Catechism Question 67
Does the law of God help us to obey and to overcome sin?
No, the law does not enable us to obey; that is the work of the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to resist sin and works to conform us to Christ.
Focus and Purpose of this Question
This question is the second of three that look at the moral law in the life of a believer. We have already seen that even as a believer there will always be a struggle with sin. Yet, as a believer, we are being sanctified so that we are increasingly being freed from the power of sin to be conformed to the image of Christ. But where does this power come from? Does it come from the law, or from the Holy Spirit? This question provides the answer.
This concept is critical for our sanctification. If we look to the law (or resolutions, key principles, etc.) we will be disappointed and in an endless cycle of fresh resolutions and failure. The power to live holy does not come from ourselves or from the law but from the Spirit. It is His work to empower us to resist sin and conform us to Christ.
The question of why the law is important will be answered in the next question. For now, we must know what the law does NOT do – it does not empower us to obey God.
Additional Questions:
Does the law help you to obey God?
Do the Ten Commandments give you the power to obey God?
Who gives you the power to obey God?
Scripture References:
Romans 7:22-8:4
For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God — through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin. 8:1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, 4 in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16–25
So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Ezekiel 36:25–27
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. 26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Romans 8:12–14
Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation — but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14 because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Questions for Further Discussion:
Does the law help you to obey God?
Now that you know and understand the Ten Commandments, will they give you the power to obey God?
People often try to become better by making resolutions, learning principles, or making promises to change. Is this how Christians become sanctified? Where does our power to overcome sin and temptation come from?
How do we receive power from the Holy Spirit? Is there anything we are called to do to be filled with the Holy Spirit, walk with Him, and receive power from Him? (See question 44.)
Additional Information:
This question is based on question 115 of the Heidelberg Catechism and question 37 of the New City Catechism. Any resources you find on the Heidelberg or New City Catechisms will have a good discussion on this question.
For additional information, see the teachings “The Law and the Spirit in Sanctification” (August 7, 2011), “Walking By the Spirit” (April 10, 2005), and “Keeping in Step with the Spirit” (May 1, 2005).
Suggested Worship Song:
Spirit of the Living God (Daniel Iverson, Public Domain)
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me;
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.
Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me.
Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me.