Larry Hughes
Puritan Board Sophomore
October 5, 2005
I would encourage that it is always the point of the Gospel to which we come together, draw strength from one another together, fight together and if so ordained be mocked and die together. By Gospel I mean true and pure Gospel through and through, justification and sanctification.
We part ways in disagreement where we see that this is not so, that is per the Gospel or if we detect the Gospel is being obscured by another´s activity what ever it is. We dare not separate upon Law. Thus, we can pray for each other and ourselves, "œRemove my beam so that I can be and encourage my brother to the Gospel and as such aid him with is speck and he can encourage me where I am weak." If we pray this in terms of Law, then we are arrogant, raising ourselves above God and brother and sister.
E.g., without starting a baptism argument issue my prayer is that the Gospel be seen in that ordinance with increased clarity among all be they Reformed, Lutheran, Baptist or otherwise. Not, "œmake my brother see how I´m doing baptism as a Law better than he is." To avoid a debate presently that should be taken from a neutral stance, the prayer for the Gospel revelation in baptism. That way one is praying for one´s own beam to be removed and one´s brother´s speck to be removed and one ultimately convinced by the Gospel what is correct according to the Word of God. Having said that, I am the first and king of those who in the past have not done that very well. And though I´ve turned from it, I still have to fight my flesh back on such issues. That´s a hard battle for all of us.
There is not one denomination out there or each one of us individually that has not and does not struggle with works righteousness in some fashion within ourselves at least implicitly and functionally no matter how we may well structure our statement of "œJustification by faith alone in Christ alone". It is far easier to formulate that statement to be written and read and repeated than to functionally live and walk by it. E.g.s: The formerly educated and seminary student struggles with the pietism of works righteousness via knowledge and increased knowledge. The formerly uneducated struggles with the pietism of works righteousness via the practical day to day stuff. And if you don´t think you struggle with works righteousness, pietism and legalism "“ more than likely you struggle more than most.
There seems to be no end to how we can make ANYTHING a works righteousness; E.g., the Word itself, "œYou search the Scriptures and think that by them you have eternal life, but it is these that continually bear witness of Me", John 5. The Sacraments/Ordinances; obedience to an ordinance though necessary by design, does not make that same obedience the primary purpose of the ordinance. Or for e.g., a doctor says take this pill to cure your disease. You obey and are cured, but your obedience was not the primary point of taking the pill!
If we seek unity in the Gospel, that is THE Gospel, then I thoroughly believe our doctrines will become more clear to us and changes as they need will occur. The key is unity IN THE Gospel.
Blessings,
Ldh
I would encourage that it is always the point of the Gospel to which we come together, draw strength from one another together, fight together and if so ordained be mocked and die together. By Gospel I mean true and pure Gospel through and through, justification and sanctification.
We part ways in disagreement where we see that this is not so, that is per the Gospel or if we detect the Gospel is being obscured by another´s activity what ever it is. We dare not separate upon Law. Thus, we can pray for each other and ourselves, "œRemove my beam so that I can be and encourage my brother to the Gospel and as such aid him with is speck and he can encourage me where I am weak." If we pray this in terms of Law, then we are arrogant, raising ourselves above God and brother and sister.
E.g., without starting a baptism argument issue my prayer is that the Gospel be seen in that ordinance with increased clarity among all be they Reformed, Lutheran, Baptist or otherwise. Not, "œmake my brother see how I´m doing baptism as a Law better than he is." To avoid a debate presently that should be taken from a neutral stance, the prayer for the Gospel revelation in baptism. That way one is praying for one´s own beam to be removed and one´s brother´s speck to be removed and one ultimately convinced by the Gospel what is correct according to the Word of God. Having said that, I am the first and king of those who in the past have not done that very well. And though I´ve turned from it, I still have to fight my flesh back on such issues. That´s a hard battle for all of us.
There is not one denomination out there or each one of us individually that has not and does not struggle with works righteousness in some fashion within ourselves at least implicitly and functionally no matter how we may well structure our statement of "œJustification by faith alone in Christ alone". It is far easier to formulate that statement to be written and read and repeated than to functionally live and walk by it. E.g.s: The formerly educated and seminary student struggles with the pietism of works righteousness via knowledge and increased knowledge. The formerly uneducated struggles with the pietism of works righteousness via the practical day to day stuff. And if you don´t think you struggle with works righteousness, pietism and legalism "“ more than likely you struggle more than most.
There seems to be no end to how we can make ANYTHING a works righteousness; E.g., the Word itself, "œYou search the Scriptures and think that by them you have eternal life, but it is these that continually bear witness of Me", John 5. The Sacraments/Ordinances; obedience to an ordinance though necessary by design, does not make that same obedience the primary purpose of the ordinance. Or for e.g., a doctor says take this pill to cure your disease. You obey and are cured, but your obedience was not the primary point of taking the pill!
If we seek unity in the Gospel, that is THE Gospel, then I thoroughly believe our doctrines will become more clear to us and changes as they need will occur. The key is unity IN THE Gospel.
Blessings,
Ldh
