John Patton, Presbyterian missionary to the New Hebrides followed Calvin’s pastoral method in presenting the gospel to men. After learning the language of the people he began to teach them to memorize Scripture; the first were the Ten Commandments.
Calvin’s reason for giving an exposition of the law after explaining man’s original sin is simply because Jesus “came to seek and save that which is lost.” Mankind must know they are lost before they will come to the Saviour. From the beginning of the world God has willed that all his people look to Christ alone for their salvation, but before they will look to him they must be lead to him; and it is the law that leads us to Christ. For the gospel’s sake Calvin expounded the Ten Commandments in chapter 7 and 8 of his Institutes.
1. Moses and the laws he communicated were not agents of legalism. They were spokesmen of God’s grace, speaking in types and foreshadows of the Messiah; Christ the Mediator. [Acts 7:44; Heb 8:5; Heb 9; Ex 25:40]
2. What of the moral law? This holy and good law is a perfect expression of righteousness which in turn teaches us our unrighteousness. Calvin explains. “Because observance of the law is found in none of us, we are excluded from the promises of life, and fall back into the mere curse” (Pg., 352). [Gal 3:10] [See section 4, pg, 352]
3. The Scriptures clearly explain that sinful man is cursed because he cannot fulfill the law. [Rom 3:10, 23; Eccl 7:21; 1 Kgs 8:46; Ps 143:2; Job 9:2; 25:4; Gal 3:10; Deut 27:26]
4. The moral law has 3 functions. All in the reformed tradition have held Calvin’s position more or less. Here it is in summary.
First, “while it shows God’s righteousness, that is, the righteousness alone acceptable to God, it warns, informs, convicts, and lastly condemns, every man of his own unrighteousness” (Pg., 354).
Second. The moral law of God written in the Word and conscience of men restrains evil. Yet, as Calvin has this caveat, “They are restrained, not because their inner mind is stirred or affected, but because, being bridled, so to speak, they keep their hands from outward activity, and hold inside the depravity that otherwise they would wantonly have indulged” (Pg., 358).
Third. The moral law of God is a tool of the believers’ sanctification. “Here is the best instrument for them to learn more thoroughly each day the nature of the Lord’s will to which they aspire, and to confirm them in the understanding of it” (Pg., 360).
5. Some have said that the moral law has been abrogated. We are not under law but under grace is their slogan, and by it they mean freedom from it’s worth and obligation. Calvin called these people “ignorant persons.” Why? They do not understand the distinctions between the law as a curse unto death and the law as a divine course in the life of grace. Calvin in no uncertain terms said this has damaged the church.
6. “Through Christ the teaching of the law remains inviolable; by teaching, admonishing, reproving, and correcting, it forms us and prepares us for every good work [ 2Tim 3:16-17]” (Pg., 363).
7. Are believers under the laws curse? No, Christ has redeemed the elect from the curse of the moral law by becoming a curse for us. [Gal 3:13; 4:4-5]
8. What of the ceremonial laws of Moses? Christ the Mediator is once again the answer. They pointed to and pictured him, and he has honoured their purpose and so they have no more use; other than to still point us to Christ even as the church reads and preaches from these Scriptures today. [Col 2:17; Heb 10:1; Lk 16:16; Jn 1:17; Eph 2:14-15]
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