Sermon Tone Analysis

Question 92.

What is the law of the LORD?

Three uses of the law (John Calvin)

To restrain wickedness

To show us our guilt and lead us to Christ

An instrument to learn God’s will

The law, therefore, precedes, and follows conversion.

It precedes that it may lead to a knowledge and sorrow for sin: it follows that it may serve as a rule of life to the converted.

Negative attitudes/approaches to the law

Functional “Marcionism”

Sharp distinction between the gospel and the law

Dichotomizing/separation of church/Israel, old covenant/new covenant, Old Testament/New Testament

Antinomian stance of our culture

Legalistic tendencies

Sinclair Ferguson:

“The function of the gospel...is not to destroy the law, but rather to establish the telos of that law which includes its rewriting in the hearts of believers, and obedience to it coming to expression in their lives.”

Usual (but insufficient) categorization of Mosaic Law

Civil laws

Ceremonial laws

Moral laws

Redemptive-historical-Christocentric approach:

“The law sends us to the gospel that we may be justified; and the gospel sends us to the law again to inquire what is our duty as those who are justified...The law sends us to the gospel for our justification; the gospel sends us to the law to frame our way of life."

(Samuel Bolton)

Theodorus VanderGroe:

“Law and gospel are like twins, which though they may never be separated, must be carefully distinguished.

The law must serve the gospel, and the gospel must serve the law.

Though they must mutually affirm each other, they may by no means undermine each other.

It is contradictory to Christian doctrine to speak only of the gospel and of the doctrines of grace, and to be silent regarding obedience to the law; or, conversely, to speak only of obedience to the law, and be silent regarding the gospel and its doctrines of grace.”

#1: Ang 10 Utos ay mga salita ng Diyos.

#2: Ang 10 Utos ay nagpapakilala kung sino ang Diyos.

#3: Ang 10 Utos ay sumasalamin sa lalim ng kasalanang nasa puso natin.

#4: Ang 10 Utos ay nagtutulak sa atin na lumapit kay Jesus na Tagapagligtas.

#5: Ang 10 Utos ay nagpapaalala ng espesyal na relasyong meron tayo sa Diyos.

Question 93.

How are these commandments divided?

Into two parts.

The first teaches us how to live in relation to God; the second, what duties we owe our neighbour.

#6: Ang 10 Utos ay gumagabay para makapamuhay tayo na nakalulugod sa Diyos.

#7: Ang 10 Utos ay mabuting regalo ng Diyos para sa ‘yo.

The essentially ethical nature of the Ten Commandments is based on the character of God.

It is this God who reveals himself finally in his Son, Jesus Christ, who then becomes the ethical model.

The preaching of the commandments must always point people both to the impossibility of our being justified by works of the law and to the fulfillment of the law’s demands for us by our Savior.

It cannot be emphasized too much that insofar as there is lawfulness in Christian sanctification, it can only come via the prior justification by grace in Christ.