Deuteronomy 30:11-14 and Pleasing God

Kentaro · #1 (**permalink**) 11-05-2009, 10:01 PM

"For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off. It is not in heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' But the word is very near you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.

While I am acquainted with the 3 uses of the Law, and the other post dealing with this verse, and I know I am justified, I still don't understand how we can obey His commandments, even if we are regenerate, because of our sins. I realize that the fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in our emotions, will and actions would be pleasing to God since they are from Him. Calvin says in his commentary on these verses "it is necessary to come to the Gospel, wherein that rigorous requirement is relaxed, because, through the interposition of pardon, the will to obey is pleasing to God instead of perfect obedience."

Any help would be appreciated so that I could have confidence that is it possible to please God.

Thanks,

Kentaro · #2 (**permalink**) 11-06-2009, 10:26 AM

Also, if there is a book that anyone would recommend on the subject I would also greatly appreciate it.

YXU · #3 (**permalink**) 11-07-2009, 11:15 PM

Calvin's commentary on Romans gives an explanation to this passage. Hope that will help.

Kentaro · #4 (**permalink**) 11-08-2009, 11:50 AM

Thank you for your reply. I have looked at Calvin's commentary on Rom. 10:5-8.
Is that what you mean? I guess I'm missing it. I see verses saying that we can do good works pleasing to God, but I can't find any that explain why. Do you know of any verses that would describe God sanctifying our good works of faith?

***Contra_Mundum*** · #5 (**permalink**) 11-09-2009, 05:40 PM

I think Moses operative words there are "in your heart." Moses is teaching a salvation by grace through faith. That is what true beleivers and true religion has always been about. No different for Israelites at Sinai or on the Plains of Moab.

How are you going to obey the Law? Do you have the ability to go up to heaven and get what you need? No, it has been brought near to you by God, and you need it within you. You need faith in the promise.

Kentaro · #6 (**permalink**) 11-10-2009, 07:50 PM

Thanks for your response.

My confusion is with the phrase "so you can do it". In what sense is God saying they can do His word and what is the relationship to our obedience today? How are our good works pleasing to God today in Christ? That is my struggle for peace of mind. I know I am justified, but I want to know (if possible) that when I try to do good works (according to scripture) that they are pleasing to God even if they are done imperfectly with imperfect motives.

a mere housewife · #7 (**permalink**) 11-15-2009, 03:34 PM

I think the answer to your question is that our works are pleasing to God because we are united to Christ, who is perfectly acceptable to God? He not only paid for our sins but fulfilled the law on our behalf: so neither the sinful actions that we do can accuse us, nor the actions that we do which are good in themselves, but which we do imperfectly: all of that sin is nailed to Christ's cross, and God is free to accept our works as we stand in Christ's perfect righteousness. Below is a section I read today in Ursinus' Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism. I think it states what you have been saying about our works being imperfect, and shows that there is a difference between an action which is sinful in substance (such as adultery) and an action with is sinful by 'accident' -- like worshipping God, which is a good action, but doing so imperfectly -- I think this is what you are asking about? Ursinus says that even the good actions of the wicked are rejected because there is no forgiveness for their sins, and because even their best works are sinful by the 'accident' of not being done to obey or glorify God: but even the sins of the righteous are forgiven, and their works are accepted because they are united to Christ, and because though failing of perfection in many respects, they are done from a regenerate heart of obedience and a desire to glorify God. God is so free to accept them for Christ's sake, that He can actually reward them, with even 'eternal' rewards. I hope that is stated properly (and I hope that if it isn't, someone will correct me.)

Quote:

All the virtues . . . of the unregenerate, such as the chastity of Scipio, the bravery of Julius Caesar, the fidelity of Romulus, the justice of Aristides, &c., although they are in themselves good, and commanded by God, yet they are nevertheless sins by accident, and hateful to God, both because the persons by whom they are done do not please him, not being in a state of reconciliation, and also because they are not done in the manner, nor with the design which God requires; that is, they do not proceed from faith, and are not done for the glory of God. . . .
There is, therefore, a great difference between the virtues of the regenerate and the unregenerate. For, 1. The good works of the regenerate proceed from faith, and are pleasing to God; but it is different with the works of the unregenerate. 2. The regenerate do all things to the glory of God; the unregenerate and hypocrites act with reference to their own glory. 3. The actions of the regenerate are connected with a sincere desire to obey God; the unregenerate and hypocrites exhibit only an outward profession, without inward obedience. Their virtues are, therefore not such in reality; they are nothing more than shadows, and faint resemblances of that which is truly good. 4. The imperfection of the works of the regenerate is covered by the satisfaction of Christ, and the corruption which is still inherent in them is not imputed unto them, nor is it objected to them that they defile the gifts of God by their sins; but the virtues of the unregenerate which are good in themselves, are and remain sins by accident, and are defiled by many other crimes. 5. The good works of the unregenerate are honored merely with temporal rewards, and that not because they are pleasing to God, but that he may thus invite and encourage them, and others to such honesty and external deportment as is necessary for the well-being of the human race; but God accepts the works of the righteous for the sake of Christ, and graciously crowns them with temporal and eternal rewards, as it is said: "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come." (1 Tim. 4:8.) Finally, the unregenerate, by performing works commanded by God, obtain a mitigation of punishment, that they may not with other wicked persons suffer more grievously in this life; but the righteous do these things, not only that their sufferings may be alleviated, but also that they may be entirely freed therefrom.

Kentaro · #8 (**permalink**) 11-16-2009, 01:29 PM

Thank you for your reply. That helps.
I think I need to spend more time reading about the satisfaction of Christ
and His atonement for my sin. I know there are a ton of them out there, but could anybody recommend a good book on this topic that also addresses the
issue of pleasing God in our walk with Him?

Thanks again,

a mere housewife · #9 (**permalink**) 11-16-2009, 04:13 PM

I know other people have read much more and I hope you get some good suggestions: two things I have loved in this regard have been Hugh Martin's sermons in

Amazon