Puritan Wisdom

On Hebrews 2:1 – “He that shall consider the brutish stupidity and blindness of the generality of mankind in all things to God, the miserable fluctuating and endless uncertainties of the more inquiring part of them, and with all the greatness of their concernments in being brought unto the knowledge of the truth, cannot but in some measure, see the greatness of this love of Christ in revealing unto us the whole counsel of God”  – John Owen, Epistle to the Hebrews, volume 3, 270.

Prayer Meeting

We plan to resume our prayer meeting today at 3 PM, D.V.  Please join us.

Reformed Wisdom

"I charge you never to neglect the duty of brotherly love, and practical, active, sympathetic kindness towards every one around you, whether high or low, or rich or poor. Try daily to do some good upon earth, and to leave the world a better world than it was when you were born. If you are really a child of God, strive to be like your Father and your great elder Brother in heaven. For Christ’s sake, do not be content to have religion for yourself alone. Love, charity, kindness, and sympathy are the truest proofs that we are real members of Christ, genuine children of God, and rightful heirs of the kingdom of heaven." -- J. C. Ryle  (Gently lifted from:  http://jcrylequotes.com/2012/07/06/leave-this-world-a-better-place/)

Puritan Wisdom

On Hebrews 1:10-12 – “What we have not in ourselves, by an interest in Christ we have in another. In him we have stability and unchangeableness; for what he is in himself, he is on to us and for us. All of our concernments are wrapped up and secured in him. He is ours: and though we in our own persons change, he changeth not, nor our interest in him, – which is our life, our all. Though we die, yet he dieth not; and because he liveth, we shall live also. Though all other things perish and pass away that we here make use of, yet he abideth a blessed and satisfying portion onto a believing soul: for as we are his, so all his is ours; only laid up in him and kept for us in him. So that under all disconsolations that may befall us from our own frailty and misery, and the perishing condition of outward things, we have sweet relief tendered us in this, that we have all good things treasured up for us in him. And faith knows how to make use of all that is in Christ, to the comfort and supportment of the soul”– John Owen, Epistle to the Hebrews, volume 3, 216

Puritan Wisdom

“The efficacy of an antidote is found when poison hath been taken; and the preciousness of medicines is made known by diseases.” – John Owen, Of Temptation, in The Works of John Owen, Volume 6:  Temptation and Sin, 94.

Reformed Wisdom

"Do not forget that assurance is a thing that may be lost. Oh! it is a most delicate plant. It needs daily, hourly watching, watering, tending, cherishing. So take care. David lost it. Peter lost it. Each found it again—but not until after bitter tears. Quench not the Spirit; grieve Him not; vex Him not. Drive Him not to a distance by tampering with small bad habits and little sins. Little jarrings make unhappy homes, and petty inconsistencies will bring in a distance between you and the Spirit. The nearest walker with God will generally be kept in the greatest peace. The believer who follows the Lord most fully will ordinarily enjoy the most assured hope." -- J. C. Ryle (Gently lifted from: 
http://jcrylequotes.com/2012/07/04/protect-your-assurance-in-christ/)

Puritan Wisdom

On Hebrews 1:8-9 – "The danger that there is unto man unskilled and on exercised in the word of truth, when, without the advice, assistance, or direction of others who were able to guide them and instruct their inquiry after the mind of God, they hastily embrace opinions which may be someone text or other of Scripture doth seemingly give countenance on to. By this means demand run themselves into the aforementioned danger every day, especially where any seducing spirit applies himself under them with swelling words of vanity, boasting of some misunderstood word or other. Thus we have seen multitudes lead, by some general expression, in two or three particular places of Scripture, into an opinion about a general redemption of all mankind and every individual there of; when, if they had been wise, and able to have searched those other Scriptures in innumerable setting forth the eternal love of God to his elect, his purpose to save them by Jesus Christ, the nature in and of his oblation and ransom, and compared them with others, they would've understood the vanity of their hasty conceptions” – John Owen, Epistle to the Hebrews, volume 3, 188-189.

"The Holy Spirit"

Join us tonight at 7 PM, D.V., as we continue our study of the Holy Spirit.  Is the Holy Spirit a Person or a thing?  Does it matter?  Join us!

Puritan Wisdom

On Hebrews 1:5 – “An argument, then, taken negatively from the authority of the Scripture in matters of faith, or what relates to the worship of God, is valid and effectual, and here consecrated for ever to the use of the church by the apostle” – John Owen, Epistle to the Hebrews, volume 3, 131.

