#Coram Deo Church

[dangerously-human]

I'm a little late on posting my celebration this year, though I did celebrate with writing Resurrected Hope. I've been reflecting on this anniversary quite a bit - coinciding with Holy Week had me thinking a lot about hope and resurrection and life conquering death and how our stories are echoes of The Story - and I ended up focusing on a slightly different angle of this part of my own history.

Thirteen years ago, I was the most suicidal I've ever been. I don't tend to talk about that part as much, because there's no nice neat bow to tie on it the way there is with the cutting - there wasn't a habit to quit, and it wasn't the last time, by a long shot. I knew the how and I was pretty much decided on the when. So you've got a pretty good idea of where my head was at, at the time.

I forget, often, that I got baptized around this time, too. I was born into a Christian tradition that believes in infant baptism, so I was sprinkled as a baby, but as a teenager actually studying the Bible for myself, digging into theology more, I decided that didn't sit right with me, and I should take the step of obedience on my own as a reflection of the spiritual rebirth and renewal I'd experienced years prior through the work of the Holy Spirit. My dad recently told me that was a time he heard most directly from God, praying for wisdom after I asked what he thought I should do: God told him to tell me to do it, basically. Increasingly, when I have the opportunity to share my testimony, that's a piece I mention, that even in the midst of the darkest season of my life, God was still working, and I was still growing, even though I didn't feel the faith he'd gifted me with.

But it wasn't just "around the same time." I'd forgotten, but it was two days later. I didn't really know at the time, but I cut myself for the last time, and then I was baptized into the fullness of belonging that comes from walking in the Way. Renewal. Rebirth. None of it the narrative I had planned, but the one my Maker ordained before time began.

That wasn't the end, for better or worse. Getting dunked in some water didn't magically take away the depression I pled with God for years to take from me. I still spent a lot of my teens and early twenties wanting to die. But on the self-injury front, at least, by the grace of God, I never went back, even when the temptation was very, very loud. And I am being constantly remade as a new creation in Christ - my identity in him is irrevocably sealed.

Partly because of what I've been studying in the Bible recently (especially Psalms), and partly because of my special interest in Lockwood & Co, I've been thinking a lot lately about the victory of life over death, and the way breaking the grip of depression is a picture of that. Celebrating Easter last week was a powerful reminder: Jesus submitted to the grave in order to put it under his feet. I remember last spring, just when I'd gotten to the climax of The Empty Grave, I had to put the book down to head out for a Coram Deo prayer and worship night at church; perhaps unsurprisingly, I was struck by the thought that night that my God has stolen me back from death many times over. Once when he pulled me out of the muck of my own sin; again when he said, "Not this time. That's not the way it's going to be" and pulled me back from the grave I was determined to throw myself in. However worthless I considered my own life (the last lie I wrote on my skin), God saw it as precious, worth redeeming, because he made it and claimed it - and this morning, taking Communion, that's what I repeated through tears: "It's yours, it's all yours." That's why I spend this time reflecting and remembering each year, in gratitude for the light that entered the darkness and made me new.

#personal #lockwood & co

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

On the final day of the Coram Deo Pastors Conference 2024, Pastor Ryan Kelly moderated a panel discussion between Pastors Nathan Finn and Chad Van Dixhoorn on "Learning from the Past: How Should We Understand and Pass Along the Church’s History?"

[actualmermaid]

One of the reasons I don’t get too upset when people send me edgy bullshit about Christianity is because I totally understand how easy it is to get confused and end up with the wrong impression about “Christianity in general.”

Here is a partial list of the churches I saw JUST while driving my wife to and from a doctor’s appointment this morning:

ELCA Lutheran church

a couple of LCMS Lutheran churches

an Episcopal church

LDS Institute building

"International House of Prayer”

Literally 5 different megachurches with names like “LIFEGATE” or “CORAM DEO” or “CITY LIGHTS”

an assortment of smaller “Christian churches” with names like “Kingdom” or “Praise”

Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

5 or 6 “Saint So-and-so” Catholic churches

I know the differences between all of these churches, because I’m a pedantic nerd, but I 100% completely totally understand why someone would see all of these and think “eh, they’re all basically the same, I guess.”

This goes TRIPLE if you were raised in a church that branded itself as “the only real church” or “just basic Christianity” and regularly preached homophobia/misogyny/antisemitism/weird endtimes stuff/just shitty theology, or that perpetuated some kind of abuse against you, or whatever. You would not feel any need to learn the differences between your crappy church and any of the cool liberal churches on that list. (There’s a few.)

And if you were not raised in any church, but had unpleasant run-ins with Catholic/Evangelical/whatever fanatics, you would ALSO not feel the need to research the differences between them and the nice “community church” that shares a campus with a synagogue and a mosque.

Furthermore, EVEN IF you were raised as a typical secular vaguely-Christian American and feel neither a need for a church nor a burning hatred for church, you probably don’t know the VERY SIGNIFICANT differences between PCA and PCUSA; between ELCA, LCMS, and WELS; between UMC and UCC and CoC (which one?); between the Mormons and JWs; or between the SSPX and the Jesuits (they’re both Catholic, right?)

So, I get it. This is complicated. The US in particular has SO MANY different kinds of churches, because all our colonists and immigrants and refugees brought their own churches with them and remixed them and split apart and formed new denominations, and a bunch of them got enmeshed with the government at different levels, and now here we are.

If you don’t know the difference between different kinds of Christians and Christian churches, it’s like a game of Russian roulette.

[pilgrimbenham]

My Daily Morning Routine

Every day is indeed a gift from God. I have been learning how to live my life “coram Deo” - before the face of God. Knowing that we have an opportunity with each and every sunrise to “redeem the time, for the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16), how we manage the firstfruits of our daily lives matters. If we lack intentionality, we will allow the loudest alarms and what is most pressing to command our attention and order our day. There is a better way - a purposed, consistent, intentional daily routine.

A Few Caveats

Now before I share my routine - here’s a few caveats: -I don’t follow this routine on Sundays - because I consider “the Lord’s day” a very unique and distinct day of the week which starts with reflection, worship, and gathering with God’s fellowship of the redeemed to both express our gratitude for our Triune God, as well as to be equipped for the work of ministry as we grow in the Gospel of grace through the proclamation of God’s Word from Genesis to Revelation. So I begin with a different time of prayer, worship, and Bible reading.

-I don’t follow this routine on my day off (which is not Sunday - I’m a pastor!). I like to start the week strong getting much work done on Mondays and then take Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoons off to rest and recharge with my family. Not following my daily routine on my off day means spending more time resting and leaning into recreation, relationships, and responsibilities.

