Since the days of the early church, Christians have struggled to understand the relationship between two seemingly contradictory concepts in the Bible: law and gospel. If, as the apostle Paul says, the law cannot save, what can it do? Is it merely an ancient relic from Old Testament Israel to be discarded? Or is it still valuable for Christians today? Helping modern Christians think through this complex issue, seasoned pastor and theologian Sinclair Ferguson carefully leads readers to rediscover an eighteenth-century debate that sheds light on this present-day doctrinal conundrum: the Marrow Controversy. After sketching the history of the debate, Ferguson moves on to discuss the theology itself, acting as a wise guide for walking the path between legalism (overemphasis on the law) on the one side and antinomianism (wholesale rejection of the law) on the other.

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Originally presented as the author's thesis (doctoral)--Highland Theological College.

One of history's most influential Christian writings presents the Puritan understanding of God, the church, and the world. Now in modern English.

In this book, John Colquhoun helps us understand the importance of knowing the relationship between law and gospel. Colquhoun especially excels in showing how important the law serves as a believer’s rule of life without compromising the freeness and fullness of the gospel. In one of the greatest Reformed studies of the topic, Colquhoun encourages believers to combat legalism and antinomianism by joyfully embracing a correct view of the law.

This compelling question is central to a debate taking place among evangelicals today. Michael Horton, a preeminent voice for reformation in the church, has drawn together a group of leaders in the evangelical church to answer this question once and for all. - W. Robert Godfrey - Michael Horton - Alister McGrath - Kim Riddlebarger - Rick Ritchie - Rod Rosenbladt - Paul Schaefer - Robert Strimple These writers draw on Scripture, theology, and church history to address the Lordship salvation issue. They explain their positions clearly, taking care to avoid promulgating legalistic rules people need to follow to be considered Christian. But neither do they convey the feeling that rules no longer matter.

Seeking to move beyond current heated debates on justification, this accessible introduction offers a fresh, alternative approach to a central theological topic. Michael Allen locates justification within the wider context of the gospel, allowing for more thoughtful engagement with the Bible, historical theology, and the life of the church. Allen considers some of the liveliest recent debates as well as some overlooked connections within the wider orbit of Christian theology. He provides a historically informed, ecumenically minded defense of orthodox theology, analyzing what must be maintained and what should be reconfigured from the vantage point of systematic theology. The book exemplifies the practice of theological interpretation of Scripture and demonstrates justification's relevance for ongoing issues of faith and practice.

Our culture has a few catch phrases: Be who you want to be; Do what makes you happy. We are told to do our own thing and follow our own rules, which often makes the Bible appear to be oppressively restrictive and hopelessly outdated, even to Christians! Responding to the misdirection of our society and misperceptions the church has of God's law, Professor Jerram Barrs helps readers recognize the beauty in and purpose of God's rules for living healthy, productive, and fulfilling lives. From the Old Testament to the New, Barrs demonstrates how God's commands to his people were intended to protect them from sin and direct them in godliness. Rejecting the idea that we can earn God's favor through good works, Barrs nevertheless highlights how God's commands should spur us to obedience and ultimately remind us of grace.