How the Law Trumps the Gospel

11 Responses

aldenswan, on March 12, 2011 at 2:49 am said:

I’m not sure I understand this… perhaps I don’t understand “trump?”

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theoldadam, on March 12, 2011 at 2:56 am said:

It’s trying to explain how so many justify engaging in spiritual navel gazing, or self-improvement, or “growth”, OVER (instead of) the life of forgiveness in Christ.

“Yeah..that’s great (forgiveness) but it says right here in 2nd Macedonians 11 that we need to grow in our Christ-like-ness.

I went to a men’s bible study (the first time I had been there) , and there were 25 or 30 guys there who were so pious, and so concerned (obsessed) with their “spiritual growth”. And we were in Romans, no less!

They were walking in a field full of diamonds and they were looking for cow dung!

It was pathetic. I’d never witnessed anything so pathetic.

I tried to steer them back to Christ…but they just wouldn’t have Him. Their eys were focused intently on…themselves. They could not leave that left column (above).

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mark anderson, on March 12, 2011 at 4:52 pm said:

To ‘trump’, in this sense, is to ‘outdo, surpass or have the advantage’.
Steve gave an excellent anecdote on it’s use in the article.

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- theoldadam, on March 13, 2011 at 2:17 am said:
  
  Thanks, Pastor.
  
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aldenswan, on March 12, 2011 at 5:23 pm said:

Oh, got it. (I’m a little slow sometimes…)

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- theoldadam, on March 13, 2011 at 2:17 am said:
  
  Join the club…
  
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Howard, on March 12, 2011 at 11:02 pm said:

Steve,
Your ‘Diamonds or Cow Dung” analogy reminded me of one of Luther’s comments to Erasmus in “Bondage of the Will’, where he compares the scholar’s philosophy of freedom to manure served on silver platters – but isn’t this so, so often the case… we go to a service or a study, so in need of Grace, and we are served a menu of law, leaving our true cry unheard, the deepest need unourished… Away with such rubbish – let us have Christ, and His wondrous, saving work as the food and drink of our fellowship and faith.

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theoldadam, on March 13, 2011 at 2:14 am said:

“manure served on silver platters”

Luther! He really could turn a phrase!

“… Away with such rubbish – let us have Christ, and His wondrous, saving work as the food and drink of our fellowship and faith.”

You’re pretty good, yourself, Howard.

Thanks, my friend.

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Pastor Matt, on March 25, 2011 at 6:29 pm said:

I love it Steve! Do you mind if I post this on my blog? Thanks Bro.

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- theoldadam, on March 25, 2011 at 7:36 pm said:
  
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theoldadam, on March 25, 2011 at 7:35 pm said:

Please do, Matt!

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