The Whole Christ: Legalism, Antinomianism, and Gospel Assurance―Why the Marrow Controversy Still Matters

Often we take in a wide and sweeping big view of theology and scripture, which has its place. It is very important to understand God’s redemptive plan in scripture and summarized in theology and the creeds. But less often do we take the opportunity to hunker down and get down and dirty with key specific theological themes. Sinclair Ferguson has taken out the microscope, pulled out the binoculars and used the telescope to explore and experience the depths of The Whole Christ, the unsearchable riches we have in the person and work Jesus specifically in the areas of The Gospel offer and presentation, legalism, antinomianism, and Gospel assurance. His careful and pastoral treatment of the “Marrow Controversy” of the 18th century demonstrates the importance of reflecting back on church history and gleaming the lessons from it. He is a master craftsman choosing words that most accurately and clearly explain the concepts close to the heart of the gospel of grace. I have read through this masterpiece many times and am so grateful for its instruction. I have found it helpful to grab a key summary statement from each chapter. Chapter 1 – How A Marrow Grew – p35 “At the root of the matter lay the nature of the grace of God in the gospel and how it should be preached.” Chapter 2 – Grace In The Gospel – p42 “it is not sound to say that a man must first quit sin in order to be qualified for the offer of Christ. The offer of the gospel is to be made not to the righteous or even the repentant, but to all. There are no conditions that need to be met in order for the gospel offer to be made. p46 “What was at the heart of their gospel message? Calvin has a beautiful expression that summarizes it: the gospel is Christ “clothed with his gospel. ”This, to use an Augustinian term, is totus Christus, the whole Christ, the person in whom incarnation has been accomplished and in whom atonement, resurrection, ascension, and heavenly reign are now realized.” Chapter 3 – Preparation, Distortion, Poison – p69 “Thus the lie was an assault on both God’s generosity and his integrity. Neither his character nor his words were to be trusted. This, in fact, is the lie that sinners have believed ever since—the lie of the not-to-be-trusted-because-he-does-not-love-me-false-Father. The gospel is designed to deliver us from this lie.” Chapter 4 – Danger! Legalism – p82 “It is this—a failure to see the generosity of God and his wise and loving plans for our lives—that lies at the root of legalism and drives it.” p88 “The gospel never overthrows God’s law for the simple reason that both the law and the gospel are expressions of God’s grace. Therefore the reverse is true: grace confirms the law and its true character.” Chapter 5 – The Order of Grace – p101 “Christ should be presented in all the fullness of his person and work; faith then directly grasps the mercy of God in him, and as it does so the life of repentance is inaugurated as its fruit.” Chapter 6 – Suspicious Symptoms – p128 “At the end of the day, it means my sense of personal identity and worth has become entwined with performance and its recognition rather than being rooted and grounded in Christ and his de-merited grace. This too is a subtle form of legalism. It emerges from my soul as though God’s grace to others drew it out of me like a powerful magnet. Grace lances the boil of merit.” Chapter 7 – Faces of Antinomianism – p138 “Jesus was never accused in his lifetime of being a legalist. But the issue of antinomianism did arise.” Although in one sense antinomianism is the “opposite” error from legalism, in another sense it is the “equal” error, for it similarly abstracts God’s law from God’s person and character (which undergoes no change from old to new covenant). It fails to appreciate that the law that condemns us for our sins was given to teach us how not to sin.” p154 “But it is misleading to say that God accepts us the way we are. Rather he accepts us despite the way we are. He receives us only in Christ and for Christ’s sake. Nor does he mean to leave us the way he found us, but to transform us into the likeness of his Son.” Chapter 8 – Causes and Cures – p156 “for antinomianism and legalism are not so much antithetical to each other as they are both antithetical to grace. This is why Scripture never prescribes one as the antidote for the other. Rather grace, God’s grace in Christ in our union with Christ, is the antidote to both.” p159 “In contrast to Paul, both legalists and antinomians see the law as the problem. But Paul is at pains to point out that sin, not the law is the root issue.” p168 “Commandments are the railroad tracks on which the life empowered by the love of God poured into the heart by the Holy Spirit runs. Love empowers the engine; law guides the direction. They are mutually interdependent. The notion that love can operate apart from law is a figment of the imagination. It is not only bad theology; it is poor psychology. It has to borrow from law to give eyes to love.” p173 “It was not legalism for Jesus to do everything his Father commanded him. Nor is it for us.” Chapter 9 – The Marrow of Assurance – p182 “The Westminster Divines insisted on the possibility of assurance for all believers but did not assert its universality among Christians.” Chapter 10 – How Assurance of Christ Becomes Assurance of Salvation – p196 “What he wants to know is not, “How can I be sure that Christ is able to save me?” but, “How can I be sure that I have believed in the Christ who saves?” It is the difference between confidence in Christ’s ability to save and the self-awareness that one has this confidence and is among those whom he saves.” p201” high degrees of Christian assurance are simply not compatible with low levels of obedience… there is a strong link in the New Testament between faithfulness in the Christian walk and the enjoyment of assurance. Obedience strengthens faith and confirms it to us because it is always marked by what Paul calls “the obedience of faith.” Chapter 11 – Hindrances Strew All The Way – p213 “The New Testament regards the enjoyment of assurance of salvation as normal and healthy Christian experience.” p223 “Here the ministry of baptism and the Lord’s Supper play important roles. Of course we do not get a different or a better Christ in the sacraments than we do in the Word, as Robert Bruce well said. But we may get the same Christ better, with a firmer grasp of his grace through seeing, touching, feeling, and tasting as well as hearing:”

