Before I start, I have to offer an apology. Although I have tried hard to keep this chapter in bounds, and to make it as systematic as I can, I have, nevertheless, failed to do as well as I had hoped. I considered breaking it into parts, but that would accomplish nothing. In short, I have to admit defeat, leaving the end-result, I am afraid, somewhat unwieldy.
In a sense, however, I am relieved. As I understand the law of Christ, as I discover it set out in the pages of the New Testament, I find it to be of such a nature or character that defies simplistic systematisation. The decalogue, of course, can be set out in ten straightforward commands; even the law of Moses can be set out as one rule after another. But you cannot possibly do that with the law of Christ. Notwithstanding, this is not a weakness of the law of Christ; it is, in fact, one of its greatest glories. The law of Christ is not a ‘law’ in the Mosaic sense at all.
Nevertheless, I am sorry that I have not been able to do better. I am sure others could set out Christ’s law in a more user-friendly way than I have been able to manage. But there it is. May I suggest, reader, that you make full use of the epigraph at the head of this chapter. I hope it will help! |
