Matt Cohen is writing about preaching, but his question applies just as much to leading Bible studies: “Is Sermon Application Legalism?”
Allow me to illustrate the potential error that I am referring to. Consider a pastor preaching from Ephesians 5:25, which reads, “Husbands, love your wives (imperative), as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her (indicative).” The preacher elaborates,
“Husbands, God’s word calls you to love and lay down your life for your wife. Our failure to obey this command reveals our desperate need for our Savior, Jesus Christ. The Lord Jesus is the true and ultimate husband who laid down his life to save, protect, and provide for us, his bride, the church. All honor and glory to Jesus our Lord. Husbands, praise Him, the great husband of the church!”
What is wrong with the pastor’s exegesis of Ephesians 5:25?
Before clicking over to the article, can you identify what would be wrong with the proposed application of the hypothetical preacher? Why is that approach not the solution to the danger of legalism?
