The Gospel and Restrictions
July 28, 2008 Who are we but heirs of promise? The bookends of Scripture, so to speak, are comprised of promise and all who believe in Jesus are partakers of promise. Ray Ortlund explains,
Law is an instrumental part of Scripture; it is that which reveals God and His character. We need law. (Romans 3:21). Ray Ortlund quotes Isaac Bashevis Singer from The Penitent, page 88,
Without the Gospel, the law only tells us what to do; but with the Gospel, God's law expresses what we are to be. This Gospel is not so much giving us a new law, but in so far as it announces that under this new law the poor in spirit are blessed, the meek will inherit the earth, those who hunger for righteousness will be satisfied.
God tells us in Promise, "this is what I am doing," while God's law tells us, "this is what I have done." Christ explains, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Further, Paul expounds on this thought and relates our participation, "For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." This is why the Gospel is news, not advice (Matthew 5:17, Romans 8:3-4).
July 28, 2008 Who are we but heirs of promise? The bookends of Scripture, so to speak, are comprised of promise and all who believe in Jesus are partakers of promise. Ray Ortlund explains,
"It is promise that comes first (Genesis 12), then law comes later (Exodus 20). It is promise, therefore, that defines the all-encompassing framework within which we are to read everything else in the Bible."Scripture ends with a promise, "He [that is, Jesus Christ] who testifies to these things says, 'Surely I am coming soon.'" (Galatians 3:29, Revelation 22:20)
Law is an instrumental part of Scripture; it is that which reveals God and His character. We need law. (Romans 3:21). Ray Ortlund quotes Isaac Bashevis Singer from The Penitent, page 88,
"Yes, restrictions do serve as barriers. If someone has a treasure that he doesn't want stolen, he hides it in a place inaccessible to thieves and robbers. If he fears that one lock isn't enough, he affixes two locks. If he suspects that someone may try to tunnel toward them, he'll post a guard. Think of the many restrictions assumed by those who are concerned with literature, theater, music, fashions, women, or other worldly passions. I read somewhere that Flaubert never repeated a word within the same chapter. There are rich and elegant women who won't wear the same dress twice. Yes, worldliness is full of restrictions, too."Yes, the world is full of restrictions (law), and without the Gospel, the law only condemns because the law has been disconnected from that which it should be rightly connected.
Without the Gospel, the law only tells us what to do; but with the Gospel, God's law expresses what we are to be. This Gospel is not so much giving us a new law, but in so far as it announces that under this new law the poor in spirit are blessed, the meek will inherit the earth, those who hunger for righteousness will be satisfied.
God tells us in Promise, "this is what I am doing," while God's law tells us, "this is what I have done." Christ explains, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Further, Paul expounds on this thought and relates our participation, "For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit." This is why the Gospel is news, not advice (Matthew 5:17, Romans 8:3-4).