070815 FBC Session 2
Law and Grace | Session 2 | July 8, 2015
Galatians 3:19 | “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.” T H E IM P O R T A N C E O F T H E IS S U E Doubts of salvation are largely fueled by mixing law and grace. Correctly distinguishing between Israel and the church is easily accomplished when the issue is clearly understood. Knowing what to do about the Sabbath is solved when Law and Grace are rightly divided. The “Repent and be baptized” issue of Acts 2:38 disappears with a proper understanding of Law and Grace. Christian stewardship takes on new meaning with a Biblical understanding of Law and Grace.
• • • • •
A F O U N D A T IO N A L C H R IS T IA N D O C T R IN E • • • • •
Romans 6:14 – “…you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 7:6 – “…we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound…” Galatians 2:16– “a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but through faith…” Galatians 3:3 – “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Galatians 3:10 – “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse…”
Law and Grace | Session 2 | July 8, 2015 F O U R V IE W S O F T H E L A W THE ROMAN CATHOLIC VIEW: THE LAW IS GOOD NEWS •
The New Law fulfills the Old Law by revealing what God intended. –
Old Law: Law of the stone •
–
•
The Old Testament “believer” was given the Law, but not the enablement to understand or fulfill it.
New Law: Law of the Spirit •
The Law of the Spirit gives a fuller understanding of the Old Law.
•
The grace of the Spirit (received in the sacraments) enables one to live out the new Law.
The essence of the New Law is the Sermon on the Mount. •
“If anyone should meditate with devotion…on the sermon our Lord gave on the mount…he will doubtless find there…the perfect way of the Christian life…This sermon contains all the precepts needed to shape one’s life.” (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 1966)
•
“What God commands he makes possible by his grace.” (Catechism, paragraph 2082)
•
What is accomplished if we live out the Sermon on the Mount? – Catholic view: the grace of God is displayed in our lives by enabling us to achieve this monumental holy endeavor. – If grace is an enablement for works, then grace and works are not mutually exclusive as a means of salvation. If we live out the Sermon on the Mount, are we saved? – Is a man justified by his works if those works are the sermon on the mount?
•
•
Does the Sermon on the Mount constitute a “New Law” for Christians today? – If it does create a New Law, we have contradictions • Matthew 5:20 or 2 Corinthians 5:21 • Matthew 7:21-23 or Romans 10:9 – Comments from the Broadman Commentary on Matthew 7:21-23 • They were saying and doing but not doing His will. • “They seem to be antinomian libertines who claim that now that Christ has come, the Law is no longer in effect.” • “For works they seem to substitute what they probably would call the charismatic gifts…” – It seems that Catholics are not the only ones misunderstanding the Sermon on the Mount!
Law and Grace | Session 2 | July 8, 2015 •
In essence, Catholic theology is a mixing of Law and grace. – The Law as defined in the Sermon on the Mount is the instrument of righteousness. – The Grace infused through sacraments is the enablement. – The Law is “Good News” because, by living it through God’s grace, we achieve salvation and sanctification.
