One of my favorite movies is Good Will Hunting. In one of the pivotal scenes in the movie Matt Damon’s character is repeatedly reminded by Robin Williams’ character that the abuse he suffered from his foster parent is not his fault. I have not included the clip because the language is very graphic. It is available on YouTube if you are interested.
Here is my paraphrase:
Sean: It’s not your fault.
Will: I know.
Sean: It’s not your fault.
Will: Yeah, I know.
Sean: It’s not your fault.
Will: I KNOW!
Sean: It’s not your fault.
Will: Don’t mess with me Sean! Not you!
Sean:It’s not your fault.
Will: [Breaks down. They embrace.]
Every day we must adopt the strategy of Sean in reminding ourselves that the Law is not the Gospel. Human beings were created to live in obedience to God’s commands in every detail. We do not need someone to explain to us the concept of Law. It is innate within us. Unfortunately, due to Adam’s sin, we can no longer keep the Law because every aspect of our being is now corrupted by sin.
The Gospel is a different matter. It is foreign to us. We need to have the Gospel preached into us every day, multiple times a day. If we do not, inevitably we revert back to our created condition of law-keeper, thinking that our obedience will make us right with God. “If I could only do a little more, maybe then God will smile on me,” we tell ourselves.
We must constantly be reminded of the Gospel, especially the fact that the Law is not the Gospel. No amount of good works can make us right with God. We need the work of another. Christ kept the Law perfectly on behalf of sinners who are not able. He imputes the righteousness that he earned to the account of those who believe, so that when the Father looks on them, He only sees the righteousness of Christ, not our inadequate attempts at keeping the Law ourselves. We can now rest in the finished work of Christ.
Be like Sean and remind yourself that the Law is not the Gospel.
The Law is not the Gospel.
The Law is not the Gospel.
The Law is not the Gospel.
The Law is not the Gospel
The Law is not the Gospel.
The Law is not the Gospel….
3 responses so far ↓
Richard // Wednesday, November, 18, 2009 at 3:18
Of course, the analogy breaks down in that it IS our fault–in Adam. But, I hear what you are saying about keeping the Law and Gospel distinct. We keep on wanting to go back to the Law, don’t we? And we can even do it in a Reformed way by exalting the third use of the Law.
danborvan // Wednesday, November, 18, 2009 at 3:18
That is a good point, Richard. I definitely don’t want to adopt what Robin Williams is saying, just his approach of painful repetition. I think that you are right about the exaltation of the third use. In my experience, too many sermons just tag the gospel onto the end of an exhortation using the Law.
Richard // Wednesday, November, 18, 2009 at 3:18
Dan, EXACTLY. I experienced your last point last Lord’s Day from my Reformed (PCA) pastor. When I told him later I thought his sermon over-did the Law with little Gospel, all I got was a “look.”