2022.09.29 Hopewell @Home ▫ 1 Timothy 2:3–7

Read 1 Timothy 2:3–7

Questions from the Scripture text: What two things does 1 Timothy 2:3 say about this praying for all men? In whose sight is it good and acceptable? Who is God to us? Whom does He desire to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4)? How does this salvation happen? How many other gods are there (1 Timothy 2:5)? How many other saviors? What role, between God and men, did God Himself have take in order to save us? What did He have to become? Who is the Man that He became? What did He do as a man (1 Timothy 2:6)? What is done about this ransom, when? Who was appointed to do it (1 Timothy 2:7)? By what action? In what role/office? What other truth does he proclaim as an apostle of Christ? Whom, especially, is he sent to teach? In what two “subjects” is he their teacher?

What are we participating in when we pray? 1 Timothy 2:3–7 looks forward to the second serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these five verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that when we pray, we join a work in which God Himself has become Mediator and ransom for men, and appointed preachers teach us what to believe in and believe.

Our praying for all men (1 Timothy 2:1) and aiming at a godly life (1 Timothy 2:2) is a blessed endeavor for several reasons.

It pleases God, 1 Timothy 2:3. It is good and acceptable in the sight of God. For the believer, that’s all the rationale and incentive that we need for doing something.

It participates in the saving work of God, 1 Timothy 2:3-6a. Now, we must not get the idea that there is any saving merit or power in our praying. The participation of prayer is a privilege from God, not a help to Him. God is our Savior (1 Timothy 2:3b). He alone is God (1 Timothy 2:4), for which He had to become Mediator. 

The astonishing thing is what was necessary for Him to be Mediator. First, He had to bridge the gap between God and men. This must obviously be done from God’s side; man could not bridge that gap. So, God became a Man: the Man Christ Jesus. Second, a ransom as big as the glory of God had to be paid. So not only did Jesus have to become a man, He Himself had to be offered up as a ransom. 

And the God Who has become this and done this to save us… He welcomes us into His working by calling us and commanding us to prayer?! What an unfathomable privilege this praying is!

It is the particular ministry calling of all Christians, 1 Timothy 2:6-7. God had a planned time for the incarnation. God had a planned time for the paying of the ransom. And God had a planned time for the testifying of the Mediator and His ransom (end of 1 Timothy 2:6). The preaching through which the gospel is applied is something whose every detail is planned and appointed by God. Christ appointed Paul to be a preacher (1 Timothy 2:7). 

Today, men like Timothy are appointed preachers by Christ in the office of elder, but Paul was appointed preacher in the office of apostle. In fact, as he says in 1 Timothy 2:7, even his words about his appointment are truth that are spoken in Christ. Part of the preaching of the gospel is the preaching that it is Christ Himself Who superintends gospel proclamation. Specifically, Paul has been assigned to the Gentiles as their teacher of things pertaining to faith and truth.

We see what an encouragement this is to organize and order the church the way that we read it in this letter. These aren’t suggestions; they’re commands. And they are commands that carry the honor and dignity of privileged participation in the saving plan of God. If in the role of an “ordinary” believer, we are called to participate by prayer, then we should do it with all the relish with which Paul fulfilled his calling as apostle and Timothy and others were expected to fulfill their calling as elders.

What roles do you have in the church? In your home? What are some spiritual tasks that you are called to in this role? What effort should you put forth in this role? With what emotions/affections?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for being our Savior. Thank You for being the Mediator that You alone could be. Thank You for reconciling us through Your incarnation and Your sacrifice on the cross. Forgive us because our appreciation for Christ and His cross is weak. Thank You for giving us the privilege of participating in Your saving plan, even by our prayers for all men. Forgive us for not taking this privilege seriously or carrying it out with diligence and joy. Grow us, we pray, by the grace of our Mediator, Jesus Christ, AMEN!

