All Glory to God the Father and to our Savior Jesus Christ

From Westminster Shorter Catechism, questions 35 to 38:

Q35: What is sanctification?
A35: Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.

Q36: What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification?
A36: The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption, and sanctification, are, assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end. 

Q37: What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?
A37: The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness, and do immediately pass into glory; and their bodies, being still united to Christ, do rest in their graves till the resurrection. 

Q38: What benefits do believers receive from Christ at the resurrection?
A38: At the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgement, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity. 

Last week’s bible study concerned John the Baptist’s declaration of he being unworthy to untie the sandal of the One who is coming. I also introduced you to the Bereans who were known to hear what was said and go search the scriptures to see if the word that was spoken was true. True in as much as scripture is concerned. Not the truth as we know it today; we are seeing displayed before our very eyes on whichever media you choose. People, sometimes church people declaring statements of this or that, obviously not true, but since they say it is “their truth”, we must accept it as such. The very thing the Judaizers did to those who Paul was teaching the True Word to. 

A Judaizer taught that, in order for a Christian to truly be right with God, he must conform to the Mosaic Law. Circumcision, especially, was promoted as necessary for salvation. Gentiles had to become Jewish proselytes first, and then they could come to Christ. The doctrine of the Judaizers was a mixture of grace (through Christ) and works (through the keeping of the Law). This false doctrine was dealt with in Acts 15 and strongly condemned in the book of Galatians.

We find this in our day as such. They say abortion is Women’s Healthcare and so vital that Planned Parenthood was allowed to remain open, but churches were closed due to COVID.

They say that Black Lives Matter, but when you add “all” to that statement, they become incensed that you have changed “their” truth and will condemn you and call you a racist.

Truly nothing is new under the sun and that is very true in this supposed postmodern world. Which really means a post truth world. So it is very important to be like the Bereans and search through the scriptures to find out what is really true. An interesting side note; Monday morning, when going through my usual reading of Grace Community Church’s devotionals, the first thing I encountered was mention of the Bereans. And I have had this happen many times. I will have something that I am compelled to research and then up it pops in these devotionals from John MacArthur’s church. Now, you may nod your head internally and say to yourself, “sure that happens to you, but that never happens to me.” And if this is the case, I would ask yourself why that is? Maybe you just consider it a coincidence. This would happen when you have drunk in the world to such an extent that you believe in this thing that was brought to us by satan. It is a cousin to luck. Also an invention of satan. Proverbs 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord. Or maybe you have eyes to see but cannot see the beauty of Providence. You need to pursue the scriptures to remove the scales from your eyes and notice the beauty of God working in your life. Obey God and you are blessed, disobey God and you are cursed. It’s a binary choice and a free one too.

So we will pursue John 1 verses 29 to 34. 

29 The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 

Let’s look at what John said. Where did his reference of “the Lamb of God” come from?: We know of the sacrificial lamb that was killed, and the blood sprinkled over the door in the time of Moses to save the firstborn of all the Hebrews when God destroyed the first born of Egypt.

We know that the lamb is the Passover animal sacrificed once a year in memory of that night when death passed over the Hebrew homes because of the blood of the lamb. This is saying then “This is your Passover sacrifice” speaking of Jesus. The blood of the animal could do nothing but cover the sin. 

The precious blood of the Lamb, Jesus Christ, does away with sin. In fact, not for just that occasion, but for all of eternity. “Taketh”, means to continually take away. It is so interesting how every little word is so important in Scripture.

John the Baptist used the expression “the Lamb of God” as a reference to the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to atone for the sin of the world.  This “sin” spoken of is in the singular form. The use of the singular “sin” in conjunction with “of the world” indicates that Jesus’ sacrifice for sin potentially reaches all human beings without distinction. John makes clear however, that its efficacious effect is only for those who receive Christ.

Jesus took on sin on the cross, and sin (for the believer), died on the cross. Not just covered, but done away with. Animal’s or man’s blood could never do away with sin.

Hebrews 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.” The blood had to be pure from God, Himself.

30 This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’ 

“John is saying this is the one I was talking about. That is the Messiah, He is greater than I am”.

31 I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.”

John knew that Jesus was a relative of his in the flesh, because John’s mother and Jesus’ mother were cousins. Although John was Jesus’ cousin, he did not know Jesus as the “Coming One” or “Messiah” (verse 33).