"Entering Rest: There Remains a Sabbath Rest" Sermon: Hebrews 4:8-13

“Entering Rest:  There Remains a Sabbath Rest”

[Hebrews 4:8-13]

July 1, 2012 Second Reformed Church

            What is the promised Sabbath rest?

            We have been looking at the idea that God promises entrance into His rest – into a Sabbath rest.  We looked at Israel in the wilderness and saw that most of the people who left Egypt – who were freed by God’s Mighty Right Hand – ended up dying in the wilderness and never entering the promised rest.

            We saw that the reason they didn’t enter into God’s rest was unbelief – in fact, the only unforgiveable sin – according to the Scripture – is unbelief.

            We saw the author of Hebrews argue that the seventh day Sabbath that happens once a week since the creation of the world is a type – a foreshadowing – of the rest which is to come – that all those who believe in the Gospel of God would enter.

            We explored the idea that God’s rest is life in the Gospel.  That is:  God’s rest is belief united with faith in obedience.  God’s rest is not doing nothing – it is not the cessation of action.  God’s rest is living out the Gospel through faith in obedience – living what Jesus said – striving towards holiness in all our lives – eventually becoming like Jesus through the Holy Spirit working in us and through us.

            And we said that this call to repent and believe was not just for those in the wilderness, but today is the day – every day – until Jesus returns – that each and every person throughout Creation is called to repent and believe the Gospel.

            And now, as we come to verse eight of chapter four, we find the author of Hebrews answering another unspoken objection:  if God’s rest was not entrance into the Promised Land, then why did Joshua say that in entering the Promised Land God gave them His rest? 

            And we read:  “At that time Joshua summoned the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, and said to them, ‘You have kept all that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you and have obeyed my voice in all that I have commanded you. You have not forsaken your brothers these many days, down to this day, but have been careful to keep the charge of the LORD your God. And now the LORD your God has given rest to your brothers, as he promised them. Therefore turn and go to your tents in the land where your possession lies, which Moses the servant of the LORD gave you on the other side of the Jordan. Only be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD commanded you, to love the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways and to keep his commandments and to cling to him and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.’ So Joshua blessed them and sent them away, and they went to their tents” (Joshua 22:1-6, ESV).

            Notice the distinction the author of Hebrews makes:  “For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day later on.”

            The author of Hebrews has already stated that the seventh day rest is a type of the rest that God will bring all of His people into.  It is a foreshadowing of that rest.  The rest Israel was to have on the Sabbath was like the rest that would come to them finally, but it was not the ultimate rest.

            Similarly, the rest that Joshua led Israel into when they came into the Promised Land was a type – a foreshadowing of the rest – that God will bring all of His people into, but it was not the ultimate rest.

            And just as the Hebrews of the first century – and we now – enter into rest in believing the Gospel and taking on the light yoke of Jesus in striving to follow after Him in holiness – God’s rest is like this rest, but this rest – today – is not the ultimate rest.

            That’s why the author of Hebrews writes, “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God,”  God’s rest does not change – but our understanding and experience of it does – the day changes – we move from the day of the first seventh day Sabbath to the day of the entrance into the Promise Land to the day of our belief in the Gospel of Jesus Christ – in living the Gospel Life – in taking what we believe and uniting it with faith and living it out in obedience – and we get closer and understand more fully what it means that there is a Sabbath rest promised for the people of God that all those who believe in Jesus Alone for salvation will enter into.

            And let us remember:  the idea of the Sabbath rest – of God’s rest – is not the idea of inactivity.  It is not the absence of labor.  We do not die and go into a void.  We do not die and sleep.  We do not die and amuse ourselves for all of eternity.  The rest of God is the assurance we find in obedience and especially in worship.  The image that we have again and again in the Scripture is that in God’s rest – the primary thing we will be doing is worshipping God.

            Hear one description:

            “Then I saw another sign in heaven, great and amazing, seven angels with seven plagues, which are the last, for with them the wrath of God is finished.

            “And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire—and also those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands. And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying,

            “’Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!  Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name?  For you alone are holy.  All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed’” (Revelation 15:1-4, ESV).

            We will be in the Presence of God, our Savior, and we will be before His Glory, and we will respond with the only reasonable response to seeing God for Who He is in singing and praising, and glorifying and lifting up His Name, and crying out in thanksgiving – looking at and experiencing the wonder, the beauty, the awe, the power, the wisdom, the glory – the greatest religious experience we have in this life will pale away as we worship Him Who is and was and is to come.

