The Gospel Defined
Promise Not Command
Law and Gospel · 6 verses
Unlike the law which commands and requires, the gospel promises and bestows. It does not demand what man must render but announces what God has provided. The gospel's indicatives precede its imperatives; its gifts ground its claims. Where law says "do this and live," gospel says "it is finished." This distinction is fundamental: law prescribes duty, gospel proclaims mercy; law requires righteousness, gospel grants righteousness; law threatens the disobedient, gospel invites the unworthy.
Scripture References
“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.”
“Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,”
“For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.”
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”