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The True Bounds of Christian Freedom
1. Does our being made free by Christ free us from the law?
2. Does our being made free by Christ deliver us from all punishments or chastisements for sin?
3. Is it consistent with Christian freedom to be under obligation to perform duties because God has commanded them?
4. May Christ’s freemen come into bondage again through sin?
5. Is it consistent with Christian freedom to perform duties out of respect for the recompense of the reward?
6. Does the freedom of a Christian free him from all obedience to men?
The True Bounds of Christian Freedom is a clear, scriptural exposition of the place of the law in the life of the Christian. One of the few works currently available which shows the danger of Antinomianism, while also avoiding legalism.
2. Does our being made free by Christ deliver us from all punishments or chastisements for sin?
3. Is it consistent with Christian freedom to be under obligation to perform duties because God has commanded them?
4. May Christ’s freemen come into bondage again through sin?
5. Is it consistent with Christian freedom to perform duties out of respect for the recompense of the reward?
6. Does the freedom of a Christian free him from all obedience to men?
The True Bounds of Christian Freedom is a clear, scriptural exposition of the place of the law in the life of the Christian. One of the few works currently available which shows the danger of Antinomianism, while also avoiding legalism.
230 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 1991
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December 17, 2023
Solid read on Christian freedom and it’s relationship with the law and grace. Bolton contends that “Christian liberty is a precious thing; and the more precious, the more care is needed not to abuse it.” He exhorts the reader that it is “the work of those whom Christ has brought unto the enjoyment of this high and glorious privilege to maintain it: ‘Stand fast in the liberty where with Christ hath made us free’ (Gal 5:1).”
Were I to summarize Bolton’s book in one quote, it would be this: “We cry down the law in respect of justification, but we set it up as a rule of sanctification. The law sends us to the Gospel that we may be justified; and the Gospel sends us to the law again to inquire what is our duty as those who are justified.”
I’d argue that given it’s historical context (1640s) it’s important to remember two of the biggest debates raging in England and Massachusetts (America) when Bolton wrote this treatise. The first was the movement of the “Free Grace” advocates or Antinomianism (Anne Hutchinson being one of the most notable) and the second was the teachings of Roger Williams on the biblical role of the government vs the church in upholding the word of God (Both Hutchinson and Williams were banished from the Massachusetts colony for their beliefs).
While Bolton attacks antinomianism head on in this book, in his intro he writes “no errors are more dangerous and destructive than those which reach men as the teachings of free grace,” he is pretty quiet on the role of government, only devoting few pages at the end for answering the question of how our freedom in Christ relates to our obedience to man.
Here’s a few quotes from each chapter:
1. True Christian Freedom:
“Until the law kills you, and you are dead to it, you will look for righteousness and life through obedience to it. But when once the law has killed you … then will you look for life by Christ alone.”
“In the gospel we are freed from impossibilities.”
“There is another aspect to a believer’s freedom from death - he will not die until the best time. Indeed, none shall die until God’s time … Men cut down weeds at any time, but their corn they will not cut down till the best time. ‘You are God’s husbandry’, says the apostle; you are his wheat, and when you are ripe, when you have done your work, then, and not till then, shall you be gathered into your Master’s garner.”
“He that thinks not service to be his freedom thinks not sin to be his bondage, and therefor he is in bondage.” Rom 8:12
2. The Moral Law a Rule of Obedience:
“Perfect good must for ever hate that which is perfect evil.”
“They (every other religion) preach obedience as a means to justification; we preach justification as a means to obedience.”
“Let not Moses (law) take the place of Christ; but, at the same time, make a right use of Moses.”
“Live as though there was no Gospel; die as though there were no law.”
3. Law and Grace:
“The law may chain up the wolf, but it is the Gospel that changes the wolffish nature.”
4. Chastisements for Sin:
“God’s house of correction is His school of instruction.”
“Not a step God takes towards His people, not an action that God does, not one dispensation of providence, but it is out of mercy.”
