“But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”
Romans 6:17-18
The above section from Romans 6 is one of my favorite passages of scripture. I love Paul’s choice of “becom[ing] obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed.” Too often, I live as though the way to know God is from the head, being able to regurgitate the most bible facts and theological truths. I have been rather disheartened by conversations with former Christians over the years when they often still know their bibles better than I do. Verses like these serve as a reminder that while it is important to be learning, growing, and stretching one’s mind — being committed to the standard of teaching — this learning needs to be grounded in, and flow out of, a desire of the heart. Intellectual formation should train someone to care about the subject matter and to want to be shaped by it.
The fellows program has three main pillars for intellectual formation. Sunday mornings, we have been attending the “Genesis to Revelation in fourteen weeks” class. The breakneck pace has led to a focus on the unity of the message of scripture and how that message was developed and revealed as Old Testament promises find their fulfillment in the work of Christ. Every other Thursday morning, we have a book discussion, most recently on how the unity amid diversity seen in the Trinity might be reflected in the practices of the local church. The first book of the semester, Crisis of Confidence, has been a personal favorite, significantly expanding my view of the role of creeds and confessions.
The brunt of the intellectual formation happens on Fridays through a seminary class at Reformed Theological Seminary. Dr. Sutanto has led us through a Systematic Theology textbook, starting with the nature of revelation and what it means to know anything, before building up to what is meant by the doctrine of Creation or Christology (the study of Christ) or Covenant theology. There are days when everything clicks and God is revealed to be a little more glorious than I had supposed. There are other days when the lecture topics feel heavy and the readings go slowly (or not at all). I thank God for these days too and that even I, who was once a slave to sin, might become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which I was committed, and having been set free from sin, might become a slave to righteousness. Amen.
Jesus, with thy church abide;
be her Savior, Lord, and Guide,
while on earth her faith is tried:
we beseech thee, hear us.
Keep her life and doctrine pure;
grant her patience to endure,
trusting in thy promise sure:
we beseech thee, hear us.
May she one in doctrine be,
one in truth and charity,
winning all to faith in thee:
we beseech thee, hear us.
Save her love from growing cold,
make her watchmen strong and bold,
fence her round, thy peaceful fold:
we beseech thee, hear us.
– T.B. Pollock, “Jesus with Thy Church Abide” (verses 1-3, 6)
Selby enjoying some rest!
About the Author
Selby Ireland is a member of the Fourth Fellows Class of 2025-2026. He is from Jackson, Mississippi and is a graduate of the University of Virginia. This year, Selby is working at MedStar as a medical assistant.