Author: Reformed Baptista

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 255

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Day 255

Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience.

Chapter 21, Paragraph 1.

“…as also in their free access to God, and their yielding obedience unto Him, not out of slavish fear, but a child-like love and willing mind….”

Scripture Lookup

Romans 8:15

Luke 1:73-75

1 John 4:18

Reflection

Fear.

As sinners, we have much to fear. Fear of condemnation, fear of the Law, fear of this evil world, fear of future torment. As believers, through our union with Christ, we need not fear those things any more. He took our condemnation. He fulfilled the Law. He defeated evil. We are safe from harm when we are found in Him.

Freed from such a miserable state of being and a horrific future, do we now cower in fear before God? Certainly we ought to be humbled and awe-struck at His very being. But do we need to be apprehensive when approaching Him? Will He turn angry with us when we fail?

Look at who God is. Almighty, all-knowing, everywhere present and holy, yet also most loving and abundant in goodness. This God sent His Son, who lowered Himself and took on human flesh. He endured the terror of this evil world. He suffered the wrath due to our sin. He died so that we may live. In rescuing us, Christ has drawn us so closely to Himself that when God looks at us, He sees Christ’s righteousness as ours. Nothing hinders us from accessing God.

Purchasing for us the freedom to access God, Christ has also procured for us the desire to access God. When we are regenerated, we are enabled by the Holy Spirit to will and do that which is pleasing to God. Enlightened by Him as to His will, we wish to obey Him, and freely act to do so. Knowing the love the Father has lavished on us, we do not need to fearfully obey Him. We are free to obey Him.

Questions to Consider

  • What motivates your actions: love of God, or fear of Him?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 254

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Day 254

Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience.

Chapter 21, Paragraph 1.

“…from the Evil of Afflictions; the Fear, and Sting of death, the Victory of the Grave, and Everlasting Damnation:…”

Scripture Lookup

Romans 8:28
1 Corinthians 15:54-57
2 Thessalonians 1:10

Reflection

Christ has purchased liberty for His people. Through our union with Christ, we receive multiple freedoms upon regeneration. Among these are:

  • freedom from the evil of afflictions,
  • freedom from the fear and sting of death,
  • freedom from the victory of the grave, and
  • freedom from everlasting damnation.

Those who are in Christ no longer experience the evil of afflictions. This may puzzle some readers. Don’t Christians still endure afflictions? How are we free from such pain and hardship? It is not the affliction from which we are freed, but the evil of afflictions. “…after a most special manner [the Providence of God] taketh care of his Church, and disposeth of all things to the good thereof.” (LBCF 5.7)

The same objection may be made of freedom of the fear of death as of the evil of afflictions. “I still fear death – why am I not free from the fear of it?” Dying is unnatural. Death is an enemy. But for the Christian, it is a defeated enemy. Its sting is removed. While we may be apprehensive concerning death, we are not terrified by it.

Our death is not a satisfaction for our sins, but the abolishing of sin and our passage into everlasting life.

-Hercules Collins, An Orthodox Catechism

Death will never be victorious over the Christian. Through Christ we have freedom from the grave’s victory. Life is ours – eternally! “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10) Those outside of Christ will receive everlasting damnation. Such torment and condemnation is without end. Believer, Christ has freed you from this!

 Questions to Consider

  • When you think of afflictions and death, how do you react? Are you reminded of Christ, or do you retreat in fear?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 253

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Day 253

Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience.

Chapter 21, Paragraph 1.

“The Liberty which Christ hath purchased for Believers under the Gospel, consists in their freedom from the guilt of Sin, the condemning wrath of God, the Rigour and Curse of the Law; and in their being delivered from this present evil World, Bondage to Satan, and Dominion of Sin;…”

Scripture Lookup

Galatians 3:13
Galatians 1:4
Acts 26:18
Romans 8:3

Reflection

Freedom! Christ has bought freedom for His people. Through His life, death , and resurrection, Christ has secured liberties for believers, bestowed upon them when they are regenerated. “If the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36) What are the liberties that believers enjoy?

