Back To The Basics: The Mistake Of Trying To Make People Godly By Means Of The Law

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

There’s a terrible temptation in the Church.  It’s the idea that we can scare sinners into holiness. That we can hammer people into godliness. That the problem with our world—or our churches—is simply that people don’t hear the Law enough, and if we just thunder a little louder, then maybe, people will become good pious little Christians. 

But dear friends, it doesn’t work. It never has. And tonight, C.F.W. Walther reminds us why.

In his 23rd thesis on Law and Gospel, Walther boldly declares: 

“The Word of God is not rightly divided when an attempt is made by means of the demands or the threats or the promises of the Law to induce the unregenerate to put away their sins and engage in good works and thus become godly; on the other hand, when an endeavor is made, by means of the commands of the Law rather than by the admonitions of the Gospel, to urge the regenerate to do good."

Now, what did we just hear?  What is Walther saying?  

Simply stated: the Law is not a tool to make the pagans godly. Nor is it meant to be a means for the Christians to good works. You see, when we try to use the Law this way—when we swap the Gospel out for rules, threats, or even promises of blessing—we commit a grave error. We don’t rightly divide the Word. We don’t make Christians; we make Pharisees or prisoners.

As we have already heard in previous Wednesday night sermons, the purpose of the Law, after the Fall, is not to improve you. It is to kill you.  Listen to Romans 3:20, 

“Through the Law comes knowledge of sin.” 

Indeed, the Law doesn’t remove sin. It reveals it. It awakens it. It shows you just how far you fall short. And if you’re honest, it doesn’t make you love God more—it makes you wonder how He could demand so much from someone as weak as you.

As we heard in tonight’s Epistle Reading, 

“The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 

No, this does not mean that the words of the Bible are some form of violent hate speech.  Instead, it means the Law kills. Not because it’s bad but because it is holy, righteous, and good. 

Just look at Adam and Eve. Satan didn’t tempt them with pleasure first—he used the command of God to plant doubt. “Did God really say…?” And that’s all it took.

Again, the Law stirs the sin we didn’t even know was there. And the result? Despair. Blame. Hatred of the very God who gave the good commands of the Law.  

The Law kills; it does not produce the fruits of the Spirit.  

Now, let’s consider the Gospel! 

In Jeremiah chapter 31, God promises a new covenant—not like the old one that thundered at Sinai, not written on stone, but written on hearts.  We read, 

“I will forgive their iniquity and remember their sin no more.”

There it is. That’s the heart of the Gospel. Not commandments, but absolution. Not coercion, but comfort. Not pressure, but peace.

And what does the Gospel do to a sinner’s heart? Psalm 119:32 tells us: 

“I will run in the way of your commandments when you enlarge my heart.” 

Did you hear that?  We will run in the way of the good commandments, not when God terrifies us.  Not when God screams at us.  But when God expands our hearts—when God gives us the Gospel and holy impulses… when God creates a clean heart and a renewed spirit within us.  

* * *

Several weeks ago, we talked about the necessary order of Law and Gospel – that Mt. Sinai (the Law) needs to come before Mt. Calvary.  …that John the Baptist needs to come before Jesus Christ.  …that repentance needs to come before faith.   And so, what happens when we get this order mixed up, when we try to use the hammer of the Law to make people godly?  

CFW Walther says we create nothing more than miserable hypocrites. That is to say; when we sideline the Gospel and then preach the Law in a way to try and make people more Godly, what we end up with is people who might donate money on Sunday but cheat their neighbor on Monday. We end up with people who show up to church and walk out still enslaved to sin. We end up with people who know what to do, but have no heart to do it.

Using the Law to try and make people more holy is like trying to paint over mold. The surface looks good, but underneath? Decay.

Even among pastors—faithful, well-meaning ones—this confusion sneaks in. You see, some pastors grow weary. They see sin in their pews and think, 

"Maybe I’ve preached too much Gospel. Maybe I need to crack down." 

And so, the pastor sidelines the Gospel and preaches the Law where the Gospel used to dominate.  In the end, outward behavior might improve for a while. But the heart stays cold. The soul stays dead. The fruit doesn’t last.

So, all of this begs the question!  If the Law cannot make people godly – what does?  What brings life? What actually produces true Godly obedience?

The Gospel!

The Gospel alone. Not as a pat on the back. Not as a soft landing. But as the fire that melts stony hearts.

Just so you know that Walter is not making this up, listen to what the Apostle Paul says in Galatians 3:2, 

“Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith?” 

Did you hear that?  The Galatians knew the answer. When Paul preached the pure Gospel to them, their hearts were filled with peace, joy, and confidence. But when the Judaizers dragged them back to living solely under the Law, they were bewitched, sad, anxious, and robbed of assurance.

So Paul pleads: 

“Where is the hope of the Gospel that you once had so much joy in? Where did it go?”

Dear friends, do you want to see the Church renewed? Do you want to see sinners rescued and saints strengthened? If so, we need to hear the Law first.  The Law must be proclaimed boldly and bluntly to expose sin. The Law must smack you and me in the face to crush our pride. We must not be shy from hearing the full demands of God’s Law.  We need to hear the full weight of the Law – what we should not do and what we should do.  HOWEVER, we must not stop with the Law.  The Gospel must always follow. Not next week. Not next month. Right after the Law has done its killing work, the Gospel must come in and raise the dead.

Baptized Saints, please hear this loud and clear!!! The Law on its own cannot make a person willing, pious, godly, or alive. Only the Gospel can. Only the Holy Spirit through the Gospel can create faith in us, enlighten us, sanctify us, and keep us in the true faith.  

To paraphrase Martin Luther: Paul does not command the saints. He beseeches them, saying, “by the mercies of God.” That is to say, Paul coaxes, not with threats, but with grace, because the Christian is not a slave, but a child. Not a convict, but a son. And sons are moved by love, not chains.

Baptized Saints, tonight, let’ be perfectly clear.  The Law tells you what to do—and shows you that you can’t do it. The Gospel tells you what Christ has done—and gives it to you freely. The Law condemns. The Gospel forgives. The Law kills. The Gospel makes alive.

So if your heart is convicted, if your conscience is heavy, if your soul is tired—don’t reach for more Law. Don’t look inward. Don’t make promises to do better. Look to Christ.

Look to Jesus’ cross. Look to His Word. Look to His promises. Hear again: “I forgive you. I remember your sin no more.” And your heart will be set free, for the Gospel gives life.  

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Note: This sermon is based off Thesis XXIII of Walther's Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel.  To learn more on this Thesis, CLICK HERE.