The Three Uses of the Law

The Bible teaches that there are three uses of the Law.

1. The Law INSTRUCTS believers how they are to please God. In Romans 8:1-4 Paul states that the reason why we are saved is so that 'the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit'. The believer delights in the Law of God (Romans 7:22). The Law is no longer his foe, but his friend, guiding him in his sanctification. It is, as James says, 'the perfect law of liberty.'

2. The Law also INHIBITS. It restrains men from the more gross, external wickedness that they would otherwise do. It does not restrain all sin, of course, nor does the Law have the power to change a person's heart. But the threatenings of the Law through conscience (Romans 1:32; 2:14,15) or through the civil magistrate (Romans 13:3) serve to keep men's wickedness in bounds.

3. The Law of God also IMPELS. That is, it shows men their sin (Romans 7:7) and their need of a Savior. If the Law is properly understood, it not only shows man's sinfulness, but his hopelessness apart from a Savior. It is precisely through the law (the bad news) that the sinner is prepared for the gospel (the good news). This is why the Apostle Paul spent almost three whole chapters in Romans 1-3 dealing with sin, before he ever mentions the good news of the gospel. People must first 'get lost' before they can 'get saved'.

In all three uses, we see that there is 'grace' in Law.