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You must read this book. From page 229 of Robert Culver’s “Systematic Theology.” This is excellent thinking and writing. NOTE: see the previous post about this book.

“If a human being were a mere ‘sac of water’ with an interesting ‘variety of chemicals reacting with one another therein,’ as in some current materialistic philosophy, then a book on physics and chemistry might explain him sufficiently, though no such being, in my judgment, could possibly either write or read such a book. If he were also ‘a fantastic piece of workmanship in bone, muscle, and nerve – a high point of evolution in the animal kingdom,’ a biological approach might suffice. If he be only ‘a busy hedonist’ prowling for pleasure until jaded and exhausted he covers his disillusionment in the light of death, then something on psychology might help explain mankind. If, Gnostic, New-Age style mankind is a misplaced piece of divine mind, temporarily dislodged and longing for home back in the cosmic flux, then a dash of metaphysics is in order. . . But, if mankind is as significant and magnificent as his aspirations (freedom, fulfillment, immortality) and ideals (goodness, beauty, truth) suggest, then the religious dimension must be brought to the Hebrew poet’s question [What is man that You are mindful of him?]. Only the illogic of special interest, or of intellectual myopia, could lead one to accept any one of these partial views just suggested. . . There is nothing to inspire art, poetry and song in these current departures from belief in God and mankind’s greatness as His special creation. It should be no surprise that increasing numbers of all social classes have taken up a style of life commensurate with their Lost Image of Man.”

I just acquired a new book – “Systematic Theology, Biblical & Historical” by Robert Culver (Christian Focus Publications, Ltd., 2005). It is now my favorite Systematic Theology, replacing Wayne Grudem’s.

YOU MUST GET THIS BOOK – AND READ IT!

Dr. Culver is an excellent writer and very easy to read. Check out this quote from page 29,”‘I believe in God because, like most people before they invent reasons for disbelieving, I find it much more reasonable to believe than not to believe.’ The statement answered the man’s question directly and affirms the ancient order – faith in search of understanding. Authentic Christian apologetics does not pursue the goal of faith-compelling reasons for believing but frankly the aim of removing some obstacles to listening to the Word and of encouraging the perseverance of believers. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, not in response to arguments.”

“faith in search of understanding” – that is exactly correct and almost poetic. So far, the whole book is like this.

It is long, 1258 pages, no pictures and small print. But, the information is broken down into 5-10 page sections that are well indexed so any topic is easy to find.

Most of you out there don’t own a systematic theology book, and you probably don’t want to. But trust me, you need one and this is it.

NOTE: I have added to this post, go here after reading this.

It is a fact that more laws just mean more crime, not less. More laws do not make people more law-abiding. They make people law-breakers and eventually enslave a population.

The Law of God does not restrain people from sin, nor does it have the power to make people more holy. Following it never has saved anyone, nor has following it ever made anyone more holy. Salvation and sanctification are a work of the Holy Spirit, not the Law nor the flesh. However, the Holy Spirit does use the Law of God in bringing about salvation and sanctification. But, this is a work of the Spirit, not of the Law or the flesh. The Law does not empower. It is only a tool.

Some basic background is necessary at this point to dispel the notion that anyone ever has been saved or sanctified by following the Law. This is important because there is a festering misuse of the Law and of extra-biblical rules in the church today.

WHAT THE LAW DOES

Romans 5:20, The Law came in so that the transgression would increase. The words so that in this verse show this is a purpose statement. The more of God’s Law that is known, the more sinful people become. The Law came to this earth for the purpose of making sin increase. This is an amazing statement. First, it is amazing in that it is so clear and yet so many Christians don’t understand this. Second, what it clearly says is almost unbelievable. God’s Law came to increase sin in this world.

Galatians 3:19-24, Why the Law then? It was added because of transgressions, . . . if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, . . . before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, . . . the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. The Law has sealed the door of our prison of sin and has become our lecturer. It has not opened the doors and set the captives free.

Romans 4:15, the Law brings about wrath, but where there is no law, there also is no violation. The Law of God makes people law-breakers and enslaves them. Where there is law there is violation. It does not bring about peace with God.

