Author: Reformed Baptista

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 215

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Day 215

Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation.

Chapter 15, Paragraph 4.

“As Repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof; so it is every man’s duty, to repent of his particular known sins, particularly.”

Scripture Lookup

Luke 19:8

1 Timothy 1:13,15

Reflection

Repentance is not a one-time deal. Because we still have the remaining corruption of sin within us, falling into sin is still a reality for the Christian. The battle against the flesh is a hard one, and we do not always resist successfully. Do not think that you can avoid sinning completely in this life. You will sin.

Since we personally sin, we have to personally repent. No one can repent for you. Since every sin is reprehensible to God, and we continue to sin daily, repentance should be sought out regularly. Do not let pride hinder your repentance. “God will forgive me” is not a reason to delay repentance. Yes, He will forgive you – all the more reason that you should repent as soon as you realize you have sinned!

We are commanded to repent. Throughout the course of our Christian walk, we are to utilize this grace of repentance, that we may not grow stagnant in our sins. May we continually repent, going before the throne of grace to seek forgiveness from Him who freely gives it.

Until sin be bitter—Christ will not be sweet. -Thomas Watson

Questions to Consider

  • Are you personally repenting of your personal sins?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 214

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Day 214

Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation.

Chapter 15, Paragraph 3.

“This saving Repentance is an evangelical Grace, whereby a person being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, doth, by Faith in Christ, humble himself for it, with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self abhorrency; praying for pardon, and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavor by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well pleasing in all things.”

Scripture Lookup

Zechariah 12:10

Acts 11:18

Ezekiel 36:31

2 Corinthians 7:11

Psalm 119:6,128

Reflection

What does godly repentance look like? Is it merely feeling sorry? Is it perpetual guilt? While the word “repent” is despised by the world, the multi-faceted act of repentance is a healing, restorative grace given by God. Let’s explore what repentance entails:

  • Repentance is a grace of God. We do not have to muster up repentance. That said, if you know you have sinned, then you know your duty is to confess and repent of that sin. Do not continue in your sin because you feel you haven’t been granted repentance!
  • Repentance is realization. You are made aware of your sin. The first step of repentance is to realize and acknowledge that you have sinned.
  • Repentance requires reflection. Humbleness, godly sorrow, detestation, and self-abhorrence are part of repentance. Our sin has its origin in the inner man (Matthew 12:34), and so our repentance starts within as well. “A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Psalm 51:17).
  • Repentance relies on the grace and mercy of God. The penitent woman does not simply try harder next time to avoid sin. Rather, she seeks forgiveness from God and asks for strength from the Holy Spirit to resist temptation.
  • Repentance resumes running. The one who repents does not stay wallowing in remorse, but rejoices in the cleansing sacrifice of the Savior. She gets back on track running the race set before her, her eyes set on Jesus, the Author and perfecter of her faith.

We see, then, that repentance is not only a feeling. It is not a dour attitude, not is it living with constant guilt. Assent of sin, sorrow for it, prayer for pardon and mercy, supplication for strength, and resolve to walk in a manner worthy of our calling are all encompassed in repentance. Do not avoid repentance, then, but make great use of it.

Questions to Consider

  • How has the world’s view of repentance affected your understanding of it?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 213

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Day 213

Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation.

Chapter 15, Paragraph 2.

“Whereas there is none that doth good, and sinneth not; and the best of men may through the power, and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall into great sins, and provocations; God hath in the Covenant of Grace, mercifully provided that Believers so sinning and falling, be renewed through Repentance unto Salvation.”

Scripture Lookup

Ecclesiastes 7:20
Luke 22:31,32

Reflection

No matter how hard you try, Christian, you’re going to sin sometime. There is no one that does good and does not sin. No one. The corruption of sin remains within us, and it is a formidable foe. It is strong, and it is tricky. We may succumb to its persuasions without even realizing it right away. As Christians it is possible to commit major sins, and there are faithful men and women who have done so. So if Christians will fall into grievous sins, how are they different from unbelievers?