Because of Christ, believers have:

  • freedom from the guilt of sin. No longer do we have to stand condemned because of our status as corrupted humans. Christ has paid the penalty for our sin.
  • freedom from the condemning wrath of God. The suffering Christ endured on the cross will never be felt by us. Ever.
  • freedom from the rigour of the Law. Because Christ perfectly fulfilled the Law on our behalf, we do not have to live up to the law for salvation.
  • freedom from the curse of the Law. “Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'” (Galatians 3:13) Death is not a curse for the believer, for Christ has removed its sting.
  • deliverance from this present world. However much it beckons us to join, Christ has set us free from its imprisonment.
  • deliverance from bondage to Satan. As the hymn states, “The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him…” Christ has freed us from Satan’s tyranny. We are His subjects now, never again to be ruled by the devil.
  • deliverance from the dominion of sin. Christ has set us free; we are no longer slaves to sin.  “…through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part doth overcome…” (LBCF 14.3) Because of Christ, we no longer need to succumb to sin.

And this is not all!

The liberty we have because of Christ is immense and vast. Praise Him for all He has done!

Questions to Consider

  • Christian, are you living in light of the freed Christ has bestowed upon you?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 252

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Day 252

Of the Gospel, and of the extent of the Grace thereof.

Chapter 20, Paragraph 4.

“Although the gospel be the only outward means of revealing Christ and saving grace, and is, as such, abundantly sufficient thereunto; yet that men who are dead in trespasses may be born again, quickened or regenerated, there is moreover necessary an effectual insuperable work of the Holy Spirit upon the whole soul, for the producing in them a new spiritual life; without which no other means will effect their conversion unto God.”

Scripture Lookup

Psalm 110:3

1 Corinthians 2:14

Ephesians 1:19,20

John 6:44

2 Corinthians 4:4,6

Reflection

You can ask nicely. You can plead. You can beg. You can put on the biggest light-and-music spectacular ever recorded. All of those may move men to tears or evoke emphatic commitments to change. Without the declaration of the Gospel, none of that will convert a sinner. The message of Christ, and His mediatorial work on behalf of sinners, must be present. There can be no salvation without it.

The declaration of the Gospel cannot work on its own, though. The Holy Spirit must quicken and renew the sinner, enabling her to will that which is offered in the Gospel. If the Spirit does not regenerate someone, then they are still dead in their trespasses and sins. No amount of preaching the Gospel will effect change without the work of the Spirit.

Is the word & the Spirit enough to bring about regeneration? The actions of many churches say “No.” Money needs to be spent. Programs have to be in place. Look at how many attend flashy churches compared to “plainer” ones, and it appears the Holy Spirit needs a boost. Scripture tells us otherwise. The power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that changes hearts. The growth of the church in the New Testament was not due to the great music or children’s program. So no matter what you may lack in money or pizazz, declare the Word boldly. The Spirit will convert those that are His, when He sees fit.

Questions to Consider

  • Are you intimidated to share the Gospel? Why?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 251

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Day 251

Of the Gospel, and of the extent of the Grace thereof.

Chapter 20, Paragraph 3.

“The revelation of the Gospel to Sinners, made in divers times, and by sundry parts, with the addition of Promises, and Precepts for the Obedience required therein, as to the Nations, and Persons, to whom it is granted, is merely of the Sovereign Will and good Pleasure of God; not being annexed by virtue of any Promise, to the due improvement of men’s natural abilities, by virtue of Common light received, without it; which none ever did make, or can so do; And therefore in all Ages the preaching of the Gospel hath been granted unto persons and Nations, as to the extent, or straitening of it, in great variety, according to the Counsel of the Will of God.”

