Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 5, 2010

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”

Today’s devotion is Luke 17:22-37 which covers Jesus’ prophecy of His Second Coming.  Here is the link to read it – Click here: Luke 17 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com
 
Some of Jesus’ prophecy concerned the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D.  But, there is a false teaching called “Full Preterism” which teaches that all of Jesus’ prophecy was fulfilled before or no later than at about this time of 70 A.D. and that His Second Coming was one of only judgment on the nation of Israel that already occurred at this time of 70 A.D.
 
For most of you, this false teaching of “Full Preterism” may seem so far out and unbelievable that it does not concern you.  But, this false teaching is taught in some Reformed circles such that you may encounter it and should be aware of it.  One of the dangers of “Full Preterism” is that it teaches there will be no future Second Coming of Jesus.
 
Here is an article by Martyn McGeown of the Protestant Reformed Churches which refutes this false and dangerous teaching – Click here: Preterist Gangrene: Its Diagnosis, Prognosis and Cure  
 
Anyone can give isolated Scriptural texts to support their false teaching.  One of the benefits of creeds is that it guards against these false teachings.  Usually false teachings are not unique, but rather they have risen in the past and been thoroughly studied and rebuked as part of a creed.  In other words, we do not need to “reinvent the wheel”, but we can take advantage of the work of our Fathers of the Faith.  In essence, we take advantage of sound doctrine. 
 
The general importance of creeds is so important to Reformed Doctrine that I have devoted a “tag” to it that you will see at the top of my Reformed Doctrine blog.  Here is a direct link to the “Plea for Creeds” tag –
 
So, what do some of the creeds teach about Jesus’ Second Coming?
 
The Heidelberg Catechism teaches:
 
Question 52.  What comfort is it to thee that “Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead”?
 
Answer.  That in all my sorrows and persecutions, with uplifted head I look for the very same person, who before offered himself for my sake, to the tribunal of God, and has removed all curse from me, to come as judge from heaven: who shall cast all his and my enemies into everlasting condemnation, but shall translate  me with all his chosen ones to himself, into heavenly joys and glory. 
                                                   

The Westminister Larger Catechism teaches:

Question 56: How is Christ to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world?

Answer: Christ is to be exalted in his coming again to judge the world, in that he, who was unjustly judged and condemned by wicked men, shall come again at the last day in great power, and in the full manifestation of his own glory, and of his Father’s, with all his holy angels, with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God, to judge the world in righteousness.

The Belgic Confession teaches:
 
Article 37:  Of the Last Judgment.

Finally we believe, according to the Word of God, when the time appointed by the Lord (which is unknown to all creatures) is come, and the number of the elect complete, that our Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven, corporally and visibly, as he ascended, with great glory and majesty to declare himself judge of the quick and the dead; burning this old world with fire and flame, to cleanse it. And then all men will personally appear before this great judge, both men and women and children, that have been from the beginning of the world to the end thereof, being summoned by the voice of the archangel, and by the sound of the trumpet of God. For all the dead shall be raised out of the earth, and their souls joined and united with their proper bodies, in which they formerly lived. As for those who shall then be living, they shall not die as the others, but be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and from corruptible, become incorruptible. Then the books (that is to say the consciences) shall be opened, and the dead judged according to what they shall have done in this world, whether it be good or evil. Nay, all men shall give an account of every idle word they have spoken, which the world only counts amusement and jest: and then the secrets and hypocrisy of men shall be disclosed and laid open before all. And therefore the consideration of this judgment, is justly terrible and dreadful to the wicked and ungodly, but most desirable and comfortable to the righteous and elect: because then their full deliverance shall be perfected, and there they shall receive the fruits of their labor and trouble which they have borne. Their innocence shall be known to all, and they shall see the terrible vengeance which God shall execute on the wicked, who most cruelly persecuted, oppressed and tormented them in this world; and who shall be convicted by the testimony of their own consciences, and being immortal, shall be tormented in that everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels. But on the contrary, the faithful and elect shall be crowned with glory and honor; and the Son of God will confess their names before God his Father, and his elect angels; all tears shall be wiped from their eyes; and their cause which is now condemned by many judges and magistrates, as heretical and impious, will then be known to be the cause of the Son of God. And for a gracious reward, the Lord will cause them to possess such a glory, as never entered into the heart of man to conceive. Therefore we expect that great day with a most ardent desire to the end that we may fully enjoy the promises of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. AMEN.