“God reveals sin to us through His works, when we refuse to see it through His word.”
5. Performance of Duty:
“It is as easy to separate the sunbeam from the sun as holiness and obedience from the person whom God has justified.”
“Christ has not redeemed us from the MATTER of service, but from the MANNER of service.” Luke 1:74-75
6. Partial Bondage:
“Grace is as the fire, comfort as the flame that comes from it.”
“Though sin cannot bring a godly man into the state of a slave, yet it may disable him from serving fully as a son.”
7. Obedience for the Sake of Reward:
“God Himself fill heaven with glory and makes it infinitely glorious. God in heaven is the glory of Heaven.”
8. Obedience to Men:
“To man’s authority we may be subject in respect of the outward man in things lawful. But for our souls and consciences, we have no fathers and masters, but only our Father and Master in heaven.”
Were I to summarize Bolton’s book in one quote, it would be this: “We cry down the law in respect of justification, but we set it up as a rule of sanctification. The law sends us to the Gospel that we may be justified; and the Gospel sends us to the law again to inquire what is our duty as those who are justified.”
I’d argue that given it’s historical context (1640s) it’s important to remember two of the biggest debates raging in England and Massachusetts (America) when Bolton wrote this treatise. The first was the movement of the “Free Grace” advocates or Antinomianism (Anne Hutchinson being one of the most notable) and the second was the teachings of Roger Williams on the biblical role of the government vs the church in upholding the word of God (Both Hutchinson and Williams were banished from the Massachusetts colony for their beliefs).
While Bolton attacks antinomianism head on in this book, in his intro he writes “no errors are more dangerous and destructive than those which reach men as the teachings of free grace,” he is pretty quiet on the role of government, only devoting few pages at the end for answering the question of how our freedom in Christ relates to our obedience to man.
Here’s a few quotes from each chapter:
1. True Christian Freedom:
“Until the law kills you, and you are dead to it, you will look for righteousness and life through obedience to it. But when once the law has killed you … then will you look for life by Christ alone.”
“In the gospel we are freed from impossibilities.”
“There is another aspect to a believer’s freedom from death - he will not die until the best time. Indeed, none shall die until God’s time … Men cut down weeds at any time, but their corn they will not cut down till the best time. ‘You are God’s husbandry’, says the apostle; you are his wheat, and when you are ripe, when you have done your work, then, and not till then, shall you be gathered into your Master’s garner.”
“He that thinks not service to be his freedom thinks not sin to be his bondage, and therefor he is in bondage.” Rom 8:12
2. The Moral Law a Rule of Obedience:
“Perfect good must for ever hate that which is perfect evil.”
“They (every other religion) preach obedience as a means to justification; we preach justification as a means to obedience.”
“Let not Moses (law) take the place of Christ; but, at the same time, make a right use of Moses.”
“Live as though there was no Gospel; die as though there were no law.”
3. Law and Grace:
“The law may chain up the wolf, but it is the Gospel that changes the wolffish nature.”
4. Chastisements for Sin:
“God’s house of correction is His school of instruction.”
“Not a step God takes towards His people, not an action that God does, not one dispensation of providence, but it is out of mercy.”
“God reveals sin to us through His works, when we refuse to see it through His word.”
5. Performance of Duty:
“It is as easy to separate the sunbeam from the sun as holiness and obedience from the person whom God has justified.”
“Christ has not redeemed us from the MATTER of service, but from the MANNER of service.” Luke 1:74-75
6. Partial Bondage:
“Grace is as the fire, comfort as the flame that comes from it.”
“Though sin cannot bring a godly man into the state of a slave, yet it may disable him from serving fully as a son.”
7. Obedience for the Sake of Reward:
“God Himself fill heaven with glory and makes it infinitely glorious. God in heaven is the glory of Heaven.”
8. Obedience to Men:
“To man’s authority we may be subject in respect of the outward man in things lawful. But for our souls and consciences, we have no fathers and masters, but only our Father and Master in heaven.”
