Featured Under the Moral Law?

"The Epistle to the Galatians is also peculiarly valuable, from the luminous view it affords of the cardinal doctrine of justification by the righteousness of Christ, appropriated by faith. This doctrine is exhibited throughout the Scriptures and is more or less insisted upon in all the epistles, but especially in those to the Romans and Galatians, in which the Apostle proves, that justification is altogether independent of our observance either of the moral or ceremonial law."

"The gospel is the good news of pardon, peace, and eternal life through faith in Christ, without works, moral or ceremonial."

"The man who by the discharge of any moral duty or any ceremonial observance attempts to add to God’s righteousness, convicts himself of unbelief; he is dissatisfied with God’s foundation; he dares not lean upon it his whole weight; he attempts to prop it with some contrivance of his own; he appeals to the law, and to the law shall he go; but let him recollect who has said, that by the deeds of the law no flesh living shall be justified."

"The Gospel is the proclamation of forgiveness through faith in Christ. Any attempt to add to his finished work, implies unbelief of its perfection. It matters not whether we resort to the moral or ceremonial law. If Christ be not our only ground of hope and confidence, we are unbelievers, and consequently have no part in Him. When the Scripture says, we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law, it excludes circumcision, as well as every other act of obedience."

- excerpts from An Exposition of the Epistle to the Galatians by James Haldane

 

"doth not commit sin; does not make it his trade and business; it is not the constant course of his life; he does not live and walk in sin, or give up himself to it; he is not without the being of it in him, or free from acts of sin in his life and conversation, but he does not so commit it as to be the servant of it, a slave unto it, or to continue in it."

"and he cannot sin; not that it is impossible for such a man to do acts of sin, or that it is possible for him to live without sin; for the words are not to be understood in the sense of those who plead for perfection in this life; for though the saints have perfection in Christ, yet not in themselves; they are not impeccable, they are not free from sin, neither from the being nor actings of it; sin is in them, lives in them, dwells in them, hinders all the good, and does all the mischief it can...such persons cannot sin as unregenerate men do; that is, live in a continued course of sinning, and with pleasure, and without reluctance, and so as to lie in it, as the whole world does."

- excerpts from John Gill's Bible commentary on 1 John 3:9

 

I think that the best answer can be found in Romans 7... Its a tongue twister... Maybe this will help?... Brother Glen

Romans 7: 14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.

15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.

16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.

17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.

20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.

21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.

22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:

23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?

25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

Btw... To my understanding this is talking about a moral law not a ceremonial one!

 

Here is how sinners were made perfect - FOREVER! Hebrew 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.


Now, where is a flawless righteousness to be found? In the sinner? No! In Christ! As William Gadsby put it:

We must have a righteousness in which Jehovah himself cannot find a flaw, a righteousness which Jehovah cannot mend, a righteousness which neither sin nor Satan can mar; and unless we have on a righteousness of this nature, we can never enter into the blessedness of the world to come.

Where, then, are we to find it? Eternal praises to the matchless mercy of a covenant God, we have it in the blessed Person, glorious work, and spotless obedience of the Lord Jesus Christ! And, therefore, as it was essential for him to fulfill all righteousness for his people, he loved the Lord His God with all his heart, with all his mind, and with all his strength. He began at the beginning, and went through holily, righteously, and steadily every step of the law of God; and all in justice and righteousness. He fulfilled every iota of it, and gave it immortal glory and honour. The law could only require the perfect obedience of a perfect man, but he gave it the perfect obedience of the God-man, and stamped forever a holy dignity and majesty on it, in order to manifest that this glorious righteousness is suited to every sinner's case, to all their needs, and to honour and glorify all the perfections of God; and thus he has "forever perfected them that were sanctified,"-all those who were set apart for himself. They are perfected forever in his own blessed obedience and spotless righteousness; and this righteousness which God gives shall endure forever. As for you who have a righteousness of your own, you never can feel your need of Christ's righteousness; and if anyone should insult you by speaking of it, you are wrapped up so snugly in your own pretty works that it would be an insult to your dignity to have his. The same as it would be in insult to the queen for you to make a basket of bulrushes, and present it to her as something very valuable; she would not receive it at your hands. So it is with you, when we speak of this blessed righteousness. You do not know your need of it, and it is an insult to your pride to mention it. But for the poor creature who feels himself to be a loathsome, vile, and ruined sinner, and is brought experimentally to feel what he is before a heart-searching God, and that every iota of the law is against him - for God to give this righteousness to him, to put it upon him and communicate the power of it to his soul, why it will raise and exalt him to such a blessed enjoyment of God's righteousness that his tongue will sing aloud and speak forth praise to the honour and glory of his blessed name; and he will say, "My soul shall be joyful in my God; I will glory in the God of my salvation; for he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness; he hath adorned me with the garments of salvation."