-I don’t follow this routine on days I wake up feeling unwell or when on vacation. The focus on those days is restoration and health.

My Daily Routine

Those aside, here is my daily routine: -I wake up between 5:30 - 6:00am with my Apple Watch alarm (which has been charging on my night stand - our phones are not in our bedroom at night but are charging in the living room). -I first drink a large glass of water to prepare my day hydrated, and do some basic stretching and breathing exercises. -I wake my children up between 6 and 6:30 to help them get a jumpstart on preparing for their day (they leave by 7am and my older son drives them to school. Life these days is great!). Often 6:30-7:15am is sheer chaos and thus my “quiet” time is not so quiet...but I still do my routine around them (not separated in a study or separate room) to show them I am available to help as needed. -I do my best to not check social media or emails - but if a text message has been sent overnight I do confirm there aren’t any urgent messages lingering. -I use an app called “DayOne” which is a journaling app. I write down 3 things I am thankful for - including one specific characteristic/trait about my wife that I love and appreciate at the moment. Then I take a few moments to pray for my family, confess sin, and yield my heart to Christ as I open my Bible. -I read a portion of Scripture. Currently I am in seminary so we are reading through the entire Bible, which is a practice I try to maintain annually/daily. As of writing this, I am reading through the book of Acts three chapters a morning. I try to notice anything that stands out in the text and always journal that verse in the DayOne app, along with some personal thoughts on the verse(s). -I will often supplement my Bible reading with a prayer from the Valley of Vision prayer book, a Morning Devotion from Charles Spurgeon, and the daily reading from Paul Tripp’s “New Morning Mercies”. Often these latter three are done on Fridays with my wife as we read a few psalms and a chapter from Proverbs (which corresponds to whatever day of the month we are in). -I then review my current goals. I always have 3 Big Monthly Goals (which I set once a quarter and at the end of the previous month), my 3 Big Weekly Goals, and list what I have ahead of me that day. I take a few minutes to pray through my schedule and intercede for any people we know or in our church who have urgent prayer needs. -Depending on the day, I then go for a run (more like a jog!) or bike ride, while listening to an audiobook. Listening to books for an hour a day allows me to “read” (or ‘listen’, if you asked my wife!) at least a book every week. By the time I am home it is time to cool down, shower and head to our church office to begin my day - usually by 9am! -When I get to the office, I start with a series of tasks that start each day out the same (prayer, email, daily tasks, scripture memory, and more). Mondays I work on a lot of administrative tasks, prayer, followup from our weekend gathering, as well as reading through the text I’ll be teaching that Sunday and outlining the sermon. Tuesdays I do a “deep dive” and prepare most of the sermon content (introduction, main points from the exposition, application, and conclusion). Tuesday is my heavy-reading/study day. Wednesdays I write and have discipleship and leadership meetings, along with prayer. Thursday we have an admin team meeting and I do counseling, then do some final weekend service prep on our order of service and communication. -This morning routine lasts from 5:30-8:30 but doesn’t always include the run/bike ride. Not everyone has the time to devote to personal/consistent growth but as a pastor and community leader, I don’t have time not to!

Having a daily routine does not have to be as long or as structured as mine - the key is to wake up around the same time, start with gratitude, exercise, and reading. For Christians, it is key to start the day in prayer and studying God’s Word and considering how we can live our lives to the fullest, for God’s glory. As we live “coram Deo”, may we submit our schedules to honoring and glorifying the King!

What does your morning routine look like? Is there any consistency, intentionality, and routine? What is holding you back from spending at least a few minutes starting your day right?

#routine #daily #morning #prayer #bible study #quiet time #reflection #journal #journaling

[woven-in-christ]

Defining Our Relationship

At the heart of Christianity is the doctrine of the mystical union of the believer with Christ. The New Testament does not only call us to believe in Christ, but to believe into Christ. Faith links us directly into Christ. We become in Him and He in us. This mysterious union is carried over into the relationship between Christ and the church. The church is His bride, whom He has brought into a real, profound, and powerful union.

We normally assume that the image of the church as the bride of Christ is a metaphor borrowed from the institution of human marriage. In this case, the earthly serves as the model for the heavenly. Perhaps that is the intent of Scripture. I am not sure. It may well be the other way around. It may be that the earthly estate of marriage is based on the heavenly model of the mystical union of Christ and His bride. Marriage is the reflection of the heavenly reality, not the basis for a heavenly image.

The perfect unity of persons existed in eternity in the nature of the Trinity itself. Though the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are not "one flesh," they are one being in perfect eternal harmony. In the Godhead, there is no possibility of divorce. It is a union that cannot and will not be broken. It is the eternal pattern of relationship that defines our human relationship. We share with God not only an analogy of being, but also an analogy of relationship. It is found in the mystery of marriage.

Coram deo: Living beofre the face of God

Reflect on the mysterious union of Christ and the church as illustrated by the marriage relationship.

Bible plan Developing A Godly Lifestyle

[madewithonerib]

The Tower of Babel [Genesis 11:1-9]

     “Therefore its name was called Babel, because      there the LORD confused the language of all the earth      And from there the LORD dispersed them over      the face of all the earth” [Genesis 11:9].

1.] The table of nations found in Genesis 10 reveals that the various      cultures & peoples that now live in this world are all descended      from three brothers.

     But how were the tribes of men dispersed across the globe,      & how did the different languages develop? ****

     Though one of the first duties laid upon humanity was to spread      across the planet [1:28; 9:7], it was disobedience to this      command that made Noah’s progeny fill all corners of the earth

     The story of Babel, found in today’s passage, explains      how this happened.

2.] Babylon was known for its ziggurats, & all the earth      marveled at these stepped temples that reached into the sky.

     Babylonian stories praise the majesty of man who built      these structures after the form of an ancient ziggurat, an      edifice likely memorialized in Genesis 11.

           Set against pagan accounts,            Scripture frowns upon man’s effort.

     After the flood, all men spoke one language      & settled in Shinar [11:1–2].

3.] Yet instead of using the ease of communication to      govern the earth cooperatively for GOD’s glory,      man rebelled & tried to exalt himself with a tall tower      [v. 3–4]

           As John Calvin writes,            humanity gathered not to worship            but ���to excite war against GOD.”

     Our FATHER then came down from heaven      to see their progress [v.5]

     Of course, the LORD knew how tall      the tower was from heaven, but this      figurative account of      HIS descent shows      how feeble man’s attempt really was. ****

     The tower that was supposed to reach into      GOD’s abode was so tiny that HE had to      leave HIS home to evaluate it!

4.] Nevertheless, the LORD saw this claim to      autonomy for what it was & perceived man      thought nothing would be impossible for him      [v.6]

     This does not imply divine impotency, but      recognizes the dangers of collective apostasy.

