Pat Abendroth is a friend and pastor of Omaha Bible Church and the host of The Pactum Podcast. Pactum is a Latin noun for covenant. You might see or hear it used, e.g., to refer to the pactum salutis, the covenant of redemption between the Father and the Son made from all eternity. Pat was in town recently for the conference and to do a little bicycling. We sat down to discuss what Scripture means when it says, in Leviticus 18:5 and Luke 10:28, “Do this and live.” I have heard these passages explained to mean that, by grace, in union with Christ, Christians are able to “do this and live,” that these are promises of an outcome achieved by grace and cooperation by grace. Is that correct or is there a better way of understanding these sorts of passages? Along the way we also look at Romans 2:13 and other passages and we talk about how the Protestant Reformers answered these questions.

Here is the audio from the interview.

Here is the episode in its native environment. We recorded the episode in front of a live studio audience.

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• Berkhof: “Do This And Live” Is A Covenant Of Works
• Hodge: “Do This And Live” Is A Covenant Of Works
• Turretin: “Do This And Live” Is A Covenant Of Works
• Romans 2:13 As An Acid Test
• “Do This and Live: The Active Obedience of Christ,” in R. Scott Clark, ed. Covenant, Justification and Pastoral Ministry: Essays by the Faculty of Westminster Seminary California (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2006), 229–65.
• “Letter and Spirit: Law and Gospel in Reformed Preaching,” in R. Scott Clark, ed. Covenant, Justification and Pastoral Ministry: Essays by the Faculty of Westminster Seminary California (Phillipsburg: P&R Publishing, 2006), 331–63.
• Resources on the Law/Gospel Distinction (Updated)
• Chrysostom: Leviticus 18:5 Is Law And Impossible For Us Sinners
• Turretin: Leviticus 18:5 Is Proof That God Promised Eternal Blessedness To Adam
• Owen: Leviticus 18:5 Is Nothing But A Revival Of The Covenant Of Works
• Witsius: In Leviticus 18:5 Moses Repeated The Covenant Of Works
• Resources On The Controversy Over “Final Salvation Through Works”

Post authored by:

• R. Scott Clark

  

  R.Scott Clark is the President of the Heidelberg Reformation Association, the author and editor of, and contributor to several books and the author of many articles. He has taught church history and historical theology since 1997 at Westminster Seminary California. He has also taught at Wheaton College, Reformed Theological Seminary, and Concordia University. He has hosted the Heidelblog since 2007.

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