"Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:19-20).
"So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good" (Romans 7:12).
"So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good" (Romans 7:12).
"When God gives orders and tells us what will happen if we fail to obey those orders perfectly, that is in the category of what the reformers, following the biblical text, called law. When God promises freely, providing for us because of Christ's righteousness the status he demands of us, this is in the category of gospel. It is good news from start to finish. The Bible includes both, and the reformers were agreed that the Scriptures taught clearly that the law, whether Old or New Testament commands, was not eliminated for the believer (those from a Dispensational background may notice a difference here). Nevertheless, they insisted that nothing in this category of law could be a means of justification or acceptance before a holy God ... The law comes, not to reform the sinner nor to show him or her the "narrow way" to life, but to crush the sinner's hopes of escaping God's wrath through personal effort or even cooperation. All of our righteousness must come from someone else-someone who has fulfilled the law's demands. Only after we have been stripped of our "filthy rags" of righteousness (Isa. 64:6)- our fig leaves through which we try in vain to hide our guilt and shame-can we be clothed with Christ's righteousness. First comes the law to proclaim judgment and death, then the gospel to proclaim justification and life. One of the clearest presentations of this motif is found in Paul's Epistle to the Galatians. In the sixteenth century, the issue of law and grace was more clearly dealt with than at almost any other time since the apostles." - Modern Reformation (May/June 2003: "Good News: The Gospel for Christians")
THE THREEFOLD USE OF THE LAW
by R.C. Sproul
by R.C. Sproul
Every Christian wrestles with the question, how does the Old Testament law relate to my life? Is the Old Testament law irrelevant to Christians or is there some sense in which we are still bound by portions of it? As the heresy of antinomianism becomes ever more pervasive in our culture, the need to answer these questions grows increasingly urgent.The Reformation was founded on grace and not upon law. Yet the law of God was not repudiated by the Reformers. John Calvin, for example, wrote what has become known as the “Threefold Use of the Law” in order to show the importance of the law for the Christian life.1
The first purpose of the law is to be a mirror.
On the one hand, the law of God reflects and mirrors the perfect righteousness of God. The law tells us much about who God is. Perhaps more important, the law illumines human sinfulness. Augustine wrote, “The law orders, that we, after attempting to do what is ordered, and so feeling our weakness under the law, may learn to implore the help of grace.”2 The law highlights our weakness so that we might seek the strength found in Christ. Here the law acts as a severe schoolmaster who drives us to Christ.
A second purpose for the law is the restraint of evil.
The law, in and of itself, cannot change human hearts. It can, however, serve to protect the righteous from the unjust. Calvin says this purpose is “by means of its fearful denunciations and the consequent dread of punishment, to curb those who, unless forced, have no regard for rectitude and justice.”3 The law allows for a limited measure of justice on this earth, until the last judgment is realized.
The third purpose of the law is to reveal what is pleasing to God.
As born-again children of God, the law enlightens us as to what is pleasing to our Father, whom we seek to serve. The Christian delights in the law as God Himself delights in it. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). This is the highest function of the law, to serve as an instrument for the people of God to give Him honor and glory.
By studying or meditating on the law of God, we attend the school of righteousness. We learn what pleases God and what offends Him. The moral law that God reveals in Scripture is always binding upon us. Our redemption is from the curse of God’s law, not from our duty to obey it. We are justified, not because of our obedience to the law, but in order that we may become obedient to God’s law. To love Christ is to keep His commandments. To love God is to obey His law.
Summary
1. The church today has been invaded by antinomianism, which weakens, rejects, or distorts the law of God.
2. The law of God is a mirror of God’s holiness and our unrighteousness. It serves to reveal to us our need of a savior.
3. The law of God is a restraint against sin.
4. The law of God reveals what is pleasing and what is offensive to God.
5. The Christian is to love the law of God and to obey the moral law of God.
Biblical passages for reflection:
Psalm 19:7-11
Psalm 119:9-16
Romans 7:7-25
Romans 8:3-4
1 Corinthians 7:19
Galatians 3:24
1. Calvin, Institutes, bk. II, 1:304-310.
2. Calvin, Institutes, bk. II, 1:306.
3. Calvin, Institutes, bk. II, 1:307.
this has been an encore presentation
34 comments:
Excellent article as usual Steve.
