"The doctrinal contents of the entire Holy Scriptures, both of the Old and the New Testament, are made up of two doctrines differing fundamentally from each other, viz., the Law and the Gospel." Thesis 1 of C. F. W. Walther's, Law and Gospel.
Sometimes God seems mean, angry, and vindictive. Yet, at other times, God seems deeply caring, compassionate, and merciful. Why is this? Well, to some degree, that is explained by the thesis I listed above. God created the world and human beings to live and operate in specific ways. That design was broken very early on, and that brokenness now fills everything in creation. God's Law was broken, and that means that all people now live outside of God's will and design. In other words, even at our best, we are still lawbreakers, and God takes His law so seriously that such a state puts us under His fury and wrath.
On the other hand, we see that God truly cares deeply for His creation, and especially for us human beings, created in His image as we are. He wants us to be right with Him. He wants us to know how deep is His care and devotion for us, that He would even surrender up His own Son to rescue us from the pit of our own devising. He searches far and wide, calling out to us, restoring us, and giving us hope of renewal. In other words, even at our worst, God still wants to rescue us and redeem us, no matter how far we may have fallen.
We see God's law at work in many ways throughout the Bible. God tells us what our lives are to look like as His people. He tells us what He expects, what He looks for, and what is pleasing in His sight. He tells us how He created things to operate, and how our relationships with each other are to look. All of these fall under His Law.
We also see God's great care at work throughout the Bible. He looks for the lost sheep. He cares for the poor and the sojourner. For those who have wandered, He cries out, calling them to return. It doesn't matter how far away they are, or how slight their missteps are, He wants them to hear Him and return to Him. He even goes so far as to take the necessary action to make sure they can return to Him for good.
When you read through your Bible, you will see elements of one or the other of these on pretty much every single page, whether it is history, teaching, songs, or laments. These two teachings, the law and the gospel, fill the pages of the Bible. Now, what that means for us is something we will continue to ponder in future posts.
Sometimes God seems mean, angry, and vindictive. Yet, at other times, God seems deeply caring, compassionate, and merciful. Why is this? Well, to some degree, that is explained by the thesis I listed above. God created the world and human beings to live and operate in specific ways. That design was broken very early on, and that brokenness now fills everything in creation. God's Law was broken, and that means that all people now live outside of God's will and design. In other words, even at our best, we are still lawbreakers, and God takes His law so seriously that such a state puts us under His fury and wrath.
On the other hand, we see that God truly cares deeply for His creation, and especially for us human beings, created in His image as we are. He wants us to be right with Him. He wants us to know how deep is His care and devotion for us, that He would even surrender up His own Son to rescue us from the pit of our own devising. He searches far and wide, calling out to us, restoring us, and giving us hope of renewal. In other words, even at our worst, God still wants to rescue us and redeem us, no matter how far we may have fallen.
We see God's law at work in many ways throughout the Bible. God tells us what our lives are to look like as His people. He tells us what He expects, what He looks for, and what is pleasing in His sight. He tells us how He created things to operate, and how our relationships with each other are to look. All of these fall under His Law.
We also see God's great care at work throughout the Bible. He looks for the lost sheep. He cares for the poor and the sojourner. For those who have wandered, He cries out, calling them to return. It doesn't matter how far away they are, or how slight their missteps are, He wants them to hear Him and return to Him. He even goes so far as to take the necessary action to make sure they can return to Him for good.
When you read through your Bible, you will see elements of one or the other of these on pretty much every single page, whether it is history, teaching, songs, or laments. These two teachings, the law and the gospel, fill the pages of the Bible. Now, what that means for us is something we will continue to ponder in future posts.
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