Law - Gospel distinction written by Chuck Collins

Anglicans believe that Scripture is not only God’s word written, but its purpose and power is to lead us to know and love the one who loved us first: “That we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ.” The Bible is not a rulebook or a catalogue of good examples to emulate, but primarily the overarching story of God’s saving grace in Jesus. Reformation Anglicans join the English reformers in recognizing that God’s word speaks in two ways: law and gospel. Law is that portion of Scripture that commands, prescribes, and exposes our guilt. The law is God’s moral measure and his requirement of perfection. It’s seen in words like “should,” “ought,” ‘you must” and “you shall.” But the law has no power in itself to fulfill what it demands (a scale can tell you that you need to lose ten pounds, but it can’t lose it for you). The law is wonderful: holy, righteous and good (Romans 7:12), but it begs for a solution outside of itself. The gospel is the solution. When we couldn’t keep the law in its demand for perfection, Jesus Christ did. Jesus lived the life of perfect obedience that we couldn’t and he died the death that we deserve - as our substitute. He is the end of the law for righteousness (Romans 10:4). “By his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and shall bear their iniquities” (Isaiah 53:11). Martin Luther was enamored with the law/gospel distinction, finding it not only helpful, but necessary for understanding and interpreting the Bible. “Anyone who can properly distinguish the gospel from the law,” Luther said, “may thank God and know that he is a theologian.” As the Bible describes it, the problem with being human is our utter inability to do what God requires. But thanks be to God, that is not the end of the story! The gospel announces the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as the perfect fulfillment of the law for us, and then it invites us to receive all the benefits of his perfect life and sacrifice by simply believing it to be true. As Luther once put it: The law says “do this” and it is never done; the gospel says “believe this” and it is already done. Anglicans are not Lutherans, of course, but Luther’s influence on the English reformers was profound, fundamentally effecting the way they understood the good news of God’s salvation. The Elizabethan historian John Foxe memorably wrote: "There is nothing more comfortable for troubled consciences than to be instructed in the difference between law and the gospel. The law shows us our sin; the gospel shows us the remedy for it. The law shows our condemnation; the gospel shows our redemption. The law is a word of ire; the gospel is a word of grace. The law is a word of despair; the gospel is a word of comfort. The law is a word of unrest; the gospel is a word of peace. The law says pay your debt; the gospel says Christ has paid it. The law says you are a sinner, despair you shall be damned. The gospel says your sins are forgiven, be comforted you shall be saved. The law says where is your righteousness? The gospel says Christ is your righteousness."