--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Finally, Lutheran and Reformed traditions…" description: "\"“Finally, Lutheran and Reformed traditions distinguish (without separating) three uses of the law: the first (pedagogical), to expose our guilt and cor..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/michael-s-horton-7082_christian-disciplesh_finally-lutheran-and-reformed-traditions_2640212.jpg" --- # Finally, Lutheran and Reformed traditions distinguish… ![“Finally, Lutheran and Reformed traditions distinguish (without separating) three uses of the law: the first (pedagogical), to expose our guilt and corruption, driving us to Christ; the second, a civil use to restrain public vice; and the third, to guide Christian obedience. Believers are not…” quote by Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/michael-s-horton-7082_christian-disciplesh_finally-lutheran-and-reformed-traditions_2640212.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/michael-s-horton-7082_christian-disciplesh_finally-lutheran-and-reformed-traditions_2640212.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/638/michael-s-horton-7082_christian-disciplesh_finally-lutheran-and-reformed-traditions_2640212.jpg) > ““Finally, Lutheran and Reformed traditions distinguish (without separating) three uses of the law: the first (pedagogical), to expose our guilt and corruption, driving us to Christ; the second, a civil use to restrain public vice; and the third, to guide Christian obedience. Believers are not “under the law” in the first sense. They are justified. However, they are still obligated to the law, both as it is stipulated and enforced by the state (second use) and as it frames Christian discipleship (third use). We never ground our status before God in our obedience to imperatives, but in Christ’s righteousness; yet we are also bound to Christ, who continues to lead and direct us by his holy will.”” [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The law serves three purposes: teaching sin, restraining vice, and guiding obedience; believers are justified by Christ yet still bound to law. **In simple terms:** Law teaches, restrains, guides; believers obey through Christ. Key Takeaway Balance gratitude for grace with responsible law‑keeping. Themes theology ethics law grace Mood thoughtful balanced Type theological practical When to use this quote - church leadership - public policy - personal ethics - education Key Concepts pedagogical law civil law Christian obedience Questions to Reflect On - How do you integrate law with grace? - What tensions arise between civil and spiritual duties? A Different Perspective Legalism can eclipse grace. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Believers Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believers-law-2263981/) [Christian discipleship](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-discipleship/) [Christian Obedience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian-obedience-2263982/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Law Stipulated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-stipulated-2263984/) [Obligated Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obligated-law-2263983/) [Uses Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/uses-law-451118/) ## Related quotes > [“The ongoing function of God’s law is not to serve as a standard to be met for justification but as a guide for Christian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sinclair-b-ferguson/the-ongoing-function-of-god-s-law-is-not-to-serve-as-a-standard-to-be/) [Sinclair B. Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sinclair-b-ferguson/) > [Christian obedience, by its very nature, has a heroic character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-urs-von-balthasar/christian-obedience-by-its-very-nature-has-a-heroic-character/) [Hans Urs von Balthasar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-urs-von-balthasar/) > [The essence of Christian obedience is not do’s and don’ts but personal allegiance to Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/the-essence-of-christian-obedience-is-not-do-s-and-don-ts-but/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [Here I encounter the most popular fallacy of our times. 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It is not what we have to acquire in order to experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-peterson/joy-is-not-a-requirement-of-christian-discipleship-it-is-a/) [Eugene Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-peterson/) > [Let us be mindful of the foundational precepts our Heavenly Father has given to His children that will establish the basis of a rich…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/let-us-be-mindful-of-the-foundational-precepts-our-heavenly-father/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oswald-chambers/go-therefore-and-make-disciples-of-all-the-nations/) [Oswald Chambers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oswald-chambers/) > [Despite all the help I've given to persecuted Christians, I've always found that I'm the one who's been helped the most. Their faith has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-moore-jr/despite-all-the-help-i-ve-given-to-persecuted-christians-i-ve-always/) [Johnnie Moore, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-moore-jr/) > [...Christ did not appoint professors, but followers. If Christianity ... is not reduplicated in the life of the person expounding it, then he does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christ-did-not-appoint-professors-but-followers-if-christianity-is/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [You cannot impart what you do not possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/you-cannot-impart-what-you-do-not-possess/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [“Christian discipleship is a decision to walk in his ways, steadily and firmly, and then finding that the way integrates all our interests, passions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-peterson/christian-discipleship-is-a-decision-to-walk-in-his-ways-steadily-and/) [Eugene Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-peterson/) ## More by Michael S. Horton > [“The flesh of Christ is like a rich and inexhaustible fountain that pours into us the life springing forth from the Godhead into itself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/the-flesh-of-christ-is-like-a-rich-and-inexhaustible-fountain-that/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“All of the Reformers agreed among themselves and with Rome on the point that the Supper lies at the heart of the person of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/all-of-the-reformers-agreed-among-themselves-and-with-rome-on-the/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“As the pretensions of modernity are unmasked today, it is a good time for us to recover our nerve, “always being prepared to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/as-the-pretensions-of-modernity-are-unmasked-today-it-is-a-good-time/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“To study theology involves entering into a long, ongoing conversation, one that we did not begin. Others have been talking about God long before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/to-study-theology-involves-entering-into-a-long-ongoing-conversation/) [Michael S. 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Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) > [“Our natural reason tells us that good people finish first and cheaters never prosper. However, believers have no right to God’s common grace any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-s-horton/our-natural-reason-tells-us-that-good-people-finish-first-and/) [Michael S. Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) [Explore all 95 Michael S. Horton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-s-horton/) ## More Christian discipleship quotes > [“Christian discipleship is a decision to walk in his ways, steadily and firmly, and then finding that the way integrates all our interests, passions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-peterson/christian-discipleship-is-a-decision-to-walk-in-his-ways-steadily-and/) [Eugene Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-peterson/) > [You cannot impart what you do not possess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-g-hendricks/you-cannot-impart-what-you-do-not-possess/) [Howard G. Hendricks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-g-hendricks/) > [...Christ did not appoint professors, but followers. If Christianity ... is not reduplicated in the life of the person expounding it, then he does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soren-kierkegaard/christ-did-not-appoint-professors-but-followers-if-christianity-is/) [Soren Kierkegaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soren-kierkegaard/) > [Despite all the help I've given to persecuted Christians, I've always found that I'm the one who's been helped the most. 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It is not what we have to acquire in order to experience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-peterson/joy-is-not-a-requirement-of-christian-discipleship-it-is-a/) [Eugene Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-peterson/) > [Let us simplify our lives a little, let us make the changes necessary to focus on the simple, humble path of Christian discipleship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dieter-f-uchtdorf/let-us-simplify-our-lives-a-little-let-us-make-the-changes-necessary/) [Dieter F. Uchtdorf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dieter-f-uchtdorf/) > [Live Like a Narnian: Christian Discipleship in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-d-wilson/live-like-a-narnian-christian-discipleship-in-c-s-lewis-s-chronicles/) [N.D. 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