84. How is the kingdom of heaven opened and shut by the preaching of the Holy Gospel?
In this way: that, according to the command of Christ, it is proclaimed and openly witnessed to believers, one and all, that as often as they accept with true faith the promise of the Gospel, all their sins are really forgiven them of God for the sake of Christ’s merits; and on the contrary, to all unbelievers and hypocrites, that the wrath of God and eternal condemnation abide on them so long as they are not converted.1 According to this testimony of the Gospel, God will judge men both in this life and in that which is to come.
85. How is the kingdom of heaven shut and opened by Christian discipline?
In this way: that, according to the command of Christ, if any under the Christian name show themselves unsound either in doctrine or in life, and after several brotherly admonitions do not turn from their errors or evil ways, they are complained of to the Church or to its proper officers; and, if they neglect to hear them also, are by them denied the holy sacraments and thereby excluded from the Christian communion, and by God Himself from the kingdom of Christ; and if they promise and show real amendment, they are again received as members of Christ and His Church.1
Like last week, I'm including all three lessons on the Lord's Supper as recorded in the Heidelberg Catechism. As always, the full catechism can be found here.
Lord’s Day 28
75. How is it signified and sealed to you in the Holy Supper that you partake of the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross and all His benefits?
Thus: that Christ has commanded me and all believers to eat of this broken bread and to drink of this cup in remembrance of Him, and has joined therewith these promises:1 first, that His body was offered and broken on the cross for me and His blood shed for me, as certainly as I see with my eyes the bread of the Lord broken for me and the cup communicated to me; and further, that with His crucified body and shed blood He Himself feeds and nourishes my soul to everlasting life, as certainly as I receive from the hand of the minister and taste with my mouth the bread and cup of the Lord, which are given me as certain tokens of the body and blood of Christ.
76. What does it mean to eat the crucified body and drink the shed blood of Christ?
It means not only to embrace with a believing heart all the sufferings and death of Christ, and thereby to obtain the forgiveness of sins and life eternal;1 but moreover, also, to be so united more and more to His sacred body by the Holy Spirit,2 who dwells both in Christ and in us, that, although He is in heaven3 and we on earth, we are nevertheless flesh of His flesh and bone of His bone,4 and live and are governed forever by one Spirit, as members of the same body are governed by one soul.5
77. Where has Christ promised that He will thus feed and nourish believers with His body and blood as certainly as they eat of this broken bread and drink of this cup?
In the institution of the Supper, which says: “The Lord Jesus the same night in which He was betrayed took bread: and when He had given thanks, He broke it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also He took the cup, when He had eaten, saying, This cup is the new covenant in my blood: this do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as you eat this bread, and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He come.”1 And this promise is also repeated by the Apostle Paul, where he says: “The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? Because there is one bread, so we being many are one body, for we are all partakers of that one bread.”2
1 1 Cor 11:23-25; 2 1 Cor 10:16-17
Lord’s Day 29
78. Do, then, the bread and the wine become the real body and blood of Christ?
No, but as the water in Baptism is not changed into the blood of Christ, nor becomes the washing away of sins itself, being only the divine token and assurance thereof,1 so also in the Lord’s Supper the sacred bread2 does not become the body of Christ itself, though agreeably to the nature and usage of sacraments it is called the body of Christ.3
79. Why then does Christ call the bread His body, and the cup His blood, or the new covenant in His blood; and the apostle Paul, the communion of the body and the blood of Christ?
Christ speaks thus with great cause, namely, not only to teach us thereby, that like as the bread and wine sustain this temporal life, so also His crucified body and shed blood are the true meat and drink of our souls unto life eternal;1 but much more, by this visible sign and pledge to assure us that we are as really partakers of His true body and blood by the working of the Holy Spirit, as we receive by the mouth of the body these holy tokens in remembrance of Him;2 and that all His sufferings and obedience are as certainly our own, as if we ourselves had suffered and done all in our own person.3
80. What difference is there between the Lord’s Supper and the Pope’s Mass?
The Lord’s Supper testifies to us that we have full forgiveness of all our sins by the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which He Himself once accomplished on the cross;1 and that by the Holy Spirit we are ingrafted into Christ,2 who, with His true body, is now in heaven at the right hand of the Father,3 and is there to be worshipped.4 But the Mass teaches that the living and the dead do not have forgiveness of sins through the sufferings of Christ, unless Christ is still daily offered for them by the priests, and that Christ is bodily under the form of bread and wine, and is therefore to be worshipped in them. And thus the Mass at bottom is nothing else than a denial of the one sacrifice and suffering of Jesus Christ,5 and an accursed idolatry.
