In understanding God’s Law and its place within the Gospel, we must see it as both a mirror of God’s perfect holiness and a guide for Christian living. The Law of God reveals His character, showing us our own fallenness, and ultimately, directing us to Christ. Today, many are perplexed about how the Law relates to the life of a believer—especially those saved by grace through the work of Christ. However, to understand this fully, we must dive deeply into both the Law’s demands and the rich mercy God provides in the Gospel.
God’s Law as a Mirror and Standard of Holiness
The Law given by God is nothing less than a perfect reflection of His own nature. It is holy, just, and good (Romans 7:12). This means that the Law, at its core, tells us what is morally right, showing us God’s standard for all people. The Ten Commandments, which serve as the foundation of God’s Law, are not arbitrary rules but direct expressions of His will. Each commandment reveals something about the nature of God—His truthfulness, His purity, His justice, and His love.
When we look into the mirror of the Law, we are forced to see our own imperfections. Just as a mirror shows a smudge on the face, so the Law exposes our sin. It’s uncomfortable but necessary, for without this realization, we would see no need for a Savior. The Law brings us to the knowledge of sin (Romans 3:20), and it presses us to seek forgiveness, which we find in Christ alone.
The Law and the Gospel: Distinct Yet Harmonious
While the Law tells us what is righteous, the Gospel proclaims how righteousness is fulfilled on our behalf. The Law demands perfection—“Be holy, for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:16). The Law gives no power to fulfill these demands; instead, it leaves us with a weight too heavy to bear. But the Gospel answers this problem by showing us Christ, who has fulfilled the Law’s demands in our place. Christ did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17).
Now, some may think that because Christ has fulfilled the Law, it has no further claim upon the believer. This is a dangerous error. Christ’s fulfillment of the Law on our behalf does not mean that we are now free to disregard it. Rather, it has transformed our relationship to the Law. As believers, we no longer look to the Law for justification; that has been accomplished fully by Christ. But we look to the Law as the guide for holy living.
John Owen on the Law and Christ’s Death
To deepen this understanding, let us consider the words of our friend and fellow theologian, John Owen, from his profound work The Death of Death in the Death of Christ. Owen explains that Christ’s death does not make the Law obsolete; instead, it upholds the Law while providing mercy. In Christ’s death, we see God’s justice and mercy meet. Owen writes, “The death of Christ…is a great evidence of the everlasting continuance of the Law. For in the gospel, there is a substitution of Christ in our stead, so that the righteousness and holiness of God’s Law might be preserved while mercy is extended to the sinner.”
Owen’s words reveal that God’s Law is eternally holy and just. Its demands must be satisfied—either by us or, as the Gospel gloriously declares, by Christ in our place. Because the Law’s demands are met in Christ, believers are free from its condemnation (Romans 8:1). We are saved, not because we kept the Law, but because Christ kept it for us and bore its penalty in our stead. This is the heart of the Gospel.
However, as Owen further notes, the Law still “guides us unto obedience, that we may walk worthy of our calling.” This means that while we are not justified by the Law, we are still called to honor it as the standard of holy conduct. Owen emphasizes that the Law, fulfilled in Christ, remains the foundation for our ethical life. Freed from its penalty, we are now empowered by the Spirit to walk in newness of life, following the Law out of love and gratitude.
The Law and Christian Living: Obedience Flowing from Gratitude
For the believer, the Law is not a burden but a delight, for it is now written on our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Jeremiah 31:33). The Spirit within us makes obedience possible and joyful, not because we are earning God’s favor, but because we already have it. Our obedience, therefore, is a response of gratitude. Just as Christ loved the Father and obeyed Him perfectly, we too, out of love for Christ, seek to obey His commandments (John 14:15).
Obedience is not a legalistic attempt to earn God’s grace. Instead, it is the natural response of one who has received God’s grace. Christ’s yoke is easy, and His burden is light (Matthew 11:30). While the Law, apart from Christ, can only condemn, within the Gospel, the Law becomes a source of wisdom, guiding us in the way of life.
How Modern Christians are Commanded to Live by the Law and the Gospel
For today’s believers, these principles remain just as vital. Modern Christians are called to live according to the pattern Christ has set. The Apostle Paul tells us that the Law is fulfilled in love (Romans 13:10). In obeying the commandments, we reflect Christ’s own love and fulfill His purposes in the world.
First, we are called to honor the Law by loving God and our neighbor. This is the essence of the Ten Commandments, which Christ summarized as loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind and loving our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37-40). Our love for others is a testimony to the God who has loved us, and by showing this love, we fulfill the righteous requirement of the Law.
Second, we are commanded to reject sin and pursue holiness. Though we live in a culture that often dismisses God’s commands, we are called to be holy as God is holy (1 Peter 1:16). This means saying no to sin and yes to righteousness in every area of life—our thoughts, words, and deeds. Holiness is not optional for the Christian; it is the inevitable fruit of our union with Christ.
Third, we are to rely upon the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live in obedience. God does not leave us to obey on our own. The Spirit enables us to follow God’s Law, not out of duty alone, but with a willing and joyful heart. This reliance on the Spirit is what differentiates Christian obedience from mere legalism.
Finally, we are to view our obedience as a response of worship. When we obey God’s Law, we are offering our lives as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to Him (Romans 12:1). In every act of obedience, we are worshiping the God who saved us and fulfilling His purpose for our lives.
Conclusion: The Law and Gospel in Harmony
In conclusion, God’s Law and the Gospel are not at odds but are beautifully united in Christ. The Law reveals God’s standard, the Gospel meets that standard through Christ, and believers are called to honor both in their lives. As John Owen reminds us, the death of Christ upholds the Law, allowing mercy to flow while maintaining God’s justice. And as we live in the freedom purchased by Christ, we are called to keep His commandments—not as a way to earn salvation, but as a joyful response to the grace we have received.
Modern Christians, then, are commanded to live in a way that honors both the Law and the Gospel: with hearts of gratitude, obedience empowered by the Spirit, and lives that shine the light of Christ in a dark world. This is the way of holiness, the calling of every believer. And as we walk this path, we fulfill God’s purpose, bearing witness to the power of the Gospel and reflecting the glory of the One who saved us.
May we live with hearts that delight in His Law, even as we rest in His grace. For in Christ, we find both the perfect fulfillment of the Law and the boundless mercy of God, transforming our lives into a testament of His love and righteousness.
Reformed Faith Insights 