Calvin: ‘many people are led stray under the cover of holy Scripture.’ Some just reject the law. Others see the law as the way to salvation, as the Pharisees did. Others think they are neutral, which, of course, is beguiling.
- The good law must be used lawfully.
- 1 Tim.1:8-9a. The law is good; it comes from God, not the devil – Rom.7:12. To use Samuel Bolton’s graphic image, the law chains the wolf while the gospel changes him. The law is not our saviour – Gal.3:23-24; Rom.3:20.
- Evil is to be curbed.
- 1:9-10. Sin is not eradicated, but the expression of it is restrained. Calvin: ‘all who have at any time groped about in ignorance of God will admit that it happened to them in such a way that the bridle of the law restrained them in some fear and reverence toward God until, regenerated by the Spirit, they began wholeheartedly to love Him.’
- verses 9-10 seem to work through the Ten Commandments as a rough template (with the tenth commandment missing) e.g.. those who strike their parents; murderers; heterosexual fornicators and adulterers and also homosexuals; enslavers (The Westminster Larger Catechism, Q142 condemns ‘man-stealing’ or kidnapping. This attracted the death penalty in the Old Testament – Ex.21:16); and liars and perjurers.
- The law is to be taught within the framework of the gospel.
- 1:11. Tacitus: ‘The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws.’ Paul was entrusted with the gospel from Christ. The law restrains us so that we might trust for salvation in Christ crucified and risen. Thomas Chalmers: ‘to preach Christ is the only effective way of preaching morality’.