Approaching the Glorious God Safely and Blessedly through the Blood of the Covenant [2022.10.09 Evening Sermon in Exodus 24:1–11]

God's people are able to dwell safely near His glory only upon His provided terms and through His provided sacrifice.

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The God Who Testifies about Himself in Creation, Providence, and Redemption [2022.10.09 Morning Sermon in Acts 14:8–20]

God testifies about Himself by His works of common grace in the whole world and special grace among believers.

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Biblical Theology of the Diaconate (6): The God Who Feeds and Clothes Us in the Covenant of Grace [2022.10.09 Sabbath School]

1. Covenant of grace. Earthly provision and the mitigation of the curse.
1.a. Gen 3:14–23 with worship purpose of 3:24
1.a.i. The Seed promise and the special care of those with child and their children, vv14–16, 20 (cf. 1Tim 2:15; n.b. the ‘diaconal’ nature of a redeemed husband)
1.a.ii. The cursed ground and the groaning creation—diaconal need a guardian against complacency in a world of sin and a guide to desire for the sinless world, v17–19 (n.b. the ‘diaconal’ opportunity presented by any abundance, which prompts both a desire to have it and a priority if we do)
1.a.iii. The atonement-reminding nature of every provision, v21 (cf. 2Cor 9:15)
1.b. Gen 8:22–9:17 with worship purpose of 8:20–21
1.b.i. Renewal/reaffirmation of covenant grace manifested in diaconal terms
1.b.ii. God’s earthly provision, 8:22, 9:3
1.b.iii. Man’s earthly service in God’s image; 9:1–2, 7 

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Glorious, Free, Costly, Personal Righteousness [Family Worship lesson in Romans 3:23–24]

If even the works of the law can’t justify us, how can we be righteous before God? Romans 3:23–24 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that in Jesus Christ, God has offered His own righteousness to sinners.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2022.10.1008 Hopewell @Home ▫ Romans 3:23–24

Read Romans 3:23–24

Questions from the Scripture text: What is non-different (the same) about what everyone has done (Romans 3:23)? Against what purpose/duty has this sin fallen short? What did they put into this righteousness (Romans 3:24)? By what, then, were they justified? Through what? In Whom is this redemption? 

If even the works of the law can’t justify us, how can we be righteous before God? Romans 3:23–24 looks forward to the sermon in the midweek prayer meeting. In these two verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that in Jesus Christ, God has offered His own righteousness to sinners.

Righteousness as big as God’s glory, Romans 3:23. It is God’s glory against which we have sinned. It is that glory of which we have fallen short. Who can attain to a righteousness that great? Jesus can! His is the righteousness of God. His is the glory of God. And He is the righteousness that faith gets. Of course, then, if you have Him your righteousness is no less than the most eminent believer, and your righteousness if no more than the least believer. There is no difference!

Righteousness entirely by gift, Romans 3:24. “freely” translates a word from the same root as “gift” in Romans 5:16 and Romans 5:17. It means that this being justified—this being counted righteous by the bestowal of a righteous status and state—is entirely by gift. Not only is no payment required; no payment can be given. 

If there is any payment at all, then it would cease to be by grace (cf. Romans 4:4). Grace is the supply of God for the lack of man—blessing for those who deserve only curse, strength for those who have only weakness, goodness for those from whose selves could come only badness. And the righteousness for us in the gospel is entirely by gift, entirely by grace.

Righteousness through redemption, Romans 3:24. This justification is “through the redemption.” The word means release, and particularly release by wat of payment. This can be release from penalty or release from slavery. In this case, it is both. Jesus has paid a ransom, because the wrath of God is revealed against the unrighteousness of men. 

Now (as we will see in Romans 3:25), rather than consuming us, the wrath itself has been consumed by the blood of Jesus Christ. Now, rather than our being held in bondage under the control of our sin—as the law would rightly have demanded that we continue to be given up to a depraved mind—Christ Jesus has purchased our freedom that we instead might be under the ultimate control of His grace!