It seems from the last two articles you are hinting at something that has not been said outright:
Absolute Moral Truth Exists
That Truth is Defined by Scripture
It is our "Reasonable Service" - duty as Christians to obey that Truth
And that that truth is what changes and impacts our culture...not political suasion!
Thank you as always for your encouraging words.
Campi
Great post Campi!
I guess you which you had wrote it now! :)
Of all the preachers who have influenced me I don't know whether to rank Sproul or Piper first.
Sorry, Paul just asked me 'if Christ is divided'!
At any rate, I still like Sproul!
Hi Steve,
Wow, it takes a lot of guts to post something about the law these days. Lots of Christians think it’s a dirty word now, but of course Paul tells us it is good for the one who uses it lawfully.
I think the basic principle behind the law is: ‘from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks’ (Luke 6:45). In other words, the law is not just an abstract standard; but in each application of the law, God is telling us what He would have done. Therefore it is a reflection of His character, and it is in this sense that the law is our school master to lead us to Christ.
For the same reason, the law and the character of God match perfectly. When, as a new creation in Christ, we are made partakers of the divine nature, the law naturally matches with our new nature as well. Do we then make void the law through faith? On the contrary, we establish the law. Circumcision does not avail, but a new creation does.
Law, Part 1, Third Use of The Law?
The so-called Third Use of the Law (Law as the “Rule of Life” for Christians) is a perversion of the glorious New Covenant established in the Blood of our Savior. The true “Rule of Life” for the Christian is not Law. It is “Faith”.
Reformed folks (of which I am one, regarding salvation) tend to be afraid of Grace after initial salvation and I have two possible theories why:
1. They have been so brainwashed with legalism and performance-based Christianity themselves, that their own eyes haven't been opened to the radical nature of Grace after salvation. Ask them about Christ "living His Life through me", and they will jump to remind you about your duty to buckle down and discipline yourself with self-control. If you remind them that self-control ironically is a fruit of the Spirit, and it is no longer you who live, but Christ who lives through you [Galatians 2:20]...they will look at you as if you were some alien from another world. And if they are biblically knowledgeable, they will begin to quote you rule after rule, duty after duty, sin after sin, to beat down your "grace" once and for all, you...you...Antinomian! (They love that word, because it keeps them from having to examine the biblical nature of Grace after salvation.).
2. They pretty much see the radical nature of New Covenant grace, but they are scared. Scared that if they preach it in all it's glory...if they truly preach "it is finished"... if they preach it without a mixture of the Law...then the sheep will run wild! Actually, the opposite is true. Real born-again Christians are new creations. Old things have passed away, behold all things have become new. We love Jesus, in our heart of hearts. We hate sin in our heart of hearts. When we hear how radically He has saved us, when we hear of His love that no sin or failure on our part will diminish, then the love of Christ constrains us to follow Him, to desire His ways, to fellowship with Him, to be filled with His Spirit.
The sheep don't run wild under grace. They run wild under Law, which quenches the Holy Spirit and inflames sin.
“For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.” (Rom. 6:14)
Carpe Gratiam,
Terry Rayburn
Law, Part 2, Antinomianism
Unfortunately, the term “Antinomianism” has been tossed around by law-oriented Christians so much that it has lost any real meaning. This has fed the curse of Legalism until Legalism has become a Monster That Is Eating The Church. I speak of that form of “legalism” which I call Performance-Based Christianity, as opposed to Grace-Based. In other words, Sanctification by Law, in direct contradiction to Gal. 3:3, “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”
So, some clarification:
True Antinomianism is a spirit of lawlessness. It’s the sign of an unregenerate person who professes to be a Christian, but who neither sees the beauty in God’s laws, nor has any real desire to follow them. True Antinomianism is a perversion of Grace, which says in effect that since sins are “paid for” on the Cross, then there really is no such thing as sin, and one can live their lives in any ungodly manner, and "who cares?"
But that’s not what the modern-day law-oriented Christians are calling Antinomianism. They are not railing against true Antinomianism. They are often railing against Grace itself, and thus stand at odds with the Gospel. When the true Gospel of Grace is preached, it prompts the question, “Wow! Should we sin, then, that grace might abound?” The answer is, of course, “No. We’ve died to sin, and are now alive to God! Now walk by His Spirit!” But the Gospel prompts the question precisely because it makes it clear that the law is nailed to the Cross, and we have died to the law, and are no longer under it.