 Suggested songs: ARP1 “How Blessed the Man” or TPH520 “What a Friend We Have in Jesus”

Grace that Works Impartially, Invisibly, Spiritually, and Abundantly [Family Worship lesson in 2Kings 4:1–7]

For whom does God exercise His mighty power? 2Kings 4:1–7 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the great God is pleased to exercise His almighty power for “the least of these.” (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2022.09.28 Hopewell @Home ▫ 2 Kings 4:1–7

Read 2 Kings 4:1–7

Questions from the Scripture text: Who cries out to Elisha in 2 Kings 4:1? What does she call her late husband? What does she say Elisha knows about him? But now who was coming? And what was he going to take? What two things does Elisha ask her (2 Kings 4:2)? What does she have in the house? What does he tell her to borrow (2 Kings 4:3)? From where? From whom? What kind of vessels? What does he warn her not to do? What does he tell her to do when she gets back (2 Kings 4:4)? And what will she do with all those vessels? What does 2 Kings 4:5 summarize? What happens in 2 Kings 4:6? What does she say to her son? How does he answer? What happens to the oil at that time? Now what does she do in 2 Kings 4:7? What does he tell her to do with the oil? With the first part of the money? With the rest of it? 

For whom does God exercise His mighty power? 2 Kings 4:1–7 looks forward to the first serial reading in morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the great God is pleased to exercise His almighty power for “the least of these.” 

Elisha had asked for a double portion of the spirit of Elijah (cf. 2 Kings 2:9), and the Scriptures record twice as many signs/miracles from Elisha as from Elijah. With this passage begins an extended section recounting those miracles. With whom do the signs begin?

Grace for the Nameless. That’s part of the point. We don’t get the name of the husband. The widow is left helpless; she’s poor enough that the only thing that can pay her debts is the enslavement of her sons. She’s about to be bereft of all three of them at one fell swoop. Do you see, dear reader, the care of the grace and power of God for this bankrupt widow of a nameless man? It is she with whom the Lord chooses to begin this string of the signs and miracles of the prophet.

Grace for the Invisible. Sometimes people like this woman seem, or perhaps even feel, invisible. We live in an age in which this is thought to be an injustice. But the Lord often works invisibly among the invisible. There’s a fore-echo here in 2 Kings 4:4 of Matthew 6:6. Our Father sees in secret. He works in secret. He rewards in secret. His glory is displayed in all the creation and especially in the gospel of Jesus Christ. He does not perform charity for the PR, however much we may be tempted to.  There is a special deliciousness in this woman, behind closed doors with her sons, getting to participate by having collected jars and now pouring the oil, and finding each new jar as a private, personal miracle from the Lord. The text doesn’t mention the vessel-collecting. 2 Kings 4:5 takes us straight from the prophet to the closed door.

Grace for the Soul as well as for the circumstances. We could easily miss the happy simplicity of the transition from 2 Kings 4:4 to 2 Kings 4:5. Not only does the brevity emphasize the closed door as we saw above, but it rests upon a wonderful assumption. Whatever Elisha said to her, she did (cf. John 2:5). He still hadn’t given her the instruction in 2 Kings 4:7. But she didn’t need to know how things would work in order to obey. She simply didn’t doubt God’s goodness. Truly, this is the conduct of a wife whose husband had feared Yahweh, and whose leadership had been blessed to her and the increase of her faith. She looked for help to the Word of God. She didn’t doubt. She obeyed as she was instructed. All of this adds up to a much greater gift from the Lord than the financial means that would get her through to her sons’ majority.

Grace beyond what we ask. In the end, the Lord gives her so much that not only is she able to pay off the debt, but she has enough to live. He commands her not just to “sell” and to “pay” in 2 Kings 4:7 but finally to “live.” He Who has given us Christ will give us all things together with Him (cf. Romans 8:32). There isn’t a single good or perfect thing that He ever withholds from His children (cf. James 1:17). He supplies our needs not according to our understanding but according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus (cf. Philippians 4:19). 

For whom does God exercise almighty power? What are His best gifts to you? What else does He give?

Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for caring for the least of Your people and delighting in mercy. Forgive us for when we doubt that You are caring for us, or for doing our own charity to be seen by men. Make us confident in Your great generosity toward us and abundantly grateful for it. And, make us to reflect Your generosity toward others we ask, in the Name of Your indescribable gift, our Lord Jesus Christ, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP109D “I Am Very Poor and Needy” or TPH551 “We Plow the Fields”

Sinai's Sabbaths in Relation to the Sabbath: a shadow of the Lord's Day to Come [2022.09.25 Evening Sermon in Exodus 23:10–19]

God's perpetual and moral Sabbath finds special expression in each administration of His church on earth.

