Monday, November 14, 2011

Michael Horton: The Purpose of the Law


We must not think that the law drives us to Christ in the beginning and then Christ drives us back to the law for our acceptance before God in sanctification. Rather, the law continues to provide us with the soundest guidance available but apart from Christ and the indicative announcement of what he has done for us, it can only lead us to either despair or self-righteousness.No less than when we first believed, we must always attribute to the gospel the power that fills our sails with gratitude, and to the law the proper course that such gratitude takes.
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4 comments:

  1. JGIGJune 5, 2012 at 4:18 PM

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  2. JGIGJune 5, 2012 at 4:35 PM

    Wait a minute, let me reread his last sentence . . . "No less than when we first believed, we must always attribute to the gospel the power that fills our sails with gratitude, and to the law the proper course that such gratitude takes."

    No - the Law is not the course which we follow - Love is the course which we follow, understanding that the Holy Spirit will not lead us contrary to God's commandments - Love God, love others. Those are the commands of New Covenant Law.

    Blessings,
    -JGIG
    Joyfully Growing In Grace

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  3. Mike June 5, 2012 at 5:13 PM

    Loving God and others is how Christ summarized the Law (Matt 22:37-40). So, love would fall under the category of Law in Horton's view (and mine).

    I think that you and I would agree, we just need to flush out our definitions of Law. Horton, by saying "Law," is referring to the exhortations found in Scripture such as "Love your neighbor," or "Love the Lord." He is coming from a Luther-esque "Law and Gospel" paradigm.

    Great name BTW.

    Mike

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  4. AnonymousOctober 20, 2013 at 11:24 PM

    Here's the thing: Love in the New Covenant is the Fruit of the Spirit. So while we are commanded to "believe on the One He has sent and to love one another" (Jn 3:23), even that command is fulfilled by His Holy Spirit as we submit to Christ and let Him live His Life through us. Therefore we labor to enter into His rest . . . ah the paradoxes of Grace!

    Thanks for the thumbs-up on the blog name. Stop by sometime =o).

    Grace and peace,
    -JGIG
    joyfullygrowingingrace.wordpress.com

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