Law and Gospel and Golawspel

Journey to Luther ^ | 2-5-11 | Morris Priddy

[ReformationFan]

One of the distinctions of Reformation and Lutheran Christian preaching that I have found life changing is the proper distinction of Law and Gospel. I don't have enough time or space here to do this proper justice, but this distinction has truly changed my view of life and given me hope rather than dread in my Christian life. The core of this doctrine is that God's Law (summarized in the Ten Commandments and expanded upon by Jesus) reveals our sin, it shows how we are desperately sinful people incapable of delivering ourselves through our own efforts at morality. A lot of what passes for Christian sermons emphasize the law - even though they speak Jesus name, the sermon is law from beginning to end - what you should be doing as a Christian, how you are to love others, how you are to live, what you need to be doing to grow as a Christian, etc. etc. It is all about law, and mostly about you.

Great Book on Law & Gospel This is not the Gospel - it turns the good news of Jesus death and resurrection into a new Law (or Go-law-spel as Michael Horton calls it), a new set of requirements to keep. It offers no hope. We will fail. Every time. The good news of the Gospel is that Christ died for me and redeems me - it is a free gift. I do not need to do one thing, I cannot do anything to save myself. He has done all - he even gives me the faith to believe!! Christ on the Cross for my sins is the essential Gospel message, the absolutely 100% free gift - I am a child of God and daily live in that truth. He is my salvation. He builds trust in my heart as I hear about His great love for me. I believe and know that Jesus will take me to heaven when I die - not based on anything I ever said, prayed, did, or performed - but based on His mercy and grace alone.

The sad truth is that a lot of Churches say they believe in salvation by grace through faith, but then they burden their people down with law - preached week after week from the pulpit. I recently listened to a "sermon review" on Pirate Christian Radio, and even though I knew that the sermon was wrong, it was being critiqued, and the law application of Scripture was not even correct (the Scripture being used had nothing to do with the topic it was being applied to), I felt this sense of dread creeping up - and I thought - I remember this! This is what I used to feel in Church listening to all this law that I cannot possibly fulfill, focusing inside on myself and my inability to keep the law, and looking around me and thinking everyone else seems to be doing okay, what's wrong with me! The truth is, no one was doing okay, those sermons crush and offer no hope. If you are in a Church that does not proclaim the law to crush you and reveal your sin, but then turns around and offers Jesus Christ as your redeemer, focuses you back on confession of sins and forgiveness - the one who perfectly fulfilled the law for you, who saves you through the Cross by His mercy and grace - if your Church only gives you the law, or tells you how you should live to 'overcome' - leave now, get out - it will destroy your faith and leave you without hope. The more you focus in on yourself and your own ability to keep the law and fulfill God's commands or live the Christian life the more you will go down that rabbit hole of despair. Jesus death on the cross is an objective truth, outside of yourself. He gave Himself for your sins. Your sins are covered - focus on Him and His mercy and grace.

[ReformationFan]

Excellent article by an LCMS layman on law and gospel.

[NoDRodee]

Very nice, agree Christians can get caught up in their works and forget about the grace the Lord provided us.

But some take it to far both ways:
Some are all grace not works types
Some are all works no grace types

key is balancing both, never forget you are unworthy without God’s grace, let that motivate your love for god, then as Jesus said:

John 14:15 - “If you love me you will keep My commandments”
John 15:10 - “”If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love”

[ReformationFan]

Thanks. This is a good video on this topic. It’s called “Goal Malady gLAWspel”-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgjA7Honh4A

From Martin Luther’s Small Catechism with Explanation-

85. What is the difference between the Law and the Gospel?

(A) The Law teaces what we are to do & not to do; the Gospel teaches what God has done, and still does, for our salvation.
(B) The Law shows us our sin and the wrath of God; the Gospel shows us our Savior and the grace of God.
(C) The Law must be proclaimed to all people, but especially to impenitent sinners; the Gospel must be proclaimed to sinners who are troubled in their minds because of their sins.

[NoDRodee]

Youtube blocked here but I’ll check it out when I get home.
I’m studying Romans now, on chapter 7 and this is Law verses grace is a major subject in Romans so far.