Discerning Between Law and Gospel

Listen to podcast audio:

Why is the Old Testament law still included in our Bible if we live under the New Covenant? This week, Gary Wilkerson and Joshua West discuss the beauty and importance of God's law on this side of the cross. We should not dismiss the Old Testament or law as unimportant to our faith. In fact, they have a great deal to teach us about our Heavenly Father.

Key Points from the Podcast

  • It is vital for Christians to discern between law and gospel when reading the Bible. 

  • The law is tied to God’s nature, reflecting his perfect righteousness.

  • As Christians, we do not jettison the law, but allow it to remind us of our sinfulness and need of a Savior, Jesus Christ, who kept the law perfectly.

  • One cannot simply classify the Old Testament as law and the New Testament as grace. There is law and gospel throughout the entire Bible.

  • Christians often confuse justification and sanctification. When you accept Christ as Lord and Savior you are as justified in that moment as you will be at the appearing of Jesus, but as you live your life God is taking you through the process of sanctification.

  • The best deed in you apart from Christ is filthy rags before God.

  • If you are truly in Christ, God loves you no less on your worst day than he does on your best day.

  • There is a time and an audience for preaching the law. That is those who need to be shown their own inadequacy and the sufficiency of Christ.

  • The law is the diagnosis, and the gospel is the cure.

  • Spurgeon said that a proper presentation of the gospel will convict sinners and assure Christians.

Resources Mentioned in the Podcast

About Joshua West

Joshua West serves as the Church Leadership Network Director at World Challenge helping equip and empower pastors all over the world. Joshua’s desire is to raise up ministers who will correctly and boldly preach the word with passion and integrity. The point of all his work and writings is to preach the gospel, glorify God and to teach sound doctrine.

YouTube | Instagram | Facebook

Body

About Gary Wilkerson

Gary Wilkerson is the President of World Challenge, an international mission organization that was founded by his father, David Wilkerson. He is also the Founding Pastor of The Springs Church, which he launched in 2009 with a handful of people. He has traveled nationally and internationally at conferences and conducted mission ventures such as church planting, starting orphanages, clinics, feeding programs among the poorest of the poor and the most unreached people of the earth. Gary and his wife Kelly have four children and live in Colorado Springs, CO.

Facebook | Twitter | Instagram