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” – Revelation. 22:20.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 4, 2010

“For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”

Today’s devotion is Luke 17:20-21.
 
“20  Now having been questioned by the Pharisees as to when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; 
                                           
 21  nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’  For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”  Luke 17:20-21.
                                     

The Pharisees may have been fondly imagining a sign of the coming of kingdom of God first as a cloud of dust in the horizon.  Then, as it gets closer, they see the banners of an army coming to deliver their nation from the Romans.  “There it is!”

Or, as the coming of the kingdom of God, the Pharisees may have been fondly imagining the signs of miracles with Jesus at their beck-and-call providing all the bread that they would ever need.  “Here it is!”

But Jesus tells them:  “For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”  

“What?!”, the Pharisees reply.  “All we see is you and twelve scraggly disciples.”

But, for those of faith who meditate on the words of Scripture and treasure them, they begin to remember verses such as Luke 13:20-21:  “ And again He said, “To what shall I compare the kingdom of God?   “It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three pecks of flour until it was all leavened.”  Luke 13:18-21.  In a prior devotion, we meditated about the kingdom of heaven.   

 
“First, the kingdom of heaven started with a very small beginning, kind of like it was hidden like a mustard seed in the earth or leaven buried within the flour.  Second, the kingdom of heaven grew, expanded, or permeated to powerfully be and affect a very large amount.  …  The powerful size or the powerful permeation of the kingdom of heaven should be encouraging to us.  Some wrongly wring their hands in worry as if the kingdom of heaven is weak and impotent.  This belief and attitude dishonors God.  But, we see here that the kingdom of heaven is large and glorious like a tree and that it powerfully permeates (like leaven) and affects everything:  “… the word of truth, the gospel  … has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing …”.  Colossians 1:5-6.  (Parenthetical addition added today to this prior devotion).
 
Bringing it together in a “Reformed shout of joy”, God “according to His purpose … works all things after the counsel of His will”.  Ephesians 1:11. 
 
And, what is His purpose?  Is His purpose to build some earthly utopia?  Is that the kingdom of God?  No! 
 
Although we appreciate the protection and comfort of whatever such earthly civilization can bring, it is only like a husk protecting the all important ear of corn. 
 
So, what is His purpose?  What does Ephesians 1:9-12 tell us about His purpose?
 
“He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.”  
 
What does The Canons of Dordt tell us about the unchangeable purpose of God?
                                  

Article 7. Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, he hath out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen, from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault, from their primitive state of rectitude, into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of Salvation.

This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than the others, but with them involved in one common misery, God hath decreed to give to Christ, to be saved by him, and effectually to call and draw them to his communion by his Word and Spirit, to bestow upon them true faith, justification and sanctification; and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of his Son, finally, to glorify them for the demonstration of his mercy, and for the praise of his glorious grace; as it is written: “According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love; having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved,” Ephesians 1:4,5,6.And elsewhere: “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called; and whom he called, them he also justified; and whom he justified, them he also glorified,” Romans 8:30.

In conclusion, through God’s grace in remembering and applying all these verses and Reformed confession, we can now better understand Jesus’ words:  “For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst.”  What an encouragement that God is at work in our midst to accomplish His purpose!

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 3, 2010

“shout for joy”

Today’s devotion is Luke 17:11-19 which covers Jesus’ miracle of healing the ten lepers.  We will focus on verses 15 through 19. 
 
“15  Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice, 
                              
 16  and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him.  And he was a Samaritan.
                                             

 17  Then Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed?  But the nine–where are they?

 18  “Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?”

 19  And He said to him, “Stand up and go;  your faith has made you well.”  Luke 17:15-19.

The Westminister Larger Catechism begins as follows:

“Question 1:  What is the chief and highest end of man?

Answer:  Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.”

How do you glorify God?

How do you enjoy God?

The Samaritan in our story could answer these questions.  He turned back.  He praised God with a loud voice.  He fell on his face at Jesus’ feet.  He gave thanks to Jesus. 

But, the other nine, sons of Israel we can infer from Jesus’ contrast of the Samaritan, maybe pious and maybe religious as far as their leprosy would let them, did not give glory to God as they should have done.

