15 January 2012

Don't Mix the Law with the Gospel

Your weekly dose of Spurgeon
posted by Phil Johnson

The PyroManiacs devote some space each weekend to highlights from The Spurgeon Archive. The Following excerpt is from "The Warrant of Faith," a sermon preached Sunday morning, 20 September 1863 at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London.


, when will all professors, and especially all professed ministers of Christ, learn the difference between the law and the gospel? Most of them make a mingle-mangle, and serve out deadly potions to the people, often containing but one ounce of gospel to a pound of law, whereas, but even a grain of law is enough to spoil the whole thing.

It must be gospel, and gospel only. "If it be of grace, it is not of works, otherwise grace is no more grace; and if it be of works, then it is not of grace, otherwise work is no more work."

C. H. Spurgeon


6 comments:

Dan said...

I'd very much appreciate a 'recommended reading' list (web, books) from TeamPyro on this topic, if the time allows. Thanks.

Tyrone said...

What a breathe of fresh air... thanks for these well-guided posts; God gives us ears to hear and eyes to see,Amen!

F Whittenburg said...

Hello Dan,

I have a good study on this topic on my website "Christiannewbirth". It is called "The Ten Commandments Explained" and also a study called "Law or Grace?" that people have found helpful in their studies on Law and Grace. It is a short read, about 10 min. but goes straight to the problem that many wrestle with in this and expounds the solution. Hope this helps,

F Whittenburg

Boerseuntjie said...

I must admit that I appreciate Pastor SPURGEON's more Balanced and Full thoughts upon the subject.

This qoute can sadly be taken Out of Context and abused unto Antinomianism; another henous herecy not unlike Legalism...
AS I am sure we are all agreed.

I am sure there is a place for the Law seen as The Spirit saw fit to add it to Holy Writ in both the Hebrew and New Testament Canon. Even Messiah Himself sadi that He came to Fulfill not destroy the Devine Law.
Yet it is inded the Hope of the Covenant of Mercy thst is to be centrestage in all things; but without Conviction of Sin and the Righteosuness not of our own; well the Good News makes no sense...

Perhaps we could add some balance to the qoutation.

Your fellow Doulos by the free mercies gifted us in YAHWEH our Righteousness Alone,
W

Mike Westfall said...

Ahh... CHS's version of "Why I Love Jesus, But Hate Religion," except not as clumsy.

Kevin said...

Edwards concluded Religious Affections by answering the objection that this emphasis on practice might seem like a new legalism. To the contrary, he said, it was all carefully premised on standard Calvinist doctrine that a genuine work of grace would lead to keeping God’s commandments. Edwards was dedicated to the old New England way that celebrated grace and lived by law.

George Marsden, Jonathan Edwards: A Life, 289