Law/Gospel: A Primer: Part 3

Welcome to No Compromise Radio Ministry. Michael Lee Haferhoff here at the helm. Engage. Mike Havenroth, No Compromise Radio Ministry. You can write me, Mike, at nocompromiseradio .com. As I've announced in the past, we have a new YouTube channel now.

If you want to go check that out, probably going to do a bunch of reels. We're going to have Wednesday shows video recorded on YouTube, or you can get them where you normally get them as well. Podcasts, Spotify, et cetera.

The new book law gospel, A Primer, is out, and also a smaller version of the cancer book. I took out the Thomas Brooks and the Thomas Watson and the Spurgeon stuff on suffering. I took out the best stuff of the book, and they're just my chapters in there.

It's smaller, $6 .99, easy to hand out to folks. And so that's also something you can order. If you order 10 or more of any books, I'll give you a discount, 40 off. We'll drop shipping. It just takes a couple of weeks to get there.

That's all. Today on the show, I've had such a fun time in the last two shows talking about law gospel and interesting names for things. We're going to start off on the interesting names again. Did you know these things had names?

Unusual Words for Sounds and Body Parts

All right. Did you know these things had names? When you combine an exclamation mark with a question mark, it is referred to as an what? Interobang. I like etymology online. I like to know how phrases came to be.

Hit them up. I don't know. That just popped in my mind. I hope it's okay background. Here we have an interobang. What is that? Like an interrogative and a bang with an exclamation point to bang? An interobang.

Interobang Bible Church. The one that I read last time is still so funny. The armhole and clothes where the sleeves are sewn is called an armskey. It sounds like A-R-M-S-K-I, but it's A-R-M-S-C-Y-E.

Oh, anyway, the rumbling of the stomach is actually called a whamble. Remember that? Did you remember that? The space between your eyebrows is called a what? The unibrow. Glabella. The na-na-na and la-la-la, which don't really have any meaning in the lyrics of any song, are called vocables.

All right. When you combine an exclamation point and a question mark, it's actually called an interobang. Last one. This is a new one. Did you know this had a name? The condition of finding it difficult to get out of the bed in the morning is called welcome to my life.

Dysania. D-Y-S-A-N-I-A. Mike Abenroth, No Compromise Radio Ministry. Did you know these things had names? Did you know that if you can understand the difference between what God commands and what God has done, did you know if you could understand God's call for obedience and God's revelation of who he is and what he's done and his promises?

Did you know the difference between those two things as we think about interpreting the Bible is called the law, gospel, distinction? Did you know that? Of course you knew that, because this is No Compromise Radio Ministry, and that's all we talk about on the show is law, gospel.

Turn this song into law, gospel. That would really be fun. Something about law, gospel here. How can you talk about law, gospel right there? Do, do, do, do, do. Now, that should have been the police song.

Do, do, do, do, da, da, da, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun, dun. Today on the show, I want to talk a little bit more about the book, Law, Gospel, a Primer. Self-published, Amazon Books, 1099, and intro to this topic.

Super simple. Left-hand side of the page, there's a question, a one-sentence easy answer, two-paragraph explanation of the answer, and interrobang is included here or there. And then we have on the right side, quotes to back up the interrobangs on the left-hand side.

I talked to somebody the other day. They said, you know, our old pastor, every Sunday he would talk about how bad alcohol was. I thought, maybe they live in Napa, California. I don't know. I don't know.

Remember, it's not alcohol that's the problem. It's the heart, Mark 7. It's not guns that are problem. It's the heart. It's not sex that's the problem. It's the heart, right? We have to be careful how we think through these things.

Drunkenness, always a sin. Alcohol, not. So anyway, how did we get there? I have no idea. This is why I have ADHD. I'm certain of that. I have OCD. I'm certain of that. Did I forget to turn off the cooktop gas stove?

Personal Stories About Memory and Locking Up

Okay, true story. I would be in junior high, we'd have the lockers, right? You finally figure out the lockers, 26, 12, 14. And I remember sitting in class and they would say, all right, we just want to know the locker numbers so we can know where your locker assignments are.

And so please, you know, I'm going to say your name and give me your locker number. And this is at Morton Junior High, Omaha, Nebraska, public school. And so Abendroth was the first, Abendroth was the, you know, I'm always first, except Abbott.

There was a guy named Abbott. He had a last name, Abbott. And a guy named Tracy Abdush, he also was before me. But in this particular class, I was first. Mike, what's your locker number? This first day of school.