Scripture Lookup

Psalm 147:20

Acts 16:7

Romans 1:18-32

Reflection

We are commanded to proclaim the Gospel throughout the earth. But what happens if we don’t? Will those with whom we fail to share the good news approach us some day and say, “Why didn’t you tell me?!”

If salvation were up to us, we would be crushed under such expectations. Not only would we have to ensure our own salvation, but the salvation of every other person we knew would be solely dependent upon whether or not we made sure to tell them about Jesus. If we miss someone, we would have ourselves to blame.

Now, can someone be saved without hearing of Christ? No. Christians do have a responsibility to give an account for the hope that is in them. Yet ultimately God is sovereign over who hears the Gospel. Some nations have heard it in abundance; some nations have never heard it. Is the one nation somehow better than the other? Do they receive knowledge of the Gospel because they were more advanced intellectually? Of course not. Whatever nation hears the Gospel preached, it hears based on the counsel of God alone.

Especially for those Christians who are citizens of the United States, this truth should humble us. Such freedom has been granted in sharing the Gospel in this country that we sometimes assume that we deserve it. Keep guard against such airs of superiority. The blessing of the Gospel does not mean we are worthy.

Questions to Consider

  • Do you find yourself thinking that some peoples deserve to hear the Gospel over others?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 250

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Day 250

Of the Gospel, and of the extent of the Grace thereof.

Chapter 20, Paragraph 2.

“This promise of Christ, and salvation by him, is revealed only by the Word of God; neither do the works of creation or providence, with the light of nature, make discovery of Christ, or of grace by him, so much as in a general or obscure way; much less that men destitute of the revelation of Him by the promise or gospel, should be enabled thereby to attain saving faith or repentance.”

Scripture Lookup

Romans 1;17

Romans 10:14,15,17

Proverbs 29:18

Isaiah 25:7; 60:2,3

Reflection

Conversion does not happen by looking at the stars or gazing at a sunset. As beautiful as creation is, it cannot tell that Christ is the promised One who saves sinners. Only Scripture reveals God’s will for humanity concerning salvation. The Confession made this point back in Chapter 1:

Although the light of Nature, and the works of Creation and Providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom and power of God, as to leave men unexcusable; yet are they not sufficient to give that knowledge of God and His will, which is necessary unto Salvation.

This can be hard to accept, even for those who are regenerated and love Christ. What about those pagan nations who never hear the Gospel? Are they to be condemned without having a chance to hear? Yes, for they are without excuse. Without Scripture, there is no possibility of knowing Christ. There is no way of salvation without the revelation found in the Bible.

This also means that the Gospel must be spread in order for anyone to be saved. Again, this can be hard to accept, for it means that as Christians we have a responsibility, and one that includes some risk. Everyone can look at a flower and admire it; but tell people about the beauty of Christ and you may be mocked or despised. Friendships may be lost; material goods vanish; even your life may be taken. “Living out” the Gospel instead sounds so much easier than the alternative! But silence is not an option for those who love God, for if we love Him, we will keep His commands. We are commanded to declare Christ to others; let us not shy away from so doing.

Questions to Consider

  • Do you act as if you believe people can be saved without knowledge of Christ?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 249

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Day 249

Of the Gospel, and of the extent of the Grace thereof.

Chapter 20, Paragraph 1.

“The Covenant of Works being broken by Sin, and made unprofitable unto Life; God was pleased to give forth the promise of Christ, the Seed of the Woman, as the means of calling the Elect, and begetting in them Faith and Repentance; in this Promise, the Gospel, as to the substance of it, was revealed, and therein Effectual, for the Conversion and Salvation of sinners.”

Scripture Lookup

Genesis 3:15
Revelation 13:8

Reflection

Adam was our representative in the Covenant of Works. Its terms were: obey God’s commands, particularly His command to not eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and enjoy life everlasting. He had the ability and will to keep that covenant. He also had the ability and freedom to not keep that covenant. Willingly, Adam chose to disobey God, and ate of the fruit.