THE REFORMED VIEW: THE LAW IS MIXED NEWS •
• • •
•
1 2
Unlike Catholic theology, reformed theology believes that Law and Gospel are distinct in salvation. – “Under the covenantal overview of the Bible, submission to God's rule and living in accordance with his moral law (expressed concisely in the Ten Commandments) is a response to grace - never something which can earn God's acceptance (legalism).”1 The question becomes: What is the relationship of Law and Grace in the believer’s life? In Reformed theology, Law-keeping is an important part of theology. Reformed theology is built on three covenants: – Redemption – God determines to redeem mankind through the Resurrected Christ. – Works – Eternal life is given if man is perfectly obedient • Reformed theology believes we are still under the covenant of works – “We conclude today by noting one item of importance: the covenant of works is still in effect. All of humanity is still required to render perfect obedience to God. Since we do not, however, God puts us under condemnation (Rom. 1:21; 3:23).”2 – Grace – God determines to save all who have faith in Jesus Christ • This covenant went into effect at Genesis 3:15. How do we remain under the Law? Reformed theology says there is a “Threefold use of the Law” in today’s world– Usus politicus—The law restrains sin and promotes righteousness. The Law is God’s common grace to the world at large. – Usus pedagogicus—The Law brings man under conviction of sin, making him conscious of his inability to meet the demands of the Law. – Usus normativus—The Law is a rule of life for believers, “Leading them in the way of life and salvation.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covenant_theology#Covenant_of_grace http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/covenant-works-i/?mobile=on
Law and Grace | Session 2 | July 8, 2015 THE EVANGELICAL VIEW: THE LAW IS BAD NEWS • • •
For the greatest part of the Evangelical world, the Law is seen as that which causes a man to know his sin and need of a Savior. Evangelicals are selective in their use of the Law as the standard for holy living. Survey of the Evangelical use of the Law for the believer: • Theonomy – the restoration of the Law as the foundation of society (reconstructionism or dominionism). • Wesleyan – the law is fulfilled when we live the Sermon on the Mount. • Classical – The law is moral, civil, or ceremonial. Believers are free from moral and civil but no ceremonial. THE DISPENSATIONAL VIEW: THE LAW IS OLD NEWS
•
• • • •
The Law was given to the nation of Israel alone. o Israel is distinct from the church, and God’s dealings with Israel cannot be equated to His dealings with the church. o There is no shadow of the church in Israel, and no type of the church in Israel. The Law served its purpose in the nation of Israel. o Its purpose was one of preservation, until the Messiah should come. Justification and the righteousness of God are found by faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 3:19-26. The “handwriting of ordinances that was against us” has not been “blotted out.” Colossians 2:1-17, 20-23. The Law has no place in Evangelism, spiritual growth, maturity, or sanctification. SUMMARY
• • • •
The Roman Catholic View: A saving function of the law The Reformed View: A sanctifying function of the law The Evangelical View: A clarifying function of the law The Dispensational View: A cessationist view of the law
Galatians 3:19 | “Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.” T H E IM P O R T A N C E O F T H E IS S U E Doubts of salvation are largely fueled by mixing law and grace. Correctly distinguishing between Israel and the church is easily accomplished when the issue is clearly understood. Knowing what to do about the Sabbath is solved when Law and Grace are rightly divided. The “Repent and be baptized” issue of Acts 2:38 disappears with a proper understanding of Law and Grace. Christian stewardship takes on new meaning with a Biblical understanding of Law and Grace.
• • • • •
A F O U N D A T IO N A L C H R IS T IA N D O C T R IN E • • • • •
Romans 6:14 – “…you are not under law but under grace.” Romans 7:6 – “…we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound…” Galatians 2:16– “a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but through faith…” Galatians 3:3 – “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?” Galatians 3:10 – “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse…”
Law and Grace | Session 2 | July 8, 2015 F O U R V IE W S O F T H E L A W THE ROMAN CATHOLIC VIEW: THE LAW IS GOOD NEWS •
The New Law fulfills the Old Law by revealing what God intended. –
Old Law: Law of the stone •
–
•
The Old Testament “believer” was given the Law, but not the enablement to understand or fulfill it.
New Law: Law of the Spirit •
The Law of the Spirit gives a fuller understanding of the Old Law.
•
The grace of the Spirit (received in the sacraments) enables one to live out the new Law.
The essence of the New Law is the Sermon on the Mount. •
“If anyone should meditate with devotion…on the sermon our Lord gave on the mount…he will doubtless find there…the perfect way of the Christian life…This sermon contains all the precepts needed to shape one’s life.” (The Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 1966)
•
“What God commands he makes possible by his grace.” (Catechism, paragraph 2082)
•
What is accomplished if we live out the Sermon on the Mount? – Catholic view: the grace of God is displayed in our lives by enabling us to achieve this monumental holy endeavor. – If grace is an enablement for works, then grace and works are not mutually exclusive as a means of salvation. If we live out the Sermon on the Mount, are we saved? – Is a man justified by his works if those works are the sermon on the mount?
