12 Comments

1. 

   esbee October 8, 2013 Reply

   I find it interesting how Jesus said to let the weeds grow along with the crop, to try to get rid of them would damage the crop...the wheat and weeds would be sorted out at harvest time.

2. 

   Andrew October 9, 2013 Reply

   The real question is, what law is written on the hearts of believers, the law of love, or the law of Sinai. I personally do not believe that the law of love = the law of Sinai although the law of Sinai does contains things that you wouldn't do if you love someone

3. 

   MatthewS October 9, 2013 Reply

   Another excellent piece by Dr. Orrison. I like this image of the "anti-law crowd" being birds that pick up the seeds.
   
   I've recently read Romans 6-8 as well as 1 John and 1 & 2 Peter. It's clear that the "magic sauce" of the New Testament is not more law and more effort yet neither is there a free-for-all, anything-goes mentality. But those of us from a legalistic background can find ourselves confused in a bind between legalism and anti-law. It seems to me that the loudest voices on both sides of either legalism or anti-law often end up bending towards narcissism.
   
   So many thoughts... some people seem to equate grace with passivity. But in reality, if a person wants to truly see life change, grace is an integral part of God's way of doing it.

   • 

     Karyn October 9, 2013 Reply

     "It seems to me that the loudest voices on both sides of either legalism or anti-law often end up bending towards narcissism."
     
     Perhaps both of these are illustrated best in the Parable of the Two Lost Sons a/k/a "The Prodigal Son".

     • 

       MatthewS October 9, 2013 Reply

       Great connection! I like it. Both sons were more focused on themselves than their dad or brother.

4. 

   Rebecca October 9, 2013 Reply

   Great article. I am always telling my husband how I struggle with this fear of swinging too far the other way because of the legalistic way I grew up (not ATI, but still legalistic and I think my personality made me especially prone to the legalistic trap). This hits the nail on the head. He doesn't always understand it since he grew up in a non-Christian home and has a much easier time accepting grace than I do (he has really helped me with this and in understanding my own blind spots!) I always say I am going along and occasionally find this brick wall flying up in front of me and I have to realize that it is my old law-based way of thinking that is making me stumble with a fear of swinging too far the other way. I have a wonderful church and husband and God to help me out with this now!

   • 

     esbee October 9, 2013 Reply

     What is it most Christians are afraid of doing or thinking that will make them swing the other way into doing whatever because grace will cover it?

5. 

   greg October 10, 2013 Reply

   Here is an article that seems to fit in quite well with where the author is coming from---I get these e-mails from this gentleman most everyday.
   http://www.denisonforum.org/cultural-commentary/852-is-jesus-better-than-religion
   I especially like the statement "making yourself the center of the story rather than Jesus"

6. 

   Nelson Minica October 13, 2013 Reply

   The Bible clearly says we are both justified by faith and that we are justified by works. I never understand that fully until I ran across the three tenses of salvation in The Cross or other studies on settingcaptivesfree.com and they got it from A Fourfold Salvation by A W Pink.
   
   In a nutshell the three tenses are past, present, and future. In the past we were saved from the penalty of sin by Jesus on the cross and our faith in Him this is our justification. In the present we are being saved from the power of sin in our lives this is our sanctification. In the future we will be saved from the very presence of sin this is our consummation.
   
   Verses that say we are "justified by faith" fit the past tense of salvation also known as our justification. Verses that say "by works a man is justified" fit the present tense of salvation also known as our sanctification. This is also where verses like 1 Tim 2:15 fit in, childbearing being such a noble selfless act that it directly contributes to a woman's sanctification. And of course verses like 1 Peter 1:5 speak of our future salvation also known as our consummation.
   
   I think all tenses of salvation past present and future fit under Grace which none of us deserve.

7. Comment on Anti-Law | rightome.com October 13, 2013 Reply

   […] is a comment I made on an Anti-Law blog post I thought worth re-posting […]

8. 

   Gabriel December 22, 2013 Reply

   The comments on this site are really interesting and seem to all flow from personal experience, this is respectfully noted. I still selfishly wish there could be a little more focus on helping the narcs, those in need of being set free. I used to (really) constantly feel God near me so I thought I knew what I was doing all the time, including 'counselling' others. Until my big bang (sin) and the ensuing pain. So I am not lying when I say that I know of the consequences of a narc's attitude, I have been guilty of being a 'top' narc. Please forgive me. If I could offer any 'excuse', it would probably be an unnatural fear of man and what others think of me, the very thing that many of you have been successfully winning against since your gaining a greater understanding of God's wonderful grace. Please spare a (sincere) prayer for me, I am sorry that I hurt so many people, especially my own family. Please, I need the peace that so many of you are now gaining. Thank you.

   • 

     MatthewS December 22, 2013 Reply

     Thank you for this. Hats off to you for your courage in sharing. I will pray for you to find peace, especially now in this Christmas season.