Yesterday, we started to reflect on the words of Edward Leigh, who said that divine promises are “the grounds of our hope, the objects of our faith, and the rule of prayer” (p. 2). We looked at divine promises as “the grounds of our hope.” Today, we will look at divine promises as “the objects of our faith.” Here, we are reminded that God’s promises are to be believed. Quoting Num. 23:19 (“God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?”), the authors say, “The promises of God are sure words to be believed because God stands behind them. Whatever is believed without a promise is only presumed (Heb. 11:11)” (p. 2).
Read MoreA while ago, Elizabeth gave me a book titled Living by God’s Promises by Joel R. Beeke and James A. La Belle. I recently picked it up and I have been very much blessed by it. So, I’d like to share with you bits and pieces of it in the coming weeks. The authors begin by showing the importance of understanding the nature and various kinds of God’s promises before we seek them. I think that is quite obvious but also worthy to remember. The first thing they talk about is how divine promises are different from divine commands and threats, the three ways by which God’s Word calls for obedience: “…precepts or commandments, which teach obedience; threats, which restrain disobedience; and promises, which confirm [here, used in the sense of “strengthen”] our obedience” (p. 2). God’s commands show us what He requires of us. The threats show us what will happen if we disobey. And God’s promises “confirm what God, motivated by His sovereign mercy and good pleasure, will do for us” (p. 2). (Of course, God’s threats are a form of His [negative] promise but the authors are here using the word “promise” in its positive sense.)
Read MoreYesterday, we were reminded of the importance of understanding the nature and various kinds of divine promises for the proper benefit of enjoying them. To that end, we saw the distinction between God’s commandments, threats, and promises. We will continue to reflect on the nature of divine promise. According to the authors of Living by God’s Promises, Edward Leigh, a Puritan politician, said that divine promises are “the grounds of our hope, the objects of our faith, and the rule of prayer” (p. 2). We will reflect on the first of these three today.
Read MoreAs we look forward to worshipping God together tomorrow after three months(!), I’d like us to meditate on Ps. 122: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD!’ 2 Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! 3 Jerusalem—built as a city that is bound firmly together, 4 to which the tribes go up, the tribes of the LORD, as was decreed for Israel, to give thanks to the name of the LORD. 5 There thrones for judgment were set, the thrones of the house of David. 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! ‘May they be secure who love you! 7 Peace be within your walls and security within your towers!’ 8 For my brothers and companions’ sake I will say, ‘Peace be within you!’ 9 For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your good.”
Read MoreThe Hebrews writer gives us another reason that we should enter the holy places of the heavenly temple with confidence: “…and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” It is because we have Jesus Christ as the great priest over the house of God. Here, Jesus is called “a great priest,” instead of “a high priest.” He is not denying that Jesus is the true high priest. He spoke of Jesus as “a great high priest” in 4:14. And that is most likely what he meant when he referred to Jesus as “a great priest” here. Adding “great” to the title of “high priest” shows how Jesus is greater than all the high priests of Israel, including Aaron.
Read MoreYesterday, we reflected on “the new and living way,” by which we are allowed to enter the holy places of the heavenly temple. This access was granted by the blood of Jesus Christ. The Hebrews writer also says something interesting: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh…” (Heb. 10:19-20). We are told that Jesus opened our access to the heavenly temple “through the curtain, that is, through his flesh.” What does that mean?
Read MoreWe are thinking about why we should not neglect meeting together, especially for our weekly worship. For this, we are reflecting on Heb. 10:19-25: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Read MoreYesterday, we began our reflection on Heb. 10:19-25. At the end of this passage, the Hebrews writer exhorts us not to neglect meeting together. We said that he is primarily talking about our public worship, though not exclusively. He says this after giving the reasons for it. The first reason we see in this passage is given in vv. 19-20: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh….”
Read MoreAs we plan to go back to our public worship, let us prepare for it by reflecting on the importance of public worship. A good place to begin is Heb. 10:19-25: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”
Read MoreToday, we will see what the Larger Catechism has to say about our duty/calling to our equals. In our families, this can apply to the spouses and the siblings (even though there are functional hierarchies in these relationships). In our church, this would apply to our fellow members. Again, let’s first see what is required:
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