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

Theology Simply Explained — WSC54 What the Third Commandment Requires

Pastor walks his children through Westminster Shorter Catechism question 54: What is required in the third commandment? The third commandment requireth the holy and reverent use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, word and works. [n.b. a little longer this time, due to more time spent on application](click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Praising and Trusting Jesus, the Saving God and King of Israelites—and Egyptians and Ethiopians! [Family Worship lesson in Psalm 68:19–35]

Who must and will bless the Lord for what? Psalm 68:19–35 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seventeen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that through Israel, God blesses, saves, gathers, and strengthens beloved servants from Israel and all the nations.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

Symptoms of Life (or Death!) in How We Hear and Respond to True Gospel Preaching [2022.09.25 Morning Sermon in Acts 13:42–48]

When God gives a living, saving response to gospel preaching, hearers want more of it, rejoice over it, glorify it, and believe in the Christ Who addresses them in the preaching.

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

Earthly Nurture's Connection to the Core of the Covenant of Grace [2022.09.25 Sabbath School lesson in the Biblical Theology of the Diaconate series]

Faith in the Lord for provision and contentment with what He gives were centrally connected both to our sin in the Fall and Christ's obedience in our place. In connection with the Seed promise and the curse on the woman, special care of those with child and their children, has become emblematic of believers in the covenant of grace.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2022.09.27 Hopewell @Home ▫ Psalm 68:19–35

Read Psalm 68:19–35

Questions from the Scripture text: Whom does  Psalm 68:19a bless? What has He done (verse 19b)? Who is He to us (verse 19c)? Who is He more generally (Psalm 68:20a)? What are His in verse 20b? What will He do to whom in Psalm 68:21a? How does verse 21b make this more vivid? Upon what heights may these enemies be found (Psalm 68:22a, cf. Psalm 68:15–16)? In what depths (verse 22b)? What will the Lord do to them? Why (Psalm 68:23)? To where does the scene change in Psalm 68:24? What is seen there? Who are in this procession (Psalm 68:25)? What is done in these assemblies (Psalm 68:26)? Who, specifically, are named in this assembly in Psalm 68:27? Who has commanded what for them (Psalm 68:28a)? What do they ask Him to strengthen (verse 28b)? Whom do they want Him to subdue (Psalm 68:29-30)? Until what (Psalm 68:30c)? By doing what (verse 30d)? Who, specifically, are named in this recovery (Psalm 68:31)? Then who will do what (Psalm 68:32)? Unto Whom? What does Psalm 68:33a call Him? How does He make all this happen (verse 33b)? What must His congregation do (Psalm 68:34)? How do they voice this praise in Psalm 68:35a—what is He more awesome than? What does He give to whom (verse 35b)? How does verse 35c summarize the entire Psalm?

Who must and will bless the Lord for what? Psalm 68:19–35 looks forward to the opening portion of morning public worship on the coming Lord’s Day. In these seventeen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that through Israel, God blesses, saves, gathers, and strengthens beloved servants from Israel and all the nations. 

Blessed be God! (Psalm 68:19a, Psalm 68:35c). The second half of this Psalm declares its theme at its two bookends. Of course, God is blessed in Himself. The question is how does He display and honor that blessedness in His creation. The answer is by blessing and saving a people (Psalm 68:19b,c). It must be He that saves is His people’s salvation (verse 19c), because to Him alone belongs all salvation (Psalm 68:20). 

Accursed be His enemies (Psalm 68:21-23). Though His enemies be as high as Bashan (Psalm 68:22a, cf. Psalm 68:15–16), or as low as the depths of the sea (Psalm 68:22b), the Lord will find them and defeat them not only for Himself (Psalm 68:21) but for His people (Psalm 68:23). 

But blessed be His people, Israel (Psalm 68:24-27). Their blessedness is to know and praise Him. In front and behind are the priests, leading the priestly music (Psalm 68:25a), and even their maidens in the middle are participating with their hands (Psalm 68:25b). His people, from the greatest (as represented in Benjamin and Judah, Psalm 68:27a–b) to the least (as represented in Zebulun and Naphtali, verse 27c) are a royal procession.