If the following verses were not in the bible we would think that whoever said them would be immediately struck down by God. In 2 Corinthians 3:7 & 9 the Law is called the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, and the ministry of condemnation. It is not the ministry of life and commendation.

Romans 7:7-10, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.” But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead. I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died; and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me. The Law showed me what sin is and sin uses the Law to produce more sin in me! The Law caused sin to become alive in Me! The Law resulted in my death!

This is the place of the Law. The Law came in so that sin would increase . . . First, in the sense of clearly being known for what it is. The Law clearly tells us what sin is.

Second, once it was known as sin, it became even more sinful, because by showing people they are doing wrong – they become twice sinners. Now they are consciously and willfully doing what they were doing out of ignorance before.

And third, not only that, people being what they are, when you tell them they can’t do something then that is often the very thing they are eager to do. That is how transgression increases with the Law.

The Law causes sin to increase. ALL rules and regulations are like this. But, this does not mean that the Law is therefore a bad thing and an instrument of evil. The Law, even with this disastrous effect in people’s lives, is an instrument for mercy because once God defined sin and showed people to be sinners and unable to help themselves, God graciously made a way for redemption and forgiveness, not through the Law that condemns them, but through Jesus Christ.

Without sin there would not have been any Law. The Law is secondary to it and it is here for the purpose of defining sin in the lives of people.

WHAT THE LAW DOES NOT DO

Romans 3:20a, because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight. No one will be declared not guilty by obeying the Law. The Law cannot save you.

Galatians 3:10, For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.”

Acts 13:38-39, Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through Him forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and through Him everyone who believes is freed from all things, from which you could not be freed through the Law of Moses.

1 Corinthians 15:56, The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. Law leads to sin and sin leads to death.

Hebrews 10:1-4, For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Hebrews 10:11, Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

God did not send His Law to save people. The Law was not concerned with saving people from sin. It was, and still is, too weak for that. The Law was not intended to remove sin, and, it never has removed sin.

When God gave His Law it was already too late to prevent sin. People had been sinning to the limit since Adam and Eve.

If the Law was given in order to restrain sin then it has been a miserable failure. Sin is just as rampant now on the face of the earth as it was before the Law came.

THE CHRISTIAN’S RELATIONSHIP TO THE LAW

So, what about the Law then for us now that we are believers?

Romans 6:14, For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Romans 7:6, But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

Romans 8:2, the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death.

Romans 10:4, For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

Ephesians 2:14-16, For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.

Christians are free from the Law. The Law is good and it is from God, but it is annulled for those in Christ because He fulfills it. It cannot provide God’s righteousness. Jesus Fulfilled the Law for Christians and it now is a dead letter for us.

It can’t even condemn us before God the Father because Christ is there arguing our case that we are in Him and have His righteousness. The Law for believers is fulfilled and discharged in Christ. These are important and deep points that Paul deals with in Romans 5-8.

But, this does not mean the Law of God is useless – NO! May it never be! The Law of God is our perfect, holy, inerrant, infallible pattern for all of life and godliness. For Christians, the Law is a pattern for righteousness, but it is not a means of righteousness. The Law is a pattern for righteousness, but it is not a means of righteousness. This is why the Holy Spirit uses it in salvation and sanctification.

The Law cannot produce righteousness, but for those who belong to God it is a guide for righteous living.

The person who reads a sign in the park that forbids the picking of flowers and then proceeds to pick them just demonstrates his natural rebellion and also shows how Law makes transgression increase.

There is nothing wrong with the sign at all. It is perfectly legitimate and good and necessary. But, it has no power in itself to enable people to obey it.

The sign then does two different things for different people. For the lawless person the sign stimulates him to the disobedience and unrighteousness he is already inclined to do.

For the righteous person the sign stimulates to obedience and righteousness, and that impulse to obedience does not come from the sign, but somewhere else. The same is true for the O.T. Law.

 NOTE: I have added to the ideas in this post, see here for more information.