Romans 2

[James224]

The word “Law” is mentioned 21 times in Romans 2. Protestants always say we can’t keep the law and, therefore, don’t need to worry about keeping the 10 Commandments. I say the word “Law” is not always referring to the ceremonial law or the some 600 laws the jews were obliged to keep. For example, Rom 2:13 says, “For not the hearers of the law are just before God: but the doers of the law shall be justified.” Here, it seems Paul is saying that the “Law” must be kept to be justified. I realize we sometimes break the Commandments and must confess these sins, however, with God’s grace we can keep the moral law. Rom 13:8 says, “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another. For he that loveth his neighbour hath fulfilled the law.” The following verses then show what he was talking about: The 10 Commandments. Also, Matt 19:17 says, “Who said to him: Why askest thou me concerning good? One is good, God. But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.” Jesus says this!

I want to know what some of you protestants out there think about this.

May God bless,

James224

 

[SyCarl]

You are being too sweeping in your statement. Protestants believe in the 10 Commandments. Even though we can’t keep them perfectly, we should try, not for hope of reward, but because we love God and want to do what He wants us to do.

The Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) is a well known Calvinist summary of beliefs. (I am not a Calvinist but believe there is much of value in parts of the WCF). Here is what it says about the 10 Commandments.

I. God gave to Adam a law, as a covenant of works, by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience; promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it; and endued him with power and ability to keep it.

II. This law, after his Fall, continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness; and, as such, was delivered by God upon mount Sinai in ten commandments, and written in two tables; the first four commandments containing our duty toward God, and the other six our duty to man.

III. Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a Church under age, ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly holding forth divers instructions of moral duties. All which ceremonial laws are now abrogated under the New Testament.

V. The moral law doth forever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof; and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator who gave it. Neither doth Christ in the gospel any way dissolve, but much strengthen, this obligation.

VI. Although true believers be not under the law as a covenant of works, to be thereby justified or condemned; yet is it of great use to them, as well as to others; in that, as a rule of life, informing them of the will of God and their duty, it directs and binds them to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts, and lives; so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against sin; together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of his obedience. It is likewise of use to the regenerate, to restrain their corruptions, in that it forbids sin, and the threatenings of it serve to show what even their sins deserve, and what afflictions in this life they may expect for them, although freed from the curse thereof threatened in the law. The promises of it, in like manner, show them God’s approbation of obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof; although not as due to them by the law as a covenant of works: so as a man’s doing good, and refraining from evil, because the law encourageth to the one, and deterreth from the other, is no evidence of his being under the law, and not under grace.

presbycan.ca/documents/westminsterconfession.html#chap19

 

[SyCarl]

A more contemporary document is the Catechism For Today of the Presbyterian Church in Canada.

The Ten Commandments
Question 100. What are the Ten Commandments?
The Ten Commandments are God’s law for the direction of our lives. They teach us our
covenant responsibility to God and to our neighbour.

Question 125. What are the uses of the law?
The law, too, comes from the goodness of God and is for our benefit and freedom. It acts
as a mirror to show us our sin, that we may seek our Saviour, Jesus Christ; it keeps our feet
from wrongful or dangerous paths; it leads us to joy in knowing and following God’s way.

presbycan.ca/documents/CatechismForToday.pdf