Be very careful not to label as Antinomian those of us who “establish” or “uphold” the law of God so high that we know it is impossible for any mortal man to keep, and thus was unilaterally kept by the Man Jesus on our behalf, leaving us “justified”, a “new creation” who loves God and hates sin, and “not under law, but under grace”. This is the New Covenant in His blood.
Carpe Gratiam,
Terry Rayburn
Thanks for the post. Let's talk about the recent trend to redefine what is actually moral law.
Rayburn: I think if you sat down and discussed this with a reformed brother, you would understand that you are objecting to his language, not his theology. You slam certain folks for misusing the term "antinomianism," then turn around and misuse "legalism." Legalism is works-based salvation, not striving to obey God's commandments. There is no difference between a grace-based and performance-based Christianity. Grace is how, performance is proof.
colinm,
I'm not misusing the term "legalism", but zeroing in on one of its many forms. If I may quote myself:
I speak of that form of “legalism” which I call Performance-Based Christianity, as opposed to Grace-Based...
There are several other forms of legalism, for example:
1. There is initial salvation by works, which you allude to;
2. There is the Seventh Day Adventist legalism, which speaks of initial salvation by grace, but followed by law-works or you end up losing your salvation;
3. There is that extra-biblical type of cultural "legalism", such as "no lipstick", "no pants for ladies", etc.
4. There is pure Galatianism, which mixes law-works with grace, which of course makes it not grace.
The Perfomance-Based Christianity type I speak of is, I believe, the most destructive to the spiritual walk of the Christian, because it does several bad things:
1. It makes a Christian think they are better or worse than other Christians, causing pride or despair respectively;
2. It encourages the Christian to be self-centered -- always examining his navel as to whether he is "measuring up" (and he never is, of course) -- instead of being Christ-centered, looking to Jesus and fellowshiping with Him;
3. It encourages Daisy Theology -- "He loves me, He loves me not", robbing the believer of that precious and total love and acceptance that God has for him in Christ;
4. Worst of all, it adds law to grace, which Paul points out makes it no longer grace, whereupon one "falls from grace", as the Galatians did in their foolishness, and gets on the ground of Law, which quenches the Holy Spirit, and inflames sin.
The problem with Law-based living is that the one who lives that way
must 1. obey all of it, 2. obey it continually, 3. obey it perfectly. Sorry, but "Striving to obey God's commandments" won't cut it, and one who lives that way is cursed by his own paradigm.
"For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law to perform them." (Gal. 3:10)
But...
We are "...servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life." (2 Cor. 3:6)
Blessings,
Terry Rayburn
"Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness that comes from God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. 4For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
The Message of Salvation to All
For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. But the righteousness based on faith says, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) or "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved." --Romans 10:1-10
I think it helps to break the law down into three categories. The first is the ceremonial or sacrificial law. Basically, we just have to understand that Jesus fulfill all the imagery of those sacrifices through His own sacrifice (Zech 13:1).
Second is the civil law, made for law breakers. It doesn't apply to us because, as Christians, we don't break the laws (1 Tim 1:8-11)
The third category is called 'the righteous requirements of the law'. This is the part that refects God's character in teaching us how to love our neighbor. Example, Leviticus 19:9-18.
God gives His reasons for issuing each of those commands: 'I am the Lord'. In other words, "This is what I would have done. Immitate Me as dear children. Receive this as an ornament of grace; when you are old, do not depart from it."
This third category, which loves our neighbor, is the type of law that is fulfilled in us as a new creation (Rom 8:4).
2tal,
You write,
...the Bible commands (from Moses to Jesus to Paul) and it is the rule we must obey.
Whenever someone says that we Christians MUST obey some rule or law, two questions are raised in my mind:
1. To what extent MUST we obey? 10%, 50%, 99%? If you say 100%, you're correct. And thank God He did it for us, 'cause we can't DO 100. As the song says, "I'm running trying to make a hundred...ninety-nine and a half just won't do."