February 4, 2014
Best book by far that I've read on Mosaic covenant and the issue of law and gospel!
Bolton is fresh air from the past!
Bolton is fresh air from the past!
December 15, 2023
#6 of 60+ in the Puritan Paperbacks series by Banner of Truth.
When fellow believers talk of Christian liberty, it is usually in response to their feeling obligated to obey something. In other words, “I’m a Christian, I no longer have to do that” or “don’t tell me what to do, that’s legalism.” We focus on what we want to do and cling to liberty as though it’s a free pass to do as we please. Bolton’s work "The True Bounds of Christian Freedom" serves as a warning to believers that our focus should not be on how free we can live now that we are Christians but on what specifically we are free from and the change of motivation for why we continue to obey the moral aspects of the law.
Bolton is unambiguous in his stance that “no errors are more dangerous and destructive than those which reach men as the teachings of free grace.” (13) Could this be another lordship salvation argument? His quote is an assault on antinomianism but he doesn’t stop there. He argues strongly that we do possess a Christian freedom. However, it is not the freedom to do as we please. Instead, it is a freedom from the dominion and power of sin. Sin previously held the power to condemn us but we are now free from this and should live accordingly. We maintain this liberty “by refusing to look any more to the law for justification, and by refusing to fear its words of condemnation. You are to live, in respect of your practice and obedience, as men who can neither be condemned by the law nor justified by it.” (219)
The question however, and the real focus of this book, is what we are to do with the moral aspects of the law as Christians. Bolton argues that we still carry a duty of obedience in this regard but that it is for different motivations. “The ends before were for justification and life; now they are for other ends – to glorify God” (73) Nonbelievers necessarily approach the law with a legal spirit hoping to gain reward from obedien - life. However, we as Christians, approach it with a spirit that obeys “for the sake of obtaining communion with God. The one man does these things as his delight, the other as his burden.” (141) We obey because we crave communion and peace with God. This is part of the five-fold peace Bolton talks of that is broken by sin. (156) We’ve all felt the deafening silence sin causes between us and God. When we make void the moral law and live as we please, we abuse true Christian liberty.
In the end, this is primarily a book about antinomianism. I would argue that, in this case, the longevity of the arguments set forth actually deter from its effectiveness. While not disagreeing with any part of it, one would be much better off reading "The Whole Christ" by Sinclair Ferguson.
When fellow believers talk of Christian liberty, it is usually in response to their feeling obligated to obey something. In other words, “I’m a Christian, I no longer have to do that” or “don’t tell me what to do, that’s legalism.” We focus on what we want to do and cling to liberty as though it’s a free pass to do as we please. Bolton’s work "The True Bounds of Christian Freedom" serves as a warning to believers that our focus should not be on how free we can live now that we are Christians but on what specifically we are free from and the change of motivation for why we continue to obey the moral aspects of the law.
Bolton is unambiguous in his stance that “no errors are more dangerous and destructive than those which reach men as the teachings of free grace.” (13) Could this be another lordship salvation argument? His quote is an assault on antinomianism but he doesn’t stop there. He argues strongly that we do possess a Christian freedom. However, it is not the freedom to do as we please. Instead, it is a freedom from the dominion and power of sin. Sin previously held the power to condemn us but we are now free from this and should live accordingly. We maintain this liberty “by refusing to look any more to the law for justification, and by refusing to fear its words of condemnation. You are to live, in respect of your practice and obedience, as men who can neither be condemned by the law nor justified by it.” (219)
The question however, and the real focus of this book, is what we are to do with the moral aspects of the law as Christians. Bolton argues that we still carry a duty of obedience in this regard but that it is for different motivations. “The ends before were for justification and life; now they are for other ends – to glorify God” (73) Nonbelievers necessarily approach the law with a legal spirit hoping to gain reward from obedien - life. However, we as Christians, approach it with a spirit that obeys “for the sake of obtaining communion with God. The one man does these things as his delight, the other as his burden.” (141) We obey because we crave communion and peace with God. This is part of the five-fold peace Bolton talks of that is broken by sin. (156) We’ve all felt the deafening silence sin causes between us and God. When we make void the moral law and live as we please, we abuse true Christian liberty.
