Swear Words: H.C. Question 100
Is blasphemy of God’s name by swearing and cursing really such serious sin that God is angry also with those who do not do all they can to help prevent and forbid it?
Leviticus 5:1 – “‘If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.
Leviticus 24:10-17 – Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite. The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name with a curse; so they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri the Danite.) They put him in custody until the will of the Lord should be made clear to them.
Then the Lord said to Moses: “Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him. Say to the Israelites: ‘Anyone who curses their God will be held responsible; anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord is to be put to death. The entire assembly must stone them. Whether foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death.
“‘Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death.
The Third Commandment: H.C. Question 99
What is the aim of the third commandment?
Leviticus 24:10-17 – Now the son of an Israelite mother and an Egyptian father went out among the Israelites, and a fight broke out in the camp between him and an Israelite. The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name with a curse; so they brought him to Moses. (His mother’s name was Shelomith, the daughter of Dibri the Danite.) They put him in custody until the will of the Lord should be made clear to them.
Then the Lord said to Moses: “Take the blasphemer outside the camp. All those who heard him are to lay their hands on his head, and the entire assembly is to stone him. Say to the Israelites: ‘Anyone who curses their God will be held responsible; anyone who blasphemes the name of the Lord is to be put to death. The entire assembly must stone them. Whether foreigner or native-born, when they blaspheme the Name they are to be put to death.
“‘Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death.
Leviticus 19:12 – “‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord.
Matthew 5:37 – All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
James 5:12 – Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
Leviticus 5:1 – “‘If anyone sins because they do not speak up when they hear a public charge to testify regarding something they have seen or learned about, they will be held responsible.
Proverbs 29:24 – The accomplices of thieves are their own enemies; they are put under oath and dare not testify.
Psalm 99:1-5 – The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name—he is holy.
The King is mighty, he loves justice—you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.
Jeremiah 4:2 – and if in a truthful, just and righteous way you swear, ‘As surely as the Lord lives,’ then the nations will invoke blessings by him and in him they will boast.”
Matthew 10:32-33 – “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
Romans 10:9-10 – If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.
Psalm 50:14-15 – “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
1 Timothy 2:8 – Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing.
Colossians 3:17 – And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Images: H.C. Question 97
May we then not make any image at all?
Exodus 34:13-17 – Break down their altars, smash their sacred stones and cut down their Asherah poles. Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.
“Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices. And when you choose some of their daughters as wives for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will lead your sons to do the same.
“Do not make any idols.
2 Kings 18:4-5 – He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)
Hezekiah trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.
The Second Commandment: H.C. Question 96
What is God’s will for us in the second commandment?
Deuteronomy 4:15-19 – You saw no form of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven.
Isaiah 40:18-25 – With whom, then, will you compare God? To what image will you liken him? As for an idol, a metalworker casts it, and a goldsmith overlays it with gold and fashions silver chains for it. A person too poor to present such an offering selects wood that will not rot; they look for a skilled worker to set up an idol that will not topple.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood since the earth was founded? He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. No sooner are they planted, no sooner are they sown, no sooner do they take root in the ground, than he blows on them and they wither, and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
Acts 17:29 – “Therefore since we are God’s offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by human design and skill.
Romans 1:22-23 – Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
Leviticus 10:1-7 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the Lord, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord. Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke of when he said:
“‘Among those who approach me I will be proved holy; in the sight of all the people I will be honored.’” Aaron remained silent.
Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.” So they came and carried them, still in their tunics, outside the camp, as Moses ordered.
Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not let your hair become unkempt and do not tear your clothes, or you will die and the Lord will be angry with the whole community. But your relatives, all the Israelites, may mourn for those the Lord has destroyed by fire. Do not leave the entrance to the tent of meeting or you will die, because the Lord’s anointing oil is on you.” So they did as Moses said.
1 Samuel 15:22-23 – But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams. For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance like the evil of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”
Ephesians 6:10-20; Matthew 4:1-11 – The Sword of the Spirit
The final weapon that Paul describes in the armor of God is the Sword of the Spirit. Unlike the rest of the weapons, he describes this weapon clearly in this passage: the Word of God. This sword has both offensive and defensive properties to it, however, the important thing is that knowing how to wield it.