            That is the Sabbath rest that remains – that is the fullness of God’s rest that remains – that is what everyone who ever believes throughout time and space will enter into.  That is real rest – in the Presence of God.

“for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.”

The author of Hebrews tells us that whoever enters into God’s rest, rests from his or her works in the same way that God rested from His.  What does that mean?

When God rested in Genesis, it was at the completion of the Creation.  Our rest comes when we believe and unite that belief with faith in obedience to Christ and His Gospel.  Paul writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17, ESV).

When God gave the promise of rest in the Promised Land, it was completed as Joshua entered Canaan.  Our rest comes as we wait to be received into the new earth – the Kingdom of God – God’s rest.  As Peter wrote, “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:13, ESV).

When God gave the promise of life through the death of Jesus, He declared, “It is finished” on the cross.  Our rest comes in knowing that we cannot stay dead, but we will rise in these bodies, perfected, like Him:  “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable” (1 Corinthians 15:42, ESV).

God rested from creating the Creation and giving us the Law to tell us that we can only be saved by God Alone.  Our rest comes in believing that we are saved by God Alone, and He will raise us from the dead and bring us into His Kingdom where we will live in the joy of eternal worship of our God.

And so, he continues:  “Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.”

Since we are moving towards that day of ultimate rest in God, in which we shall be perfected and brought into the Kingdom of God and an eternity of joy-filled worship, let us make absolutely sure of what we believe and that we will be received into that rest – lest, like the Israel in the wilderness, we assume everything is fine, only to find out that we drop off before we enter in.

Let us strive, not for salvation, which is the free Gift of God, but in response to salvation – let us work hard – very hard – to put to death sin in our flesh.  Let us do everything we can to be obedient and live Christ-glorifying lives in thankfulness for what He has already accomplished for us.

We are in a life-long fight against the flesh, the world, and the devil – not for our salvation – but for obedience in thanksgiving – in belief united with faith in obedience.  Paul wrote, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12, ESV).

Now, understand, salvation is completely God’s Work and God has already won against the devil – he is a defeated foe – but God has seen fit to allow him to work against us – to tempt us and to attempt to lead us into sin – to get us to be ungrateful for what God has given us and for taking more when God has said, “no.”

Please understand – we do not need to fight for our salvation.  Nor do we need to defeat the devil.  We fight for our obedience to prove ourselves God’s and to show God’s Salvation lived out through us to the world – that the whole world would see Jesus and have reason to believe and repent.

“For the word of God”

“Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience.  For the word of God” – because the Word of God – what is the author of Hebrews talking about here?  Who or what is the Word of God?

More often than not, we would say that the Word of God is the Scripture – the Bible – but that is not what the author of Hebrews is talking about here.  If we notice, he writes some things about the Word of God in verse twelve, and then he writes, “and no creature is hidden from his sight” in verse thirteen.  So, the Word of God in verse twelve is a “He” – a Person – the Word of God in verse twelve – is Jesus.

So, we have the author writing to the Hebrews, telling them to spend the time in careful consideration of what they believe – proving and living out what they say they believe – showing the fruit that they are bearing as Christians – if, indeed they are! – and not being found not obeying – not believing – committing the one unforgivable sin.

Because Jesus – the Word of God – “is living” – Jesus is the Giver of Life – in this life and the next:  “for ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring’” (Acts 17:28, ESV).

Jesus is “active,” – and the word there means “effective, able to cause something to happen, life-giving” [Bible Windows].  Jesus not only has life in Him, but He is able to give life – to effect life – to raise us from spiritual death in this life and raise us from physical death in the Kingdom.

Jesus is “sharper than any two-edged sword,” – we see this image used by John, as he described Jesus in his vision on Patmos:  “In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength” (Revelation 1:16, ESV). 

Why is the sword two-edged?  Because the sword has two purposes – and seen as His tongue – the sword – Jesus’ Word – is used both to cut through the opposition and to pass judgment on the opposition against God.  He cuts through the defense of pride and security and unbelief so Who He is is clear and no one has an excuse for not believing – and He judges based on the moral life lived.

