Renewing Your Mind: "Called to Believe and Obey" (March 25, 2026)

Host: Ligonier Ministries
Featured Speaker: Dr. W. Robert Godfrey
Theme: How Deuteronomy Shapes the Christian Understanding of Law, Grace, and Obedience

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the relationship between God's law and His grace, illustrated through key passages in Deuteronomy, especially chapters 8–10. Dr. W. Robert Godfrey explores the ways in which Deuteronomy warns Israel, foreshadows the ministry of Christ, and balances serious warnings with the comfort of a mediator—offering a model for Christian life today.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Purpose and Tone of Deuteronomy

• The Book of Deuteronomy is not just about blessings and grace (as seen in other books), but also about serious warnings, reminders, and the need for a mediator ([00:07]).
  • “We need the book of Deuteronomy to remind us precisely that life is serious and that these things matter. And to remind us that when the threats are most dire, there is a mediator.” — Dr. Godfrey ([00:15])
• Deuteronomy addresses dangers at both ends: legalism (overemphasizing law) and antinomianism (disregarding the law because of grace) ([00:37]).

Law, Grace, and the Life of Israel

• The core idea is to understand the role of law in the story of Israel and how God's warnings serve as a guide for living in covenant faithfulness ([01:47]).
  • Israel’s journey, especially through the wilderness, is used as a teaching moment about faith and obedience.

Jesus as the Fulfillment of Israel in the Wilderness

• Dr. Godfrey expounds on Deuteronomy 8:3 as quoted by Jesus during His temptation ([01:55-04:10]).
  • Jesus faces the same temptations (food, power, worship) as Israel in the wilderness but succeeds perfectly.
  • "It’s wrong to take advice from the devil. The devil never has helpful advice… Jesus quotes this verse… we’re to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, not by bread alone." ([03:00])
  • The temptations in the wilderness reveal Jesus as the new Israel and new Moses, fulfilling where Israel failed.

The Golden Calf and Mediation

• The golden calf incident (Deuteronomy 9) is highlighted as a tragic but instructive failure ([09:45]).
  • Moses mediates between God and Israel, even offering his life for their redemption—foreshadowing Christ’s intercession for His people ([11:30-12:40]).
  • "Here’s a beautiful picture of intercession and mediation, one offering his life for another. But this is how terrible this moment was in the history of Israel…” ([11:40])

The True Basis for God’s Blessings

• God’s giving of the promised land is not a reward for Israel’s righteousness, but an act of grace ([13:55]).
  • “Anyone who wants to argue that Israel is inheriting the land because of its righteousness ... Moses says that’s absolutely the opposite of the truth. He’s giving you the land despite who you are … He is rescuing a stubborn people.” ([14:55])
  • Christians should remember their own rescue is also a product of God’s mercy, not personal merit.

Faith and Obedience: Two Sides of the Same Coin

• Obedience flows from genuine faith; belief and obedience are not opposed ([17:45]).
  • "The Lord called you to believe and out of that belief to obey. The obedience is a fruit of the believing. And I think that’s exactly what we find in Hebrews chapters 3 and 4." ([18:20])
  • "Both are fruits of the Spirit in the life of the Christian.” ([18:55])

Covenant Blessings and Warnings Properly Balanced

• The summary of the section is clear: God promises blessing for covenant faithfulness and warning or discipline for unfaithfulness ([20:55]).
• Dr. Godfrey warns against prosperity gospel misapplications and calls for pursuit of spiritual, not material, blessings ([22:00]).
  • "The blessings we ought to be seeking today as Christian people are spiritual blessings: the forgiveness of our sins, the sanctification of our lives, the inheritance of eternal life." ([22:30])

The Role of the Law in Shaping Love and Community

• Deuteronomy's laws serve as practical guidelines for loving God and neighbor. Law and love, law and grace, are partners, not adversaries ([24:45-25:45]).
  • "Our Lord said, didn’t he, 'If you love me, you’ll keep my commandments.' These are not things in conflict, but things that should encourage us to learn more about what it really means to love God and love our neighbor." ([25:35])

Memorable Quotes and Timestamps

• On the seriousness of Deuteronomy:
  “Life is serious and these things matter. And to remind us that when the threats are most dire, there is a mediator.” — Dr. Godfrey ([00:15])

• On Jesus’ response to temptation:
  “What Jesus is showing is that it’s wrong to take advice from the devil. The devil never has helpful advice… we’re to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, not by bread alone.” ([03:00])

• On the golden calf:
  “This golden calf incident just lives in [Moses’] heart and in his memory. Really one of the very lowest points in the whole history of God’s people.” ([10:45])

• On the basis of receiving the land:
  “He’s giving you the land despite who you are… He is rescuing a stubborn people. He is not rewarding a righteous people.” ([14:55])

• On faith and obedience:
  “The obedience is a fruit of the believing. … Both are fruits of the Spirit in the life of the Christian.” ([18:20-18:55])

• On seeking true blessings:
  “The blessings we ought to be seeking today as Christian people are spiritual blessings: the forgiveness of our sins, the sanctification of our lives, the inheritance of eternal life.” ([22:30])

• On the integration of law and love:
  "Our Lord said, didn't he, ‘If you love me, you’ll keep my commandments.’ These are not things in conflict, but things that should encourage us to learn more about what it really means to love God and love our neighbor." ([25:35])

Important Segments & Timestamps

• [00:07] — The seriousness of Deuteronomy and the need for a mediator
• [01:47] — Introduction to Deuteronomy chapter 8 and its significance
• [03:00] — Jesus in the wilderness and the temptation parallels with Israel
• [09:45] — The golden calf, the trauma for Moses, and lessons in mediation
• [13:55] — The real reason Israel receives the promised land: God’s grace, not their righteousness
• [17:45] — Faith and obedience, and how they operate together
• [20:55] — Blessing and warning in God’s covenant with Israel
• [22:30] — Distinguishing spiritual from material blessings
• [25:35] — Law, love, and the summary of God’s commands

Final Takeaways

• Deuteronomy offers a balanced reminder: it calls believers to a life marked by both reverent obedience and trust in God’s grace, always mindful of Christ as the perfect mediator.
• Christians are urged to neither idolize the law nor dismiss its importance, seeing it instead as the guide that, in Christ, enables them to love God and neighbor sincerely.
• True blessing is rooted in God’s sovereign grace, not human achievement.
• The episode promises a continued study of how love and the law intersect in Deuteronomy in the next installment.