Too often, Christians take the Bible and swing it wildly, hacking and slashing with their sword. However, thinking that possessing a Bible or knowing a few verses allows us to swing it. It is not the words on the page that give us power, but the authority from which they come. The words of Scripture are given authority through the Holy Spirit who illumines it in our hearts and minds. For us to wield it well, we much practice and be intimately acquainted with its message.
Questions to take home:
- For a Roman soldier, skill with the sword was the difference between life and death. More important than even food and water. Do we treat Scripture this way in our lives?
- Have you ever experienced an event in your life that you knew the enemy was involved in? How did you respond? How did the enemy respond?
- What steps can you take to sharpen your skills with your sword? Write down your answer, form a plan, and stick to it!
The Law of God: H.C. Lord's Day 34
Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 34
Q 92. What is God’s law?
A 92. God spoke all these words:
THE FIRST COMMANDMENT
“I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery; you shall have no other gods before me.”
THE SECOND COMMANDMENT
“You shall not make for yourself an idol, whether in form of anything that is in heaven above, or that is on the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I the LORD your God am a jealous God, punishing children for the iniquity of parents, to the third and the fourth generation of those who reject me, but showing love to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments.”
THE THIRD COMMANDMENT
“You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.”
THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT
“Remember the sabbath day, and keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work. But the seventh day is a sabbath to the LORD your God; you shall not do any work—you, your son or your daughter, your male or female slave, your livestock, or the alien resident in your towns. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and consecrated it.”
THE FIFTH COMMANDMENT
“Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving to you.”
THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT
“You shall not murder.”
THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT
“You shall not commit adultery.”
THE EIGHTH COMMANDMENT
“You shall not steal.”
THE NINTH COMMANDMENT
“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
THE TENTH COMMANDMENT
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Q 93. How are these commandments divided?
A 93. Into two tables. The first has four commandments, teaching us how we ought to live in relation to God. The second has six commandments, teaching us what we owe our neighbor.
Q 94. What does the Lord require in the first commandment?
A 94. That I, not wanting to endanger my own salvation, avoid and shun all idolatry, sorcery, superstitious rites, and prayer to saints or to other creatures.
That I rightly know the only true God, trust him alone, and look to God for every good thing humbly and patiently, and love, fear, and honor God with all my heart.
In short, that I give up anything rather than go against God’s will in any way.
Q 95. What is idolatry?
A 95. Idolatry is having or inventing something in which one trusts in place of or alongside of the only true God, who has revealed himself in the Word.
That Law of God has, in modern times, gotten some pretty bad press. All the rules and regulations that are laid down in Scripture causes people to feel the weight and the guilt of our sins. Often, people have turned to the New Testament, ignoring this part of Scripture completely.
“God is love,” we say, “and He loves me for who I am.”
While certainly this is true. God loves everyone in spite of who we are; He loves us for who He knows us to be… who He calls us to be.
So what about this law stuff then? Is it obsolete? Old news? Not relevant?
The simple answer is no.
We often overlook this, but it is important to note that the writers of the Heidelberg Catechism placed the exposition of the Law in the “gratitude” section, not the “guilt” section. I tend to think there are two important purposes for this.
First, it is important to understand that new and renewed life that God calls us to live in gratitude for the gift of grace that we are given. The Law, specifically the 10 Commandments or their Jesus given summary: Love God and Love Neighbor, create a model for a life set apart for God. While many of these would seem self-evident, one doesn’t have to look far to see a culture in which things like “idolatry” or “sabbath” mean very little. Yet we are called to be counter-cultural and set apart from the world.
Really, what these commandments have to do with is love. As Jesus said, they are indeed summed up in two commands: Love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Properly oriented love is the way that God calls us to live. Misdirected, misguided, misoriented love is what causes us to sin. This is the fundamental root of idolatry: disoriented love. Whether this shows up through selfish behavior or worship of the “other,” that is elevating things to a level of importance in our life that is equal to or above God, it is disoriented love.
That brings us to the second reason for these commandments: sin. Scripture says that the Law is in place to help us recognize our sin. Yet, we still find this in the “gratitude” section. Why? Because sin is not the end of the story. Sin simply reveals to us our desperate need for a savior, for our Savior, Jesus Christ.
