Bible Readings:
1 Kings 17:1 – 24
Luke 4:16 – 30, 7:11 – 17
Sermon Outline:
I Distinguishing law and gospel in Scripture
Galatians 3:13–14 (NKJV)
13 Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Romans 3:19–24 (NKJV)
19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
Every created thing has its function — and fire and water complement each other very well; however, if we were to mix them together, then they would indeed clash! This is true of the law and the gospel.
John Calvin, Sermons on Galatians, 1583
We divide this Word into two principal parts or kidns: the one is called the ‘Law,’ the other the ‘Gospel.’ For all the rest can be gathered under the one or other of these two headings… Ignorance of this distinction between Law and Gospel is one of the principal sources of the abuses which corrupted and still corrupt Christianity.
Theodore Beza, The Christian Faith, 1558
The doctrine of the church is the entire and uncorrupted doctine of the law and gospel concerning the true God, together with his will, works and worship… The doctrine of the church consists of two parts: the Law and the Gospel; in which we hvae comprehended the sum and substance of the sacred Scriptures. The law is called the Decalogue, and the gospel is the doctrine concerning Christ the mediator, and the free remission of sins, through faith.
Zacharius Ursinus, Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism, 1591
The basic principle in application is to know whether the passage is a statement of the law or of the gospel. For when the Word is preached, the law and the gospel operate diffently.
William Perkins, The Art of Prophesying, 1592
But you may reply, is there not alsow much law in the Gospel[s] and Epistles of Paul? And, again, many promises in the writings of Moses and the Prophets? I answer: There is no book in the Bible in which both are not found. God has always placed side by side both law and promise. For he teaches by the law what we are to do, and by the promises whence we shall receive power to do it.
Martin Luther, Sermons of Martin Luther, 1521
Romans 8:3 (NKJV)
3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,
Romans 3:31 (NKJV)
31 Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law.
II Law and gospel in the historical books
Hebrews 11:11 (NKJV)
11 By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
1 Peter 3:5 (NKJV)
5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands,
2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
III Elijah
Leviticus 26:18–20 (NKJV)
18 ‘And after all this, if you do not obey Me, then I will punish you seven times more for your sins. 19 I will break the pride of your power; I will make your heavens like iron and your earth like bronze. 20 And your strength shall be spent in vain; for your land shall not yield its produce, nor shall the trees of the land yield their fruit.
a. “embodied” law
b. “embodied” gospel
Hebrews 11:32–35 (NKJV)
32 And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: 33 who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. 35 Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.