It may seem like a trick question, but, “Are we saved by the keeping of God’s Law?”  The answer is “yes” – but we need to understand that we cannot keep God’s Law – we are saved by Jesus’ keeping God’s Law.  That’s why Jesus didn’t just come down from Heaven as grown Man and die on the cross – He had to live a perfect life under God’s Law so we could be credited with a perfect keeping of the Law – otherwise, no one could be saved.  God requires holiness – and Jesus is the Judge of humanity:  “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us” (Romans 8:34, ESV).

And in Jesus’ Victory and through His Judgment – by His Word – “piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow,” the point here is not that the soul and spirit are different from one another and the joints and the marrow are different from each other.  The language is being used to say that Jesus – in His Wisdom and Knowledge and Judgment – reaches to the innermost parts – the deepest, darkest, most hidden, most intricate labyrinths of our selves fly open before Jesus.  It is no trouble for Him to see what is between two atoms of a thought.

“and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  Jesus said, “and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works” (Revelation 2:23, ESV).  Nothing can be hidden from the God Who made us; we can fool each other about what we believe, but God is not fooled.

“And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”

The author of Hebrews – in the expression of “naked and exposed” – is raising two images of the day before his readers:  the first is the image of the sacrifice, which, after it was killed, would be laid on its back, and then the priest would draw the knife down its belly and peel back it’s skin, exposing its insides – “naked and exposed.”

The second image is from a wrestling move – and wrestling was performed in the nude then – one wrestler would get another in a hold, whereby his back would be to the ground, and his head would be pulled back, with his neck protruding upwards – “naked and exposed.”

Nothing has changed from the Garden, has it?  After Eve had been deceived by the serpent, we read:  “So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

            “And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ And he said, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself’” (Genesis 3:6-10, ESV).

            Not even lead fig leaves would have hid Adam and Eve and their sin from God!  God is the Almighty – the Creator – Who sees all and knows all.  And still we think, “Maybe I can get away with it; maybe God won’t know.”

            Brothers and sisters – there is an ultimate Sabbath rest – a final and full Sabbath rest – awaiting all those who truly believe in Jesus Alone for Salvation.  The day will come when we will rest from our works, just like God rested from His in the Creation – as He brings us into the Kingdom – into the restored earth – the restored Creation – when we will forever be before God is the joy of eternal worship.

            But be sure – be sure of what you believe – be sure that it is not just words, but that you really believe and that you are striving to live out that belief as you work, by the action of God the Holy Spirit in you to holiness.  Be sure you understand the Gospel and believe the Gospel – and understand that there is only one unforgiveable sin – everything you and I ever do against God and man is forgiven us in Christ Jesus if we believe.  But if we do not believe, we will never be forgiven.

            And let us understand that Life and Judgment are in the hands of the same One God, Jesus Christ, Who will judge the world and bring His Kingdom in all its fullness to earth, while banishing those who do not believe – even those who just casually do not believe – into Hell.

            Our God and Savior is with us now and He is giving us His Grace through the reading and the preaching of His Word – and He has also set before us the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper as a visible representation of the Gospel Message – Christ has come, Christ is here, Christ will come again. 

We have heard the warning not to receive the Sacrament if you do not believe, because God will not hold him guiltless who profanes the Sacrament – who takes it not believing the Gospel.

But for those who do believe, Jesus invites us to come – to meet with Him spiritually in these symbols that He might continue to meet with us and minister to us by His Grace – that we would be able to do and be all that He has called us to be and do.  The Lord’s Supper is not magic, but Jesus does meet us in it and give us the power and ability we need to be His people and to live lives which confess our belief and unite it by faith in obedience.

So let us pray:

Almighty God, we rejoice and give thanks that You are not some dime-store god, but You are the Almighty God, the Creator of Heaven and earth, the Savior of Your people.  You are the One Who sees all and knows all and for the love that You have for us, came to earth that we might be made right with You through Your Life, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension.  Help us to be sure of what we believe and to look forward with full assurance of the Sabbath rest which is to come in Your Kingdom.  For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

July Sermons

D.V., I plan to preach: 

7/1/12 Communion

 Hebrews 4:8-13  “Entering Rest:  There Remains a Sabbath Rest”
 

7/8/12

 Hebrews 4:14-16  “We Have a High Priest”

                                                      

7/15/15

 Guest preacher:  Rev. Dr. Solomon Tivade

7/22/12

 Hebrews 5:1-6  “Called to Be a High Priest”

7/29/12

 Hebrews 5:7-10  “As a High Priest”

Join us at 10:30AM!