With an act of disobedience, Adam and Eve impacted the world, and not for the better. No human born in an ordinary way could live according to the requirements of the Covenant of Works. Decay and corruption are inherent from the moment of conception. Spiritual and physical death greet all of his descendants. Save One.

In the midst of the curses God pronounced on Adam, Eve, and the serpent that tempted them, He brought forth the promise of the Messiah, or Christ. This anointed One, a descendant of Adam and Eve, would crush the serpent’s head. A revelation of hope in the midst of so much darkness.

Through this promise God called His elect. It was a spark that the Spirit used to regenerate His own. The elect of Old Testament times did not have the knowledge of Christ to look back on as we do, but they were saved in the exact same way we are: through faith in Christ. Sam Waldron writes in his commentary on the 1689:

Men have always been saved in the same way and by the same gospel. In the Old Testament and in the New Testament that gospel was revealed. Every man ever saved was saved by its means.

Christian, not only do you share a common bond with your brothers and sisters in Christ scattered across the globe, but you share a common bond with your brothers and sisters in Christ scattered throughout eternity. The same Father that called you, called them; the same Christ that died for you, died for them; the same Holy Spirit that grants repentance and faith in you, granted faith and repentance in them. There is no special way of salvation for some, and not for others. It is always all of God’s free grace.

Questions to Consider

  • If people could be saved in a different way other than having faith in Christ, how would that affect the sufficiency of Christ for salvation?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 248

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Day 248

Of the Law of God.

Chapter 19, Paragraph 7.

“Neither are the forementioned uses of the Law contrary to the Grace of the Gospel; but do sweetly comply with it; the Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the Will of man, to do that freely and cheerfully, which the will of God revealed in the Law, requireth to be done.”

Scripture Lookup

Galatians 3:21
Ezekiel 36:27

Reflection

…sin is lawlessness… (1 John 3:4)

When I think of the Law and the Gospel, I picture them on opposite sides of a spectrum. In one corner, we have Law, cold, harsh, and unyielding; in the other corner we have Gospel, warm, gracious, and forgiving. The two don’t meet without sparring. Justification does not happen by keeping the law; it is an act of grace alone by faith alone. In the initial boxing match, the Gospel always wins. Grace is greater than the sin pointed out by the Law. Yet the Law and the Grace of the Gospel, rather than mortal enemies, are great friends in the life of a believer.

God in the Grace of the Gospel, after regenerating the heart of the elect, brings the sinner back to the moral law. The Spirit, through His grace alone, enables her to freely will and do that which is good. These good works are the obedience to God’s commands. In other words, good works are obeying the law. Without obeying the law of God, the believer would still be constantly sinning, for to sin is to not obey the law. Holiness is not cancelled out by grace. It is enabled by it.

…the one who practices righteousness is righteous… (1 John 3:7)

Isn’t it interesting that we bristle when told we are to keep God’s revealed will, but we spend so much time wondering what God’s will is for our lives? It may be more fun to ponder whether I should be a doctor in a city or an artist in the country, but striving to keep those commands that God has plainly showed in His Word should be the first priority. Through the Spirit, we can obey those commands freely and cheerfully.

He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)

 

Questions to Consider

  • Do you struggle with the idea of the Christian life as one that obeys God’s moral law? Why or why not?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 247

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Day 247

Of the Law of God.

Chapter 19, Paragraph 6.

