So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind [love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control], but with my flesh I serve the law of sin [sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these]. There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

Paraphrase (mine)
Even though, with my flesh/body I’m enslaved to sin, with my mind/spirit I’m enslaved to righteousness; therefore, I’m IN CHRIST, free of the law of sin and death’s condemnation.

Where, in this, is doctrinal error in the mind/teaching of the Christian who is enslaved to God and righteousness?

Your closing quotation reminds me of the observation once made by G.C.Brewer (one-time editor of the Gospel Advocate) who said, “We sing a better Gospel than we preach.”

Blessings,
Alan Scott
Sugar Land, TX

I am surprised by your comment, “I’m afraid the comments section will continue to be a “progressives only” party.”

Don’t you realize that all are invited but only a few choose to come to the feast.

I am glad you have chosen to come.

God bless,
Alan Scott
Sugar Land, TX

http://www.elizabethtownchurchofchrist.com/Gospel%20Meetings.htm

BTW, many millions of people can hear my sermons many weeks on “In Search of the Lord’s Way.” It goes out all over the country. On March 29, I preached one entitled the “Gift of Repentance.” I also encourage you to listen to “People Can Change.” I want you to hear my heart, not judge me on the basis of a few posts.

If you wish to hear and read hundreds of sermons I have preached (also see the Evangelism Handbook), go to

http://www.God-answers.org

thanks,
phil

http://www.searchtv.org

Phil

I thought you had said that if someone listened to enough of your preaching they would hear you preach the gospel. I didn’t dispute that. I just think the same can be said for others who are accused by some folks of preaching ‘another gospel.’

I don’t think the circumcision / law issues in Galatians are equivalent to the matters over which conservatives and progressives differ. We shouldn’t be invoking “anathema” on people who disagree with us on most of these things. The issue in Galatians was about adding requirements that must be met in order to be saved. The things conservatives and progressives disagree about today are of an entirely different nature.

In the meantime — again, for what it’s worth — I would just plead with everyone to check (and double check) the way the tone of your posts might be perceived by others before hitting “Submit Comment.” We need more light here, not heat.

Not trying to throw stones at anyone — just trying to offer some help…

So you have cast judgment, even though you do not know me, and even though Dell and I are friends and brothers and have absolutely no animosity?

I thought maybe things were better in here, but apparently not. I’m afraid the comments section will continue to be a “progressives only” party.

May God bless you all as you seek His will,

Matt

First, I do not speak for “all the conservatives.” Second, I do not recall having said anything about “Person A.”

Third, the argument you put forth is comparing apples to oranges. Jesus said to teach ALL that He commanded. Not everything He taught was about the death, burial and resurrection, although it all relates to our response to it. The apostles, of course, taught perfectly those things Jesus wanted them to teach (ie all that He commanded).

A person that teaches others to use instrumental music is not teaching people “all the He commanded,” since Jesus never taught it, nor the apostles.

Someone who teaches about how to resole conflicts (Matt. 18:15-17) or how to be a good husband and father (Eph. 5, for instance) are teaching what Christ commanded.

I am actually ashamed of some of you guys who would accuse a man like Phil of not preaching the gospel.

I remember, now, why I was staying away from here!