The Validity of Biblical Law
By R.J. Rushdoony
Reprinted with Permission
Reprinted with Permission
A central characteristic of the churches and of modern preaching and Biblical teaching is antinomianism, an anti-law position. The antinomian believes that faith frees the Christian from the law, so that he is not outside the law but is rather dead to the law. There is no warrant whatsoever in Scripture for antinomianism. The expression, “dead to the law,” is indeed in Scripture (Gal. 2:9; Rom. 7:4), but it has reference to the believer in relationship to the atoning work of Christ as the believer's representative and substitute; the believer is dead to the law as an indictment, a legal sentence of death against him, Christ having died for him, but the believer is alive to the law as the righteousness of God. The purpose of Christ's atoning work was to restore man to a position of covenant-keeping instead of covenant-breaking, to enable man to keep the law by freeing man “from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2), “that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us” (Rom. 8:4). Man is restored to a position of law-keeping. The law thus has a position of centrality in man's indictment (as a sentence of death against man the sinner), in man's redemption (in that Christ died, Who although the perfect law-keeper as the new Adam, died as man's substitute), and in man's sanctification (in that man grows in grace as he grows in law-keeping, for the law is the way of sanctification).
Man as covenant-breaker is in “enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7) and is subject to “the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8: 2), whereas the believer is under “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ” (Rom. 8: 2). The law is one law, the law of God. To the man on death row in a prison, the law is death; to the godly man, the same law which places another on death row is life, in that it protects him and his property from criminals. Without law, society would collapse into anarchy and fall into the hands of hoodlums. The faithful and full execution of the law is death to the murderer but life to the godly. Similarly, the law in its judgment upon God's enemies is death; the law in its sustaining care and blessings is for the law-abiding a principle of life.
God, in creating man, ordered him to subdue the earth and to exercise dominion over the earth (Gen. 1: 28). Man, in attempting to establish separate dominion and autonomous jurisdiction over the earth (Gen. 3: 5), fell into sin and death. God, in order to re-establish the Kingdom of God, called Abraham, and then Israel, to be His people, to subdue the earth, and to exercise dominion under God. The law, as given through Moses, established the laws of godly society, of true development for man under God, and the prophets repeatedly recalled Israel to this purpose.
The purpose of Christ's coming was in terms of this same creation mandate. Christ as the new Adam (I Cor. 15:45) kept the law perfectly. As the sin-bearer of the elect, Christ died to make atonement for their sins, to restore them to their position of righteousness under God. The redeemed are recalled to the original purpose of man, to exercise dominion under God, to be covenant-keepers, and to fulfill “the righteousness of the law” (Rom. 8:4). The law remains central to God's purpose. Man has been re-established into God's original purpose and calling. Man's justification is by the grace of God in Jesus Christ; man's sanctification is by means of the law of God.
As the new chosen people of God, the Christians are commanded to do that which Adam in Eden, and Israel in Canaan, failed to do. One and the same covenant, under differing administrations, still prevails. Man is summoned to create the society God requires. The determination of man and of history is from God, but the reference of God's law is to this world. “To be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Rom. 8: 6) , and to be spiritually minded does not mean to be other-worldly but to apply the mandates of the written word under the guidance of the Spirit to this world.
Lawless Christianity is a contradiction in terms: it is anti-Christian. The purpose of grace is not to set aside the law but to fulfill the law and to enable man to keep the law. If the law was so serious in the sight of God that it would require the death of Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, to make atonement for man's sin, it seems strange for God then to proceed to abandon the law! The goal of the law is not lawlessness, nor the purpose of grace a lawless contempt of the giver of grace.
The increasing breakdown of law and order must first of all be attributed to the churches and their persistent antinomianism. If the churches are lax with respect to the law, will not the people follow suit? And civil law cannot be separated from Biblical law, for the Biblical doctrine of law includes all law, civil, ecclesiastical, societal, familial, and all other forms of law. The social order which despises God's law places itself on death row: it is marked for judgment.[1]
[1] Rousas John Rushdoony, The Institutes of Biblical Law Phillipsburg, NJ: The Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co, 1973, p 2-4
posted by Stiles Watson @ 11:58 AM
8 comments
8 Comments:
From my website http://www.newcovenanttheology.com/covenant.html
Virtually all covenant theologians believe in law preaching as a means of bringing men to saving conviction. Virtually all covenant theologians are Augustinians. Martin Luther was an Augustinian monk. John Calvin quotes Augustine extensively in his Institutes of the Christian Religion in his defense of Covenant Theology. Augustine rose up as the apologist for the Constantinian sacral church/state movement in the 4th century. Augustine was the preeminent sacralist theologian of his time and for all time.
Covenant Theology by definition is a major systematic misuse of the law of Moses. It is the theological system that is responsible for the crusades, for all manner of "holy wars", for religious oppression widespread, for the murder of political leaders who were also sacralists, for Protestant and Catholic persecution of true religion.
