thanks to jetjoshua for capturing this.
night shots
Reply
PCA BCO 57-5
57-5. The time having come for the making of a public profession, and those who have been approved by the Session having taken their places in the presence of the congregation, the minister may state that:
Of the number of those who were baptized in infancy as members of the Church of God by birthright, and as heirs of the covenant promises, the Session has examined and approved (call them by name), who come now to assume for themselves the full privileges and responsibilities of their inheritance in the household of faith.
If there be present any candidates for Baptism, the minister may state that:
As applicants for admission into the Church of God by Baptism, which is a sign and seal of our engrafting into Christ, and of our engagement to be the Lord’s, the Session has examined and approved (call them by name), who are cordially welcomed into the fellowship of the household of faith.
(All of) you being here present to make a public profession of faith, are to assent to the following declarations and promises, by which you enter into a solemn covenant with God and His Church.
1. Do you acknowledge yourselves to be sinners in the sight of God, justly deserving His displeasure, and without hope save in His sovereign mercy?
2. Do you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God, and Savior of sinners, and do you receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation as He is offered in the Gospel?
3. Do you now resolve and promise, in humble reliance upon the grace of the Holy Spirit, that you will endeavor to live as becomes the followers of Christ?
4. Do you promise to support the Church in its worship and work to the best of your ability?
5. Do you submit yourselves to the government and discipline of the Church, and promise to study its purity and peace?
PCA BCO 12-5
12-5. The church Session is charged with maintaining the spiritual government of the church, for which purpose it has power:
a. To inquire into the knowledge, principles and Christian conduct of the church members under its care; to censure those found delinquent; to see that parents do not neglect to present their children for Baptism; to receive members into the communion of the Church; to remove them for just cause; to grant letters of dismissal to other churches, which when given to parents, shall always include the names of their non-communing, baptized children;
b. To examine, ordain, and install ruling elders and deacons on their election by the church, and to require these officers to devote themselves to their work; to examine the records of the proceedings of the deacons; to approve and adopt the budget;
c. To approve actions of special importance affecting church property;
d. To call congregational meetings when necessary; to establish and control Sunday schools and Bible classes with special reference to the children of the church; to establish and control all special groups in the church such as Men in the Church, Women in the Church and special Bible study groups; to promote world missions; to promote obedience to the Great Commission in its totality at home and abroad; to order collections for pious uses;
e. To exercise, in accordance with the Directory for Worship, authority over the time and place of the preaching of the Word and the administration of the Sacraments, over all other religious services, over the music in the services, and over the uses to which the church building and associated properties may be put; to take the oversight of the singing in the public worship of God; to ensure that the Word of God is preached only by such men as are sufficiently qualified (BCO 4-4, 53-2, 1 Timothy 2:11-12); to assemble the people for worship when there is no minister; to determine the best measures for promoting the spiritual interests of the church and congregation;
f. To observe and carry out the lawful injunctions of the higher courts; and to appoint representatives to the higher courts, who shall, on their return, make report of their diligence.
Gospel Coalition
This year’s conference includes translation into chinese.
Check out the link for free downloads.
http://thegospelcoalition.org/conferences/2011-media#chinese
Trust and Belief
Talking about Faith this week in sunday school.
Green Baggins has in interesting post onTrust and Belief.
A bit too heady for me…
In any case, here’s the three-fold view of faith: Knowledge, Assent, and Trust.
Faith requires us to believe it’s real (because it is real), agree that it’s right, and trust that it works. Faith must have all three elements.
Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 23, Section 1
This week we begin chapter 23 of the WCF, we consider what the bible says about civil magistrates or government.
When most people think about government they think about separation of church and state, but the bible is very explicit how Christians should interact with government.
We’ll look at two passages from Scripture.
When Jesus was asked whether it was lawful to pay taxes to the governments, Christ responded by asking the people to show him a coin and whose face was on it. When the crowd responded Caesar’s, Jesus responded give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s. (Matthew 22:18-21)
The Apostle Paul further emphasized in Romans 13:1-5. Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Whoever rebels against what God has instituted will bring judgment on themselves. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore it is necessary to submit to the authorities not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.
