Fly!

Run, John, run, the law commands, 

But gives us neither feet nor hands. 

Far better news the gospel brings: 

It bids us fly and gives us wings.

John Bunyan???

Run, John, and work, the law commands,

yet finds me neither feet nor hands,

But sweeter news the gospel brings,

it bids me fly and lends me wings!

John Berridge

A rigid matter was the law,

demanding brick, denying straw,

But when with gospel tongue it sings,

it bids me fly and gives me wings

Ralph Erksine

These three little poems do not set the Law of God against the Gospel of God. Instead, they reveal just how good the Good News is. It is exceedingly and abundantly good, for even though both come with commands to follow, only one actually empowers us to comply.

In his first letter to the church, Peter writes instructions for the church to follow (1 Peter 1:13-25) – put your hope fully in Christ, turn from your former desires, be holy, conduct yourselves fearfully and love one another earnestly. Without Jesus these words would just be another law to follow and fail. The beauty of the Gospel is that by its regenerating work in us, what the law was powerless to do, God has enabled through Jesus. Now we can do the very things that without Christ would have been impossible before, so stretch out your wings and fly.