12, 36, 18. Everybody knew my combination. No, your locker number, oh, 304. But I remember with that locker, I'd close it. And then you're supposed to spin the tumbler, right? Just not supposed to unlock it and then just leave it because then other people could get in.

And I'd have to go back all the time to say, did I do that? Did I lock that? Did I shut my locker? And then we were here at church, I don't know, three or four years ago, made eggs in the morning with the gas stove top, cooktop rather, and busy, zipped to church.

And it was just my daughter and I, Maddie. And I get to church, she's sitting behind me. And she almost said sitting behind me. She's sitting behind me. And I said, Maddie, I think maybe I left the cooktop on stove top.

I know I turned it off, but would you please go? Because I don't want to go burn a house down. It's worth the 15 minute round trip. So she went, she came back. She said, it was turned off. Question in the book, no compromise radio.

The Kinds of Mosaic Law

What are the different kinds of Mosaic laws? So I wanted to describe the difference between Mosaic laws, kinds and uses of the law. So here's what I answered. The three kinds of Mosaic laws are moral, civil and ceremonial.

The section after this, we'll discuss the three uses of the law. Sometimes people confuse uses of the law with kinds of the law. So it is important to understand the difference between the two. An easy way to think about the revelation of law in time is this.

God revealed his law before the fall of mankind, after the fall, during the time of Moses, in the time of the prophets, and then in the New Testament. When God gave the law to and through Moses, some laws were binding on all people and places.

Some pointed to the Lord Jesus in types and shadows, and some told Israel how to live. So the three kinds, moral, ceremonial and civil, in terms of moral binding on all people. Some pointed to the Lord Jesus, ceremonial, and then others told Israel how to live.

I was just even listening this morning to Exodus 21, 22, 23 on how to live as an Israelite in the nation of Israel. On the right hand side, I quoted from the Lennon Baptist Confession 1689 on the law of God.

Here's just one section. God was pleased to give the people of Israel ceremonial laws containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits, and partly holding forth diverse instructions of moral duties, all which ceremonial laws being appointed only to the time of reformation are by Jesus Christ, the true Messiah and only lawgiver, who is furnished with power from the Father, for that end abrogated and taken away.

To them, he also gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the state of that people, not obliging any now by virtue of that instruction, their general equity only being of moral use. No comments now about the theonomy or anything else.

I'm not going to do it. Not going to do. What are the different functions or uses of God's law? That's the next chapter in the law gospel, a primer, something easy, something simple, something introductory.

You prime a pump, you prime your old musket, you have prime numbers, you have Amazon Prime. What if it was called Amazon Prim? Aren't you glad you don't pay for this show? I mean, seriously, what if you had to pay for per episode?

Remember that in the old days? This is behind a paywall. I do need to retire sometime. Medicare is coming up soon, 65 years old. My son, Luke, lives in Southern California and he is pastor of Redemption Church, North County.

And I don't know, maybe someday I'll try to go help him there. What are the different functions or uses of God's law? God's law convicts the unbeliever, restricts sin in the civic realm for both believer and unbeliever, and guides the believer.

Maybe I should have some. Theologians regularly state that there are three uses of law. These uses are pedagogical, civil, and normative. An easy way to remember these three are the words mirror, curb, and guide.

God's law is a mirror for unbelievers to show them their sin and need of a Savior. The law demonstrates to unbelievers that there is no righteousness in themselves and they must seek help outside of themselves.

It is a curb to all people to restrain sin in society. Natural law often comes into the discussion here because natural law is God's law that is present and understood in all people, in their minds and consciences.

It is a guide for believers so they know how to honor the Lord and so that it may go well with them. It norms their actions and attitudes. Not many footnotes in the book. You ever had a footnote? You didn't know it was called that, did you?

Different theologians number the three uses differently, but the substance is the same no matter the order. And then on the right side, I had Richard Mueller and John Calvin. Here's what Mueller says.

One, the political or civil use is a restraint on sin and stands apart for the work of salvation. It stands apart from the work of salvation. It is part of God's general revelation or common grace for unbelievers as well as believers.

The elliptical or pedagogical use, which confronts sin and points us to Christ. The didactic use, which is solely for believers teaching the way of righteousness. So, those are the three uses of the law.

Maybe a little simpler, John Calvin. While it shows God's righteousness, it warns, informs, convicts, and lastly condemns every man of his own righteousness. First use. It works by fear or punishment to restrain certain men who are untouched by any care for what is just and right and less compelled by hearing the dire threats in the law.