     Depraved men will eagerly join with others      to fight against GOD & HIS people.

     So the LORD judged mankind, dividing      our tongues to curtail our efforts.      [v.7–9]

5.] The differences in language make it harder      for the serpent’s seed to unite against      the woman’s.

     Though the wicked join forces to      exalt themselves, defy GOD, &      assault HIS church,      their efforts are ultimately futile

           Society may “advance,”            but it is finally subject to            the LORD’s holy evaluation.

6.] Coram Deo

     Matthew Henry comments,

           “Those who aim at a great name            commonly come off with a bad name.”

     In our sin, all of us want to promote our fame      at the expense of humble service to the LORD.

How do you aim at a great name? Are you overly concerned with recognition, fame, or your own achievements?

Maybe you feign humility whenever you are praised?

     If someone affirms you, simply thank them &      do what you can      to proclaim GOD’s Name on the earth.

7.] Passages for Further Study      Proverbs 30:32–33      Isaiah 2      Luke 13:30; 14:11      Romans 12:3

     Proverbs 30:32-33 | If you have foolishly exalted yourself      or if you have plotted evil, put your hand over your mouth.      For as the churning of milk yields butter, & the twisting of the      nose draws blood, so the stirring of anger brings forth strife.”

     Luke 13:30 | And indeed, some who are last will be first,      & some who are first will be last.”

     Luke 14:11 | For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled,      & the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

     Romans 12:3 | For by the grace given ME I say to every one      of you, Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought,      but think of yourself with sober judgment,      according to the measure of faith GOD has given you.

Devotional from Lionier.org

#Tower of Babel #Iraq #war against GOD #defy GOD #disobedience #apostasy #collective thought #secular aims #wicked join forces

[septembersung]

Nevertheless, the double Confiteor is far from useless. It strongly brings out the dialogical nature of liturgical worship, where the celebrant acts as a mediator for the people, and where each member of the body is praying for the other. The doubling formalizes the mediation as well as the mutual assistance. It reinforces the humility needed in the celebrant, who confesses his sins alone coram omnibus, and also exhibits the dignity of the servant who says to the master: “May almighty God have mercy on thee, and having forgiven thy sins, lead thee to eternal life.” It reflects the truth of cosmic and ecclesiastical hierarchy and pushes against one of the dominant errors of our time, that of democratic egalitarianism, which lumps everyone together into an undifferentiated mass (or Mass). Bishop Athanasius Schneider once told of a Low Mass he was offering in Africa at a large traditional Catholic school for girls. When he had confessed his sins, he heard all these little girls say to him, in perfect Latin, “Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus, et dimissis peccatis tuis, perducat te ad vitam aeternam.” He was overcome with feelings of humility, littleness, and joy. This experience of the priest confessing his own sins in front of the people—or, for that matter, the bishop, or the pope—is something we could use a great deal more of in the Church today, together (of course) with the confession of the people. And all of this in the humbling and strengthening presence of the saints invoked by name, twice: “Blessed Mary ever-virgin, St. Michael the Archangel, St. John the Baptist, the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints” — not (as we were just saying) lumped together in an undifferentiated mass of “all the angels and saints,” mentioned only once, for efficiency’s sake. There are no shortcuts in penance and forgiveness.

Dr. Peter Kwasniewski

CONFITEOR Deo omnipotenti, beatae Mariae semper Virgini, beato Michaeli Archangelo, beato Ioanni Baptistae, sanctis Apostolis Petro et Paulo, et omnibus Sanctis, quia peccavi nimis cogitatione, verbo et opere: mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa. Ideo precor beatam Mariam semper Virginem, beatum Michaelem Archangelum, beatum Ioannem Baptistam, sanctos Apostolos Petrum et Paulum, et omnes Sanctos, orare pro me ad Dominum Deum nostrum. Amen.

I CONFESS to almighty God, to blessed Mary ever Virgin, to blessed Michael the Archangel, to blessed John the Baptist, to the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and to all the saints that I have sinned exceedingly in thought, word, and deed, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault. Therefore, I beseech blessed Mary ever Virgin, blessed Michael the Archangel, blessed John the Baptist, the holy apostles Peter and Paul, and all the saints, to pray for me to the Lord our God. Amen.

Original NO: I confess to almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have sinned through my own fault in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done, and in what I have failed to do; and I ask blessed Mary, ever virgin, all the angels and saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

2011 Corrected NO: I confess to almighty God and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have  failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

#okay i have strong opinions on this #i love the separate confiteor of the priest and people #and i loved the second confiteor before communion - in the benedictine usage where also is specifically invoked our holy father st benedict #but read the comments on this piece! things no one ever mentions! #this is what we lose when people fixate on any particular 20th century missal edition #this is the difference between a preference and a godly attachment to holy tradition: what's in continuity and what is not? #the reforms of the Roman Rite in the 20th century up to 1962 were unfortunate and even ~problematic~ but #the NO isn't a reform it's something new cut from whole cloth #ANYWAY #disagreements on rhetorical emphasis aside on this Dr K piece i think those comments actually enhance his point #my catholic thoughts #this is super timely because i've been thinking so much about the confiteor lately #catholic #peter kwasniewski #TLM #confiteor #i have to leave this in the tags until/unless i can coffee up and be more coherent

[pamphletstoinspire]

Book Of Genesis - From The Latin Vulgate (1859 - Haydock Translation of The Roman Catholic Bible) - Chapter 18

INTRODUCTION.

The Hebrews now entitle all the Five Books of Moses, from the initial words, which originally were written like one continued word or verse; but the Sept. have preferred to give the titles the most memorable occurrences of each work. On this occasion, the Creation of all things out of nothing, strikes us with peculiar force. We find a refutation of all the heathenish mythology, and of the world’s eternity, which Aristotle endeavoured to establish. We behold the short reign of innocence, and the origin of sin and misery, the dispersion of nations, and the providence of God watching over his chosen people, till the death of Joseph, about the year 2369 (Usher) 2399 (Sal. and Tirin) B.C. 1631. We shall witness the same care in the other Books of Scripture, and adore his wisdom and goodness in preserving to himself faithful witnesses, and a true Holy Catholic Church, in all ages, even when the greatest corruption seemed to overspread the land. H.

—————————-

This Book is so called from its treating of the Generation, that is, of the Creation and the beginning of the world. The Hebrews call it Bereshith, from the word with which it begins. It contains not only the History of the Creation of the World, but also an account of its progress during the space of 2369 years, that is, until the death of Joseph.