While there are other great books that talk about the grace of Christ overcoming a legalistic mindset, none have done this in such a clear, systematic, and thoughtful way as this book. Whether you struggle with legalism, assurance, know someone who does, or just want to understand the order of salvation and have to give the gospel call, this book should be studied.

This book will not be of interest to everyone. It was of great interest to me. I would commend it to two main audiences. Firstly, I commend this to my friends and fellow travelers who struggle with the tensions found in Romans 7. With questions of what is the role of the law in the Bible, and in our lives, with questions of legalism and lawlessness, this book is for you. (I could quip this is all humanity as the human heart longs to justify itself.) Secondly though, I would commend this work to pastors you will find it helpful, maybe enormously so. I commend this book because God used it to calm nagging questions that pursued me about the nature of the law and grace in my life. It demonstrated to me what at stake was more than a misunderstanding of the law and grace, but of the character of God. Ferguson digs into the history behind a controversy in the 1700's in Scotland and brings us into this controversy not as an academic exercise, a historian, or to argue a historical theology, but with a pastors heart to open up to us, aid us in seeing God as He really is. This is not a fast moving on general book, you will need to listen carefully, maybe take a pause or re-listen to a sentence here and there. It is not particularly dense as much as careful and a light reading is likely to overlook the significance of what is being said (at points). As a person who loves history and theology I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The narration is not overly emotional or engaging, that being said I did find my mind wandering some during the listen. That though is as much to blame the text as the reader this is not a thriller, but it is a careful and important book that I am confident I will read again. christianaudio gave me this book free of charge only asking for an honest review.

The book has a great presentation of the controversy surrounding the Auchterader creed and the Marrow of Modern Devinity and its defenders. It makes a clear case that absolutely all have a warrant to believe that Christ died for them and that the evangelist has warrant to freely offer the gospel and tell everyone that Christ died for them, elect or not. The book also has several good chapters on assurance based on what Christ has done rather than what we have done. It also has a good discussion on the twin problems of legalism and antinomianism. Its one failing is that it reaffirms that doctrine limited atonement with no way of reconciling it with the free offer of the gospel, and telling everyone without reservations that Christ died for them. Some have complained that it is too erudite, but I did not find this to be the case. Anyone with an adult vocabulary should have not trouble understanding it.

I confess that I have one major regret regarding this book: that I didn't read it sooner! This book will likely be one of the top 5 books that I've ever read in my life. Sinclair Ferguson (who is a favorite of mine) writes on lessons learned from an 18th century controversy in the Church of Scotland called "The Marrow Controversy." That controversy dealt with how Christ is offered to sinners: Does someone need to first repent *in order* to come to Christ or does someone repent *by* coming to Christ? Ferguson demonstrates that the pertinent related issues we can take away from this historic controversy are legalism, antinomianism, and assurance of salvation. In one of the clearest ways that I have ever heard, Ferguson elucidates the issues of legalism and antinomianism and how they are related. By taking us back to the Garden of Eden, he defines legalism as a distorted view of God - seeing God as a hard, restrictive master. It was the dark face that Satan put on God for Adam and Eve. It is knowing God's law apart from knowing his love. Antinomianism ("going against God's law") is a false escape from the burden that one carries from their legalism. The answer to both is the gospel, which is Christ himself. The answer to legalism is the gospel because that is the true escape from one's guilty burden. And therefore, the answer to antinomianism is also the gospel - not more law. This was very eye-opening for me! Ferguson ends with balm for the soul in describing how one can obtain assurance of salvation not by looking more at ourselves but by fixing our eyes more on Christ. The point of the book is that we have a full salvation - freedom from both sin's guilt and sin's enslaving power - by being united to Christ. Because we get a whole Christ when united to *him* we get a complete salvation. Take up and read this book!