In the Spirit, John knew that Jesus was the promised Christ (the Messiah). Manifest means, in this instance, to render apparent (to be made visible). John’s job is to make the coming of Messiah apparent to His people, Israel.

To prepare them for meeting their Messiah, John is baptizing them, cleansing them from their sins. You cannot walk in the Light without confessing your sins. And where is that truth found?

I mostly use the NASB for bible reading and research, but this version of the text in New King James I think says it best: 

John 1: 7-10
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

32 John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him. 

At the baptism that John is speaking of, a voice from heaven saying “This is my beloved Son” (Matthew 3:16-17). The thing John would have us see here is the Spirit remaining.

We can see here the Father (voice from heaven), Son of God (Word), and Holy Spirit (dove), present at the baptism of Jesus. They are all in agreement.

God had previously communicated to John that this sign was to indicate the promised Messiah, (verse 33), so when John witnessed this act, he was able to identify the Messiah as Jesus.

33 I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’ 

Note that Matthew chapter 3 tells a little more about this baptism of the Holy Spirit.

“But Jesus answering said to him “Permit it now; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” The “He” permitted Him.

Christ was here identifying Himself with sinners. He will ultimately bear their sins; His perfect righteousness will be imputed to them (2 Cor. 5:21). This act of baptism was a necessary part of the righteousness He secured for sinners. This first public event of His ministry is also rich in meaning.

1. It pictured His death and resurrection, Luke 12:50;
2. It therefore prefigured the significance of Christian baptism;
3. It marked His first public identification with those whose sins He would bear, Isaiah 53:1-12;
4. It was a public affirmation of His Messiahship by testimony directly from heaven.

The baptism of Jesus is the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

34 I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

Not just because of the Holy Spirit descending, or the voice from heaven, but on all knowledge of Jesus and on what God had told him, John the Baptist proclaimed Jesus to be the Son of God.

Although, in a limited sense, believers can be called “sons of God ( Matt. 5:9; Rom. 8:14). John uses this phrase with the full force as a title that points to the unique oneness and intimacy that Jesus sustains to the Father as “Son.” The term carries the idea of the deity of Jesus as Messiah. 

That is our primary lesson of today. The last thing I will share with you is a carry over from my conversation with Delroy from last week. I said that I believe that God is at work with all believers’ lives. Those that God has given up to their sins I don’t know. And that is a mystery that none can know with certainty. We become two lumps of clay yammering of supposed inside knowledge of the Master Potter’s thinking. Anyway, this story, found by my wife on FaceBook is delightful and confirming:

My grandfather was Harry T. Shepard.  He was a trick rope and horse back rider in the Will Bill Cody “Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World Show” and known as “Handsome Harry.”  He was a horse riding, trick rope entertainer.  He had an accident and fell off of his horse one day and broke his leg.  He was recuperating in Lyndon, Kansas where he saw a picture of my grandmother in the window of the photo shop.  He said in his heart, “I am going to marry that girl.”  The town was having a box supper, where eligible girls secretly prepared a supper and put it in a box to be auctioned off to the highest bidder, the buyer not knowing who prepared each box.  Then each buyer got to have dinner with whoever prepared the box.  Grandpa bought my grandmother’s box, and the rest is history.  They married in April, 1917 and were happily married until my grandfather passed away in July, 1975, 58 years.  They were a wonderful Christian example for our family to follow.  Every single person in their lineage are Christians down to their great, great grandchildren.  There are no “accidents that just happen” and my grandfather didn’t  just fall off of that horse for “no reason”.  God had a plan and He made it happen just like He planned.  Praise God!

Isaiah 55:11

So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

Go forth and do the Will of the Lord and love one another as He commanded us. Amen.

All Glory to God the Father and to our Savior Jesus Christ

From Westminster Shorter Catechism, questions 31 to 34

Q31: What is effectual calling?
A31: Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel. 

Q32: What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?
A32: They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, and sanctification, and the several benefits which, in this life, do either accompany or flow from them. 

Q33: What is justification?
A33: Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein He pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone. 

Q34: What is adoption?
A34: Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the Sons of God. 