The additional Notes in this Edition of the New Testament will be marked with the letter A. Such as are taken from various Interpreters and Commentators, will be marked as in the Old Testament. B. Bristow, C. Calmet, Ch. Challoner, D. Du Hamel, E. Estius, J. Jansenius, M. Menochius, Po. Polus, P. Pastorini, T. Tirinus, V. Bible de Vence, W. Worthington, Wi. Witham. — The names of other authors, who may be occasionally consulted, will be given at full length.

Verses are in English and Latin. HAYDOCK CATHOLIC BIBLE COMMENTARY

This Catholic commentary on the Old Testament, following the Douay-Rheims Bible text, was originally compiled by Catholic priest and biblical scholar Rev. George Leo Haydock (1774-1849). This transcription is based on Haydock’s notes as they appear in the 1859 edition of Haydock’s Catholic Family Bible and Commentary printed by Edward Dunigan and Brother, New York, New York.

TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES

Changes made to the original text for this transcription include the following:

Greek letters. The original text sometimes includes Greek expressions spelled out in Greek letters. In this transcription, those expressions have been transliterated from Greek letters to English letters, put in italics, and underlined. The following substitution scheme has been used: A for Alpha; B for Beta; G for Gamma; D for Delta; E for Epsilon; Z for Zeta; E for Eta; Th for Theta; I for Iota; K for Kappa; L for Lamda; M for Mu; N for Nu; X for Xi; O for Omicron; P for Pi; R for Rho; S for Sigma; T for Tau; U for Upsilon; Ph for Phi; Ch for Chi; Ps for Psi; O for Omega. For example, where the name, Jesus, is spelled out in the original text in Greek letters, Iota-eta-sigma-omicron-upsilon-sigma, it is transliterated in this transcription as, Iesous. Greek diacritical marks have not been represented in this transcription.

Footnotes. The original text indicates footnotes with special characters, including the astrisk (*) and printers’ marks, such as the dagger mark, the double dagger mark, the section mark, the parallels mark, and the paragraph mark. In this transcription all these special characters have been replaced by numbers in square brackets, such as [1], [2], [3], etc.

Accent marks. The original text contains some English letters represented with accent marks. In this transcription, those letters have been rendered in this transcription without their accent marks.

Other special characters.

Solid horizontal lines of various lengths that appear in the original text have been represented as a series of consecutive hyphens of approximately the same length, such as .

Ligatures, single characters containing two letters united, in the original text in some Latin expressions have been represented in this transcription as separate letters. The ligature formed by uniting A and E is represented as Ae, that of a and e as ae, that of O and E as Oe, and that of o and e as oe.

Monetary sums in the original text represented with a preceding British pound sterling symbol (a stylized L, transected by a short horizontal line) are represented in this transcription with a following pound symbol, l.

The half symbol (½) and three-quarters symbol (¾) in the original text have been represented in this transcription with their decimal equivalent, (.5) and (.75) respectively.

Unreadable text. Places where the transcriber’s copy of the original text is unreadable have been indicated in this transcription by an empty set of square brackets, [].

Chapter 18

Angels are entertained by Abraham. They foretell the birth of Isaac. Abraham's prayer for the men of Sodom.

[1] And the Lord appeared to him in the vale of Mambre as he was sitting at the door of his tent, in the very heat of the day. Apparuit autem ei Dominus in convalle Mambre sedenti in ostio tabernaculi sui in ipso fervore diei.

[2] And when he had lifted up his eyes, there appeared to him three men standing near him: and as soon as he saw them he ran to meet them from the door of his tent, and adored down to the ground. Cumque elevasset oculos, apparuerunt ei tres viri stantes prope eum : quos cum vidisset, cucurrit in occursum eorum de ostio tabernaculi, et adoravit in terram.

[3] And he said: Lord, if I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away from thy servant: Et dixit : Domine, si inveni gratiam in oculis tuis, ne transeas servum tuum :

[4] But I will fetch a little water, and wash ye your feet, and rest ye under the tree. sed afferam pauxillum aquae, et lavate pedes vestros, et requiescite sub arbore.

[5] And I will set a morsel of bread, and strengthen ye your heart, afterwards you shall pass on: for therefore are you come aside to your servant. And they said: Do as thou hast spoken. Ponamque buccellam panis, et confortate cor vestrum : postea transibitis : idcirco enim declinastis ad servum vestrum. Qui dixerunt : Fac ut locutus es.

[6] Abraham made haste into the tent to Sara, and said to her: Make haste, temper together three measures of flour, and make cakes upon the hearth. Festinavit Abraham in tabernaculum ad Saram, dixitque ei : Accelera, tria sata similae commisce, et fac subcinericios panes.

[7] And he himself ran to the herd, and took from thence a calf very tender and very good, and gave it to a young man: who made haste and boiled it. Ipse vero ad armentum cucurrit, et tulit inde vitulum tenerrimum et optimum, deditque puero : qui festinavit et coxit illum.

[8] He took also butter and milk, and the calf which he had boiled, and set before them: but he stood by them under the tree. Tulit quoque butyrum et lac, et vitulum quem coxerat, et posuit coram eis : ipse vero stabat juxta eos sub arbore.

[9] And when they had eaten, they said to him: Where is Sara thy wife? He answered: Lo, she is in the tent. Cumque comedissent, dixerunt ad eum : Ubi est Sara uxor tua? Ille respondit : Ecce in tabernaculo est.

[10] And he said to him: I will return and come to thee at this time, life accompanying and Sara thy wife shall have a son. Which when Sara heard, she laughed behind the door of the tent. Cui dixit : Revertens veniam ad te tempore isto, vita comite, et habebit filium Sara uxor tua. Quo audito, Sara risit post ostium tabernaculi.

[11] Now they were both old, and far advanced in years, and it had ceased to be with Sara after the manner of women. Erant autem ambo senes, provectaeque aetatis, et desierant Sarae fieri muliebria.

[12] And she laughed secretly, saying: After I am grown old and my lord is an old man, shall I give myself to pleasure? Quae risit occulte dicens : Postquam consenui, et dominus meus vetulus est, voluptati operam dabo?

[13] And the Lord said to Abraham: Why did Sara laugh, saying: Shall I who am an old woman bear a child indeed? Dixit autem Dominus ad Abraham : Quare risit Sara, dicens : Num vere paritura sum anus?

[14] Is there any thing hard to God? According to appointment I will return to thee at this same time, life accompanying, and Sara shall have a son. Numquid Deo quidquam est difficile? juxta condictum revertar ad te hoc eodem tempore, vita comite, et habebit Sara filium.

[15] Sara denied, saying: I did not laugh: for she was afraid. But the Lord said, Nay: but thou didst laugh: Negabit Sara, dicens : Non risi, timore perterrita. Dominus autem : Non est, inquit, ita : sed risisti.

