Paul's Passing Thoughts

Originally posted May 2, 2011

Here is what the brain-trust of Sonship theology says about “rules”:

Francis Chan: “To change our hearts, what we value, what we risk, how we act, we don’t need more guilt or more rules, we just need to be in love with God. Because when you’re wildly in love with someone, it changes everything.”

DA Carson: “In this broken world, it is not easy to promote holiness without succumbing to mere moralism; it is not easy to fight worldliness without giving in to a life that is constrained by mere rules.”

John Piper: “So the key to living the Christian life – the key to bearing fruit for God – the key to a Christ-exalting life of love and sacrifice – is to die to the law and be joined not to a list of rules, but to a Person, to the risen Christ. The pathway to love is the path of a personal, Spirit-dependent,  all-satisfying relationship with the risen Christ, not the resolve to keep the commandments.”

Tullian Tchividjian: “A taste of wild grace is the best catalyst for real work in our lives: not guilt, not fear, not another list of rules.”

What the Holy Spirit says as translated by the foursome’s Bible of Choice, the ESV:

Psalm 18:22
For all his rules were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me.

Psalm 19:9
the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

Psalm 89:30
If his children forsake my law and do not walk according to my rules,

Psalm 119:7
I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.

Psalm 119:13
With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth.

Psalm 119:20
My soul is consumed with longing for your rules at all times.

Psalm 119:30
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I set your rules before me.

Psalm 119:39
Turn away the reproach that I dread, for your rules are good.

Psalm 119:43
And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth, for my hope is in your rules.

Psalm 119:52
When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O LORD.

Psalm 119:62
At midnight I rise to praise you, because of your righteous rules.

Psalm 119:75
I know, O LORD, that your rules are righteous, and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.

Psalm 119:102
I do not turn aside from your rules, for you have taught me.

Psalm 119:106
I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules.

Psalm 119:108
Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your rules.

Psalm 119:137
Righteous are you, O LORD, and right are your rules.

Psalm 119:156
Great is your mercy, O LORD; give me life according to your rules.

Psalm 119:160
The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Psalm 119:164
Seven times a day I praise you for your righteous rules.

Psalm 119:175
Let my soul live and praise you, and let your rules help me.

Psalm 147:20
He has not dealt thus with any other nation; they do not know his rules. Praise the LORD!

paul