Good, Yes, but for Whom? – The Purpose of the Law

Good, Yes, but for Whom?

Romans 7:12

So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

Few Christians will quibble with the Apostle Paul over his assertion that the Law of God is holy and righteous and good. Paul had earlier argued that the righteousness of the Law could not save us. That is, we cannot, by trying to keep the Law, achieve a righteousness that will put us in favor with God (Rom. 3.1-20). And yet the Law is involved in our salvation, because the righteousness God requires for those who would dwell in His presence is that same righteousness of the Law. Because of our sin we are not capable of attaining it; however, Christ Jesus did attain that righteousness in complete and exhaustive detail, righteousness only He could achieve, which God is pleased to credit to all who trust in Jesus for salvation. But because we are not saved by the Law does not mean we may simply disregard it, having come to faith in Christ (Rom. 3.31). The Law is now established as a holy and righteous and good standard to guide us in learning to love God and our neighbors (Matt. 22.34-40). But for whom is it such a standard? For Christians only? Did God only intend that His people should be bound by the Law? That seems difficult on the surface. Since the Law is holy and righteous and good, ought we not to expect that it would be such a standard for all people – not for salvation, but for guidance in the ways of love?

What evidence can you point to in our own legal system to suggest that, whether or not they acknowledge it, Americans understand their need for their Law of God?

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“In the Gates” is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore

T. M. Moore is editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001,2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Editor’s note: The use of a translation other than the Authorised Version in an article does not constitute an endorsement in whole or in part by The Christian Observer.