The context of the apostle Paul’s writing is from the time of Roman government where Christian persecution was widespread. Even with this Paul still recognized that all authority have been given from God. We recognize that civil government has its place and to administer justice and for the public good.
But we also recognize that God is the ultimate Lord and King of all the world. We recognize the God-given authority governments have to be armed in order to restrain and punish evil and upholding good of the public, and that the governments of the world will ultimately be accountable to God for how they exercised their power.
Let us as Christians be active in praying for our governments for wisdom, justice, and integrity, and the right use of the law to restrain evil and promoting good.
1. God, the supreme Lord and King of all the world, has ordained civil authorities to be, under him, over the people for his own glory and the public good. For this purpose he has armed them with the power of the sword for the defense and encouragement of those who are good, and for the punishment of those who do evil.
Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 22 Section 6
Chapter 22 continues our look at lawful oaths and vows.
A vow is a promise we make to God. Today’s confession emphasizes when we make our vows to God it must be made voluntarily out of thankfulness for mercy or from the desire to obtain what we lack. Many examples of this in scripture… we see people offering vows as an act of worship as well as making vows in order to obtain something from the Lord. An example of this comes from 1 Sam 1 in which Hannah makes a vow that if God provides a baby to her she will give him up to the Lord.
Deut 23:21 If you make a vow to the LORD your God, do not be slow to pay it, for the LORD your God will certainly demand it of you and you will be guilty of sin.
Deut 23:23 Whatever your lips utter you must be sure to do, because you made your vow freely to the LORD your God with your own mouth.
The confession also says that we bind ourselves more strictly to necessary duties meaning we must be diligent to fulfill those duties. Deut 23:21 tells us to not be slow in fulfilling our vows and Deut 23:23 we must do what our lips say because our words matter to God.
Have you made any vows before God? Have you made promises to him with your mouth? Then turn to Christ who is the author and perfecter of our faith, who enables us with the power of the Holy Spirit to be faithful and diligent in fulfilling the vows we make before our God.
6. A vow is to be made only to God and not to any created being. In order for it to be acceptable, it is to be made voluntarily, out of faith and conviction of duty, either from thankfulness for mercy or from the desire to obtain what we lack. By taking a vow we bind ourselves more strictly to necessary duties, or to other things to the extent that they contribute to the performance of these duties.
At this time, I’d like to invite Ray to lead us for our prayer of supplication.
Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 22, Section 4
Chapter 22. Oaths and Vows
As we have seen in previous sections of chapter 22, oaths are promises we make to others before God. We have already witnessed God’s faithfulness to us to the extent of his son Jesus Christ coming to die to atone for our sins.
God is the ultimate witness to every oath we swear (Heb. 4:13), no matter its form, and a mere change in formula will not enable us to escape His chastisement should we fail to keep our promises.
One commentator noted that “the frequent requiring and using of oaths, is a poor reflection on Christians, who should be of such acknowledged fidelity, as that their sober words should be as sacred as their solemn oaths.” Believers are to be people so known for their truthfulness that they have no need to vow that they will keep their word. Let us not make promises that we cannot keep and be faithful to do what we say in big and small things.
Psalm 15:4 who despises a vile person but honors those who fear the LORD; who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind;
Even when it means that keeping your promises even if they may hurt. When we take an oath, it means we follow through because we make our oaths before the Lord.
Any godly commitment we make must be honored, for the Lord prizes truth and fidelity. If you tend not to follow through on your promises, consider whether you are making more of them than you can keep. Pledge to do only those things you know you have time to fulfill.
4. The oath is to be taken in the plain and usual sense of the words, without equivocation or mental reservation. It cannot oblige a person to sin, but when it is taken in matters which are not sinful, it obligates performance of the oath even though it may hurt. The oath is not to be violated even though it is made to heretics or unbelievers.
Children’s Catchism (Part 4)
A Catechism for Girls and Boys
Part VI
Questions about the Last Things
137.Q. Did Christ remain in the tomb after his crucifixion?
