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36:12

Dreka Gates didn't set out to build a wellness empire — it found her. When COVID forced her into isolation on 60 acres of Mississippi land, just miles from where her great-grandmother once farmed, everything shifted. One day, while working the soil, she fell to her knees in tears — not because she bought the land, but because she realized: "This really belongs to me." In this powerful conversation at Black Week, Dreka sits down with Joseph "JoJo" Simmons to share how she transformed her healing journey into a seven-figure empire — from Love's Harvest, her cannabis company, and the first Black woman-owned dispensary in Mississippi (built with a $2 million investment into a 100-year-old building), to Dreka Rose emotional wellness eyewear, a 60-acre regenerative farm, and even an AI avatar that connects with people one-on-one. But this episode isn't just about success — it's about the spiritual, emotional, and mental work it takes to sustain it all. Dreka opens up about the practices that keep her grounded, from burning negative energy each morning to breaking generational cycles while building generational wealth. What You'll Hear: Why self-mastery is the foundation of every business move she makes The $2M lesson she learned investing in experience, not just space Why cannabis could've been a trillion-dollar industry for Black and Brown communities The "sandwich method" she uses for tough negotiations — firm, but rooted in love How she uses AI and gaming to meet people where they are Why she left the church at 13 to find her own spiritual path Her healing journey to the Amazon jungle with shamans What she'd tell her 13-year-old self who bet on herself before she had proof This is a story of alignment, ownership, and audacity — and what it means to truly build For Good. 🔌 Subscribe to the For Good Podcast on Spotify, Apple, or wherever you get your podcasts.…

All – Grace Clovis Presbyterian Church (PCA)

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All – Grace Clovis Presbyterian Church (PCA)

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A Reformed Church

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#Christianity #Religion #Sermons #Preaching #Bible #Reformed #Presbyterian #Expository #Gospel #Jesus #Christ #Brad #PCA

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1
The Third Commandment: Don’t Dishonor God’s Name!

5 years тому

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You might think a reflection upon God’s name is irrelevant to the current state of our nation. We are living in strange times. Fears of the coronavirus are still among us, but they have been largely displaced by the riots in response to the murder of George Floyd. In fact, more than a thousand medical professionals, infectious disease specialists, and community stakeholders wrote an open letter that got a lot of press. Essentially, they argued that the systemic threat of white supremacy far surpasses the threat of COVID-19. They literally said it was permitted to protest over this, but not over the “stay-home” orders. The inconsistencies are difficult to keep track of. In the past several weeks we were also warned about other threats such as the flesh-eating rats! One of my favorite memes from the past week stated: “Did we miss the murder hornets? I feel like we missed the murder hornets.” It is also interesting that week after week, I have not struggled to find a way to relate the sermon to our present circumstances. This week is no different. Maybe that’s because so much is going on, how could you miss it? But one positive for pastors is that illustrating sermons has never been easier. Last week we focused on the positive aspect of the third commandment . We are to approach God with reverence recognizing his holiness and worthiness. If approaching God in a flippant manner results in His displeasure, then approaching God with reverence through Jesus Christ results in His pleasure. Read Exodus 20:7 While we spent some time considering how flippant we can often be in our prayers, I want to expand on the discussion regarding the various ways we might dishonor God’s name. Do Not Commit Perjury This command needs to be broadened to include not only our words, but also our thoughts and actions. However, we can begin by looking at our speech, because that is the most basic meaning of the verse. The primary function of the command is to forbid perjury, which is lying under oath. If you are a witness in a trial, you will take an oath: “Do you solemnly swear that you will tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?” Quakers, who have a problem with taking oaths, in general, can replace “swear” with “affirm”. If you do not believe in God you can replace “so help me God” with “under pains and penalties of perjury. Additional modifications are allowed as long as the individual can demonstrate that they recognize a moral obligation, to be honest. Some have wrongly argued that the third commandment forbids any kind of oath-taking whatsoever. But that is obviously not how we understand it. When you join this church you are required to take five vows of membership. Vows, in general, are not forbidden. However, taking those vows in a light manner is forbidden. In other words, breaking your vows of membership—which have been spoken before God and His people—is a form of breaking this commandment. That is why, whenever we receive new members, I take a moment to implore all the members who are present to consider the fact that these are their vows as well. It is important to revisit them often and consider whether we are out of accord with them in substance. The same could be said for anyone who has taken an oath of office within the church or as a civil authority figure. Their vows are important and we must not take them lightly. To do so is to take the name of God lightly because it is in His name that we take our oath. Do Not Misrepresent God’s Nature Since the name of God is representative of who He is and what He has done, to say anything that misrepresents Him is forbidden as well. This is where we would include the violation of false doctrine. Let us consider just a few of the common violations: God is One, so He cannot exist in three persons. To deny the Trinity is to deny the very clear worship that is offered to God the Son and God the Holy Spirit in Scripture. God created the world, but He did so through the “giant bang” that jump-started evolution. The Bible is not compatible with macro-evolution. Jesus was a real person, but He was not born of a virgin, nor did He rise from the dead. If you can read the Bible by turning the central Figure into folklore, then you have missed everything! God is loving, but not wrathful. You will be hard-pressed to find any book in the Bible that lacks a word about God’s righteous judgment. We should also add any misrepresentation of God’s redemptive work. Those who deny justification by faith alone in Christ alone break this commandment. Likewise, it is a violation of this commandment to suggest that you can earn or merit any part of your salvation. Salvation, from beginning to end is a gracious work of God. We must never think that we complete what God begins. No, rather, “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). Do Not Dismiss God’s Providence I feel like we are fighting for the wellbeing of our nation like never before in my lifetime. The moral compass of our nation is at stake. I know there is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9), but can we admit that we have not seen anything like this level of unrest since 1968 when riots erupted in response to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.? The videos and pleas that I’ve seen on social media reveal a strong desire to seize the moment and squeeze as much as we can from it. Now, bear with me for a moment. This might sound like a rant, but it does connect. One phrase I hear daily is how important it is for me to keep in mind my “white privilege”. Most people seem to be unaware of the origins and purposes of this language. But, many within the Church have co-opted this language and some have even gone so far as to call Christians to repent of the blindness we have to our “unearned privilege”. I have to ask: what would it look like to repent of “white privilege”? Seriously. Am I supposed to pray to God, “Heavenly Father, I’m sorry that You made me this way. I forgive you for giving me this unearned privilege.” Such a prayer would be blasphemous! The same is true if you have black or brown privilege. We are not in positions to question God’s design for our lives and then offer Him forgiveness. To lament our God-given ethnicity is a direct misapplication of God’s providence in our lives which is a violation of this commandment (WLC Q.113). Such anger and self-hatred ought to be unthinkable for anyone who recognizes that they bear the image of God! Now, I’ll admit that most believers who are advocating for the Church to do more to end systemic racism are not saying we need to repent of our skin color. But that is what people are doing all over the place. They are kneeling down and apologizing to people they have never personally harmed. But because of some socially constructed theory of humanity, that is not rooted in Scripture, many people have taken upon themselves a burden of guilt that was never their’s to bear. In one video, I saw a group of white Christians kneeling before a group of black people who were standing opposite them, while someone on their knees prayed a prayer of repentance. This kind of virtue signaling knows no bounds. Let’s have a conversation with others. Let’s be willing to ask hard questions and hear difficult answers. Let’s even be willing to be uncomfortable because we don’t really know what to say. But let’s not fill the void with apologies for sins we did not commit. And let’s certainly not spin this as a problem that God needs to be forgiven for allowing it to happen. To do so would be to profane His name. Do Not Profane God’s Name Yes, this would include our flippant use of God or Jesus or Christ. There are many forms of misuse in our modern vernacular, and we would do well to conscientiously remove them from our language. What comes out of our mouths reveals our hearts. If we can speak God’s name in a flippant manner, it means we hold Him with low regard in our hearts. If you can joke about God’s name with your mouth, it is likely that you hold him lightly in your heart. To call into question the value of God’s name is to question His very existence. If we have not done this in our speech, we have often done it in our thoughts and actions, which are also implicated in this command. Scripture reveals how the subject extends beyond our speech. Offering children in sacrifice to Molech is an example of profaning the name of God (Leviticus 18:21). To make an oath or swear by God’s name is also taking it in vain (Leviticus 19:12). The Lord who sanctifies His people must be sanctified by them (Leviticus 22:32-33). To sin openly and obnoxiously is to revile the Lord’s name (Numbers 15:30-31). To reject God’s word or servants is a form of blasphemy (Nehemiah 9:26). Once again, we bump into an illustration of something that occurred last Sunday. Both Donald Trump as well as Joe Biden used churches for photo opportunities. It is quite clear in both cases, that our current president and his primary opponent were pandering for Christian voters by taking pictures at churches that neither of them attends. Donald Trump used a Bible for a prop while Joe Biden used Black Christians for a backdrop. It stretches credulity to believe either gesture was genuine. If that is true, then it is a serious matter to invoke the name of God so casually. Of course, this is nothing new for politicians. Both parties have been pandering for the religious vote for quite some time. The problems in our nation are not primarily political. Problems exist because people are sinful. We can argue about the best course of action to bring justice to our nation. But what is needed more than anything else within the Church, is a community where the old interact with the young, and everyone is exhorted to conduct themselves in a way that honor’s the word of God (Titus 2:2-5). This is an opportunity for the Church to show to the watching world that the love of God compels us to love one another (1 John 4:11). Our unity in Christ must supersede any political ambitions. Christ Fulfilled the Third Commandment Remember, to dishonor God’s name is to dishonor who He is and what He has done. That includes His redemptive work. We cannot lose sight of the context in which this command was given to Moses. God was passing on to him the covenant promises that had been given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. If Christ was to be the fulfillment of the covenant promises that God made to the patriarchs, then Christ would be the embodiment, the very incarnation, of the name of God. This is certainly no more evident than in our Savior’s name. Jesus is the English transliteration of the Greek name Iesus, which is the Greek transliteration of the name Yehoshua, which literally means, “YHWH is salvation.” The name Yehoshua is the English translation of the Old Testament name Joshua. Quite literally, the name of the Savior is Joshua. Jesus, therefore, is the incarnation of God’s name and the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. J.V. Fesko, The Rule of Love The name of Jesus points to the redemption that He accomplished. It is only as we place our faith in Him that we can be saved. Our theological understanding of Christ as God, who took on flesh, lived a perfect life, died on the cross in our place, was buried and rose again on the third day, and after ascending into heaven is seated at the right hand of the Father. His is the name that is exalted above every name (Philippians 2:9-11)! The only way to truly honor the name of God is to place our faith in the Son of God. In so doing, we receive the imputed and perfect righteousness of Christ. Then out of our union with Christ, flows a life that seeks to give God a proper reverence in speech and conduct. In other words, out of gratitude for our Savior, we seek to please God in word, thought, and deed. Conclusion The covenantal faithfulness of God is expressed in the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. In Christ, all of the shadows of the old covenant were finally and fully fulfilled. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. So he became as much superior to the angels as the name he has inherited is superior to theirs.” Hebrews 1:3-4 Yes, the third commandment exhorts us to watch our language, especially as it pertains to our view of God. But, in its fullest sense, it is about conforming our lives to the One who gave His life for us. So let us live for Christ—in the midst of our present chaos—by the enabling work of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only until we reach glory, will we no longer fear the possibility of violating the third commandment. And let us look forward to the day when our redemption is sight and we gather around the glassy sea with saints from every tribe, tongue, and nation offering pure worship in the name of our Lord! What a glorious day that will be! The post The Third Commandment: Don’t Dishonor God’s Name! appeared first on Grace Clovis Presbyterian Church (PCA) .…

