The Law of God and Evangelism

Paul writes to Timothy that the end time period will be characterized by a departing from the faith, and to the Thessalonians a heightened degree of lawlessness. Our world are more and more a society which become evidently more and more lawless. Jesus said “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.” (Matthews 24:12) The word use here for “iniquity” means “the violation of law” or “the condition of without law” and contempt of the law. So because lawlessness shall “abound” that is: increase or multiply, the love of many shall wax cold – that is shall reduce its warmth and temperature, and steadily, gradually, not at one moment, slowly, little by little, over time shall reduce its effective warmth and character.

Now what is more important to notice is the use in which the Lord Jesus portrait this statement. It is because of a violation of the law that the “love of many” will wax cold. The reason stated is of such that the law will be violated and the direct result will be a steady gradually reducing of love. When one looks at first to this statement of the Lord Jesus, we automatic assume that that the Lord Jesus speaks about a godless society and are pointing to people in their natural state. But when looking at this statement from its context, what we find is most significant! The key word that unlocks this even more is the word the Lord Jesus used here for love. In what context do Christ use this word. Now, if you see this and your eyes are open to this you will immediately understand the seriousness of this statement. The word used here for “love” is “agape” bringing out such a serious declaration at hand. Agape is the Biblical use of the word to describe God’s love or the love which God have and manifested. It is that love that are sacrificial in its nature not self seeking that wants the best for others not regarding ones own fulfillment or pleasure. Now listen, what Jesus describes here is very bounding. He is speaking of a people whose love is not selfish or mere strong human affection, but a kind that exceeds all. He speaks about children of God, or about those who have received His love into their hearts, for no man is born with this kind of love, with this high nature and characteristics of such a love!. It is this very love which God has poured out into the hearts of the redeemed. Now that excludes a lot of people and brings the circle very tight around an certain identifiable group. So here’s the thing. Jesus says because there will be an increase in lawlessness or more accurately an increase in a violation of the Law, the love of God in many or the nature of sacrificial living will gradually, grow cold and lifeless! Now this work in some definite areas of our lives, but what I want to show here is its relationship it has towards the glory of God in evangelism. In no other place has the law of God been so eradicated than in the church. Through legalism have the church been brought to a place where she have thrown out the law of God as being fulfilled and having no more place in the life of the redeemed. Through legalism and a wrong use of the law have the church lost the vital key and have lost many in the church the vital key to keep the flame burning and not to wax cold. Remember that Jesus said that the reason many’s love will grow cold is in direct relationship with their relationship with the law. It is because there is a violation of God’s Law that the love of God and sacrificial living will steadily grow cold, loose its heat, and become like the Laodicea church those that are lukewarm and steadily decreasing, so that they will act like those who don’t know God.

For many in the church the law has no more use or worth. In Galatians Paul addresses this issue in such clearness. There are those who said back then even today, that its not merely enough to believe into Christ, and that one must still obey the law. That’s where legalism comes from. But it had all to do with pleasing God through obeying the law. Then there were those who said no, Christ had set us free from the Law, we are no longer under the Law, now we are free to do what we like and what we will, there is no more Law, no more do’s and don’ts. SO Paul writes to them that that’s not true freedom and liberty. Christ has never made us free so that we can live still further like we will! Christ is not a violator of God’s law and His redemption does not lead one to violate God’s Law. What it brings about is a work so severe that the one receiving it has passed away and have been created anew in whom then the righteous demands of the Law are being fulfilled... He speaks about these very things to the Galatians. So reducing or violating God’s Law and set it aside as no more binding leads and have led many into coldness of heart and testimony. What it adds up to is that even the law of the Spirit of life in Christ, that “perfect law of liberty” has become violated, for the grace of God have been turn into licentiousness and unrestrained lust. You need to understand this clearly because Jesus says it is the very thing that brings about a steady and gradual decrease in our love towards God and men. Its effects are devastating. Those that once loved Christ become so taken up with themselves, with their own advancement, more worldly than other worldly, so that those around them are dying in their sin and all they are taken up with is their own, their spiritual ambitions, their fellowship and hopes, etc.

