Thread: the law is for the proud a the gospel is for the broken hearted
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the law is for the proud a the gospel is for the broken hearted
Posted : 14 Oct, 2009 09:33 AM
"The Law is for the proud and the Gospel for the brokenhearted." - Martin Luther
"When God gives orders and tells us what will happen if we fail to obey those orders perfectly, that is in the category of what the reformers, following the biblical text, called law. When God promises freely, providing for us because of Christ's righteousness the status he demands of us, this is in the category of gospel. It is good news from start to finish. The Bible includes both, and the reformers were agreed that the Scriptures taught clearly that the law, whether Old or New Testament commands, was not eliminated for the believer (those from a Dispensational background may notice a difference here). Nevertheless, they insisted that nothing in this category of law could be a means of justification or acceptance before a holy God ... The law comes, not to reform the sinner nor to show him or her the "narrow way" to life, but to crush the sinner's hopes of escaping God's wrath through personal effort or even cooperation. All of our righteousness must come from someone else-someone who has fulfilled the law's demands. Only after we have been stripped of our "filthy rags" of righteousness (Isa. 64:6)- our fig leaves through which we try in vain to hide our guilt and shame-can we be clothed with Christ's righteousness. First comes the law to proclaim judgment and death, then the gospel to proclaim justification and life. One of the clearest presentations of this motif is found in Paul's Epistle to the Galatians. In the sixteenth century, the issue of law and grace was more clearly dealt with than at almost any other time since the apostles."
the law is for the proud a the gospel is for the broken hearted
Posted : 14 Oct, 2009 05:11 PM
Steve
The term saved is used over 1900 times in the Bible and always refers to the wrath of God in our lives for sin. It does not refer to going to Heaven but dwelling in peace here on Earth. See Isaiah 1 :16-23
the law is for the proud a the gospel is for the broken hearted
Posted : 14 Oct, 2009 08:38 PM
Outstanding post.
The law, ten commandments, etc, are the old covenant and it has passed away. However, what the law intended, which is love, is in harmony to the gospel. Yet, we only love by believing on Christ and not by obeying the law in any way. In Gal 3, we see the law ONLY convicts of sin, because it is not of faith, preaches no pardon, and doesn't set our eyes on Jesus Christ.
The believer's rule of life is the new covenant and faith in Jesus.
Bless God for Luther, and bless God for you putting up these posts. Do not waver.
the law is for the proud a the gospel is for the broken hearted
Posted : 15 Oct, 2009 05:26 AM
Thanks warrior brother,
I get so frustrated when I here (christians) talking about working hard to get to heaven,the works been done,we have an undeserved grace that is so incredible,covered by the blood man!Its fantastic,we should be in a state of constant praise and thankfulness for this free gift!Not trying to pay for something thats already been bought!
the law is for the proud a the gospel is for the broken hearted
Posted : 15 Oct, 2009 08:42 PM
I truly believe we are saved by Grace, but I also believe if you truly accept the Lord Jesus Christ into your heart, you will have the desire to become more like Him, to Know Him better, to Want to Be With Him and to Live With Him His Way. Giving up your old ways is not a penalty of becoming a Christian, it is a privilege of becoming more like Him.
Our works may be like dirty rags on the floor, but it is also written that faith without works is dead. It is about the transformation of your heat, which is a choice we are given under free will. Anyone who believes that they are saved by grace so they can go out and live like hell without thinking twice about it is truly misguided. I mean honestly, do you believe that is what God wants of us? When you decide to give up your ways and follow Him, it truly is a narrow path, but if you really want something, how much effort are you willing to put forth? If we tell you that you can win and awesome contest all you have to do is.......what? People all around us will line up out side the ticket counters a day in advance for what they want, they will fill out a thousand sweepstakes coupons or buy a fortune in lottery tickets, but how many of them are will to spend any real time getting to know their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? The only trip I want to win is the one to Heaven to meet the Biggest Super Stars ever...the Holy Trinity cuz they are about to come down and rock this world in the biggest Superbowl the world has ever seen, and my sides gonna win!
Are you excited about all that like you are about the next game, or rock concert or big win that you bet on? When is the last time you did something that would make Jesus smile? You gotta live it if its in your heart. Today I delivered coats, scarves, mittens, and hats that I bought yesterday at the thrift store for some people I know will be out walking in the cold this winter because they don't have a choice, and their ability to access resources are limited. I don't know what I will do next week, maybe scrape somebodies windows, or shovel their snow. Maybe I will pray for them or just say thank you, or share the gospel with them. Maybe I will just listen or watch their children so they can have a break.
Jesus came to serve. I cannot imagine calling myself a Christian and not understanding that we were put here to be like Him, to serve. How can one say they have the Lord in their heart and not WANT to be like Him?
Nothing we can do is good enough to get us into Heaven, but just like there is nothing a small child can do for you, that child can make you smile. Our works do not go unnoticed. They cannot get us into Heaven, but just like it makes you smile when your son tries to be like His Dad, I truly believe the Lord smiles too when we strive to be like Him, even though we fall short like a small child, the Lord Loves our Desire to be Like Him and With Him.
the law is for the proud a the gospel is for the broken hearted
Posted : 16 Oct, 2009 09:09 AM
Yeah yeah...but a truly repentant/saved person WILL be trying to keep God's law....in whichever way they interpret it. They will always be searching for ways to please God more in this life, not to be "more saved", but because they love God. So when they find something in the bible, they should be like "oh...I want to be doing that...". Not "oh...we don't have to do that anymore...". If it pleases God, try to do it out of love. Simple.
