Friday, December 4, 2015

Third Use of the Law (Commonplaces of Theology, Melanchthon)

Melanchthon 


"The third use of the Law pertains to the regenerate. Insofar as the regenerate have been justified by faith, they are free from the Law. This must be said under this locus. For they are indeed freed from the Law, that is, from the curse and condemnation and the wrath of God, which is set forth in the Law, that is to say, if they remain in the faith and fight against sin in confidence in the Son of God, and overcome the terrors of sin. 

"Yet in the meantime it must be said that the Law which points out the remnants of sin, in order that the knowledge of sin and repentance may increase, and the Gospel also must proclaim Christ in order that faith may grow. Furthermore, the Law must be preached to the regenerate to teach them certain works in which God wills that we practice obedience. For God does not will that we by our own wisdom set up works or obedience, but He wills that we be ruled by his word, as it is written, "In vain do they worship me by the commandments of men, Matt.15:9. Again, "Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, "Ps. 119:105."

"When human reason is not directed by the Word of God, it is very likely to lack something. For it is seized by wicked desires or gives its approval to iniquitous works, as is apparent in the laws of the gentiles. The divine order that we are to obey God remains unchangeable. Therefore, even though we are free from the Law, that is from damnation, because we are righteous by faith for the sake of the Son of God, yet because it pertains to obedience, the Law remains, that is, the divine ordinance remains that those who have been justified are to be obedient to God. Indeed, thy have the beginning of obedience which we shall now discuss under its own locus as to how it is pleasing to God. These comments suffice to give us instruction regarding the threefold use of the Law."


Melanchthon, Phillip, Loci Communes, 1543, trans. J.A.O. Preus (St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1992) 74.

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