The law of Moses is not a schoolmaster to convict men of sin, as interpreted by the Augustinians. The law was a schoolmaster to the Old Covenant saints, teaching them that Christ was true according to the types and shadows revealed to them. Galatians 3:23-25 is one of the most misunderstood scriptures there is. It is a historical scripture showing the advancement of history from one covenant to another. Covenant Theology's interpretation totally annuls Paul saying he was determined to know nothing but the gospel to the Gentiles. How could that be if they needed a "schoolmaster" according to the definition of historic Augustinians?
Calvin and other Augustinians used a false internal introspection to count as a "law conviction". They used the scripture, "examine yourselves to see if you are in the faith" and applied it to UNBELIEVERS, when clearly, Paul applied it to believers. The conviction of the Spirit is quick, it is a cutting of the spiritual nature, and it is completely effective, as we see in Acts chapter 2. We don't see a long drawn out false introspection with the results of the gospel! That is why I view Covenant Theology as being no better than dispensationalism. It is my view that these will be avoided ultimately, by the elect.
Gary Anderson
In the article in post 1, Rushdoony says:
"Man as covenant-breaker is in “enmity against God” (Rom. 8:7) and is subject to “the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8: 2), whereas the believer is under “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ” (Rom. 8: 2). The law is one law, the law of God. To the man on death row in a prison, the law is death; to the godly man, the same law which places another on death row is life, in that it protects him and his property from criminals."
However, Rushdoony fails to understand that with a change of priesthood comes a change of LAW. Heb ch 7. The law of liberty, the law of Christ, is different and has different characteristics than the law of Moses, or the law of death. For Rushdoony to equate the two is just plain false religion. For a more complete discussion look at http://www.newcovenanttheology.com/righteousness.html as soon as my host clears up technical difficulties.
Mr. Anderson,
Thank you for your comments, but I obviously disagree. Your "new" theology fails at many points including the fact that it contradicts the words of our Lord Jesus:
Mat 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to Me, "Lord, Lord," shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, "Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?" And then I will declare to them, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!"
Mat 13:41-42 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 23:27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
You also contradict the teachings of James:
Jam 2:19-20 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?
Jam 4:11-12 Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?
There is one Lawgiver, and that is God, not you or any other man.
You also contradict the teachings of Paul:
Rom 2:13 for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified
These are to just list a few. Throughout the entire NT, we are told to rebuke those brothers who are in sin. If there is no law, then there is no sin. If there is no sin, there is no need for Jesus and He died in vain. That is unless you are saying that there is no law (i.e. no sin) for those in Christ. If so, then again you contradict the Scripture:
Rom 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
Paul is talking to believers and telling them to stop sinning (as he does in MANY other passages)!
Nowhere in "covenant theology" does anyone say we are saved by the keeping of the Law. The keeping of the Law is what is required for sanctification/holiness.
In your article, "The New Law and Righteousness," you wrote, "The old law of Moses was a law of works. By perfectly keeping the law one would establish righteousness for himself." Where on earth did you get this from? It certainly was not from Scripture. Salvation has always been by grace through faith. This is true for both the Old and the New Testaments!
Here is the covenant which God made with the His people:
Deu 7:7-11 The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. "Therefore know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments; and He repays those who hate Him to their face, to destroy them. He will not be slack with him who hates Him; He will repay him to his face. Therefore you shall keep the commandment, the statutes, and the judgments which I command you today, to observe them.
God chose who His people would be, not because of their merit or perfection, but out of HIS grace. And He chose them to redeem them out of His grace. As a result of HIS grace and HIS redemption, His people are to keep HIS law. They keep His law not to earn His favor, but because He has already provided redemption! And what measure did God priovide for when they did not keep the Law? He provided the sacrific of animals as an atonement for their sin - forgiveness - grace.
The proof of their love for Him was their obedience to His Law. There is no difference with Christ. James says "faith without works is dead." Jesus said the same thing:
John 14:15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments."
John 15:10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love."
Jam 2:17-18 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
Jesus Himself denied that He came to destroy the Law and condemns those who teach men to break it:
Mat 5:17-19 "Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
How did Jesus fulfill the Law? By coming and paying the price the Law required. By satisfying the requirements of the Law Jesus validated it!
Hello Styles. You just made the argument for keeping a Saturday sabbath and restoration of animal sacrifices. That is part of the jot and tittle? Lol. What jot and tittle do you accept and what do you not accept? And how would you know? Clearly, the apostles are the final interpreters and they say that the law of Moses has passed away, that there is a new Law of Christ (Heb. ch 7) and that as James said, faith with works is keeping the new law of LIBERTY rather than the law of Moses which was the law of sin and death, the law which required that you do it and live establishing your very own righteousness. We know only one did so and that was Christ.
The gospel and the law of Christ, the law of faith, was hidden in the law of Moses, and now stands apart from the law of Moses. The law is fulfilled by Christ, and also, as the author of Hebrews says, rolled away by a better promise.
