Here is the heart of the distinction between law and gospel-not a formal division of God's word into commands and promises, or between Old Testament and New, but the alien and proper work of God. This distinction formed the basis of Luther's revolutionary theology of the cross. God's word works death and life on us (that is, law and gospel), putting to death the old and bringing to life the new.
(my emphasis, '"PEACE, PEACE ... CROSS, CROSS": Reflections on how Martin Luther relates the theology of the cross to suffering' by Timothy J Wengert, Theology Today, Jul 2002)
It is difficult to get my head around the Lutheran teaching on Law and Gospel. I think these two sentences have been the most helpful in making it clear.
No comments:
Post a Comment