1
The Third Commandment: Honor God’s Name!

5 years тому

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I was soundly converted in Jr. High. I went to Hume Lake Christian Camp and distinctly remember recognizing the heinousness of my sin against God. I had heard the gospel several times, but something clicked on that occasion and I knew that I needed to repent and confess my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior. One of the first obvious changes that occurred in my life was a strong desire to clean up my language and that of those around me. Whenever I heard someone using curse words I would correct them. I remember even asking permission from my closest friends to punch them in the arm whenever they cussed. Yes, I realize this was an immature response. I was brand new to my faith. Plus, I was in Jr. High, so cut me some slack! Things were a lot less complicated in those days. I can assure you I’m no longer quite so easily offended by cursing. However, I do think the instinct to correct someone’s language is telling. And maybe I should be more offended than I am. It probably isn’t a sign of maturity that I so readily tolerate foul language today. As we consider the third commandment this morning, it is related to our language, but it goes much deeper than using curse or swear words. The third commandment calls us to think, speak, and act in ways that are consistent with our profession of faith. It is a broad topic, but it is specifically related to our relationship with God, which is expressed through our use of His name. This is not so much condemning coarse language as it is condemning an improper approach to God. Read Exodus 20:7 The Serious Nature of the Third Commandment The third commandment is every bit as serious as the first two commandments. In the first commandment , we are forbidden from worshiping false gods. In the second commandment , we are forbidden from worshiping the one true God in a false manner. In the third commandment, we are forbidden from devising false ways of speaking about God. All three commandments are equally offensive and deserving of God’s just judgment. Whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall stone him. The sojourner as well as the native, when he blasphemes the Name, shall be put to death. Leviticus 24:16 I’m not suggesting we should operate under the same civil law of Israel’s theocracy, but at the very least, this passage reveals the significance of breaking the third commandment. Even outsiders who were visiting Israel had to abide by it. The third commandment is not merely encouraging us to clean up our language. It demands more than watching our mouths, it should impact the way we speak, think, and feel about God. Like the first two commandments, it is about worship. It is about how we approach God. What is your attitude when you come before God? What is your posture as you speak to God in prayer? What fills your mind and your speech when you actively and passively worship God? The Name of God Matters Names matter to everyone. Names reflect a man’s character. It is for this reason we protect our name from being misrepresented. We do not want a poor reputation to be attached to our name. We take pride in the preservation of our name. Thankfully, my name was fairly simple. I never had any embarrassing nicknames given to me. But I know some people who were so disturbed by the drama and trauma represented by their first name that they had it legally changed. It feels like starting over. So much about who we are is wrapped up in our name. And, if our own name is such a big deal, then God’s name matters all the more. God’s name represents the respect He is owed because of who He is and what He has done. The multitude of names for God that we find in Scripture reveals different aspects of His character. They are set forth in their relation to mankind. Since His name reveals what He has done, we can see that any aspect of revelation is relevant to our keeping of this commandment. We must come before God with a right understanding of His name in order to worship correctly. God’s name represents His divine and eternal nature and attributes. The opposite of taking His name in vain is to take it up with all seriousness. Whether we are reading, praying, meditating, or conversing we ought to maintain a proper recognition of His holiness and worthiness. God’s name represents His redemptive acts in which He kept His covenant promises. Whenever we think of Christ as our Redeemer we should have in mind His role as our Prophet, Priest, and King. As our Prophet, Christ reveals to us, by His word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. As our Priest, Christ fulfilled the righteous requirements of the Law in His once offering up of Himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us. As our King, Christ redeems us by subduing us to Himself, ruling and defending us, restraining and conquering all His and our enemies. In light of all that Christ has accomplished for us, how can we not honor God with our lives? Approach God With Reverence Everything pertaining to how God reveals Himself is deserving of our reverent and holy observation. Whether we are coming before God in a corporate worship service or in our own private devotional, we must consider the posture of our hearts. Are we careless and flippant or do we understand the weight of our activity? When we communicate about God, whether preaching a sermon, engaging in conversation, or writing a note, we ought to consider our primary purpose. Do we keep the glory of God as our highest aim or are we most concerned with how people perceive our personal knowledge or boldness? This may be the pastor’s greatest temptation—to make ministry about bringing honor to their name rather than honoring the name of God. Does our communication about God tend to foster our own good and the good of our neighbor? Are we filled with humility or pride? Now, I’m going to get a bit personal here, but just know that this convicted me first and foremost! Christian friends, we would all do well to ask ourselves if our posts and comments on social media foster the fruit of the Spirit in our lives and in the lives of others? Do our words display the evidence of Christ’s work in our hearts? That’s not to suggest that we should avoid being honest or even controversial. Faithfulness and gentleness are not mutually exclusive. Peace and patience are not incompatible. Self-control is encouraged by love and joy. Hatred of others will not promote kindness and goodness. I know it is difficult to say anything without it becoming twisted by our current social climate. Facebook and Twitter would find a way to make Mr. Rogers seem cowardly and Mother Theresa seems selfish. But Paul’s wisdom to the Christian community in Galatia is just as relevant today as it was in the first century. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:22-26 God’s name demands our reverence in thought, word, and deed. This is especially true in worship. On the one hand, we might become distracted from focusing on God in the middle of a church service. On the other hand, we might maintain our focus upon God while our hearts are far from Him. Worshiping God in spirit and truth implies a Spirit-wrought mind and heart that engages our whole person. We can simply go through the motions with our bodies. We might mechanically stand up and sit down at the appropriate times while our minds and hearts are fast asleep. The man who does not tremble in the presence of God, though he trusts while he trembles, never worships and never works as he ought to do. G. Campbell Morgan, The Ten Commandments Neglecting the Means of Prayer Probably the most neglected means of grace in the church today is prayer. When we go to God in prayer we ought to come in humility. If the seraphim had to cover their faces, we ought to consider the glory of the One to whom we are praying. We ought to be filled with such a deep gratitude that we have the privilege of praying to God as children to a Father. We know that He who created all things has invited us to call upon Him, asking anything. He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32 The reality of our redemption fills us with humility and gratitude and ought to drive us to the throne of grace in heartfelt adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication! Unfortunately, it is far more common for us to come before the Lord in a manner that is hurried and a mockery of His character. We rush through a half-hearted prayer that we have memorized because it is the same thing we always pray. God is worthy of receiving our devoted attention in prayer. This isn’t about how long we pray or how articulate our prayers are, this is about recognizing the authority of the only God who hears our prayers and is capable of answering them. No doubt God is more patient with three-years-olds who can’t sit still than he is with parents who can’t slow down to get their minds and hearts in the right place. It would be better not to pray over the meal at all, if the alternative is breaking the third commandment. Kevin DeYoung, The Ten Commandments It is equally offensive to repeat empty phrases we do not mean or lofty ambitions that we have no intention of observing. We may pray the right words but if we fail to put into practice what we pray, then we are no better off. You might know how to recite sentences of praise, but if your heart is not filled with adoration for the God who gives you the breath to recite that praise, then you are better off saving your breath! No doubt, it is a serious matter to break the Third Commandment in thought, word, or deed. However, if approaching God in a flippant manner results in His displeasure, then approaching God with reverence through Jesus Christ results in His pleasure. How to Pray With Reverence You won’t simply start praying and worshiping with a proper reverence simply because you have been warned. The Law reveals your sin and it calls you to repentance. But it is also meant to point you to a Savior who perfectly and fully honored God at all times. It is only because of what Jesus has done that we even have a spot available at the throne of grace. We come to the Father in the name of the Son with the help of His Spirit! Because Jesus Christ freely laid down His life for us, we can humbly bow before our Heavenly Father and cry out to Him. Not only did Jesus take the sin of our blasphemous and flippant prayers, but as our High Priest, He ever lives to intercede on our behalf before His Father. We know that we never come before God on our own. We go in the name of His Son with the help of His Spirit! We pray to God with proper humility and reverence for the King of kings and Lord of lords. We lift up the needs of a nation that is desperately searching for light in the midst of this present darkness. We do not come to God with answers, we bring our petitions to Him and we take heed to the answers He provides us in His Word and by His Spirit. We ask Him to fill us with the fruit of His Spirit and to give us the boldness and compassion to share this message of Gospel Hope! We take the light of God’s truth into a world that has been ravaged by the evil of sin and blasphemy against her Maker. And we point them to the only One who promises to bring true and everlasting justice! Conclusion We could summarize the positive side of the third commandment with one verse from the New Testament. Whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 The way that we rightly honor God is to live for Him. He made us for Himself. Our chief end is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever. We can only do that when we come in the name of the Lord Jesus, which is the name that is above all names! The post The Third Commandment: Honor God’s Name! appeared first on Grace Clovis Presbyterian Church (PCA) .…

