Our Defeated, Soon-to-Be-Destroyed, Enemy [2026.03.07 Pastoral Letter and Hopewell Herald]

Hopewell Herald – March 6, 2026

Dear Congregation,

We have had a death in the church family this week, and while we rejoice with those who rejoice (Susan), we mourn with those who mourn (the whole congregation, and especially Tom, and Russ & Meredeth, and their family).

It seems an appropriate time for us to remember, again, what the Bible teaches about death—so that we will neither think well of it, nor be overcome by it.

Death is an enemy. It is not part of the original design. It entered the world through sin (“Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned”—Rom 5:12). It is not natural. And, although God is always good to us in all things, and especially in the deaths of believers, death itself is not good. 1Cor 15:26 calls it an “enemy.” Do not think well of it. When you desire to depart, for what is better by fair (Php 1:23), desire the departing, not the death. We must not seek to be unclothed of our bodies, but rather further clothed by Christ (2Cor 5:4).

Death is defeated. It is swallowed up in the victory of Christ and the Christian (1Cor 15:53). It is a stingless, victory-less enemy (1Cor 15:55). Christ has subdued it as a humiliated servant that ushers us into His presence (2Cor 5:6–8), at which point we are finally perfected in holiness (Heb 12:14), so that this enemy is bent under Christ’s power unto our gain (Php 1:21), unto Christ’s glory in our body (Php 1:20).

Death will be destroyed. Although Christ has crushed death, defeating him who had the power of death through fear (Heb 2:14–15), He is not done with it yet. “Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. The last enemy that will be destroyed is death.”—1Cor 15:25–26. Out of love for Christ, we should long for this final fulfillment of Ps 110:1.

So, let us despise death as our enemy and Christ’s enemy, but let us not be intimidated by it. Rather, let us take it as an occasion to mourn with those who mourn, while exulting in Christ’s having vanquished it, and coming destruction of it.

Looking forward to exulting in Christ with you in the public worship,

Pastor

Dying, You Shall Die [Children's Catechism 26—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 26—especially explaining how God threatened Adam with spiritual, physical, and eternal death. Q26. What did God threaten in the covenant of works? To punish Adam with death if he disobeyed. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson) The Covenant of Works threatened Adam with death as the penalty for disobedience, not merely physical demise but the immediate severance of his intimate fellowship with God, which was the very essence of his life. Though Adam was created as a living being, animated by an eternal soul and sustained in divine communion, his sin instantly severed his fellowship with God, resulting in spiritual death and the beginning of physical decay. This death was not deferred but began immediately, marking the collapse of his original state of divine intimacy and the onset of mortality. The threat encompassed both the temporary separation of soul and body and the everlasting consequence of eternal condemnation, though redemption through the Gospel ultimately reversed this fate. The lesson underscores that the penalty of disobedience was not just biological death but the loss of the life-giving relationship with God that defined Adam’s existence.

Living as Those Who Will Die [Family Worship lesson in Ecclesiastes 3:16–22]

How should we make application of the reality of our death? Ecclesiastes 3:16–22 looks forward to the call to worship in public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should live as those who will be judged by God, and as those who receive our life as a portion from God. This family worship devotional grapples with the apparent injustices of the world, particularly the presence of wickedness in positions of authority, and explores the comfort found in God's ultimate judgment and sovereignty. Drawing from Ecclesiastes and Psalm 11, it asserts that while earthly suffering and death may seem to level humanity with animals, they ultimately serve to humble individuals and remind them of their dependence on God. The central message emphasizes the importance of rejoicing in one’s work as a divinely appointed portion, finding joy not in the lasting impact of actions but in the knowledge of God’s purpose and the promise of eternal union with Him, ultimately offering solace and direction in a world marked by suffering and impermanence.
(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

What Happens When You Die [Children's Catechism 140—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children's Catechism question 140—especially explaining how the body and soul are separated at death, to the immense comfort of believers and to the immense horror of unbelievers.