When we skip over all this “law stuff,” we actually tend to overlook the problem of sin. While no one really likes to talk about their sin, it is important that we understand its presence in our lives. Without sin, we don’t need a savior. Without a savior, there is no Jesus and no grace. If those do not exist, the Christianity is nothing more than a religious gathering with semi-professional motivational speakers… all of which amount to nothing significant beyond this life.
No, sin is real, and so is our need for a Savior. The 10 commandments reveal that need within us in a very real, very stark way. The exposition of these commandments brings these out in an even more in depth manner. It not only reveals, but through Scripture, begins to root out the presence of sin through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Then, not only can we be grateful for the grace we are shown in Jesus Christ, we can rejoice in the understanding that God isn’t finished with us yet. He loves us so much that He will continue His good work in us until the day that Jesus Christ comes again and we are glorified with Him and live in His presence forever!
Idolatry: H.C. Question 95
What is idolatry?
1 Chronicles 16:26 – For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
Galatians 4:8-9 – Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?
Ephesians 5:5 – For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Philippians 3:19 – Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is set on earthly things.
The First Commandment: H.C. Question 94
What does the Lord require in the first commandment?
1 Corinthians 6:9-10 – Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 10:5-14 – Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.
Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.” We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died. We should not test Christ, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes. And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall! No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.
1 John 5:21 – Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
Leviticus 19:31 – “‘Do not turn to mediums or seek out spiritists, for you will be defiled by them. I am the Lord your God.
Deuteronomy 18:9-12 – When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord; because of these same detestable practices the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you.
Matthew 4:10 – Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’”
Revelation 19:10 – At this I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus.”
Revelation 22:8-9 – I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”
John 17:3 – Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.
Jeremiah 17:5, 7 – This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord…
“But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
Psalm 104:27-28 – All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.
James 1:17 – Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
1 Peter 5:5-6 – In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Colossians 1:11 – being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,
Hebrews 10:36 – You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.
Matthew 22:37 – Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’
Deuteronomy 6:5 – Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Proverbs 9:10 – The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
1 Peter 1:17 – Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.
Deuteronomy 6:13 – Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.
Matthew 5:29-30 – If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.
Matthew 10:37-39 – “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
The 10 Commandments: H.C. Question 93
How are these commandments divided?
Matthew 22:36-40 – “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Mark 12:28-31 – One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
The Law: H.C. Question 92
What is God’s law?
Exodus 20:1-17 – And God spoke all these words:
“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Deuteronomy 5:6-21 – “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
“You shall have no other gods before me.
“You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
“You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the Lord your God has commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your ox, your donkey or any of your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns, so that your male and female servants may rest, as you do. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and that the Lord your God brought you out of there with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm. Therefore the Lord your God has commanded you to observe the Sabbath day.
“Honor your father and your mother, as the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
“You shall not murder.
“You shall not commit adultery.
“You shall not steal.
“You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife. You shall not set your desire on your neighbor’s house or land, his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Deuteronomy 6:4-9 – Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
Ephesians 6:10-16; Romans 8:1-14 "The Helmet of Salvation"
We often talk about salvation as a commodity, a gift that we will receive upon our death. Biblically, however, God’s salvation, while carrying that theme, is seen as a lived reality that we experience daily when we put our faith in Christ. This echos the truth that we do not fight for victory, but rather we fight from victory.
Far too often, however, we find ourselves in bondage, trapped in cycles of thinking that keep us immobilized rather than walking in victory. Today we are reminded that salvation is ours in Jesus Christ as we witness the sacrament of Baptism and remember the promises that are for Raven Hope Pavlak and for us as well. We remember that God has given us the “Helmet of Salvation” for both protection from attack and freedom to live in Christ.
Questions to take home:
What changes does your mind need to make in order to walk confidently in the knowledge of past, present, and future salvation? What game plan do you need to put into practice in order to fill your mind with Truth and Hope?
Can you identify any patterns that undermine your faith and confidence in God’s ability to deliver? What verses can you use to counter them?
Think of what you consider to be your biggest failure or mistake in life. How does the helmet of salvation protect you from ongoing guilt, regret, or fear about “the next time?”