1
The Second Commandment: Pure Worship Required

6 years тому

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At the end of 2011, my wife and I went to church planting assessment. Then, for the next two years, I attended several cohort meetings and training where I learned the model that other churches successfully followed. Some of the information was truly invaluable, but some of it was disconcerting. Certain topics provided direction, while others were misleading. Unfortunately, many church planting strategies are market-driven techniques that any business might follow. They are oftentimes not adequately grounded in Scripture. Church Planting Strategies One of the approaches I learned about was “finding a person of peace.” The idea comes from Luke 10:5-7. A passage where Jesus encouraged his disciples to receive hospitality from folks willing to provide it has become a crucial missionary methodology. In fact, some advocates of this approach go so far as to say that a pastor or missionary should not even begin preaching or sharing the gospel until they have found a “person of peace” through whom to get connected to others. The point was to find people who were well-connected in the city who would be willing to promote the church to their circle of influence, even if they themselves were not interested in Christianity. While that might be a good marketing strategy it is a far cry from a biblical model for church planting and mission work. Another approach was to interview as many people as possible. Ask them about their own experience in churches. Do they currently attend somewhere? If not, why not? What kind of church would they want to attend? These questions might be informative in understanding the context in which you are planting, but they should not inform the kind of church that is established. Pure Worship Is Biblical Worship The culture does not have the authority to dictate what the church should look like. And, maybe more importantly at this moment in time, neither does the government have the authority to tell the church what they can and cannot do in a worship service. It is nothing more than a worldly compromise to allow the culture or civil authorities to dictate our church model. We did not plant Grace Clovis in order to accommodate the felt needs of our city. Nor did we plant the church in order to allow the “community guidelines” of YouTube and Facebook to dictate how we would preach and worship. We have seriously lost our way when the core principles that drive our mission is derived from the world rather than from God’s Word. If the first commandment is about worshiping the right God, the second commandment is about worshiping the one true God rightly. This command is about maintaining pure worship. God has revealed the parameters of pure worship and the consequences of violating His will. Read Exodus 20:1-6 This morning we will consider how the Second Commandment emphasizes the pure worship that is required by God. Next week, we will see how the Second Commandment teaches us about the false worship that is forbidden. I. Pure Worship That Is Required Although the commandment is given in a negative form, like last week, I want to begin with the positive implications of the command upon how we worship God. This commandment points to the foundational importance of Scripture in the way we worship the one true God. Worship God in Spirit and Truth Jesus said to the Samaritan woman at the well: But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth. John 4:23-24 (ESV) This is the passage Ray Sanchez addressed in God’s Blueprint for Worship . We learn the fundamental principle that worship must be in spirit and in truth. As he concludes, pure or true worship must be whole-hearted and whole-minded. It involves a vital relationship with the Holy Spirit and it is derived from a true knowledge of God as He has revealed Himself in His Word and through His Son. It is not driven by external realities or internal emotionalism. It is spiritually and genuinely moving, but grounded with Scripture as the authority. It does have to do with our affections as long as they are biblically accurate. Biblical Elements of Pure Worship This means that everything we practice in our worship service, all of the elements from beginning to end, ought to be guided by God’s revelation of pure worship. Our prayers and thanksgiving ought to be offered in the name of Christ. We ought to read, preach, and hear the Word of God throughout the service. We need to be able to administer and receive the sacraments, both baptism and the Lord’s Supper, in a manner that is outlined in Scripture. Our worship service needs to be overseen by the elders who are commanded to protect and guard the doctrine and practice of the church against becoming corrupted by false teaching and application. That means church discipline will be a necessary mark of a true church. There may be times that call for fasting as was encouraged several weeks ago. These are all important elements in which we should regularly participate. That being said, there may also be appropriate times for refraining from gathering together, such as when a dangerous virus is spreading through the community. But the norm for true worship is a robust practice of a weekly Sunday worship service that includes gathering together to sing to one another, pray with and for one another, feed upon His Word alongside every generation, and celebrating the signs and seals of the covenant of grace to the glory of our Triune God. True Worship Is Flexible But Not Inventive We do not have the privilege of introducing extra-biblical elements into the worship service such as the strange fire that was offered by Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu. For them, the consequences of violating God’s instruction led to their swift death. Because they offered “unauthorized fire” before the Lord, “fire came out from before the Lord and consumed them” (Leviticus 10:2). The Lord delights in our obedience more than He delights in the sacrificial offering itself (1 Samuel 15:22-23). So we ought to prioritize our participation in true worship because that is the kind of worship that God delights to receive from us. That doesn’t mean that every church worship service must look and sound the same. There is room for flexibility in the order of service, the frequency of certain elements, or even in the style of music. There is nothing more sacred about an eighteenth-century style of worship than a twentieth-century one. However, the principles of worship never change, regardless of changing applications. Michael Horton, The Law of Perfect Freedom Pure Worship Requires Preparation The positive side of the Second Commandment is that we highly value worshiping God according to the principles that He has provided. It is not optional to worship God however we want. We must follow the instructions He has given us for how to bring Him glory and honor. In fact, it is so important that we encourage you to prepare your heart for worship before coming. We even set aside a few moments to quiet our hearts and focus our minds with a proper reverence before hearing the opening call to worship. These might be new elements for many of you, but they are biblical. Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. Ecclesiastes 5:1 (ESV) We gather as the church in order to honor the God who has called us together. Screens Are Poor Mediums For Pure Worship We should pause here in order to give some thought to how this relates to our present situation. In his excellent book Amusing Ourselves to Death , Neil Postman delivers a scathing rebuke to the typical evangelist on television. Without ensnaring myself in a theological argument for which I am unprepared, I think it both fair and obvious to say that on television, God is a vague and subordinate character. Though His name is invoked repeatedly, the concreteness and persistence of the image of the preacher carries the clear message that it is he, not He, who must be worshipped. I do not mean to imply that the preacher wishes it to be so; only that the power of a close-up televised face, in color, makes idolatry a continual hazard. Television is, after all, a form of graven imagery far more alluring than a golden calf.… Jimmy Swaggart plays better than God. For God exists only in our minds, whereas Swaggart is there, to be seen, admired, adored. Which is why he is the star of the show. And why Billy Graham is a celebrity, and why Oral Roberts has his own university, and why Robert Schuller has a crystal cathedral all to himself. If I am not mistaken, the word for this is blasphemy. Neil Postman, Amusing Ourselves to Death Postman was not a Christian, which is why he could suggest that “God exists only in our minds.” But he was simply elaborating upon the ideas of the media scholar Marshall McLuhan whose famous aphorism stated: “the medium is the message.” The means by which the message is being communicated impacts and even transforms the message itself. Postman argued that television was a poor means of teaching important information. Had YouTube or Facebook or Tik Tok existed when he wrote the book, they surely would have raised his voice another octave. His point was that the medium of television was turning serious topics such as religion, politics, and news into alternative forms of entertainment. The Inadequacy of Virtual Worship If the medium is the message, then our worship is directly impacted by the means in which we participate in worship. To sit under the preaching of the Word, in front of a TV or computer, is to impact the way the message is received. Even when the preacher is hopefully proclaiming the worship of God, the medium of his face on the TV is indicating something different—namely, the worship of the preacher. We can and should do everything we can to safeguard against this perception, but the medium itself will do the work even when our words argue for the opposite. I don’t say this in order to condemn the worship of everyone who has participated in virtual worship over the past few months. I say it as a warning that virtual worship is lacking essential elements that God has given us for the proper and full participation in corporate worship. Virtual worship is worse than simply not ideal, it is in fact inadequate! We ought to lament what has been lost and do everything we can to get back to giving God proper honor through gathered, in-person worship. I can understand pastors not wanting to get into politics or controversial matters. I have seen many warnings on social media about getting caught up in the cultural divide and losing sight of the spiritual role we play in society. But, all pastors should recognize that the gathering of the saints for worship is a spiritual matter! The unequal measures that were implemented in this state, and are continuing to bind us, are hindering me from feeding the flock in a manner that fully honors the God we worship. That means I might need to appeal to my earthly citizenship—as Paul did—in order to fight for the more fundamental right to enjoy the privileges of my heavenly citizenship. But, let me conclude with our only hope for exercising true worship. The True Image of Pure Worship If we’re being honest, we know that even when we gather together, we fall short of offering pure worship. As long as we remain in this body of flesh, hindered by our fallen minds and impure motives, we will continue to fall short of bringing to God the perfect honor that He alone is due to receive. Our worship remains flawed even though it has been enabled by God’s grace. God has revealed Himself to us so that we come before Him and not the false gods of other religions, yet we still introduce selfish thoughts, words, and actions into our worship. God has created mankind after His own image. But Christ alone was the only human who ever perfectly reflected the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15). Only Jesus could say, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Jesus fulfilled all of the requirements of the Second Commandment so that we can enter into communion with God through the work accomplished by the Son. And, there is an opportunity to be visibly reminded of that perfect work whenever we partake of the Lord’s Supper. As we look upon the bread and the cup, we are filled with gratitude. As we partake together in a worthy manner, our faith is strengthened, and our unity as the body of Christ is confirmed. But even this sign and seal of the covenant of grace will become unnecessary when we enter into glory and our faith becomes sight. The post The Second Commandment: Pure Worship Required appeared first on Grace Clovis Presbyterian Church (PCA) .…

