Living Law and Gospel

   As Christian parents we want our children to be Christian, both in belief and in behavior.

   Unfortunately, wanting the child to be come a “better Christian” in the future, we often feel compelled to tell them what we don’t accept about him now. And so we moralize, evaluate, judge, criticize and preach at our children. We use messages that convey unacceptance of the child as he is, thinking that by such means we can force Christian growth. We cannot do it. We only make it more difficult for the child.

   God is the One who gives and develops Christian life and faith. He does it as his Holy Spirit works through his holy Word. In baptism God bestows the gift of the Holy Spirit on the new life of faith in Jesus Christ. As we continue the use of the Word, the Spirit continues his work in us.

   Through baptism our children have at work in them the power of God’s Spirit to turn form sin to God, the power to "become mature, attaining the full measurer of perfection found in Christ" (Ephesians 4:13). They are alive; they have within themselves in what the Bible calls our "new man" or "spirit") the power to grow in Christ.

   Our responsibility as Christian parents is not to "take over" the growth of our children. Rather, we are to acknowledge the power of God at work in our fellow family members - and to nurture it through our living of law and gospel.

   The law and gospel are the two chief doctrines of the bible. The law shows God in his holiness and in his will that we be holy as he is. The law also shows us that because of our sins we cannot achieve holiness. The gospel, on the other hand, presents God in his love. The gospel is the good news of our salvation in Jesus Christ. We are made holy in Jesus Christ.

   Both law and gospel are from God. Both were necessary for Christian growth and life. Without the law the gospel is not understood. Without the gospel the law benefits us nothing. Parents, then, must live both law and gospel in order to give children a proper spiritual balance.
 

Parents live the law when we:

• provide instruction in God’s law (summarized in the Ten Commandments), its purpose and how it works.
   
• seek to model the positive virtues of love for God and love for all men, not to win approval but to glorify God.
   
• speak God’s law clearly and forcefully when it appears that misbehavior is the result of impenitence. In doing so the final objective is to be able to speak God’s mercy and a personal word of forgiveness.
   

   A common misuse of the law is to use it to motivate for Christian behavior. The law cannot do that because its only motivation is fear and punishment. God doesn’t motivate Christians in this way and neither should we. To do so may well cause our children to lose out on a vital relationship with a loving heavenly Father.
 

Parents live the gospel when we:

• provide and share in Christian education, worship and devotions.
   
• speak of our hope of salvation and the power of God’s love in our lives.
   
• encourage our children to be the kind of persons God has made them to be in Christ Jesus.
   
• treat our children as new creations of God who possess integrity and self-worth.
   
• daily point our children to the love of Jesus Christ and to the great events of his life, especially his death and resurrection.

   Properly living law and gospel in the home will involve a number of skills. (1) It will involve being helpful instead of threatening. (2) Living law and gospel involves a readiness to listen and understand before we react. (3) At times it means expressing strong disapproval, but always without attacking character. (4) We will state expectations before an action or event instead of after. (5) When there has been wrong, we will demonstrate how to make amends and reasons for doing so. (6) Christian parents will try to give a choice of right behaviors instead of merely pointing out what is wrong. (7) Living law and gospel means reinforcing positive behaviors.

   Rightly applying the law and gospel, said Luther, is the highest art. The key is remembering God’s treatment of us. "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). Our relationship to God begins with his acceptance and forgiveness - not because of our goodness, but simply because of his grace.

   Because we are accepted we are free to grow. God’s forgiveness means new power to become what God intends us to be. So we seek to live in his Word. We seek to live his law and his gospel with our children also.
 

Something to think abou

1. Martin Luther wrote:"... you will realize that the gospel is a rare guest in men’s consciences, while the law is their daily and familiar companion." What does this say  about the devil, the world and our flesh? What does it suggest about our use of law and gospel?
    
2. This brochure lists seven skills helpful inliving law and gospel in the family. Can you list others? How is each a proper use of law and gospel?
    
3. Together with your family or others think of typical times in which misbehavior occurs. Discuss how you would use the above mentioned skills.
    
4. Christian faith and life develop best in a family in which love and trust predominate. Do you agree or disagree? Why?
    
5. Living law and gospel requires a good understanding of them. Consider enrolling in your congregation’s adult confirmation course to be refreshed in Christian doctrine.
   
    
   Prayer
   
      Dear heavenly Father, I thank you that in Christ Jesus you have forgiven and accepted me. Help me also to accept myself and by the power of the gospel at work in me to continue to grow in faith. Use me as your instrument to nurture the faith of my child, so that he will increasingly love you as a Father, continually trust you as his Savior, and always find in you the power for holy living. Amen.
    

The Family of God series is copyright © 1985 Northwestern Publishing House. and is published under the auspices of PACE (Partners Advancing Christian Education), Wisconsin Lutheran High School Conference, Milwaukee, WI. Reprinted by permission.

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  Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA 53226-3284
  Phone: 1-800-662-6022

“Rightly applying
Law and Gospel
is the highest art.”

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