Those who are displeased with themselves for their sins, yet trust that these are forgiven them, and that their remaining infirmity is covered by the suffering and death of Christ; who also desire more and more to strengthen their faith and to amend their life. But the impenitent and hypocrites eat and drink judgment to themselves.1
82. Are they, then, also to be admitted to this Supper who show themselves by their confession and life to be unbelieving and ungodly?
No, for thereby the covenant of God is profaned and His wrath provoked against the whole congregation;1 therefore, the Christian Church is bound, according to the order of Christ and His Apostles, to exclude such persons by the Office of the Keys until they amend their lives.
1 Ps 50:16-17; Isa 1:11-17, 66:3; Jer 7:21-23; Mt 7:6; 1 Cor 11:17-34; 2 Thes 3:6; Tit 3:10-11
Rather than post each of these separately, I'm posting weeks 26 and 27 together, as they both address the sacrament of baptism. When I left the UPCI (United Pentecostal Church International) for a Reformed church in 2006, the question of baptism took me several months to work through. Actually, I should say several years, as it is only recently that I've fully accepted infant/child baptism AND sprinkling rather than dunking (yet another post I need to work on!).
For me, the most significant aspect of the Reformed view of baptism is that it's not part of an all-encompassing plan of salvation that is wrought with technicalities and such as it is in the UPCI; what you read and see is, essentially, what you get. In other words, baptism is once administered to every person, and it is not a PATH to salvation, but it marks that we are part of Christ's church, similar to communion. And while a Christian would be foolish to ignore this sacrament, their salvation is not forfeited for lack of it.
So, without further ado, here is the Heidelberg Catechism on Baptism (of course the entire catechism, as always, can be found here).
Lord’s Day 26
69. How is it signified and sealed to you in Holy Baptism that you have part in the one sacrifice of Christ on the cross?
Thus: that Christ instituted this outward washing with water 1 and joined to it this promise, that I am washed with His blood and Spirit from the pollution of my soul, that is, from all my sins, as certainly as I am washed outwardly with water, whereby commonly the filthiness of the body is taken away.2
70. What is it to be washed with the blood and Spirit of Christ?
It is to have the forgiveness of sins from God through grace, for the sake of Christ’s blood, which He shed for us in His sacrifice on the cross;1 and also to be renewed by the Holy Spirit and sanctified to be members of Christ, so that we may more and more die unto sin and lead holy and unblamable lives.2
1 Ezek 36:25-27; Zech 13:1; Eph 1:7; Heb 12:24; 1 Pt 1:2; Rev 1:5, 7:14; 2 Jn 1:33, 3:5-8; Rom 6:4; 1 Cor 6:11, 12:13; Col 2:11-12; Heb 9:14
71. Where has Christ promised that we are as certainly washed with His blood and Spirit as with the water of Baptism?
In the institution of Baptism, which says: “Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.1 He that believes and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believes not shall be damned.”2 This promise is also repeated where Scripture calls Baptism the washing of regeneration3 and the washing away of sins.4
1 Mt 28:19; 2 Mk 16:16; 3 Tit 3:5; 4 Acts 22:16
Lord’s Day 27
72. Is, then, the outward washing with water itself the washing away of sins?
No,1 for only the blood of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit cleanse us from all sin.2
73. Why then does the Holy Spirit call Baptism the washing of regeneration and the washing away of sins?
God speaks thus with great cause, namely, not only to teach us thereby that just as the filthiness of the body is taken away by water, so our sins are taken away by the blood and Spirit of Christ;1 but much more, that by this divine pledge and token He may assure us that we are as really washed from our sins spiritually as our bodies are washed with water.2