Repentance. God’s provision for believers who have fallen into sin, repentance renews the right spirit within us. We do not have to continue to ignorantly wallow in the filth of sin, unable to return to communion with God. We do not have to continually look at the sin we commit and be sickened by its presence. Repentance is given, so that we can recognize our sin and turn from it, seeking forgiveness. It is a blessing that draws us closer to our Savior.

Christian, when you find you have sinned, do not delay. Do not get stuck in self-pity, beating yourself up for your stupidity and ignorance. Instead, lay hold of the gracious option that the Lord provides for you, and repent unto salvation.

Questions to Consider

  • Do you find it difficult to repent?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 212

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Day 212

Of Repentance Unto Life and Salvation.

Chapter 15, Paragraph 1.

“Such of the Elect as are converted at riper years, having sometime lived in the state of nature, and therein served divers lusts and pleasures, God in their Effectual Calling gives them Repentance unto Life.”

Scripture Lookup

Titus 3:2-5

Reflection

Can you teach an old dog new tricks?

More people are living longer than their predecessors did. Rather than rocking in chairs all day, many of those old enough to be grandparents are out and about, active and influential. Many of those are without Christ as well.

The elect come to faith at all different ages. Some when they are young, not having much time to commit various sins. Others, however, remain in that unregenerate corrupted nature for years. They have racked up numerous sins of diverse kinds. Not only are they saturated in their corrupt nature, they are quite familiar with committing sin. Well seasoned veterans at vice, they are.

From a human perspective, hardened hearts firmly set in patterns of sin are unlikely to change their ways. Yet the elect is there among them. God draws His people from among the mature, experienced sinners as well. He grants them repentance unto life. They are changed, and act accordingly.

You might not be able to teach an old dog new tricks. But God can.

Questions to Consider

  • Is anyone too sinful to repent?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 211

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Day 211

Of Saving Faith.

Chapter 14, Paragraph 3.

“…and therefore, though it may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory, growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.”

Scripture Lookup

Ephesians 6:16

1 John 5:4,5

Hebrews 6:11,12

Colossians 2:2

Hebrews 12:2

Reflection

Often in times of struggle we berate ourselves for not having enough faith. We wonder if we will pull through this ordeal. Frail, fickle, and still full of sin as we are, frustration sets in as we see how much we lack. Walking away from belief altogether is a real temptation.

But who has granted us this faith?

“The Grace of Faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts:…” (LBCF 14.1)

God Himself, the infinite, eternal, immutable Being, the One who is most loving, gracious, merciful and long-suffering, is the One who has worked this faith in our hearts. The most holy and righteous God, who suffered and died for your salvation, is the One who enabled you to believe in Him. Do you think He will let this faith fade away to nothing?

Listen to what He says:

I will never leave you nor forsake you. -Hebrews 13:5

And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. -Matthew 28:20

…the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. -Romans 8:27

Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. -Romans 8:33

Is this a God who will walk away from you? Who will extinguish the faith that He worked in you at great cost to Himself?

Saving faith, no matter how much it waxes and wanes, overcomes in the end. This victory is solely because of Christ, who is the Author and finisher of our faith. It is not dependent upon us, thank God for that! When your faith is waning, look to Him with the little faith you have. Trust that He will strengthen it, and walk in that trust. Victory is assured.

Questions to Consider

  • If Jesus is the Author and finisher of our faith, who should we turn to when our faith is weak?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 210

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Day 210

Of Saving Faith.

Chapter 14, Paragraph 3.

“This Faith although it be different in degrees, and may be weak, or strong; yet it is in the least degree of it, different in the kind, or nature of it (as is all other saving Grace) from the Faith, and common grace of temporary believers;…”

Scripture Lookup

Hebrews 5:13,14

Matthew 6:30

Romans 4:19,20

2 Peter 1:1

Reflection

Do you have enough faith?

That is the wrong question to ask.