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The First Commandment: God Above All

6 years тому

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The first commandment is about true worship. Most people think of worship as something we do in various parts of the day. We think of participating in corporate, family, or private worship. When we aren’t engaged in one of those activities, then we are not involved in worship. But that is not true. Your circumstances may change daily or hourly, but the object of your worship must remain the same! Worship is not optional, it’s instinctive. We were made for worship. We are always worshiping someone or something. What are you worshiping right now? The pastoral ministry provides constant pressure to face the idols of security, success, and reputation. But, with the lockdown, my attention has been scattered. Initially, I shifted between learning about new technology for work to learning about the Tiger King at home. I have gone from wondering why more people were not staying home to wondering where our freedom and constitutional rights went. At first, I wanted worship—and maybe haircuts—to be “essential”, but now I want every business to be treated as such. Now, I know you can worship God and still be concerned that we are being stripped of our fundamental rights, but I know that I have often become imbalanced? The lockdown has become such an obsession at times that it is difficult to focus upon God. Early on I was taking advantage of the slower pace of life, but lately, I have cranked back up the speed. That’s not always a good thing. The question is not whether or not we are worshiping, but who or what we are worshiping. To what are we devoting our attention, energy, and power? This should not be an easy question to answer, but it is easy to see how we often fail. The first commandment teaches us that God alone is worthy to receive all of the worship He created us to offer. Read Exodus 20:1-3 Let’s begin with the positive side of this commandment. We can only have no other gods before the Lord if we offer right worship to the One True God. The Duties Required in the First Commandment Egyptian plagues proved God’s supremacy over false gods. The Egyptians believed there were no gods that oversaw the desert, just dangerous snakes. When God gave Moses the sign that would prove that his authority came from God, he had his staff turn into a snake. When they stood before Pharaoh, it was Aaron’s staff that was thrown on the ground and turned into a snake. When Pharaoh’s magicians did the same, Aaron’s staff devoured the staff of the Egyptians. We could say the same thing about God’s authority over the Nile River. Their god had no ability to prevent the water from becoming blood. Even the plague of frogs and the eclipse of the sun were meant to show God’s superior power over the gods of the Egyptians. In the end, Pharaoh and all of the Egyptians were forced to admit defeat. That is an important context to consider because the God of Israel was quite different from the gods of the pagan nations. We will consider that more fully in the next section, but the positive side of this command says we are duty-bound to worship God according to his revelation. We must have the right knowledge about God in order to offer him the right worship. If our chief end is to glorify God, then we must come before him with a proper attitude. We must meditate upon His revelation. We must remember, esteem, honor, and adore him. This is true at all times. God must be the One we choose over anyone else. He receives the pinnacle of our love, desire, hope, and delight! We come before Him with reverence and faith, rejoicing in him with praise and thanksgiving, and yielding to him in humility and patience. When we worship God rightly we offer him all of our love and honor with the full expectation that he will receive our praise and rejoice over us. Covenantal Worship The WLC Q.104 says that we acknowledge God as the “True God, and our God.” We have a covenantal relationship with God. Don’t forget the prologue that we considered last week ( The Grace of the Ten Commandments ). The first commandment requires that we possess covenant faithfulness, but that is only possible because of what God has done. We do not simply determine to put God first. He first loved us by rescuing us out of slavery. For Israel, that slavery was personified by Egypt. For everyone, that slavery is personified by sin. Those God has rescued out of slavery to their sin are now enabled to respond to God’s prior love. The love of God finds its ultimate expression in His Son who said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). This exclusive claim means that we can only honor the first commandment if we worship God through Christ. All of Life As Worship It’s not only important to think about what we are doing, but how we are doing it, and the motivation beneath it. When we grasp the true concept of worship we are free to do so whenever and wherever we find ourselves. We can worship God whether we are gathered in a large group or at home by ourselves. I remember a distinctly significant moment when I was working as a manager of the seasonal department at Lowe’s. I was doing a very mundane task like sweeping in order to prepare from some large sidewalk event the next day. I was exhausted and frustrated, but somehow the fog lifted when I realized that I could sweep with precision and excellence for the glory of God. The task went from being mind-numbingly boring into a task I completed with gratitude. On the other hand, if my mind is not properly engaged, I can be distracted from worship even while preaching the Gospel from the pulpit. Our minds are prone to wander. We lose our concentration with the slightest hint of noise or movement. This command is fundamental in guiding us, not only how to worship, but how to live a worship-filled life (Map). God has revealed Himself to be worthy of all our praise. To turn our attention elsewhere, departing from God, is to violate this commandment. We must recognize that God is over all and above all. God must be first in all things, everything that we do. God must be central to all of our priorities. “Whatever you do, whether you eat or drink, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). The command is given in the negative. The expectation is that we will have gods competing for our worship all the time. The Sins Forbidden in the First Commandment Idolatry is when the person or thing that we worship is someone or something other than God through Christ. Our temptation has always been to follow along with whatever everyone else is doing. We desperately want to fit in. “You shall have no other gods before me. ” The language suggests marital infidelity. It conveys the idea of going after foreign gods and introducing them to their acts of worship (Deuteronomy 6:14). [The sin of idolatry is] like a shameless woman who brings in an adulterer before her husband’s very eyes, only to vex his mind the more. John Calvin A healthy marriage has no interest in an open relationship. Jealousy is part and parcel with wanting all of my one wife. To suggest that I would be more satisfied if I could have a second wife, would be a hurtful and shameful thing to my only wife. Idolatry is likened to open infidelity. There is nothing secret about it. The topic is personified in the life of Hosea whose wife, Gomer, repeatedly betrayed her vows. She took Hosea’s gifts and spent them on other lovers. It was all meant to convey the betrayal of idolatry. Idolatry is having or inventing something in which to put our trust instead of, or in addition to, the only true God who has revealed himself in his Word. Heidelberg Catechism Question 95 Ancient and Modern Idolatry Ancient idolatry was not all that different from modern idolatry. The gods of the ancient Near East were many and ubiquitous. Not only were they convenient to worship, but they also played to the baser desires of humanity. Worship was associated with indulgence and cult prostitution. It was integrated with economic prosperity. While it certainly looked different than modern idolatry, the motives of the worshippers were the same. Through Molech, Baal, and Mammon cultures worshiped cruelty, lust, power, and greed. We continue to seek these same ends today. Whether it looks like the respectable businessman who works 80 hours a week or the selfless husband who secretly indulges in pornography. Jesus Christ shunned all idols. He never placed anything over God. He never stole a lustful glance. He always prioritized God in all things. He was an excellent craftsman, student, son, and servant-leader. While he grew in skill, his motivation to do all things for the glory of God never wavered. The kind of unfaithfulness that our idolatry represents could only be satisfied by the faithfulness of Christ upon the cross. The more prevalent Christianity is a culture, the weaker the hold of idolatry can have. Morality rooted in Christian doctrine has historically produced far more peaceful societies. That is because believers reflect the true humility of their Savior (Philippians 2:1-11). Nothing can be more important than God. That includes your health as well as your politics. That includes your pursuit of success and your desire for shameful entertainment. These are not only the gods of our culture, but they exist within the walls of the modern evangelical church. The fact that the average professing Christian looks just like the world, implies that our worship is not very different from idolatry. Now that we have seen the positive and negative aspects of this commandment, let’s consider… The Foundational Nature of the First Commandment Just as we cannot overlook the importance of the prologue as we consider the Ten Commandments, we also need to see the importance of the first commandment. The first commandment serves as the foundation for the other nine. The primacy of this command indicates its importance and foundational nature. The first commandment is at the root of every other commandment. In order to break two through ten, you must have already broken the first. Idolatry represents the depraved nature with which we were born. But we don’t like to acknowledge that. We would rather think of ourselves as being neutral and choosing to be good or bad. Worship God Through Christ Jesus didn’t die on the cross in an attempt to convince neutral people to receive his love. He died for us while we were enemies in the midst of our grossest idolatry. To see the cross is not to see the measure of how worthy I am, but of how unworthy, shameful, and guilty I am apart from the imputed righteousness of Christ alone. Michael Horton, The Law of Perfect Freedom The cross reveals the unworthiness of sinners. However, our complete unworthiness is met by Christ’s infinite worth. Jesus fulfilled every aspect of the law. His obedience didn’t cover 99% so that you and I could make up the 1%. If Christ’s sacrifice were only partial, then none of us could ever be rescued. Without Christ, no one can obey the first commandment! So flee to Christ! You must be clothed in His perfect righteousness. Only then do we enter into that covenant relationship with God. Those who are “in Christ”, now reflect his image. They are being renewed so that idolatry makes no sense. God remains worthy to receive all of our worship, and now through Christ, it is possible to offer it to Him. God provides the ability to obey the first commandment through the means of the active obedience of Christ and the enabling work of the Holy Spirit. God alone is worthy to receive all of the worship He created us to offer. Worship God above all! Only through Christ can we turn from idols. Repent and place your faith in Jesus Christ, the name that is above all names. The post The First Commandment: God Above All appeared first on Grace Clovis Presbyterian Church (PCA) .…

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The Grace of the Ten Commandments

