tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643715.post8197547479728400929..comments2023-06-09T12:46:12.932-04:00Comments on The Voice Of One Crying Out In Suburbia: How or what now?Arthur Sidohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03848508095612688493noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643715.post-54639189777346930652009-12-31T23:29:33.428-05:002009-12-31T23:29:33.428-05:00With an eye to works our works become the focus.
...With an eye to works our works become the focus.<br /><br />With an eye to Christ and the freedom He has won for us, we are free to do what's needed without having someone tell us it needs be done.Steve Martinhttp://theoldadam.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643715.post-74112774736853695242009-12-31T16:00:54.922-05:002009-12-31T16:00:54.922-05:00Steve, I am not suggesting that we "have"...Steve, I am not suggesting that we "have" to keep the Law. In fact, under the New Covenant we are called to do much more. Instead of 10% of our earnings, it is all. Jesus said "If you love me, keep my commandments". Over and over again we are commanded to do good works as a result and witness of our salvation, not as a condition. We see people commended because of the works that they do. Just saying "I'm saved" is an empty faith. If you are not driven to serve others, something is wrong with your heart.Arthur Sidohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03848508095612688493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643715.post-62226757578996353782009-12-31T10:44:41.816-05:002009-12-31T10:44:41.816-05:00Antinomianism is a total disregard for the law.
T...Antinomianism is a total disregard for the law.<br /><br />The law has it's purposes. God gave it that we might live together (as best as possible), and also to show us our great need of a Savior (to convict us of sin and to kill us).<br /><br />No one will be justified in the sight of the law.<br /><br />God does not care one wit about our efforts to keep the law, since we fall short of His standard (perfection), everytime.<br /><br />He justifies, He sanctifies.<br /><br />The law is still in effect, but not for righteousness sake.<br /><br />Those that place an emphasis on the law (not to kill off, but to make better)become,and create modern day Pharisees, or phonies, or they despair and throw the whole thing overboard.<br /><br />This (I believe) is why Jesus re-presented the law in such a hard manner in the Sermon on the Mount.<br /><br />He wanted to leave us NO wiggle room with repect to our ability to keep it. "You must be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect." "If you are angry with your brother then you are a murderer."<br /><br />What do we do with those?<br /><br />Then right after the S.O.M. He runs into the filty leper who says, "Heal me if you will, Lord" and the Lord says, "I will."<br /><br />We ought keep the law, but never as a 'we have to'...'we want to'.<br /><br />We know that this is what God intends for us, and that our lives and the lives of others around us just work better when we do.<br /><br />But rightly distinguishing law from gospel and using them rightly theologically vs. in a civil sense, is not an easy thing to do.<br /><br />Most people blend the two, and therin lies the problem.<br /><br />Thanks.Steve Martinhttp://theoldadam.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643715.post-77009825263778429402009-12-31T10:23:02.834-05:002009-12-31T10:23:02.834-05:00Steve,
So we are to be unconsciously zealous for ...Steve,<br /><br />So we are to be unconsciously zealous for good works? Accidently zealous? I think what you are describing comes dangerously close to a functional antinomianism.Arthur Sidohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03848508095612688493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643715.post-12755272806399833662009-12-31T03:16:20.103-05:002009-12-31T03:16:20.103-05:00I share your concern, and I think I know why justi...I share your concern, and I think I know why justification is such a big deal to Reformed theology. It's not because it's a biblical doctrine; it is. It's because to be a Protestant means to protest against Rome.<br /><br />Our culture is not dominated by Roman Catholicism, nor by a formal salvation by works religion. So, our 21st century protest against Roman doctrine is out of place in our culture. Justification by faith alone, as true as it may be, is not the heart of the gospel; it is the heart of the Reformers' argument against Rome. It's like if you ran for office today with the slogan "no taxation without representation." It's why Reformed churches don't have greater conversion rates. The typical American doesn't see a reason for the elevation of the doctrine.<br /><br />I think we also need to realize that the doctrine as revealed in Scripture was largely used as protest against Judaizing by false teachers who were teaching salvation by works. Again, our culture today doesn't have quite that emphasis preached to it.<br /><br />Also, Reformed people spend a lot of time on the doctrine because we want everybody to know we're right.<br /><br />And the natural result is a lack of concern with sanctification.Steve Scotthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10297044571819912511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6643715.post-17699950449738848382009-12-30T23:53:36.145-05:002009-12-30T23:53:36.145-05:00Focus on the way we ought behave is just law preac...Focus on the way we ought behave is just law preaching, plain and simple.<br /><br />The Holy Spirit inspires us to good works, not the law.<br /><br />"All our righteous deeds are as filty rags."<br /><br />When we do them with a non self-consciousness, then they are done out of love. <br /><br />When we have to think of them and do them out of some obligation, or out of guilt, or in a quest to better ourselves in the eyes of our Lord, then it is sinful. Not that it still isn't good for the recipient. But it is still a filty rag.Steve Martinhttp://theoldadam.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.com