Tag Archives: Law & Grace

A Test Case for Distinguishing Law, Gospel, and Grace: Hebrews 10:1–39

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1For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. 2For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purged, would have had no more consciousness of sins. 3But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. 4For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

Distinguishing Law, Gospel, and Grace

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Precise interpretation is essential to a proper understanding of God’s Word. An indispensable element in correctly interpreting God’s Word is identifying and distinguishing passages as law, gospel, or grace. In this article Dr. Myron Houghton, senior professor of theology at Faith Baptist Theological Seminary, carefully guides us through a proper understanding of law, gospel, and grace and gives us a framework for correctly interpreting the Scripture. You will find additional information and help in this important area by reading Dr. Houghton’s new book, Law & Grace, published by Regular Baptist Books.

An Overview of the New Perspective on Paul

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The New Perspective on Paul is a major deviation from New Testament teaching that is gaining in acceptance among writers and teachers, even among some evangelicals. In the July/August and September/October 2008 issues of the Faith Pulpit, Dr. Paul Hartog examined this teaching as it relates to the doctrine of justification. In this follow-up article, Dr. Douglas Brown, chair of the New Testament Department at Faith Baptist Theological Seminary in Ankeny, Iowa, presents a basic overview of the New Perspective, surveying the historical background, identifying the major figures in the movement, and clarifying what is at stake in the debate.

The “New Perspective” and Justification, Part 2

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In the July/August edition of the Faith Pulpit, Dr. Paul Hartog of Faith Baptist Theological Seminary compared two facets of the “New Perspective” on justification with a Dispensational point of view. He focused on N. T. Wright’s treatment of the gospel and the righteousness of God. (You may access that issue at faith.edu/seminary.) In this issue he analyzes three additional facets of Wright’s “new perspective”-the final judgment according to works, the ordo salutis, and justification. The Final Judgment according to Works Wright maintains that “Paul, in company with mainstream Second Temple Judaism, affirms that God’s final judgment will be in accordance with the entirety of a life led—in accordance, in other words, with works” (253).1 Wright’s primary evidence for a general judgment based upon works is found in Romans 2:1-16, although he also argues from Romans 14:10-12, 1 Corinthians 3, and 2 Corinthians 5:10 (253).

The “New Perspective” and Justification, Part 1

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In the past few years some men have begun rethinking major issues of the Christian faith. Their thoughts and conclusions on a variety of subjects have been commonly called the “New Perspective.” In Part 1 of his article, Dr. Paul Hartog of Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary carefully compares two facets of the “New Perspective” on justification with a Dispensational point of view. He will complete his analysis in the September/October issue of Faith Pulpit. In his 1982 Manson Memorial Lecture at the University of Manchester, J.

Distinguishing Law and Grace

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Biblically law can refer to: (1) the Ten Commandments [Romans 7:7–13], (2) the civil law of the Old Testament [Leviticus 11:46 , cf. vv 1–45], (3) the ceremonial law in the Old Testament [Leviticus 6:9, 14], (4) the first five books of the Bible [Romans 3:21c], (5) any statement in Scripture that condemns or makes a person feel guilty [Romans 4:14,15], (6) God’s Word in general [James 1:25], (7) the righteous standard of moral law [Romans 8:4], (8) a principle or fact [Romans 8:2a] and (9) Christ’s command for believers to love one another [Galatians 6:2].

The Handy Slogan-Word Legalism

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If ye love me, keep my commandments (John 14:15). If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15). But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless (Matt. 12:7). It may be a common observation that it is easier to corrupt a congregation than it is to edify it. To build it up in faith and conviction seems to be the result of years of instruction and agony.

Progressive Dispensationalism: A Traditional Dispensational Critique

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I. An explanation of Traditional Dispensationalism As understood by this author, the essence of dispensationalism is that Israel and the Church, as well as God’s program for each, are clearly and consistently distinguished. The revelation concerning God’s program for each is not dealing with ways of salvation but ways of managing one’s life. The resultant features of dispensationalism understood in this way are these: A. Salvation, in the mind of God, always has been based upon the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ.