1689

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 279

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Day 279

Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.

Chapter 22, Paragraph 5.

“…and the Lord’s Supper…”

Scripture Lookup

1 Corinthians 11:26

Reflection

Like baptism, the Lord’s Supper is a public demonstration of union with Christ. Rather than an individual declaring her union with Christ, communion is that individual joined with the church in declaring their union with Christ. When we partake of the bread and wine with fellow believers, we remember the night the lord Jesus was betrayed. We remember His death and resurrection. We remember the benefits of our union with Him. and we look forward to the marriage feast of the Lamb in glory.

It may seem odd that eating a bit of bread and drinking wine together in a religious service would have any real benefit, but communion nourishes the soul of the believer. When a Christian participates in the Lord’s Supper, she, and those with her, “do then inwardly by faith, really and indeed, yet not carnally, and corporeally, but spiritually receive, and feed upon Christ crucified and all the benefits of His death” (LBCF 30.7). With the death of Christ, with His being made sin and a curse for us, He satisfied the justice of God, obtained reconciliation, and purchased an everlasting inheritance in heaven for those who are His (LBCF 8.8). Those benefits are what we feed upon spiritually in the Lord’s Supper.

The Lord’s Supper reminds us that redemption has been one for us by Christ, the captain of our salvation who brings many sons to glory (Heb. 2:10).

-Richard Barcellos, More Than A Memory

The Lord’s supper is an act of worship. It was instituted by Christ, and is to be part of religious services. As we eat the bread and drink the wine, may our hearts and minds be turned to Christ and His sacrifice for us, and look forward to the hope of His return.

Questions to Consider

  • With what attitude do you approach the Lord’s Supper?

 

A Little Time With the 1689: Day 278

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Day 278

Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.

Chapter 22, Paragraph 5.

“…as also the Administration of Baptism,”

Scripture Lookup

Matthew 28:19,20

Reflection

As someone who didn’t come from a Baptist background, the idea of getting baptized was a little intimidating. Having been sprinkled as a baby had been so much more convenient, as I did not have any say in the matter. Later, as an adult that came to faith, I was faced with Christ’s command to be baptized. Yes, I loved Christ, but to demonstrate that by being dunked while everyone was watching? That was taking it to the next level, a level that I wasn’t sure I wanted to attain.

Baptism is a visual sign that the one being baptized is no longer her own. Through going down into the water and coming up again, baptism demonstrates the union the redeemed sinner has with Christ. She is united with Him in His death and resurrection. He has washed her sins away. She is no longer who she once was, but is “giving up unto God through Jesus Christ to live and walk in newness of Life,” as the Confession describes it in Chapter 29. It is an act of humility, of publicly separating yourself from what you were before to follow Christ. To be acceptable in God’s sight, it should be performed according to His will. Reformed Baptists see the professing believer being immersed in water as what is pleasing to God concerning baptism.

If you profess to know Christ but have not been baptized, what is hindering you? Rather than a ceremony devoid of feeling, baptism is an act of worship. We are thanking God for His gracious provision in Christ, and demonstrating in a visual sense our union with Him. Do not be afraid to enter the waters, for His commands are not burdensome.

Questions to Consider

  • Why is baptism considered an act of worship?

 

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 277

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Day 277

Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.

Chapter 22, Paragraph 5.

“… teaching and admonishing one another in Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual songs, singing with grace in our Hearts to the Lord;…”

Scripture Lookup

Colossians 3:16

Ephesians 5:19

Reflection

Come, Christians, join to sing, Alleluia! Amen!

-Christian Bateman

Singing! Voices raised in unison and melody to the Lord!

The problem is, we aren’t used to singing anymore. Aside from “Happy Birthday”, there aren’t many places where people sing together. When we come to church, we may not know the hymns, or the music may be too loud to hear ourselves or anyone else. And so many times rather than teaching and admonishing each other, we are quiet, mumbling through the songs or listening to the worship leader instead.

When Christians join together to worship God, they are commanded by His word to sing “Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.” Singing His word to one another encourages us in the faith, teaches us about God, and contends with us to hold steadfast.  Joining with the voices of our fellow Christians, we are reminded that we are called to a community that is to care for one another. When we sing joyfully and faithfully, no matter how out of tune we may be, we are “making melody with our heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).

So how can you improve in your singing unto the Lord? If you can pick up a pop song and sing it in your car, you can pick up a hymn and learn to sing it. If your church has hymnals, ask to borrow one. Listen to them until they are ingrained in your memory. When it is time to sing, sing unto the Lord the best you can. Pray that the Lord would accept your singing as an act of worship. As Hercules Collins wrote,

If we are not in Christ, we are certainly out of tune. It is Christ must put acceptation upon this Service as well as others. Here the Altar must sanctifie the Gift. Christ perfumes the Prayers of Saints, Rev. 5.8. And he must articulate their Singing. Though we have Esau’s Garments, he can give us Jacob’s Voice: if we are in him, we can raise our Hearts to a pleasing Elevation.

The Lord is not looking for only those with the talent of Luciano Pavarotti to sing His praise. He is pleased with sincere melody from His children. Alleluia! Amen!

Questions to Consider

  • What is your attitude towards congregational singing – are you mumbling or singing heartily unto the Lord?

 

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 276

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Day 276

Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.

Chapter 22, Paragraph 5.

“…Preaching, and hearing the word of God,…”

Scripture Lookup

2 Timothy 4:2

Luke 8:18

Reflection

Sermons. Sitting and listening to someone talk. To the unenlightened mind, it is one of the most boring parts of a church service. That is why “seeker-sensitive” churches present a “message” with rapid-fire delivery and lots of movement by the preacher. On special occasions, there is no sermon at all, making way for special music, children’s performances, and other exciting events.

Yet preaching, when done correctly, is a strenuous act. It is commanded by the word of God, calling the preacher to “reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction” (2 Timothy 2:4). More than just someone’s opinion on what Scripture has to say, preaching takes a text from the Bible, clarifies it, and points the listener to worship and obey the great God whose word it is. Because Scripture is most necessary to know the truth and to comfort and establish the Church, preaching should never be allowed to take a backseat to anything else in the worship service.

Rather than waiting for a sermon to end, the Christian ought to examine the Scriptures and listen intently. Yes, listening to a sermon takes work on our part as we reflect on what is being preached. Rather than filling tickling ears with what we want to hear, the sound preaching of the Word nourishes our souls with what we need to grow in holiness. Proper handling of the Bible by the preacher is God speaking to us through His word. The preaching of the Word should be central in our churches. Instead of dozing off, we should be eager to hear what He has to say.

Questions to Consider

  • With what attitude are you listening to your pastor’s sermons?

 

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 275

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Day 275

Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.

Chapter 22, Paragraph 5.

“The reading of the Scriptures,…”

Scripture Lookup

1 Timothy 4:13

Reflection

Prayer is part of natural worship. All people everywhere are commanded to pray to God. But prayer alone does not equal the sum of religious worship. When Christians gather together to worship God, there are other elements that He has prescribed. One such element is the reading of Scripture.

If you look back to chapter 1 of the Confession, Scripture was the first topic discussed.:

The Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, and infallible rule of all saving Knowledge, Faith and Obedience…

The importance of God’s Word in the life of humanity cannot be stressed too much. Scripture is where we learn the truth about God and His will.  The church is strengthened in its fight against the world, the flesh and the devil by that truth. Comfort is brought when we hear of God’s love for His people. When God’s word is read, faith is wrought in our heart by the spirit. We learn what good works we are to walk in. The Spirit enables us to press onward to obey the commands of Christ we hear in His word.

Watch a typical “seeker-sensitive” church service online sometimes, and you will see that little time, if any, is given to reading God’s Word. Yet this is where we discover what we must do to be saved! Flashing lights, fancy songs, and full-on fashion will not bring the consoling, fortifying truth that Scripture contains. It is most necessary that God’s word, authored by God Himself, be at the forefront of our worship. Its revelation of God is a gift to us; let us not neglect it.

Questions to Consider

  • How important is the reading of God’s word at the church you attend?

 

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 274

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Day 274

Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.

Chapter 22, Paragraph 4.

“…nor for those of whom it may be known that they have sinned the sin unto death.”