Q140. What becomes of men at death? The body returns to dust, and the soul goes into the world of spirits. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Living Before God Rightly [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 11:1–8]

What is righteousness, and what does it do? Proverbs 11:1–8 looks forward to the sermon in this week’s midweek meeting. In these eight verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that righteousness is a right standing with God, and it directly benefits and delivers the upright man. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Provision for God’s Presence [2025.02.02 Evening Sermon in Numbers 35]

The people among whom God dwells must be holy, and He provides it.

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)

Resurrected unto Prayer and Praise [Family Worship lesson in Jonah 1:17–2:10]

What does God’s mercy do for sinners that He is redeeming? Jonah 1:17–2:10 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God brings those sinners whom He is redeeming to an end of themselves, so that they cry to Him and receive resurrection from death.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Our Curse-Conqueror [2025.01.19 Morning Sermon in Matthew 14:13–21]

Jesus is the Lord over creation, Who conquers the curse and gives Himself to His covenant people

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)

Responding to Christ’s Power [2025.01.12 Morning Sermon in Matthew 14:1–12]

We must respond to Christ's resurrection power by acknowledging Him, submitting to Him, committing to Him, and hoping in Him

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)

Jesus Himself Our Comfort in Suffering [Family Worship lesson in Revelation 2:8–10]

What comfort is there for suffering Christians? Revelation 2:8–11 looks forward to the hearing of God’s Word, publicly read, in the holy assembly on the coming Lord’s Day. In these four verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the Lord’s fellowship with us and knowledge of us is the sweet, sustaining comfort for suffering Christians.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

What's the Harm in a Little Romance? [Family Worship lesson in Proverbs 5:1–6]

What’s the harm in a little romance? Proverbs 5:1–6 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these six verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that uncovenanted romance is a path to death. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Kiss the Son [2024.10.13 Evening Sermon in Numbers 22:36–24:25]

You are either with Christ, or against Him; this is the choice between eternal life and eternal death.

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)

Joyous New Creatures and Creation [Family Worship lesson in Isaiah 65:17–25]

What will make the trouble of the creation be forgotten? Isaiah 65:17–25 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God will make a new creation that causes the former one to be forgotten. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Dead Men Keep No Commandments [Children's Catechism 103—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Children’s Catechism question 103—especially explaining how the remaining of the dead, former self within the believer means that even he does not keep God’s commandments perfectly in this life.

Q103. Can any man keep these ten commandments perfectly? No mere man, since the fall of Adam, ever did or can keep the ten commandments perfectly.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Sign of the Mediator [2024.07.21 Evening Sermon in Numbers 17]

God puts a sign of the High Priest's mediation between Himself and His people, because for His sake, He spares them from death.

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)

Tenderly Loving God and Savior [Family Worship lesson in Matthew 9:18–26]

What does Jesus do to believers? Matthew 9:18–26 prepares us for the morning sermon on the Lord’s Day. In these nine verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that Jesus saves believers from death in divine power and Fatherly love.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

What to Give the God Who Has Everything [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 116:10–19]

What can a saint give to God? Psalm 116:10–19 prepares us for the opening portion of public worship on the Lord’s Day. In these ten verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that saints “give” God the worship in which it is God Who blesses them. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Personal, Painful, Perpetual Misery [Westminster Shorter Catechism 19—Theology Simply Explained]

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 19—especially explaining how loss of communion with God is what makes miserable all the miseries of this life, death itself, and the eternal pain of hell.

Q19. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell? All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under His wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries in this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Sanctity of Worship: Living in Readiness to Draw Near to Holiness [2023.12.24 Evening Sermon in Leviticus 21]

The Lord gives priests a role in His worship that requires a greater consecration of all of life

(click here to DOWNLOAD video/mp3/pdf files of this sermon)

Consecrated Atonement and Life in Christ's Blood [Family Worship lesson in Leviticus 17]

What is the first part of Israel’s distinguishing the holy from the common? Leviticus 17 prepares us for the evening sermon on the Lord’s Day. In these sixteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the first part of Israel’s distinguishing the holy from the common was to be their respect for the holiness of blood.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)