Thursday, April 25, 2013

Bror Gets It

If you are interested, you might want to read Bror Erickson's take on Sanctification, New Obedience, the Holy Spirit, and lots of stuff.

9 comments:

Steve Martin said...

The Southern Baptists buy into that "3rd "use stuff, as well:

http://blog.founders.org/2013/04/uses-of-law-in-psalm-119.html

It's lousy doctrine. I don't care how many seminaries or how many esteemed Lutherans teach it. It's not necessary and leads to all this mess that Lutherans are letting the fox back into the henhouse.

"Christ is the end of the law..." "The law was our tutor UNTIL Christ came."

You see, the "guide" is already present in the first two uses (we know what God wants from us right there) so when we employ this "3rd use" we are getting the law back onto the brain, to try and please God.

It's far better to forget about "3rd use of the law" to help avoid this inborn tendency that we have towards legalism.

Rev. Eric J Brown said...

Well, the thing is this -- the "uses" of the law aren't the three ways "we" use the Law -- they are the way that God uses the Law upon us. And yes, we can speak of the Law being a guide that the new man delights in...

... the problem is when we think that we only need a little guidance, or that our "guidance" doesn't also curb and accuse our neighbor.

Steve Martin said...

Exactly.

We know that the law informs us of how we should act.

The law is written upon our hearts for cryin' out loud. We know what to do. We just flat out refuse to do it so much of the time. And our motives are shot to hell most of the rest of the time.

If I were king of the pastors, I would forbid them from bringing up this, in my mind, errant doctrine that serves no purpose other than possibly leading to legalism, and helping to destroy people's assurance.

Rev. Eric J Brown said...

So... that is how you would use the third use on them? =o)

Steve Martin said...

NO "3rd use".

It's (the guide) is already in the 1st two uses.

Drop "3rd use" talk.

Not necessary and is quite often harmful.

Luther never talked about a "3rd use". We don't need it.

Even if Luther did...we still don't need it.

Rev. Eric J Brown said...

It was a joke -- see, you were admonishing and such... and most people assume that admonishment automatically equals 3rd use...

Steve Martin said...

Sorry, Rev.

I haven't been the sharpest knife in the drawer lately.



Rev. Eric J Brown said...

If my name were Steve Martin, I would just blame the arrow stuck in my head.

Steve Martin said...

You can all me 'the jerk'.