A. No. He rose from the tomb on the third day after his death (Lk 24:45-47; 1 Cor 15:3, 4).
138.Q. Where is Christ now?
A. Christ is in heaven, seated at the right hand of God the Father (Rm 8:34; Col 3:1; H1 1:3; 10:12; 12:2).
139.Q. Will Christ come again?
A. Yes. At the last day he will come to judge the world (Mt 25:31-43; 2 Thes 1:7-10; 2 Tim 4:1).
140.Q. What happens to men when they die?
A. The body returns to dust, and the soul goes to be with God or to a place of suffering and waiting for judgment (Gn 3:19; Ec 12:7; 2 Cor 5:1-6; Hb 12:22,23; Ph 1:23; 2 Pet 2:9; Rm 2:5).
141.Q. Will the bodies of the dead be raised to life again?
A. Yes. ‘There shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust’ (Acts 24:14, 15; In 5:28, 29; Dan 12:2.
142.Q. What will happen to the wicked in the day of judgment?
A. They shall be cast into hell (Ps 9:16, 17; Lk 12:5; Rm 2:8, 9,12; 2 Th 1:8, 9; Rv 20:12-15).
143.Q. What is hell?
A. Hell is a place of dreadful and endless punishment (Mt 25:46; Mk 9:43-48; Lk 16:19-31).
144.Q. What will happen to the righteous in the day of judgement?
A. They shall live with Christ for ever, in a new heaven and a new earth (Is 66:22; 1 Thes 4;16, 17; 2 Pet 3:10-13; Rv 21:1-4).
145.Q. In light of these truths, what should you do? I
A. I should strive with all my energy to repent of sin and believe savingly in the Lord Jesus Christ (Lk 13:23, 24; Jn 6:27; Acts 16:31).
From the book, “Teaching Truth, Training Hearts” by Dr. Tom J. Nettles. ISBN# 1-879737-38-0
Children’s Catechism (Part 3)
A Catechism for Girls and Boys
Part III
Questions about Salvation
68.Q. What is a covenant?
A. A covenant is an agreement between two or more persons (e.g., 1 Sam 18:3; Mt 26:14, 15).
69.Q. What is the covenant of grace?
A. It is an eternal agreement within the Trinity to save certain persons called the elect, and to provide all the means for their salvation (Gn 17:1-8; Rm 11:27; Hb 10:16, 11; 13:20, 21; Jer 31:31-34; Ez 36:25-28).
70.Q. What did Christ undertake in the covenant of grace?
A. Christ undertook to keep the whole law for his people, and to suffer the punishment due to their sins (1~.m 8:3, 4; Gal 4:4, 5; Hb 6:17-20; 7:22; 9:14, 15; 13:20, 21).
71.Q. Did our Lord Jesus Christ ever sin?
A. No. He was holy, blameless and undefiled (Hb 7:26; Lk 23:47; I-lb 4:15; 1 Pet 2:22; 1 Jn 3:5).
72.Q. How could the Son of God suffer?
A. Christ, the Son of God, took flesh and blood, that he might obey and suffer as a man (Jn 1:14; Rm 8:3; Gal 4:4; Phil 2:7, 8; Hb 2:14, 17; 4:15).
73.Q. What is meant by the atonement?
A. The atonement consists of Christ’s satisfying divine justice, by his sufferings and death, in the place of sinners (Mk 10:45; Acts 13:38, 39; Rm 3:24-26; 5:8, 9; 2 Cor 5:19-21; Gal 3:13; 1 Pet 3:18).
74.Q. For whom did Christ obey and suffer?
A. Christ obeyed and suffered for those whom the Father had given him (Is 53:8; Mt 1:21; Jn 10:11, 15, 16, 26-29; 17:9; Hb 2:13).
75.Q. What kind of life did Christ live on earth?
A. Christ lived a life of perfect obedience to the law of God (Mt 5:17; Rm 10:4; 1 Pet 2:21, 22).
76.Q. What kind of death did Christ die?
