The Whole Counsel

This week John Snyder and Steve Crampton continue gaining help from John Calvin through his writings on the law. Just a reminder, we are not spending two episodes highlighting Calvin’s quotes because we idolize his words. We do, however agree with Ernie Reisinger that these particular quotes, along with much of Calvin’s writings, are clear and very helpful. The quotes we are focusing on this week are: The peculiar office of the Law [is] to summon con- sciences to the judgment-seat of God. John II:140 [On Heb. 10:1] Under the Law was shadowed forth only in rude and imperfect lines what is under the Gospel set forth in living colours and graphically distinct.  To both the same Christ is exhibited, the same righteous- ness, sanctification, and salvation; and the difference only is in the manner of painting or setting them forth. Heb. 222. When Christ or the Apostles are treating of a perfect life, they always refer believers to the Law. Four Last Books of Moses III:69. He who is the foundation of the covenant of grace, held also the highest rank in the giving of the Law. Gal. 102. The law was the grammar of theology, which, after carrying its scholars a short way, handed them over to faith. Gal. 108. If the Law be separated from Christ, it is a dead letter; Christ alone gives it life. Ezek. II:176, 177. In all the ceremonies of the Law [faith] beholds the salvation which has been manifested in Christ. John ll :241. Moses had no other intention than to invite all men to go straight to Christ. John I:217 What Calvin is illustrating in each of these quotes is that God’s law is truly a treasure to the believer. It shows us how to live a pleasing life to the God Who rescued us. It teaches us what a happy life is. It leads us to repentance. It reveals Christ to us. It makes us lean more heavily upon Christ. Keache’s Catechism: https://founders.org/library/the-baptist-catechism/ The Grace of Law: A Study of Puritan Theology: https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Law-Puritan-Theology-Puritanism/dp/1877611638 The Law and the Gospel by Ernie Reisinger: https://press.founders.org/shop/the-law-and-the-gospel/ Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Scripture often draws a sharp contrast between the ministry of Moses in the Old Covenant and Christ in the New Covenant. Hebrews says the New Covenant in Christ is so glorious the Old Covenant has no glory in comparison. John, in his gospel, says truth and grace are realized and embodied in Jesus Christ. Reading these without careful attention can lead one to believe the Old and New Covenants in opposition to one another, at war even. But in reality we have one Bible, one gospel, one God, one salvation. Rather than conflict, there is a wonderful harmony between Christ and Moses, law and grace. A good illustration of that harmony is to think of the law as the root and the New Covenant as fruit. There is a living connection between the two and one would be incomplete without the other. In the book John Snyder and Steve Crampton are using for this podcast series, The Law and Grace by Ernie Reisinger, there are several quotes from John Calvin we have found incredibly helpful. Due to time, we will only get to half the quotes in this episode. We will discuss the rest of them next week. The Grace of Law: A Study of Puritan Theology: https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Law-Puritan-Theology-Puritanism/dp/1877611638 The Law and the Gospel by Ernie Reisinger: https://press.founders.org/shop/the-law-and-the-gospel/ Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