6 years тому

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One of the most important lessons we learn in life is the difference between personal beings and impersonal objects. All too often, we get into trouble when we think of other people as objects to be used much like we use our other possessions. There are some things that we value more than others. But people must always be given a higher priority than our stuff. We heard this debate carry out recently, during the early days of this coronavirus crisis. Some people worry about the economic consequences of a lockdown. Others suggest that we ought to prioritize people over money. I’ll admit that was my position during the first few weeks. I think it is based upon a proper biblical view of life over stuff. Just think of all the warnings of the corrupting influence of money. However, as things have progressed, we are beginning to see that the debate is not so much about people vs money, but the physical health of some people vs the physical and emotional health of other people. Now, it would seem, the unintended consequences of our unprecedented reaction are proving to be worse than the virus. And that debate has only gotten louder and more obnoxious over time. I really don’t intend to get into that today. I’m not here to explain which threat is worse at this point in time. I do, however, want to reiterate the priority of people. Or, more accurately, the priority of treating people with the dignity and respect they deserve. A Personal God Gave The Ten Commandments When we simply view people as objects to use, or even as obstacles impeding our movement, we tend to lose sight of their value. No one wants to be treated as a statistic. I imagine those in power find it hard not to treat their constituents as numbers. Politicians do not have personal relationships with most of us. How could they really understand the impact of all their decisions? Thankfully, that is not the case with God. As we consider the prologue to the Ten Commandments today we will see that God starts by reminding His people of His relationship with them. These commands do not come from an angry dictator establishing his authority over us. They come from a Divine and Benevolent God who loves us and has rescued us. And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. Exodus 20:1-2 I. A Sovereign God Spoke the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1) We begin from a very basic but important starting point. The Ten Commandments were spoken by God directly to Moses and the people of Israel. To understand this it will be important to consider the context by summarizing the previous chapter. We should also pause to consider the way in which he spoke them. They were given a particular format that is reiterated several times in the Old and New Testaments. The Powerful Presence of God on Mount Sinai God came down upon Mount Sinai to meet with Moses (Exodus 19:16-25). His appearance is reflected with thunder, lightning, clouds, fire, smoke, and trumpet blasts. The sight caused the Israelites to tremble, even as the mountain itself trembled. Moses brought the people to the foot of the mountain. As he spoke to God over the increasing sound of the trumpets, God responded through the loud thunder so that all could hear. God called Moses to the top of the mountain only to tell him to go back down. That had me wondering how tall this mountain was. If tradition is correct, the mountain that is believed to be Mount Sinai stands 7,497’ tall. It would take roughly two hours to ascend and an hour to descend. Depending on how long he was at the top of the mountain, this would have taken half the day. God sent him back down in order to warn the people not to try to break through the foot of the mountain to catch a glimpse of God. They would certainly perish if they attempted to do so. The priests were to be consecrated, so he commanded Moses to bring up Aaron on his return trip. This is the context in which God is now speaking to Moses. The display and power that is represented by his presence demand reverence. The people were to respect God’s sovereignty. Before any of the commands were given, there was fearful anticipation among the crowd. What Moses was about to receive was meant to be taken with all seriousness. The Format of the Ten Commandments Now, before getting to the prologue, we need to understand the format in which they were spoken. God would ultimately write these commandments upon two stone tablets (Deuteronomy 4:13). It is typically understood that the first tablet would have included the prologue and the first four commands. These teach us about our duty to God. The second tablet contained the other six commandments regarding our duty to man (WLC Q.98). This makes sense when we consider the way in which the law is summarized elsewhere in Scripture. Deuteronomy 6:5 speaks of our love for God, which would describe the first four commandments. Leviticus 19:18 refers to our love for neighbor which is outlined in commandments five through ten. How the New Testament Summarizes the Ten Commandments Jesus confirmed this summary of the law in several places (Luke 10:25–28; Mark 12:28–34; Matthew 19:19; 22:37-40). And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:28-31 The scribe asked for the greatest command and Jesus responded by giving him two commands which served as a summary of all Ten Commandments. We could summarize these two commands even further following the Apostle Paul. Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. Romans 13:8 What he means is that our love for one another reveals that we also love God properly. The first four commands dealing with our love for God are the foundation for the last six commands dealing with our love for neighbor. As we attend to the wishes of those we love in the human family, so we attend to the law of the Lord out of love for the Lord of the law. J.I. Packer, Keeping The Ten Commandments How Men Often Minimize the Ten Commandments Since God gave the moral law in such a way that the people knew his power they were not given the freedom to manipulate the format. They could not simply take the moral law as general suggestions. People typically respond to the commandments by pointing out how impossible they are to keep. I mentioned last week ( What Is the Use of the Ten Commandments? ) how that is the purpose of the first use of the law. But instead of this realization leading people to Christ, their first instinct is to reduce the law down to something more manageable. Instead of hearing them say, “I know that I have lied and stolen in the past, so how can I make it up to God,” it is more common to hear, “Of course I lie and steal. Everyone does. It is not like I robbed a bank at gunpoint.” They tend to minimize their guilt by comparing their crimes against God to greater crimes. In other words, they are not as bad as other people, which means they must be good. But that is not how it works. Others will minimize the law by pointing out the many exceptions to the rule. We are not supposed to kill, but what about a soldier in war? We are not supposed to lie, but what about Rahab? We are supposed to honor our mother and father, but what if they command something unreasonable or unjust? These are tricky situations that we will explore as we come to them. This line of thinking can lead to continued and more obvious compromise. “I know that I am not to commit adultery, but what if my girlfriend was in an abusive home and she has nowhere to live?” “I know I’m not supposed to steal, but what if I am taking from the rich and giving to the poor?” The Delusions of Situationism Situationism is worldliness, not only because it opens the door so obviously to wayward self-indulgence, but also because it aims to squeeze Christian morality into the fashionable “permissive” mold of decadent western secularism, which rejects the restrictions of all external authority and is sure that we are wise and good enough to see what is really best just by looking. But by biblical standards this is one of many delusions born of the satanic, God-defying pride with which we fallen creatures are all infected. J.I. Packer, Keeping the Ten Commandments We should be very careful about thinking that exceptions to the law excuse our disobedience. Pointing out one possible exception does not mean we can turn the command into a general rule of thumb. Nor do positive outcomes ever justify wicked means. That is not how they were given, nor is it how they were interpreted throughout Scripture and throughout church history. A sovereign God is able to command whatever he wills. We are not privileged to adjust them down to whatever standards we want. That does mean that we are prone to fail. We will never keep the standards perfectly. That is why we can never forget that… II. A Gracious God Gave the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2) We cannot fail to include the prologue when applying the moral law. This is what clearly reveals the gracious nature of the Mosaic Covenant. There will be consequences for disobedience, but the gift of redemption is where we begin. This implies both an inability to keep the moral law, as well as an ongoing obligation to keep it. A Gracious Revelation What makes this revelation gracious is the fact that it is given by a personal God who has already shown his steadfast love and covenant faithfulness to his people. It would be frightening to the point of death if God thundered from the heavens, “I am the Lord!” But the divine self-disclosure doesn’t stop there. He goes on to add, “… your God.” He is on our side. He is our Father. He gives us commands for our good. Kevin DeYoung, The Ten Commandments God had already delivered them out of slavery. They have complained about their circumstances in the wilderness, but God continued to provide for them. Now he is graciously going to establish a covenant with them through Moses. It is important to recognize the gracious component of this covenant. In the covenant of works that God made with Adam, He not only required obedience, but he also promised life and “endued him with power and ability to keep it” (WCF 19.1). At Sinai God renewed this “perfect law of righteousness” with Moses (WCF 19.2). In one sense, it was kind and gracious of God to give the Ten Commandments. He could have left them with nothing but their conscience to identify various categories of sin. By creating man in His image, God already gave them the ability to know right from wrong. Cain knew it was wrong to murder his brother Abel even though the sixth commandment (“You shall not murder”) had not been formally revealed. Cain had a conscience, and God punished him for disobeying that conscience. The Ten Commandments provide concrete examples of how we offend God. The moral law reveals our sin (Romans 7:7). However, knowing the moral commands does not cause us to obey them, it establishes our guilt as covenant breakers (Romans 3:19). God’s Covenantal Love The consequences of disobedience were immediately felt in their generation. They would deal with disease and famine. In fact, Moses’ generation would not be allowed to enter into the Promised Land. And the ongoing disobedience of future generations would cause them to experience military defeat and exile. The Israelites’ covenant unfaithfulness would have devastating consequences, yet, God would keep showing His steadfast love to them. He would remain covenantally faithful (Deuteronomy 7:9). In order to preserve His own name, He would draw them back to Himself and reestablish his commitment to them, not because of anything they had done. God would remind them of His covenant faithfulness before delineating the Ten Commandments. One of the gravest theological errors is to reverse the order. If you begin with the commands and end with the reward, then you have created a works-based salvation. But God begins with his rescue. Their love—expressed through their obedience—is only possible because it is a grateful response to His initiating love. Before getting to Sinai you must remember the Exodus. In fact, that is how Moses instructs the parents to teach the law to their children. They were to begin by teaching them about how the Lord brought them out of Egypt by a mighty hand with signs and wonders (Deuteronomy 6:20-23). The Covenant of Grace On Mount Sinai, God was honoring the covenant he had made with Abraham. Compare the similar language: Gen. 15:7 I am the Lord who brought you out from Ur of the Chaldeans. Ex. 20:2 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt. This was a renewal of the covenant of grace. It was a covenant to provide people, land, and numerous blessings (Genesis 13). Ultimately, it was also a covenant in which God took upon Himself the stipulations of obedience and the consequences of disobedience (Genesis 15). Abraham had a duty to obey, but God was acknowledging from the start that Abraham would fail. Instead of requiring the blood of Abraham, he paid the price of our disobedience with the righteous blood of His Son, Jesus Christ. The fact that the Mosaic Covenant was established by a gracious God does not imply that obedience to the Ten Commandments was possible. Knowledge of the law does not provide the ability to obey it. It provides the recognition of our inability to keep it. This brings us to our need for Christ who took the curse of our disobedience on the cross. Conclusion So we have seen how a Sovereign God spoke the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1) and a gracious God gave the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:2). But, the gracious work of Christ upon the cross, and the ongoing enabling of the Spirit in a believer actually serves to strengthen our obligation to obey the moral law (WCF 19.5, 7). The moral law remains binding, but now that it’s curse has been lifted and the Holy Spirit has been granted we can obey from a heart filled with gratitude. We are justified, not because of our obedience to the law, but in order that we may become obedient to God’s law. Reformation Study Bible Give what you command, and command what you will. Augustine, Confessions A gracious God is willing to give whatever he commands. Through the grace that is found by faith in Christ, sin no longer has dominion over you (Romans 6:14). The Ten Commandments reflect the character of our God who promises to give what he requires. The post The Grace of the Ten Commandments appeared first on Grace Clovis Presbyterian Church (PCA) .…

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What is the Use of the Ten Commandments?

