Systematic Theology (Volume 3 of 3)Strong, Augustus Hopkins
Religion
Systematic Theology (Volume 3 of 3)
Strong, Augustus Hopkins
Baptists -- Doctrines; Theology, Doctrinal
Christ frees us (2) from the law with its claims as a method of
salvation: in other words, he frees us from the necessity of
trusting our salvation to an impossible future obedience. As the
sufferings of Christ, apart from any sufferings of ours, deliver
us from eternal death, so the merits of Christ, apart from any
merits of ours, give us a title to eternal life. By faith in what
Christ has done and simple acceptance of his work for us, we
secure a right to heaven. Obedience on our part is no longer
rendered painfully, as if our salvation depended on it, but freely
and gladly, in gratitude for what Christ has done for us.
Illustrate by the English nobleman’s invitation to his park, and
the regulations he causes to be posted up.
Christ frees us (3) from the law as an outward and foreign
compulsion. In putting an end to legalism, he provides against
license. This he does by giving the spirit of obedience and
sonship. He puts love in the place of fear; and this secures an
obedience more intelligent, more thorough, and more hearty, than
could have been secured by mere law. So he frees us from the
burden and compulsion of the law, by realizing the law within us
by his Spirit. The freedom of the Christian is freedom _in_ the
law, such as the musician experiences when the scales and
exercises have become easy, and work has turned to play. See John
Owen, Works, 3:366‐651; 6:1‐313; Campbell, The Indwelling Christ,
73‐81.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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