The way we approach an object reveals what we think of it. Consider a child approaching a plate at dinner filled with broccoli versus that same child approaching a plate with dessert on it. So how do we approach the law of God? Or, to ask a more important question: how does God want us to approach His law?   The first step to answering that question is to realize that the moral law is a reflection of God’s moral perfection. It gives us an expression of God’s character applied to our human experience. Consider that it also expresses God’s authority as Law-Giver.   As we consider our approach the the law, we have to be aware of some ditches we can fall into. For example, we can fall into the ditch of divorcing the law and the gospel. We are tempted to put a deep division between the two. But we must realize it was God the Father, as much as God the Son and the Holy Spirit, who delivered the 10 Commandments to Moses. The law and the gospel are not opposed, though they do have different roles in redemption.   The Grace of Law: A Study of Puritan Theology: https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Law-Puritan-Theology-Puritanism/dp/1877611638 The Law and the Gospel by Ernie Reisinger: https://press.founders.org/shop/the-law-and-the-gospel/ Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were given one rule to follow. Between their exile from Eden and the days of Moses, what law did they have to obey? Careful readings of Scripture reveal they had the same moral law of God that was codified in the 10 Commandments. John Snyder and Steve Crampton spent some time on this reality last week. This week builds upon that reality by focusing on the fact that God rightfully commanded obedience to His moral law from all people at all times. This include us under the New Covenant. This does not denigrate the freedom and liberty Jesus Christ purchased through His obedient life and death. Quite the opposite. By understanding Jesus’ relationship to the law, we know how to walk close with and have true intimacy with God. This understanding helps us see the moral law as indispensably beautiful and a treasure of indescribable glory. The Grace of Law: A Study of Puritan Theology: https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Law-Puritan-Theology-Puritanism/dp/1877611638 The Law and the Gospel by Ernie Reisinger: https://press.founders.org/shop/the-law-and-the-gospel/ Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Without a biblical grasp of the law and the gospel, we cannot understand the true magnitude of what Jesus Christ has done for us on the cross. By minimizing the law, we minimize the grace and mercy that must be poured upon sinners to reconcile us to God. With that in mind, Dr. John Snyder and Steve Crampton spend this episode discussing the nature of the law before the giving of the 10 commandments. God condemned Cain for murdering his brother, but the command to not murder had not been given yet. However, Cain did not rebuke God for his condemnation, he asked for mercy. He knew it was wrong. There are many more examples. But what does all this mean for us? It helps us to understand that we serve a righteous Being who has distinguished us from all other created beings, and why we have a conscience that speaks against us and for the righteousness of God. The Grace of Law: A Study of Puritan Theology: https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Law-Puritan-Theology-Puritanism/dp/1877611638 The Law and the Gospel by Ernie Reisinger: https://press.founders.org/shop/the-law-and-the-gospel/ Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

This week, John continues to use Psalm 119:57-61 to lay the foundation for a discussion of the Christian’s relationship to the law. We heard last week about the foundational importance of having God as our portion. Today, we discuss 3 responses fueled by God as our portion: Love and gratitude that lead to obedience Dependence on God Determination to apply all that we find in His Word Exposition of Psalm 119 by Charles Bridges: https://www.grace-ebooks.com/library/CharlesBridges/CBr_Exposition of Psalm 119.pdf  Physical Book: https://www.amazon.com/Exposition-Psalms-119-Charles-Bridges/dp/1479242381/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HOP2QYZBFYUD&keywords=exposition+of+psalm+119&qid=1646843189&s=books&sprefix=exposition+of+psalm+119%2Cstripbooks%2C139&sr=1-1 The Grace of Law: A Study of Puritan Theology: https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Law-Puritan-Theology-Puritanism/dp/1877611638 The Law and the Gospel by Ernie Reisinger: https://press.founders.org/shop/the-law-and-the-gospel/ Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

In the coming weeks, we will be exploring the topic of the Christian’s relationship to the law. For the next two weeks, John will be visiting Psalm 119:57-61 to help us get a right approach to this question. The primary question for the believer is to ask if Christ is my only portion? Do I look to other things for fulfillment, for security, for peace? Or do I look to Christ alone? Charles Bridges, in his commentary on Psalm 119, says, “He that chooses God in Christ for his delight and portion, may conclude confidently, that God has chosen him to enjoy Him, and be happy in Him forever.” After John lays the foundation for this topic from Psalm 119, he will be joined by Steve Crampton for the remainder of the series. You may remember Steve from a previous series on revival. Steve is a constitutional lawyer and has spent much of his life defending religious liberty in America. His life experience and knowledge will be a great asset as he and John Snyder discuss the relationship between God’s Law and God’s Grace in the life of a believer. This topic has caused much confusion and controversy over the years. For now, may we pursue Christ as our only portion as we lay a biblical foundation for our discussion of the Christian’s relationship to the law. Exposition of Psalm 119 by Charles Bridges: https://www.grace-ebooks.com/library/CharlesBridges/CBr_Exposition of Psalm 119.pdf  Physical Book: https://www.amazon.com/Exposition-Psalms-119-Charles-Bridges/dp/1479242381/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HOP2QYZBFYUD&keywords=exposition+of+psalm+119&qid=1646843189&s=books&sprefix=exposition+of+psalm+119%2Cstripbooks%2C139&sr=1-1 The Grace of Law: A Study of Puritan Theology: https://www.amazon.com/Grace-Law-Puritan-Theology-Puritanism/dp/1877611638 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app

