Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org
Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org Christian Theology - Media Sabda Org
also; entering everywhere, that sin may be seen to abound, and that men may be led to despair of salvation in any other way, or on any other terms, than those proposed in the gospel of Christ. Thus the sinner becomes a true penitent, and is glad, seeing the curse of the law hanging over his soul, to flee for refuge to the hope set before him in the gospel. Law is only the means of disclosing this sinful propensity, not of producing it; as a bright beam of the sun introduced into a room shows millions of motes which appear to be dancing in it in all directions. But these were not introduced by the light, they were there before, only there was not light enough to make them manifest; so the evil propensity was there before, but there was not light sufficient to discover it. It was one design of the law to show the abominable and destructive nature of sin, as well as to be a rule of life. It would be almost impossible for a man to have that just notion of the demerit of sin, so as to produce repentance, or to see the nature and necessity of the death of Christ, if the law were not applied to his conscience by the light of the Holy Spirit; it is then alone that he sees himself to be carnal and sold under sin; and that the law and the commandment are holy, just, and good. And let it be observed that the law did not answer this end merely among the Jews in the days of the apostle; it is just as necessary to the Gentiles to the present hour. Nor do we find that true repentance takes place where the moral law is not preached and enforced. Those who preach only the gospel to sinners, at best, only heal the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly. The law, therefore, is the grand instrument in the hands of a faithful minister to alarm and awaken sinners; and he may safely show that every sinner is under the law, and consequently under the curse, who has not fled for refuge to the hope held out by the gospel: for in this sense also "Jesus Christ is the end of the law for justification to them that believe."
CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY. Adam Clarke VIII.—FAITH. "FAITH is the substance of things hoped for:"—Faith is the subsistence of things hoped for; the demonstration of things not seen. The word which we translate "substance," signifies "subsistence," "that which becomes a foundation for another thing to stand on." And signifies such a conviction as is produced in the mind by the demonstration of a problem, after which demonstration no doubt can remain, because we see from it that the thing is; that it cannot but be; and that it cannot be otherwise than as it is, and is proved to be. Such is the faith by which the soul is justified; or, rather, such are the effects of justifying faith: on it subsists the peace of God, which passeth all understanding; and the love of God is shed abroad in the heart where it lives, by the Holy Ghost. At the same time the spirit of God witnesses with their spirits who have this faith that their sins are blotted out; and this is as fully manifest to their judgment and conscience, as the axioms, "A whole is greater than any of its parts:" "Equal lines and angles, being placed on one another, do not exceed each other." To provide a Saviour, and the means of salvation, is God's part; to accept this Saviour, laying hold on the hope set before us, is ours. Those who refuse the way and means of salvation must perish; those who accept of the great covenant sacrifice cannot perish, but shall have eternal life. It is one of the least evils attending unbelief, that it acts not only in opposition to God, but it also acts inconsistently with itself. It receives the Scriptures in bulk, and acknowledges them to have come through divine inspiration; and yet believes no part separately. With it the whole is true, but no part is true. The very unreasonableness of this conduct shows the principle to have come from beneath, were there no other evidences against it.
- Page 81 and 82: the thought. If cherubim and seraph
- Page 83 and 84: were manifested; and merely, I thin
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- Page 87 and 88: has conceived the most astonishing
- Page 89 and 90: powers of the most astonishing comp
- Page 91 and 92: forth his glory: which they can do
- Page 93 and 94: endued with the gift of speech and
- Page 95 and 96: unfriendly to the continual support
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- Page 99 and 100: in which we were created. 2. We are
- Page 101 and 102: were evil"—the very first embryo
- Page 103 and 104: sin has been denied by many, while
- Page 105 and 106: Men may amuse themselves by arguing
- Page 107 and 108: nature and dignity of that God agai
- Page 109 and 110: according to the plain construction
- Page 111 and 112: Moses and in the evangelists; there
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- Page 131: necessary effect; and suffering can
- Page 135 and 136: it may, and must, in many cases, be
- Page 137 and 138: as they list, but these truths of G
- Page 139 and 140: his word and his Spirit; and learn
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- Page 153 and 154: or pardon of all past sin, through
- Page 155 and 156: highest possible evidence of the wo
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also; entering everywhere, that sin may be seen to abound, and that men<br />
may be led to despair of salvation in any other way, or on any other terms,<br />
than those proposed in the gospel of Christ. Thus the sinner becomes a<br />
true penitent, and is glad, seeing the curse of the law hanging over his<br />
soul, to flee for refuge to the hope set before him in the gospel.<br />
Law is only the means of disclosing this sinful propensity, not of<br />
producing it; as a bright beam of the sun introduced into a room shows<br />
millions of motes which appear to be dancing in it in all directions. But<br />
these were not introduced by the light, they were there before, only there<br />
was not light enough to make them manifest; so the evil propensity was<br />
there before, but there was not light sufficient to discover it.<br />
It was one design of the law to show the abominable and destructive<br />
nature of sin, as well as to be a rule of life. It would be almost impossible<br />
for a man to have that just notion of the demerit of sin, so as to produce<br />
repentance, or to see the nature and necessity of the death of Christ, if the<br />
law were not applied to his conscience by the light of the Holy Spirit; it<br />
is then alone that he sees himself to be carnal and sold under sin; and that<br />
the law and the commandment are holy, just, and good. And let it be<br />
observed that the law did not answer this end merely among the Jews in<br />
the days of the apostle; it is just as necessary to the Gentiles to the present<br />
hour. Nor do we find that true repentance takes place where the moral law<br />
is not preached and enforced. Those who preach only the gospel to<br />
sinners, at best, only heal the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly.<br />
The law, therefore, is the grand instrument in the hands of a faithful<br />
minister to alarm and awaken sinners; and he may safely show that every<br />
sinner is under the law, and consequently under the curse, who has not<br />
fled for refuge to the hope held out by the gospel: for in this sense also<br />
"Jesus Christ is the end of the law for justification to them that believe."
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