So, these questions remain for us, pious and religious folk.  Do we glorify God as we should?  Do we enjoy God as we should?

There is hope.  Read a Psalm.  For example, Psalm Chapter 18 is “A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul” (NASV introduction).  Psalm 18:28 states:  “For You light my lamp;  The LORD my God illumines my darkness.”  Click here: Psalm 18 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com

David gives glory to God.  David enjoys God.  It is contagious.  Look out.  You might break out into a dance. 

“Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;  And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”  Psalm 32:11.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 2, 2010

“we have done only that which we ought to have done”

Today’s devotion is Luke 17:7-10.
 
“7  “Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come immediately and sit down to eat’? 
                                           
 8  “But will he not say to him, ‘Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink;  and afterward you may eat and drink’?
                                         

 9  “He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he?

 10  “So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy slaves;  we have done only that which we ought to have done.'”  Luke 17:7-10. 

Beyond our action needing to be good, our attitude also needs to be good.  The Heidelberg Catechism defines good works.

Question 91.  But what are good works?

Answer.  Only those which proceed from a true faith, are performed according to the law of God, and to his glory;  and not such as are founded on our imaginations, or the institutions of men.

But, as with all the strict requirements of Scripture, there is all the help that we need. 

First, we were created to do these good works.  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.  

Second, although we may feel that our work is difficult, we can also state that with God’s help, it is easy.  “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:30 

Even when the Apostle Paul felt weak from the work, he was content, even most glad, because the power of Christ dwelt within him.  “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness ” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake;  for when I am weak, then I am strong.’  2 Corinthians 12:9-10.  

Third, God gives us the will (good attitude) that we need for good works, and God works within us for His good pleasure.  “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13. 

Fourth, God equips us for every good work and works in us that which is pleasing in His sight.  “Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever.  Amen.”  Hebrews 13:20-21. 

Yes, we can patiently complete our work and humbly state that we have done only that which we ought to have done, for our Almighty and Sovereign God is at work within us.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 1, 2010

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith”

Today’s devotion is Luke 17:5-6.
 
“5  The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!” 
                                                      
 6  And the Lord said, “If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and be planted in the sea’;  and it would obey you.”  Luke 17:5-6. 
                                                  

Our Lord’s answer seems a little strange in the sense that He does not directly reply with any grant to their request or any offer of help.  

Likewise, in Matthew 17, the disciples had asked for help from Jesus, because they could not cure someone.  Here is that story.  A man brought his son to the disciples.  The son was “… a lunatic and is very ill;  for he often falls into the fire and often into the water”.  “I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.”  And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you?  How long shall I put up with you?  Bring him here to Me.”  And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once.  Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?”  Matthew 17:15-19.  

But, notice a similar reply by Jesus.

“And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move;  and nothing will be impossible to you.”  Matthew 17:20.

In both Scriptures, our Lord does speak about the power of faith.  Thereby, He was encouraging them about seeking faith.  However, here too, our Lord’s answer seems a little strange in the sense that He does not directly reply with any grant to their request or any offer of help.

An explanation to the reason for our Lord’s “strange” answer was the attitude of the disciples.  Notice that in the Scripture for today, the disciples said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”.  The disciples focused on their faith.  Moreover, the disciples did not ask for faith, they said:  “Increase our faith!”.  They may have thought they had considerable faith;  they merely asked for an increase in their faith. 

Jesus was saying in effect:  “So, you think you have faith? …”.

Likewise, in the second Scripture, the disciples were also presumptuous about their faith.  “Why could we not drive it out?” 

Again, Jesus was saying in effect:  “So, you think you have faith? …”.

The lesson today for us is to remember that Jesus is “the author and perfecter of faith”.  Hebrews 12:2.  We must fix our eyes on him, rather than fix our eyes on “our faith”.

We can see the practical importance of this point when we consider that there are many that believe that God loves everyone and Christ died for everyone and that the only difference between the saved and the unsaved is “their” faith.  They get their own faith through their own free will.  They keep their own faith through their own free will.

However, those who believe in Reformed Doctrine a/k/a Calvinism do not trust  themselves.  They fix their eyes on Jesus and trust Him to give them that initial faith.  They fix their eyes on Jesus and trust Him to keep their faith.  They fix their eyes on Jesus to handle all the points of salvation from beginning to end.  They know that if even 1% of salvation is dependent on themselves that they would not achieve salvation.  They don’t consider it “their” faith.  Rather, they realize faith is a gift of God.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 30, 2010

Forgiving and Being Forgiven

Today’s devotion is Luke 17:3-4.
 