And blessed be His people: Egypt, Ethiopia, etc. (Psalm 68:28-32). If we were a little surprised to see Zebulun and Naphtali named, then we should be fully amazed by Psalm 68:31. God scatters the wicked (Psalm 68:30d), but among those kingdoms of the earth whom He gathers in Jerusalem to praise Him are even Egypt (Psalm 68:31a) and Ethiopia (verse 31b)! Truly, in the gatherings of the church in Christ to sing His praise, we find the climax of the blessing of God’s Name in this world (Psalm 68:32, cf. Psalm 22:22; Hebrews 2:12). Unto this end, the enthroned One (Psalm 68:18, cf. Ephesians 4:8) is building His church up into Himself (cf. Ephesians 4:9–16).

In God Himself is all their blessedness, indeed all blessedness altogether (Psalm 68:33-35). The Psalm concludes by dwarfing the entire creation as that which is beneath Him (Psalm 68:33), and the church which exists for the same purpose of praise (Psalm 68:34). His holy places are not impressive in themselves; rather, He is their impressiveness (Psalm 68:35a). His people are not strong in themselves; rather He is their strength (verse 35b). True blessing is to know Him and praise Him as the One in Whom all true blessedness resides.

What happens to God’s enemies? What happens to ones who become His people? Why?

Sample prayer:  Blessed are You, O Lord, Who daily load us with benefits! You are the God of our salvation, and You have saved us from death and gathered us to Yourself, so that we may be blessed in blessing Your Name. Now, by Your own grace, we come to offer ourselves as spiritual sacrifice, to sing Your praise as the One to Whom all blessedness belongs. Display Your excellence over us, and strengthen us even for this, Your worship, we ask in Jesus’s Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP68E “Sing Out Your Praises” or TPH68B “O Lord, Thou Hast Ascended”

2022.09.26 Hopewell @Home ▫ Romans 3:19–20

Read Romans 3:19–20

Questions from the Scripture text: Who “knows” (Romans 3:19)? What is speaking? To whom is it speaking? What happens to their mouths? How many of whom become what? Before Whom? What deeds cannot do what (Romans 3:20)? In Whose sight? 

What is the role of the law in justification? Romans 3:19–20 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that the law’s role in our justification is to close our mouths, judge us before God, and convince us of sin.

The law cannot justify us (cannot give us a righteous standing before God). The apostle is going to come preach the gospel, because it is Christ alone Who can justify (cf. Romans 1:16–17; Acts 13:39). What is the law’s role in justification? It cuts off all other hopes so that we will hope only in Christ.

The law closes all mouths. Who are those who are under the law? The question is resolved by the effect at the end of Romans 3:19. The whole world (“cosmos”!) is liable to God’s judgment. So, “those who are under the law” means all creatures. The Creator is the Law-giver, so all creatures are “under the law.” When He makes this law to be written, He reminds us of this. The Jews’ misuse of the law (cf. Romans 2:17–24) reminds us that none of us are in a position to open our mouths. We are not God. We will not be permitted to make a case in His court or to counsel or question His verdict. We are under the law. Everyone is under the law. It shuts our mouths. We don’t get to say anything before God.

The law places us under God’s judgment. As we have said the whole cosmos is accountable before God. The word translated “guilty” is more literally “under the verdict of.” For sinful humanity, this does indeed mean that we are all guilty. We sinned in Adam, were condemned in him, and died in him (cf. Acts 5:12–19). All creatures are liable to God’s judgment, and sinful creatures are condemned by it.

The law convinces us of sin. God already knows that we are under His law. God already knows that we are condemned sinners. We all also know it (cf. Romans 1:32), but push down on that knowledge (cf. Romans 1:18), and even deny it (cf. Romans 2:15). So, the written law is a mercy to us, if we use it the right way. One wrong way to use the law is to think that it was written so that we can do works that will give us a right standing with God. We are mere flesh; we will not do well enough to be justified in the sight of God. But one right way to use the law is to know from it that we are sinners. By the law is the knowledge of sin. The way that this helps us be justified is by cutting off all other hope for justification but Jesus Christ.

How can you tell your mouth has been shut? What will you say at the judgment? What is your hope?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for Your law that tells us the truth about our condition. Grant that we would hope only in Christ, Who has perfectly kept the law in our place, in Whose Name we ask it, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP32AB “What Blessedness” or TPH435 “Not What My Hands Have Done”