Sect. 10. — The distinction of the Law of Works, and Law of Christ, applied to six paradoxes.
Sect. 10. — The distinction of the Law of Works,
and Law of Christ, applied to six paradoxes.
But since previously, Antinomian endeavoured to persuade me to believe various points which then I could not see to be true, and therefore could not assent to them, I think now I begin to see some show of truth in them. Therefore, sir, if you would please allow me, I will tell you what points they are, with the intent that I may have your judgment and direction in them.
Evan. Do so, I implore you.
Neo. 1. Why, first of all, he has endeavoured to persuade me that a believer is not under the law, but is altogether delivered from it.
2. That a believer does not commit sin.
3. That the Lord can see no sin in a believer.
4. That the Lord is not angry with a believer for his sins.
5. That the Lord does not chastise a believer for his sins.
6. Lastly, That a believer has no cause either to confess his sins, or to crave pardon at the hands of God for them, nor yet to fast, mourn, or humble himself before the Lord for them.
Evan. These points which you have now mentioned have caused many needless and fruitless disputes. And that is because men have either not understood what they said, or have not declared what they affirmed. For in one sense, all of them may be truly affirmed; and in another sense all of them may be truly denied. If we would clearly understand the truth of them, we must distinguish between the law, as it is the Law of Works, and as it is the Law of Christ.
Now, as it is the Law of Works, it may be truly said, that a believer is not under the law, but is delivered from it, according to what the apostle says in Rom. 6.14, “You are not under the law, but under grace;” and in Rom. 7.6, “But now we are delivered from the law.” And if believers are not under the law, but are delivered from the law, as it is a Law of Works, then even though they sin, they do not transgress the Law of Works; for “where there is no law, there is no transgression,” Rom. 4.15. And therefore, says the apostle John, “Whoever abides in him does not sin,” 1John 3.6. That is, as I conceive it, whoever abides in Christ by faith, does not sin against the Law of Works. And if a believer does not sin against the Law of Works, then God can see no sin in a believer, as a transgression of that law. And therefore it is said in Numb. 23.21, “He has not beheld iniquity in Jacob, nor has he seen perverseness in Israel;” and again it is said in Jer. 50.20, “At that time the iniquity of Israel shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and for the sins of Judah, and they shall not be found;” and in Song 4.7, Christ says concerning his spouse, “Behold you are all fair, my love, and there is no spot in you.” And if God can see no sin in a believer, then assuredly God is not angry, nor does he chastise a believer for his sins as a transgression of that law; hence the Lord says, concerning his own people that were believers, Isa. 27.4, “Anger is not in me.” And again in Isa. 54.9, the Lord speaks comfortingly to his spouse, the Church, saying, “Just as I have sworn that the waters of Noah shall no longer cover the earth, so I have sworn that I will no longer be angry with you, nor rebuke you.” Now, if the Lord is not angry with a believer, and does not chastise him for his sins — as they are any transgression of the Law of Works — then a believer has no need to confess his sins to God, nor crave God’s pardon for them, nor fast, mourn, or humble himself for them, as conceiving them to be any transgression of the law, as it is the Law of Works. Thus you see that if you consider the law in this sense, then all those points follow, just as you say our friend Antinomista endeavoured to persuade you.
But if you consider the law, as it is the Law of Christ, then they do not follow, but do quite to the contrary. For as the law is the Law of Christ, it may truly be said that a believer is under the law and not delivered from it, according to what the apostle says in 1Cor. 9.21: “Not being outside the law to God, but under the law to Christ.” And according to that same apostle, Rom. 3.31, “Do we then void the law through faith? God forbid! Indeed (by faith) we establish the law.” And if a believer is under the law, and not delivered from it, as it is the Law of Christ, then if he sins, he thereby transgresses the Law of Christ. And hence I conceive of it as the apostle John says, concerning both himself and other believers, 1John 1.8, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us;” and so says the apostle James, chap. 3.2, “In many things we all offend.” And if a believer transgresses the Law of Christ, then doubtless he sees it. For it is said in Prov. 5.21, “that the ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his goings;” and in Heb. 4.13 it is said, “All things are naked and open to the eyes of him with whom we have to deal .” And if the Lord sees the sins that a believer commits against the law, as it is the Law of Christ, then doubtless he is angry with him. For it is said, Psalm 106.39-40, that because the people “went whoring after their own inventions, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against his people, so that he abhorred his own inheritance;” and in Deu. 1.37, Moses says concerning himself, “The Lord was angry with me.” And if the Lord is angry with a believer for transgressing the Law of Christ, then assuredly, if necessary, he will chastise him for it. For it is said in Psalm 89.30-32, concerning the seed and children of Jesus Christ, “If they forsake my law, and do not walk in my judgments, then I will visit their transgressions with the rod, and their iniquities with stripes.” And in 1Cor. 11.30 it is said concerning believers, “For this reason,” namely, the unworthy receiving of the sacrament, “many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” And if the Lord is angry with believers, and chastises them for their sins, as they are a transgression of the Law of Christ, then a believer has cause to confess his sins to the Lord, and to crave pardon for them, yes and to fast, and mourn, and humble himself for them, conceiving them to be a transgression of the Law of Christ.