2. We "must"? What if we don't? I mean, "must" is a pretty strong word. Well, the answer is, if we are a born again Christian, we are forgiven...period. Grasp that profound, radical truth! When you do, "must" becomes a moot point. We "desire" to obey, in our very [reborn] spirit. And if we walk by the Spirit, we will obey. But if we walk by the flesh, all the "musts" get shaken off our backs like water off a wet dog.
The key, then, is not the law, it's the Spirit. Walk by the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.
You wanna "strive"? Don't strive to follow the law. Strive to spend time in His presence, communing with Him, loving Him, basking in His love for you, talking to Him, listening to Him through His Word.
Then the fruit of His Spirit will rise up in you (love, joy, peace...), and the glorious law of Christ planted in your heart will make the written commands seem like mere shadows of a much higher glory, fulfilled in you by Christ, as He lives His life through you.
Mount up with wings, baby!
Terry Rayburn
Respectfully, I submit:
There is an important element missing in these arguments.
The most import element -WHY.
Why did Jesus obey the law?
It was to present a ‘Perfect Sacrifice’. “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Hebrews 4:15
Because of His Love for the Father. “But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave Me commandment, so I do…” John 14:31
--
How does that relate to us? We cannot be perfect. “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Romans 3:23
We are still told to “...present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” Romans 12:1b
“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31
To what purpose?
First, “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Love fulfills the ‘Law’.
What is the goal of fulfilling the law?
“For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Romans 8:29.
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18.
We obey the law to be conformed to the image of Christ - We know why Christ obeyed the law! “Because I love the Father” We obey to be ‘like Him’ - ‘Christian’ means ‘little Christ’. We obey the law because we LOVE!
If we ‘obey’ the law, or adopt some ‘legalistic’ attitude - “Do this OR else…” Obedience is not love it is fear. “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18
Why obey the speed limit? Fear of the Law (a speeding ticket)
Why does one not hit their spouse? Love.
Which is better?
A man once told me years ago and it has never left my mind, "If you are trusting in something other than Jesus you are trusting in something false.
Some more trucker chonicles:
A few months ago my truck broke down right at the ramp to the Chicken Coops(D.O.T scale house)
Great! I was thinking now I'm gonna get an inspection and the state trooper is going to be all over me asking questions trying to find out why I broke down and see if I did a complete pre-trip before I left.
He came over with a warm smile on his face. He saw the address to my terminal on the side of the truck and got even happier. He told me that was his home town. He had a bumper on his vehicle and was able to push my truck out of the way with it.
Later he came back over to check on me as I was waiting for a tow and told me he was buying my lunch today. He asked me what I wanted and drove off to buy it and bring it back to me. The whole time I felt somewhat nervous but very thankful as well as astonished that he was being so kind.
After returning back to the yard my fellow workers were astonished as well. One guy(who I have spent much time witnessing to) said as he always does, "the Man must have been looking out for you!" I usually tell him The Lord Jesus was looking out for me.
This whole experience helped me understand God's purpose for His law with his Children. We being on the other side of life in Yeshua the law is no longer a threat to us and is our helper, our teacher and instructer to help us on our way in following him. I need not fear it. The Law to my friend who feels that Jesus is just, "the man" is his death warrant. Please pray for him as he really has been warming up to me lately. He used to hate me and would even yell at me saying, "You're just trying to save everybody! You can't save everybody!"
Also pray for Darren our maintence forman. One day I tried to witness to him and he cut me off saying,"You keep your religion to yourself and I'll keep my women and wisky ways to myself!"
They know all to well the purpose of the Law and that is why they hide from it. When light conflicts with them then they reject it. Please pray for these men as they have finally stopped taunting me and are starting to warm up. I think they see hope as I have loved them and done good to them in spite of the evil they have done me.
Once one guy tried to get me in trouble by setting all radio stations to BBN(Bible Broadcasting Network) in another fella's truck and turning everything on.
They know. They know and only love to them will break there cold hearts that have been so mean to me. Pray for them. My heart weeps at the day I would have to see any of them wailing in hellfire.
Dear Brother 2tal,
Though I trust it is unintentional, I believe you have set up a "straw man", which is "an argument or opponent set up so as to be easily refuted or defeated".
He, your straw man, is against God's law, but I hold His law in such high and lofty esteem as to declare that only Jesus Christ has ever kept it to the degree and standard required by the law itself.
As to the "straw man" aspects of your last post:
You wrote: If someone has qualms with Paul's commandments...
