Law and Gospel

  • Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.

    If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!

    To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
P

psychomom

Guest
#1
*something i posted elsewhere. thought it might be a good thing to repost.*


i'd like to share some things i have learned...:)

there's a difference in the job descriptions of God's Law and God's Gospel.
a big difference.

and the failure to distinguish between Law and Gospel pretty much always leads to
abandonment of the Gospel. :(

the Law gets softened into helpful tips for practical living
(go see Tony Robbins for that stuff!)
instead of God's unwavering demand for perfection.

and the Gospel gets hardened into a set of moral demands we must live out
instead of God's unconditional declaration that He justifies the ungodly.

the Law diagnoses sinners, but only the Gospel delivers sinners.

the Law illuminates sin, but only the Gospel eliminates sin.

the Law forces us to face our sin, but only the Gospel forgives our sin.

the Law exposes us, but only the Gospel exonerates us.

the Law accuses us, but only the Gospel acquits us.

thank You, Faithful Father, for providing a Way for us. ♥
thank You for your Grace and Mercy in the Person and Work of our Savior.
please continue, by Your Grace, to enable us to walk in Your Ways.


*okay...have at it* :)

 

Billyd

Senior Member
May 8, 2014
5,036
1,473
113
#2
Amen! Well said.
 
A

Angelique

Guest
#3
*something i posted elsewhere. thought it might be a good thing to repost.*


i'd like to share some things i have learned...:)

there's a difference in the job descriptions of God's Law and God's Gospel.
a big difference.

and the failure to distinguish between Law and Gospel pretty much always leads to
abandonment of the Gospel. :(

the Law gets softened into helpful tips for practical living
(go see Tony Robbins for that stuff!)
instead of God's unwavering demand for perfection.

and the Gospel gets hardened into a set of moral demands we must live out
instead of God's unconditional declaration that He justifies the ungodly.

the Law diagnoses sinners, but only the Gospel delivers sinners.

the Law illuminates sin, but only the Gospel eliminates sin.

the Law forces us to face our sin, but only the Gospel forgives our sin.

the Law exposes us, but only the Gospel exonerates us.

the Law accuses us, but only the Gospel acquits us.

thank You, Faithful Father, for providing a Way for us. ♥
thank You for your Grace and Mercy in the Person and Work of our Savior.
please continue, by Your Grace, to enable us to walk in Your Ways.


*okay...have at it* :)

Amen my beautiful sister. I love you. We cannot save ourselves thru our works. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice in order to pay our sin price, only thru His work can we be saved. Believing on His work and allowing the spirit to work in us and thru us with the awesome power of the word.

Blessed be the name of our Lord.
 

KohenMatt

Senior Member
Jun 28, 2013
4,011
212
63
#4
*something i posted elsewhere. thought it might be a good thing to repost.*


i'd like to share some things i have learned...:)

there's a difference in the job descriptions of God's Law and God's Gospel.
a big difference.

and the failure to distinguish between Law and Gospel pretty much always leads to
abandonment of the Gospel. :(

the Law gets softened into helpful tips for practical living
(go see Tony Robbins for that stuff!)
instead of God's unwavering demand for perfection.

and the Gospel gets hardened into a set of moral demands we must live out
instead of God's unconditional declaration that He justifies the ungodly.

the Law diagnoses sinners, but only the Gospel delivers sinners.

the Law illuminates sin, but only the Gospel eliminates sin.

the Law forces us to face our sin, but only the Gospel forgives our sin.

the Law exposes us, but only the Gospel exonerates us.

the Law accuses us, but only the Gospel acquits us.

thank You, Faithful Father, for providing a Way for us. ♥
thank You for your Grace and Mercy in the Person and Work of our Savior.
please continue, by Your Grace, to enable us to walk in Your Ways.


*okay...have at it* :)

For the most part, I like it!

The one thing I would add is that once we've been delivered, forgiven exonerated, acquited and have had sin eliminated, God's laws and principles are still good and still applicable. We now have freedom to follow them with no risk of punishment or condemnation when we fail. We now have the freedom to live a life honoring to God based on the principles He's given us.

So I like what you wrote, I just thought it beneficial to take the next step.
 
P

psychomom

Guest
#5
For the most part, I like it!

The one thing I would add is that once we've been delivered, forgiven exonerated, acquited and have had sin eliminated, God's laws and principles are still good and still applicable. We now have freedom to follow them with no risk of punishment or condemnation when we fail. We now have the freedom to live a life honoring to God based on the principles He's given us.

So I like what you wrote, I just thought it beneficial to take the next step.
Matt...i just love you.

and yes, we should surely strive to be obedient children.
actively showing the Love of God to other people. :)
 
P

psychomom

Guest
#6
we must also have a care to distinguish between Law and Gospel
because if we don't, it can cause us to beat other Christians to a pulp rather than
giving them the consolation (comfort) of "It is finished".
you're in. forever. your vertical consequences for sin have been taken care of by the Lord Jesus.

