Acts20.com

Welp, we've had some adventures here on both extremes of this conversation, but I thought it might be interesting to start a conversation about the proper use of the Law (meaning the moral law; not the civil or ceremonial law) for believers who are saved by grace and justified by faith.

Romans 8:1There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the life-giving Spirit in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For God achieved what the law could not do because it was weakened through the flesh. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and concerning sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the righteous requirement of the law may be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. NETMy understanding is in essential agreement with the Reformers which you have cited. I would only add that in my view, it is all about the work of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus, as we live, love, breathe, sit, walk, and stand in Him, that we are truly empowered and transformed from the heart to fulfill the law of Christ (or, the moral law, aka God’s love law). It is not merely keeping Commandments as a list of dos and don’ts, in my view. One keeps God’s commands because of the love of God which has been poured out abundantly in our hearts by the Holy Spirit, not because one just decides to keep them in one’s own strength of resolve.

Uh Oh, you boys done done it now. You done brought Calvin into the conversation.

QW, great thoughts. I agree. My PC is off right now due to a storm, but I'll share some more on my view when I can.

Torah

Thanks for your post and participation, Mark. I'm looking forward to the discussion as well. I think many Protestants -- myself definitely included -- err toward antinomianism in their efforts to affirm and defend the Gospel. But this was not the case with the Reformers, who opposed the antinomians as strongly as they opposed the legalists.We ought to be vigorous opponents of legalism and calls to obey the Law for righteousness, but that doesn't mean the Law isn't holy and righteous and good, and it doesn't mean the Law doesn't have value and benefit for those who are in Christ.I affirm the third use of the Law as described by the Reformers: the use of the Law as Guide.I see Christ as the fulfillment of the Law in two ways: first, His keeping and fulfilling of the Law

Brad, this is not the thread for this conversation. I have asked you politely to respect my intention that this thread work from the basis that both Law and Gospel are to be preached today. If you would like to take issue with that presumption, please do so in another thread.

Delet I'm not saved because I'm good. I'm saved because He's good!My website: www.bradfreeman.comMy blog: bradcfreeman.tumblr.com/

The proper use of the Law...

Well, let's understand what the Gospel is 1st. The Gospel is that the Kingdom of G-d is still hand, & with that Y'shua says repent... This 1st, in the NT can be seen with John the Baptist Matt 3, Mk 1:1-4; 3; the voice of one crying in the wilderness, prepare you the Way of the L-rd, make His path straight(Matt 7:13-14) 4; John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of *repentance* for the remission of sins Acts 13:24Y'shua picks up this same message in Matt 4:17, Mk 1:14; now after John was put in prison, Y'shua came to Galilee preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of G-d 15 and saying, the time is *fulfilled*, and the Kingdom of G-d is at hand *repent* you and *believe* the Gospel. What's the Gospel?, repentance, stop breaking the Kings Rules for this Kingdom is here. Mk 1:2; as it is written in the prophets, behold I send my Messenger (Ex23:29-21, Isa 42:19)before your face which shall prepare your Way before you. Not a new WayWhat was His disciples message? Mk 6:12; and they went out and preach that men should *repent*, that's the same message Acts 2:38; then Peter said unto them *repent*, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Y'shua HaMashiach for the remission of sins, and you shall receive the Holy Ghost. 3:19; *Repent* you therefore & be **Converted**, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come before the presence of the L-rdAbout the Law, just start in Rom 7:7; what shall we say then, is the Law sin? God forbid, no, I had not *known* sin but by the Law.... We sin when we break G-ds Commandments, Laws, Instructions, that's why we need to follow the Gospel of repentance that Y'shua & the apostles preached on, it's also all throughout the Old Testament. Read the 13 Attributes of G-d as I Was preparing this on a separate piece of paper it was so long and all surrounded the 13 Attributes of G-d in the TorahTorah is hitting the mark, sin is missing the mar Ps 122:6