This document discusses the proper distinction and relationship between Law and Gospel. It makes the following key points: 1) Law and Gospel must be rightly divided, as defined by Luther and Calvin. Failing to do so can inoculate people from Jesus and the cross. 2) Law shows our sin and inability to please God through works, driving us to the Gospel. Gospel is the good news of what Christ has done for our salvation. 3) There are three uses of the Law: as a mirror to reveal sin, a restraint in society, and a guide for Christians to love God and others. The Gospel should always have the final word.

2. Law and Gospel
Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth

4. • Scripture teaches both Law and Gospel
• Martin Luther and John Calvin define for us
• Get this wrong and we give people just
enough to inoculate them to Jesus and the
Cross – Matt Chandler
• People either confuse them or place too
much emphasis on one or the other –
Charles Spurgeon

5. How do you view the
Bible?
• Handbook for Life
• Principles for Successful Living
• Good Advice
• Steps to Pleasing God
• Meets Your Needs

6. Works Righteousness

7. Law is NOT good news

8. Gospel is good news

9. Law vs Gospel
• Do • Done
• Moses • Christ
• Mount Sinai • The Cross
• My Efforts • Christ’s Efforts
• The Older Brother • God of the Prodigal Son
• Curse • Blessing
• God’s Commands • God’s Promises
• Within Us • Outside of Us

10. Law
• Given to us by a Holy, Righteous, Loving God
(I AM)
• Ten Commandments
• Moral, Ceremonial, and Civil Laws for Israel
• Jesus raises the standard on Ten
Commandments in Sermon on the Mount
• Law in both Old and New Testaments

11. Love is the Law
• And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord
your God with all your heart and with all
your soul and with all your mind. This is the
great and first commandment. And a second
is like it: You shall love your neighbor as
yourself. On these two commandments
depend all the Law and the Prophets.”
Matthew 22:37-40

12. • We must properly preach, teach, talk about
the law.
• We need to understand how to read
Scripture (2 Timothy 2:15)
• 3 proper uses of the law

13. First use of the Law
• A Mirror
• Condemnation
• Reveals and Convicts us of Sin
• Romans 3:20
• Romans 5:20

14. Second use of the Law
• Restraint
• Social, Civil, Political Use
• 2nd Table Commandments
• 1 Timothy 1:9-10
• Romans 2:14-15

15. Third use of the Law
• Principal use for Christians
• Shows us how to Love God and our
Neighbor
• Defines good works
• Conforms us to His image
• Psalm 119:105, Romans 7:22, Romans 3:31
• Lamp, Whip

16. This is Paul’s Pattern
• Romans 1:1-17 Intro / Gospel
• Romans 1:18-3:20 First Use
• Romans 3:21-11 Gospel
• Romans 12-15 Third Use

17. Indicatives and
Imperatives
• Ephesians 1-3 Gospel; 4-6 Third Use
• Indicatives define who we are in Christ
• “Therefore”
• Imperatives command us to live in light of
the Gospel

18. Law and Gospel
• They both have their place
• Law cannot save us
• Law drives us to the cross
• Gospel saves us
• Gospel frees us to obey the law
• Gospel should always have the last word

19. An External Word
• Has it really hit you that no matter what
your inner voice, conscience heart, will, or
soul tells you, God’s objective Word on the
matter trumps it all?
– Michael Horton The Gospel Driven Life,
p. 26

20. Benediction