Question. What uses of the law for Christians?
Answer. First, the Law, setting the perfect rule of righteousness before our eyes, stirs up our diligence to direct our lives accordingly.
Scripture Reference: Deut. 6:6-7; Joshua 1:7-8; Psalm 1:2 and 19.
Question. What more?
Answer. Secondly, when we perceive that the Law requires things far above man’s power, and find ourselves too weak for so great a burden, the Law raises us up to ask for strength from the Lord. Scripture Reference: Rom. 3:19 and 7:14-15; 2 Cor. 3:5; Psalm 119:12, 27-28, 33-34
Question. Proceed.
Answer. Further, when we behold in the Law, as it were in a mirror, the spots and uncleanness of ourselves, it restrains us from trusting in our own innocence, and keeps us from being proud in the sight of God.
Scripture Reference: Rom. 3:10-12, 19-20 and 7:7
Question. Say on?
Answer. When we find in our consciences that we are guilty of sin, which is the breaking of God’s law, and when we also know that by sin we deserve the curse and most heavy wrath of God—and that the reward of sin is not only all worldly misery, bodily diseases, and death, but also eternal damnation and everlasting death—the Law, showing us to be in this most damnable state, strikes our hearts with fear and wholesome sorrow, and drives us to repentance, and to seek pardon of our sins, righteousness, and life everlasting (which we cannot have by the Law), by and through Christ our Savior only.
Scripture Reference: Prov. 20:9; 1 John 3:4; Deut. 27:26; Gal. 3:10; Rom. 1:18, 2:8, 4:15, and 6:23; 2 Cor. 3:7, 9; Eph. 5:5-6; Rom. 3:20-22 and 5:15-16; Gal. 2:16