The idea that not one jot or tittle would pass away is true in that Christ fulfilled the law. But clearly Paul said one man esteems a day and one man views every day the same. If jot and tittle meant sabbath day, then Paul would be in error saying it is ok for a Christian to believe that every day is alike! So then, you are misinterpreting the Lord's words.
Mr. Anderson,
I gave you Scripture after Scripture from the NT (since you seemingly have no use for the OT) and you respond with vain reasonings and the twisting of words. I simply quoted you the words of Jesus Himself and you say that I make an "argument for keeping a Saturday sabbath and restoration of animal sacrifices." I have done no such thing and neither has any other covenant theologian (not that I’m claiming to a theologian). In fact it is ONLY dispensationalism that is expecting the "restoration of animal sacrifices" so that they can be stopped a second time. This has been shown to be true, without question, in their eschatology writings. Additionally, there is no such thing as a Saturday Sabbath. Just like the day of the week your birthday falls on changes every year, so did the Sabbath.
There is one God and "there is no variation or shadow of turning" in Him (James 1:17). There is only one Lawgiver and one Law. The Law is death to those who violate it and the same Law is life to those who abide by it.
The OT saints were NEVER required to establish their own righteousness and neither are we. You keep saying this, but you have yet to give any Scriptural proof. The Law of sin and death is the same Law as the Law of Liberty; it simply depends on which side of the Law you are on. The problem Jesus had with the Pharisees was that they thought they could obtain their own righteousness. They had no interest in obeying God's Law only their own. Jesus said they were full of hypocrisy and lawlessness (see my last post for the reference). Like I already said, salvation has always been by grace through faith and not of works. God did not change this, only you have. We are created FOR “good” works. Who defines good and evil? Only God does.
Eph. 2:4-8 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Question, in your theology, what is the Law of Liberty? It seems to me (and please correct me if I'm wrong) that it is simply faith and faith alone. If so, what is the proof of your faith? Jesus, James, and Paul all say that it is in obedience. If there is no Law, then what are you being obedient to, your own faith?
Jesus says in Matt. 28:19-20:
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.
Please explain what you think we are to obey?
Hebrews chapter 7 is not the only passage in Scripture. Scripture must interpret Scripture.
By the way any time the NT writers say "Scripture" or quote it, they are quoting the OT.
2 Tim. 3:14-17 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures [OT], which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Stiles you said: "Question, in your theology, what is the Law of Liberty? It seems to me (and please correct me if I'm wrong) that it is simply faith and faith alone. If so, what is the proof of your faith? Jesus, James, and Paul all say that it is in obedience. If there is no Law, then what are you being obedient to, your own faith?"
You must look at the Apostles and the sermon on the mount as giving the commands as they are in the Law of Christ. The Law of Christ is not external, it is internal, with greater internal demands. Paul said to the Galatians in 6:2, bear one anothers burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ. We have a superior high priest, a superior sacrifice, a superior King on the Davidic throne, Acts 13:33, and a superior law, being a law of love, and law of imputed righteousness, that prior to Christ was hidden in the law of Moses. This law has commands, but they are not commands that relate to a physical kingdom with physical laws of taste not, touch not. These are spiritual requirements that come from a law of grace, from a nation of spiritual believers, ie, the new House or Temple of God as Peter tells us.
Play down faith, and you preach a false gospel Stiles. I am sorry faith is not enough for you. Faith, true faith is a gift of God and comes from the cutting of the heart through the gospel alone, not by some law guilt that is taught by the covenant theologians. Check out my pages relating to Luther/menno, Calvin, Spurgeon and Bunyan for a greater explanation of the error of law preaching.
Mr. Anderson,
Who are you arguing against? It is clearly not me. Your last paragraph has nothing to do with anything I have posted. And by doing such you have again twisted my words and made them mean the exact opposite of what I have clearly said.
Faith is enough for me as proved by my quoting and affirming of Eph. 2:8, 9. I have no merit of my own to bring before the throne of the Almighty and Holy God. I have also repeatedly stated that salvation is not now, nor has it ever been, by works. In all seriousness, are you reading my posts?
My point is the same as Jesus', James', and Paul's: you say you have faith, great! Where is the proof? I have already quoted Scripture which proves my last statement so I will not do it again. This is something you have to ask yourself.
Again, the words of Jesus:
Matthew 7:15-20 15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.”
You say the only law we are under is the “law of love.” But by removing all external law you have no foundation for defining love except that of your own making. I say we love our neighbor by doing the following:
Exodus 20:12-17
12 "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. 13 "You shall not murder. 14 "You shall not commit adultery. 15 "You shall not steal. 16 "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. 17 "You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's."
…and more, as outlined in Scripture.
We are not going to agree with each other, I knew that from the beginning. Your job was to state your position and my job was to state mine. I believe we have both done this.
Fair enough.
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