Is the law of God binding on believers? Are Christians freed from th Ten Commandments? What is the relationship between the law and the gospel. These are the crucial questions addressed by Ernest Reisinger in The Law and the Gospel.
A gross misunderstanding of the relationship of the moral law in the Christian life is dangerous. Although many seem to pit Law against Gospel, Ernie Resinger does an excellent job biblically exegeting the marriage relationship between Law and Gospel, and Law and Grace.
But it’s not just an excellent work on the subservient relationship of Law and Gospel; this will also help the reader understand the distinction in purposes of the Law and Gospel in both the unregenerate and regenerate heart.
This book is absolutely amazing, I have been a Christian for 22 years and I believe the subject of the law and gospel is so misunderstood in many churches. The author really did an excellent job explaining how the law and gospel aren’t against each other but work together for not only for the unregenerate to be saved but also for the saints. The law can never save anyone, nor sanctify on its own, but is an instrument in our sanctification, because it is good, spiritual, and useful to the believer.
“Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. For we know that the law is spiritual…” Romans 7:12, 14 KJV
“But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully;” 1 Timothy 1:8 KJV
Solid teaching on a very important subject. How do the law and the gospel work together? What is the role of the law for the unbeliever, the believer? Reisinger answers these questions with careful articulation and a foundation of scripture.
Law and gospel are two of the most important themes in Scripture, and a misunderstanding of either one of them, or the relationship they have to one another, can be catastrophic. If one understands the law as something to be upheld in order to obtain a right standing with God, then they are doomed to either feel crushed by any act of disobedience or prideful in their moments of obedience. Legalism and antinomianism (which can be itself a form of legalism) are two major dangers that Christians face. Ernie Reisinger’s The Law and the Gospel published by @foundersministries is an excellent introduction to law, gospel, and the relationship between the two.
An aspect of this book that I found really refreshing was Reisinger’s perspective toward the law for Christians. He is passionate about the teaching of the law - done in a lawful way (1 Tim 1:8). Reisinger emphasized consistently that the law is no longer our slavemaster. The law is not to be feared or hated. Instead, Christians have been freed to look at the law as a monument to the holiness of God. We are able to stand in awe at the obedience of Christ rather than shrinking back in fear or defensiveness in the light of our failure to obey. We can joyfully submit in our hearts to God’s law for our good and His glory.
In general, a feature of Reisinger’s work is that little of what he presents in this volume is his own original thought. He draws from some of the great documents and authors of church history like the Westminster Confession of Faith, John Newton and John Calvin among others. Even more than that, he comes back again and again to the important texts of Scripture to consider on the topics of law and gospel.
I would recommend this book to the person who tends, like me, to feel afraid at any mention of the law.
This book was graciously provided to me by @foundersministries
Generally a good book highlighting the importance of both the law and the gospel in the life of the Christian, and it has a lot of great points worth noting. However, I found it difficult to follow along with the author many times because of the way he wrote. He often makes statements without offering any proof of them from Scripture, or even an attempt to help the reader understand what leads him to make the statement (e.g. Adam had the law written on his heart from the beginning), and he seems to have difficulty actually defining terms at times when he does make the attempt. Ok to read, but I have to think there is another better book on the topic out there to choose instead.
A great work which helps outline how the law and the gospel go hand in hand…
So many get of track with either ignoring the law or using it wrongly for the Christian. Reisinger helps the reader understand the mistakes that can be made as well as biblically outline how the law and gospel work together.
Must read. The proper relationship between the Law and the Gospel is not clearly understood today. This book does a great job of correcting that lack of understanding.
This book is pretty exhaustive. If you read it I'd recommend having a decent grasp on covenant theology first. Also read "A Treatise on the Law and the Gospel" by John Colquhoun.
The long quotes throughout the book were distracting to me. Many seemed unnecessary. The book would have been better if Reisinger had not relied on lengthy quotes to make his arguments. Aside from that, this book would make an ok introductory volume.
I like the ideas presented here, but I agree with another reviewer.. the extensive, extended quotes from other sources hinders the effectiveness of this book.