A. Christ experienced the painful and shameful death of the cross (Ps 22; Is 53; Gospel records).
77.Q. Who will be saved?
A. Only those who repent of sin and believe in Christ will be saved (Mk 1:15; Lk 13:3,5; Acts 2:37-41; 16:30,31; 20:21; 26:20).
78.Q. What is it to repent?
A. Repentance involves sorrow for sin, leading one to hate and forsake it because it is displeasing to God (Lk 19:8-10; Rm 6:1, 2; 2 Cor 7:9-11; 1 Thes 1:9, 10).
79.Q. What is it to believe in Christ?
A. A person believes who knows that his only hope is Christ
and trusts in Christ alone for salvation (In 14:6; Acts 4:12; 1 Tim
2:5; 1 In 5:11, 12).
80.Q. How were godly persons saved before the coming of Christ?
A. They believed in the Saviour to come (Jn 8:56; Gal 3:8, 9; 1 Cor 10:1-4; Hb 9:15; 11:13).
81.Q. How did they show their faith?
A. They offered sacrifices according to God’s commands (Ex 24:3-8; 1 Chron 29:20-25; Hb 9:19-23; 10:1; 11:28).
82.Q. What did these sacrifices represent?
A. They were symbolic of Christ, the Lamb of God, who was to die for sinners (Ex 12:46 cf. In 19:36; Hb 9 & 10; In 1:29; 1 Cor 5:7; 1 Pet 1:19).
83.Q. What does Christ do for his people?
A. He does the work of a prophet, a priest and a king (Hb 1:1-3; Rv 1:5; Mt 13:57; Hb 5:5-10; Jn 18:37).
84.Q. How is Christ a prophet?
A. He teaches us the will of God, reveals God to us, and
really was God in human flesh. (Deut 18:15, 18; In 1:18; 4:25;
14:23, 24; 1 In 5:20).
85.Q. Why do you need Christ as a prophet?
A. Because I am ignorant (lob 11:7; Mt 11:25-27; In 6:67-69; 17:25, 26; 1 Cor 2:14-16; 2 Cor 4:3-6).
86.Q. How is Christ a priest?
A. He died for our sins and prays to God for us (Ps 110:4; 1 Tim 2:5, 6; Hb 4:14-16; 7:24, 25; 1 In 2:1, 2).
87.Q. Why do you need Christ as a priest?
A. Because I am guilty (Pr 20:9; Ec 7:20; Rm 3:19-23; Hb 10:14, 27, 28; 1 In 1:8, 9).
88.Q. How is Christ a king?
A. He rules over us and defends us (Ps 2:6-9; Mt 28:18-20; Eph 1:19-23; Col 1:13, 18; Rv 15:3, 4).
89.Q. Why do you need Christ as a king?
A. Because I am weak and helpless (In 15:4, 5; 2 Cor 12:9; Phil 4:13; Col 1:11; Jude 24, 25).
90.Q. What did God the Father undertake in the covenant of
grace?
A. By His goodness and mercy, God the Father elected, and determined to justify, adopt and sanctify those for whom Christ should die (Ex 33:18, 19; Eph 1:3-5; Rm 8:29-33; Gal 4:4-7; Hb 10:9, 10; 1 Cor 1:8, 9; Phil 1:6; 1 Thes 4:3, 7; 5:23, 24).
91.Q. What is election?
A. It is God’s goodness as revealed in his grace by choosing certain sinners for salvation (Eph 1:3, 4; 1 Th 1:4; 1 Pet 1:1, 2).
92.Q. What is justification?
A. It is God’s regarding sinners as if they had never sinned and granting them righteousness (Zech 3:1-5; Rm 3:24-26; 4:5; 5:17-19; 8:33; 2 Cor 5:21; Hb 8:12; Ph 3:9).
93.Q. What is righteousness?
A. It is God’s goodness as revealed in his law, and as honored in Christ’s perfect obedience to that law. (Ex 33:19; 34:6; Ps 33:5; Hos 3:5; Rm 11:22).