[16] And when the men rose up from thence, they turned their eyes towards Sodom: and Abraham walked with them, bringing them on the way. Cum ergo surrexissent inde viri, direxerunt oculos contra Sodomam : et Abraham simul gradiebatur, deducens eos.

[17] And the Lord said: Can I hide from Abraham what I am about to do: Dixitque Dominus : Num celare potero Abraham quae gesturus sum :

[18] Seeing he shall become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth shall be blessed? cum futurus sit in gentem magnam, ac robustissimam, et benedicendae sint in illo omnes nationes terrae?

[19] For I know that he will command his children, and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord, and do judgment and justice: that for Abraham's sake the Lord may bring to effect all the things he hath spoken unto him. Scio enim quod praecepturus sit filiis suis, et domui suae post se ut custodiant viam Domini, et faciant judicium et justitiam : ut adducat Dominus propter Abraham omnia quae locutus est ad eum.

[20] And the Lord said: The cry of Sodom and Gomorrha is multiplied, and their sin is become exceedingly grievous. Dixit itaque Dominus : Clamor Sodomorum et Gomorrhae multiplicatus est, et peccatum eorum aggravatum est nimis.

[21] I will go down and see whether they have done according to the cry that is come to me: or whether it be not so, that I may know. Descendam, et videbo utrum clamorem qui venit ad me, opere compleverint; an non est ita, ut sciam.

[22] And they turned themselves from thence, and went their way to Sodom: but Abraham as yet stood before the Lord. Converteruntque se inde, et abierunt Sodomam : Abraham vero adhuc stabat coram Domino.

[23] And drawing nigh he said: Wilt thou destroy the just with the wicked? Et appropinquans ait : Numquid perdes justum cum impio?

[24] If there be fifty just men in the city, shall they perish withal? and wilt thou not spare that place for the sake of the fifty just, if they be therein? si fuerint quinquaginta justi in civitate, peribunt simul? et non parces loco illi propter quinquaginta justos, si fuerint in eo?

[25] Far be it from thee to do this thing, and to slay the just with the wicked, and for the just to be in like case as the wicked, this is not beseeming thee: thou who judgest all the earth, wilt not make this judgment. Absit a te ut rem hanc facias, et occidas justum cum impio, fiatque justus sicut impius, non est hoc tuum : qui judicas omnem terram, nequaquam facies judicium hoc.

[26] And the Lord said to him: If I find in Sodom fifty just within the city, I will spare the whole place for their sake. Dixitque Dominus ad eum : Si invenero Sodomis quinquaginta justos in medio civitatis, dimittam omni loco propter eos.

[27] And Abraham answered, and said: Seeing I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord, whereas I am dust and ashes. Respondensque Abraham, ait : Quia semel coepi, loquar ad Dominum meum, cum sim pulvis et cinis.

[28] What if there be five less than fifty just persons? wilt thou for five and forty destroy the whole city? And he said: I will not destroy it, if I find five and forty. Quid si minus quinquaginta justis quinque fuerint? delebis, propter quadraginta quinque, universam urbem? Et ait : Non delebo, si invenero ibi quadraginta quinque.

[29] And again he said to him: But if forty be found there, what wilt thou do? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of forty. Rursumque locutus est ad eum : Sin autem quadraginta ibi inventi fuerint, quid facies? Ait : Non percutiam propter quadraginta.

[30] Lord, saith he, be not angry, I beseech thee, if I speak: What if thirty shall be found there? He answered: I will not do it, if I find thirty there. Ne quaeso, inquit, indigneris, Domine, si loquar : quid si ibi inventi fuerint triginta? Respondit : Non faciam, si invenero ibi triginta.

[31] Seeing, saith he, I have once begun, I will speak to my Lord. What if twenty be found there? He said: I will not destroy it for the sake of twenty. Quia semel, ait, coepi loquar ad Dominum meum : quid si ibi inventi fuerint viginti? Ait : Non interficiam propter viginti.

[32] I beseech thee, saith he, be not angry, Lord, if I speak yet once more: What if ten should be found there? And he said: I will not destroy it for the sake of ten. Obsecro, inquit, ne irascaris, Domine, si loquar adhuc semel : quid si inventi fuerint ibi decem? Et dixit : Non delebo propter decem.

[33] And the Lord departed, after he had left speaking to Abraham: and Abraham returned to his place. Abiitque Dominus, postquam cessavit loqui ad Abraham : et ille reversus est in locum suum.

Commentary:

Ver. 1. Sitting, &c. that he might lose no opportunity of exercising hospitality.

Ver. 2. Men in outward appearance, but angels indeed. Heb. xiii. 2. S. Aug. de C. D. xvi. c. 29. Some have supposed, that one of them was the Son of God, whom Abraham adored, and who bears throughout the chief authority. Tres vidit et unum adoravit. He saw three and adored one, as we read in the Church office. In the former supposition, which is generally adopted, this adoration was only a civil ceremony, if Abraham considered them as mere men; or it might be mixed with a degree of religious, though inferior veneration, if he imagined they were angels; or in fine, he adored God in his representatives. H.

Ver. 4. Wash ye, or let your feet be washed by me, or by my servants, laventur. M.

Ver. 5. Therefore, Providence has directed you hither. Abraham promises but little, and gives much, in the true spirit of generous hospitality. C.

Ver. 6. Measures, or one epha; that is, three pecks and three pints, English corn measure. --- Flour, of the finest quality, similæ. --- Hearth, as being soonest ready.

Ver. 7. Himself. These rich and truly noble people, do not esteem it beneath themto wait on strangers. They provide abundance, but no dainties. H.

Ver. 9. Eaten apparently. Tob. xii. 19. or perhaps they consumed the food, as fire may be said to eat. S. Justin's Dial.

Ver. 10. Time, or season of the year ensuing, if I be alive; which he says after the manner of men, as he had assumed also the human form. H.

Ver. 12. Laughed, as if the promise were incredible. --- My lord, or husband, which title of respect, S. Peter i. C. iii. 6, commends. D.

Ver. 13. Indeed. This was the import of Sara's words. By thus revealing what was secretly done in the tent, he shewed himself to be more than man.

Ver. 14. Hard. So Gabriel says to the blessed Virgin: there is nothing impossible to God.

Ver. 15. Afraid; which does not entirely clear her of sin: for though she might innocently laugh, if she thought the person who spoke was only a man, yet she ought not to have told an untruth; and if she reflected, that he had disclosed what she supposed no one knew, and thereby manifested his superiority over man, her denial was still more inexcusable. But she was taken, as it were, by surprise; and therefore the Lord reproves her very gently. H.

