God's Word is both Law and Gospel

This Sunday we celebrate the Reformation, begun when Martin Luther nailed the 95 Theses (discussion points) on the door of Wittenburg Castle on Oct 31, 1517. He began a revival then and, I pray, the Lutheran Christian movement can still be an instrument for God's revival today!

One area of Christian life that seems to need constant renewal is how we read the Bible. Luther stressed that God speaks through the words of the Bible in two ways: Law and Gospel (note the capital letters).

Law is God's Word that (1) orders peaceful and healthy society and (2) condemns sin. When we read a passage that gives good advice for society, for example, "You shall not kill," this is what Lutheran Christians call "the First Use of the Law."

When we read a passage that makes us feel uncomfortable, guilty or ashamed about our own actions, attitudes or values, we are experiencing "the Second Use of the Law." It can be the same words that give order to society that convict our hearts; for example, Luther interprets in the Small Catechism that "You shall not kill" means "We are to fear and love God so that we do not hurt our neighbor in any way but help him in all his physical needs." After we passed by someone who asked for food, we may feel this word condemns us for failing to help our neighbor in her physical need. This is God's Word that makes us aware of our sin--and our need for forgiveness.

The Gospel, on the other hand, is God's word of life, forgiveness and hope. The Law cannot save or forgive--it's work is temporary. The Gospel is the good news that we are saved by grace through faith alone through Jesus. It is Gospel with a capital G that we hear when Paul proclaims, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Eph 2:8). We hear Gospel when Jesus says to the woman who was bleeding for 12 years, "Go, your faith has made you well" (Mark 5:34).

Another way to say it: the Law tells us what to do (and what we've failed to do) and the Gospel tells us what God has done. The Law stokes the fires of guilt and shame; the Gospel soothes and heals the burnt soul. Both are God's Word. Both have importance in our lives, in shaping us to follow and trust Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Here's a little practice: Read John 8:30-36, the lesson for this week, and ask:
(1) What is the Law here? (hint: "My family are all believers. That's enough!")
(2) What is the Gospel? ("If the Son makes you free, you are free indeed!")