My reply: I have no qualms. I am in perfect agreement with Paul.
You wrote: They think...they don't have to strive (which is not true) even though Paul said...to "strive after holiness without which no man shall see God."
My reply: (1) I never said we shouldn't "strive". I merely said we should strive to commune with Jesus, and walk by the Spirit, not strive to "obey" the law. (2) "strive after holiness" is a bad translation. Only the RSV uses "strive". The best translation is simply "pursue" (Gk. dioko), and "holiness" is better translated "sanctification" (Gk. hagiasmos), which has nothing to do with the law.
You wrote: The Spirit "works in us to will [and] to do of His good pleasure" but we still "will and do".
My reply: I, of course, never said we don't still "will and do", only that we are not under the law.
You wrote: NCT [New Covenant Theology] then says that Jesus' commands are all that applies and the Ten Commandments have no place in the Christian life. This is all ridiculous since Christ Himself reaffirmed the Old Testament moral law.
My reply: Of course Jesus affirmed the Old Testament moral law. He lived his earthly life under the Old Covenant, and thank God He kept the OC laws to perfection, in their entirety. He then made the Old Covenant obsolete by His death, which put the New Covenant into effect(Heb. 8).
One thing is for sure:
"For sin shall no longer be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace." (Rom. 6:14)
"Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (Gal. 3:3)
"It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." (Gal. 5:1)
Blessings,
Terry Rayburn
Dear bag,
First, I agree with most of what I think you're saying (I say "think" because I find your writing overly "scholarly". I won't insult you by saying pseudo-scholarly, but I would urge you in love to write so as to take the hay out of the loft and put it on the floor for us plain folk.)
Second, I wouldn't give antinomianism as wide a "continuum" as you do. There are basically two common uses of "antinomian". 1. The TRUE antinomian who uses grace as a license to sin, and excuses sin as "no big deal", and 2. The common accusation against the one who lifts up the wonderful unilateral New Covenant of Jesus, and declares that all the sins of the born-again person are forgiven forever, apart from any law now or later (in other words The Gospel).
Number 2 above is NOT antinomianism. It's simply an incorrect, foolish use of the term by law-oriented (though sometimes well-meaning) Christians who haven't had the blessing of grasping our freedom in Christ.
So while you seem to position yourself as an antinomian (correct me if I misunderstand you), I do not position myself as one.
One who preaches the true gospel of grace always risks the label of "antinomian", but we must risk that unfair label or we pervert the gospel. When we preach that precious gospel, however, we must also teach the New Birth, which makes a new creation who loves Jesus and hates sin in their heart of hearts (spirit). If someone does not love Jesus and hate sin, they simply are not a Christian.
Blessings,
Terry Rayburn
Efrayhim and some of the others,
Isn't there a passage in Acts where Peter asks,"Why do you want to lay on them that which we couldn't keep ourselves?" ?
I guess some would say that addresses the ceremonial laws but mercy does triumph over Judgment and whatever we want meeted out the same will be given back.
I think both legalists and Antinomians lose their focus which should only be on the power of the cross.
Be content with Calvary. Anything wich shifts focus is of thee SawTawn. This may seem simplistic but it is true.
efrayim,
You are beyond refuting. Not because you are correct in your law-based views, but because you circle around and around the simple declarations of the New Covenant:
1. We are not under law but under grace. (Rom. 6:14)
2. We died to the law. (Gal. 2:19)
3. All things are lawful for [us], though not all things are profitable, and we don't want to be mastered by anything. (1 Cor. 6:12)
All your other convoluted meanderings about the obsolete Old Covenant have worn me out. Too many spider webs spun all over the place. Unraveling them, I fear, would merely cause more spinning.
I leave you with this simple truth: "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace." (Rom. 11:6)
Blessings,
Terry Rayburn
Efrayhim'
Was it fair of you to say I spoke out of context? Did I not mention that some would say this applies only to ceremonial law. To further extend what laying on of the 'burden' means lets look at the answer from the apostles to the gentiles: Abstain from sexual immorality and meats offered to idols. It would appear that the apostles were concerned that the gentiles would be bogged down with commandments would it not?Paul said the love of Christ constrained him. Mercy triumphs over Judgment.