Scripture Lookup

1 John 5:16

Reflection

There is a sin leading to death. The Bible discusses this in 1 John 5.

What is this sin? It is hard to say. It is generally agreed that it is a sin against the Holy Spirit, but there are differing opinions as to the exact nature of this sin. John Gill in his commentary on 1 John wrote,

…[the sin unto death] is the sin against the Holy Ghost, which is neither forgiven in this world nor in that to come, and therefore must be unto death; it is a sinning wilfully, not in a practical, but doctrinal way, after a man has received the knowledge of the truth; it is a wilful denial of the truth of the Gospel, particularly that peace, pardon, righteousness, eternal life, and salvation, are by Jesus Christ, contrary to the light of his mind, and this joined with malice and obstinacy…

Apostasy – those who have rejected Christ and revile Him, although they have seen the blessings of the Gospel – appears to be the sin that leads unto death. There is such a strong hatred and rejection of the truth in the apostate. But how do we know who has committed such a sin? How can we be sure?

We must be careful that we do not diagnose this sin in every unbeliever that has been active in a church and then walked away. Yet we know that apostates exist, for Scripture tells of them. When dealing with those who have turned away from the church, we should err on the side of caution. Francis Turretin advises:

This wickedness is not to be rashly charged upon anyone….and as it is ascertained only from external signs…therefore we must proceed very cautiously and be more prone to cherish a good hope in charity than to condemn rigorously.

If we are absolutely certain that they have committed that sin, then our prayers for them are useless. Until that certainty occurs, there is hope. Continue to pray for those you see in sin, and those struggling with sin.

Questions to Consider

  • Does knowing we are not to pray for those who have committed the sin leading to death affect how you pray?

 

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 273

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Day 273

Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.

Chapter 22, Paragraph 4.

“….but not for the dead,…”

Scripture Lookup

2 Samuel 12:21-23

Reflection

We can pray for all sorts of people, from all walks of life. We can pray for those who are to come. But there are those that we are not to pray for. Those who have died are not to be the subjects of our prayers.

But why not?

Some falsely offer hope that we can alter the eternal destiny of our loved ones through our prayers. Not sure if someone you loved had true faith in Christ? Praying for them will give them the nudge they need to experience eternal life. Through our efforts, we are able to determine the eternal destinies of those who are dear to us. The lure of such a promise is powerful and very real to those of us who have loved unbelievers who are no longer with us.

However, prayer for the dead has no place in Scripture. It is God alone who determines who is elect; we cannot wedge anyone living or dead into that group, even ourselves. While we are called to share the Gospel while we live, it is clear that after death there is no longer any opportunity to repent and believe. We are to rest in God’s sovereignty and wisdom concerning those who are not His.

And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— for He says, ‘At the acceptable time I listened to you,
And on the day of salvation I helped you.’ Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is ‘the day of salvation’—“

-2 Corinthians 6:1-2

If we were able to affect where the dead ended up, we would be limiting the sacrifice of Christ. What would be the necessity of repenting and turning to Christ as our sole mediator if there were a possibility of our descendants helping us in the afterlife? Such a view is not Biblical. Christ’s glory is lessened by such a view.

The time to pray for our loved ones, the time to share with them the Gospel, is now.

Questions to Consider

  • Are you trusting that God will do what is right concerning your unsaved loved ones?

 

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 272

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Day 272

Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.

Chapter 22, Paragraph 4.

“Prayer is to be made for things lawful, and for all sorts of men living, or that shall live hereafter;…”

Scripture Lookup

1 Timothy 2:1,2

2 Samuel 7:29

Reflection

When we gather for prayer, or even we we pray by ourselves, we can become tongue-tied knowing what to pray about. Healing from sickness tends to be a popular request. Praying for missionaries is also one that is common. But more often than not, prayer meetings are mostly silent as we draw a blank as to what we should pray about.

Despite the limitations placed upon our prayers in order that they may be acceptable to God, who and what we may pray for is vast. All sorts of people living on this earth may be offered up in prayer. Our neighbors, our leaders, the victims, the oppressors – all may be brought before the throne of grace. Future generations, those who are to come after us, our children not yet born – we may petition the Lord on their behalf.