This was an excellent book. I know the title is not flashy and would not seem of interest to the average Christian reader, but there is so much profound and practical insight in here for issues that all thoughtful Christians wrestle with. It covers topics such as: What does it mean to be "in Christ"? What is legalism? How does it manifest itself? What are the causes and cures? What place does the law have in the believer's life? Do I have to obey if my sins are already forgiven? Can I have assurance of faith? Or will that only make me apathetic? At root this book is really about recovering a right view of God's kind and generous heart, and a dissection of all the spiritual evils that result from doubting His goodness. This is a meaty read and that will sadly detract most people from reading this book. But if you are in any form of Christian ministry or counselling, I urge you to read this book. It is so worth the effort. I found every chapter deeply applicable to my own doubts and questions, but also very spiritually refreshing.

This book is good for the youngest Christian to the senior theologian. But first, go watch Sinclair Ferguson on Youtube to get his voice in your head, then read the book thru. If it seems too deep, back up a chapter, and start again. When you finish, watch another Sinclair Ferguson video and read the book again. Doctoral students and above should write a summary report after the first read and check your work during the second; my bet is you'll learn more the second time. Just know, a six page Forward by Tim Keller that gives no spoilers indicates his level of interest and admiration for this work. One paragraph from the Forward: "That (previous paragraph) is an extraordinarily nuanced exposition of the Protestant understanding of justification by faith alone through Christ alone. All those involved in the Marrow Contraversary had subscribed to this precisely worded theological statement. How then could charges and countercharges of antinomianism and legalism arise that would expose a fault line in the church and eventually lead to a split in the denomination? While such theological precision is crucial, evidently it does not finally solve this ongoing problem of the role of the law and of obedience in the Christian life." For the seniors, this will be a good poke at your confirmation bias of our legalistic bent and for the youngsters, it may give a sense of the gravity and need for good theology to walk the straight and narrow for life, with Christ, and also, perhaps be able to hear your Pastor's messages with Berean ear. Buy the book, read, repent, read again, live free in the grace in Christ.

Picked up this book on the recommendation of a friend. Together, we are studying Romans and Galatians in concert and the relation of law and grace kept coming to the forefront. This book took me deeper into my understanding of that issue in a rich and satisfying way. But, its scope went well beyond that question. It gave me better insight into biblical theology, the sacraments, and Christian service as well. This is one of those "every Christian should read" books that teaches theology and touches the heart simultaneously.

Easy to read and understand. Wonderful book. Learned much from it. It makes clear what the solution is to both views addressed in this book..