“3  “Be on your guard!  If your brother sins, rebuke him;  and if he repents, forgive him. 
                                                
 4  “And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”  Luke 17:3-4.
                                                                   

We tend to read this Scripture reluctantly as if we have to swallow our medicine.  We resist forgiving others.  We may look for a loophole:  “I am at the stage of rebuking.” or “He has not repented sincerely enough.”  We are also content with staying with our one-sided conclusion of the circumstances by which we can justify our attitudes and actions.

My mother died in 1996, and my father died in 2006.  They were divorced while I was in college.  As an only child, it was a little difficult for me to see both my Dad and my Mom thereafter.  Naturally, at almost every meeting, each defended own position and pulled for my support. 

I loved both of them, but I still was content with staying with my one-sided conclusion of the circumstances by which I justified my attitudes and actions.  Last night, I had a dream which revealed an improper attitude to my Dad.  This morning, I also remembered an improper attitude to my Mom.  

In my dream, my Dad was near death, suffering from severe Alzheimer’s.  However, he still was willing to come to my elementary school to see some school program.  He was struggling to act normal enough to endure through the program.  But, he embarrassed me, and I sat a short distance away. 

This morning, I remembered how I could not understand why my Mom would not exercise and lose more weight.  She was not fat, just overweight, but I was too critical in any event.

I tended to think that my Dad and my Mom should act just like I do.  I knew such a small fraction of the difficulties that both faced, but I was more concerned about how their behavior affected me.  For these attitudes and actions, and for many other improper attitudes and actions, I repent and need forgiveness.

I still remember accepting an invitation from a very shy and plain girl in middle school to go to an event with her.  I later told her without any good reason that I would not go with her.  That memory still haunts me from time to time, and each time that I think of it, I repent.

My attitudes and actions seemed so justified at the time.  But, they were not right.

By no means do I want to infer that these were my biggest sins.  But, they do come to my mind now, and they do illustrate how we can be deceived by our own one-sided conclusion of the circumstances.

Each meeting with each person is important.  Not only are our actions alone important, our attitudes are also important.  We need more forgiveness than what we think.

Remember the story of the king who forgave much and the slave who did not forgive. 

“21  Then Peter came and said to Him, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

 22  Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

 23  “For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves.

 24  “When he had begun to settle them, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him.

 25  “But since he did not have the means to repay, his lord commanded him to be sold, along with his wife and children and all that he had, and repayment to be made.

 26  “So the slave fell to the ground and prostrated himself before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you everything.’

 27  “And the lord of that slave felt compassion and released him and forgave him the debt.

 28  “But that slave went out and found one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii;  and he seized him and began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay back what you owe.’

 29  “So his fellow slave fell to the ground and began to plead with him, saying, ‘Have patience with me and I will repay you.’

 30  “But he was unwilling and went and threw him in prison until he should pay back what was owed.

 31  “So when his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were deeply grieved and came and reported to their lord all that had happened.

 32  “Then summoning him, his lord said to him, ‘You wicked slave, I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.

 33  ‘Should you not also have had mercy on your fellow slave, in the same way that I had mercy on you?’

 34  “And his lord, moved with anger, handed him over to the torturers until he should repay all that was owed him.

 35  “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”  Matthew 18:21-35.

Ephesians 4:32
“Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 29, 2010

Stumbling Block or Stepping Stone?

Today’s devotion is Luke 17:1-2.
 
“He said to His disciples, “It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!  “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.”  Luke 17:1-2. 
                                              

Are we a stumbling block causing others to fall down?  Or, are we a stepping stone causing others to step up?

What grace is there for us today to be that stepping stone?

Let us consider the story of a man “… called Barnabas by the apostles (which translated means Son of Encouragement)”.  Acts 4:36. 

“And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord.  The news about them reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas off to Antioch.  Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to remain true to the Lord;  for he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.  And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.”  Acts 11:21-24. 

Do you witness grace and rejoice and encourage others?  Or, are you more eager to talk about the absence of grace and mourn and discourage others?

“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.  Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.”  Romans 15:4-7. 

