Find me here: http://cityofhopechurch.net/content/blog/ I’ll be posting with Pastor Jeff Rickett at the City of Hope Blog

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:56:07 -0400

Thursday, April 2, Questions 92 & 93: The Holy Catholic Church

Fri, 3 Apr 2009 08:12:43 -0400

92. What follows?
The fourth part, where it is said that we believe in the Catholic Church.
93. What is the Catholic Church?
The community of the faithful which God has ordained and elected to eternal life.
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We believe in one Holy Catholic (Universal) Church. Jesus’ Church is much larger than your local congregation, no matter how many people congregate there on the Lord’s Day.

The Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF) expands a bit on what our teacher says above.

WCF 25:1 - The catholic or universal Church, which is invisible, consists of the whole number of the elect, that have been, are, or shall be gathered into one, under Christ the Head thereof; and is the spouse, the body, the fullness of Him that fills all in all.

The Church is invisible in the sense that it is God alone who knows perfectly the complete number of those whom he has appointed to eternal life (Acts 13:48). The Church is God’s people gathered together into one. But not only that, we are God’s people gathered together before him, in his presence (cf. Deuteronomy 4:9-14; 1 Corinthians 5:4; Hebrews 12:14-24; 2 Thessalonians 2:1). We are the body of Christ, and he is our Head (cf. Romans 12:1-5; 1Corinthians 10:17; 11:29; 12:12-27; Ephesians 1:23; 2:16). And we are not our own, we have been bought with a price that we might be Christ’s bride (cf. 2 Corinthians 11:2-3; Ephesians 5:25-33).

All of these things are true in spite of the fact that “even the purest Churches under heaven are subject to both mixture and error” (WCF 25.5). We rejoice as we strive to be Jesus’ faithful bride because it is he who has made us holy and will doubtless present us to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle!

Thursday, March 26, Questions 84 & 85: Resurrection

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:35:24 -0400

84. As the judgment is not to be before the end of the world, how do you say that some men will then be alive, and thus will be dead, seeing it is appointed to all men once to die? (Heb.9:27, 28).
Paul answers this question when he says, that those who then survive will suddenly be changed so that their corruption will be abolished, and their bodies will put on incorruption (1 Cor. 15:52; 1 Thess. 4:17).

85. You understand then that this change will be for them like a death, for it will abolish their first nature, and raise them up in a new state.
That is it.
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If you have ever donated food for a food drive or to a food bank you know that what they request is non-perishable foods. They would much rather you show up with canned tomatoes instead of the fresh tomatoes you plucked from your garden. Why? Because the fresh tomatoes are immediately subject to decay and will be of no use unless they are eaten quickly. However, since the canned tomatoes have been injected with preservatives, they have a long shelf life. The effects of the decay have been slowed down.

We were made to live forever. Indeed, in Christ we have received the gift of eternal life. Yet, our bodies are still subject to decay. While they last longer than canned tomatoes, they are still perishable. So, when will we see the fullness of the reality that in his victory Jesus Christ swallowed up death forever? We will see it when he comes again to judge the living and the dead. And his coming means resurrection. Those who have died in Christ will be raised bodily. Those who are alive in Christ will be changed. Our teacher describes this change as like a death, because it includes an abolition of the first nature and a resurrection to our new nature.

The resurrected and exalted Lord Jesus Christ, when he comes again to judge, ushers in our resurrection to life without decay, no longer subject to death, imperishable.

“I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting” (1 Cor. 15:50-55)?

This is a source of great joy for every Christian. And, as our brother Q so aptly reminded us yesterday, we must pay close attention to the imperatives that come to us whenever these wonderful truths are given. So, it is no mistake that after these verses Paul says,

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain”(1 Cor. 15:58).

In the Lord we labor now all the while knowing that imperishable, incorruptible, immortal resurrection life is coming.

Thursday, March 19, Question 77: Before the Throne of God Above

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:33:34 -0400

77. What benefit do we obtain from this ascension?
The benefit is twofold. For inasmuch as Jesus Christ entered heaven in our name, as He had descended for our sake, He has given us an entry, and assured us that the door, previously shut because of sin, is now open for us (Rom. 6:8-11). Secondly, He appears before the face of the Father as our Intercessor and Advocate (Heb. 7:25).
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Calvin is a pastor. Here again as in questions 40, 72, and 74, he wants Christians to know how we benefit from some aspect of our Savior’s work and ministry.

When Adam sinned in Genesis 3, death entered the picture. He died spiritually. He became corrupt and unrighteous. With respect to his status before God he died to innocence and became guilty. He suffered the disruption of his very being and became mortal, subject to decay and death. And so did we. The door was shut.
And so, the Son of God descended for our sake. Indeed our Lord said, “I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they [the sheep] may have life and have it abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep” (John 10:9-10).
The door that he has opened for his sheep is the door to life eternal, real life. So, we do indeed also benefit greatly from his ascension. Because he entered heaven in our name, he has given us entry.
He promised never to leave nor forsake us. He ascended and he sent his Spirit to his church. Not only that but he still lives to make intercession for his people before the face of the Father.
“Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25).
What is the benefit of Christ’s ascension? We have the Holy Spirit here, whom he sent, interceding for us (Romans 8:27). And we have Christ, at the right hand of God interceding for us (Romans 8:34). So we can indeed sing with joy,
Before the throne of God above,
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

Thursday, March 12, Question 70: Hope in God

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 08:30:26 -0400

70. Thus we see the difference between the torment which He suffered and that which sinners experience when God punishes them in His wrath. For what He suffered for a time in Himself is perpetual in the others, and what was only a needle to sting Him is to them a sword to deliver a mortal wound.
It is so, for Jesus Christ, even in the midst of such distress, did not cease to hope in God. But sinners whom God condemns rush into despair, defy, and even blaspheme Him.
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“Why are you downcast, O my soul,
and why are you in turmoil within me?
Hope in God; for I shall again praise him,
my salvation and my God” (Ps. 42:5).

As Christians, the psalms have become our songs in a very personal way. Mark Futato, in his book Transformed by Praise, The Purpose and Message of the Psalms, has well noted that the flow in the Book of Psalms is from lamentation to praise. It is also true that many of the individual Psalms move from lamentation to praise. The book is a reflection of Jesus’ life. It is also then a reflection of the life of the believer. “Because it is Jesus’ story it is our story because we are united to him by faith.”
Jesus Christ, even in the midst of his distress, did not cease to hope in God. His sufferings for us was not mixed with even the slightest tinge of sin. His torment was for God’s glory and our benefit. And our teacher here describes it as “suffering for a time.” He did not remain on the cross nor in the grave, but he rose again and ascended to glory. Even though, in some mysterious way, when his people are persecuted he is being persecuted (Acts 9:4-5), his sufferings that accomplished redemption was only for a time.
This reality is contrasted with the frightful truth that such is not the case for those who die in their sin. The sufferings of Christ make it clear that God’s wrath is real and terrible. The outpouring of it upon him was temporary. But, upon those who are not in Christ this outpouring is a perpetual torment. And for eternity, they will continue to rush into despair, to defy and to blaspheme God. Jesus will gather out all causes of sin and all law-breakers and throw them in to the fiery furnace (Matt. 13:42).
Yet, Jesus says, “then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matt. 13:43).
So, Christian, hope in God. You are united to Jesus Christ by faith. Your turmoil and internal wrestling is not the end. He is your salvation and your God. And because of Jesus Christ, you will forever praise him.