James 2:10 and Galatians 3:10 in Perspective

If you want to be saved apart from Christ, here you go.  This is what God requires of you!  Click here: The Law (h.t. monergism.com)

Given all the debate about law and gospel, and covenant theology, we can easily forget what is at stake.  What, exactly, does the law demand of us?  James (2:10) tells us that if we break  even a single commandment, it were as though we've broken all of them.  Paul warns us not to rely on "works of law" (Galatians 3:10).   There's a reason for this!

After glancing through that list of all 613 commandments, I suddenly have a renewed appreciation for Christ's active and passive obedience.  No hope of heaven without it.   And what a blessing (and a relief) it is to know that because of Christ, God sees me as though I had kept all 613!

Comments

[PB]

Isn't it amazing, though, as many times as we preach this - Law and Gospel - as clearly as we are enabled to do - folk (ourselves included) default back to our Law "screensaver"!

[LLOYD]

These 613 commandments has me clingling to that "Alien" righteousness. It is a righteousness outside of myself, where I look to the righteousness of Christ!

For you non-Lutherans out there, here is a neat hermeneutic which Lutherans use to properly distinguish both the law and the Gospel. Law and Gospel passages can be found in both the O.T. and N.T. alike. Confusing law and Gospel can have severe conconsequences. It is even worse if pastors confuse the law and the Gospel (most of Christian radio) because they actually keep people out heaven in doing so. Law: Any passage which shows God's wrath, judgment, or hatred of sin. Gospel: Any passage which shows God's love, grace, mercy, comfort or salvation. Law: S.O.S.: Shows our sins. Gospel: S.O.S.: Shows our Savior. Law: Do and don't. Gospel: DONE!

[PB]

Couldn't be more on target, Lloyd! (Does that make me a Lutheran Baptist?!<grin>) And STILL after proclaiming all those truths - in easy to follow forms - we all tend to gravitate back to Law. I'm losing count of the number of times I've been told I should preach "more practical sermons" = telling people what to do! Although in fairness this "advice" often comes from people who want me to tell other people than them what to do!

[Reg Schofield]

We so easily fall back into the law and of course that leads to despair when even on our best days , we fail. When I was concentrating on doing , instead of looking to Christ I was undone and often falling into sin that I wanted to put to death.However as I have come to understand law and gospel , thanks mightily to the merry men at the White Horse Inn , my soul has found rest and joy . Thanks Kim and those merry dudes!!

[Steven Carr]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't there 614 commandments?

[shirohniichan]

Dang-- I thought I was perfect until I hit law # 186:
"Do not eat the meat of a bull that has been stoned to death for goring someone. (Exodus 21:28) "
I find it too hard to resist pre-tenderized prime steaks.