94.Q. Can anyone be saved by his own righteousness?
A. No. No one is good enough for God (Pr 20:9; Ec 7:20; Rm 3:10-23; Ep 2:8-10; Ph 3:8, 9).
95.Q. What is adoption?
A. It is God’s goodness in receiving sinful rebels as his beloved children (John 1:12; Ep 1:5; Ep 5:1; Gal 4:7, 31; 1 John 3:1-3).
96.Q. What is sanctification?
A. In sanctification God makes sinners holy in heart and conduct so that they will demonstrate his goodness in their lives (In 17:17; Ep 2:10; 4:22-24; Ph 2:12-13; 1 Thes 5:23).
97.Q. Is this process of sanctification ever complete in this life?
A. No. It is certain and continual, but is complete only in heaven (Ph 3:12-15; 2 Pet 1:4-8; 1 In 3:1-3).
98.Q. What hinders the completion of sanctification in this life?
A. The Scripture says “The flesh lusts against the Spirit so that you cannot do the things you would” (Ga 5:17).
99.Q. Since we are by nature sinful, how can one ever desire to be holy and to gain heaven where God lives?
A. Our hearts must be changed before we can be fit for heaven (Ep 4:17-24; Col 3:5-12).
100.Q. Who can change a sinner s heart?
A. Only the Holy Spirit can change a sinner’s heart. (In 3:3; Rm 8:6-11; 1 Cor 2:9-14; 2 Thes 2:13, 14; Titus 3:5-6).
101.Q. What did the Holy Spirit undertake in the covenant of
Grace?
A. He regenerates, baptizes, and seals those for whom Christ has died (Ep 2:1-8; 1 Cor 12:13; Ep 1:13, 14; Ep 4:30; 2 Cor 1:22).
102.Q. What is regeneration?
A. It is a change of heart that leads to true repentance and faith (Gal 5:22; Ep 2:5-8; 2 Thes 2:13).
103.Q. Can you repent and believe in Christ by your own power?
A. No. I can do nothing good without God’s Holy Spirit (In 3:5, 6; 6:44; Rm 8:2, 5, 8-11; 1 Cor 2:9-14; Gal 5:17, 18; Ep 2:4-6).
104.Q. How does the Holy Spirit baptize believers?
A. He puts them into the body of Christ by making them a living part of all those who truly believe in Him (1 Cor 12).
105.Q. How does the Holy Spirit seal believers?
A. He comes to live within them to guarantee that they will receive the wonders God has promised those who love Him (Rm 8:9-11; Ep 1:13, 14; Ep 4:30; 2 Tim 1:9; 2 Cor 1:22).
106.Q. How can you receive the Holy Spirit?
A. God has told us that we must pray to him for the Holy Spirit (Lk 11:9-13; In 4:10; 16:24); but the evidence of His presence is seen most clearly in our trusting and loving the Lord Jesus Christ. (Lk 12:8-10; In 3:3-5, 16, 20, 21; 14:17-21; 1 Cor 12:3; 1 Pet 1:2; 1 In 5:6-12). Part 117
Questions about Prayer
107.Q. What is prayer?
A. Prayer is talking with God (Gn 17:22; 18:33; Neh 1:4-11; 2:4; Mt 6:6; Rm 8:26, 27).
108.Q. In whose name should we pray?
A. We should pray in the name of the Lord Jesus (John 14:13, 14; 16:23, 24; Hb 4:14-16).
109.Q. What has Christ given to teach us how to pray?
A. The Lord’s Prayer (Mt 6:5-15; Lk 11:1-13).
110.Q. Can you repeat the Lord’s Prayer?
A. “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.”
111.Q. How many petitions are there in the Lord’s Prayer?
A. Six.
112.Q. What is the first petition?
A. “Hallowed be thy name” (Mt 6:9; Lk 11:2).
113.Q. What do we pray for in the first petition?
A. That God’s name may be honored by us and all men (Ps 8:1; 72:17-19; 113:1-3; 145:21; Is 8:13).
114.Q. What is the second petition?
