Marrow of Modern Divinity - Fisher - IX - Chapter 3 continued

Required reading
Marrow of Modern Divinity  by Edward Fisher (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Continue Chapter 3 by reading the two sections entitled 'Holiness and Good Works Attained to Only by Faith' and 'Slavish Fear and Servile Hope not the Springs of True Obedience'.

My summary
In this week's reading we firstly see that good works are attained only by believing.  Evangelista gives three reasons why faith brings good works:
(i) For as a man sees and feels by faith the love and favour of God towards him in Christ his Son, so he loves both God and his law;
(ii) But when once the Christian believes the love of God to him in Christ in pardoning his iniquity, and passing by his transgressions, then he sorrows and grieves for the offence of God by sin;
(iii) Serving God under the law of works is by the force of self-love, not love for God.

Secondly we are taught that a fear of hell and hope of heaven is built on carnal notions and true obedience does not result.

What grabbed me
Great teaching from Fisher today.  If we have a true understanding of the love of God portrayed in his gospel, we cannot help but love God and serve him.  The experience of Neophytus is the experience of all true Christians: 'For I give the Lord thanks, I do now, in some small measure, believe that I am, by Christ, freely and fully justified and acquitted from all my sins, and therefore have no need either to eschew evil or do good, for fear of punishment or hope of reward; and yet, methinks, I find my heart more willing and desirous to do what the Lord commands, and to avoid what he forbids, than ever it was before I did thus believe. Surely, sir, I do perceive that faith in Christ is no hindrance to holiness of life, as I once thought it was.'

Despite the claims of legalists, justification by faith alone is no stumbling block to holiness.

Next week's reading
Continue Chapter 3 by reading the three sections entitled 'Efficacy of faith for holiness of heart and life'; 'Use of means for strengthening of faith'; and 'Distinction of the law of works, and law of Christ, applied to six paradoxes'.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.