1 1 Cor 6:11; Rev 1:5, 7:14; 2 Acts 2:38; Rom 6:3-4; Gal 3:27
74. Are infants also to be baptized?
Yes, for since they, as well as their parents, belong to the covenant and people of God,1 and through the blood of Christ2 both redemption from sin and the Holy Spirit, who works faith, are promised to them no less than to their parents,3 they are also by Baptism, as a sign of the covenant, to be ingrafted into the Christian Church, and distinguished from the children of unbelievers,4 as was done in the Old Testament by circumcision,5 in place of which in the New Testament Baptism is appointed.6
1 Gen 17:7; 2 Mt 19:14; 3 Ps 22:10; Isa 44:1-3; Lk 1:14-15; Acts 2:38-39, 16:31; 4 Acts 10:47; 1 Cor 7:14; 5 Gen 17:9-14; 6 Col 2:11-13
65. Since, then, we are made partakers of Christ and all His benefits by faith only, where does this faith come from?
The Holy Spirit works faith in our hearts1 by the preaching of the Holy Gospel,2 and confirms it by the use of the holy sacraments.3
1 Jn 3:5; Rom 10:17; 1 Cor 2:10-14; Eph 2:8; Php 1:29; 2 Rom 10:17; 1 Pt 1:23-25; 3 Mt 28:19-20; Rom 4:11; 1 Cor 10:16
66. What are the sacraments?
The sacraments are visible holy signs and seals appointed by God for this end, that by their use He may the more fully declare and seal to us the promise of the Gospel,1 namely, that of free grace He grants us the forgiveness of sins and everlasting life for the sake of the one sacrifice of Christ accomplished on the cross.2
1 Gen 17:11; Deut 30:6; Ezek 20:12; Rom 4:11; Heb 9:8-9; 2 Mt 26:27-28; Acts 2:38; Heb 10:10
67. Are both the Word and the sacraments designed to direct our faith to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross as the only ground of our salvation?
Yes, truly, for the Holy Spirit teaches in the Gospel and assures us by the holy sacraments, that our whole salvation stands in the one sacrifice of Christ made for us on the cross.1
1 Acts 2:41-42; Rom 6:3; 1 Cor 11:26; Gal 3:27; Heb 9:12
68. How many sacraments has Christ instituted in the New Testament?
62. But why cannot our good works be the whole or part of our righteousness before God?
Because the righteousness which can stand before the judgment seat of God, must be perfect throughout and entirely conformable to the divine law,1 but even our best works in this life are all imperfect and defiled with sin.2
1 Deut 27:26; Gal 3:10; 2 Isa 64:6; Php 3:12; Jas 2:10
63. Do our good works merit nothing, even though it is God’s will to reward them in this life and in that which is to come?
The reward comes not of merit, but of grace.1
1 Mt 5:12; Lk 17:10; Rom 11:6; 2 Tim 4:7-8; Heb 11:6
64. But does not this doctrine make men careless and profane?
No, for it is impossible that those who are implanted into Christ by true faith, should not bring forth fruits of thankfulness.1
I think this is my favorite section of the Catechism, mainly because it makes quick work of the 'cheap grace' argument that some folks quickly throw out when confronted by God's grace. While our good works do nothing to gain favor with God, salvation by grace does not allow a professing Christian to live in a way to disregard the moral law or the teachings of scripture. Grace doesn't lead to lawlessness, but to gratitude.
Only by true faith in Jesus Christ:1 that is, although my conscience accuses me, that I have grievously sinned against all the commandments of God, and have never kept any of them,2 and am still prone always to all evil;3 yet God, without any merit of mine,4 of mere grace,5 grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction,6 righteousness, and holiness of Christ,7 as if I had never committed nor had any sins, and had myself accomplished all the obedience which Christ has fulfilled for me;8 if only I accept such benefit with a believing heart.9
1 Rom 3:21-28; Gal 2:16; Eph 2:8-9; Php 3:8-11; 2 Rom 3:9-10; 3 Rom 7:23; 4 Dt 9:6; Ezek 36:22; Tit 3:4-5; 5 Rom 3:24; Eph 2:8; 6 1 Jn 2:2; 7 Rom 4:3-5; 2 Cor 5:17-19; 1 Jn 2:1; 8 Rom 4:24-25; 2 Cor 5:21; 9 Jn 3:18; Acts 16:30-31; Rom 3:22, 28, 10:10
61. Why do you say that you are righteous by faith only?
Not that I am acceptable to God on account of the worthiness of my faith, but because only the satisfaction, righteousness and holiness of Christ is my righteousness before God;1 and I can receive the same and make it my own in no other way than by faith only.2
1 1 Cor 1:30-31, 2:2; 2 Isa 53:5; Rom 4:16, 10:10; Gal 3:22; 1 Jn 5:10-12
57. What comfort do you receive from the “resurrection of the body?”
That not only my soul after this life shall be immediately taken up to Christ its Head,1 but also that this my body, raised by the power of Christ, shall be reunited with my soul, and made like the glorious body of Christ.2
58. What comfort do you receive from the article “life everlasting?”
That, inasmuch as I now feel in my heart the beginning of eternal joy,1 I shall after this life possess complete blessedness, such as eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither has entered into the heart of man,2 therein to praise God forever.3
1 Jn 17:3; Rom 14:17; 2 Cor 5:2-3; 2 1 Cor 2:9; 3 Jn 17:24; Rom 8:23; 1 Pt 1:8
54. What do you believe concerning the “holy catholic Church?”
That out of the whole human race,1 from the beginning to the end of the world,2 the Son of God,3 by His Spirit and Word,4 gathers, defends, and preserves for Himself5 unto everlasting life a chosen communion6 in the unity of the true faith;7 and that I am and forever shall remain a living member of this communion.8
55. What do you understand by the “communion of saints?”
First, that believers, one and all, as members of the Lord Jesus Christ, are partakers with Him in all His treasures and gifts;1 second, that each one must feel himself bound to use his gifts readily and cheerfully for the advantage and welfare of other members.2
1 Rom 8:32; 1 Cor 6:17, 12:4-7, 12-13; 1 Jn 1:3; 2 Rom 12:4-8; 1 Cor 12:12-13, 20-27, 13:1-7; Php 2:4-8; Heb 3:14
56. What do you believe concerning the “forgiveness of sins?”
That God, for the sake of Christ’s satisfaction,1 will no more remember my sins, nor the sinful nature with which I have to struggle all my life long;2 but graciously imputes to me the righteousness of Christ, that I may nevermore come into condemnation.3
1 1 Jn 2:2; 2 Ps 103:3, 10-12; Jer 31:34; Mic 7:18-19; Rom 7:21-25, 8:1-4; 2 Cor 5:18-21; 1 Jn 1:7, 2:2; 3 Jn 3:17-18, 5:24; Rom 4:7-8, 7:18, 8:1-2; Eph 1:7
53. What do you believe concerning the “Holy Spirit?”
First, that He is co-eternal God with the Father and the Son.1 Second, that He is also given unto me:2 by true faith makes me a partaker of Christ and all His benefits,3 comforts me,4 and shall abide with me forever.5
1 Gen 1:1-2; Isa 48:16; Mt 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor 3:16, 6:19; 2 1 Cor 6:19; 2 Cor 1:21-22; Gal 4:6; Eph 1:13; 3 1 Cor 6:17; Gal 3:14; 1 Pt 1:2; 4 Jn 15:26; Acts 9:31; 5 Jn 14:16-17; Rom 15:13; 1 Pt 4:14; 1 Jn 4:13
In honor of Free Comic Book Day, here is my inaugural installment of “Comics I’m Reading!” Since it’s getting late on Saturday night (and well ALL know that Saturday Night Live equals Sunday Morning Dead), I’m going to keep it to two titles for this entry. The cover images included in this post come from each comic publisher’s respective website.
So, without further ado, I’ll begin my list with:
1). JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA (DC)
Once I heard that Mark Bagley (penciller, known for his YEARS of work on Marvel’s Spider-Man family of books) and James Robinson (writer, know for Starman,Justice League: Cry for Justice, and many other works) were the new primary creative team on the book starting with issue #38, JLA became an instant add to my monthly pull list. There is some criticism about the art and story pacing for the first few issues of the book, specifically issues 38-43, and I will agree with most of it. However, there are a few things to consider:
a). Issues 38-40 were a ‘Blackest Night’ tie-in story, so Mr. Robinson couldn’t really start telling his stories;
b). While Mark Bagley has still ‘got it,’ he hasn’t been paired up with the best inker to match his art style in the first few issues; and
c). The first few arcs depended on the conclusion of the Cry for Justice mini-series.
But with issues 41-44, Robinson finally establishes his core JLA team—Batman (Dick Grayson), Donna Troy (what name is she going by these days?!), Starman (Mikaal, the blue one) and Congorilla (one of my favorite vintage DC characters). That, and issues 43 and 44 were both VERY good reads! I think that all Robinson and Bagley needed was time to get through all of the events, and now they’re finally able to tell the JLA story they want to tell.
2). RED ROBIN (DC)
Your adoptive Dad is missing and believed to be dead, people think you’re crazy, and your job has replaced you with a younger, angrier, and borderline psychopathic employee. What do you do?
Simple: you put on a new costume, go globetrotting to find your Dad, and also destroy two major assassin cadres along the way, along with re-connecting with your best friend who has just come back from the dead. And that’s only the first 6 issues and a guest appearance in Adventure Comics.
Red Robin follows the adventures of Tim Drake, formerly Robin, as he attempts to find proof that Bruce ‘Batman’ Wayne is actually alive. In doing so, however, he has to deal with the Spider’s Guild of Assassins, the League of Assassins and their leader, Ra’s al Ghul, and (at a few times), his ‘kid brother’ Damian (the “younger, angrier, and borderline psychopathic” kid picked to be the current Robin by the current Batman, Dick Grayson).
Like Justice League, this is another book that took awhile to pick up steam, and I think part of that is due to the art on the first few issues, as well as the writing. The first two arcs, “The Grail” and “would probably read better in trade format rather than as single issues with a month’s gap between stories. Christopher Yost has done a great job of covering Tim’s state of mind both as he’s coping with Bruce’s ‘death’ and discovering his new role as Red Robin vs. Robin. And while it will be sad to see Yost leave with issue 12 later this month, I have a feeling that this book will continue to pick up steam once Fabian Nicieza takes over the book starting with June’s Issue 13, as well as in the throes and aftermath of The Return of Bruce Wayne mini-series.
Though truthfully—I do hope that Tim remains Red Robin once Bruce puts the cape back on.
So, that concludes this installment of “Comics I’m Reading.” Stay tuned for more!
Since I had a few minutes, I just want to send out a reminder (or, in some cases, an advisement) about Free Comic Book Day this Saturday, May 1, 2010. Check out the website for more info, i.e. what comic stores plan to participate, what books each publisher is offering, etc.
Usually, the big two companies (DC, Image and Marvel) will put out a LOT of superhero offerings, but if you're not into all of the Superhero madness the independent publishers will put out a few good books, too. My wife Jenn and I became a fan of The Stuff of Legend and Bayou as a result of Free Comic Day. I also ended up getting a free reprint of the original Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comic last year.
In addition to the free books, most comic stores will have some VERY good sales that day. Although the budget doesn't call for much, I'm hoping to fill out my Incredible Hulk collection (one of my lifelong goals is to get both of Peter David's Hulk runs either in trade format or the actual issues).
So, whether you're a longtime comics fan, a newcomer, or someone who grew up with comics and has been out of the loop for a few years, pop into your local comics store. Hopefully, you'll be glad you did.
53. What do you believe concerning the “Holy Spirit?”
First, that He is co-eternal God with the Father and the Son.1 Second, that He is also given unto me:2 by true faith makes me a partaker of Christ and all His benefits,3 comforts me,4 and shall abide with me forever.5
1 Gen 1:1-2; Isa 48:16; Mt 28:19; Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor 3:16, 6:19; 2 1 Cor 6:19; 2 Cor 1:21-22; Gal 4:6; Eph 1:13; 3 1 Cor 6:17; Gal 3:14; 1 Pt 1:2; 4 Jn 15:26; Acts 9:31; 5 Jn 14:16-17; Rom 15:13; 1 Pt 4:14; 1 Jn 4:13
51. What does this glory of Christ, our Head, profit us?
First, that by His Holy Spirit He pours out heavenly gifts upon us, His members;1 then, that by His power He defends and preserves us against all enemies.2
52. What comfort is it to you that Christ “shall come to judge the living and the dead?”
That in all my sorrows and persecutions, I, with uplifted head, look for the very One, who offered Himself for me to the judgment of God, and removed all curse from me,1 to come as Judge from heaven,2 who shall cast all His and my enemies into everlasting condemnation,3 but shall take me with all His chosen ones to Himself into heavenly joy and glory.4
46. What do you understand by the words “He ascended into heaven?”
That Christ, in the sight of His disciples, was taken up from the earth into heaven,1 and continues there in our behalf 2 until He shall come again to judge the living and the dead.3
47. But is not Christ with us even unto the end of the world,1 as He has promised?
Christ is true man and true God. According to His human nature He is now not on earth,2 but according to His Godhead, majesty, grace, and Spirit, He is at no time absent from us.3
48. But are not, in this way, the two natures in Christ separated from one another, if the manhood is not wherever the Godhead is?
