Wednesday Night Bible Study | 02.16.2022
Video
Notes
Natural Motivations
- Romans 2:12-16 tells us that the unbelieving Gentiles are “a law to themselves.” Classically, this is called natural law.
- The law of nature proper applies to those things which obey necessarily.
- The law of reason applies to rational agents (i.e., humans) which have freedom to voluntarily obey/disobey.
- Unbelievers can (and often do) come to accept natural law because they are human, but natural law is ultimately a reflection of God’s eternal law.
- Christians and pagans alike have historically held that happiness is achieved through being what you are.
- Modern people tend to think in terms of self-definition.
- Pre-modern people (including most Christians) believed that identity was imposed, so to be what you are is to follow God’s natural law.
- All people can naturally see that perfect happiness comes from perfect holiness (i.e., what we were made to be).
- Perfect holiness can be achieved through perfect obedience to the natural law, but as Paul points out later in Romans, perfect obedience is impossible.
- Bottom-line: Happiness is a legitimate, natural motivation for holiness, but we still need something more to achieve it.
Richard Hooker, Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity, 80:
“Good always results when things observe the course of their nature, and evil results when they do the opposite…”
Supernatural Motivations (1 Peter 1:13-21)
- v.16: “Be holy, for I am holy.” (quoting Lev. 11:44)
- Holiness/sanctification/righteousness is attached to a supernatural motivation, namely, the holiness of God.
You are a child of a holy Father (vv. 14-15)
- God has adopted you into his family (see vv. 3-4)
- Families have characterisitics:
- Names
- Traditions
- History
- Families have expectations for behavior.
- The defining characteristic and highest expectation for God’s family is holiness (i.e., to bear the name of Christ is to be holy).
Your Father is a righteous judge (v. 17)
- God judges (1) impartially and (2) according to one’s deeds.
- An impartial judge does not give special treatment to his children.
- See 1 Corinthians 3:10-15
- God judges our works.
- Specifically, God judges our efforts in building up his Church.
- Good works are rewarded; bad works are destroyed.
- Bottom line: Salvation does not free you from judgment; therefore, the judgment of God ought to serve as motivation for our holiness.
You were purchased at the price of Christ’s life (vv. 18-21)
- “Ransom” (lutroo) means, in this context, “to buy back.” This, then, is slave language. One master has purchased the servants of another.
- Man is always bound by slavery to something. Even the most free man on earth serves someone else.
- Consider the story of Naaman (2 Kings 5:18). Even in his pre-Christian faith, Naaman was bound to another master, but we are free from other masters.
- We have an obligation to our kurios as douloi.