The Necessary Distinction Quotes

“The way of the Gospel is not by coercion. The Gospel does not demand; it bestows His gifts freely. The Gospel bids us (iubet nos) hold out our hands and receive what is being offered.103 Jesus gives. We only receive. We don’t even permit Him to work in us and toward us. Faith passively suffers (patimur) His gracious work in us and for us.104 In this way, the baptized get to live in the fellowship of the Church,105 where Jesus’ ongoing ministry of delivering His gifts takes place.106”
― Albert Collver III, The Necessary Distinction: A Continuing Conversation on Law and Gospel

“By its very nature, mainline Protestantism undermines the evangelistic thrust of the church since the goal is not to win people for Christ but instead to use the church at the national level to pressure governmental agencies to conform to its version of peace and justice.”
― Albert Collver III, The Necessary Distinction: A Continuing Conversation on Law and Gospel

“The pastor must ever be on guard against moralism, legalism, and pietism that would attempt to renovate or fix his hearers by use of the Law. The Law always accuses (lex semper accusat), and it accuses in all of its functions and uses. The purpose of the Law is not to provide a template for moral improvement, but to silence every self-justifying argument before God and amplify sin.”
― Albert Collver III, The Necessary Distinction: A Continuing Conversation on Law and Gospel