Audio Credit: Pricilla Shirer, “The Armor of God” DVD Bible Study video series. Copyright 2015, Lifeway Press
Old and New: H.C. Lord's Day 33
Heidelberg Catechism Lord’s Day 88
Q 88. What is involved in genuine repentance or conversion?
A 88. Two things: the dying-away of the old self, and the rising-to-life of the new.
Q 89. What is the dying-away of the old self?
A 89. To be genuinely sorry for sin and more and more to hate and run away from it.
Q 90. What is the rising-to-life of the new self?
A 90. Wholehearted joy in God through Christ and a love and delight to live according to the will of God by doing every kind of good work.
Q 91. What are good works?
A 91. Only those which are done out of true faith, conform to God’s law, and are done for God’s glory; and not those based on our own opinion or human tradition.
If there is one thing that is true across the board when it comes to religion it is the idea that changes need to take place. Before one is an adherent to any religious ideology, they would be considered “lost,” or “misguided.” However, when one begins to put faith in whatever deity or element is upheld within a particular religious practice, life changes are assumed. Every religion has rules to follow and to become a good adherent to that religion, one must follow them to some degree.
As a religion, Christianity is not much different in this respect. In fact, this Lord’s day talks very specifically about the change that takes place after one comes to faith in Jesus Christ. Paul writes about this in the book of Romans in terms of “dying to the old-self” and “rising in Christ” or becoming a “new creation.” The reality he is trying to convey here is that this is a fundamental change in one’s life. A full 180-degree turn takes place when one places their faith in Jesus, from walking in sin and self-interest to loving God with all their heart, trusting Him with their life, and loving others with the same love God shows to them.
One fundamental difference, however, between Christianity and all other religions is the place from which that change comes from. In every other faith practice, change is manufactured by the person. The promise of salvation is for those who best practice their faith according to the rules laid out. If you are good enough, kind enough, just enough, or, in some cases, oppose other religions enough, you will find some manner of salvation, whether in this life or the next. It is, however, on you to make this happen.
Faith in Jesus Christ is different. The promise of God in the Bible is that the saving work required by God has been accomplished for us in Jesus Christ! This is amazing news for us, the “Gospel of our Salvation” as Paul writes. In Jesus, when we place our faith in Him, our sins our forgiven and our old self is “put to death.” Even greater is that we are “raised to newness of life” through God’s grace; this is where the change begins to take place.
Unlike other religions, however, the change that we are called to is one out of gratitude, not requirement. Because the saving work is done, and we are saved by grace through faith, the new life is not one of obligation but one of desire. Change, then, is not manufactured from the outside but instead is released from the inside! This is what we often call “sanctification.” It is the continuing work of God in our lives, through the Holy Spirit, to form us and shape us into the image of Christ.
Whereas other religions require “personal perfection” in order to gain salvation, Scripture states that Christ’s perfection and sacrifice for us is sufficient for salvation and when we place our faith in Him, that perfection (which we call righteousness) is put on to us. God then sees us as He sees His Son and we are welcomed back into relationship with Him. Throughout the rest of our lives, then, God is at work teaching, growing, shaping, and molding us to live into it. We cooperate with this process by listening, learning, and seeking to live the life of gratitude for our salvation that Scripture calls us to. It is God’s beautiful work in us to bring His work, accomplished by Christ, to it’s fullness in our lives!
Ephesians 2:8-10 – For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Good Works: H.C. Question 91
What are good works?
John 15:5 – “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.
Hebrews 11:6 – And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Leviticus 18:4 – You must obey my laws and be careful to follow my decrees. I am the Lord your God.
1 Samuel 15:22 – But Samuel replied: “Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
Ephesians 2:10 – For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
1 Corinthians 10:31 – So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Deuteronomy 12:32 – See that you do all I command you; do not add to it or take away from it.
Isaiah 29:13 – The Lord says: “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is based on merely human rules they have been taught.
Ezekiel 20:18-19 – I said to their children in the wilderness, “Do not follow the statutes of your parents or keep their laws or defile yourselves with their idols. I am the Lord your God; follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
Matthew 15:7-9 – You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: “‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’”