Interview with Dr. Michael Eaton

5 Comments

1. I wanted to weep when I “experienced ” this video. Here is seasoned, ,MATURE, joyful, SCRIPTUAL balance from a man COVINCED that JESUS IS ENOUGH; and motivated through that GOOD NEWS to live and serve in a impoverished area of Africa without the need to condemn others !He has a most concise, BIBLICAL, and historically informed discussion of JUSTIFICATION through Jesus’ finished work and the amazing Truth that it is meant for ALL people ( universal – through Jesus- salvation)and SANCTIFICATION resulting in rewards IN heaven ( not FOR -attainment of-heaven)! “THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH” AND OUR EFFICACY IN SERVICE – IT IS ALL JESUS’ WORK! I wanted to weep and shout for joy when he talked about our rewards IN heaven being greater opportunities to serve WITH JESUS… our REWARDS ARE primarily and supremely SPRITUAL! I will run to get his other writings. THIS IS A MUCH NEEDED BALANCE TO SOME OTHER GOOD CALLS TO SERVICE that can ( perhaps, without meaning to -?), erode assurance, joy, and tempt “works orientation” ( for Salvation, rather than rewards)! THANK YOU FOR POSTING THIS. THIS IS A VERY CURRENT ANSWER TO PRAYER…it is a help for me as I answer phone calls for “NEEDHIM MNISTRIES” :DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD

2. Nancy,

   I know, I loved it too. He is singing the same song I’ve been singing, but it carries weight doesn’t it? I love his take on rewards. I’m so glad this ministered to you. How awesome!

3. n our day many folks think they have escaped legalism by simply eliminating any antithesis between law and gospel. Thus they want to distribute Christ’s righteousness to both the “instead of us” AND the “in us”. They instruct us to stop looking only at the past and at the cross, and begin to look also to the salvation of the Holy Spirit in us (and thus the future work of Christ in our “activity”)

   Though law and gospel are not the same thing, they are not opposed because they never claim to have the same function. Law says what God demands. Gospel says how Christ satisfied that demand for the elect. The law never offered life off probation. Only one sin puts you under its curse. No matter how many acts of obedience to the law, the law never promises everlasting life.

   The “end of the law” is Christ completing all that the law demanded, so that there is no remainder left for the Spirit enabled Christian to do. The gospel says DONE. The gospel does not say “to be done by the life of Christ in the elect”.

   We must not attempt to eliminate the law/gospel antithesis by the abolishment of law or by saying that God now has a new and easier law. “That kind of thing is not only antinomian but also still legalistic –it misses what the gospel says about Christ’s satisfaction of the law for the elect.

   Christians sin, and therefore their activity cannot ever satisfy the law. But God’s law will not go unsatisfied. God is not a prisoner of His law, but God does have a Holy nature and His law is an expression of that nature, and God will always act justly. Only Christ therefore could ever satisfy God’s law.

   The law is not the gospel and it never was the gospel. Romans 11:5–”So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace. But if it is by grace, it is not on the basis of works; otherwise grace would not be grace.”

4. Hi Mark,

   But isn’t it true that “the doers of the Law will be justified.”? Isn’t that a promise of life for obedience?

   • Hi Joseph, I’ll step in here. The verse you’re referring to is in Romans:

     13 For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. Rom 2:13 ESV

     In context, Paul is putting the nail in the coffin for all self-justifiers of any stripe. Here is is talking to the Jews – if you think you can do this by Jewish law, you can’t just be jewish, you have to actually obey the law. Later, he says this:

     9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and lGreeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written:
     “None is righteous, no, not one;
     11 no one understands;
     no one seeks for God. Romans 3:9-11 ESV

     And this:

     21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

     Mind you, this is the same guy dictating the same letter in the space of maybe 30 minutes to an hour, giving a message that is inscribed on his soul. It doesn’t make sense to interpret Romans 2 in a way that conflicts with Romans 3. You really have to understand the context, that in Romans 2 Paul is making the point that all have sinned, in this case the Jews who pretend to adhere to the law.

     Thanks for your comment!