Confession without Controversy
John Newton was a man true to the doctrines of the Gospel. His belief that the Spirit is the teacher of divine truth led him to the following statement:
"I am a friend of peace; and being deeply convinced that no one can profitably understand the great truths and doctrines of the gospel any farther than he is taught of God, I have not a wish to obtrude my own tenets upon others, in a way of controversy; yet I do not thing myself bound to conceal them" (quoted in The Roots of Endurance p61).We would do well to follow his example in confessing - not concealing - the great truths and doctrines of the Gospel not by way of controversy, but with the conviction that our confession is what the Holy Spirit can and does use to give life to the dead.
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2 comments:
What a great quote and a good reminder to all of us so be unashamed of the gospel. Thanks, Graham!
What so refreshed me in Newton's perspective was that while being unashamed, he was convinced that "no one can profitably understand the great truths and doctrines of the gospel any farther than he is taught of God" and so the business is not to argue, but to simply set forth the truth.
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