So, what may happen if we do not encourage others as we should?  The following Hebrews 3:13-19 shows a stumbling block of such lack of encouragement which is that others may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

“But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, while it is said,
    “TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
     DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS, AS WHEN THEY PROVOKED ME.”

For who provoked Him when they had heard?  Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?  And with whom was He angry for forty years?  Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?  And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?  So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.”  Hebrews 3:13-19.

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:11

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 28, 2010

Hell: “warn them from Me”.

Today’s devotion is Luke 16:19-31 which contains the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus and the description of hell. 
                                      
Here is the link so that you can read it in full –  
 
The key verses are verses 23 and 24. 
 
“In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom.  “And he cried out and said, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus so that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue, for I am in agony in this flame.’ ”  Luke 16:23-24.
 
 
We should live our lives with a real clear understanding of the agony of hell.  Of course, it is the ultimate unpleasant thought.  But, maybe God will use a true understanding of hell to warn us and lead us to repentance and salvation.
 
The problem is that churches and denominations may present hell as just a place of separation from God.  Yes, hell is a place of separation from God.  But, it is also a place of fire and agony.
 
As one recent example, I attend a church associated with the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church.  It does subscribe to the Westminister Larger Catechism, a well-respected Reformed confession.  But, the problem is that as a practical matter very few attendees read, much less study, the Westminister Larger Catechism.  So, they depend on what is in the bulletin.  Here is what the bulletin this past Sunday wrote about hell:
 
“8.  About Eternity
People were created to exist forever.  We will either exist eternally separated from God by sin, or eternally with God through forgiveness and salvation.  To be eternally separated from God is Hell.  To be eternally in union with Him is eternal life.  Heaven and hell are real places of eternal existence.   … (Scripture citations) …”   
  
Some visitor or even member would have a very different image of hell from the bulletin than what is in Scripture or the Reformed confessions.  Separation from God does not contain any of the fire, agony, weeping, and gnashing of teeth that we see in this Scripture for today or other Scripture. 
                                                  
People are not adequately warned by brief, bland, and incomplete descriptions of hell just as a place of separation from God.  It is so misleading that we can easily imagine that the Rich Man would yell out:  “Liar!” to such descriptions. 
 
So, how does Scripture describe hell, in addition to a place of flame and agony that we read in today’s Scripture?
  
It is a place of unquenchable fire.  “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire,”  Mark 9:43
 
It is a place of “fiery hell”.  Matthew 5:22 and Matthew 18:9.
 
It is a place of pits and darkness.   “For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;”  2 Peter 2:4
 
It is a place of “weeping and gnashing of teeth“.  An amazing seven verses describe hell as a place of “weeping and gnashing of teeth“.  Matthew 8:12, Matthew 13:42, Matthew 13:50, Matthew 22:13, Matthew 24:51, Matthew 25:30, and Luke 13:28.
 
There may be a few verses in Scripture that simply describe hell as a place of separation from God, but I did not see any either in the verses that were cited in the bulletin or in my independent keyword study.  The only verse in the bulletin that came close to describing hell was Revelation 20:15 which states:  “And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
 
So, for example, how does the Westminister Larger Catechism describe hell?  The following question and answer is not a complete set of all the descriptions in Reformed confessions, but in my quick search, it provides a much different image than just a place of separation from God.
 
Westminister Larger Catechism:

Question 29: What are the punishments of sin in the world to come?

Answer: The punishments of sin in the world to come, are everlasting separation from the comfortable presence of God, and most grievous torments in soul and body, without intermission, in hell fire forever.

In conclusion, why do we go to such lengths to describe hell?

“17  “Son of man, I have appointed you a watchman to the house of Israel; whenever you hear a word from My mouth, warn them from Me.

 18  “When I say to the wicked, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to warn the wicked from his wicked way that he may live, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand.

 19  “Yet if you have warned the wicked and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but you have delivered yourself.

 20  “Again, when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and I place an obstacle before him, he will die; since you have not warned him, he shall die in his sin, and his righteous deeds which he has done shall not be remembered; but his blood I will require at your hand.

 21  “However, if you have warned the righteous man that the righteous should not sin and he does not sin, he shall surely live because he took warning; and you have delivered yourself.”  Ezekiel 3:17-21.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 27, 2010

Using all the Help of Scripture

A reader suggested, without my request, that I may want to use my reply as a follow-up to my devotion today titled “”Now the deeds of the flesh are evident”:  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love”. 
 
