Here is part of an article entitled: Against Neonomians - An answer to Samuel Bolton.
At the outset it must be emphatically stated that the Gospel Rule believer rejects the the label Antinomian.For any committed Christian this is a misnomer,as by definition he will love the law or Word of God,as it is an expressionof the Logos or Living Word;the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. To further suggest that such a one holds to loose moral standards or is a "loose-liver", is a calmuny and a direct breach of the very "Moral law" which Neonomians claim to uphold(Le 6:5;9:16;Ps101:5).
It is a fact of Church history that many of its most Godly Saints have been unkindly and untruthfully branded Antinomian by those who claim to adhere to the "Moral law". In the NT we need look no further than Stephen who was stoned to death by "moral law" adherents for preaching Grace.He was condemned for speaking against Moses and the Law (acts 6:11-14). In the 18th century, the saintly William Huntington was mercilessly attacked as an antinomian for the same reasons. In the 19th century,men such as Gadsby, Tiptaft, Warburton, Kershaw and many other righteous preachers endured similar, unremmiting slanders from "Moral law" men..........
Bolton states ,:"That which was morally good formerly is morally good now, and is to be persued and practised". Yet in Acts 15 the Apostles, speaking by The Holy Ghost, released the the Gentiles from adherence to the Mosaic Law(vv5,9,10,19-29). Peter stood up and said " Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we are able to bear." (verse 10). He was refering to the Mosaic law(verse 5) which embodies the so-called "moral law". Peter acknowledged that neither the Patriarchs nor the apostles themselves "were able to bear" these precepts; yet men such as Bolton insist on that professing Christians today are to gladly observe them and "delight" in them ! In Colossians 2:14 we read that Christ hath blotted "out the handwriting of ordinances that was AGAINST us and CONTRARY to us,and took it out of the way,nailing it to His cross" The context makes it abundantly plain that the supposed "Moral law" is in question. Again ,men such as Bolton insist:"that which was morally good formerly is morally good now, and is to be pursued and practised".If the ordinances in view were morally good, why did Christ take them out of the way and nail them to His cross ? If they are morally good, why are they said to be against us and contrary to us; and why did Christ blot them out ? In Ezekiel 20, we read, " Wherefore I gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgements whereby they should not live," The plain meaning of this text is often denied, but Paul said, "Wherefore then serveth the Law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed (Christ) should come..." (Gal 3:19).......
Bolton agrees that we cannot be justified by the law, but he insists that we are sanctified by it. Here we must part company with him. The elect saint is not sanctified by the law any more than an Israelite was justified by it. On the contrary, we "are sanctified by FAITH" that is in Christ(Acts 26:18). Sanctification is often spoken of as an accomplished act in scripture " To them that are sanctified" (1 Cor 1:2) " But ye are sanctified" (1 Cor 6:11), " Among all them which are sanctified" (Acts 20:32), "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification.."(2 Thess 2:13) Sanctification is expressly sated to be by "The blood of the covenant"(Heb10:29;13:12) And it is said to come by the hand of God, rather than by obsevance of a "Moral law" (1 Thess 5:23)Yes, The Lord Jesus prayed " Sanctify them through thy truth; thy word is truth"(John 17:17). And Paul spoke of Christ sanctifying and cleansing His church"with the washing of water by the word"(Eph 5:26), but this is the Word implanted in our hearts by The Spirit(Col 3:16). Slavish obedience to the written code is not in view.
Gospel Rule adherents are led by a rule of life and conduct much higher than the OUTWARD OBSERVANCE of a "Moral law". We do not follow the letter which killeth but THE SPIRIT of the law written on the fleshly tables of our hearts (2Cor3:3). Isn't this the main thrust of the sermon on the Mount (Matt5:20) ?
Man centerd "works righteousness" is revealed in Boltons words;"We desire to conform ourselves" and ;"Our obedience". True, his position seems to soften as he draws to a close; so much so thathe seems to argue against himself. But allow me to be unequivocal: Our bedience is ALL OF GOD. It is He who makes us willing in the day of His power(Ps 110:3)Not only our salvation , but our sanctificationis "of the Lord" (Jonah 2:9). So witnesse the overwhelming testimony of scripture: Hos 14:8;Eccl3:14;Jer32:40;Prov16:1;Isa26:12;Lam5:21;Mic7:19,1Cor3:9;Eph2:10;Ph2:13;1Cor12:6;2Pet1:3,4;Ps138:8; Acts15:8,9;2Cor3:4,5;Jn15:5; & c. This is the Gospel rule: SOLI DEO GLORIA; Glory to God Alone.
Written by the editor, Derek Owers of "The Common Salvation" newsletter vol 1 issue 6 August 1998