6 years тому

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If you were to poll society regarding rules for life, you would get many different answers. Some of them might even contain a few examples from the Ten Commandments. But you would probably gather a large consensus around a few secular core doctrines. One popular sentiment would be that there is not one “right way” to live. Another might be that people should be allowed to do whatever makes them happy provided it does not harm someone else. Many would advocate for the right for a woman to choose what to do with her own body. As the list gained clarity there might even be popular agreement that the world would be a better place if everyone would live according to these core values. There would be an assumption that an agreed-upon moral code is better than no code at all. Anarchy is generally accepted as leading to chaos. But polling society has not always provided the best results in history. Not too long ago I came across a story about the British government’s attempt to name a $287 million polar research vessel. In an effort to generate publicity for the new vessel, the government decided to name the royal research ship by way of an internet vote. The agency in charge of the contest suggested to British citizens that they look at names such as Ernest Shackleton (the famous explorer), Endeavor, or Falcon. But the people’s overwhelming, runaway choice for this state-of-the-art research vessel—the clear winner of the internet vote—was (are you ready for it?): “Boaty McBoatface.” Kevin DeYoung, The 10 Commandments In this series, we will consider why it is important not to get your standards of conduct from society, but to look to the moral law as summarized in the Ten Commandments. Memorizing the Ten Commandments Although reciting the Ten Commandments in corporate worship is fairly new to our church, it has a long tradition in church history. Unfortunately, there is not a lot of time at the end of our service to provide a lengthy explanation. My hope in this series is that we will have a better understanding of the ongoing value of the moral law for believers. I encourage you to spend time memorizing the Ten Commandments over the course of this series. Start today. Try to recite the Ten Commandments to one another. Then set the goal of memorizing them and meditating upon their importance. There is historical precedence for the value of this. It was something that every Jewish boy learned in the synagogue growing up. All of our reformed catechisms are based on teaching us the meaning of the Apostles’ Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments. Almost half of the Westminster Shorter Catechism deals with questions about the Ten Commandments. Until relatively recently, this was something that took place in public schools! Prior to 1980, it was not uncommon to see the Ten Commandments posted somewhere in the classroom. J.I. Packer, who was born in England in 1926, had to memorize the Ten Commandments in public school before he was ten-years-old. It was not that long ago that it was reasonable to expect every adult to know them and be able to recite them from memory. You can find some great resources with illustrations to associate with each commandment. Or you might have the kids design their own memory devices. This can be a great exercise for children and adults in our church. Read Exodus 20:1-21 Today I simply want to set the stage for our series with a couple of clarifying remarks. You may find some help in understanding how different traditions have numbered the commandments. I. The Number the Ten Commandments The passage does not number each commandment, nor do we read “Ten Commandments” anywhere in the passage. In fact, they are never referred to as commandments. That is why they are also known as the Decalogue, which is Greek for “ten words” (Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 4:13; 10:4). Either way, “words” or “commandments” both suggest stipulations for obedience because of the context in which they were given. We will consider that in a moment. Did you know that there are three different ways for counting the Ten Commandments? The Jewish tradition counts verse two as the first commandment. However, the earlier tradition represented by Philo and Josephus consider this the prologue (as most other Protestant traditions). The Catholic and Lutheran traditions consider vv.3-6 as pertaining to the first commandment. To make up the difference they separate v.17 into the ninth and tenth commandments. So they have one commandment regarding worship at the beginning, and two commandments regarding coveting at the end. The Reformed, Anglican, and Orthodox traditions count the first commandment as v.3 and the second commandment from vv.4-6. This is the most common way to number them and it is the system we will be following. The rest of the commands are consistently divided. The result is that the Catholic and Lutheran position is a number behind. For instance, whenever I speak of the fourth commandment, they would refer to it as the third commandment. There is no theological difference between these various methods for numbering, but understanding them may save you some confusion if you are ever reading something from a different tradition. Since the typical reaction to the Ten Commandments is negative, we need to consider their importance in redemptive history. II. The Importance of the Ten Commandments When it comes to the Ten Commandments of Scripture, people seem to generally have negative reactions. Secular historians see them as just another example of ever-evolving moral codes that men have lived by throughout history. They are no more helpful than the Sumerian Code of Ur-Nammu, or the Babylonian Code of Hammurabi. But even professing believers seem to have a disdain for the Ten Commandments. They see them as belonging to the Old Testament when God was strict and had no room for grace. They think the love of Christ replaced the need for the law of God. Just consider the Christian view of the fourth commandment to “Honor the Sabbath day…” Most believers think that commandment has been replaced by the freedom to treat Sunday just like every other day of the week. There is nothing sacred about Sunday, even if many Christians happen to go to church for an hour or two in the morning. If it were more convenient to attend church on another day, they would have no problem doing so. The Ten Commandments and the Covenant In some ways, the Ten Commandments are similar to other ancient documents. What is found here might be more appropriately thought of as covenant terms, rather than codes of law. They follow the format of ancient suzerainty treaties which included an explanation of the parties involved in the preamble, followed by a prologue that explains the relationship between the parties, and a list of the stipulations which define the treaty arrangement. Those stipulations were often proposed in two parts: general parameters followed by particular requirements. Although not found in this passage, other places in the Pentateuch mention the covenant witnesses, the need to keep a written record, as well as the blessings and curses that were commonly included in ancient treaty documents. In other words, God’s covenant was following a pattern that the original audience was quite familiar with. However, there was also something unique about the Ten Commandments. They did not simply copy the example of other nations. God’s covenantal arrangement with His people was different. This covenant was not so easily broken because God placed so much emphasis upon His commitment to keeping it with all future generations. He could promise this because He had a plan to redeem His people. The redemptive purpose of God is where the giving of the Ten Commandments begins. That is what the prologue is all about. And that is where we will turn our attention next week. Lastly, we need to consider the three uses of the law. III. The Three Uses of the Ten Commandments The reformers often spoke of the threefold use of the law. Although Martin Luther acknowledged different uses of the law, it was John Calvin who clearly articulated the three uses in book two of his Institutes of the Christian Religion . It is important to consider these uses in order to understand how the Ten Commandments are relevant to us today. Are they only meant for unbelievers? Are they only meant for believers? Actually, we find that they pertain to everyone. 1. Mirror (Pedagogical, Theological) We see the righteousness of God reflected in the law. On the flip side of that, we also see the sinfulness of humanity. Just as you might find a coffee stain on your favorite shirt while you are getting ready in front of a mirror, the law reveals something we couldn’t clearly see before. First, it reveals your inability to keep it. Second, it defines the iniquity that we inevitably commit. And finally, it pronounces the inescapable curse. This, of course, results in a deep conviction. And that would be its purpose. It is how you respond to that conviction that is the key. This use of the law compels us to humbly seek the mercy of God. It is like a schoolmaster who drives us to Christ for our justification (Galatians 3:24). Knowing our natural weakness causes us to look to Christ for grace. After acknowledging his inability to do what is good, Paul looks to Christ. He says, There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. 3 For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1-4 (ESV) Imagine what condemnation the Church would avoid if we were regularly brought to repentance for our sin and reminded of the assurance of pardon we have in Christ! When you consider the Ten Commandments apart from their relationship to Christ, you wind up with legalism. Instead of making disciples , the church churns out nothing but Pharisees. 2. Muzzle (Political, Civil) This use emphasizes how the law restrains evil. The law cannot change human hearts but it can promote justice. Civil and judicial authorities can look to the law to more accurately determine right from wrong. Imagine the impact it would have upon society if people began to take the Ten Commandments seriously. Even apart from the other uses, there is value here for judicial and political discourse. The Ten Commandments should inform the ethics of our nation. We should pray for that and pursue that discourse. However, some have taken this too far. Theonomists have assumed that God’s purpose for Israel is in most ways still appropriate for the world today. They go well beyond applying the Ten Commandments in culture to poring through details of all of the laws of the Old Testament in order to find ways in which they remain applicable in a secular society. There may be room to consider this further in the coming months. But my main point is that the moral law (the Ten Commandments) should be separated from the civil and ceremonial laws. While the civil and ceremonial laws have expired, the moral law has abiding validity. 3. Map (Normative, Moral) This use shows believers what is pleasing to God. Jesus said that he came, not to abolish the law, but fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). If he fulfills it but doesn’t abolish it, that means it still carries importance for the believer today. But we also must recognize that righteousness comes through Christ, not the law (Romans 10:4). Apart from Christ, the law is powerless. Before, it only condemned and cursed, but now, because we are regarded as having fulfilled that law perfectly because Christ fulfilled it in our place, it can only direct us in our Christian life. It can never make such threats as “If you don’t do your part, God won’t do His.” After all, God did “our part” through the perfect life and death of His own Son. Michael Horton, The Law of Perfect Freedom Therefore, once a person is united to Christ by faith, the law provides a map/guide of sorts, for living a life that is honoring to God. We learn to delight in the law as David expressed numerous times in the book of Psalms. Christ does not promise to love us if we keep his commandments. But, because he first loved us—we then reciprocate with a love for Christ, and that love manifests itself in how we keep His commandments (John 14:15). Imagine the growth and maturity the church would experience if we utilized—with the help of the Holy Spirit—the moral law to guide us toward obedience. If more and more people were motivated to obey the moral law of God, the result would certainly be a revival unlike any seen in this generation! Conclusion If you only have the first use of the law (as a mirror that points us to Christ), then you will never see it’s value in society or your ongoing walk with Christ. It only serves as a tool to bring conviction. If you only have the second use of the law (as a muzzle that restrains sin), then you will not feel the proper conviction of your own sin nor will you see any need to repent and mature. It becomes nothing more than a political tool to create a better society. We might become convinced that every courtroom needs to display a copy of them, while they are of little use anywhere else. If you only have the third use of the law (as a map to please God), then you completely ignore the redemptive context in which it was given and its historical value in exploring moral judgments in culture. It becomes nothing more than a dead moralism. When we properly balance all three uses of the law we are reminded of our need for the cleansing work of Christ on our behalf, we see the need for God’s moral standards in a fallen world, and we feel our ongoing need for the work of Christ in our lives. If I were to summarize this topic not only for believers but for all of humanity, I would say this: The Ten Commandments reveal our need for Christ and His ongoing work in our lives. The post What is the Use of the Ten Commandments? appeared first on Grace Clovis Presbyterian Church (PCA) .…

