These are important questions, especially since the heresy of Antinomianism continues to gain more traction in our churches today.
Calvin And The Three Functions of God's Law
In his Institutes of the Christian Religion, the 16th-century Reformer, John Calvin noted that the Law of God had three functions. Those three functions are:
- Usus Theologicus - The first function of the Law is to act as a mirror. This is the "Theological Use". It reflects the perfect righteousness of God, and our own corruption and shortcomings. The Law is meant to give us knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20; 4:15; 5:13; 7:7-11), and by showing us our need for pardon, it drives us to Christ.
- Usus Politicus - The second function of the Law is to restrain evil. This is the "Civil or Political Use". The Law cannot change a persons heart, but it can inhibit lawlessness by its threats of judgment, especially when it is backed by a civil code that administers punishment for offenses (Deuteronomy 13:6-11; 19:16-21; Romans 13:3-4). In this sense, it secures civil or political order.
- Usus Practicus - The third function of the Law is to reveal God's will for living. This is the "Practical Use". It guides the regenerate person into the good works which God has planned for them (Ephesians 2:10). The Law reveals what it is that pleases God. Christ affirmed this third use of the Law (Matthew 28:20). Christians are free from the law as a system of salvation (Romans 6:14; Galatians 2:15-19), but Christians are "under the law of Christ" (1 Corinthians 9:21; Galatians 6:2).
The 1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith & The Baptist Catechism On The Law
The Second London Baptist Confession and the Baptist Catechism also affirms these three uses of the Law. Question & Answer 89 in the Catechism states that the purpose of the Law since the fall is "to reveal the perfect righteousness of God, that his people might know the path of faith that leads to life, and that the ungodly may be convicted of their sin, restrained from evil, and brought to Christ for salvation". In chapter 19, article 5, the Confession states that "the moral law ever binds to obedience everyone, justified people as well as others, and not only out of regard for the matter contained in it, but also out of respect for the authority of God the Creator, Who gave the law. Nor does Christ in the Gospel dissolve this law in any way, but He considerably strengthens our obligation to obey it."
Both the Catechism and Confession affirm that there is a theological use of the law, which acts as a mirror that reflects God's righteousness, and our shortcomings. Likewise, both also affirm that there is a civil or political use of the law which restrains evil, and finally that there is a practical use, which reveals God's will for living and that which is pleasing to Him.
Concluding Thoughts
If the function of the Law in the Christian life today seems unclear, it is only because over time false teachings has made it that way. The law serves a threefold function in the life of the Christian today. It serves as a mirror, which drives us to Christ. It serves as a restraint from evil, and it reveals to us what God's will is in regards to Christian living. There are some over the course of church history and even today that say that the Law "should not be urged upon Christians and the true believers, but only upon the unbelieving, unchristians, and impenitent". Those that make such statements by default must deny the third use of the law which states that the Law reveals God's will for living. This is the function that Christ Himself affirmed in Matthew's Gospel (Matthew 28:20).
Bibliography
- http://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/articles/onsite/sproul/threefold_law.html
- http://www.ligonier.org/blog/threefold-use-law/
- http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/a-baptist-catechism
- http://www.spurgeon.org/~phil/creeds/bcof.htm#part19
- http://www.bookofconcord.org/sd-thirduse.php
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