4 October 2015 A.D. Rev. Van Horn on WSC Q.40
4
October 2015 A.D. Rev. Van Horn on WSC Q.40
Van Horn, Leonard. “October 4: Van
Horn on WSC Q.40.” This Day in
Presbyterian History. 4 Oct 2015. http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/about/.
Accessed 4 Oct 2015.
October 4: Van Horn on WSC Q. 40
STUDIES IN THE WESTMINSTER SHORTER
CATECHISM
by Rev. Leonard T. Van Horn
by Rev. Leonard T. Van Horn
A.
The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the
moral law.
Questions:
1.
How many laws has God given to man?
God
gave to his people the moral law, which is still in force today, and
ceremonial and judicial laws. These last two, as given to the Jews, have
ceased to have any binding force under the Christian economy.
2.
Is the moral law a rule of obedience to both believer and non-believer?
Yes
the moral law is a rule of obedience to both. Our Confession teaches, “The
moral law doth for ever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to
the obedience thereof.” (Chapter 21, Section V)
3.
Can a man be saved by keeping the moral law?
No,
a man is only saved by grace through faith. In addition, it would be
impossible for man to keep the moral law perfectly.
4.
If man cannot be saved by it, and yet is still bound by it, of what use is
it?
The
use of the moral law is that it is a “schoolmaster to bring us
unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal.
3:24
). The word “schoolmaster” is the idea of
training and discipline in the passage cited. A pertinent passage here is I Tim. 1 :8
.
5.
How does the law bring men to Christ?
The
law brings men to Christ by convincing men of sin and of convincing them
of its consequences if it is not atoned for and forgiven. It also awakens
them to their need of a Saviour for that sin.
6.
After a man is saved is the law of any further use?
The
law is a perpetual reminder of the will of God for His creatures. For the
Believer it is intended as a rule of life and conduct which is absolute
and unchanging. See Rom.
7:6
,12
; Titus 2:11
,12
.
“O HOW I LOVE THY LAW!”
The
above declaration is one of the richest fruits of grace that a
redeemed soul might have for in it there is the most important
connection between the love for his Maker and being obedient to the same
Maker. There is nothing incompatible between love and obedience and
the Law of God is a wonderful motivator towards each of them.
In
our Catechism, as we begin a study of the laws of God, it is
important that we have the correct perspective between the law of
God and the fact that we are sinners saved by grace. It has been said many
times that we are sinners saved by grace but we are still sinners!
The sinner therefore has shortcomings, so many times goes the road of
sin rather than the road of obedience to Him. And if it were not for the
law of God the road of sin would be taken many more times than it is.
For the law of God has some very important duties, duties for which
we should be praying.
There
is the duty of instructing the believer. There is a way of lite that is
well-pleasing to God and the believer is instructing in this way of life
by the law of God. Paul states in I Cor. 9:21
that he is “in the law to Christ” and that he
delights in that law after the inward man. He delights in it as he reads
it, is instructed by it, follows it by grace.
There
is the duty of humbling the believer. The law of God causes the believer
to recognize his shortcomings tor it is a rule against whose measurement
the believer so many times comes short. As the believer sees his
shortcomings, and grieves over his shortcomings, he begins to be humble
under the rule of the Almighty, Sovereign God and thereby gets into right
relationship with his Maker, through his enabling grace.
There
is the duty of causing the believer to apply to the Lord Jesus Christ for
the ever-necessary sanctifying Spirit. The power at the victorious life
comes from the Lord Jesus Christ through the indwelling presence and power
of His Holy Spirit, enabling the Believer more and more to die unto sin
and to live unto righteousness.
Do
we love His law? Even better, do we really love Lawgiver? If we do we will
recognize that there is no holiness where there is not subjection to the
commandments of our Lord. And where there is .subjection to
the commandments there is delight, (Psalm 119:35
)
Published
By: THE SHIELD and SWORD, INC.
Vol. 3 No. 40 (April, 1964)
Rev. Leonard T. Van Horn, Editor
Vol. 3 No. 40 (April, 1964)
Rev. Leonard T. Van Horn, Editor
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