for Dean, too, the biblicity crucial to radical protestantism sounds like this--test it in public again, see what happens:
[1.]
> ..[standing before you today with no] reasonable expectation that the lawless should obey the law[..] there is
>no reason to declare the law to the lawless..
[2.]
>[however, even while we do] not..obey the law, [God offers us] grace and mercy
[
3.]
m 7:9
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
Rom 7:10
And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death.
Rom 7:11
For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.
Rom 7:12
Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
Rom 7:13
Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. and, ftr, even to those who appear to obey the law, God offers only grace & mercy..[4.]
..he offers himself, his presence in Jesus Christ himself, through whose Spirit, y/ours, today, are the riches of his kingdom;
for like the biblical Apostles, (e.g.) I am crucified with Christ..Christ, who gave himself for me, actually lives in me..
J.Wesley wrote:
Rom 7:9 - And I was once alive without the law - Without the close application of it. I had much life, wisdom, virtue, strength: so I thought. But when the commandment - That is, the law, a part put for the whole; but this _expression_ particularly intimates its compulsive force, which restrains, enjoins, urges, forbids, threatens. Came - In its spiritual meaning, to my heart, with the power of God. Sin revived, and I died - My inbred sin took fire, and all my virtue and strength died away; and I then saw myself to be dead in sin, and liable to death eternal.
