Sunday, May 30, 2010

Heidelberg Catechism, Week 24

Lord’s Day 24
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
1 Mt 7:18; Lk 6:43-45; Jn 15:5; Rom 6:1-2
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. 

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Heidelberg Catechism, Week 23

Lord’s Day 23
59. What does it help you now, that you believe all this?
That I am righteous in Christ before God, and an heir of eternal life.1
1 Hab 2:4; Jn 3:36; Rom 1:17, 5:1-2, 8:16; Tit 3:7
60. How are you righteous before God?
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

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Heidelberg Catechism, Week 22

Lord’s Day 22
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
1 Lk 16:21, 23:43; Php 1:21-23; 2 Job 19:25-27; 1 Cor 15:20, 42-46, 53-54; Php 3:21; 1 Jn 3:2
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

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Heidelberg Catechism, Week 21

Lord’s Day 21
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
1 Gen 26:4; Rev 5:9; 2 Isa 59:21; Jn 10:10; 1 Cor 11:26; 3 Jn 10:11; Acts 20:28; Eph 1:10-13, 4:11-13; Col 1:18; 4 Isa 59:21; Rom 1:16, 10:14-17; Eph 5:26; 5 Ps 129:1-5; Mt 16:18; Jn 10:28-30; 6 Rom 8:29-30; Eph 1:3-14, 4:3-6; 7 Ps 71:18; Jn 10:28-30; Acts 2:42-47; 1 Cor 1:8-9, 11:26; 8 Ps 23:6; Jn 10:27-28; 1 Cor 1:4-9; Gal 3:28; 1 Pt 1:3-5; 1 Jn 2:19, 3:14, 19-21
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

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Heidelberg Catechism, Week 21

Lord’s Day 21

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

(Source)

Comic's I'm Reading: Inaugural Edition


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!