Somehow some think that if you achieve a certain level of faith, then you’ve arrived. Then you can be a good Christian, and be considered saintly.

Such thinking is not Biblical.

Your faith may be incredibly strong. It may be flickering. But if it is saving faith, then it still enables you to believe God’s word, trust in Christ, and act upon that belief, whether it is a mustard seed or a mountain. The degrees of faith are not what defines saving faith: it is the nature of saving faith that determines its value.

Do you despise a diamond because it is not the largest one in the world? Of course not. You recognize it for the treasure it is, because it is a diamond. Such is the case with saving faith. Your faith may be the size of the smallest diamond in the world, but it is still a diamond and not a cubic zirconia. Saving faith is a grace of God, who gives good gifts to His children. Thank Him for the faith you have, and then humbly ask for more.

Questions to Consider

  • What is the nature of saving faith?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 209

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Day 209

Of Saving Faith.

Chapter 14, Paragraph 2.

“…and also acteth differently, upon that which each particular, passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God, for this life, and that which is to come: But the principal acts of Saving Faith, have immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone, for Justification, Sanctification, and Eternal Life, by virtue of the Covenant of Grace.”

Scripture Lookup

John 15:14

Isaiah 66:2

Hebrews 11:13

John 1:12

Acts 16:31

Galatians 2:20

Acts 15:11

Reflection

By faith Christians are enabled to act upon what we read in Scripture. No longer can we blithely gloss over what is written there, but instead are prompted to action. What a privilege we are given! Think of what we are able to do:

  • obey His commands. What was once impossible is now possible through His making us alive with Christ.
  • tremble at the threatenings. No longer can we blithely ignore the warnings given, for we now see that the consequences threatened are real.
  • embrace the promises of God for this life… We can face what today brings because we rest in Him.
  • …and that which is to come. Our future is assured through Christ.

Application of God’s word is attainable through faith. This faith is made possible by the mediatorial work of Christ, who persuades us to believe and obey, and who governs our hearts by His word and Spirit.

Saving faith is an amazing grace. But faith is only amazing in that it directs our gaze to Christ. We accept how beautiful our Lord is, we receive Him as our Savior, and we rest assured in who He is and what He has done for us. This faith is all that is required to receive eternal Life, and He grants it to those that are His. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Questions to Consider

  • What are the benefits of saving faith?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 208

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Day 208

Of Saving Faith.

Chapter 14, Paragraph 2.

“By this Faith, a Christian believeth to be true, whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the Authority of God himself; and also apprehendeth an excellency therein, above all other Writings; and all things in the world: as it bears forth the Glory of God in his Attributes, the excellency of Christ in his Nature and Offices; and the Power and Fullness of the Holy Spirit in his Workings, and Operations; and so is enabled to cast his soul upon the truth thus believed;…”

Scripture Lookup

Acts 24:14
Psalm 19:7-10; 119:72
2 Timothy 1:12

Reflection

The beauty of the Bible is revealed to the beholder who is granted saving faith. She sees Scripture for what it is, the Word of God. She recognizes the excellencies of its words, for they tell of the triune God. By faith she trusts what His word says.

The Christian will believe that the Bible is God’s word. How can she not, for faith shows the Lord’s ownership of that book throughout all its pages? As the Holy Spirit guides her into all truth, He does so through the authoritative Scriptures. As it is God’s word, it must not be dismissed.

Through faith the Christian sees not only the authority of Scripture, but the excellencies of it as well. Not because of the form of its words, but because of the One of whom it speaks. Scripture does not mention God in passing, but displays His glory from beginning to end. It speaks of who Christ is, what He has done for sinners, and what He continues to do on behalf of His people. It reveals to us the work of the Spirit, demonstrating His power throughout history, testifying of His involvement in the lives of the elect. It calls us to gaze upon Him, and by faith we see how how beautiful He is.