In the end, this is primarily a book about antinomianism. I would argue that, in this case, the longevity of the arguments set forth actually deter from its effectiveness. While not disagreeing with any part of it, one would be much better off reading "The Whole Christ" by Sinclair Ferguson.
December 3, 2019
This little book exceeded my expectations. Far from a ham-fisted defense of the third use of the law, this is a closely reasoned, carefully nuanced look at gospel, law, and freedom, organized around six questions.
1. Does our being made free by Christ free us from the law?
2. Does our being made free by Christ deliver us from all punishments or chastisements for sin?
3. Is it consistent with Christian freedom to be under obligation to perform duties because God has commanded them?
4. May Christ’s freemen come into bondage again through sin?
5. Is it consistent with Christian freedom to perform duties out of respect for the recompense of the reward?
6. Does the freedom of a Christian free him from all obedience to men?
I found it very, very helpful.
1. Does our being made free by Christ free us from the law?
2. Does our being made free by Christ deliver us from all punishments or chastisements for sin?
3. Is it consistent with Christian freedom to be under obligation to perform duties because God has commanded them?
4. May Christ’s freemen come into bondage again through sin?
5. Is it consistent with Christian freedom to perform duties out of respect for the recompense of the reward?
6. Does the freedom of a Christian free him from all obedience to men?
I found it very, very helpful.
December 17, 2024
Felt a little disorganised- even to the point of disjointed at times.
Helpful as a theological realisation of identity in Christ, helping to view the law as a rule of life rather than a moralistic noose under the covenant of works.
Deeply encouraging and helpful engagement with the law and gospel relationship.
Helpful as a theological realisation of identity in Christ, helping to view the law as a rule of life rather than a moralistic noose under the covenant of works.
Deeply encouraging and helpful engagement with the law and gospel relationship.
February 1, 2023
Really excellent. Much to gain from this title.
January 14, 2015
Unfortunately, I read this book out loud with the wife over the last few months. That is not the best way to read this particular Puritan writer. As a result, it was at times hard to keep track of the broad scope of the argument and the specific points Bolton raises or rebuts.
With that said, what I did catch from this book was worthwhile. Bolton walks the middle road of faithful obedience between the twin heresies of antinomianism and legalism. He responds to arguments common in his time about whether/how much/in what way we ought to obey the law, if at all. While not all of these arguments (either his or the ones he responds to) have passed down to our time, given the current discussions over the use of the law by Christians, this book is worth reading.
A selection of citations (sorry, we read the Kindle edition so I can't give page numbers):
-Christ himself shall as soon be called to account for your sin as you yourself. If you have an interest in Him, sin shall never condemn you, for Christ has made satisfaction for it. Those whose standing in Christ have made satisfaction in Christ to all the requirements of God and His law.
-God has thoughts of love in all He does to His people. The ground of His dealings with us is love (though the occasion may be sin), the manner of His dealings is love, and the purpose of His dealings is love. He has regard, in all, to our good here, to make us partakers of His holiness, and to our glory hereafter, to make us partakers of His glory.
-Sin is dead judicially. Christ has sentenced it. Christ has condemned sin the flesh.. Sin met its death blow in the death of Christ. And it is dying actually... But notice that God has chosen to put sin to a lingering death, to a death upon the cross, and this for the greater punishment of sin, that it might die gradually. But also, it is for the further humiliation of saints that they might be put upon the exercise of prayer and cast upon the hold of their faith. It is intended to exercise their faith for the daily breaking of the power of sin and corruption in them.
-In brief, then, if your appeal is a right one and such as will do you good, it must be a total, not a partial, appeal. You must not come to Christ for some relief only, but for all. Christ must have the honour of all. Also, it must be an appeal for grace as well as mercy, for sanctification as well as salvation, an appeal to be made holy by Christ as well as to be made happy by Christ.