- from a sermon delivered by William Gadsby entitled, "The Tongue Speaking of Righteousness", based on Psalm 35:28, at Zoar Chapel in London on June 1, 1843.

 

Yes, I am quite aware of it. I advise fleeing from anyone teaching any kind of law in order to be saved or to stay saved. Such teaching is an abomination. Also, avoid Neonomians who follow in the footsteps of people such as Richard Baxter that teach that law-keeping is still required of Christians but that it is just not as onerous as the law-keeping under the Law of Moses.

Christians are to rest in Christ alone, Jason. He fulfilled all of the conditions for His people as their Savior. Christians do good works - not to be saved, not to stay saved, not as mercenaries to earn rewards - but out of love for God because He loved them first. And our works will never be perfect on this earth in these vile bodies.

 

The Law is not your way of achieving salvation. As a Christian the Law no longer condemns you. But you still have the existence of the precepts. And you still are going to live a life on this Earth where everyday you will either be obeying or breaking the Law. Look at what Horatius Bonar said about this: "The plain truth is, we must either keep it or break it. Which of these men ought to do, let those answer who speak of men having nothing to do with the law. There is no middle way. If it be not a saints duty to keep the law, he make break it at pleasure, and go on sinning because grace abounds."

For a Christian the Law is now a source of knowledge of the will of the God who has saved you and loves you. It does not condemn or threaten the believer. You will come across those who teach that by following the teachings of Christ you don't need the Law because Christ's teachings cover and expand on the moral law. That is perfectly Ok. But some teach that it no longer matters how you act once you are saved. This form of antinomianism is dangerous.

 

Yes I believe what Ken says wholeheartedly, life is not easy, its a battle, its a warfare... You're in the army of the Lord and as a soldier remember:

Ephesians 6: 10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.

Brother Glen

 

One should oppose Neonominianism(or any form of legalism) without being an Antinomian. And one should oppose Antinomianism without being an Neonomian(or any kind of legalist).

 

Such a wonderful conclusion for Paul and all of God's elect: Though we are wretched yet it is God that delivers us from our vile bodies through Christ Jesus our Lord!

 

Yes @KenH .(I can't do quotes right now). I want to be careful since @JasonF is a new member. Those who are totally living a new life in Christ and following him, if they say the law is done away with that is OK by me. But there is and has always been an antinomian spirit from Paul's day to the present "easy believism". As for myself, I trust Robert Traill, who while being accused of antinomianism himself said that the Law was useful as a rule of life. As did Owen, Bonar, and most Puritans.

 

I agree.

I am not concerned if I am doing "good enough" since there is no way to measure "good enough" and besides, I can never be "good enough" to stand before God with a perfect righteousness and in perfect holiness. I thank God that Christ fulfilled all of those conditions and that God does not impute my sins to me; instead, He imputed them to His Son, and imputed His Son's perfect righteousness to me so that I stand before God perfectly righteous and in perfect holiness.

Also, I trust in my absolutely totally sovereign God that He works in me to will and to do of His good pleasure:

Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

God's law is very clearly divided into Ceremonial, Judicial and Moral. The Moral law is summarized in the Decalogue and epitomized in the so-called 'Golden Rule' (eg. Mark 12:29-31; Romans 13:8-10).
That the moral law is separate from the rest of the Mosaic Law is seen very clearly in Deuteronomy 5:22. Only the Decalogue was spoken by the very voice of God, and only the Decalogue was written on stone tablets. The rest of the law was apparently given to Moses through angels (cf. Acts of the Apostles 7:53; Galatians 3:19; Hebrews 2:2). There are several OT text which show very clearly that observance of the ceremonial law is unacceptable to God in the absence of righteousness (cf. Isaiah 1:10-17; Amos 5:21-24). The ceremonial law is fulfilled in Christ; the judicial law ceased when Israel ceased to be a nation.
Let me be very clear so that no one will mis-understand: our salvation is by grace alone, by Christ alone, through faith alone, according to the Scriptures alone and to the glory of God alone. Works do not figure at all in our salvation. But if a professing Christian is worshiping idols of any sort, dishonouring his parents, hating, lying, committing adultery and so forth, and if God is not actively bringing him to repentance, what reason does he have to suppose that God is saving him? '......Those who practice these things [present tense, denoting continuous action] will not inherit the kingdom of God' (Galatians 5:21).

 

I found an excellent letter by J.C. Philpot entitled, "On the Law and the Gospel". The whole discourse can be found at: On the Law and the Gospel (gracegems.org). Here are some excerpts:

"The essential and distinguishing characteristic of the law is that it is a covenant of works, requiring full and perfect obedience, attaching a tremendous curse to the least infringement of its commands. If then I, as a believer, take the law as my rule of life, I take it with its curse; I put myself under its yoke, for in receiving it as my guide, (and if I don't do this it is not my rule,) I take it with all its conditions and subject to all its penalties....The indispensable connection between a covenant and its rules is clearly shown in Galatians 5:1-6 where the apostle testifies to "every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to the whole law". It is idle to talk of taking the law for a rule of life, and not for a covenant; for the two things are essentially inseparable; and as he who keeps the whole law and yet offends in one point, is guilty of all James 2:10 so he who takes but one precept of the law for his rule, (as the Galatians took that of circumcision,) by taking that one, virtually adopts the whole, and by adopting the whole puts himself under the curse which attaches to their infringement."