Prayer Meeting

There will not be a prayer meeting at the church tomorrow (Saturday).  We will plan to resume next Saturday.  Please pray with each other elsewhere tomorrow.

Review: "My Big Bottom Blessing: How Hating My Body Led to Love in My Life"

I was offered a free review copy of My Big Bottom Blessing:  How Hating My Body Led to Love in My Life by Teasi Cannon published by Worthy Publishing. I thank them for the opportunity to read and review this book.  [I am posting this review on my blog, Amazon.com, and at Worthy Publishing.]

I must confess from the beginning that I am not a woman and this book is specifically directed toward women and women with a weight problem. I can, however, empathize by the fact that I am overweight.

The author writes in a very accessible, enjoyable, honest, and funny style.

She begins by describing how she grew up overweight – being very self-critical of herself for being overweight. She talks about how she entered a period of substance abuse and promiscuity. She ended up marrying, having a child, and then getting a divorce – which added to her self-loathing.

After a time, she fell in love with and married a minister – her current husband. However, that did not end her frustration or her self-criticism; she was still overweight and her family and those at her church often criticized her for not being able to be a normal weight.

She came to find that the answer was not in all the different diets that she tried, but then, asking for healing from God. She found that she did not need to be skinny, necessarily, but she did need to receive healing from the Great Physician.

She came to understand that acceptance from God was not based on her weight, and she moved from the stands of being an orphan in the family of God to being a daughter in the family of God. She began to find out what the old emotional wounds were in her life and she sought healing for them. She came to understand that the heart is more important than the physical. And that our value is found in God, not in our perception – or anyone else's perception – of ourselves.

This is a book of great encouragement for anyone who is having difficulty with their weight. The author rightly encourages the reader to face old wounds, to seek healing from God, and to understand that our value is found in God in not in ourselves in any way.

The only weakness I found in the book is that there is no reflection on what the scripture does say about the care of our body. Scripture is clear that we are to take care of our physical bodies to the best of our ability – for some for various medical reasons or for having it as their favorite sin – food and weight will be a lifetime struggle. I believe the author is on the right track in seeking healing from God, but I wish she had looked at some Scripture and reflected on what God has to say about care of the physical body.

This book is excellent for individual reading as well as study groups. Each chapter ends with a series of questions for reflection, a pep talk, based on the chapter, and a series of Scriptures focusing on a one-word theme of the chapter.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is having difficulty believing that God could love them due to their weight. I would follow up the reading of this book with a study of what the Scriptures say about caring for the body. I would also encourage the readers not to be satisfied with being unhealthy, but to continue to struggle to seek the best health he or she can be in.

Puritan Wisdom

"Afflictions are far from being signs of Christ's hatred. Many times they are evidence of his love (Heb. 12:6-11). The people of God only lack what is bad for them. God has promised to withhold no good thing. A father who loves his child only keeps things from him for his good, because he loves him. You can conclude that if you lack something of enjoyment, it is withheld. Since it is not best for you. It is no defect in the love of Christ, the defect in what you are asking for. Gods love is infinite and eternal, without beginning and without end. It has no limits to its endurance. How shall we enter into Christ's love? Seek to be like him in holiness and obey all his commands. Avoid all the Christ hates and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. When Christ speaks, do not act as if you did not hear. Where there is disobedience, there is a covenant with Hell and the league with Satan. Oh what madness it is to prefer a lust before the love of Christ. Use all means to know his will, and obey it immediately and cheerfully. God loves a cheerful doer" – David Clarkson, in Voices From the Past, 77.

Review: "Living Well with Epilepsy and Other Seizure Disorders"

On June 3rd, I experienced a complex partial seizure, and as is common with me, I sought out books to understand what had happened. One of the books I purchased was, Living Well with Epilepsy and Other Seizure Disorders, by Carl W. Bazil.

I found the book helpful and encouraging as I would recommend it to anyone going through any sort of seizure problem. The book is popular, so one should not expect this to be a detailed medical handbook. However, it does contain enough information that the reader understands how the band brain is supposed to function, what has gone wrong, and the options open to him or her.

The author opens by talking about how the brain works and why seizures occur. He writes about the many types of seizures. There are and how it is difficult to determine exactly what causes any given seizure.

Then he goes on to write about the differences between seizures in children and seizures ended older adults. He also writes about other conditions that did look like epilepsy, but are not.

