Non biblical motivations for obedience

Quick Overview

The main argument is that Christian obedience should stem from a genuine, heartfelt grief over sin and trust in Christ's justification, rather than being motivated by fear of punishment or a desire to earn salvation by avoiding specific "icky" sins.

Key Points: The speaker critiques the idea that Christians must avoid certain sins (like gossip, coveting, or going to strip clubs) to maintain their status, arguing that the true measure of a Christian is heartfelt grief over sin. If a person sins and does not feel heartbroken or convicted, they are essentially deceiving themselves about their Christian status. The discussion refutes using specific behavioral lists (like avoiding immorality or following God's law) as the primary motivation for obedience, suggesting this is not the biblical emphasis. The true biblical emphasis is on increasing the measure of hating one's sin, which is tied to the faith and trust placed in Christ for justification. The speaker challenges the notion that salvation is tied to avoiding certain sins, stating that the biblical focus is on the internal state of grieving sin, not merely external compliance. The video suggests that many people struggle with sins like gossip and greed, but that the core issue is the lack of true conviction or grief when those sins occur.

Context: This video features a discussion between two individuals, identified as 'The Study + Boys,' analyzing motivations for Christian obedience. The conversation centers on whether avoiding specific, often socially unacceptable sins (like immorality or coveting) is the defining characteristic of a Christian, contrasting this with the biblical emphasis on internal conviction and grief over sin against God.

Detailed Analysis

The discussion critiques the motivation behind Christian obedience, specifically targeting the idea that avoiding particular sins—like gossip, coveting, or visiting strip clubs—is the ultimate litmus test for being a Christian. One speaker argues that some people admit to sinning but then minimize it, hoping the listener has the same experience of not caring. The core conclusion presented is that the determining factor for being a Christian is not merely adhering to an external list of forbidden actions, but rather experiencing genuine, heartfelt grief and conviction over sin, as this grief reflects where one's faith and trust are placed—namely, in Christ's justification. The speaker asserts that Scripture does not command believers to get into the degrees of hating sin or focusing on external measures; instead, the emphasis is on increasing one's measure of hating sin because one's salvation is tied to trust in Christ. If a person sins and does not feel bad or grieved by it, they are likely self-deceived and are not truly operating under the biblical motivation for obedience.