•
•
Does the Sermon on the Mount constitute a “New Law” for Christians today? – If it does create a New Law, we have contradictions • Matthew 5:20 or 2 Corinthians 5:21 • Matthew 7:21-23 or Romans 10:9 – Comments from the Broadman Commentary on Matthew 7:21-23 • They were saying and doing but not doing His will. • “They seem to be antinomian libertines who claim that now that Christ has come, the Law is no longer in effect.” • “For works they seem to substitute what they probably would call the charismatic gifts…” – It seems that Catholics are not the only ones misunderstanding the Sermon on the Mount!
Law and Grace | Session 2 | July 8, 2015 •
In essence, Catholic theology is a mixing of Law and grace. – The Law as defined in the Sermon on the Mount is the instrument of righteousness. – The Grace infused through sacraments is the enablement. – The Law is “Good News” because, by living it through God’s grace, we achieve salvation and sanctification.
THE REFORMED VIEW: THE LAW IS MIXED NEWS •
• • •
•
1 2
Unlike Catholic theology, reformed theology believes that Law and Gospel are distinct in salvation. – “Under the covenantal overview of the Bible, submission to God's rule and living in accordance with his moral law (expressed concisely in the Ten Commandments) is a response to grace - never something which can earn God's acceptance (legalism).”1 The question becomes: What is the relationship of Law and Grace in the believer’s life? In Reformed theology, Law-keeping is an important part of theology. Reformed theology is built on three covenants: – Redemption – God determines to redeem mankind through the Resurrected Christ. – Works – Eternal life is given if man is perfectly obedient • Reformed theology believes we are still under the covenant of works – “We conclude today by noting one item of importance: the covenant of works is still in effect. All of humanity is still required to render perfect obedience to God. Since we do not, however, God puts us under condemnation (Rom. 1:21; 3:23).”2 – Grace – God determines to save all who have faith in Jesus Christ • This covenant went into effect at Genesis 3:15. How do we remain under the Law? Reformed theology says there is a “Threefold use of the Law” in today’s world– Usus politicus—The law restrains sin and promotes righteousness. The Law is God’s common grace to the world at large. – Usus pedagogicus—The Law brings man under conviction of sin, making him conscious of his inability to meet the demands of the Law. – Usus normativus—The Law is a rule of life for believers, “Leading them in the way of life and salvation.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covenant_theology#Covenant_of_grace http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/covenant-works-i/?mobile=on
Law and Grace | Session 2 | July 8, 2015 THE EVANGELICAL VIEW: THE LAW IS BAD NEWS • • •
For the greatest part of the Evangelical world, the Law is seen as that which causes a man to know his sin and need of a Savior. Evangelicals are selective in their use of the Law as the standard for holy living. Survey of the Evangelical use of the Law for the believer: • Theonomy – the restoration of the Law as the foundation of society (reconstructionism or dominionism). • Wesleyan – the law is fulfilled when we live the Sermon on the Mount. • Classical – The law is moral, civil, or ceremonial. Believers are free from moral and civil but no ceremonial. THE DISPENSATIONAL VIEW: THE LAW IS OLD NEWS
•
• • • •
The Law was given to the nation of Israel alone. o Israel is distinct from the church, and God’s dealings with Israel cannot be equated to His dealings with the church. o There is no shadow of the church in Israel, and no type of the church in Israel. The Law served its purpose in the nation of Israel. o Its purpose was one of preservation, until the Messiah should come. Justification and the righteousness of God are found by faith in Jesus Christ. Romans 3:19-26. The “handwriting of ordinances that was against us” has not been “blotted out.” Colossians 2:1-17, 20-23. The Law has no place in Evangelism, spiritual growth, maturity, or sanctification. SUMMARY
• • • •
The Roman Catholic View: A saving function of the law The Reformed View: A sanctifying function of the law The Evangelical View: A clarifying function of the law The Dispensational View: A cessationist view of the law
