Leviticus 19 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
Psalm 23-24 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
Ecclesiastes 2 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
1Timothy 4 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
Day 105
Of the fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof.
Chapter 6, Paragraph 1.
“...yet he did not long abide in this honour; Satan using the subtlety of the serpent to seduce Eve, then by her seducing Adam, who, without any compulsion, did willfully transgress the Law of their Creation, and the command given to them, in eating the forbidden fruit; which God was pleased according to His wise and holy Counsel to permit, having purposed to order it, to his own glory.“
Scripture Lookup
Genesis 3:12,13
2 Corinthians 11:3
Reflection
The paradise of Eden did not last. God had commanded Adam, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day you eat from it you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:16,17). Immediately following the command of God we read of the creation of Eve, a helper suitable to Adam. Their relationship with each other and with God was harmonious.
Satan, however, through the serpent questioned Eve about God’s command. Notice in Genesis 3:1 how he turned God’s command on its head: “Indeed, has God said, ‘You shall not eat from any tree of the garden?'” We as readers know that this is not true, and Eve did as well. Yet in her answer to the serpent she showed her weakness. For she added that not only eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but touching it as well would lead to death. While no disobedience had yet occurred, there was already confusion as to what was God’s command.
What deceit from the serpent! He not only contradicted God’s word – “You surely shall not die!” – but he appealed to a desire that on the surface seems reasonable – “you will be like God”. Isn’t being like God, the holy and wise Being, a noble endeavor? Eve saw that the tree was desirable to make one wise, so she ate from it. Foolish Eve! She encouraged her husband to eat, and he freely did so. They broke God’s law. Sin had entered into paradise.
We may shake our heads at the naivete of Eve, or try to make excuses for her. Yet how often are we amiss at knowing God’s word? How often do we hear professing Christians justifying questionable actions that God has not commanded or has even forbidden as attempting to be more godly? “God knows my heart.” We must be sure that we understand what God has commanded, and we must be sure that we obey His commands, not what we think would please Him. Thankfully, He has given us His Spirit to guide us into all truth and to enable us to obey. To Him be the glory.
Questions to Consider
Leviticus 18 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
Commentaries (Henry, Gill)Psalm 22 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
Ecclesiastes 1 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
1Timothy 3 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
Day 104
Of the fall of Man, of Sin, and of the Punishment thereof.
Chapter 6, Paragraph 1.
“Although God created Man upright, and perfect, and gave him a righteous law, which had been unto life had he kept it, and threatened death upon the breach thereof;...“
Scripture Lookup
Genesis 2:16,17
Reflection
“Meanwhile, back at the ranch…”
When we last saw Adam and Eve in the Confession, they had just been created by God. Owning a reasonable and immortal soul, having the Law of God written in their hearts, and able to fulfill His law, they were happy and holy. While they had the ability to change their will and transgress the instruction of not eating the fruit, they were blissfully with God and creation.
“We interrupt this program to discuss divine providence.”
Swerving to the next chapter, the Confession discussed the Providence of God. Wait! What was going to happen to Adam and Eve? Why talk about providence at this point? Because by discussing how God upholds and directs all creatures and things, how He uses (or not, as He pleases) various means to fulfill His purposes, how even the sinful actions of men are part of His determinate counsel, and how He takes care of His church in a special manner, the backdrop has been laid to understand what will happen next with our first parents.
“Tune in next time…”
For without an understanding of providence, it is easy to think that the actions of Adam and Eve took God by surprise. He had created them. He set them up in the Garden of Eden. He gave them a command which if obeyed sustained their life. They had the power to fulfill this command – why would it all go so horribly wrong? Yet God was governing all things according to His decree even then, and there in the Garden was disposing all things for the good of His church.
Questions to Consider
Leviticus 17 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
Psalm 20-21 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
Proverbs 31 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
1Timothy 2 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
Day 103
Of Divine Providence
Chapter 5, Paragraph 7.
“As the Providence of God doth in general reach to all Creatures, so after a most special manner it taketh care of his Church, and disposeth of all things to the good thereof.“
Scripture Lookup
1 Timothy 4:10
Amos 9:8,9
Isaiah 43:3-5
Reflection
God upholds, directs, disposes and governs all creatures and things. But in a special way He takes care of His church. The carrying out of all things is for the good of the church!
