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?

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?

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?

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?

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?

Day 269

Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.

Chapter 22, Paragraph 3.

“…by the help of the Spirit,…”

Scripture Lookup

Romans 8:26

Reflection

Reformed, confessional folk are not known for their reliance on the Spirit. This is not to say that they don’t rely on the Spirit, but if you were to ask a typical evangelical to name denominations that emphasized the Spirit, Reformed Baptists would probably not top the list. Why is this? In Christian culture, reliance on the Holy Spirit has come to be equated with emotion and experience. Rational thought is not associated with Him, and so Reformed churches are not considered to be “Spirit-filled.” Yet as the confession teaches, all Christians are utterly dependent upon the Holy Spirit. Prayer is no exception.

In order for prayer to be acceptable to God, not only does it need to be offered in the name of Jesus, but it is to be offered with the help of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the part of the Godhead that quickens a person unto regeneration. He is the One who applies Christ to the believer, sanctifies her, works faith and repentance in her, produces good works in her, and guides her into all truth. In fact, we have seen through our study of the Confession that a tremendous amount of our life as believers in owing to the Holy Spirit. Why should prayer be any different? This same Holy Spirit enables believers to have access with boldness to the throne of grace, and intercedes on behalf of the believer.  Without the Spirit working in a person, their prayers are unacceptable.

Realizing that your prayers are unacceptable unless the Holy Spirit aids them should drive Christians to an even greater dependence upon the Spirit. Not in a blind faith way, devoid of all rationalism, but in an informed trust and confidence. This is the Holy Spirit that has already done so much work in us. May we rely on His help as we offer our petitions to God.

Questions to Consider

• Are you relying on the aid of the Holy Spirit in your prayers?

Day 268

Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.

Chapter 22, Paragraph 3.

“….But that it may be accepted, it is to be made in the Name of the Son,…”

Scripture Lookup

John 14:13,14

Reflection

All of humanity is called to pray to the true and living God. However, not all of humanity prays in a way that is acceptable to Him. How can we pray in a way that is pleasing to Him? How can we know that our prayers are accepted by Him?

True worship needs to be given through a mediator. Prayer, as a part of natural worship, is also to be given through a mediator. Only One being is capable of being a suitable go-between – Christ Jesus. Thus prayer needs to be directed through the name of Jesus Christ in order to be acceptable to God.

What does it mean to pray in the “Name of” Jesus? Thomas Vincent in his The Shorter Catechism Explained From Scripture wrote:

To pray unto God in the name of Christ, is not barely to mention the name of Christ with our lips in the conclusion, or any part of our prayers; but it is by faith to mention his name, depending upon Christ alone for admittance and access unto God in prayer, for acceptance, audience, and a gracious return unto our prayers.

When we pray in Jesus’ name, we are offering up our praise and petitions based upon the mediatorial work of Jesus. His authority, His place of honor at the right hand of the Father, and His intercession on His people’s behalf all ensure that prayers uttered in His name will be heard and accepted.

Questions to Consider

• Are you treating Jesus’ intercession lightly in your prayers? Are you even praying in the name of Jesus?

Day 267

Of Religious Worship and the Sabbath Day.

Chapter 22, Paragraph 3.

“Prayer with thanksgiving, being one part of natural worship, is by God required of all men….”

Scripture Lookup

Psalm 95:1-7, 65:2

Reflection

“The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” (James 5:16, NASB) Prayer is a beautiful offering, a means of praising our God and making our requests known. But what about the prayers of Jane Unbeliever? If they don’t “accomplish much”, and are not part of true worship, should she even bother? As Christians, are we to encourage unbelievers to pray, knowing that they do so incorrectly?

God is to be worshiped by all humanity. He deserves no less than every man, woman, and child love and worship Him with all their heart, soul, and might. Obedience is His due. Not only is He to be obeyed in His law regarding how we treat one another, He is to be obeyed in His commands regarding worship. In the same way that Christians and non-Christians alike are commanded to not steal, both groups are commanded to worship God correctly. Prayer is part of that true worship.

The American holiday of Thanksgiving will be held in a couple months. Millions of people, many unbelievers, will stop their daily routines to “give thanks,” not knowing or caring to whom they give their thanks. Rather than discouraging such behavior, we should encourage it, using the opportunity to point to the true God who deserves to be worshiped. Cringe-worthy as it might be to hear prayers that are spoken by known unbelievers, they are still required by God to do so. May we be bold in pointing them to the Mediator who can make their prayers acceptable.

Questions to Consider

• Should anyone be discouraged from praying?