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Some of the answer to your question of why the proper distinction between law and gospel is rare today may be found in factors like:
Charismatism, pietism, holiness competition, self-centeredness and self-focus, lordship salvationism, conditionalism, decisionism and plenty more like libertinism, anti-authoritarianism and anti-creedalism. These are all coming from various angles, legalist, antinomian and others, but they all do expose themselves when it comes to the critical issue of dividing law and gospel.
In more doubtful cases, look at the focus of the teaching. Is it always focusing on self, making you compare yourself to others, and is it always leaning towards "seeking" assurance in self (do I really have this and that -- things that you do have, if you are regenerate) and its experiences, then an alarm bell should ring.
A good and solid division on law and gospel will always be Christ centered and God-focused, and it will lead the flock closer to Him. Everything that leads you to ever look to self and to chase "experiences", how pious it may ever appear, you should be very careful with.
Charismatism, pietism, holiness competition, self-centeredness and self-focus, lordship salvationism, conditionalism, decisionism and plenty more like libertinism, anti-authoritarianism and anti-creedalism. These are all coming from various angles, legalist, antinomian and others, but they all do expose themselves when it comes to the critical issue of dividing law and gospel.
In more doubtful cases, look at the focus of the teaching. Is it always focusing on self, making you compare yourself to others, and is it always leaning towards "seeking" assurance in self (do I really have this and that -- things that you do have, if you are regenerate) and its experiences, then an alarm bell should ring.
A good and solid division on law and gospel will always be Christ centered and God-focused, and it will lead the flock closer to Him. Everything that leads you to ever look to self and to chase "experiences", how pious it may ever appear, you should be very careful with.
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I never found a verse that said the law promised eternal life, have you? The law does many things, for instance guide us, but from the time of Abraham who was saved by faith and grace, who in scripture was saved by the law? I don’t think that is what God designed the law for, ever. In fact the hebrew word usually translated as law is torah, and the best english translation for that is teaching or instruction.
I have often heard that Judaism teaches that, so I checked it out. I couldn't find that they believe the law saves them.
I have often heard that Judaism teaches that, so I checked it out. I couldn't find that they believe the law saves them.
They may not believe that the law "saves" them (they have quite a different view of what salvation is than christianity). But most of them would say that striving to keep God's law is enough to be counted as righteous. The Bible does not agree with that idea. A good and correct view of the law will always lead to the gospel, in fact the law always point to the gospel.
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The Law and the gospel is justice & mercy
Psalms 89:14
(14) Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
The ark of the covenant had the Law inside the ark while on top was the mercy seat. The 2 need to go together. Justice without mercy no one would get to heaven, mercy without justice everyone would get to heaven.
Psalms 89:14
(14) Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face.
The ark of the covenant had the Law inside the ark while on top was the mercy seat. The 2 need to go together. Justice without mercy no one would get to heaven, mercy without justice everyone would get to heaven.
To the list of reasons why the distinguishing of law and gospel is rare this day should be added: shallowness. One of the more serious examples of this is that many hold to a shallow concept of sin, and will thus ultimately deceive themselves that they be "obedient to God's commands". This is done by lowering the standard that God has set up for righteousness, resulting in self-righteousness and hypocrisy (just like the pharisees of old). Ever since arminian-methodist John Wesley was asked if he thought the evil inclinations of the heart were not sinful and he replying negatively "I don't call that sin" (thinking sin is only about external matters) there has been a widespread embracing of this deadly heresy.
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