What Baptists Believe About the
Harmony of the Law and the Gospel

Prayer:
That we may understand clearly the distinction between the law and the gospel.





XII. OF THE HARMONY OF THE LAW AND THE GOSPEL

We believe that the law of God is the eternal and unchangeable rule of his moral government; (1) that it is holy, just, and good; (2) and that the inability which the Scriptures ascribe to fallen en to fulfill its precepts, arises entirely from their love of sin: (3) to deliver them from which, and to restore them through a Mediator to unfeigned obedience to the holy law, is one great end of the gospel, and of the means of grace connected with the establishment of the visible church.(4)





Places in the Bible where taught.

(1) Rom. 3:31. Do we make void the law through faith? God forbid. Yea, we establish the law. Matt. 5:17; Luke 16:17; Rom. 3:20; 4:15

(2) Rom. 7:12. The law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. Rom. 7:7, 14, 22; Gal. 3:21; Ps. I 19.

(3) Rom. 8:7, 8. The carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Josh. 24:19; Jer. 13:23; John 6:44; 5:44.

(4) Rom. 8:2, 4. For the law of the spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh; that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit. Rom. 10:4; 1 Tim. 1:5; Heb. 8:10; Jude 20, 21; Heb. 12:14; Matt. 16:17, 18; 1 Cor. 12:28.





Discussion by Leader:

1. Explain why the law was given.





Parts for Assignment:

1. The law of God, moral law not ceremonial, is eternal. It will never be right to do wrong. There can never be a time when the moral law will be changed. Religious or ceremonial as well as administrative law can be changed, but moral law never.

2. The reason that man does not and cannot keep the law is not because of any defect in the law, but because man loves sin.

3. The gospel is not to violate the law but to provide a mediator that can fulfill all the demands of the law and yet save the the sinner.





Discussion Questions:


1. Was anyone ever saved by the law? Rom, 3:20; Gal. 3:11.

2. What would be required for one to be saved by the law? James 2:10.

3. If the law cannot save, then why did God give the law? Gal. 3:24-26.

4. What does the word gospel mean, and what is the gospel? (Means good news)
I Cor. 15:1-3.

5. If men were not saved under the Old Testament by law, how were they saved?
Acts 10:43; 15:10; Heb. 11:25-26; Col. 3:8.

6. If man tries to save himself by keeping the law, how does he stand in God's sight? Gal. 3: 10.

 

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