He wrote as his reply to my reply:  “wow you wrote a lot thanks. Feel free to send as a follow up if you want for others to enjoy.” 
 
It is not necessary to include his first comment to which I replied.  I want to keep his first comment private, at least beyond what may be inferred from my reply.
 
Here is what I wrote: 
 
“Thank you for your reply and deep meditation. 
 
It is true both from Scripture and our practical experience that we continue to sin.  “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.”  1 John 1:8-10.  
 
It is also true as Paul writes that God works within us.  “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.  For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all, because I have you in my heart, since both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.  For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.  And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;  having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”  Philippians 1:6-11.
 
But, we cannot just sit back.  We are urged to resist sin.  “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin;  and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
         “MY SON, DO NOT REGARD LIGHTLY THE DISCIPLINE OF THE LORD,
         NOR FAINT WHEN YOU ARE REPROVED BY HIM; 
         FOR THOSE WHOM THE LORD LOVES HE DISCIPLINES,
         AND HE SCOURGES EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVES.”  Hebrews 12:1-6.     
 
We are also commanded to put on the full armor of God.  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;  in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”  Ephesians 6:10-17. 
 
And, we have seen from today’s Scripture that we are also commanded to walk by the Spirit. 
 
I think it is true, as you point out, that the sinful desires are no longer our master.  We find that we can resist them more and more, not necessarily in a perfect “straight-up” improvement over time, but we do notice with delight God’s work within us.  We find over time both a mortification of the old man and a quickening of the new man.  As stated below in the Heidelberg Catechism, we find more within us a “sincere sorrow of heart, that we have provoked God by our sins; and more and more to hate and flee from them”.  We also find more within us a “sincere joy of heart in God, through Christ, and with love and delight to live according to the will of God in all good works”.*  
 
(* Question 88.  Of how many parts doth the true conversion of man consist?
Answer.  Of two parts;  of the mortification of the old, and the quickening of the new man.
 
Question 89.  What is the mortification of the old man?
Answer. It is a sincere sorrow of heart, that we have provoked God by our sins; and more and more to hate and flee from them.
 
Question 90. What is the quickening of the new man?
Answer.  It is a sincere joy of heart in God, through Christ, and with love and delight to live according to the will of God in all good works.)  
 
In summary, the whole process is, in a sense, fixing our eyes on Jesus.  As we read and use all of God’s Word, as we hope and pray for all of God’s work to be perfected within us, and as practice these things, we behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord and are  transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 27, 2010

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident”: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love”

Today’s devotion is Luke 16:18. 
 
“Everyone who divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery, and he who marries one who is divorced from a husband commits adultery.”  Luke 16:18.
 
 
“You shall not commit adultery.”  Exodus 20:14. 
 
 
Here is what The Heidelberg Catechism states specifically about this seventh commandment and generally about the strict preaching of the ten commandments.   
 
Question 108.  What doth the seventh commandment teach us?
                                                    
Answer.  That all uncleanness is accursed of God:  and that therefore we must with all our hearts detest the same, and live chastely and temperately, whether in holy wedlock, or in single life.”
 
Question 109.  Doth God forbid in this commandment, only adultery, and such like gross sins?
                                                
Answer.  Since both our body and soul are temples of the Holy Ghost, he commands us to preserve them pure and holy: therefore he forbids all unchaste actions, gestures, words, thoughts, desires, and whatever  can entice men thereto.  
 
Question 115.  Why will God then have the ten commandments so strictly preached, since no man in this life can keep them?
 
Answer. First, that all our lifetime we may learn more and more to know our sinful nature, and thus become the more earnest in seeking the remission of sin, and righteousness in Christ; likewise, that we constantly endeavor and pray to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we may become more and more conformable to the image of God, till we arrive at the perfection proposed to us, in a life to come.”  
 
So, what is God’s provision of this “grace of the Holy Spirit”? 
                                                
 
“16  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 
                                     
 17  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.

 18  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.

 19  Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality,

 20  idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions,

 21  envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

 23  gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

 24  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

 25  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”  Galatians 5:16-25.  (Emphasis added.)

So, how do we “become more and more conformable to the image of God”? 
 
                                       

2 Corinthians 3:18
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”  (Emphasis added.)

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