Consider a man driving along a state highway. He's driving 45 mph. As you drive past him, then glance at the speed limit, you realize that you are speeding. If you're busy, you think, why is he so stubborn about following rules? Maybe you roll your eyes and then slow down to match his speed and continue. Maybe you think to yourself: “What a good driver!” Now consider the same man, driving down the interstate. He continues to drive 45 mph. Those passing on the right of the man are infuriated by his obstinately slow driving, despite the fact that the minimum posted speed limit is 50 mph, and the clearly posted signs stating “Slower traffic keep right.” Finally, consider our man driving again 45 mph. This time though, the posted speed limit is 35 mph and there are flashing signs stating that school is in session and the speed limit is currently 25 mph. As our man speeds through the clearly marked school zone past countless young children and angry parents, he thinks to mutters under his breath: “What are you looking at?” in response the looks of shock and disapproval coming from the parents.
Consider again our man. When you first met him, he was clearly in compliance with the Law. By all external appearances he was indeed a law keeper. However, our second view of him was he was brazenly and unsafely violating the Law on the highway. Our final view was even more unsafe and utterly disregarding of those around him. Clearly he was NOT a law keeper. So it is with self-righteousness. We are comforted and maybe even encouraged when we read the imperatives of scripture and it seems initially that we've kept them. Yet, as soon as the Law encroaches on our lifestyle or what we believe to be right, despite reality, we scoff at the Law and go about our business. This is our nature.
As we learned from Ezekiel 36:25 last week, the reason for this is that we have in us a stony heart that rejects Gods law and as Paul says: “Can't obey”.
This weeks assignment: read Acts 15:1 – 19. Based upon your reading answer for yourself these questions:
1.The Judiasers desired to see these gentiles living in a way that pleased God. Based on Peter's response to them (7) what was wrong with their view of righteousness?
2.If these gentiles were now made perfect in Christ, then why would the church need to warn them of particularly egregious sin?
3.In what two ways does Peter describe their regeneration?
4.Based upon our reading of Peter's later epistles, is Peter saying that the Law should never be expounded to the gentiles?
Have a Christ-centered week.