Now even more strikingly is the relationship of the law in the Work of God the Holy Spirit in the salvation of a soul. A key passage here is 1 Timothy 1

“Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.” (5-11)

Here Paul refers to the law of God given to Moses. He speaks to Timothy about the “end of the commandment” which may be rendered the very purpose of the law or the very function of the law is to produce or to establish basically 3 things. There were teachers in Paul’s day which taught certain things about the law, and here Paul bring Timothy to acknowledge the real essence and nature and purpose of the law. So the law had to establish these 3 major things which we will not look about distinctively. These three things are:

1. Charity out of a pure heart

2. A good conscience, and

3. Faith unfeigned

Love out of a pure heart is something according to the Apostle is the very result which the law must bring about. So the law will be something which will bring the heart of man to such a cleansing by which it will be purified. It will also have a effect on the conscience, bringing a good and clear knowledge in the inner witness seat of man. Conscience is a word which means to be with knowledge con – with and science – knowledge. So here Paul says that the end of the commanded is to result that man will be with a good witness, to be with sure knowledge in the inner man. The last Paul mentions here as an result of the law is faith unfeigned and sincere, not something hypocritical, something that brings the reality of oneself and God into full perspective and which effects in unfeigned faith.

Now look at what Paul is affirming here. He says there are certain men who desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. Some teach certain things about the law out of the law without understanding the very nature of the law. They teach many things but they do not truly understand the function and nature of God’s law. Then Paul says that these very teachers are coming over very strong with much confidence when they speak about the law. He says this: “understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.” The word “affirm” points to the strong confidence they have in teaching the law. But the very things they are so confident about, they do not really understand.

It is here where Paul brings the true design for which the law was given. Then he says: “but we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully” if a man use it for the purpose for which it was given. There is an unlawful use of the law today in various ways, one sure is legalism. The word use here for “good” – “we know that the law is good,” may be also use a valuable. So the law is good, nothing wrong with the commandment, if it is USED it lawfully or properly. So what you find here is this, the law of God can be used either lawfully or unlawfully. So what is the lawful USE of the law?

“Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man,”

Here we have a very distinctive purpose for which the law was created. It was NOT made for the righteous. The law could never bring the righteous to completion by obeying it.

“For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.” (Heb 7:19)

So then why was the law given and for what purpose? This is the very element missing in today’s Christianity. A whole new race of Christians are brought forth, without this key that leads to love out of a pure heart, a good conscience and a unfeigned faith! Its very purpose then are being put forth, and the very intrinsic function of God’s law are being presented.

“Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for men stealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;”

It was made says the Apostle for the lawless, the ungodly and for sinners and “any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine (representing cultural standards vs God’s revelation, etc.)” It did not ever loose its purpose or its function. It is that key to unlock the sinner’s heart to lead him to Christ, to a pure heart, a good conscience and faith unfeigned.

Let’s look closely at the function of the law of God.

Already we have established that the law was given for the sinner and the ungodly. It was given for a specific purpose. In Ephesians 4:17 Paul makes mention of the inner state of the sinners heart.

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:” (Ephesians 4:17-18)

He says there is a “ignorance” in them” because their hearts are blinded or hardened. What the law does is to bring knowledge and light to the heart so that the blindness may receive sight. When some look at blindness, some think about one who merely cannot see. But there are many things that may cause blindness. So we need to be soberly employed through the use of certain words in Scripture. Especially in the context of this Scripture you find some specific things contributing to man’s blindness. Here there is reference to darkness. Darkness, total utter darkness can blind any man which has total ability to see. But they are blinded by the darkness so that although there are eyes it cannot perceive any substance whatsoever. SO as soon as there comes light or some form of light, the blindness also disappears and ones sight returns to discern etc. Some other causes for blindness are blindfolds, again total ability to see, but the fold blinds one not to see or to perceive, because the eyes are covered. So here are some elements in the mind of man that hold him in darkness.

Now let’s look at four key Scripture references in order to see the functionality of God’s law and the work it must do within the heart of every man.

Romans 3:19

“Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.”

The function then of the law is to show all humanity that it is guilty before God. Guilt here implies that they become subjects to the judgment of God; they are subjected to be judged. Not in a mere general way, but in a personal way, because of the offence, there will be vindication, there will be deserved punishment. So here you find the law showing “all the world” that it is guilty before God. The law reveals that man is under the wrath of God. So in evangelism no man can know its guilt and liability to punishment an already danger of judgment on his or her life if the law is ignored to be used with the sinner and ungodly.

Romans 3:20

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.”

The function of the law is to bring the knowledge of sin. No man can know what sin is except the law shows what sin is. Sin means to miss the mark and no man can no he has miss the mark if he doesn’t know what the mark is. To trespass is to step over the line, how can one know he has step over the line if he do not know where the line is.

Romans 7:7

“What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.”