Saving faith enables the Christian to believe these truths revealed in Scripture. Furthermore, she is not only enabled to understand and acknowledge these truths, but is able to trust them, or as the Confession puts it “cast his soul upon the truth”. It is one thing to believe a truth; it is another thing to trust in that which we know to be true. Because of faith, we can say that the Lord will provide and trust Him to actually do it. What a wonderful grace saving faith is! May we pray that the Lord would increase our faith, that we may trust Him more.

Questions to Consider

  • Does an increase in faith mean an increased appreciation and reliance upon the Scriptures?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 207

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Day 207

Of Saving Faith.

Chapter 14, Paragraph 1.

“The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word; by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord’s supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened.”

Scripture Lookup

2 Corinthians 4:13

Ephesians 2:8

Romans 10:14,17

Luke 17:5

1 Peter 2:2

Acts 20:32

Reflection

Faith is a grace.

It is not drummed up from deep within ourselves by our own effort. It is not living your life according to a set of beliefs. It is not taking that first step and coming to Jesus.

Faith is a grace because it is a gift, given by God, that we do not deserve.

Notice what the Confession says about saving faith: the grace of faith is “wrought by the Spirit of Christ in their hearts”. While the Christian does come to believe and trust in Jesus for her salvation through her own will, she is enabled to do so only because she was granted that faith. In order for you to have faith, the Spirit has to have already indwelt you and wrought a change in your heart.The Lord provides for all our needs, and salvation is no exception.

This saving faith is ordinarily obtained through the “ministry of the Word.” Do we receive this ember of faith, and then keep it burning on our own? Of course not. God once again provides. The Word is used to continue to fortify our faith, and it is joined by baptism, the Lord’s supper, prayer, and other such God-given means of grace to strengthen and increase our faith.

This is why being part of a church that extols the preaching of the word and the other means of grace is vital. Your faith is not increased in skits about moral teachings; it is not strengthened by dazzling lights and sound. God has given us all that is necessary for all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience in His word. Why neglect His good gifts for anything else?

Questions to Consider

  • Is there anything the Lord does not graciously provide in salvation?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 205

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Day 206

Of Sanctification.

Chapter 13, Paragraph 3.

“In which war, although the remaining corruption for a time may much prevail, yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part does overcome; and so the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God, pressing after an heavenly life, in evangelical obedience to all the commands which Christ as Head and King, in his Word has prescribed to them.”

Scripture Lookup

Romans 7:23

Romans 6:14

Ephesians 4:15,16

2 Corinthians 3:18, 7:1

Reflection

Drawn, justified, and adopted are graces Christians view with joy. As believers, when we are first drawn to the Father, we are filled with wonder and awe: “I am saved due to Christ’s righteousness! I am forgiven! Eternal life is my destiny!” We rejoice over these truths, and rightly so!

Soon after receiving faith we are taught that our remaining corruption of sin will be ever present with us until death. Okay, we think. I can live with that. We learn we will be waging war against it. No problem – the battle belongs to the Lord! Our wills are resolute, and romantic visions of victoriously mortifying our sin energize us.

Then one day there’s a sin that is particularly hard to defeat. Over and over again you strive to be fortified against its onslaught, only to succumb again and again. Shame, frustration, and fatigue creep into your life. Any notion of you as a valiant warrior, stoically withstanding temptation, vanishes. Will I ever defeat this? you wonder.

Sanctification is the medicine that cures us of our corruption. Unpleasant to taste, hard to swallow, but necessary for our spiritual health. We battle against ourselves, and our sin prevails for a time. We are not left to face this foe alone, however. The bottomless spring of strength from the Holy Spirit is always with us, always ours from which to draw. Through His strength, we shall overcome. With Him working in us, we will grow in holiness, obeying His commands found in Scripture.

When we realize that sanctification is a grace, and not a torturous test, we learn to accept such medicine as good for us. In those times when your sin prevails, do not focus on your own weakness, but on the Holy Spirit that dwells in you. Be thankful for the grace of sanctification, and know that because of Him your sin will be defeated.

Questions to Consider

  • In your struggle with sin, have you forgotten the strength of the Holy Spirit?