Second use, simple. It admonishes believers and urges them on in well-doing. Third use, norm, guide, direction. And so, those are the three uses of the law. So, kinds of the law, we're talking about Mosaic law, and those would be what?

Moral, civil, ceremonial. And for uses, how is God's law used? Because God's law doesn't change. It's the same. It's our relationship to the law that changes. And so, I have sections here on the law. First, chapter on first use, second use, third use.

I have a chapter here on what is natural law. David Van Roenen defines natural law this way. Natural law refers to the law of God, made known in the created order, which all human beings know through their physical senses, intellect, and conscience, although they sinfully resist this knowledge to various degrees.

God's natural law is written on the hearts of both. This is my word. These are my words. It's written on the hearts of both unbelievers and believers, showing God's requirements are to be obeyed. God reveals his natural law to all people.

Therefore, all people know generally what God obliges them to do, and furthermore, what the penalty will be for disobedience. Van Roenen further writes, through the created order, God reveals both his basic moral will for human beings.

Romans 1 not only affirms the reality of natural revelation, but also says that rebellious human beings actually know God through this revelation and know that their sins deserve judgment. Now, I write, again, natural law is embedded into the hearts of all humans.

Paul states, Romans 2, 14 and 15, for when Gentiles who do not have the law by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.

Again, Romans 2, 14. So, my name is Mike Abendroth. We're talking about the law today from the Law Gospel, a Primer book written by myself. Now, a lot of the stuff I didn't write, because the right-hand side of the page are quotes from famous Reformers, Lutherans, maybe even more modern authors.

I'm trying to give you an idea of how it's written. Hopefully, it sounds like me. Sometimes, if you read a book and you're like, oh, that sounds like someone, that sounds like the author, that's what I'm trying to do.

Why would I try to write a book that doesn't sound like me? Well, maybe because I don't like my sound. Boy, that coffee's bad. So bad. All right. Next, what are the two relationships people can have to the lawgiver in the ministry that the Lord has given me?

Believers and Unbelievers Before God

This is one of the biggest, most important thoughts that I want people to have when it comes to understanding the law. Confusion here is bad, and it comes from a lot of really heavy law preachers, those, some very popular, who love to whack people.

And I don't think they understand Sibb's book, Richard Sibb's book on the bruised reed. I don't think they understand how Jesus deals with people. I don't think they understand this idea of the law and different relationships people have to the lawgiver.

Unbelievers relate to God as judge, whereas believers relate to God as father. If you know this show, you understand this. This important distinction is related to the discussion regarding the first and third uses of the law.

Well, God's law does not change. Our relationship to the lawgiver is different after God saves us. As unbelievers, we stand before God as creator and judge. As believers, we stand before God as father.

Instead of condemning Christians, the law now guides and directs a believer's life. Jesus has accomplished salvation for all his people by both fulfilling the law on the believer's behalf and paying for all their sins.

Jesus' resurrection proved the father accepted the son's work. God as judge will never accept any sin-tainted obedience. He will never accept anything less than perfection. Yet God as father loves his children and therefore receives their less-than-perfect law-keeping because the father accepts every believer in Christ.

Say law. Sit and think about that for a second. God accepts frail and sin-tainted obedience to his law because he accepts his children. Remember, the law for the believer is a guide. While God chastens believers, he never condemns them.

Jesus was condemned in their place, and the law comes now through the hand of Christ. Christians should rejoice in their new relationship to God. On the right-hand side, I have some quotes. As the daily study of sanctification is a necessary exercise to all that are in Christ, so the rule of their direction therein is the holy, spotless law of God in Christ's hand.

Robert Trail, from the hand of Christ, in the hand of Christ, your friend, your advocate, your mediator, your prophet, your priest, your king, your friend, your savior. James, Hogg, Thomas, Boston, Ebenezer, and Ralph Erskine write, believers are certainly under the law of the Ten Commandments in the hand of a mediator, the one who loves you, sought you, bought you with his redeeming love.

Luther said, although I be oppressed with anguish and terror on every side and seem to be forsaken and utterly cast away from thy presence, yet I am thy child, and thou art my father for Christ's sake.

I am beloved because of the beloved. Wherefore, this little word father, affectionately conceived in the heart, passes all the eloquence of the most eloquent rhetoricians that ever were in the world. And the Heidelberg Catechism, question 120.

Why did Christ command us to God our Father? Answer, to awaken in us at the very beginning of our prayer, what should be basic to our prayer? A childlike reverence and trust that through Christ, God has become our Father.