The law not merely shows us that we have sin; it also shows us the depth of our sin, the seriousness of our sin against a Holy and Righteous God.

Galatians 3:23-24

“But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.”

This Scripture tells us that the law was designed for the very purpose of bringing men and woman to Christ. The Law leaves us in a helpless state before the Judge, with no means of payment and no grounds of justification. It reveals sin, the depth of sin and brings condemnation on everyone that has broken the command, guilty before the Judge of the Universe (Psalm 96:13) It leaves man without strength to deliver and prepare his heart for grace.

Because the sinner is ignorant of the standard, the certainty and the severity of God’s Law, the gospel makes no sense. He doesn’t understand the Holiness of God. He doesn’t realize the certainty of God’s judgment upon sin nor the severity of that judgment – eternal damnation. So the sinner continues to walk in the vanity of his mind having his understanding darkened.

First conviction then conversion. So if you have a sinner, convict him, like Paul in Romans 3:9-18

“What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: Their feet are swift to shed blood: Destruction and misery are in their ways: And the way of peace have they not known: There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

And if he’s convicted convert him. Paul says he has “proved” to both Jews and gentiles that they are all under sin, just as it is written! The word here which is used for “prove” means to accuse and to lay a charge against someone. This is where today’s approach have gone astray, it gives grace to the proud and mercy to the wicked. God gives law to the proud and grace to the humble. The sinner needs to be confronted first with the Law and all its consequence before he can understand the cross. Can you see that he needs to be first to see the cold reality of the demands of the Law of God – that he must be led to a point of utter desperation before he can truly appreciate grace and cry out for mercy?

John Wesley said “before I can preach love, mercy and grace, I must preach sin, law and judgment.” He went as far as saying when writing to a young friend: “Preach 90% law and 10% grace.”

C.H. Spurgeon, the “prince of preachers” used the Law of God to bring conviction:

“But more, there is war between thee and God’s Law. The Ten Commandments are against thee. The first comes forward and says, “Let him be cursed for he denies Me. He has another God besides Me, his God is his belly, and he yielded homage to his lust.” All the Ten Commandments, like ten great cannons are pointed at thee today, you have broken all God’s statutes, and lived in daily neglect of all His commands. Soul! Thou wilt find it a hard thing to go to war with the Law. When the Law came in peace, Sinai was altogether on a smoke, and even Moses said, “I do exceedingly fear and quake.” What will you do when the Law comes in terror, when the trumpet of the archangel shall tear you from your grave, when the eyes of God shall burn their way into your guilty soul, when the great books shall be opened, and all your sin and shame shall be punished? Can you stand against an angry Law in that day?”

Again in Charles Finney’s book “revival lectures” he said:

“It is of great importance that the sinner should be made to feel his guilt, and not left to the impression that he is unfortunate. Do not be afraid, but show him the breadth of the Divine Law, and the exceeding strictness of its precepts. Make him see how it condemns his thoughts and life … by a convicted sinner, I mean one who feels himself condemned by the Law of God, as a guilty sinner.”

A sinner must see himself as he really is and not how he thinks he is. The more he sees his guilt the better. A drowning man calls for help. He doesn’t whisper but with all his strength, emotion and conviction, he calls out in despair – his life is being taken from him! If he doesn’t realize he’s drowning he will not call out. Only they which experience the cold reality of judgment will cry out “God have mercy on me” and by this the Spirit of Christ will lead that man to a blood stained cross and present Christ in His blood as a propitiation for his sin!

Look again now at 1 Timothy 1:11: “According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.” This clearly shows the relationship that the Law and the gospel have in relationship to its proclamation! According to the glorious gospel…” All the preceding is according and has to do with the gospel that was committed to Paul. A gospel that is not in accordance with this is not the gospel that saves man by grace through faith. We need to look at the God centered focus of the gospel and the things pertaining to it to truly bring men and women to Christ!

These are a summarize of the major function of the law. What it is are this, it’s a mirror to show man not merely sin, but the total corruptness of sin. It cannot by any means cleanse the man from his dirt, but it reveals the corruptness of his heart and the guilt of his sin. No one will take the mirror and wash himself with it. The mirror will lead him to be cleansed, it doesn’t clean by its revelation nor have the ability to change one’s condition. It reveals and shows the need, thus is the work of God’s Law. We must hold this “mirror” up to all men so that they may be taught by the “schoolmaster” to draw near to Christ!

May God give us the grace to learn the real function and method, by which the Holy Spirit can convict the world of sin of righteousness and of Judgment. God bless! Amen

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