God's Holy Spirit is quite good at convicting us when we sin...
and sometimes we get lost in the guilt.
when that happens, what we need least is other Christians pointing a finger...
throwing the Law at us. :(

only the Love of God in the Grace of the Gospel changes hearts.
it's the only thing that can cause us to walk His way.
and it takes our whole lives...but He Who began His good work in us
will be faithful to complete it.
 
A

Angelique

Guest
#7
This morning im very tired because of lack of sleep. I feel a little bound in trying to do and be perfect in taking care of the needs of others. I also do not like to be weak physically thats when the enemy likes to attack us with doing better and being better. A beautiful child of God just sent me a message and in it was a declaration of complete freedom in Christ. I felt like a rope had been released binding my heart.

Truly thru the perfect work of Jesus christ we are truly free.. whom the son sets free is free indeed.

We stand in victory and can rest in that.

Amen
 
A

Ariel82

Guest
#8
:) It makes me happy to read this thread :)
 
Jan 19, 2013
11,909
141
0
#9
For the most part, I like it!

The one thing I would add is that once we've been delivered, forgiven exonerated, acquited and have had sin eliminated, God's laws and principles are still good and still applicable.
Are you referring to the Levitical laws?
 
Jan 19, 2013
11,909
141
0
#10
*something i posted elsewhere. thought it might be a good thing to repost.*


i'd like to share some things i have learned...:)

there's a difference in the job descriptions of God's Law and God's Gospel.
a big difference.

and the failure to distinguish between Law and Gospel pretty much always leads to
abandonment of the Gospel. :(

the Law gets softened into helpful tips for practical living
(go see Tony Robbins for that stuff!)
instead of God's unwavering demand for perfection.

and the Gospel gets hardened into a set of moral demands we must live out
instead of God's unconditional declaration that He justifies the ungodly.

the Law diagnoses sinners, but only the Gospel delivers sinners.

the Law illuminates sin, but only the Gospel eliminates sin.

the Law forces us to face our sin, but only the Gospel forgives our sin.

the Law exposes us, but only the Gospel exonerates us.

the Law accuses us, but only the Gospel acquits us.

thank You, Faithful Father, for providing a Way for us. ♥
thank You for your Grace and Mercy in the Person and Work of our Savior.
please continue, by Your Grace, to enable us to walk in Your Ways.


*okay...have at it* :)
So beautifully, clearly and wonderfully stated.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,704
3,649
113
#11
For the most part, I like it!

The one thing I would add is that once we've been delivered, forgiven exonerated, acquited and have had sin eliminated, God's laws and principles are still good and still applicable. We now have freedom to follow them with no risk of punishment or condemnation when we fail. We now have the freedom to live a life honoring to God based on the principles He's given us.

So I like what you wrote, I just thought it beneficial to take the next step.
The next step is just like the first step...faith in our Lord and His promises.
 

JGIG

Senior Member
Aug 2, 2013
2,295
167
63
#12
For the most part, I like it!

The one thing I would add is that once we've been delivered, forgiven exonerated, acquited and have had sin eliminated, God's laws and principles are still good and still applicable.
Except that God says that in Christ we are dead to the Law :

G2289 - thanatoō
1. to put to death

metaph.

2. to make to die i.e. destroy, render extinct by death to be liberated from the bond of anything, literally to be made dead in relation to (something)



Furthermore, we have been delivered - G2673 - katargeō from the Law (Rom. 7:6) and in Christ, the Law has been abolished - G2673 - katargeō (Eph. 2:15):


G2673 – katargeō
1) to render idle, unemployed, inactivate, inoperative
a) to cause a person or thing to have no further efficiency
b) to deprive of force, influence, power

2) to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish
a) to cease, to pass away, be done away
b) to be severed from, separated from, discharged from, loosed from any one
c) to terminate all intercourse with one




To reiterate, that means that the Law, for those in Christ, is these things:


➞ idle
➞ unemployed
➞ inactive (!!!)
➞ inoperative (!!!)
➞ to cause a person to have no further efficiency
➞ to deprive of force, influence, power (!!!)
➞ to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish (!!!)
➞ to cease, to pass away, be done away (!!!)
➞ to be severed from, separated from, discharged from, loosed from any one (!!!)
➞ to terminate all intercourse with one (!!!)


Which is why, in Hebrews 7 we're told this:

18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.


We now have freedom to follow them with no risk of punishment or condemnation when we fail. We now have the freedom to live a life honoring to God based on the principles He's given us.

So I like what you wrote, I just thought it beneficial to take the next step.
Except that, as it is written, the Law actually stirs up sin:

Law was given to increase sinning:


Romans 5:20
20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase.


Law stirs up sinning:


Romans 7:7-8

7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.


Law produces death:


Romans 7:9-11

9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it [the commandment] killed me.


Law produces fruit unto death:


Romans 7:5

5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.


