Law and Gospel

In the context of discussing the Word of God as Law and Gospel, Michael S. Horton, writes: "The law's imperatives tell us what must be done; the gospel's indicatives tell us what God has done." [The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way (Grand Rapids: Zondervan), 138.]

Application of Yourself and the Text

"Apply yourself wholly to the text,
Apply the text wholly to yourself."

--J. A. Bengel

"Lord, aid me in applying myself totally to the biblical text and applying the biblical text totally to myself. Help me avoid the perilous pitfalls of, on the one hand, applying myself only partially and half-heartedly to the biblical text and, on the other hand, of applying the biblical text hypocritically and only to others who seem to need it more than I do. Amen."