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The Great Commission to Make Disciples

6 years тому

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The mission of Grace Clovis states: “We exist to transform the people of Clovis by finding, equipping, and multiplying followers of Jesus Christ for the glory of God.” This mission really comes from a combination of the Great Commission to make disciples and Paul’s instruction in Ephesians 4: 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ… A lot of mission statements include things about renewing the culture, beautifying the city, or pursuing social justice. Some are quite specific (i.e., reduce poverty, promote racial equality, etc.). These additions are largely a distraction. It’s not that they’re unbiblical, but they tend to pull the leadership of the Church away from their primary calling. On the other hand, some focus so much on making believers, that the mission becomes nothing more than evangelistic endeavors. The seeker-sensitive movement was faulty in that it never sought to grow mature followers of Christ. There needs to be a balance. Packing too much into the statement is distracting, but saying too little is misleading. Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert suggest: The mission of the church is to go into the world and make disciples by declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ in the power of the Spirit and gathering these disciples into churches, that they might worship and obey Jesus Christ now and in eternity to the glory of God the Father. What Is the Mission of the Church? p.241 We could point to plenty of commands that believers are to follow, but the mission of the church is not meant to be all-encompassing. It is meant to highlight our purpose as an institution established for the glory of God. So, in formulating that mission, we must consider the last words of instruction given by Christ to his disciples before ascending into heaven. In this Great Commission, he calmed their fears and gave them a purpose. It can do the same for everyone who worships Christ as their risen King . 16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV) I. The Recipients of the Great Commission (16-17) A disciple is literally a follower or a student. They learn from and obey their teachers. But, in this passage, these disciples also worship. This wasn’t just any teacher, and they weren’t following him like typical students. They didn’t merely respect Jesus, they were willing to live and die for him. At the same time, we also see that some of them dealt with doubt. It will be telling to consider how Jesus deals with doubting disciples and how those same disciples recover their faith. Disciples Who Obey Let’s begin by noting the obedience exemplified by the eleven who followed and learned from Jesus throughout his ministry. The eleven disciples obediently went to the mountain that Jesus directed them to go so they could meet (16). This was the instruction that the angel, as well as Jesus, gave to the women earlier (vv 7, 10). Galilee was the location Jesus chose to begin his ministry (Matthew 4:15). It was a Gentile region that perfectly represented the kind of people Jesus was calling them to go among and make disciples. Disciples Who Worship Upon seeing the glorified and risen King, “they worshiped him” (17b). Just as the women worshiped Jesus from a posture of humility and faith, so the disciples did the same. Seeing Jesus sparked an immediate response of worship. It is an emotionally powerful scene. I am moved by the thought of the abrupt transitions these disciples made. One moment they were confused and mourning. Then next they are encouraged and hopeful. Then, finally getting the chance to see him would have been nothing short of overwhelming. Could you imagine their sense of relief? Disciples Who Doubt At the same time, “some doubted” (17c). This is not suggesting that we can worship while at the same time being filled with doubt. I think it is suggesting the opposite. Matthew is telling us that some of Jesus’ most committed followers—the eleven men who did not fall away like Judas—doubted rather than worshiped him. This is quite typical of the disciples in the gospels. They were oftentimes slow to believe what Jesus was teaching. They were frequently confused and in need of correction. More often than not, Matthew highlights the extraordinary faith of outsiders: When the Roman centurion suggests that Jesus could heal his servant without even going to him, Jesus responds “Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith” (Matthew 8:10). When the friends of a paralyzed man brought him to Jesus we read that “Jesus saw their faith” and forgave the man and healed him (Matthew 9:2). When the unclean woman with a flow of blood reached out and touched the garment of Jesus he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well” (Matthew 9:22). And when the Canaanite woman came in great humility and asked Jesus to heal her demon-oppressed daughter, Jesus said, “O woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you desire.” (Matthew 15:28). On the other hand, the disciples were frequently filled with questions and fear. Matthew records multiple occasions of Jesus saying, “O you of little faith” to the disciples. How Jesus Deals With Doubting Disciples When Peter witnessed Jesus walking on water, he asked to do the same (Matthew 14:28-33). Peter began with faith, but once he caught the waves, he doubted and began to sink. Jesus reached out and supported him, but said, “why did you doubt ?” It is the same word we find in Matthew 28:17. It is not that Peter stopped believing in Jesus. His commitment to Christ remains, even though he was filled with doubt that Christ could cause him to remain on top of the water. He is not conscientiously rejecting Jesus Christ, or even denying him as he would do later. This is the doubt of one who is not convinced of the power of Christ to accomplish something miraculous in and through him. After the resurrection, we know that Thomas and other disciples doubted that this was the risen Christ (Luke 24:36-43). Thomas became convinced after receiving physical proof, touching the wounds in Jesus’ hands and side (John 20:24-29). But Matthew leaves all of that out of his account. Is he giving us something significant to consider? Jesus didn’t single out those who doubted and ask them to leave the room or ignore the commission he was about to give. No, he gives them all the same instruction. He never singled out Judas either. Judas interacted with Jesus and the other disciples for three years and no one ever thought he would fall away as he did. Jesus washed Judas’ feet just as he did the other disciples. Judas witnessed and benefited from the miracles that Jesus performed throughout his ministry. Judas heard all the same instructions, but he betrayed Jesus. How Doubting Disciples Recover Faith Here, these men who are still doubting, seem to recover the faith that had been shaken. But, what is remarkable to me is that Jesus doesn’t suggest that their doubt means they did not belong there. He didn’t say, “Well, those of you are still questioning all that I’ve taught and accomplished, those of you who are currently filled with doubt about who I am and what I have done, let me first convince you…then I’ll instruct you.” He doesn’t say that. He simply gives them the same commission. So what sets these doubters apart from Judas? They obeyed! They did what Jesus commanded. We know from the book of Acts that all of these men go on to meet and gather together for prayer until the day of Pentecost. We don’t know how long their doubt lingered, maybe it was only for a fleeting moment, but they obeyed Christ and honored him in their response even though they struggled to understand it all. Isn’t that encouraging! Do you ever doubt? Do you struggle to believe the gospel at times? Does the temptation that surrounds you trip you up and cause you to question your commitment to Christ? You are not alone. Christians have always struggled with these things. You can take those doubts to the Lord. You can repent of your unbelief. And you can know that He will be faithful to bring comfort and assurance in his timing. These are the recipients of the Great Commission. They are the one’s who receive… II. The Contents of the Great Commission (18-20) The disciples are a mixture of faith and doubt. They are still reeling from the shock of seeing their risen Lord. But, surely his words would have brought greater confidence. Hearing him speak of his authority establishes his right to give them their commission. In the Great Commission, Jesus calls them to make disciples by going, baptizing, and teaching all that they had learned from Him. And the concluding promise of the Savior’s presence would have been on their minds in all of their future triumphs and trials. The Authority of the Savior Jesus has received “all authority” as the Lord and Savior who conquered sin and death (18). Again, I appreciate how DeYoung and Gilbert discuss this: “There can only be a mission imperative because there is first this glorious indicative. God does not send out his church to conquer. He sends us out in the name of the One who has already conquered. We go only because he reigns.” What Is the Mission of the Church? This nicely wraps up the theme of our series: The King and His Kingdom . They were not left alone to fumble through establishing the religion of the new covenant. During Christ’s earthly ministry he gave his disciples the authority to cast out demons and to heal the sick (Matthew 10:1). He now commissions these eleven disciples from His exalted place of authority. His work continues through them, even as he prayed in his high priestly prayer, “As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world” (John 17:18). We know he also instructed them to wait for the Holy Spirit who would fill and empower them for the mission (Acts 1:8). The Great Commission of the Savior “Make disciples” is the only imperative in the verse. The other three verbs (going, baptizing, teaching) are participles that support the command to make disciples. Their mission went well beyond evangelism and baptism. Jesus was not commissioning them to crusade from town to town sharing the gospel. They were called to actually make disciples. These believers were to become fellow Christ-followers and learners by joining the Church in baptism and partaking in the ongoing work of the Church. The task for believers is to make disciples who are disciple-makers themselves. Making Disciples By Going (19a) The Church is to accomplish this, first of all, by going. Going is a necessary component of the command. Just as some overemphasize the first step of evangelism, so some overemphasize the equipping component—as if evangelism will take care of itself. No, a believer should be committed to the proclamation of the gospel. In order to proclaim the gospel, the disciples could not remain isolated. They couldn’t simply hunker down and wait for the persecution to pass. They were going to have to risk public shame and abuse. Making Disciples By Baptizing (19b) Baptizing represents the entrance into the covenant community. We will see the disciples immediately applying this to entire families, just as the sign of the old covenant was given to entire families. This would naturally include members of all ages. Under the old covenant, infants were circumcised. Under the new covenant, we can assume that infants were baptized. And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. Genesis 17:7 (ESV) That ought to be our assumption unless there is a clear veering away from that aspect of the old covenant. But, as we see from Acts 2:39, the promises were not only meant for individual believers, but for them and their children. In other words, these promises remain relevant to entire households. Baptism alone does not make one a disciple regardless of one’s age. The recipients of the sacrament of baptism must improve it by faith. But the benefits of the sacrament are not tied to the timing of its administration (just as it was under the old covenant). We see continuity and discontinuity between the old and new covenants. Baptism is to be done “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Christians believe in one God who exists in three persons. There is one “name” for God that is an expression of the three persons. Matthew has given hints along the way. At his birth, the name Immanuel “God with us” is applied to Jesus (Matthew 1:23). At his baptism, where the Father speaks, the Son is baptized, and the Spirit descends in the form of a dove (Matthew 3:13-17). Baptism is something we take seriously to improve with faith and obedience throughout our lives. Making Disciples By Teaching (20a) The disciples were also told to pass on the teaching they had received from Jesus. This would include teaching the whole gospel. They weren’t to limit their preaching and teaching to whatever itching ears wanted to hear. Nor were they to limit their teaching to sound bites of doctrine and truncated slogans. They were to teach “all” that Christ had taught them. It ought to include doctrine and practice. Christianity involves orthodoxy and orthopraxy, that is, the right belief and the right conduct. I would argue that involves not just his formal instruction, but the way they observed Jesus living before them. Discipleship is not limited to classroom lectures and sermons from the pulpit. We ought to be observing and learning from the way Christ-like followers faithfully exhibit their beliefs through their actions. The primary mission of the church is to make disciples of Christ by proclaiming the gospel of Christ. When you combine all of the elements in the Great Commission (going, baptizing, and teaching) it is apparent that the saints will need to gather in community for equipping and sending in order to accomplish the task. In other words, the mission of the church is to make more churches. We fulfill the Great Commission by planting churches that plant churches. And, at the smaller level, we can only plant churches as the followers of Christ become disciples who make disciples. The whole body is involved in the process. Everyone is critical to the mission. Conclusion: The Promise of the Savior’s Presence (20b) After giving his disciples the Great Commission, Jesus promised them, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” They understood that he would be departing physically , but he would remain with them spiritually . In reality, this not so much Christ’s mission given to the Church to accomplish, as it is His mission to accomplish through the Church. The promise of His presence is the promise that He will continue to work in and through His disciples to carry out His eternal purposes. In light of this promise, those who turn to Christ by faith, are baptized into his covenant community, ought to regularly sit under His teaching, and seek to obey the Great Commission to make disciples of their families, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. To that end, let’s ask the Lord for his help in doing so. The post The Great Commission to Make Disciples appeared first on Grace Clovis Presbyterian Church (PCA) .…