Righteousness that is in Christ Jesus, Romans 3:24. Not only has our redemption been purchased for us by Christ Jesus, but that purchased redemption comes to us in the person of Christ Jesus. It is not as if it is transactionally handed over to us. No, it comes to us from our union with Him. Sinners are brought into Christ Jesus by believing in Him, and it is as they are in Him that they receive redemption. 

It is in union with the God-Man that believers are redeemed from the wrath of God. It is in union with the God-Man that believers attain to the very glory of God Himself. It is in union with the God-Man that believers come to be counted righteous with the righteousness of God.

What righteousness can you have? How can’t you get it? Whose is it? How can it come to be yours?

Sample prayer:  Lord, even from Your holy and righteous and good commandments, we could not obtain righteousness. But, in the gospel You have revealed Your righteousness for all who believe! Grant that by Your power, we would have Your salvation, by Your righteousness, in Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, AMEN!

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

God's Testimony about Himself in Common Grace and Special Grace [Family Worship lesson in Acts 14:8–20]

How does God witness to His goodness? Acts 14:8–20 looks forward to the morning sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God witnesses to His goodness by giving faith, by common grace, and by sanctification. (click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2022.10.08 Hopewell @Home ▫ Acts 14:8–20

Read Acts 14:8–20

Questions from the Scripture text: Where are they in Acts 14:8? Who is there? What was he doing? How long had his feet been useless? What hadn’t he ever done? What did he hear in Acts 14:9? And what was Paul doing? What did he see that the man had? What does Paul command in Acts 14:10? With what kind of voice? How does the man respond? Who see what in Acts 14:11? What do they do with their voices? In what language do they speak? What do they say? What do they call Barnabas (Acts 14:12)? What do they call Paul? Why that? Who comes in Acts 14:13? Where was the temple where he was employed? What does he bring? What does he intend to do? And who with him? Who hear this in Acts 14:14? What do they do? Where do they go? What do they do there? What do they ask in Acts 14:15? What do they say about themselves? What do they tell them to turn from? What (Whom!) do they tell them to turn to? What kind of God is He? What has He made? What has He previously allowed (Acts 14:16)? But what had He not left Himself without (Acts 14:17)? What had He done? What two things had He given? With what two things had He filled men? What could they scarcely do in Acts 14:18? But who came from what two places in Acts 14:19? Whom were they able to persuade to do what to Paul? Then what did they do to him? Why—what did they suppose? Who gather around him in Acts 14:20? What does he do? Where does he go? What does he do the next day? With whom? To where?

How does God witness to His goodness? Acts 14:8–20 looks forward to the morning sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these thirteen verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that God witnesses to His goodness by giving faith, by common grace, and by sanctification. 

God witnesses to His goodness by giving faith, Acts 14:8-13. The passage mentions the multitudes four times (Acts 14:13, Acts 14:14, Acts 14:18, Acts 14:19), and it’s not at all flattering. We see the multitudes trying to sacrifice to (so they thought) Zeus and Hermes (Acts 14:13-14), and hardly able to be restrained from doing so (Acts 14:18), but easily being persuaded to murder (Acts 14:19). But there is one man, in whom the Lord has done a great wonder. To the cripple from his mother’s womb (Acts 14:8), the Lord has given faith (Acts 14:9)! 

While faith isn’t visible, the healing of lifelong cripples is (cf. Matthew 9:2–8; Mark 2:5–12; Luke 5:20–26). Paul is able to perform the apostolic signs (cf. Acts 2:43; 2 Corinthians 12:11–12) by which God attests His Word (Acts 14:3, cf. Mark 16:20; Hebrews 2:3–4). So he does so (Acts 14:10)! Only, there are not enough believers there to make a difference. The Lord is absolutely free in giving salvation, and He apparently hadn’t brought that many of them to faith. These multitudes are so idolatrous that rather than listening to the gospel that Paul and Barnabas were preaching (cf. Acts 14:7), they conclude that this sign has been done by the demons that they worshiped under the names “Zeus” and “Hermes” in the temple in front of their city (Acts 14:13, cf. 1 Corinthians 10:19–20).

