Jumpstarter 9 of 10

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Question 9

In addressing “by the law is knowledge of sin,” the speaker contrasts early Christians fighting Gnostics (law given by an evil god) with today’s fight against Augustine’s claim that God gave the law mainly to show humans they can’t obey. Which of those two errors do you see as more tempting in your own circles, and what would each one do to someone’s trust in God’s goodness?

Another way to ask: Which wrong idea do you see more in your circles: that the law came from an evil god, or that God gave the law mostly to prove we can’t obey? How would each view affect trust in God being good?

Direct Answer The transcript presents both errors as attacks on God’s goodness: Gnosticism makes the law come from a “wicked” god, while Augustine’s view makes God look like someone who gives impossible commands just to condemn. The transcript doesn’t name which circles are most tempted today, but the speaker indicates Augustine’s explanation is widely preached among “millions of Christians.”

Support from Transcript:

Gnostic misuse: they read “by the law is the knowledge of sin” as “the law brought about sin… cause of sin… obviously some wicked God.”
The speaker says early Christians answered: the law “taught the Jews how they should live” and gave awareness of sins Gentiles “didn’t know about.”
Augustine’s claim: God gave the law “merely to demonstrate… they’re unable to obey his commandments.”
He says many accept it “without reflecting on its absurdity” and that he has “heard it preached” and “so many times.”
He argues it “denigrates… the character of God” by making him like a despot who punishes people for the impossible.

Discussion Follow-ups Which error more easily erodes worship: believing God’s law is evil, or believing God’s commands are basically a setup? How does the speaker’s reading restore God’s intent: “to teach… to lead them to Christ”?

Jumpstarter 9 of 10

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Jumpstarter 9 of 10