And that just as our parents do not refuse us the things of this life, even less will God our Father refuse to give us what we ask in faith. Isn't that good? That is so good. My stomach just rumbled. That's called a whamble.

Yes, I remembered. I remembered. That is so nice. I should probably have, instead of having like a crickets thing, I should have a whamble on here. I'm sure they have it. I'm sure you can get stomach growling whambles on YouTube, sound bites, and I could upload this.

Huh? Yes. Okay. I think last one. What was Jesus' relationship to the law? Oh, that's good. Okay. We think about perfect human, true human. The issue here is, to whom did Jesus, did Jesus obey for himself or for others?

Did Jesus obey for himself or others? What was his relationship to the law? Answer, one sentence answer, then we explain it more. On earth, the incarnate Jesus merited righteousness by obeying the law for others, emphasis for others in italics, italicized.

It is without question that Jesus, the true man and true God obey the law of God. The question here, the questions here are for whom did he obey for himself or for others? Galatians four, four to five answers the question.

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son born of a woman, born under the law to redeem those who were under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons. Theologians call Jesus obedience, obedience pro nobis, that is for us.

Jesus was slash is inherently righteous. So, he did not have to obey for himself, but others. Jesus obeyed to merit or earn righteousness for others. Jesus obeyed the father for his bride, for the elect, for us.

Jesus came to obey and fulfill the law, do this and live. Jesus's obedience was perfect, entire, exact, and personal, and it was in our place. To emphasize Jesus's role as savior for others, reformers like Francis Turchin explained the difference between the faith of Jesus and our faith.

Our faith, he said, is a special faith, trusting God for salvation. Jesus's faith on earth was a general faith, trusting the father. As R. Scott Clark declares, we Christians obey God out of gratitude for what Jesus did for us.

Jesus obeyed his father on our behalf as our substitute. John Flavel, on the opposite side of the page, question one, did no man ever escape the sin of Adam? Answer, yes, the man Christ Jesus did, and he only.

Hebrews 7 says, for such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners. Flavel also said with question two, why was not Christ tainted with it? Answer, because he came into the world in an extraordinary way.

Matthew 1 .18, now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise, when as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. And then the London Baptist Confession, this office, the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake, which that he might discharge, he was made under the law and did perfectly fulfill it, and underwent the punishment due us, which we should have borne and suffered, being made sin and a curse for us, enduring most grievous sorrows in his soul, and most painful sufferings in his body, was crucified and died and remained in the state of the dead, yet saw no corruption.

On the third day he rose from the dead with the same body in which he suffered, with which he also ascended into heaven, and there sits at the right hand of the Father, making intercession, and shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world.

You can write us info at no compromise radio .com. Special thanks to Spencer, who is the workhorse behind the scenes. I don't know how many Sundays of his life he's had to listen to no compromise radio, make some edits, and try to make me sound coherent.

And so, Spencer, thank you for that. And you want to know something interesting? I looked outside and I saw Spencer's family walking out here, walking into the church. We have a funeral coming up just in moments.

If you want to order the book, that'd be great. There are other books out there. I'd encourage you to read John, it looks like Cajun, but it's Cajun, book on law gospel that I think if you write Reformation Heritage, I'll send it to you for free.

My book you have to pay for. It'd be nice if I could retire and have some passive income, right? Now, the last three shows I focused a lot on the gospel. I haven't focused on the gospel, I focused on the law.

Excuse me, I was thinking about something else. I was thinking about, I saw that there was a comma that needed to be changed in the book, so I need to redo the PDF. So, that will happen soon enough. What else is happening?

Hopefully headed to a Trinity conference, a Nicene Creed kind of conference in June. I'll be doing that instead of the Shepherd's Conference, Lord willing. If I can get tickets, it's overseas, so that makes it a little more difficult these days with high prices.

What else do I have scheduled? Pactam Conference for this fall in October. Can't wait for that. By the way, you know, G3, thousands of people, Shepherd's Conference, thousands of people, the Gospel Coalition.

Did they receive money from USAID? I think it said Christianity Today did, allegedly. Both of those allegedly, I don't want to get sued. We're going to find out a lot, who got the money. And it's interesting which Christian organizations got the money.

We here at No Compromise Radio and at Bethlehem Bible Church said no to COVID money. I mean, they never asked NOCO, but they asked the church. So, we don't want to have any entanglements with that. We want to just preach the gospel unadulterated without anybody controlling anything.

Mike Havender with No Compromise Radio Ministry.