Finding Sabbath Blessing

10 MAY

And hallow my sabbaths; and they shall be a sign between me and you, that ye may know that I am the LORD your God. Ezekiel 20:20

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Isaiah 58

God established the Sabbath, the day of rest, not simply to exact from people what is due to Him. Nor did He establish it merely that people might rest. Therefore the prophet Ezekiel explains how God’s Sabbaths should be sanctified or kept holy.

God is not satisfied by the people’s merely resting from their weekly labors; rather, inward sanctification is the primary purpose of the Sabbath. In this passage God says that, if the Jews rightly observe the Sabbath, they will feel the effects of God’s favor represented in the Sabbath. We have said that the Sabbath is a sacrament of regeneration; now God promises the efficacy of His Spirit if His people do not shut the door to that Spirit by their own impiety and contempt of the Sabbath. Hence we see that sacraments will not lose the blessing of the Spirit unless people render themselves unworthy of the grace offered to them in observing the sacraments.

We maintain, therefore, that there is a direct relationship between faith and the sacraments; the sacraments become effective through faith. Man’s unworthiness does not detract anything from the sacraments, however, for they always retain their nature. Baptism is the laver of regeneration, even if the whole world doubts it (Titus 3:5); the Supper of Christ represents His body and blood (1 Cor. 10:16), even if there is not a spark of faith left in the world.

But we do not fully perceive the grace that is offered to us, for though spiritual things always remain the same, yet we do not experience their effect or perceive their value unless we are careful that our lack of faith does not profane what God has consecrated to our salvation.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION:

How are we hallowing God’s Sabbath today? Merely taking time off from work and going to church perfunctorily may be missing the most crucial benefit of all: the blessing of the Spirit in our inward sanctification. By faith we must observe the wondrous grace of the sacraments, including this sacrament of regeneration. Are there changes you need to make to your Sabbath observance?

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke

Not Willing the Death of Sinners

9 MAY

Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that he should return from his ways, and live? Ezekiel 18:23

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING:  Joshua 24: 19-27

How does God wish all men to be saved? He does this today by the Spirit’s convicting the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment by the gospel, just as He did this in days past through the law and the prophets (John 16:8). God makes clear to people their great misery so that they may come to Him. He wounds that He may cure, and slays that He may give life.

We maintain that God does not will the death of sinners, since He equally calls all people to repentance and promises He is prepared to receive them if they only seriously repent. Some may object, saying that this would deny God’s election, for He has predestinated a fixed number to salvation. The prophet does not speak here of God’s secret counsel, but only of God calling those in misery from despair that they may apprehend the hope of pardon, and repent and embrace the offer of salvation.

If anyone again objects, saying this proves that God acts with duplicity, the answer is ready: God always wishes the same thing, though by different ways, and in a manner we cannot understand. Although God’s will is simple, yet it involves great variety, as far as our senses are concerned. It is not surprising that our eyes should be so blinded by intense light that we cannot judge with certainty how God wishes all to be saved and yet has devoted the reprobate to eternal destruction and wishes them to perish. While we now look through a glass darkly, we should be content with the measure of our own intelligence (1 Cor. 13:12). When we one day are like God and see Him face to face, then what is now obscure to us will become plain.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION:

In dealing with texts like these, we should not try to exalt our reason over God’s revelation, depriving the text of its power. Rather, we should glory in the great and  free salvation offered to all who hear the gospel. This is the good news we must bring to everyone around us: God is willing to save sinners who turn to Him.

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke

Reflections on a THUNDERSTORM by Augustus Toplady

When the lightning flashes, and when the thunder rolls, do we as it were hear the Almighty speak in the one and see a glimpse of His tremendous glory in the other! If when the clouds pour out water, when the air thunders, and the arrows of His lightning are sent abroad, it is natural for the guilty to tremble, for the just to pray, and for all to look up to Him whose voice is thus mighty in operation; where will the unbeliever, where will the habitual sinner appear, when the Lord Himself descends from heaven with a shout, a shout that shall unbar the gates of death, recal the scattered dust of all mankind, and wake that dust to life?

May we ever listen to the Almighty when He speaks in thunder, or looks in lightning, and call to mind that awful period when the final trump shall summon us to the bar! may every such season be improved to this beneficial purpose! And though thunder and other effects are under God, owing to natural causes and may be accounted for on natural principles; yet let us remember that natural causes are caused by the God of nature, and that the effects which they produce are in truth the effects of His all-active, all-governing providence. And this is the glorious God that maketh the thunder. Such a view of things will render the most obvious events lessons of the highest instruction, and means of spiritual improvement. Thus considered, thunder teaches, and lightning holds the lamp to knowledge: nature becomes subservient to grace, and the laws of material system direct to heaven. And should we not aspire to the friendship of that Being whose voice shakes the earth, and whose eyes are as a flame of fire? Should we not approach His footstool, humbled in the dust of repentance, and trusting in the propitiation of Him who hushed the infinitely more dreadful thunder of divine resentment, and, in His own blood, quenched the lightning of vindictive wrath? Possessed of interest in His availing merit, and conformed, as far as human infirmity will permit, to His blessed example, we need fear nothing. Though the earth was removed, and the hills carried into the midst of the sea; though the waters thereof should rage and swell, and the mountains shake at the tempest of the same; yet safely anchored on the rock of redeeming merit, and lodged in the arms of God's everlasting love, we should be equally free both from danger and from dread. Let the inferior thunders grate upon the ear; let sublunary lightnings flash terror on the eye, so we are enabled to take shelter beneath the hiding place of a Redeemer's righteousness, and His Spirit, in gentlest accents, whispers comfort to the heart. Happy they who thus dwell beneath the defence of the Most High, who abide under the shadow of he Almighty, and to whom His faithfulness and truth are a shield and buckler!

