My final remark ... is to point out that the great Apostle (Paul) never confines himself to mere positive statements but often indulges, because he feels that he must do so, in arguments, in polemics. I make this point because I think there is a great deal of very loose and very false and flabby thinking on the whole question of polemics and of argumentation at the present time. The attitude of many seems to be,

"We don't want these arguments. Give us the simpler message, the simple Gospel. Give it to us positively, and do not bother about other views."

It is important that we should realize that if we speak like that we are denying the Scriptures. The Scriptures are full of argumentation, full of polemics. And the Apostle sees the necessity for it here. Having just reasoned up to that tremendous climax on the doctrine of the Atonement, he suddenly asks,

"Where is boasting then?"

"Is he the God of the Jews only, or is he the God of the Gentiles also?"

"Do we then make void the law?"

Disapproval of polemics in the Christian Church is a very serious matter. But that is the attitude of the age in which we live. The prevailing idea today in many circles in the Church is not to bother about these things. As long as we are Christians, anyhow, somehow, all is well. Don't argue about doctrine, let us all be Christians together and talk about the love of God. That is really the basis of ecumenicity. Unfortunately that same attitude is creeping into evangelical circles also and many are saying that we must not be too precise about these things. But if you begin to object to clear statements about the doctrine of the Atonement you are beginning to argue. It is important that we should be clear about the doctrine of the Atonement.

"Ah but, you are beginning to argue, that is upsetting, that is going to divide people."

What I am trying to show is that if you hold that view you are criticizing the Apostle Paul, you are saying that he was wrong, and at the same time you are criticizing Jesus and the Bible. The Scriptures argue and debate and dispute; they are full of polemics. You cannot read the Epistle to the Romans, or the Epistle to the Galatians, or indeed any of the epistles, without seeing that very clearly. Let us be clear about what we mean ... No man should argument for the sake of argument. We should always regret the necessity; but though we regret it and bemoan it, when we feel that a vital matter is at stake we must engage in argument. We must "earnestly content for the truth", and we are called upon to do that by the New Testament.