One of the most important aspects of the Christian life I learned about in seminary has to do with our freedom in Christ to love and obey God. I’m always thankful to my professor R. Scott Clark for emphasizing the following point, and it’s something I wish I had learned as a new Christian.
The point Dr. Clark made to his students is that as Christians we need to distinguish between contingent and consequent duties. When it comes to our salvation in Christ, a contingent duty would be something we need to do to be saved and/or remain saved, whereas a consequent duty is something we need to do because we are saved.
Since Adam’s fall in the garden of Eden, there is no path via performing contingent duties to earn eternal life because we “all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory” (Rom. 3:23). Thus, when it comes to our salvation there is nothing we can do to save ourselves. We are dead in our sins and trespasses, and only God can give us new life in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit….
Read more»Le Ann Trees | “Freedom in Christ to Love and Obey” | November 21, 2023
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