God witnesses to His goodness by common grace, Acts 14:14-18. As God does not owe salvation to anyone, it was His prerogative to allow the Lycaonians and all other nations to walk in their own ways for past generations (Acts 14:16). They may have thought the long history of their mythology was evidence of a kernel of truth, but they were greatly mistaken. Their traditions, having come from men, were “useless things” (Acts 14:15). 

Only from a living God could come life. Only from Him could come heaven, earth, the sea, and all the (living!) things that are in them. Even more, to man specifically He not only does good but gives the capacity to perceive goodness. So when He gives man “rain from heaven and fruitful seasons” (Acts 14:17), He fills their hearts not just with food but with “gladness.” 

Life can only come from life. And morality can only come from a moral being. Even their gladness was God’s own testimony to Himself. But what had they done? Attributed this goodness to a pantheon of their imaginations. God’s witness in the creation is not unclear. God’s witness in our own nature is not unclear. He has shown goodness in both areas, commonly, to all men. This is what we call “common grace.”

God witnesses to His goodness by sanctification, Acts 14:19-20. The healed cripple is not the only one mentioned here who is a marvelous testimony to God’s goodness. Was not Paul once a murderer like these other Jews in Acts 14:19? But now he rejects the adulation of men (Acts 14:14-15) and loves those who hate him and stone him. The stoning actually ends only because they thought that he was dead. But other trophies of God’s grace gather around him in Acts 14:20, and he arises and goes back into the city. He continues laboring for the salvation of his intended murderers. Yes, he departs the next day, but he will be back again in Acts 14:21 to strengthen and organize the church in their town. Paul is one who is being pressed into the shape of Jesus—willing to die unto the salvation of those who are all too happy to murder him!

What is the greatest way God has witnessed to His goodness in your life? What are some ways that He has done so in His common grace? How has He done so in your sanctification?

Sample prayer:  Lord, thank You for making continual testimony to Your goodness. Forgive us for how often we fail to glorify You for it or give thanks. Grant that we would have faith, so that the gladness of our hearts would be directed back unto You. Keep conforming us to the image of Christ we ask, in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP23B “The Lord’s My Shepherd” or TPH219 “O Worship the King”

How Vast the Righteousness Divine That We in Christ Possess [2022.10.05 Midweek Sermon in Romans 3:21–22]

God gives His own perfect righteousness—to those who are utterly desperate for it—in Christ alone

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How Israel Could Approach God and Receive Fellowship and Life Instead of Fury and Death [Family Worship lesson in Exodus 24:1–11]

How can the new church/state survive the nearness of God? Exodus 24:1–11 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that by God’s binding Himself to them by blood, His people are able safely to dwell with Him.(click here to DOWNLOAD mp3/pdf files of this lesson)

2022.10.07 Hopewell @Home ▫ Exodus 24:1–11

Read Exodus 24:1–11

Questions from the Scripture text: Whom does Yahweh address in Exodus 24:1? To Whom does He say to come? What other three, specifically, does He say to bring with him? And how many from what other group? What are they to do? From where? Who shall come near (Exodus 24:2)? To Whom? Who shall not? Who else shall not do what? To whom does Moses come in Exodus 24:3? How many, of what two things, does he tell them? Who answer? How much of what do they say that they will do? Then what does Moses do (Exodus 24:4)? How many of Whose words? When does he rise? What two types of things does he build? How many of each? Whom does he send in Exodus 24:5? To do what? What two types of offerings? Unto Whom? What does Moses take in Exodus 24:6? How much? In what? And what does he do with the other half? What does he take in Exodus 24:7 (cf. Exodus 24:4)? What does he do with it? in whose hearing? What do they repeat (cf. Exodus 24:3)? What do they now add? Now what does Moses take in Exodus 24:8 (cf. Exodus 24:6)? What does he do with it? Onto whom? What does he call the blood? Who has made this covenant? According to what? Who go up in Exodus 24:9? Whom do they “see” (Exodus 24:10)? What appeared to be under His feet? What did it look like? What doesn’t He do to whom in Exodus 24:11? With what three, quick, statements does the Spirit summarize this visit?