Today we will be going through verse 27. We are still dealing with John the Baptist and him stating for the record who he is and who he is not.

John 1:27
It is He who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie.” 

John’s baptism was a baptism of repentance. The Pharisees were convinced of their righteousness and I think a bit puzzled as to why they would need to repent. Our present day, it is the same. I meet people all the time who are convinced they are a good person and repentance is not something they need to worry about. After all, they say that their sins have been forgiven. If you are true of heart and believe that Christ has risen from the dead and is Lord of all, that is true. However, it is incumbent upon us to repent of our daily sins. Yes, they are forgiven, but we must acknowledge the sin and forsake it, lest our blessings be withheld.

Acts 17: 11
Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

Now let’s play the part of the Bereans and look at what was said. 

We’ve talked about who is good several times during various bible studies and I’ve gotten the impression of “there he goes again” from this group. Do any of us here really think of ourselves as good people? And why would you think that? We are told all through our lives that we’re a good boy or girl. Or you’ve done a good job and this reinforces the “I must be a good person” idea. And if you’ve not read the bible, you would persist in thinking this. This is the work of satan. Does that shock you? It should. Luke 18:19 has Jesus saying there are none good but God alone. The great deceiver would like you to think differently. God is Holy and does not take any sin lightly. If He alone is good, when we think we are good, we are sinning against God. I want to make this as simple as possible to let you understand something so small but so important.

So let’s figure out what I said. I used “you are true of heart” as a qualifier to the rest of what I said. To review: “If you are true of heart and believe that Christ has risen from the dead and is Lord of all, that is true. However, it is incumbent upon us to repent of our daily sins. Yes, they are forgiven, but we must acknowledge the sin and forsake it, lest our blessings be withheld.” 

 So what am I talking about? There is head knowledge of scripture and God and there is heart knowledge. You may know certain things about the bible, but if you have not taken them into your heart, it will do you no good. Your blessings will be of those that all get as general Grace. God’s grace abounds to all the earth. Psalm 145:9 The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.

So examine yourselves to know if your heart is true. 

2 Corinthians 13:5
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you– unless indeed you fail the test?

We’ve got that covered, now on to Christ has risen from the dead. You’ve heard this countless times I’m sure. But how do you know this? This is an important idea. Where did you get this knowledge? Did you read it or just hear it in Sunday School? This can be for many people, head knowledge. If you have not taken it into your heart and truly believe, it is of little value. Just another one of those things you know, that you can say to one another, but that’s about it. We find proof of it in the scripture.

Mark 16:14
Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.

So the scripture tells us so and we know the bible is good from 2 Timothy 3:16 and here we have Jesus coming to the disciples, those that were told He would be raised from the dead, but that apparently was just head knowledge. 

Now why is Easter and Him who was crucified and now raised important? Laughably simple questions to those whose hearts have been examined and found true, but not all know this.

The Good News is if you are still breathing, you can still repent and accept the Lord as your savior. Now onto proof. 

John 3:16-18
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

Romans 1:9
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” 

What I am doing here is breaking down everything I had said, and proving up on it with the scriptures. Yes there is context involved, but I don’t want to muddy the water up with that just yet. 

Let us finish out parsing my statement. The last part was to repent your sins daily or you’ll not be blessed by our Father as He would like to bless you. The simple of it is, obey God and you’ll be blessed, disobey God and you’ll be cursed. Deuteronomy 28 where Moses spells this out to those stiff necked Jews quite clearly. 

1 John 1:8
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 JOHN 1:9
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” 

Hebrews 10:26-27
For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

Revelation 3:3
Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

Proverbs 28:13
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.

That covers everything I said. Now what I want you to do is think about what you know, really think about it and think about how you came to know that. Were you just told it or did you read it somewhere? Is this head knowledge or do you hold it in your heart? And now follow up on that. The internet is very good for this task but your very own bible is all you need. Sit down in a quiet place with the bible in your lap and ask God to help you find what you are looking for. None of you here can tell me you don’t have time for that. How will you know God and what he wants from you if you don’t read what he wrote? Take an interest in your salvation, for none of us knows the span of our days.

Just like John the Baptist when he said that he was not worthy of untying the sandal of Him who was crucified so that we might have eternal life. We are not worthy of God’s love, but God loves us anyway. Glorify Him in all that you do.