Not at all, for since the Godhead is incomprehensible and everywhere present,1 it must follow that it is indeed beyond the bounds of the manhood which it has assumed, but is yet nonetheless in the same also, and remains personally united to it.2
1 Jer 23:23-24; Acts 7:48-49; 2 Mt 28:6; Jn 1:14, 48, 3:13, 11:15; Col 2:9
49. What benefit do we receive from Christ’s ascension into heaven?
First, that He is our Advocate in the presence of His Father in heaven.1 Second, that we have our flesh in heaven as a sure pledge, that He as the Head, will also take us, His members, up to Himself.2 Third, that He sends us His Spirit as an earnest,3 by whose power we seek those things which are above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God, and not things on the earth.4
1 Rom 8:34; 1 Jn 2:1; 2 Jn 14:2, 17:24, 20:17; Eph 2:4-6; 3 Jn 14:16; Acts 2:33; 2 Cor 1:21-22, 5:5; 4 Jn 14:3; Col 3:1-4; Heb 9:24
God is totally sovereign. I had no idea that in my laxness in keeping up with the Catechism posts on this blog that today's post would match up with Easter Sunday. He is truly faithful.
That said, Happy Easter. He is Risen.
Lord’s Day 17
45. What benefit do we receive from the “resurrection” of Christ?
First, by His resurrection He has overcome death, that He might make us partakers of the righteousness which He has obtained for us by His death.1 Second, by His power we are also now raised up to a new life.2 Third, the resurrection of Christ is to us a sure pledge of our blessed resurrection.3
1 Rom 4:25; 1 Cor 15:15-20, 54-55; 1 Pt 1:3-5, 21; 2 Rom 6:5-11; Eph 2:4-6; Col 3:1-4; 3 Rom 8:11; 1 Cor 15:12-23; Php 3:20-21
42. Since, then, Christ died for us, why must we also die?
Our death is not a satisfaction for our sin, but only a dying to sin and an entering into eternal life.1
1 Jn 5:24; Rom 7:24-25; Php 1:21-23; 1 Thes 5:9-10
43. What further benefit do we receive from the sacrifice and death of Christ on the cross?
That by His power our old man is with Him crucified, slain, and buried;1 so that the evil lusts of the flesh may no more reign in us,2 but that we may offer ourselves unto Him a sacrifice of thanksgiving.3
1 Rom 6:5-11; Col 2:11-12; 2 Rom 6:12-14; 3 Rom 12:1; 2 Cor 5:15; Eph 5:1-2
44. Why is it added: “He descended into hell?”
That in my greatest temptations I may be assured that Christ my Lord, by His inexpressible anguish, pains, and terrors, which He suffered in His soul on the cross and before, has redeemed me from the anguish and torment of hell.1
1 Ps 18:5; 116:3; Isa 53; Mt 26:36-46, 27:46; Heb 5:7-10
I got my iPod FM transmitter in the mail today. To celebrate, I tested it, set my radio presets (thank you, Griffin, for International Mode),and cleaned up good ol' Ronnie. I've always enjoyed turning up my music and cleaning out cars since I was in middle school and I would clean out my Mom's Chevy Lumina van. I don't know quite how to describe it, but there's something relaxing to it. Also, I feel as if I've accomplished something after I've finished de-junking a car.
Especially when I'm about a year late in doing so. :-)
One of my sins (or "areas of opportunity," as we called them when I worked in the world of Call Centers) is that I tend to procrastinate. If you've followed this blog for a period of time, then you've seen it with my Heidelberg Catechism posts. I either wait until the last minute, or I keep putting off something that needs to get done quickly. I think part of it is because I'm a perfectionist (yet another "area of opportunity" in my life) and I get scared of doing something before I know it can be absolutely PERFECT or well done on the first try. Problem is, real life doesn't operate like that. Perfection only touched this world once, and thankful I am not He.
But hopefully now, I can be less of a procrastinator and more of a "git-er-done"-er.
