Something to think about, Andrew. I could not help comparing your thinking with our friend, Bill Taylor. Some of what you say is similar to Bill's thinking. A hearty "amen" became less of a passion as I read your closing thoughts, however. But, as I said -------------- something [definitely] to think about.
I do find it more than interesting that it is this evening that I have chosen to give some thought to the subject of law and grace -- and, before the night is over, you have written this post.
On a different subject -- do you know Bruce Wauchope?
JD
-----Original Message-----
From: Andrew C. Bain <andrew[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Sat, 8 Oct 2005 18:00:47 +1000
Subject: [TruthTalk] Antinomianism Refuted
## An Antinomian writes, "We serve God now because we want to, not because we're bound by a written code."
My comment -- this sounds super-spiritual, but it's not.
This is an attack on the obligation of all men to obey all God's commandments in all circumstances. This is an attack on God's authority. He demands PERFECT, ABSOLUTE obedience from ALL men. The gospel is not a message of God lowering His demand for perpetual holiness from his creatures. Neither is it a message of men being freed from the obligation to obey the WRITTEN CODE of God. Rather, the gospel is a proclamation that totally sinless Jesus Christ obeyed the Law perfectly for the Elect. It is an announcement -- The Just God WILL JUSTIFY the sinful Elect by imputing Christ's obedience to the Law into their accounts.
This is an attack on the obligation of all men to obey all God's commandments in all circumstances. This is an attack on God's authority. He demands PERFECT, ABSOLUTE obedience from ALL men. The gospel is not a message of God lowering His demand for perpetual holiness from his creatures. Neither is it a message of men being freed from the obligation to obey the WRITTEN CODE of God. Rather, the gospel is a proclamation that totally sinless Jesus Christ obeyed the Law perfectly for the Elect. It is an announcement -- The Just God WILL JUSTIFY the sinful Elect by imputing Christ's obedience to the Law into their accounts.
Romans 3:31 Then is the Law annulled through faith? Let it not be! But we establish Law.
## The Law has not been made void. Believers enter heaven SOLELY because Christ ESTABLISHED the Law for them. No imputed righteousness (no garment -- see the parable) then no reward.
When I hear things like, "We serve God because we want to, not because we're bound by a written code" I can see someone TRYING to SEPARATE what God has JOINED together.
Yes, believers do want to serve God (because they have full assurance that God loves them as His elect). And, YES, believers have no fears of condemnation by the Law. "You are no longer a slave, but a son (Galatians 4).
But the ONLY way believers know how to obey God is BY THE LAW. The Moral Law and additional the New Testament precepts are CLEAR commands that MUST be obeyed. This Written Code is the only source of knowledge for God's requirements. When Christ speaks of the Greatest Two Commandments -- LOVE God and your neighbour -- He is in NO way abrogating the 10 commandments. He is summarising the Moral Law. Elsewhere, John says, "By this we know that we LOVE God, if we OBEY His COMMANDMENTS."
But the ONLY way believers know how to obey God is BY THE LAW. The Moral Law and additional the New Testament precepts are CLEAR commands that MUST be obeyed. This Written Code is the only source of knowledge for God's requirements. When Christ speaks of the Greatest Two Commandments -- LOVE God and your neighbour -- He is in NO way abrogating the 10 commandments. He is summarising the Moral Law. Elsewhere, John says, "By this we know that we LOVE God, if we OBEY His COMMANDMENTS."
Christians are MOTIVATED to serve God's Law by the knowledge that their sins are forgiven, and the Law was fulfilled for them. See the woman in Luke 7, who loved much because she knew she was much forgiven. And believers are OBLIGED to obey every single precept of the Moral Law (and the NT precepts too), because it is in God's written code.
The idea that the written code has less authority on NT believers than OT believers would mean that God's demand for holiness has changed (and thus, God has changed.) But He is the same, yesterday, today and forever. And He gives some the perfect righteousness of Christ, whilst His wrath abides on the rest. The first group have no condemnation in Christ Jesus --and have full assurance that they have the imputed righteousness. The others have been reprobated based on God's will, and will be go to hell. But all must obey the written code.
Andrew C. Bain
Sydney, Australia
