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The Law and The Gospel

“And he gave to Moses, when he had finished speaking with him on Mount Sinai, the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.” Exodus 31:18” (ESV)

When it comes to evangelism, much is said about God's love, God's mercy and God's grace. There is a lot said about how he loves us and forgives us, but very little is mentioned about the Law of God, the judgement of God, and the consequences for violating his law.

The word Gospel means "good news", but the reason it is good news is because of the bad news that the law reveals. This contrast between the bad news is why it is such good news.

The bad news is that we all have broken God's law. Have you ever lied? stolen? looked with lust? used God's name as a curse word? hated someone? who can say they have never sinned?

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23 ESV

We are all violators of that law. Therefore we come under guilt and condemnation and with condemnation comes punishment, and that punishment is everlasting.

"For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 ESV

The gospel cannot be understood as good news, until we understand what it delivers us from, namely the bad news of eternal punishment.

When we witness to someone we often try to get them to Heaven without letting them know that they are on their way to Hell. We are trying to get them to accept what is good for them without them understanding the truth about what is so bad for them.

"What does Jesus save you from?"

We shouldn't be reluctant to to talk about the Law of God, because it makes people feel bad. When in fact, it is necessary to make them feel bad, really bad, because that generates the true attraction to the gospel.

Jesus said "They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Mark 2:17 KJV

Spurgeon said it this way "Who can say the law is too severe when the lawgiver himself submits to its penalties."

Telling you what you have done wrong first actually enables the good news to make sense. The Bible says "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." 1 Corinthians 1:18 KJV

If I don't clearly show you that you have broken the law, then the good news will seem foolish and offensive. But once you have understood that you have broken the law, then that good news will become good news indeed.

What is the purpose of God's Law?

1.God's Law stops the mouth:

"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." Romans 3:19

2. God's Law tells us what sin is:

Paul wrote that he “had not known sin, but by the law” (Romans 7:7)“Sin is transgression of the law."—1 John 3:4

3.God's law acts as a schoolmaster to bring us to Christ:

"Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith." Galatians 3:24 KJV

The Law was designed primarily as an evangelistic tool.

It was Charles Spurgeon who said, “They will never accept grace until they tremble before a just and holy Law.”

It was Martin Luther who said, “The first duty of the gospel preacher is to declare God’s Law and to show the nature of sin, because it will act as a school master and bring him to everlasting life which is in Jesus Christ.”

It was John Wesley who said, “Before I preach love, mercy, and grace, I must preach sin, Law, and judgment.” It was Wesley who said, “Preach ninety-percent Law and ten percent grace.”

It was John Wycliffe who said, “The highest service to which a man may attain on earth is to preach the Law of God.”

J.C. Ryle, “People who will never set their faces decidedly toward heaven and live like pilgrims until they really feel they’re endanger of hell. Let us expound and beat out the Ten Commandments and show the length and breadth and depth and height of the requirements of the Law. This is the way of our Lord in the Sermon on the Mount. We cannot do better than to follow His plan.”

So the divine order is Law, then gospel.

By using the Law, in no way do we intend to diminish grace. Grace is our theme again and again and again and again and always will be. But not to the neglect of the Law.

Now We Know That The Law Does Not Save

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

Scripture, however, is very clear that anyone who is to grasp the greatness of the gospel must first grasp the greatness of the judgment of sin. Salvation by grace means little to those who know nothing of damnation under the Law.

May the Lord help us to implement these things and grant us that we can awaken sinners, that we can alarm them, that we can bring them to fear the One that they naturally do not fear, that they may flee to Christ who waits with open arms to receive them.