The subject of this book, on face value, could hardly be less appealing or more obscure. It concerns a long forgotten theological dispute in C18th Scotland. The controversy was around an equally long forgotten book "The marrow of modern divinity" written by a very minor Puritan Englishman, Edward Fisher which was rediscovered in the early c18th by a man called Thomas Boston. (Boston by the way is a great hero of mine, notably his wonderful book "The Crook in the Lot' which I have reviewed [...] Boston's championing of the book led to a deep division within the a church of Scotland, with the "marrow men" led by Boston being attached by their opponents and accused of "antinomianism" which means literally against the law i.e. If we are saved we can do what we like, God will forgive. They in turn suspected their opponents of legalism, that is to say adding something we contribute to grace alone through Christ Now if you have read this far, there is a big twist coming. Far from being a deeply obscure read, Sinclair Ferguson supported by an excellent introduction from Tim Keller brilliantly uses the Marrow controversy to shed much needed light on an absolutely central question of today — what is the gospel? How are we as Christians saved? It is also not just a question of theology but of how we feel. Our hearts as Keller says are a web of attitudes, practices, character and ways of reading the bible. It's sometimes easy for preachers in the reformed and evangelical tradition to fail to present obedience to God as a delight, as the best thing for us. It's also too say to slip into a fatal error in separating the Trinity by picturing an angry God the father somehow in opposition to his Son. This is an ancient sin. The Devils first question to humanity after all was " are you sure that the father God really loves you when he puts you in this beautiful garden yet forbids you to eat anything from the trees?" Next, Ferguson shows that the roots of both legalism and antinomianism are the same. They see obedience as something imposed upon us by God whose love is conditions unless we do a lot of work. The legality wearily assumes the burden while the antinomians gives up. So the cure for one is not a bit more of the other. Rather as Ferguson eloquently and movingly explains its Christ, and in particular union with him. When we do this and love the Lord more our obedience becomes a joy. Our relationship to the law explains Sinclair only works if it's our"brother in law" where we only relate to it through our brother, Jesus. Being "married" to the law in legalism or "divorced" from it in antinomianism is a recipe for disaster. So the books title is central which is the "whole Christ". This was vital for Thomas Boston who majored in union with Christ.-a truth that has been shamefully forgotten until recently in evangelical circles. After all the early Christians in the NT didn't primarily call themselves Christians but said they were in Christ. To use Augustinian language we need "totus Christ", Christ the whole Boston also stresses that Christ is yo be offered to everyone without exception and crucially without qualification. Why? Because the gospel is Jesus. There are no conditions to be met. Just come as you are. This emphasis was so needed in c18th Scotland - and we might think now - because insidiously the sheer graciousness of Christ was being stifled by conditional love and conditioned grace. The best way to look a this is a syllogism that Boston and his "marrow men " fiercely opposed The saving grace of God in Christ is given to the elect The elect forsake sin Therefore forsaking sin is a prerequisite for saving grace But as Ferguson points out with great force this is putting the cart of repentance before the horse of Christ. Repentance is the fruit of faith not the qualification for grace. Another way of putting this is that the benefits of the gospel such as justification, adoption etc were being separated from the Christ, who is the true Centre of the Christians life. The book concludes with helpful application about our assurance and God allowing us to suffer. " you have made known to me the paths of life, in your presence there are fullness of joy, at your right hand are pleasures for ever more." Gods glory and our joy must be united. As God has loved us from before the beginning of the unvisited, he always wants what's best for us "father knows best". Even and indeed especially when we don't understand what's happening that's when our trust is needed. How do we get that assurance? From our faith in a person Christ. Once we have that faith and through that we receive assurance of Gods deep unconditional love for us, the. Christ himself looms larger and larger. Now why do I think this book is so important? Because in our conservative evangelical world view it can be easy to unconsciously lose sight of what Boston rediscovered. This is particularly but not only true of the danger of legalism. Not to say that antinomianism can’t also creep in and in fact in general in the church as a whole this is the greater danger. But, personally I think that legalism, especially in the pulpit is the bigger danger for evangelicalism. Each preacher must examine their own hearts and see where they may fall, but fortunately the cure is the same - the whole Christ. This is particularly true of those of us (like me!) who find theology fascinating. We can become so wrapped up with if you like the superstructure, the diagram, that we lose sight of the person it's all about. There can be a decreasing emphasis as Ferguson points out on Christ himself in the books published on preaching. Is the dominant note in preaching we either give or hear focused on how to overcome sin or how to live the Christian life or even on the benefits of Christ. None of these things are wrong but if they like a drawing of a person detract from the person themselves then there is an incipient danger of legalism. Rather, our preaching surely as Ferguson skilfully argues must be on Christ himself, to know him, to live him, to obey him and above all to be united it's him now and for eternity.

If we struggle with the grace of God or are sandwiched between its two deviations namely legalism and Antinomianism this is a compelling message. It also grounds our assurance in Christ. So if we doubt, read.

Some of the previous comments abused the quotes in this book and gave very bad ratings. Shame on those people. They were repeating the same mistakes committed by the General Assembly that condemned the Marrow. First of all, no book can be considered safe if individual quotes can always be taken out of context (even the Bible). Second, in no way whatsoever Sinclair Ferguson is making a claim that his writings or any theologians he cited infallible. Infallibility belongs to the Bible alone. Any real Christians should know that better by now. It's therefore such a cheap shot in my opinion to judge a well written book by misrepresenting its individual quotes. Lastly, any theological points which Ferguson has made is part of an overarching message of the whole book. Therefore, one must read this book cover to cover before deciding whether to agree or disagree to those individual points. With the main message in the background, those individual points will come out as solidly biblical. They are only problematic when taken individually and misrepresented in an abusive manner.

Extremely helpful book to think through the free offer of the Gospel. The foreword by Keller should be required reading for Christians.