In chapter 7, he writes about how the diagnosis is made to determine if the seizure is epilepsy or some other seizure disorder or something else.

In the second section of his book, he talks about the different medications that are used to treat epilepsy and other seizure disorders. He explains many of the basic pros and cons of these medications which is helpful as one talks to one's doctor in pursuing medical treatment. I know I found these descriptions helpful as we determined what medication to begin with with me.

Then he writes about times when surgery is actually the better procedure or may be used in conjunction with medication.

He returns again to the cause of seizures and writes about how there are cases where there are certain triggers – that they may not merely be random. He suggests that there is some sort of initial trigger mechanism, whether the external or internal, though it is very difficult to determine what that is in most cases. He also writes about things that seem to have no effect and the misperceptions that people have about seizures and epilepsy.

He even considers various herbal treatments and supplements and what the future might hold for seizure treatment.

In the final section, he looks at issues of safety and particularly the issue of driving and whether or not someone who's had a seizure or multiple seizures can and should return driving.

Continues by writing about how depression, migraines, and sleep disorders are in some way related to or connected to seizure disorder. As someone who has suffered all of these, this was another especially interesting insight.

He concludes by writing about issues specifically related to women, and issues relating to prejudice and the need for education. There is also an appendix for sources of further information, which is organized by state.

This book is an excellent introduction to seizures and I found it very useful in being able to understand what is happening and to be able to discuss the issues and treatment of my doctors intelligently. I recommend it.

"Entering Rest: Today is the Day" Sermon: Hebrews 4:1-7

“Entering Rest:  Today is the Day”

[Hebrews 4:1-7]

June 24, 2012 Second Reformed Church

            “Therefore,” and so we look back from where we have just come: the author of Hebrews was writing to Jews who had professed faith in Jesus and were now turning away and wondering if they ought to forsake the Gospel and take up again the ceremonies and sacrifices of the Old Testament Law.  They had heard the Gospel – and even known Jesus – they had heard it preached that God came to earth in the Person of Jesus, that He lived a perfect – sinless – life under the Law of God, that He died for the sins of everyone who would ever believe, and that He physically rose from the dead and ascended back to His Throne – and now they were wondering – “What if we were wrong?  What if Jesus and His Salvation is not enough? Aren’t we safer turner back to the ceremonies and sacrifices that God gave to Israel?”

            And, so the author of Hebrews showed that Jesus is greater than the angels and the Law and the Prophets and the Sacrifices.  And he presented to them the death of the nation of Israel in the wilderness because they apostatized.  After having seen God’s Mighty Right Hand at work – after being saved from slavery, delivered through the Red Sea, and meeting with them in the wilderness – the people questioned whether God was with them.  They complained that their life in Egypt was better than what Moses had led them into.  They accused Moses of desiring to watch them die in the wilderness.  They did not believe God.

            The author of Hebrews then explained that we share in Christ through our confession of the Gospel about Him – the historical facts about Him – and through His having flesh and blood just like us – so He could live sinlessly under God’s Law and take our place under the Wrath of God – paying the debt for our sins and crediting us with His Holy Life.

            But, just as it was possible for Israel to hear God and see God work in their midst and still not believe, it is possible to come to the church, know all the right things to say in the church, believe the historicity of what the Bible teaches, and still deny Christ and His Gospel.

            The author of Hebrews explained that to say you are a believer and then turn away from that belief – to deny that you believe – is apostasy.  (We also saw that it is not possible for a true believer to turn away from belief in the Gospel, however.) 

            My sister was raised in the church, she confessed Christ, and now she repudiates Him.  She calls herself an atheist.  Two of my friends in college – who God used to lead me to the Reformed understanding of the Scripture – in the midst of their divorce, denounced Christ and His Gospel – he now practices Buddhism and she Cabbalist Judaism.

            It is possible to think you really believe and then to realize you don’t – it’s possible to fool yourself – to one day say, “Wait a minute – is that really what this means?  Is that really what the Gospel is?”  I read a book recently that said the Gospel is to love everyone and take care of the planet.  That is not the Gospel!  The Gospel is a set of historical facts that Christians believe about Jesus and what He did.

It’s possible that you take part in the church and think you should say you believe when you really don’t – or to just want to fit in because you like the people or the coffee or the free cake – and you’re willing to abide here for what it gets you, but you don’t believe.