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The Benefits of Christ’s Resurrection for Believers

6 years тому

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Well, if you are anything like me, yesterday was difficult. We celebrated one of the strangest Easter Sundays of our lifetime. It was quite possibly the strangest Easter Sunday since that first Resurrection Sunday. Celebrating Easter from our homes was far from ideal, but it was nice to see everyone making the most of it. I want to encourage you to keep the benefits of Christ’s resurrection on your mind. I trust you were blessed by the many reminders you received of the goodness and greatness of God. The resurrection is the foundation of our faith. The Heidelberg Catechism provides us with some very encouraging words to continue to consider. It gives believers three things to reflect upon regarding the benefits of Christ’s resurrection. Celebrating Easter Sunday yesterday should not conclude our meditation on the value of the resurrection for us today (and for all eternity). Q. 45: What doth the resurrection of Christ profit us? A.: First, by His resurrection He has overcome death, that He might make us partakers of that righteousness which He had purchased for us by His death; 1 secondly, we are also by His power raised up to a new life; 2 and lastly, the resurrection of Christ is a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection. 3 Heidelberg Catechism Q.45 1. Christ’s resurrection confirms His substitutionary death on the cross for us in the past . “First, by His resurrection He has overcome death, that He might make us partakers of that righteousness which He had purchased for us by His death If Christ has not been raised, then we would remain under the penalty of our sins (Romans 4:25). It would mean that death had defeated Christ. We would have no hope of entering into heaven by way of his righteousness. But Christ was triumphant on the cross . And since he did rise from the dead, we know that his death purchased the righteousness we needed for redemption. Speaking in a general way, it may be said that all the benefits of Christ’s death are also fruits of his resurrection; for his resurrection secures the effect which his death was designed to have. Zacharias Ursinus The first of the benefits of Christ’s resurrection is that it proves His defeat of sin on the cross. If you take away the resurrection, you lose redemption too. The Reassurance of the Disciples Painting of John and Peter running to the empty tomb by Eugene Burnand (1898). In my office hangs a painting that my wife bought for me almost twenty years ago. It is the work of Eugene Burnand who painted it in 1898. Mine is a printed copy, but it is nicely framed. The painting portrays John and Peter heading to the tomb after they had heard the news of the resurrection. John is young and clasping his hands as if he is full of hope. The older Peter is holding his right hand over his heart while pointing forward with his left hand. They look tired, even a bit anxious. And it’s no wonder the disciples look tired. For a few sleepless nights, they had been mourning the death of their Master. At this point, they were restless and confused. But the news of the resurrection would confirm everything Jesus had ever told them. It would confirm that the death of Jesus was all part of God’s redemptive plan. They were about to transition from feeling shattered and alone to being reassured and confident in God’s promises. 2. Christ’s resurrection proves that God enables us to live for Him in the present . “secondly, we are also by His power raised up to a new life” Apart from the resurrection, we would remain under the power of our sins. We would have no access to the life-giving power of Christ. Our union with Christ in his resurrection is what allows us to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). This is also why we seek to live for things that are above, in heaven, rather than what is earthly (Colossians 3:1). We place a much higher value upon our heavenly rewards than any security we might enjoy here on earth. Although we were dead in our sins, because of the power of the resurrection, we have now been quickened or made alive, by the grace that saved us (Ephesians 2:5). An Opportunity For Generosity Think about how that might apply to you and me today. Many of us will be receiving our stimulus checks in the mail this week if we don’t already have them. Maybe you already have a plan for what to do with that money. I want you to consider being generous with this money. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9 Christ descended to us, becoming like us, and taking our place upon the cross. And now that He is risen and ascended to the right hand of the Father, we know that he represents us even now. And because He was generous to offer His life, we know that He can cause us to become generous as well. Since He has secured the greatest blessings of eternal life, we can generously use our earthly blessings to support others who are in need. Probably most of us know of someone who has experienced significant economic hardship because of the Coronavirus. Some have taken pay cuts. Others have lost their jobs. Some of us may not be sure what our future holds, especially as this continues to drag on. I do not know your precise situation, but I can imagine that many of you have not experienced any significant financial impact. Maybe your retirement has gone down some, but depending on your age, there is plenty of time for that to recover. Introducing the Deacon’s Fund If you find yourself in a situation where you aren’t sure what to do with the money, I want to point you to a new category we have for online giving. We have added a category to designate which fund you would like your donation to go toward. Please continue to give your regular gifts to the “General Fund”. We depend upon those gifts for our regular budget. But now, whenever you have an additional gift that you would like to give (such as a stimulus check that you did not really need), we have added the “Deacon’s Fund” as an option. Initially, we plan on keeping those funds reserved for supporting others in the church who have a financial burden. You can find our secure online giving portal at the top right corner of our website (or click here to go directly to our giving portal). 3. Christ’s resurrection promises our own resurrection in the future . “and lastly, the resurrection of Christ is a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection.” If Christ was not resurrected, then no one will be resurrected. So not only would we lose the spiritual benefits and blessings of that resurrection life in the present, but we would also lose the physical benefits of it in the future. However, we know that the same God who rose Christ from the dead will cause us to rise from the dead by his Spirit (Romans 8:11). Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5 The resurrection gives us a living hope! We have an imperishable, undefiled, and unfading inheritance that is kept in heaven for us! We rejoice in this truth. Regardless of the trials and difficulties we face right now, Christ’s resurrection guarantees our future. Conclusion The benefits of Christ’s resurrection include past, present, and future blessings for believers to continue to meditate upon for all eternity. We are confident that Christ’s death fully satisfied the justice of God. We know that the resurrection enables us to live for him–we can generously give of our earthly resources even though we are in the midst of uncertainties. And knowing that Christ has secured our heavenly reward fills us with an unshakeable hope. 1 Corinthians 15:16 ↩︎ Romans 6:4; Colossians 3:1 ↩︎ 1 Corinthians 15; Romans 8:11 ↩︎ The post The Benefits of Christ’s Resurrection for Believers appeared first on Grace Clovis Presbyterian Church (PCA) .…

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Worship Christ, the Risen King

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