In short, this book is excellent and worth reading.
With that said, what I did catch from this book was worthwhile. Bolton walks the middle road of faithful obedience between the twin heresies of antinomianism and legalism. He responds to arguments common in his time about whether/how much/in what way we ought to obey the law, if at all. While not all of these arguments (either his or the ones he responds to) have passed down to our time, given the current discussions over the use of the law by Christians, this book is worth reading.
A selection of citations (sorry, we read the Kindle edition so I can't give page numbers):
-Christ himself shall as soon be called to account for your sin as you yourself. If you have an interest in Him, sin shall never condemn you, for Christ has made satisfaction for it. Those whose standing in Christ have made satisfaction in Christ to all the requirements of God and His law.
-God has thoughts of love in all He does to His people. The ground of His dealings with us is love (though the occasion may be sin), the manner of His dealings is love, and the purpose of His dealings is love. He has regard, in all, to our good here, to make us partakers of His holiness, and to our glory hereafter, to make us partakers of His glory.
-Sin is dead judicially. Christ has sentenced it. Christ has condemned sin the flesh.. Sin met its death blow in the death of Christ. And it is dying actually... But notice that God has chosen to put sin to a lingering death, to a death upon the cross, and this for the greater punishment of sin, that it might die gradually. But also, it is for the further humiliation of saints that they might be put upon the exercise of prayer and cast upon the hold of their faith. It is intended to exercise their faith for the daily breaking of the power of sin and corruption in them.
-In brief, then, if your appeal is a right one and such as will do you good, it must be a total, not a partial, appeal. You must not come to Christ for some relief only, but for all. Christ must have the honour of all. Also, it must be an appeal for grace as well as mercy, for sanctification as well as salvation, an appeal to be made holy by Christ as well as to be made happy by Christ.
In short, this book is excellent and worth reading.
June 21, 2016
Excellent book! A must read!
October 16, 2021
I believe every Christian should read this book!
June 14, 2019
Bolton carefully makes good, biblical distinctions on questions regarding Christian liberty, the law of God, and our obedience that are still relevant today.
I only occasionally disagree with him, mostly in his view of the Mosaic covenant as a "subservient covenant" to the covenant of grace, but he goes on to respectfully explain the view of "the majority of our holy and most learned divines" that the Mosaic covenant was an administration of the covenant of grace, noting that both opinions generally come to the same conclusion on the points he is making (this is discussed in pages 94-101).
It is interesting that in discussing the law, he says that "in respect of the ceremonial and the judicial law we find few dissenters. All the controversy arises from the third part, the moral law" (p. 56). Well, in modern discussions among Presbyterians, a bit of controversy does arise in respect of the judicial law. Here is how he explains the view of the judicial law from which he found few dissenters:
"As for the judicial law, which was an appendix to the second table, it was an ordinance containing precepts concerning the government of the people in things civil, and it served three purposes: it gave the people a rule of common and public equity, it distinguished them from other peoples, and it gave them a type of the government of Christ. That part of the judicial law which was typical of Christ's government has ceased, but that part which is of common and general equity remains still in force. It is a common maxim: those judgements which are common and natural are moral and perpetual" (p. 56).
I only occasionally disagree with him, mostly in his view of the Mosaic covenant as a "subservient covenant" to the covenant of grace, but he goes on to respectfully explain the view of "the majority of our holy and most learned divines" that the Mosaic covenant was an administration of the covenant of grace, noting that both opinions generally come to the same conclusion on the points he is making (this is discussed in pages 94-101).
It is interesting that in discussing the law, he says that "in respect of the ceremonial and the judicial law we find few dissenters. All the controversy arises from the third part, the moral law" (p. 56). Well, in modern discussions among Presbyterians, a bit of controversy does arise in respect of the judicial law. Here is how he explains the view of the judicial law from which he found few dissenters:
"As for the judicial law, which was an appendix to the second table, it was an ordinance containing precepts concerning the government of the people in things civil, and it served three purposes: it gave the people a rule of common and public equity, it distinguished them from other peoples, and it gave them a type of the government of Christ. That part of the judicial law which was typical of Christ's government has ceased, but that part which is of common and general equity remains still in force. It is a common maxim: those judgements which are common and natural are moral and perpetual" (p. 56).