That said, I need to go on and put some books on my bookshelf. But after I finish loading music onto my iPod (hey--I'm a work in progress). ;-)
37. What do you understand by the word “suffered?”
That all the time He lived on earth, but especially at the end of His life, He bore, in body and soul, the wrath of God against the sin of the whole human race;1 in order that by His suffering, as the only atoning sacrifice,2 He might redeem our body and soul from everlasting damnation,3 and obtain for us the grace of God, righteousness, and eternal life.4
1 Isa 53; 1 Tim 2:6; 1 Pt 2:2-4, 24, 3:18; 2 Ps 22:14-16; Mt 26:38; Rom 3:25-26, 5:6; 1 Cor 5:7; Eph 5:2; Heb 10:14; 1 Jn 2:2, 4:10; 3 Rm 8:1-4; Gal 3:13; Col 1:13; Heb 9:12; 1Pt 1:18-19; 4 Jn 3:16; Rom 3:24-26; 2Cor 5:21; Heb 9:11
38. Why did He suffer “under Pontius Pilate” as judge?
That He, being innocent, might be condemned by the temporal judge,1 and thereby deliver us from the severe judgment of God, to which we were exposed.2
1 Lk 23:13-24; Jn 19:4, 12-16; Acts 4:27-28; 2 Ps 69:4; Isa 53:4-5; Mt 27:24; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13
39. Is there anything more in His having been “crucified” than if He had suffered some other death?
Yes, for thereby I am assured that He took upon Himself the curse which lay upon me,1 because the death of the cross was accursed of God.2
35. What is the meaning of “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary?”
That the eternal Son of God, who is and continues true and eternal God,1 took upon Himself the very nature of man, of the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary,2 by the operation of the Holy Spirit;3 so that He might also be the true seed of David,4 like unto His brethren in all things,5 except for sin.6
1 Jn 1:1-4, 10:30-36; Rom 1:3-4, 9:5; Col 1:15-17; 1 Jn 5:20; 2 Mt 1:18-23; Jn 1:14; Gal 4:4; Heb 2:14; 3 Mt 1:18-20; Lk 1:35; 4 2 Sam 7:12-16; Ps 132:11; Mt 1:1; Lk 1:32; Rom 1:3; 5 Php 2:7; Heb 2:17; 6 Heb 4:15, 7:26-27
36. What benefit do you receive from the holy conception and birth of Christ?
That He is our Mediator,1 and with His innocence and perfect holiness2 covers, in the sight of God, my sin,3 wherein I was conceived.4
1 1 Tim 2:5-6; Heb 2:16-17, 9:13-15; 2 Rom 8:3-4; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 4:4-5; 1 Pt 1:18-19; 3 Ps 32:1; 1 Jn 1:9; 4 Ps 51:5
Here is a great article from Time Magazine, as reprinted on the Reformed Blacks of America website. As someone who was once involved in the Word of Faith movement--and was delivered from it--I challenge anyone in the movement now to read this article, look at the WoF doctrines, and see how they line up with the Bible.
This morning at worship, my co-usher Troy and I talked briefly about the Heidelberg Catechism, and we came to an agreement: while we're both Presbyterians, and we love the Westminister Shorter and Larger Catechisms, there's something special about the Heidelberg. Maybe it's because it was the first in the chain of Reformed confessions. Maybe it's because the tone is a little 'warmer' than the Westminster. Or maybe it's because it's 22 questions longer than the Westminster.
For whatever reason, it's a wonderful catechism. Scripture always comes first when it comes to matters of doctrine and life, and a good Confession or Catechism merely outlines what Scripture teaches without any deviations. The Heidelberg, as well as the Westminster, follow this rule wonderfully.
That said, here is Week 13
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33. Why is He called God’s “only begotten Son,” since we also are the children of God?
Because Christ alone is the eternal, natural Son of God,1 but we are children of God by adoption, through grace, for His sake.2
