The Love of Law is Abolished in the Law of Love – John Broadus

john broadus

Here is a quote transcribed from a handwritten and unpublished book, The Pauline System of Christian Doctrine, by John A. Broadus (John A. Broadus papers Box 19.28, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary). He helpfully explains what Paul teaches about the relationship of the Christian gospel to the law of God.

“The sum of what Paul teaches in regard to the relations of the law to the gospel is this: The real object of the law was to bring men to a knowledge of themselves, of their natural sinfulness and imperfection, to make them feel the need of the grace of God in Jesus Christ, and thus to prepare them for the gospel.  The law indeed contains the grace of the gospel, since it is one and the same God revealing himself in both.

The gospel existed antecedent to the giving of the law, in the promises. (Gal 3:8). In the system of grace the law is abolished only so far as it is mere law, i.e. a position enactment.  The religion of law, as such, is one of fear and bondage (Moses the servant of God); that of grace is one of love, of freedom, of sonship (Christ the son of God).  The love of law is abolished in the law of love.  Rom. 3:20, 8:3, 10:4, 13:10, Gal 3:13, 23.”

 

By |April 29th, 2015|Categories: Blog|Tags: |

About the Author:

David E. Prince is pastor of preaching and vision at Ashland Avenue Baptist Church in Lexington, Kentucky and assistant professor of Christian preaching at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He is the author of In the Arena and Church with Jesus as the Hero. He blogs at Prince on Preaching and frequently writes for The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, For the Church, the BGEA and Preaching Today