It is not a small thing to belong to the people of God. For since you are a member of the Church, all of Providence is being dispensed for your good! So when God works all things together for the good of those that love Him, that is the special care He takes with you. Whether it be a trial or a delight, both are blessings from Him.
Sometimes it does not seem like God is taking special care of His church. Strife and conflict within a local church, members who one day stop attending and vanish, and persecution from the world discourage and tempt us to doubt His word. Yet Jesus said, “…upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.” (Matthew 16:18) We must remember that He does keep His Church and not lose heart.
What a wonderful Providence of God, that takes care of those that are His in an unique manner, that all should be for our good. What a merciful and infinitely wise God, that gives us such treatment though we do not deserve it. What a powerful God, who orchestrates all that comes to pass and preserves His Church. Praise be to Him!
Questions to Consider
Leviticus 16 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
Commentaries (Henry, Gill)Psalm 19 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
Proverbs 30 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
1Timothy 1 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
Day 102
Of Divine Providence
Chapter 5, Paragraph 6.
“…whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, under those means which God uses for the softening of others.“
Scripture Lookup
Exodus 8:15,32
Isaiah 6:9,10
1 Peter 2:7,8
Reflection
The wicked and ungodly do not have all things work for their good. God’s grace is withheld from them, so that they remain in unbelief. The common graces they enjoyed may be removed from them, and the way is paved for them to fulfill their evil desires. Freely choosing and delighting in such a life, the wicked harden their hearts. Amazingly, the same means that spur the ungodly further from God are used to soften the hearts of His children. What causes one to decay is the same thing that will cause one to grow. So which one is happening for you?
Sin should never be something that the Christian takes lightly. Yes, the penalty for our sin has been paid for by Jesus, and yes, it is grace that saves us. But, “are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be!” (Romans 6:1) While the believer still has the remaining corruption of sin in him, there shouldn’t be a pattern of ongoing willful sin in his life. Scarily, some are deceived into believing they are righteous when their lives show no evidence of struggling against sin.
When we consider how God sometimes gives over the wicked to their own lusts, we learn to see just how beautiful repentance is. For godly sorrow that leads to repentance is evidence that God has drawn us to Himself! He is increasing our dependence upon Him, and drawing us closer to the Being that has all life, glory, goodness, blessedness in and of Himself! What a gift!
May we then ever turn to Christ, and submit to His care all that befalls us.
He is ever doing you good; be you always abounding in His work. His providence stands by you in your greatest distresses and dangers; do not flinch from God when His service and you duty is compassed about with difficulties. O be active for that God who every moment is active for you. -John Flavel
Questions to Consider
Leviticus 15 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
Psalm 18 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
Proverbs 29 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
2Thessalonians 3 (NASB, ESV, KJV, HCSB)
Day 101
Of Divine Providence
Chapter 5, Paragraph 6.
“…and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan,…“
Scripture Lookup
Psalm 81:11,12
2 Thessalonians 2:10-12
Reflection
It is a fearful thing to consider how providence unfolds for the wicked and ungodly. God sometimes removes the restraints in their life that have kept them from further sin. Like shoppers waiting for the store doors to open on Black Friday, as soon as there is an opening for sin the ungodly rush in to take advantage of it.
Free from God’s restraints, the wicked are given over to their desires. The flesh, the world, and the devil consume them, and the wicked freely choose it. The lusts of the flesh are not a struggle for them. The world, and all the sinful opportunities it contains, encourages licentiousness. “Just do it!” “Embrace your passion!” There is no call for self-restraint, and the ungodly embraces such abandon. Allegiance to Satan is demonstrated proudly.
What makes this even more tragic, though, is that they freely choose this life of sin and misery. They have no desire for the truth. In fact, they believe that As 2 Thessalonians 2:11 shows, they believe what is false, “in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”
God may lessen His restraint on the wicked, but those in Christ He conforms to the image of His Son: “But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.” (2 Thessalonians 2:13) While the ungodly fall prey to their own lusts, let us look to Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith, and ask Him for help in laying aside the sin which so easily entangles us.
Questions to Consider
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