The Third Use of the Law in the Christian’s Life

This sermon explores the third use of the law in the Christian life, defined as the rule of gratitude. It contrasts the natural state of unthankfulness described in Romans 1 with the renewed life of thankfulness commanded in Colossians 3. The central argument is that salvation is not merely about being saved from sin but about being saved for service, where believers present their bodies as living sacrifices in response to God's mercies. Drawing from the Heidelberg Catechism, the message emphasizes that good works are the necessary fruit of faith, serving to assure believers of their salvation and to witness to neighbors. The sermon concludes with a sobering warning that a life devoid of gratitude and obedience indicates a lack of true faith.