December 26, 2021
“Take away the love of sinning;
Alpha and Omega be.
End of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty”.
The above lyrics are from Isaac Watts “Love divine, all love Excelling.” It talks about liberty and how we should deal with sin.
Christian liberty and sin. Gospel and law.
What are we to make of it? Have we been set free by Christ from obeying of law? Is the law still relevant, since we are just to love?
This ancient classic by Samuel Bolton provides all the right answers. It argues against anti law (antinomianism) and against following the law for justification. Instead, he tells us “(pg 71 - the law sends us to the gospel that we may be justified, and the gospel sends us to the law again to inquire what is our duty as those who are justified.”
In the words of Sinclair Ferguson (as found in his book Devoted to God), “the law provides direction for love”. It tells us how we, as redeemed Christians, can love and glorify God by obeying Him. The moral law, which we were previously bounded to and weighed down by, is not able to save. Instead, being justified by faith in Jesus, we are now free from its bondage and to obey God with the Spirit’s help.
All in, this is a book to savour, if you are looking for a succinct read of the Gospel and Law. Well done to Banner or Truth from making this an accessible read, and providing such rich material for our souls!
Alpha and Omega be.
End of faith, as its beginning,
set our hearts at liberty”.
The above lyrics are from Isaac Watts “Love divine, all love Excelling.” It talks about liberty and how we should deal with sin.
Christian liberty and sin. Gospel and law.
What are we to make of it? Have we been set free by Christ from obeying of law? Is the law still relevant, since we are just to love?
This ancient classic by Samuel Bolton provides all the right answers. It argues against anti law (antinomianism) and against following the law for justification. Instead, he tells us “(pg 71 - the law sends us to the gospel that we may be justified, and the gospel sends us to the law again to inquire what is our duty as those who are justified.”
In the words of Sinclair Ferguson (as found in his book Devoted to God), “the law provides direction for love”. It tells us how we, as redeemed Christians, can love and glorify God by obeying Him. The moral law, which we were previously bounded to and weighed down by, is not able to save. Instead, being justified by faith in Jesus, we are now free from its bondage and to obey God with the Spirit’s help.
All in, this is a book to savour, if you are looking for a succinct read of the Gospel and Law. Well done to Banner or Truth from making this an accessible read, and providing such rich material for our souls!
January 20, 2022
An intriguing read covering a range of issues topical in the 1640s and still topical today. Bolton considers the Mosaic Covenant as a covenant of grace but with elements of the law republished in it.
The main thesis is the abiding relevance of the moral law to the believer, that this is not incompatible with grace, and that we can be chastised for sin.
He agrees that one motivation to a holy life is rewards, both spiritual and eternal. We do not purchase them by obedience but we do possess them. 'It is the man who eyes heaven and glory who is able to walk safely in all places.'
Lastly he encourages believers to maintain their Christian liberty. We should beware admiring men too much, however holy. We must not rest our faith on their authority which would make them masters of our faith. A good warning to GK Chesterton as will be apparent in my forthcoming review of Orthodoxy!
The main thesis is the abiding relevance of the moral law to the believer, that this is not incompatible with grace, and that we can be chastised for sin.
He agrees that one motivation to a holy life is rewards, both spiritual and eternal. We do not purchase them by obedience but we do possess them. 'It is the man who eyes heaven and glory who is able to walk safely in all places.'
Lastly he encourages believers to maintain their Christian liberty. We should beware admiring men too much, however holy. We must not rest our faith on their authority which would make them masters of our faith. A good warning to GK Chesterton as will be apparent in my forthcoming review of Orthodoxy!
July 2, 2020
Helpful and clear. In true Puritan fashion, Bolton is simultaneously rational and devotional. Crystal clear thinking while offering a soothing balm for the Christian’s soul.