Ver. 21. I will go down, &c. The Lord here accommodates his discourse to the way of speaking and acting amongst men: for he knoweth all things, and needeth not to go any where for information. --- Note here, that two of the three angels went away immediately for Sodom; whilst the third, who represented the Lord, remained with Abraham.

Ver. 25. With the wicked. God frequently suffers the just to be here the most afflicted; designing to reward them abundantly hereafter. But this was not so common in the days of Abraham and Job. C.

Ver. 32. Ten. Abraham's chief solicitude was for Lot; though, out of modesty, he does not mention him; trusting, however, in the divine goodness the he would be preserved, unless he had forfeited his justice, he proceeds no farther. God thus challenges Jerusalem to produce one virtuous man, and the city shall be saved for his sake. Jer. v. 1. H.

#book of genesis

[solatgif]

TGIF: Roundup for January 14, 2022

This week I interviewed Faith Chang on her work as a writer, and rounded up some of my favorite worship videos from Asian American churches. Read our monthly newsletter now and join for free. Reach me on Twitter or Instagram.

Don’t forget to read, download, and share our free 2021 SOLA Network Magazine! It features ten articles that capture the depth and breadth of our work from the year. You can also view SOLA Network’s Hidden Gems of 2021 by Hannah Chao.

Join in for our inaugural Asian American Leadership Conference on April 25-27, 2022 and experience rich fellowship with other Asian American leaders. Register now and find more information here.

Articles From Around The Web

Jeremy Linneman: How COVID Has Affected Our Friendships—and What to Do About It

“Christlikeness means taking initiative with those most unlike us and seeking their good.”

Related: Clinging to Christ During Our Relationship and Friendship Struggles by Gabe Lee

Ashley Baker: Loss and Scandal Led Me to Jesus: Why I’m Not ‘Deconstructing’

“Looking back now, I can see what was wrong: I had placed my deepest faith in people, not in God.”

Related: Addressing the Heart of Deconstruction by Tom Sugimura

Greg Morse: Desperate for Distraction: Why We’re Bad at Being Alone

“That sanctuary of solitude with God, a place where hours could pass unnoticed, has fallen victim to a life filled with noise.”

Related: Two Unexpected Seasons: Singleness And Coronavirus by Adrienne Ihara

Books, Podcasts, Music, And More

Stephen McCaskell: Coram Deo

The highest goal of the Christian life is to behold the face of God. — R. C. Sproul. Watch this new 2-minute video from Ligonier ministries and check out their new webpage.

Hanley Liu: Being Re-Created Through Recreation

In this 4-minute excerpt, Pastor Hanley Liu from FCBC Walnut explains how our regular Sabbath should be Christ-centered and life-giving.

Aaron Lee: Related Works

Book Review: Pointing to the Pasturelands by J. I. Packer (Lexham Press). Listen to our TGIF playlist on Spotify. Join my Asian American Worship Leaders Facebook group.

Featured This Week On SOLA Network

Aaron Lee: Keeping Heart with Faith Chang

“One thing in the back of my mind when I write is I really want my writing to be an apologetic of sorts. Not in terms of arguing, you’re wrong because of this… I think what really compels people is beauty and stories.”

Daniel K. Eng: The Ethnic-Specific Church and MLK’s “Most Segregated Hour” Line

“The intention of the ethnic church is not to exclude others, but to provide contextualized discipleship to a particular demographic as an expression of the universal church.”

Aaron Lee: Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery: Unwavering Hope for 2022 by Singing with the Asian American Church

“How can we find strength for a new year? We can remember the resurrected Christ.”

Jackson Wu: Recovering an Asian Perspective of Grace

“While we might be tempted to reject Asian reciprocity, this notion of a gift without return is based on a faulty view of grace that stems from Western Christianity, not the Bible.”

TGIF: Roundup for January 7, 2022

Deconstruction, Destruction, and Faith / Our Friends Shape Us More than We Think / Jesus’s Love for the Marginalized of this World

General disclaimer: Our link roundups are not endorsements of the positions or lives of the authors.

[mikaltom53]

Tabletalk Devotions with R.C. Sproul

Duration: 365 days

The Death of Moses

Deuteronomy 32; 34 “So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord…no one knows the place of his burial to this day” (34:5–6).

The singing of songs is an excellent way to memorize history, and it is not surprising that monumental historical events are often commemorated in song. A good example of this is “The Star Spangled Banner,” which was written to memorialize Fort McHenry’s defense of Baltimore during the War of 1812.

Significant events in redemptive history have also been captured in song. Miriam’s song in Exodus 15:20–21, for example, celebrates Israel’s deliverance from Pharaoh’s army. Revelation 19:6–10 records a song we will sing during the “marriage supper of the Lamb” at the consummation of redemption. Moses’ song in Deuteronomy 32 is yet another instance of this practice.

The setting is the plains of Moab just before the Israelites are to conquer the land of Canaan. God has just predicted that future generations of Israel will go astray and follow after other gods (31:16–18), and Moses composes his song in order to remind the people of the great work the Lord has done in redeeming His people from slavery and as a testimony against them should they decide to bow the knee to foreign gods. Here the warning against apostasy given in Deuteronomy 13 is put into music so that the people might better remember the Word of God to them. Unfortunately, the later history of Israel shows that many in the nation never heed the divine warning.

While Moses himself cannot be accused of apostasy, we do note that even this great prophet of God will not go undisciplined for his own transgressions. For breaking faith at Meribah-kadesh he is kept from entering the Promised Land (Deut. 32:48–52; see Num. 20:10–13). He is given the privilege of seeing Canaan, but Moses will not experience the fullness of the Lord’s blessing in the land before his death. God buries him on a mountain in an unknown place in Moab, probably to show the consequences of disobedience and to keep Israel from turning his grave into an idolatrous shrine (chap. 34).

Yet the Lord’s discipline does not last forever. Moses would later stand in Canaan, beholding the Messiah’s transfigured glory and anticipating the fullness of blessing in the new heavens and new earth (Matt. 17:1–13).

CORAM DEO: LIVING BEFORE THE FACE OF GOD

Perhaps the best way to impress doctrine upon our hearts and minds is through the singing of songs. Therefore, we should think carefully about the lyrics of the hymns that we sing in our churches. Today, pick out a favorite hymn from your favorite hymnal. Consider the meaning of the lyrics and try to find the biblical passages upon which they are based. When you have the opportunity to sing unto the Lord, pay close attention to the meaning of words being sung.

