I thought it would be interesting to discuss this comment by Rousas John Rushdoony. It might not even be controversial. What do you think?
Yes,We all have the Law written on our hearts.
Salvation by grace may be the opposite of trying to obtain salvation by the Law.
I don’t think it’s controversial.I thought it would be interesting to discuss this comment by Rousas John Rushdoony. It might not even be controversial. What do you think?
"The alternative to law is not grace, but lawlessness" in what?I thought it would be interesting to discuss this comment by Rousas John Rushdoony. It might not even be controversial. What do you think?
Probably not. It might depend how it’s understood, however.I don’t think it’s controversial.
Good questions.The alternative to law is not grace, but lawlessness" in what?
Salvation, justification, sanctification?
And yet the sinful, the lawless, the unholy, won’t be seeing God. So there’s a a righteousness that’s attested to by the law in any case, and which fulfills the law’s requirements. Rom 3:21, Rom 8:4It's certainly not "lawlessness" in salvation or justification, for the law has nothing to do with either.
But not fulfilled by the law because the law was not given for righteousness, which has always been by faith, never by law-keeping. (Galatians 3:11-12).Good questions.
And yet the sinful, the lawless, the unholy, won’t be seeing God. So
there’s a a righteousness that’s attested to by the law in any case,
And the righteousness which fulfills the law's requirement is the imputation of Christ's righteousness (Romans 4:1-11); i.e., justification, by faith apart from law-keeping (Romans 3:28).and which fulfills the law's requirement. Rom 3:21, Rom 8:4
The law tells us what righteousness "looks like" which is why it's said that the law attests to the righteousness now available to man through Christ. But it, the law, can only attest to it while being unable to the righteousness that only God can accomplish in man as we turn to Him in faith. To be under the law is to depend on ourselves, on our so called "righteousness". To be under grace is to depend on Him for it.But not fulfilled by the law because the law was not given for righteousness, which has always been by faith, never by law-keeping. (Galatians 3:11-12).
The law was given to reveal sin, not to make righteous (Romans 3:20)
Even if I agreed that righteousness or justice are strictly imputed or declared at justification, as if it consisted mainly of forgiveness of sin IOW, you still must acknowledge that the unholy, the unsanctified, the sinful, will not see God, enter heaven, etcAnd the righteousness which fulfills the law's requirement is the imputation of Christ's righteousness (Romans 4:1-11); i.e., justification, by faith apart from law-keeping (Romans 3:28).
The law tells us what righteousness "looks like" which is why it's said that the law attests to the righteousness now available to man through Christ. But it, the law, can only attest to it while being unable to the righteousness that only God can accomplish in man as we turn to Him in faith. To be under the law is to depend on ourselves, on our so called "righteousness". To be under grace is to depend on Him for it.
"...not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith." Phil 3:9
The NT presents theEven if I agreed that righteousness or justice are strictly imputed or declared at justification, as if it consisted mainly of forgiveness of sin IOW, you still must acknowledge that the unholy, the unsanctified, the sinful, will not see God, enter heaven, etc
I agree. Grace is not a reprieve from the requirement for fulfilling the law, but the means to actually fulfilling it, finally. Faith opens the door to that life of grace as it opens the door to its Source, as it makes God the God of us again. As man was not created to be outside of intimate communion with God, neither was He created to sin. And those two truths are intrinsically related to each other.Here’s something to consider. We are required to keep the law. That requirement doesn’t go away just because of grace. So there’s either law, or lawlessness.
Bottom line regardless of how we wish to term it: faith provides the means to authentic righteousness/sanctity for man. And John tells us what righteousness is:The NT presents the
righteousness of justification, by faith--a declaration, sentence of acquittal of guilt by the Judge, and the
righteousness of sanctification--through obedience in the Holy Spirit which leads to righteousness leading to holiness (Romans 6:16, Romans 6:19).
Justification is a right(eous) standing before God; i.e., "not guilty."
Sanctification is an "infused/imparted" righteousness through obedience in the Holy Spirit, leading to holiness, for "Without holiness, no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14)
The NT presents the
1) righteousness of justification, by faith--declaration of, sentence of acquittal of guilt by the Judge (Greek definition of dikaiosis/justification), and the
2) righteousness of sanctification--through obedience in the Holy Spirit which leads to righteousness leading to holiness (Romans 6:16, Romans 6:19).
Justification is a right(eous) standing before God; i.e., "not guilty."
Sanctification is an "infused/imparted" righteousness through obedience in the Holy Spirit, leading to holiness, for "Without holiness, no one will see the Lord." (Hebrews 12:14)
Is that agreement or disagreement with the NT's presentation of two kinds of righteousness?Bottom line regardless of how we wish to term it: faith provides the means to authentic righteousness/sanctity for man. And John tells us what righteousness is:
“The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous. The one who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work.” 1 John 3:7-8
We know that unless one lives accordingly, unless they put to death the deeds of the flesh by the Spirit, they don’t know God and won’t be seeing Him.
I disagree that justification is merely imputed.The historic understanding is that justification and sanctification are both part of the same process of making man holy which is scriptural anyway.Is that agreement or disagreement with Scripture's presentation of two kinds of righteousness.
Justification = righteousness, andI disagree that justification is merely imputed. The historic understanding is that justification and sanctification are both part of the same process of making man holy which is scriptural anyway. But at the end of the day we have to have both anyway to enter heaven.
The one who does what is right is righteous
The one who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous.
ok? And John makes it clear what righteousness is and who the righteous are: those who don't sinJustification is righteousness.
That is precisely what is stated in Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:2-3.
Agreed. . .the justified (declared righteous) by faith are then sanctified (actually righteous) by obedience in the Holy Spirit.ok? And John makes it clear what righteousness is and who
the righteous are: those who don't sin
The righteous are those who don’t sin. And this is due to the gift of righteousness:Agreed. . .the justified (declared righteous) by faith are then sanctified (actually righteous) by obedience in the Holy Spirit.