Renewing Your Mind: Episode Summary - "Communicable Attributes"
Released on February 4, 2025, the "Communicable Attributes" episode of Ligonier Ministries' daily podcast, Renewing Your Mind, delves into the essential attributes of God that believers are called to emulate. Hosted by Nathan W. Bingham, the episode features insightful teachings from the late R.C. Sproul, focusing on how Christians can renew their minds by understanding and reflecting God's character as revealed in Scripture.
1. Introduction to Communicable Attributes
The episode begins by referencing Micah's Old Testament summary of God's law:
"What does the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God, so that his justice and righteousness are communicable attributes that we are called to emulate."
— Speaker A [00:00]
R.C. Sproul sets the foundation by distinguishing between incommunicable attributes (aspects of God that are unique to His divine nature, such as infinity and omniscience) and communicable attributes (qualities God shares with His creation, enabling believers to reflect His character).
2. The Dual Aspect of Holiness
A significant portion of the discussion centers on the attribute of holiness, exploring its communicable and incommunicable dimensions.
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Incommunicable Holiness:
Sproul explains that God's holiness as His greatness and transcendence places Him above all creation, making this aspect incommunicable."The holiness of God would be regarded as being incommunicable, because he alone in his being transcends all created things."
— R.C. Sproul [00:58] -
Communicable Holiness:
Contrastingly, God's holiness in terms of purity and moral perfection is communicable. Believers, through regeneration by the Holy Spirit, are called to pursue moral and ethical excellence."Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our redemption, we are in the process of being made holy... we will be glorified by virtue of our purification."
— R.C. Sproul [04:30]
Sproul emphasizes that while humans cannot achieve holiness independently due to their fallen state, the Holy Spirit empowers believers to grow in this attribute, aligning their character with God's.
3. Emulating God's Love and Goodness
Sproul highlights love and goodness as pivotal communicable attributes.
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Love:
Citing Ephesians 5:1-2, he underscores that love is central to imitating God."Paul calls the believer to imitate God... Beloved God is love. And love is of God."
— R.C. Sproul [06:15] -
Goodness:
While acknowledging humanity's inherent inability to fully reflect God's goodness due to sin, Sproul points out that regeneration enables believers to pursue good works."Once we are regenerated by the Holy Spirit, we are called to a life of good works... to mirror and reflect this aspect of God’s nature."
— R.C. Sproul [10:45]
He references Jesus' interaction with the rich young ruler and the Apostle Paul's words to illustrate the biblical stance on human goodness and righteousness.
4. Understanding God's Justice
The podcast delves deep into the concept of justice, clarifying its relationship with righteousness and differentiating it from mercy and grace.
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Justice Defined:
Sproul explains that God's justice is intrinsically linked to His righteousness, ensuring that His actions are always right and just."Justice defines his righteousness, whereby he never punishes people more severely than the crimes that they have committed... he never commits an injustice."
— R.C. Sproul [14:20] -
Justice vs. Mercy and Grace:
He delineates justice as an obligatory aspect of God's character, whereas mercy and grace are voluntary acts."Mercy and grace are always actions that God takes freely. God is never required to be merciful... mercy and grace are always voluntary with God."
— R.C. Sproul [18:50]
Sproul addresses common misconceptions regarding God's selective grace, assuring listeners that God's justice remains uncompromised even as He extends mercy.
5. The Communicable Attribute of Wisdom
Concluding the main content, Sproul discusses wisdom as another key communicable attribute.
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Biblical Wisdom:
He distinguishes wisdom from mere knowledge, highlighting its foundation in the "fear of the Lord" and godly living."The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom... the essence of wisdom biblically is found in godly living."
— R.C. Sproul [22:15] -
Applying Wisdom:
Sproul encourages believers to seek God's wisdom through prayer and Scripture, enabling them to live wisely in accordance with God's will."We are called as Christians... to pray that God in His wisdom will illuminate our thinking."
— R.C. Sproul [23:50]
6. Conclusion
Nathan W. Bingham wraps up the episode by reiterating the importance of understanding and emulating God's communicable attributes. He briefly mentions upcoming resources and encourages listeners to continue their theological journey with Ligonier Ministries.
"You're listening to Renewing Your Mind. I'm your host, Nathan W. Bingham... One of the most common questions R.C. Sproul was asked during his ministry was, 'What is the will of God for my life?' So how are we to understand God's will? Be sure to join us tomorrow here on Renewing Your Mind."
— Nathan W. Bingham [24:21]
Note: The final segment includes promotional content, which has been summarized to maintain focus on the episode's core teachings.
Key Takeaways:
- Communicable Attributes: Attributes of God that believers can reflect, such as love, goodness, justice, and wisdom.
- Holiness: Distinctly God's greatness is incommunicable, while His moral purity is communicable through the Holy Spirit.
- Justice vs. Mercy: God's justice is inherent and obligatory, whereas mercy and grace are acts of His free will.
- Wisdom: Essential for godly living, derived from the fear of the Lord and application of Scripture.
By understanding and striving to embody these communicable attributes, believers can renew their minds in accordance with God's Word, fostering a deeper relationship with Him and a more Christ-like character.