The Morning Devotional for April 10, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 11.5
V. God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified;a and although they can never fall from the state of justification,b yet they may by their sins fall under God’s fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of his countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.c
Read MoreRead: Matthew 13
Matthew 13 begins the section known as “The Kingdom Parables.” Parables are usually fictional stories designed to make one central point or highlight one main theme. They are designed to hide the truth from the unbelieving and demonstrate it to the elect. Unfortunately, parables have been badly abused in Christian literature, making them say many things they were not designed to communicate. Therefore, it is essential to interpret them to understand them as offered by Christ correctly.
Read MoreThe chapter before us today may appear to be relatively insignificant in the Genesis narrative. Still, it does point to at least one central theme of the Bible: the choices of men do not alter the purpose and promises of God. That theme is demonstrated in the narrative of this chapter when Abram and Lot disagree, and they agree to separate. Abram magnanimously offers Lot the first choice of the land. Lot chooses the best, leaving Abram with what remains. Yet, despite this difficulty and its result, God promises that he and his descendants will inherit the entirety of the land as promised by God.
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for April 7, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 11.4
IV. God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect,a and Christ did, in the fulness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification:b nevertheless, they are not justified until the Holy Spirit doth, in due time, actually apply Christ unto them.c
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for April 6, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 11.3
III. Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those that are thus justified, and did make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to his Father’s justice in their behalf.a Yet inasmuch as he was given by the Father for them,b and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead,c and both freely, not for anything in them, their justification is only of free grace;d that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.e
Read MoreWhat is the “regulative principle of worship”?
The regulative principle of worship is a core doctrine of the Reformed tradition (see WCF 21.1). When we gather in worship, we must worship God in the way he commands and no other way. That is, we do not offer “strange fire” to God (See Lev. 10). Instead, we offer to him that which he demands of his people. We cannot imagine or devise other ways that God has not outlined in his Word (either by direct command or good and necessary consequence).
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for April 5, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 11.2
II. Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification;a yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.b
Read MoreRead: Matthew 12
Matthew Twelve takes up matters related to the Sabbath, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, and the one I want to focus on today: Fruit proves the root (12:33-37). Many in the church today know much about the Christian faith, theology, etc. They have made credible professions of faith. They are in attendance each Lord’s Day. Yet, there is no fruit, no growth.
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for April 4, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 11.1 (Part Two)
I. Those whom God effectually calleth he also freely justifieth;a not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous: not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone; nor by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them,bthey receiving and resting on him and his righteousness by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God.c
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for April 3, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 11.1 (Part One)
I. Those whom God effectually calleth he also freely justifieth;a not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous: not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone; nor by imputing faith itself, the act of believing, or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them,bthey receiving and resting on him and his righteousness by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God.c
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for March 31, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 10.4
IV. Others, not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word,a and may have some common operations of the Spirit,b yet they never truly come unto Christ, and therefore cannot be saved:c much less can men, not professing the Christian religion, be saved in any other way whatsoever, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature and the law of that religion they do profess;d and to assert and maintain that they may is very pernicious, and to be detested.e
Read MoreThe Morning Devotional for March 30, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 10.3
III. Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit,a who worketh when, and where, and how he pleaseth.b So also are all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the Word.c
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