You quoted:Mat 23:4 "For they bind heavy burdens that are grievous to be borne, and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them."
Good portion of scripture to quote from and have seared into the mind. Especially that last part.. but they themselves will not lift a finger to help them."
My only prayer is that we wake up to this before we experience it and learn it the hard way.
2tal,
Yes, I "believe both N.T. commands and O.T. commands reflect the very nature and character [of] the God we adore".
To clarify, I wouldn't say that New Covenant saints are inflamed by sin merely by acknowleging or delighting in the commands of God, but they are prone to sin when they get off of the ground of grace and get "under law" as a "rule of life".
Consider these two verses:
"But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead." (Rom. 7:8)
"...the power of sin is the law." (1 Cor. 15:56b)
That's why I disagree with the so-called Third Use of the Law as a "rule of life" for the believer. I don't believe there is scriptural support for it, but there's plenty of scriptural support for "Faith" being our rule of life.
Though law is a reflection of our Lord's heart, viewing it as a "rule of life" is a guarantee of continual failure on man's part, resulting ironically in self-centered self examination, and taking our eyes off of Christ.
Sola gratia,
Terry Rayburn
2tal,
You really haven't addressed specifically much at all of what I've written in this long thread.
Theoretically, I may be right or wrong in what I've written. But if you don't address what I've written previously, then it's pointless for me to explain myself further.
For example, on August 20, just one part that I wrote to you went as follows, and you didn't even TOUCH UPON a response in any way:
August 20 excerpt:
===========================
2tal,
You write,
...the Bible commands (from Moses to Jesus to Paul) and it is the rule we must obey.
Whenever someone says that we Christians MUST obey some rule or law, two questions are raised in my mind:
1. To what extent MUST we obey? 10%, 50%, 99%? If you say 100%, you're correct. And thank God He did it for us, 'cause we can't DO 100. As the song says, "I'm running trying to make a hundred...ninety-nine and a half just won't do."
2. We "must"? What if we don't? I mean, "must" is a pretty strong word. Well, the answer is, if we are a born again Christian, we are forgiven...period. Grasp that profound, radical truth! When you do, "must" becomes a moot point. We "desire" to obey, in our very [reborn] spirit. And if we walk by the Spirit, we will obey. But if we walk by the flesh, all the "musts" get shaken off our backs like water off a wet dog.
==============================
Until you come to grips with that, 2tal, there will continue to be a blockage in your understanding of the difference between grace and law, which are antithetical.
Blessings,
Terry Rayburn
Terry you offer all of us hope with your true exposition of the word. Grace to walk brother. Thanks! Who would want to even quibble with grace. I also do not appreciate the jump many people make to labeling one as antinomian as he contends for grace. I don't think it is any more fair than for us to accuse some of these other brothers as being Anti-Christ.
The context for Matt 23:4?
Do what they say but not as they do, for they say and do not do. This is also the context of Romans 2.
What sleeps at the core of necessity for true repentance? The context? What does Luke 13 have as the context for that famous truth said by the Son of God? Except ye repent ye shall likewise perish!
Context-DO YOU SUPPOSE THEY WERE GREATER SINNERS than YOU? Read and memorize ROMANS 2:1-4. This will blow the caverns of self-righteousness out and get one on their knees as the publican. NOT SO MUCH AS LIFTING HIS HEAD TO HEAVEN. i.e-comparing oneself to one another to determine who is obeying the law. i.e-you are an antinomian; this gives the ring of(Lord I thank you that I am not like this man)
God hates pride above all things.
Ah the great paradox that sleeps here. It is so sneaky. Upon entrance in the Marines the recruits whinned at loosing their earings and long hair. 3 months later these same disciplined Marines looked down on other men as they used to be and called them slimy civilians. Ah the pride that so subtly sleeps.
2tal,
I am not Terry but I would like you to consider this a delicate issue; if an emphasis is placed on law then we can have many converts who turn from sinful behavior and seek to please Christ yet never entering into His rest. I agree the law is important in that if a person is habitually going after sin and fully enjoying it with no qualms thinking his sinners prayer was a ticket to Disney Land as heaven then I would place a ball in your court. I don't think this is what Terry is after though. I think he is trying to isolate the first virus I mentioned. This is something the elder prodigal could not see. Ask John Wesley. He thought he was saved and prayed diligently thinking he was saved and dedicated and repentant to Christ yet he knew there was no rest in Grace.