Since the beginning of this podcast, we have often pointed you to the Banner of Truth Trust for very careful, helpful books. That book publisher was started by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, a pastor in London in early-mid 1900s. While we have pointed you to Lloyd-Jones, we have never truly shared one of his sermons. This week in our conclusion of his sermon from Romans 6:18 titled “Servants of Righteousness.” We pray it is a blessing to you. You can learn more about the life, legacy, and teachings of Martyn Lloyd-Jones in Logic on Fire: https://shop.mediagratiae.org/products/logic-on-fire?variant=39481137332358 Learn more about the MLJ Trust here: https://www.mljtrust.org/ Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app 

Since the beginning of this podcast, we have often pointed you to the Banner of Truth Trust for very careful, helpful books. That book publisher was started by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones, a pastor in London in early-mid 1900s. While we have pointed you to Lloyd-Jones, we have never shared one of his sermons. So for the next two episodes, we want to share one of John’s favorite sermons from Lloyd-Jones. It is from Romans 6:18 and is titled “Servants of Righteousness.” You can learn more about the life, legacy, and teachings of Martyn Lloyd-Jones in Logic on Fire: https://shop.mediagratiae.org/products/logic-on-fire?variant=39481137332358 If you don’t want to wait until next week for the rest of the sermon, click here to visit the MLJ Trust and see the other resources available through the ministry: https://www.mljtrust.org/sermons-online/romans-6-18/servants-of-righteousness/ Learn more about the MLJ Trust here: https://www.mljtrust.org/ iOS app: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/mlj-sermons/id819555751 Android App: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mljsermons.mljsermonsappnew&hl=en Want to watch the Whole Counsel podcast videos? https://youtu.be/gdeF_JN45ho  You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app  

This is our final episode focusing on Psalm 119. This week, John hones in on Psalm 119:44-45 with an emphasis on the liberty presented in these two verses. Liberty is a word Americans love to consider, but the cultural definition of that word is often not influenced by Scripture. John gives us six pictures of biblical liberty this week. For us to be truly free, truly at liberty, we must have safety, provision, inner peace, clarity, freedom to fulfill a purpose, and the ability to do what we most desire to do. Show notes: https://www.mediagratiae.org/blog/psalm-119-viii-six-pictures-of-real-liberty The Golden Alphabet by Charles Spurgeon: (PDF) https://www.spurgeongems.org/chs_golden-alphabet.pdf Physical Book: https://www.amazon.com/Golden-Alphabet-Charles-H-Spurgeon/dp/1683072804 Exposition of Psalm 119 by Charles Bridges: https://www.grace-ebooks.com/library/Charles Bridges/CBr_Exposition of Psalm 119.pdf Physical Book: https://www.amazon.com/Exposition-Psalms-119-Charles-Bridges/dp/1479242381/ref=sr_1_1?crid=HOP2QYZBFYUD&keywords=exposition+of+psalm+119&qid=1646843189&s=books&sprefix=exposition+of+psalm+119%2Cstripbooks%2C139&sr=1-1 Want to listen to The Whole Counsel on the go? Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite podcast app: https://www.mediagratiae.org/podcasts You can get The Whole Counsel a day early on the Media Gratiae App: https://subsplash.com/mediagratiae/app