For further study:

Judges 5

The Bible in a year:

Isaiah 59–61

[dangerously-human]

Wanted so badly to nap today (the fatigue has been kicking my butt) and ran out of time. Went to church both services this morning (pretty much my usual these days). Was late to first because I got a nasty migraine in the middle of the night that I was trying to sleep off, and felt bad about it because the young whippersnapper switched services because we haven't been able to sit in service together in ages, but I got there so late we couldn't sit together anyway. Second service I helped with the missions bakesale my preteen class is in charge of every Thanksgiving, which was a lot of fun. After church, went for a very light hike at the state park, but that takes so much longer to get to now that I'm basically in the city, so I missed my nap window. Heading back to church in a couple minutes for a Coram Deo worship night ("before the face of God"), which we haven't done in a while and it's always my favorite time. Also signed up to do a "where you'd best fit serving based on spiritual gifts and personality" thing next week, which feels a little silly given that I know my jam is children's ministry, but I've also been feeling torn in multiple directions even within that ministry, because I want to do everything and I can't, and I'm starting to think maybe where I really need to be is filling in the gaps until we have a legit special needs ministry, and maybe where I'm serving outside the church could overlap more with what I do with my church family... idk. Anyway, yeah, I'm really grateful to be as plugged in here as I am, and it's another thing I've been thinking about for the "this isn't what I expected life to look like at 30 but I'm glad to have this" list.

#personal

[officialyourdailyinspiration]

"John Owen did not revere himself as a master of Scripture but as a humble servant of it. His devotion to the Word of God was in direct correlation to his devotion to God Himself. Indeed, Owen was a man of God who served the church of God as a student of God’s Word. To him we owe great respect, for he lived coram Deo, before the face of God, as a burning and shining light to the world." – Burk Parsons

[ramon-balaguer]

+ Is Your Worship Is Truly Christian or Pagan +

 Due to technical difficulties (No video, which is just as well, since I rather Not be recorded :) ) I am only posting the written msg on this 2020 first Advent Sunday. Hope you'll find it enlightening, practical and relevant in you life now to Be and Do. <3 #REBTD 😇

 “To be human is to worship.” Those are the opening words of Daniel Block’s excellent new book on worship, For the Glory of God. Men and women are inveterate worshippers. Paul makes this clear in Romans 1. Even those who reject the plain knowledge of God which can be perceived within the Created order do not cease worshiping. Rather they simply begin worshipping created things instead of the Creator (Rom 1:18ff). Given that we all worship and that our hearts tend to be deceptive, it is vital that our worship be shaped by what God has made clear in His Word rather than by personal opinions, past experiences, or intuitions.

While not an exhaustive list, the following 7 points help us think more Biblically about our worship:

 1. Worship is to be regulated according to Scripture.

It matters to God how His people worship Him. Form matters. Just ask Aaron’s two eldest sons, Nadab and Abihu. We are never invited to worship God in ways that seem Right to us. Scripture never calls us to do what “feels right” in God’s presence. Rather, God’s Word makes quite clear those elements of which our worship should consist. They are the preaching of His Word, music and singing, the reading of Scripture, prayer, tithes and offerings, confession of sin, and the sacraments (baptism and the Lord’s Supper).

In a day when many Christians operate as spiritual entrepreneurs, it is important to remember that we do not decide how to come to God (or “connect,” “experience,” “encounter” or whichever word is more popular). To once more quote Block: “[The] goal of authentic worship is the glory of God rather than the pleasure of human beings, which means that forms of worship should conform to the will of God rather than to the whims of fallen humanity” (p. 6).

 2. Worship is the response to God’s self-revelation.

We worship God in response to that which he has revealed about himself. Christianity is a revealed religion. That is we cannot intuit the gospel or those attributes of God not clearly visible in the created order. In this way we are dependent upon the Scriptures to truly know and worship God. This is why God has made the proclamation of his Word central to worship.

 3. Worship may be accompanied by affections but not guided by them.

I wonder what is meant by statements like, “The worship was great”? I’m not trying to be picky here but we can tell what we believe about a thing from the things we say about it. It seems to me that the way we evaluate worship often has less to do with its adherence to God’s stated will and more to do with the depth of affections (emotions) that we feel. Certainly our worship of God ought to engage the affections. But we must always remember that emotions are tricky things susceptible to manipulation and misguidance.

 4. Worship should not be governed by pragmatic concerns.

If there is an unofficial religion among evangelicals today it may well be pragmatism. It’s the idea that if it works, then it must be good. If it grows our church, if it attracts young families, if it appeals to millennials, if it produces the right emotions then it is good. But the church’s worship must never be governed by such concerns as church growth, the preferences of unbelievers, attraction to a preferred demographic, or our subjective experience.

 5. Worship is for God.

While we are generally careful not to say so, there seems to be a tendency to treat worship as something which is for us. Don’t misunderstand. There are great blessings to be had in worshipping God. What is more, God does not require our worship as though he needs something from us (Acts 17:22-25). Rather, God calls us to worship him because of His essential worthiness. God demanded the release of his people from Egypt that they might worship Him (Exodus 5:1). The Psalms repeatedly call upon the people of God to worship the Lord because of who he is and what he has done. We worship God because it is always right for the creature to worship the Creator.

 6. Worship is not meant to facilitate mystical encounters with God.

It is clear that many Christians believe that music and worship play a mediatorial role in our relationship with God. But worship does not bring us to or otherwise facilitate an encounter with God. Certainly we worship just as we live Coram Deo (before the face of God). Jesus, by his dying and rising, has brought us to God. For all of the opining on this issue, I have yet to see anything in Scripture that tells us that music brings us to God. Jesus our Great High Priest has brought us near to God and he requires no further assistance.

 7. Worship and Obedience are inseparable.

The Holy Bible does not separate persons from their deeds. Neither does the Bible separate worship from obedience. The primary evidence of what is in the heart is not our words or emotions but our deeds. In his parable of the Vine and Vinedresser (Luke 13:6-9) Jesus teaches that branches that do not produce fruit are tossed into the fire. This principle is established by God in the form of covenant blessings and curses (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). God’s moral Law (The Ten Commandments) may be properly understood as a call to live all of life Holy for the glory of God.

 Now, given that even “Christmas’” is considered “Pagan” by even some Christians… Let us ALL Celebrate, Live and Worship Holy as unto God this Holiday Season in remembrance of the Nativity of our Lord & Savior, Jesus, The Christ. Have a Merry Christmas Sharing and Serving Presents of Love, Joy and Good Tidings and Time with Loved ones and those in need, near and far… And may this 2021 New Year be gay all year long with Abundant and Renewed Faith, Health, Love and Wealth. 🙏 Love, Annette & Ramon. 🥰

[moments777]

Blind to the Truth

“Pilate said to Him, ‘What is truth?’ And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, ‘I find no fault in Him at all’

(John 18:38).

