Are We Making the Main Thing the Only Thing?

Joe Thorn:

There is more in God's word than the gospel. God has given us his law to show us the way, uncover our corruption and condemnation, and point us to our need of redemption. There are commands to be obeyed, there is wisdom to learn and practice, and affections to feel and be moved by. But, the law itself is unable to create within us new hearts, or empower us to obey its demands. So let me say it this way: The gospel is the main thing, it is not the only thing. However, it is the only thing that brings life, power, and transformation. The gospel isn't everything, but it does connect to everything, and preachers and teachers in the church must be able to show that connection lest we allow the church to drift (or even be lead) into various kinds of hopeless, powerless legalism.

You can read the whole post here, where he goes on to illustrate this paradigm with regard to prayer and the gospel.

Not unrelated, I recently came across this quote from C.K. Barrett, commenting on 1 Corinthians 5:7 and the interplay of the indicative ("you really are unleavened") and the imperative ("cleanse out the leaven"):

The imperative is unthinkable without the indicative, which makes the otherwise impossible obedience possible; the indicative is emasculated if the imperative, which give it moral bite, is wanting.