10. What is the relationship between the law and the gospel?

The law is an agency that leads us to recognize our need of a Savior. It points out our sin and selfishness and provides a solution in Jesus. The law can be compared to a mirror. The mirror shows us where we are dirty, but it doesn’t clean us up! In the same way, we discover our sinfulness by looking into the law of God, but we look for cleansing to the cross of Calvary, “the blood of the Lamb.” JTL18 12.1

Imagine all of us as sinners gathered figuratively at the foot of Mount Sinai. As we hear God Himself declare in peals of thunder the Ten Commandments as the standard of righteousness, we come under conviction of sin and realize that our hopeless condition will lead to eternal death. JTL18 12.2

Then Jesus leads us figuratively to Mount Calvary, where we find the Good News of salvation through faith in the atoning life and death of Jesus. Hope fills our souls, and in faith we reach out to our Savior, who extends to us the gift of everlasting life. No wonder we are then eager to obey, to respond in grateful obedience to God’s amazing grace and unfathomable love! JTL18 12.3