Also I know some are quick to assume that reformers had it all together. By many of you all's standards you would have written Luther off as a Antinomian as he wanted to throw out the book of James from Canon; not understanding the book to be written to believers as a stir to examination. You see the law is there for a examination to the Disney mind set(why call ye Me Lord and do not the things that I say?) but the law should not be the focus. Grace should be. You cannot harmonize the two. It is either one or the other and we must be ever so careful in examining others as we are told to always consider ourselves lest we be tempted.
I appreciate you 2tal.
Dennis,
I can almost hear the classical music from Tabletalk as you rip off Sproul's words:-)
Really though all that goes flying out the windows though when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers and he becomes a yuk yuk good ol' boy like the rest of us.
Brian
P.S-Ed 2 tall jones used to be my hero and Pittsburgh was the heartbreaker years ago but I will overlook all of this since I like Sproul.
Cast out the bondwoman and her son, for the son of the bondwaoman shall not be heir with the son of the free.
The Christian has one lawgiver, that is Christ, not Moses. Christians are not under the Old Covenant, period. We go by the rules and precepts of the New Covenant alone. We do not go to the law for our "rule of life," but to the example of Christ, and to the commandments that he now makes binding on men.
Whatever is not commanded in the New Covenant is not binding upon Christians.
Besides, who is it that divides up God's law into ceremonial, moral, etc.? Did the bible writers so segregate the law?
God bless,
Stephen
If it is the Spirit of God that does "good works" in us and through us, and all of our righteous deeds are as filthy rags, then I don't see any practical use for the "third use".
We know what is pleasing to God. After all, the law is written upon our hearts.
The fact of the matter is that even when we know what is pleasing to God, we just flat out refuse to do it.
Kudos to all of you who are not afraid to be called names by our Christian brethren who just can't let go (of the law)and let God create in them a clean heart from His good and gracious will and not by force of the law.
Thanks!
-
Y'all
Simply put it is only by grace that we can love the law of God because it is in and through grace that it is and was fulfilled. We are no longer under the penalty of the law because of grace and it is grace that allows us to be obedient to God's law, the greatest commandment is this, to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. The second greatest is like it, to love our neighbor as ourselves. On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets. Mt. 22: 37-40 and Mk. 12: 28-34. Apart from grace we can do nothing, but with God's grace all things are possible!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stk9g3iEKz8&eurl=http://wwwsavedbygrace.blogspot.com/ I think Mr. Piper says it well when it comes to the Law..
surely the Law reveals what is pleasing to God. Keep in mind the proper function of law: it only and always demands...never, ever gives!
Gospel, on the other hand only and always gives, never, ever demands.
To confuse these is a recipe for death.
Theodore Beza, The Christian Faith, 1558
We divide this Word into two principal parts or kinds: the one is called the 'Law,' the other the 'Gospel.' For all the rest can be gathered under the one or other of these two headings...Ignorance of this distinction between Law and Gospel is one of the principal sources of the abuses which corrupted and still corrupt Christianity.
C.F.W. Walther, Law & Gospel, 1884
The true knowledge of the distinction between the Law and the Gospel is not only a glorious light, affording a correct understanding of the entire Holy Scriptures, but without this knowledge Scripture is and remains a sealed book....The Word of God is not rightly divided when the law is not preached in its full sternness, and the gospel not in its full sweetness, when, on the contrary, gospel elements are mingled with the law and law elements with the gospel.
J. Gresham Machen, What Is Faith?, 1925
A new and more powerful proclamation of law is perhaps the most pressing need of the hour; men would have little difficulty with the gospel if they had only learned the lesson of the law. As it is, they are turning aside from the Christian pathway; they are turning to the village of Morality, and to the house of Mr. Legality, who is reported to be very skillful in relieving men of their burdens... 'Making Christ Master' in the life, putting into practice 'the principles of Christ' by one's own efforts-these are merely new ways of earning salvation by one's obedience to God's commands.
Surely the Law reveals what is pleasing to God...but there is no power in the Law at all to keep its just demands!
Christ for me...from beginning to end.
Christians are to avoid sin out of love for their Savior.
Simpy put, the 10 commandments defines sin.
in Christ,
adam
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