Sunday, March 28, 2010

Heidelberg Week 16

40. Why was it necessary for Christ to suffer “death?”
Because the justice and truth 1 of God required that satisfaction for our sins could be made in no other way than by the death of the Son of God.2
1 Gen 2:17; 2 Rom 6:23, 8:3; Php 2:8; Heb 2:9, 14-15
41. Why was He “buried?”
To show thereby that He was really dead.1
1 Isa 53:9; Mt 27:59-60; Jn 19:38-42; Acts 13:29; 1 Cor 15:3-4
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

Thursday, March 25, 2010

iPods and Dirty Cars

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).  ;-)

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Heidelberg Catechism, Week 15

Lord’s Day 15
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
1 Gal 3:13-14; 2 Deut 21:22-23; Php 2:8

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Heidelberg Catechism, Week 14

Lord’s Day 14
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
As always, the full catechism can be found here.

Monday, March 8, 2010

The High Cost of the Slave Auction Block: The Prosperity Gospel in the African American Church

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. 

GREAT read!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Heidelberg Catechism, Week 13

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
________________________________________

(Source)
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