How can the new church/state survive the nearness of God? Exodus 24:1–11 looks forward to the evening sermon on the coming Lord’s Day. In these eleven verses of Holy Scripture, the Holy Spirit teaches us that by God’s binding Himself to them by blood, His people are able safely to dwell with Him.

The command in Exodus 24:1 is surprising in light of Exodus 19:12. Anyone who touched the mountain was to be killed, and now a party of seventy-four are being commanded to go up and worship from a distance. Only Moses could go to the top, but the representatives of Israel as a church (Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu) and as a state (the seventy elders) could go up partway, while the people as a whole must not come up with their leaders (Exodus 24:2). It is perhaps not quite as surprising that they see some sort of display of God (theophany) in Exodus 24:10. For, the Lord has made other displays of Himself, and He has just finished describing how He will (continue to) appear as His Angel who goes before them through the wilderness (cf. Exodus 23:21, Exodus 13:21, Exodus 14:19). 

The result in Exodus 24:11 is surprising. “so they saw God, and they ate and drank.” They have not only safety but provision and fellowship. Even on the mountain of God. Even within “sight” of God. Even with display in Exodus 24:10 implying that heaven has invaded earth. How were they able safely to do this?

The book of the covenant. The first part of how they were able to approach the Lord safely, and experience the Lord safely, is that God Himself initiates by way of His Word. Moses tells the people “all the words of Yahweh” (Exodus 24:3). The people say “all the words Yahweh has said we will do” (verse 3). Moses writes down “all the words of Yahweh (Exodus 24:4). He reads the book in Exodus 24:7, and the people say, “All that Yahweh has said we will do.” Finally, Moses announces that Yahweh has made covenant with them “according to all these words.”

The Lord alone is the Initiator of the covenant. It is formed according to His Words. Man cannot initiate. Man cannot come up with the way of coming to God. Indeed, Israel as a church and as a state would fail to do what they promise here. Only with Christ as Priest and Christ as King can such an arrangement hold up.

The blood of the covenant. Moses builds an altar in Exodus 24:5 for the Lord, and twelve pillars before it for the people who are represented in their seventy elders. The application of blood to two parties is a common feature of ancient near eastern treaties/covenants, and we see it here. Half of the blood from the offerings in verse 5 is poured onto the altar. Half of it is poured upon the people. 

By this pouring ceremony, Yahweh and His people were identified with one another. The people were atoned for and consecrated by the shed blood from the sacrifice that bore the fire of the wrath. Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. This of course looks forward to Christ and to Christian baptism, the sign by which the Lord identifies with Himself the members of the visible church under the administration of Christ. Christ’s blood being shed once for all, He commands instead that water be poured, even as He pours His Spirit, Who applies His saving blood to us.

It is important that we remember that not every member of the visible church is safe. Of Aaron’s sons, the Lord specifically selects Nadab and Abihu, who receive mention both in Exodus 24:1 and in Exodus 24:9. Nadab and Abihu will survive the visit to the mountain and the meal in Exodus 24:11, but not many days from now they will fail to survive their first day as ordained priest (cf. Leviticus 10:1–7). The outward sign may seal salvation unto faith, and the Lord thus blesses it to all whom He is bringing to faith. But without faith it remains merely outward, devoid of spiritual efficacy, and it will be found at last even to have testified against them.

Who can make the way for you to be safe in God’s presence? What is the way that He has made? What are the two covenant signs by which He displays that way of being safe? 

Sample prayer: Lord, thank You for bringing us near to Yourself by Your covenant in our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has kept all of Your words in our behalf. For His sake, forgive us, and bring us at last into every blessing of Your everlasting covenant, which we ask in His Name, AMEN!

Suggested songs: ARP191 “I Love the Lord” or TPH434 “A Debtor to Mercy Alone”