A. “Thy kingdom come” (Mt 6:10; Lk 11:2).
115.Q. What do we pray for in the second petition?
A. That the gospel may be preached in all the world, and believed and obeyed by us and all men (Mt 28:19, 20; In 17:20, 21; Acts 8:12; 28:30, 31; 2 Thes 3:1).
116.Q. What is the third petition?
A. “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:10; Lk 11:2).
117.Q. What do we pray for in the third petition?
A. That men on earth may serve God as the angels do in Heaven (Ps 67; 103:19-22; In 9:31; Rv 4:11).
118.Q. What is the fourth petition?
A. “Give us this day our daily bread” (Mt 6:11; Lk 11:3).
119.Q. What do we pray for in the fourth petition?
A. That God will give us all things needful for our bodies (Ps 145:15, 16; Pr 30:8, 9; 1 Tim 4:4, 5).
120.Q. What is the fifth petition?
A. ‘And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us” (Mt 6:12; Lk 11:4).
121.Q. What do we pray for in the fifth petition?
A. That God will pardon our sins, and help those who have sinned against us (Ps 51: Mt 5:23, 1 In 4:20, 21). us to forgive 24; 18:21-35;
122.Q. What is the sixth petition?
A. ‘And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Mt 6:13; Lk 11:4).
123.Q. What do we pray for in the sixth petition?
A. That God will keep us from sin (1 Chron 4:10; Ps 119:11; Mt 26:41).
Questions about the Word, the Church and the Ordinances
124.Q. How does the Holy Spirit bring us to salvation?
A. He uses the Bible, which is the Word of God (1 Thes 1:5, 6; 2:13; 2 Tim 3:15, 16; James 1:18; 1 Pet 1:22, 23).
125.Q. How can we know the Word of God?
A. We are commanded to hear, read and search the Scriptures (1 Pet 2:2; Rv 3:22; Mt 21:42; 22:29; 2 Tim 3:14-17).
126.Q. What is a church?
A. A church is an assembly of baptized believers joined by a covenant of discipline and witness who meet together regularly under the preaching of the Word of God (Mt 18:20; Acts 2:42).
127.Q. What two ordinances did Christ give to his Church?
A. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper (Mt 28:19; 1 Cor 11:24-26).
128Q. Why Did Christ give these ordinances?
A. To show that his disciples belong to him, and to remind them of what he has done for them (Mt 28:19; 1 Cor 11:24-26)
129.Q. What is Baptism?
A. The dipping of believers into water, as a sign of their union with Christ in his death, burial, and resurrection (In 3:23; Acts 2:41; 8:12, 35-38; Col 2:12).
130.Q. What is the purpose of baptism?
A. Baptism testifies to believers that God has cleansed them from their sins through Jesus Christ (Acts 22:16; Col 2:11-14).
131.Q. Who are to be baptized?
A. Only those who repent of their sins, and believe in Christ for salvation should be baptized (Acts 2:37-41; 8:12; 18:8; 19:4, 5).
132.Q. Should babies be baptized?
A. No; because the Bible neither commands it, nor gives any example of it.
133.Q. What is the Lord’s Supper?
A. At the Lord’s Supper, the church eats bread and drinks wine to remember the sufferings and death of Christ (Mk 14:22-24; 1 Cor 11:23-29).
134.Q. What does the bread represent?
A. The bread represents the body of Christ, broken for our sins (Mt 26:26; 1 Cor 11:24).
135.Q. What does the wine represent?
A. The wine represents the blood of Christ, shed for our salvation (Mt 26:27, 28; 1 Cor 11:25).
136.Q. Who should partake of the Lord’s Supper?
A. The Lord’s Supper is for those only who repent of their sins, believe in Christ for salvation, receive baptism, and love their fellow men (Mt 5:21-24; 1 Cor 10:16, 17; 11:18, 20, 27-33; 1 In 3:24-27; 4:9-11).
From the book, “Teaching Truth, Training Hearts” by Dr. Tom J. Nettles. ISBN# 1-879737-38-0