“Although true Believers be not under the Law, as a Covenant of Works, to be thereby Justified or condemned; yet it is of great use to them as well as to others: in that, as a Rule of Life, informing them of the Will of God, and their Duty, it directs and binds them, to walk accordingly; discovering also the sinful pollutions of their Natures, Hearts, and Lives; so as Examining themselves thereby, they may come to further Conviction of, Humiliation for, and Hatred against Sin; together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ and the perfection of his Obedience; It is likewise of use to the Regenerate to restrain their Corruptions, in that it forbids Sin; and the Threatenings of it serve to show what even their Sins deserve; and what afflictions in this Life they may expect for them, although freed from the Curse and unallayed Rigour thereof.  The Promises of it likewise show them God’s approbation of Obedience, and what blessings they may expect upon the performance thereof, though not as due to them by the Law as a Covenant of Works; so as man’s doing Good and refraining from Evil, because the Law encourages to the one and deters from the other, is no Evidence of his being under the Law and not under Grace.”

Scripture Lookup

Galatians 2:16

Romans 8:1, 10:4

Romans 3:20, 7:7, etc.

Romans 6:12-14

1 Peter 3:8-13

Reflection

Present all too often in nominally Christian mommy blogs is a post like this:

“Mommy, I know your days are hard. I know you strive to measure up. I’ve been there! But you know what? You are enough. Your heavenly Father loves you, warts and all. You don’t need to be perfect.”

Now, all of this is true…to an extent. If you are in Christ, you are loved. As Christians we are no longer condemned for not conforming to the law. Nothing we do to obey it will earn us salvation. Jesus is our representative, and His perfect righteousness is applied to us. We are accepted before God because of our union in Christ, and should not rely upon  perfectionism to be women who are holy and blameless before Him.

The problem with such blog posts is that they stop there. The reader is left feeling warm and fuzzy, not called to do anything that might be a hardship. Being justified by faith, however, does not mean that we are free to do whatever feels “good”. “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” But how do we know what gives God glory? By how we feel?

Despite emotions being a popular indicator of right and wrong, Scripture shows that adherence to God’s moral law gives Him glory: “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48); “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16);  “So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good” (Romans 7:12).  As we grow in sanctification, we are conformed more and more to the moral law, God’s standard of holiness. These are the good works we are created to do.

The moral law is still to be followed by the Christian. To strive to obey God’s commands is not to be a legalist; it is to demonstrate the heart regenerated, the “fruits, and evidences, of a true and lively faith” (LBCF 16.2). Christian, do not shy away from following God’s moral law. It does not condemn you anymore, but guides you saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”

Questions to Consider

  • If you are not striving to keep God’s commands as outlined in the Ten Commandments, what is holding you back?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 246

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Day 246

Of the Law of God.

Chapter 19, Paragraph 5.

“The moral law does for ever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof, and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it; neither does Christ in the Gospel any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.”

Scripture Lookup

Romans 13:8-10

James 2:8,10-12

Matthew 5:17-19

Romans 3:31

Reflection

Civil and ceremonial laws given to Israel are no longer binding. Does the same hold true for the moral law? In the United States, the Ten Commandments used to be displayed in public schools. There was an outcry when such plaques were removed from various government buildings. Isn’t the Ten commandments, however, a relic of a bygone era, an outdated checklist? Is anyone obligated to obey them? What about the commands of Jesus?

Ten Commandments codify the moral law, the law that everyone inherently knows. It was written on the heart of Adam by God, where it was deformed by the Fall, and this defect passed on to all his posterity born of ordinary means. It was written down by God Himself on Mount Sinai. This is the law that condemns everyone who does not conform to it. Why does it condemn? Because all are still obligated to keep it.

Jesus reiterated the commands during His ministry. Rather than dismissing the moral law, He strengthened its obligation upon humanity. Not only is the moral law to be obeyed to the letter, but also to the spirit. All of a person’s thoughts, words, and actions  are to conform to this law. Any lack of conformity unto, or transgression of, God’s moral law, is sin.

Humanity has some sense of morality. They universally agree that there are things which are good, and things which are bad. Such morality is an echo of the true moral law that has been distorted in their hearts. Without such a universally binding moral law, there would be no sin, and no need for a Savior.

Questions to Consider

  • Should you hold an unbeliever accountable to the Ten Commandments??