I would highly recommend this work especially given the immensely important and perennially controversial topic of it: the law. Is the law relevant to the New Testament? What was the purpose of the law? Are we still accountable to uphold the law? Bolton tackles all of these questions and more in this book.
I would highly recommend this work especially given the immensely important and perennially controversial topic of it: the law. Is the law relevant to the New Testament? What was the purpose of the law? Are we still accountable to uphold the law? Bolton tackles all of these questions and more in this book.
September 29, 2021
Solid gospel doctrine with lots of those great little pithy statements in the classic Puritan style. (E.g. "It is as easy to separate the sunbeam from the sun as holiness and obedience from the person God has justified.") Also this book has way more content than its title suggests. The first section on all the various freedoms that the believer enjoys in Christ is especially glorious and encouraging, before the book delves into the nitty gritty of scruples about the law etc. Great stuff.
March 19, 2022
This book is rightly titled The True Bounds of Christian Freedom. It takes the discussion of Christian Freedom in a direction that is not often treaded and shows that the battle is raging there and not on the surface issues we tend to encounter. Has the believer been freed for worship, from worship or to worship? Bolton breaks does the question and answers it in numerous ways.
The book ends with a rousing exhortation
The book ends with a rousing exhortation
July 24, 2017
Incredible book! A writing characteristic that is quite attractive to me is a logical thought process. I think this is why I especially love Bolton. But this is true for the Puritans in general.
Bolton is quite thorough and sticks hard to correct doctrine. His logic and strict commitment to structure are outstanding.
Bolton is quite thorough and sticks hard to correct doctrine. His logic and strict commitment to structure are outstanding.
October 20, 2020
An excellent Puritan work on the Law and Gospel! Though a harder read, it would prove helpful to every Christian to understand these crucial truths of our freedom in Christ. That is freedom from sin, death, Satan and the law as a covenant, and freedom to life, glory and obedience to the law, which is love.
October 3, 2023
Didn’t see the connection between Christian Freedom and what the author wrote in this pages. Though he touched on the topic of freedom occasionally, it seemed that he filled the pages with other notable topics such as Gods role in salvation vs man’s role, works vs Grace, etc.
September 19, 2017
Great discussion of Reformed thinking on the Mosaic covenant. I found Bolton readable and winsome in many areas.
March 24, 2020
Increible que en 1600 estos hombres tuvieran tal doctrina desarrollada sobre la libertad cristiana.
December 1, 2021
A wonderful treatment on the law/Gospel distinction. The Puritan Samuel Bolton shows biblically the place of the law in the life of the Christian. I recommend reading it at least once per year.
August 29, 2024
I had a hard time staying focused on this one. There were definitely some gems in there, but the overall subject of the book was hard for me to resonate with.
August 2, 2025
Should be required reading for every Christian.
September 30, 2011
This book makes a great case for the place of the law in the life of a Christian. He shows how Christian obedience fits in with God's grace and the effects of sin upon a believers life. This book is fairly indepth and definitely not a beginner read, however for someone who has questioned how it is that a believer is to obey God without being again bound to the law and therefore legalism, this is a great book.
May 28, 2015
Do Christians still have a duty to obey the law of God? Is it wrong to obey God in order to receive rewards? Does God discipline his children for their sin? These questions, which are still hot topics today, were all deal with here in 1645 by Puritan Samuel Bolton. Anyone pastor or teacher who wants help navigating the current controversies about antinomianism, law, and grace needs to have Bolton as a dialogue partner.
April 13, 2014
While parts were difficult to follow, I profited from this treatment of Christian liberty, freedom to obey with joy, and relationship with the law. Bolton did a good job of distinguishing how we follow the law out of Christian duty-in the freedom to enjoy that duty granted by salvation- as our guide, but in no way our hope.
July 27, 2013
An accurate exposition of what Christian liberty really means. Not the freedom to sin, but the freedom from sin.
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews