The Third Use of the Law

The Ten Commandments won't budge. They are written in stone with the mighty finger of God. That same finger that flicked aside another stone that was not suppose to budge, namely the stone that had been rolled in front of the entrance to the tomb of Jesus and sealed! And when that stone was rolled away to reveal the empty grave, it announced to the world and the devil and his demons that the perfect sacrifice of Jesus, the payment for our sins was accepted by God! The death of Jesus on the cross appeased the anger of God against all who have broken the Ten Commandments, the resurrection of Jesus was the proof that God accepted His sacrifice for the sins of the world. 1Jo 2:1,2 says, “My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation (the appeasement) for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. With our debt being paid and received by faith in Jesus Christ, we can now begin a journey of living and loving in the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit as we seek to employ the Law and it's third use, namely as a guide for the regenerated man. This use instructs those who have been saved by grace through faith in the how to's of loving God and neighbor. It cannot save us, only show us how to love God and neighbor in God-pleasing ways. As a guide, it's like a Sherpa in the Himalayas, it can steer us clear of pitfalls that could indeed endanger our eternal safety. Or have you not heard that idolaters, murderers, liars, fornicators, thieves, etc will not inherit the kingdom of God? Knowing the Ten Commandments of God will help the believer to steer clear of these damnable pitfalls. Thank God, the Ten Commandments won't budge! They are there to curb sin in this word! They are there to show us our sin and need for a Savior, and they are there to serve as a guide for the regenerated, born again believer in Christ. They don't drift that we may not drift. Like a lighthouse they keep us on the course of proper love of God and neighbor and guard us from the deadly shoals of sin, that threaten to shipwreck our faith! Thank You Lord for Your Law! May it ever serve it's purposes until Jesus returns. May it drive us to the cross often as we see how far short we fall in loving You and others. Forgive us for all our trespasses, all our violations of Your Law, and give us a new resolve to seek to obey in order that we may truly love You and others in Jesus Name, Amen