A Fourth Use of the Law

Any student of church history will become aware of the debates and controversies, especially among the Protestant Reformers, over the contemporary role and relevance of Old Testament Law. For Luther and Calvin there was agreemetn on what has been called the pedagogical or theological use of the Law. As St. Paul puts it in the Letter to the Galatians (3:23-25, NRSV): “Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the law was our disciplinarian until Christ came [JHV: “scholmaster to lead us to Christ”], so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian.” The Decalogue, the heart of the Law, teaches (hence, “pedagogical”) God’s standards to all who will listen. The realization that we cannot adequately measure up to these divine standards is expected to motivate us to turn in repentance and faith to Jesus Christ as Savior, Lord ,and God. The Law has then done its first great work.

Read more of A Fourth Use of the Law? The Decalogue in the Workplace by David W. Gill here.