Christian ministry by Charles Bridges (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example)
Bridges now looks at the Scriptural mode of preaching the law.
Firstly he looks at the law's character, uses and obligations. The law's character is holy, just and good. Its uses are threefold: (i) public restraint; (ii) conviction of sin; (iii) rule of life for the Christian. The law's obligation is that man must keep it.
Secondly Bridges looks at the connexion of the law with the gospel:
(i) The differences between them (e.g. in revelation, regards to man, their power of sanction, their connection to promises);
(ii) The harmony between them (e.g. same source, same plan, same end);
(iii) The law as a preparation for the gospel;
(iv) The establishment of the law by the Gospel.
Bridges is careful to make clear that Christians prove their love by keeping his law: 'The proof of our love to the Saviour is the "keeping of his commandments;" which are none others than the precepts of the moral law, bound upon the Christian's heart with chains of the most powerful and attractive obligation. The first desire of the awakened sinner is - "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?" His constant prayer is "that his love may abound yet more and more, in knowledge and in all judgement;" that he may "not be unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." It cannot therefore, be legal bondage, or indeed otherwise than evangelical privilege, thus to receive the law from the Saviour's hands, stripped of its condemning power, and regulating our affections, temper, and conversation to his glory.'
Do we love the Lord? Keep his commandments. It is a privilege to do so.
Next week's reading
Continue reading Part 4 by beginning Chapter 4, up to point 3 'Practical preaching of the Gospel'.
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.
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