Just what do we pray concerning all these people? Anything that the Lord has declared lawful. We can pray for the Gospel to spread and many to receive faith, leaders to rule with wisdom, compassion for the poor and helpless, and much more. When we stop to consider the numerous amount of people we may pray for, and what things we may pray concerning them, we will find that there is no difficulty in remembering something to pray about.

Questions to Consider

  • What are some people you could be praying for? What can you pray concerning them?

 

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 271

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Day 271

Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.

Chapter 22, Paragraph 3.

“…with understanding, reverence, humility, fervency, faith, love, and perseverance; and when with others, in a known tongue.”

Scripture Lookup

1 Corinthians 14:16,17

Reflection

Prayer: the offering up of our praises and petitions to God. It is a special part of natural worship. Not all prayer is acceptable to God, though. The prayer that is acceptable is made in the name of the Son, with the help of the Spirit, and according to His will. Yet there are other qualities we must bring to our prayers in order for their to be accepted.

Prayer is to be made:

  • with understanding. The same eternal Being who is careful that his character not be misrepresented, who has revealed His will through the Scriptures, while above all comprehension, does not leave us ignorant as to His qualities or character. Ecstatic utterances devoid of meaning do not bring Him glory.
  • with reverence. We are not bringing our requests to God as if we were venting to our girlfriends. God is our Creator, our Savior, and our King. Even though we are adopted as sons by Him, we owe Him the utmost respect in our prayers.
  • with humility. We do not deserve to have any communication with God, much less to bring our petitions to Him. His grace and mercy should keep us meek as we approach Him.
  • with fervency. Ho-hum, lackadaisical prayer smacks of unbelief.
  • with faith. If we doubt God’s omnipotence, why would such a prayer be accepted by Him? May we not insult Him by doubting as we pray.
  • with love. This is our heavenly Father we are addressing. We are His blood-bought children. A cold prayer devoid of love is not acceptable to Him.
  • with perseverance. “…will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?” (Luke 18:7)
  • in a known tongue. Prayer is not only to benefit the petitioner, but those who hear her pray as well.

Acceptable prayer, therefore, is neither purely logical nor utterly emotional. It is reasoned yet warm. It is passionate and persistent, but also humble and respectful. May we strive to bring these traits to our prayers.

Questions to Consider

  • What component of acceptable prayer do you have trouble exhibiting?

 

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 270

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Day 270

Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.

Chapter 22, Paragraph 3.

“… according to his Will;…”

Scripture Lookup

1 John 5:14

Reflection

We might excuse someone’s surprise that God does not accept our prayers unless we pray in the name of Jesus and with the help of the Spirit. One would think, though, that naturally God would not find prayer acceptable that is not according to His will. It seems like it would be a matter of common sense. However, since we are sinful, weak, creatures, we must be reminded that prayer is only acceptable to God if it is prayed according to His will.

How many people automatically expect God’s will to be always aligned with their own, rather than the reverse?  When we focus our prayers solely around what we want, we are no longer humbly petitioning our high King, but dictating our demands. Prayer is not placing our orders at the fast-food counter. We have no right to demand any customer service from God! Disregard for God’s will is sinful and will never be acceptable to Him.

So if we are to pray according to His will, what does that look like? Thomas Vincent in his The Shorter Catechism Explained From Scripture wrote that we may pray for:

all things which are agreeable unto God’s revealed will in his Word…such as the pardon for our sins, the supplies of his grace…deliverance from spiritual and eternal evils; also whatever temporal good things we stand in need of, and all those things which either expressly or exclusively he hath promised in his covenant to us.

When we pray for things according to His revealed will in Scripture, we can know our prayers are acceptable.

Remember this God that we pray to is the same God that will not give His glory to another. He guards His name jealously, and we are not to take it in vain. Prayer is to be offered in a way that is in accordance with that name. When we pray faithfully in Jesus’ name, dependent upon the Spirit, we are reminded of the power, authority, and character of God, and that we are to align ourselves with His will, not ours.

Questions to Consider

  • How often are you seeking your own will in prayer, rather than praying according to His will?