The Reality of God’s Law
Repentance 2
Through the Law we become conscious of our sin. Romans 3:20
I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the Law. Romans 7:7
When I teach the Acting on Hope course to therapists and we get to the part in the Repentance Model where we talk about “Specific Law,” I see kind-hearted, compassionate therapists struggle with the reality of God’s Law. I have the same struggles. I struggle because I feel that I am such a sinner, who am I to confront another person with their sin? I have heard others struggle because God’s Law is something that comes from outside the client. It is not client driven. Can I ethically tell someone about their sin? I have others think about the harshness of God’s Law, saying, “that is just not my counseling method.” What is your struggle with the Law of God?
What will be your clients struggle with the Law of God? Will they become more depressed after hearing it? Will they be angry at you for bringing God’s Law into the conversation, even though they gave you permission to talk about God and His Word? A hint: When speaking God’s Law, let God’s Word do the talking. It is not you, it is God’s Word you are speaking and the client is hearing.
In our first devotion in this series on Repentance, we talked about the courage to confess. The client is led to believe and trust in the love of God for the world of sinners and for them personally. But you are also compelled by God’s love to do something for your client. Listen to the words of our God of love,
Christ’s love compels us because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. II Corinthians 5:14
God gives us His Law for three purposes:
- As a Mirror – to show us our sins;
- As a Curb – to frighten our sinful nature so that we do not stray but stay on the God’s path;
- As a Guide – to show us the way God would have us live as his obedient children here on earth.
When we speak about “Specific Law” in the Repentance Model, we speak about the first purpose of God’s Law, the use of God’s Law as a Mirror.
“Christ’s love compels us” and gives us the courage to speak about and meditate about “Specific Law” applied to ourselves, in our devotional life. “Christ’s love compels us” to speak to our clients for whom Christ died about their sins. We speak the Law of God in love. In love we desire our clients to repent and to hear God’s specific Gospel of forgiveness for that sin.
We address the conversation with our clients with love on both sides of our presentation of the Law.
We use the gracious good news of the Gospel of God’s forgiveness of the world of sinners to give our clients the courage to confess prior to speaking God’s Law. In love, desiring their confession, we speak God’s Law specific to their sin. Then in love we follow the Law with the Gospel again. We remember:
The blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.I John 1:7-9
Personal Meditation Questions:
- What sins trouble me the most?
- What confidence and courage do I have from God to bring those sins before God in confession?
- How will I make my confession?
- Personally and privately to God, being strengthened from God’s Words of forgiveness in the Bible?
- To another Christian I trust to keep confidence to hear God’s forgiveness from them?
- To my pastor so that I might hear God’s forgiveness from him?
May God give us contrite hearts.
May God give us loving hearts.
May God bless us as we speak His Law and His Gospel to others.
Prayer
God, help us show your love and your forgiveness as we apply your Law and Gospel to ourselves and speak your Law and Gospel to others. Amen.
