Each Sunday we worship the Lord by means of His good Word, which is properly distinguished as law and gospel.
1. The law as a *covenant* condemns us (law broadly, the covenant of works). We have absolutely no hope of redemption or life by our good works. We must look for salvation wholly outside of ourselves.
2. The gospel says that Christ died for our sins, cancels our debt to the law, imputes Christ’s righteousness to us, and gives us His Spirit to make us holy (gospel strictly). There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! He freely justifies us and gives us the right to life and the experience of life.
3. The law as a *standard* teaches how to love God and love men *in light* of the gospel (law strictly, or gospel obedience). As Christians, we repent of our sins and keep God’s good and gracious law, though not perfectly, because Christ has saved us from our sins, because we love Him, and because we want to glorify His name.