John 18:28-19:5

Both the Old Testament and Jesus Himself had predicted that He would be handed over to the Gentiles for execution. When those prophecies were fulfilled, Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, found himself face to face with Jesus. He was given the opportunity to examine and pass judgment on Jesus, and the statements he made concerning Christ have long been regarded by the church as divinely inspired. Pilate spoke the truth about Jesus—but he did not see it.

Pilate opened his interview with Jesus by asking, “ ‘Are You the King of the Jews?’ ” Jesus affirmed that He was a king, but of a kingdom not of the earth. In fact, He added, if His kingdom were of the earth, He could call on His servants and they would instantly save Him, despite all the might of the Roman Empire (Matt. 26:53). He then went on to tell Pilate that His purpose in coming into the earth was “ ‘that I should bear witness to the truth.’ ” Pilate responded with a cynical query, “ ‘What is truth?’ ” failing to see that he was face to face with the one who had said, “ ‘I am … the truth’ ” (John 14:6).

Pilate then broke off his questioning and went out to tell the crowd his conclusion. Here is the publica persona, the “public person,” the personification of the Roman Empire, speaking of Jesus. And the conclusion? “ ‘I find no fault in Him at all.’ ” Pilate found no fault in Jesus because there was no fault in Jesus. The governor certainly did not intend to say that Jesus was sinless, but his words held meaning far beyond his intent. Despite his lackadaisical attitude and desire to be finished with the case, he was absolutely right in his judgment. But he did not submit to the truth his eyes beheld and his tongue confessed.

In response to the crowd’s demand that Barabbas be released instead of Jesus, Pilate ordered Jesus scourged. The soldiers then put on him a purple robe and a crown of thorns, and Pilate brought Him out. As he appeared, Pilate said, “ ‘Behold the Man!’ ” Again Pilate was speaking beyond his own comprehension, for here was the true Man, the new Man, the perfect Man, the Second Adam who would restore the fullness of dignity God originally intended for His creatures.

Pilate’s only desire was to dispense with this Man. But in his spiritual blindness, he was used of God to testify of Christ and to send Him on His God-ordained journey to Calvary.

Coram Deo

What acute spiritual blindness afflicted Pilate! He spoke with Jesus face to face and never grasped the truth about Him. Scripture affirms that all people are naturally blind to the truth. Our most reasoned arguments will not avail to convert anyone. Our only option is to plead with God to open the eyes of those we would see saved.

[woven-in-christ]

Merging Activism and Quietism

The two great heresies that have plagued the church on the issue of sanctification for centuries are the heresies of activism and quietism. The twin distortions are guilty of eliminating one or the other pole of the paradox. In activism, God's working is swallowed up by human self-righteousness. In quietism, the human struggle is swallowed up by an automatic divine process.

Activism is the creed of the self-righteous person. He has no need of divine assistance to achieve perfection. Grace is held in contempt, a remedy needed only by weak people. The activist can lift himself up by his own bootstraps. His confidence is in himself and his moral ability. Perhaps the most arrogant statement a person can make is this: "I don't need Christ."

The quietist insults the Holy Spirit by insisting that God is totally responsible for his progress or lack of it. If the quietist still sins, the unspoken assumption is that God has been lacking in His work. The creed of the quietist is, "Let go and let God." No struggle is necessary; no resistance to temptation is required. Sanctification is God's job, from beginning to end.

God calls us to the pursuit of holiness. The pursuit is to be undertaken with strength and resolution. We are to resist unto blood, to wrestle with powers, to pummel our bodies, rejoicing in the certainty that the Holy Spirit is within us helping, disposing, convicting, and encouraging.

Coram deo: Living before the face of God

Are you an activist, rejecting God's assistance—or a quietist, insisting that He is totally responsible for your spiritual progress or lack of it?

Bible plan Developing A Godly Lifestyle

[madewithonerib]

Make Your Election Sure

2 Peter 1:10-11 | Therefore, fellow believers, be all the more eager to make your calling & election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble, & you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord & Savior Jesus Christ.

Make Your Election Sure

In his gospel, the apostle John makes it clear that JESUS alone perfectly knows the hearts & minds of all people (John 2:24–25; Hebrews 4:12).

Hebrews 4:12-13 | For the WORD of GOD is living & active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul & spirit, joints & marrow. It judges the thoughts & intentions of the heart.

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight; everything is uncovered & exposed before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

This does not surprise us.

Being the incarnate God, His knowledge of men’s hearts is not limited like ours. Because He is the Lord, He alone perfectly knows all those who have true faith.

However, this is not true of us.

We cannot know for certain the true state of anyone’s heart besides our own.

Some profess faith & persevere until their deaths.

Other professing believers later fall away, revealing that they never truly had faith to begin with (1 John 2:19).

Until Jesus returns, the visible church is a mixed body; not all of those who profess faith actually possess it (Mattew 13:24–30).

Like those of us living today, the apostles could also not be absolutely sure that all those in their audiences had true faith.

Therefore, we read many warnings about the need to grow in holiness so that we, along with the original recipients, might persevere in faith & not fall away.

Peter concludes his section on the necessity of possessing godly virtues by reminding us that if we practice the qualities listed in 2 Peter 1:5–7 we will not fall away but rather be welcomed into the kingdom (vv. 10–11).

In practicing these qualities, we make our calling and election sure (v. 10).

All of this is not to call the final salvation of God’s elect into doubt. Rather, it shows us that the elect have a role to play in their perseverance.

God saves us from first to last through His sovereign grace alone, but evidence that sovereign grace is operative in our lives is that we persevere in faith by working to add the virtues described in verses 5–7.

Our efforts merit neither regeneration nor righteousness.

God, however, is pleased to use them to keep us from falling away. The elect will not presume upon God’s grace & think they can persist in sin.

Rather they will exercise their God-given faith (Ephesians 2:8), which in turn will move them to strive after holiness so that perseverance results.

Those who profess faith without possessing it will not continually pursue godliness & thus will not persevere.

Coram Deo

John Calvin reminds us that “purity of life is not improperly called the evidence & proof of election, by which the faithful may not only testify to others that they are the children of God, but also confirm themselves in this confidence.”

Work at supplementing your faith with the virtues of 2 Peter 1:5–7 so that you may grow in assurance of your salvation, & be wary of those who confess Christ, yet show no desire for holiness.

Passages for Further Study

Psalm 95:6–11

Mattew 7:21–23

John 15:1–17

Hebrews 3:12–14

#2 Peter 1:10 #Make Your Election Sure #assurance of salvation