"And is it not a disparaging of the guidance of the blessed Spirit to set up in opposition to His guiding rule, the dead law of Moses, and to call those Antinomians who prefer a living guide to a dead letter? This living guide is that holy, and blessed Spirit who "guides into all truth" John 16:13.

Here is the main blessedness of the work and grace upon the heart--that the leading and guiding of the blessed Spirit form a living rule every step of the way; for He not only quickens the soul into spiritual life, but maintains the life which He gave, and performs (or finishes--margin) it until the day of Jesus Christ Philippians 1:6. This life is eternal, as the blessed Lord at the well of Samaria declared, that the water that he should give the believer should be in a well of water springing up into everlasting life John 4:14. It is then this springing well in a believer's soul which is the guiding rule, for, as producing and maintaining the fear of God, it is "a fountain of life to depart from the snares of death" Proverbs 14:27.

But lest this 'guiding internal rule' be abused, which it might be by 'enthusiasm', and that they might not be left to substitute delusive fancies for the teaching of the Holy Spirit, the God of all grace has given to His people an 'external rule' in precepts of the gospel as declared by the mouth of the Lord and His apostles, but more particularly as gathered up in the epistles as a standing code of instruction for the living family of God. Nor do these at all clash with the rule of which I have just spoken, but on the contrary harmonize entirely and thoroughly with it; for, in fact, it is one and the same rule; the only difference between them being that the blessed Spirit had revealed the one in the WRITTEN Word, and by the application of that Word to the soul makes the other to be a LIVING rule of heart."

"But it may be asked--Do you then set aside the two great commandments of the law--"You shall love the Lord your God" etc.. and "your neighbor as yourself?" No, on the contrary, the gospel as an external and internal rule fulfills them both, for "love is the fulfilling of the law." Romans 13:10 So this blessed rule of the gospel not only does not set aside the law as regards its fulfillment, but so to speak absorbs into itself and glorifies and harmonizes its two great commandments, by yielding to them in obedience of heart, (which the law could not give); for the believers serves in the newness of the Spirit, not in the oldness of the letter Romans 7:6 as Christ's freeman John 8:32 and not as Moses's bondslave. This is willing obedience not a legal task. This will explain the meaning of the Apostle--"For I delight in the law of God after the inward man"--for the new man of grace, under the powerful influence of the Holy Spirit, delights in the law of God, not only for its holiness, but as inculcating that to do which fills the renewed heart and the inward delight--love to God and His people."

 

The Law identifies sin, 1 John 3:4, James 2:10, Romans 3:19.
In Christ we are not under the Law, Romans 6:14, ". . . For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. . . ."
And we are not opposed to the Law, Romans 3:31, ". . . Do we then make void the law through faith? [God] forbid: yea, we establish the law. . . ."
The explanation of the purpose of the Law, 1 Timothy 1:5-11, ". . . Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm. But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. . . ."

 

John 14:15. "If you love Me, keep My commandments."
1 John 5:3. 'For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments, and His commandments are not burdensome.'
1 Corinthians 6:9-11. 'Do you not know that the unrighteous will not enter the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Neither fornicators, nor idolators ....... nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.'
"Yes, but I'm filled with the Spirit!"
'Do not be deceived!'
"Yes, but my Pastor says......."
'Do not be deceived!'
Yes, but William Huntington, William Gadsby and J.C. Philpot say.......'
'Do not be deceived!'

Huntington, Gadsby and Philpot were fine servants of God and they lived very respectable lives SFAIK. But I believe that their well-intentioned teaching has been a snare and a trap to many others who have taken it to mean that a Christian can live a continually sinful life and still enter heaven. God is not mocked!
The Christians life is one of constant battle against sin. Colossians 3:5. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.
Because of these things, the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, in which you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath ....... etc.'
We ourselves are to do these things, by all means by the power of the Spirit, but we don't wait for the Spirit to do it all for us. "Let go and let God" is not found in the Scriptures.

 

If so, then that is on those people for misusing what Huntington, Gadsby, and Philpot taught. I have never read anything by them that encourages any of God's elect to go off into sin while thinking it is fine and dandy. The apostle Paul was accused of the same thing as Huntington, Gadsby, and Philpot - Romans 3:5-8 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man) God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world? For if the truth of God hath more abounded through my lie unto his glory; why yet am I also judged as a sinner? And not rather, (as we be slanderously reported, and as some affirm that we say,) Let us do evil, that good may come? whose damnation is just.