
“What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” (Romans 6:15).
Conclusion
The law cannot sanctify us, but it remains a crucial guide for our lives. It reveals God’s will, convicts us of sin, and drives us to Christ. Through the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to obey the law as an expression of love and gratitude to God. In this way, the law and the gospel work together to promote true holiness in the life of the believer.
This has been a modern English translation of Chapter 5 of The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification by Walter Marshall.
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