35 律法的功用——道德律有三重目的Law in Action - God's morallaw has three purposes
《简明神学》Concise Theology: A Guide to Historic Christian Beliefs，巴刻（J. I. Packer）著/張麟至译，更新传道会，2007年。
35 律法的功用——道德律有三重目的
Law in Action - God's moral law has three purposes
只是非因律法，我就不知如为罪。（罗7:7）
圣经显示神要祂的律法按三方面的功能来应用，加尔文准此以古典的形式，为着教会的益处，将之具体化为律法的三重用处。
它的第一个功用乃是当做一面镜子，向我们反映出神完美的公义，和我们自己的罪性与短处。也就是说，[当我们试着要实践律法的要求时，我们会因自己在律法下显得软弱，而感消沉，律法导致我们去寻求恩典的帮助。]（奥古斯丁）律法本是叫人知罪（罗3:20；4:15；5:13；7:7-11），并且籍着叫我们看出自己是落在神的诅咒之下，需要神的赦免，来带领我们悔改，信服基督（加3:19-24）。
律法的第二个功用是抑制邪恶。虽然律法不能改变人的心，但是它能以审判为威胁，抑制不法到某种程度。尤其是在民法支持之下，一旦罪行确认之后，就立即执行惩罚（申13:6-11；19:16-21；罗13:3-4），这样，律法就维持了一些民政的秩序，也多少保护义人不受恶人的侵扰。
它第三个功用是引导重生的人进入神为他们所计划的善工中（弗2:10）。律法告诉神的儿女，什么事是讨天父喜欢的，所以，律法也可以称为神家的家规。当基督说到，那些成为祂门徒的人必须受教，以遵守律法和实行祂所有的命令（太5:18-20；28:20），祂乃是说及律法的第三种功用。当祂说到，惟有顺服祂命令的人才证明他是爱主的（约14:15），他指的也是律法的第三种功用。律法被人视为是一个救恩系统，但基督徒已从其下脱身，得到自由（罗6:14；7:4,6；林前9:20；加2:15-19；3:25），但是他在基督面前，却是活在[基督的律法]之下，以此当做他生活的准则（林前9:21；加6:2）。
LAW IN ACTION
GOD’S MORAL LAW HAS THREE
PURPOSES
I
would not have known what sin was except through the law. ROMANS 7:7
Scripture
shows that God intends his law to function in three ways, which Calvin
crystallized in classic form for the church’s benefit as the law’s threefold
use.
Its
first function is to be a mirror reflecting to us both the perfect
righteousness of God and our own sinfulness and shortcomings. Thus “the law
bids us, as we try to fulfill its requirements, and become wearied in our
weakness under it, to know how to ask the help of grace” (Augustine). The law
is meant to give knowledge of sin (Rom. 3:20; 4:15; 5:13; 7:7-11) and, by
showing us our need of pardon and our danger of damnation, to lead us in
repentance and faith to Christ (Gal. 3:19-24).
Its
second function is to restrain evil. Though it cannot change the heart, the law
can to some extent inhibit lawlessness by its threats of judgment, especially
when backed by a civil code that administers present punishment for proven
offenses (Deut. 13:6-11; 19:16-21; Rom. 13:3-4). Thus it secures some civil
order and goes some way to protect the righteous from the unjust.
Its
third function is to guide the regenerate into the good works that God has
planned for them (Eph. 2:10). The law tells God’s children what will please
their heavenly Father. It could be called their family code. Christ was
speaking of this third use of the law when he said that those who become his
disciples must be taught to keep the law and to do all that he had commanded
(Matt. 5:18-20, 28:20), and that it is obedience to his commands that will
prove the reality of one’s love for him (John 14:15). The Christian is free
from the law as a supposed system of salvation (Rom. 6:14; 7:4, 6; 1 Cor. 9:20;
Gal. 2:15-19; 3:25) but is “under Christ’s law” as a rule of life (1 Cor. 9:21;
Gal. 6:2).