1 Jn 1:1-3, 14, 18, 3:16; Rom 8:32; Heb 1; 1 Jn 4:9; 2 Jn 1:12; Rom 8:14-17; Gal 4:6; Eph 1:5-6; 1 Jn 3:1
34. Why do you call Him “our Lord?”
Because not with silver or gold, but with His precious blood,1 He has redeemed and purchased us, body and soul,2 from sin and from all the power of the devil, to be His own.3
1 1 Pt 1:18-19; 2 Acts 2:36; 1 Cor 6:20, 7:23; 1 Tim 2:5-6; Tit 2:14; 1 Pt 2:9; 3 Col 1:13-14; Heb 2:14-15
Because He is ordained of God the Father and anointed with the Holy Spirit1 to be our chief Prophet and Teacher,2 who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption;3 and our only High Priest,4 who by the one sacrifice of His body, has redeemed us,5 and ever lives to make intercession for us with the Father;6 and our eternal King,7 who governs us by His Word and Spirit, and defends and preserves us in the redemption obtained for us.8
Because by faith I am a member of Christ1 and thus a partaker of His anointing,2 in order that I also may confess His Name,3 may present myself a living sacrifice of thankfulness to Him,4 and with a free conscience may fight against sin and the devil in this life,5 and hereafter in eternity reign with Him over all creatures.6
1 Acts 11:26; 1 Cor 12:12-27; 1 Jn 2:20, 27; 2 Joel 2:28 [Acts 2:17]; 1 Jn 2:27; 3 Mk 8:38, 10:32; Rom 10:9-10; Heb 13:15; 4 Rom 12:1; 1 Pt 2:5, 9; Rev 1:6, 5:8, 10; 5 Gal 5:16-17; Eph 6:11; 1 Tim 1:18-19; 6 Mt 25:34; Eph 6:12; 2 Tim 2:12; Rev 3:21
29. Why is the Son of God called “Jesus,” that is, Savior?
Because He saves us from all our sins,1 and because salvation is not to be sought or found in any other.2
1 Mt 1:21; Heb 7:25; 2 Isa 43:11; Lk 2:10-11; Jn 15:4-5; Acts 4:11-12; 1 Tim 2:5
30. Do those also believe in the only Savior Jesus, who seek their salvation and welfare from “saints,” themselves, or anywhere else?
No; although they make their boast of Him, yet in their deeds they deny the only Savior Jesus;1 for either Jesus is not a complete Savior, or they who by true faith receive this Savior, must have in Him all that is necessary to their salvation.2
1 1 Cor 1:12-13, 30-31; Gal 5:4; 2 Isa 9:7; Mt. 23:28; Jn 1:16; Col 1:19-20, 2:10; 1 Jn 1:7
The biggest one is this: Jenn and I are going to adopt. :-)
Next to that, I've decided to take the June LSAT rather than the February. Jenn, my tutor and I discussed it, and we all agree that because I suffer from test anxiety, perhaps waiting and doing more practice sections/tests would be a better option for me than to actually take the LSAT in February and not do as well as I know I can.
Other than that, that's all that is going on in our lives. What's going on with you all?
27. What do you understand by the providence of God?
The almighty, everywhere-present power of God,1 whereby, as it were by His hand, He still upholds heaven and earth with all creatures,2 and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought,3 fruitful and barren years, meat and drink,4 health and sickness,5 riches and poverty,6 indeed, all things come not by chance,7 but by His fatherly hand.8
1 Jer 23:23-24; Acts 17:24-28; 2 Heb 1:3; 3 Jer 5:24; 4 Acts 14:15-17; 5 Jn 9:3; 6 Job 1:21; Ps 103:19; Prov 22:2; Rom 5:3-5; 7 Prov 16:33; 8 Mt 10:29; Eph 1:1
28. What does it profit us to know that God created, and by His providence upholds, all things?
That we may be patient in adversity,1 thankful in prosperity,2 and for what is future have good confidence in our faithful God and Father, that no creature shall separate us from His love,3 since all creatures are so in His hand, that without His will they cannot so much as move.4
This blogging thing and I have a love/hate relationship.
On one hand, I love being able to have an outlet for my thoughts, family updates, and my opinions on things going on in this crazy world of ours. It can be pretty therapeutic, especially in light of how blogging and twittering (is that a word?) and facebooking (again, is this a word?) have made our world a lot smaller than it used to be.
On the other hand, it's hard to make myself sit down and write, edit and post something that resembles a coherent thought. I think this is what Dr. Matalene, my junior year Advanced Writing professor, warned me about--lack of discipline.
That said, on today, my 31st birthday, I've decided that I will continue to blog, at least twice a week. Even if it's just a brief paragraph or two, or just a brief thought or verse that I've been thinking about. And as for my Heidelberg Catechism posts, I will resume those this Sunday right where we left off from last year.
That said, I've gotta run...I'm taking the February 6th LSAT, and I meet with my tutor tonight, so I want to take some time to eat lunch and do some conceptual work.