Law is the power of sin:


1 Corinthians 15:56
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Note that people sin under Law and they sin under Grace. While the Law stirs up sinning, what do the Scriptures say Grace and the Spirit do in a believer?

Grace teaches us godliness:

Titus 2:11-14
11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It [grace] teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.


The Spirit produces life:


Romans 8:5-6
5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; (see also Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, and Ephesians 6:14-17)


The Spirit produces the Fruits of the Spirit:


Galatians 5:22-25
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.



That's why we are told this in Romans 6:

14 For sin shall no longer be your master,
because you are not under the law, but under grace.


Why is sin no longer the master of those in Christ? Because they are no longer under that which stirs up sinning, but under that which teaches them to say no to ungodliness and produces the Fruit of God in their lives \o/.

Now re-read Rom. 7:4-6:

4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ,
so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.

6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive,
so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.


To go back to that which stirs up sinning and bears fruit unto death seems like a silly thing to do for a believer who wants to be pleasing to God and bear His Fruit.

The Scriptures are clear on the matter.

-JGIG
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,704
3,649
113
#14
Another application.

The law is for those who are comfortable in their sin;
The Gospel is for those who despair of their sin.
 
P

psychomom

Guest
#15
the Law can show us what righteousness looks like,
but only the Gospel can produce righteousness.
 

KohenMatt

Senior Member
Jun 28, 2013
4,011
212
63
#17
Except that God says that in Christ we are dead to the Law :

G2289 - thanatoō
1. to put to death

metaph.

2. to make to die i.e. destroy, render extinct by death to be liberated from the bond of anything, literally to be made dead in relation to (something)



Furthermore, we have been delivered - G2673 - katargeō from the Law (Rom. 7:6) and in Christ, the Law has been abolished - G2673 - katargeō (Eph. 2:15):


G2673 – katargeō
1) to render idle, unemployed, inactivate, inoperative
a) to cause a person or thing to have no further efficiency
b) to deprive of force, influence, power

2) to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish
a) to cease, to pass away, be done away
b) to be severed from, separated from, discharged from, loosed from any one
c) to terminate all intercourse with one




To reiterate, that means that the Law, for those in Christ, is these things:


➞ idle
➞ unemployed
➞ inactive (!!!)
➞ inoperative (!!!)
➞ to cause a person to have no further efficiency
➞ to deprive of force, influence, power (!!!)
➞ to cause to cease, put an end to, do away with, annul, abolish (!!!)
➞ to cease, to pass away, be done away (!!!)
➞ to be severed from, separated from, discharged from, loosed from any one (!!!)
➞ to terminate all intercourse with one (!!!)


Which is why, in Hebrews 7 we're told this:

18 The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.




Except that, as it is written, the Law actually stirs up sin:

Law was given to increase sinning:


Romans 5:20
20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase.


Law stirs up sinning:


Romans 7:7-8

7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? Certainly not! On the contrary, I would not have known sin except through the law. For I would not have known covetousness unless the law had said, “You shall not covet.” 8 But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead.


Law produces death:


Romans 7:9-11

9 I was alive once without the law, but when the commandment came, sin revived and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was to bring life, I found to bring death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it [the commandment] killed me.


Law produces fruit unto death:


Romans 7:5

5 For when we were in the flesh, the sinful passions which were aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death.


Law is the power of sin:


1 Corinthians 15:56
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.

Note that people sin under Law and they sin under Grace. While the Law stirs up sinning, what do the Scriptures say Grace and the Spirit do in a believer?

Grace teaches us godliness:

Titus 2:11-14
11For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12It [grace] teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.


The Spirit produces life:


Romans 8:5-6
5 Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; (see also Romans 12:1-2, 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, and Ephesians 6:14-17)


The Spirit produces the Fruits of the Spirit:


Galatians 5:22-25
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.



That's why we are told this in Romans 6:

14 For sin shall no longer be your master,
because you are not under the law, but under grace.


Why is sin no longer the master of those in Christ? Because they are no longer under that which stirs up sinning, but under that which teaches them to say no to ungodliness and produces the Fruit of God in their lives \o/.

Now re-read Rom. 7:4-6:

4 Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ,
so that you may belong to another, to him who has been raised from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. 5 For while we were living in the flesh, our sinful passions, aroused by the law, were at work in our members to bear fruit for death.

6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive,
so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.


To go back to that which stirs up sinning and bears fruit unto death seems like a silly thing to do for a believer who wants to be pleasing to God and bear His Fruit.

The Scriptures are clear on the matter.

-JGIG
Thanks for sharing JGIG!
 
Oct 24, 2014
595
14
0
#18
the Law can show us what righteousness looks like,
but only the Gospel can produce righteousness.
I was under the law for a long long time and never saw righteousness there. I never saw righteousness until I saw Christ who delivered me from that law.
 
B

BradC

Guest
#20
I was under the law for a long long time and never saw righteousness there. I never saw righteousness until I saw Christ who delivered me from that law.
This is something to meditate on...so valuable.