The Works of Augustus Toplady, pp. 768-769

Test Your Biblical IQ (THE FALL)

II. THE FALL (Genesis 2:8 - 3:24)

1. Where did God place man when He had created Him?

  

2. Where was this garden?

  

3. What description have we given to us of this garden?

  

4. How was it watered?

  

5. Was man idle in the Garden of Eden?

   

6. Were there any restrictions in the use of the garden? 

  

7. Did man obey God's command?

 

8. Who was the first transgressor?

 

9. How came it about?

  

10. What foolish plan did they adopt to hide their shame?

    

11. Can any place conceal us from God?

  

12. What is it that makes us fear to meet God? 

    

13. What ought we to do when we know that we have sinned?

   

14. How did God clothe the bodies of Adam and Eve?

  

15. What punishment came because of this sin?

   

16. How was man to know that the ground also was cursed?

    

17. Was there not a special mercy granted to the woman? 

   

18. Why could man live no longer in the Garden of Eden?

     

19. Is the tree of life ever mentioned again in the Scripture?

    

20. How did God guard the gate of Eden?

  

21. Why did Adam named his wife Eve?

    

Source: 

4000 Questions and Answers on the Bible

A Spire Book

Published by Pyramid Publications for the Fleming H. Revell Company

Test Your Biblical IQ (Answer Key to "The Beginning")

Beginning with Genesis, ending with Revelation, here is an ideal guide to accurate and important information.

I. THE BEGINNING

1. What is the name of the first book of the Bible? 

    Ans. Genesis, which means "Beginnings."

2. What do we know of the beginning of the world?

    Ans. "In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth." Gen.1:1

3. What is the difference between "created" and "made"?

    Ans. "Created" means made out of nothing; "made" means formed or developed out of something already existing. In the account of the beginning of this world the word "created" is used three times.

4. By what power did God create the world? 

   Ans. By His word. Heb. 1: 3 ; 2 Pet. 3:5

5. Who is called the Word of God? 

   Ans. Jesus Christ. John 1:14

6. How do we know that Jesus Christ was with God in the creation?

   Ans. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God... All things were made by Him; and without Him was not anything made that was made." John 1:1, 3. Who is the image of the invisible God... for by Him were all things created... Col. 1:15, 16.

7. What was the last thing created? 

    Ans. Man, who was made in the image of God.

Source: 

4000 Questions and Answers on the Bible

A Spire Book

Published by Pyramid Publications for the Fleming H. Revell Company

Rescuing the Perishing

8 MAY

Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord GOD: and not that He should return from his ways, and live? Ezekiel 18:23

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Revelation 22:16-21

God earnestly desires that those who are perishing and rushing to destruction should return to the way of safety. For this reason the gospel is spread abroad in the world. In this, God bears witness through all the ages how inclined He is to pity the lost.

The heathen may be destitute of the law and the prophets, yet they are always endued with some taste of this doctrine. True, they are suffocated by many errors, but they are also induced by a secret impulse to seek pardon from God. Also, the sense in some way is born in all people that God will be appeased by all who seek Him. God bears witness to this clearly in the law and the prophets.

In the gospel, we hear how familiarly God addresses us when He promises pardon (Luke 1:78). We can know salvation by embracing the mercy that He offers us in Christ.

It follows, then, that what the prophet now says is true, that God does not will the death of a sinner. God meets the sinner of His own accord. He is not only prepared to receive all who fly to His pity, but also calls them toward Him with a loud voice when He sees how they are alienated from all hope of safety. Note also the manner in which God wishes all to be saved, namely, that they turn away from their wicked ways. God does not wish all men to be saved to renounce the difference between good and evil. Rather, He stresses that repentance, or turning aside from wicked ways, must precede pardon.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION:

God cannot compromise His just character for men and women to be saved. He desires their salvation, but He still demands satisfaction for their sins. They must repent and trust in Jesus Christ and the salvation provided through Him. Have you truly repented, or are you simply banking on God’s loving character? His love will not compromise His justice. We must flee to Christ in true repentance.

365 Days With Calvin

Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke

Test Your Biblical IQ (THE BEGINNING)

Beginning with Genesis, ending with Revelation, here is an ideal guide to accurate and important information.

I. THE BEGINNING

1. What is the name of the first book of the Bible? 

 

2. What do we know of the beginning of the world?

3. What is the difference between "created" and "made"?

  

4. By what power did God create the world? 

5. Who is called the Word of God? 

6. How do we know that Jesus Christ was with God in the creation?

7. What was the last thing created? 

  

Source: 

4000 Questions and Answers on the Bible

A Spire Book

Published by Pyramid Publications for the Fleming H. Revell Company

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Answers will be posted later.