My grandmother taught Sunday School for years – as an atheist – because she wanted her children to be raised to be good people.  My grandmother was a lovely person, but she was not a Christian.  She knew the words, but she turned away and said she did not believe.

The author of Hebrews – and Jesus – says that there is only one damning sin – only one unforgiveable sin, and that’s not believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  That’s why Israel didn’t enter into the rest God had prepared for her – that is why anyone does not enter into the rest of God.  The author of Hebrews wrote, “So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief” (Hebrews 3:19, ESV).

Now, after explaining to the Hebrews why Israel didn’t enter God’s rest – they did not believe – he turned his sights on the Hebrews themselves, as we heard, “Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it.”

Therefore – since you now understand why Israel did not enter into God’s rest – now that you understand that apostasy is turning away from your stand on the Gospel – that it is unbelief in the Gospel – now understand that the promise of entering God’s rest stands and is available only to those who believe in this life.  You only have this life to believe – if you do not, you are cut off from God’s rest.  So, he told the Hebrews, be in fear lest you not reach it.

Understand, he was not telling them to be fearful irrationally.  He was not denying that there is assurance of salvation.  What he was telling them was to seriously assess whether they truly believe in the tents of the Gospel or not.  Did they really believe that God came to earth in the Person of Jesus, lived sinlessly under God’s Law, died for the sins of everyone who would ever believe, and physically rose from the dead and ascended back to His Throne?  (I hope the Gospel in the short form as I have been presenting it is getting stuck in your heads, brothers and sisters.  There are too many people who teach that the Gospel is “just love everybody.”  It’s not.  And the gaining of the rest of God is found in the belief in the right – the true – Gospel.)

Paul wrote, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling,” (Philippians 2:12, ESV).  Make sure you believe the Gospel – seriously assess what you actually believe, as before the Awesome and Almighty God Who will receive us into His rest or turn us away based on our belief or unbelief.

And, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it” (1 Corinthians 9:24, ESV).  Belief is not simply saying certain facts are true but coming under the obedience to the One about Whom they are true.  Saying that the facts of the Gospel are true facts is not belief.  Belief is saying that the facts of the Gospel are true facts and then living them out.  Going to a race and knowing the route and how one wins the race does not mean that you ran the race – and we are called to run – to work hard – to prove ourselves to be His followers – His disciples. 

The author of Hebrews continues:  “For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.”

The author of Hebrews explained to his readers that Israel in the wilderness received the same Gospel that they received in the first century – the same Gospel that we receive now. The only difference is that we know the name of the Man Jesus, Who is God Incarnate. Ancient Israel cannot be excused for their lack of belief – they had enough information to know to believe the Gospel and to unite it by faith. What does that mean?

What the author of Hebrews is saying is that belief must be united with faith – holding a set of facts to be true, must be united with the conduit of faith to action. As we already said believing in a set of facts is not enough. We can believe in a set of facts and not be saved. We can say a set of facts are true, and they can have no effect on us.

Is the author of Hebrews saying that our works save us?

No!  What the author of Hebrews is telling us is the same thing that James tells us: faith without works is dead. The wording is different but the point is the same. Unless we act in obedience on the things we say we believe, we don't really believe them.

For example: we can say we believe that if a bus hits us it will seriously hurt or kill us. However, if we stand in the road and do not move when the bus is bearing down on us, either we don't really believe it – or we’re suicidal. In either case, the outcome is the same: we're dead.

Jesus unites belief and faith in his explanation of the parable of the sower: “Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty” (Matthew 13:18-23, ESV).

Notice what happens in the last case: the sower sows the seed on good soil – this is the person who hears the word and understands it and believes it. But then he unites it with faith and he bears and yields fruit – he lives out the Gospel in obedience.

The same Gospel came to the people in the wilderness that the Hebrews received and that we receive. Some of them denied it was true. Some of them believed the words were true, but did not trust God. And some believe the Gospel and lived out that belief in faith, and they entered God's rest.

At this point we may well ask:  what is God's rest? And the answer, we see, is not as simple as we might think.

“For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said, ‘As I swore in my wrath, “They shall not enter my rest,”’”

The first thing we notice is that the author of Hebrews tells us that those who do believe – and unite their belief with faith – enter into God's rest now.  He wrote, “For we who have believed enter that rest.” So, God's rest must be something that the living can enter into – because he said that those who have believed have entered that rest. It's already done. They – being alive – have already entered God's rest.

So what is the author of Hebrews talking about?

Well, what has he been talking about? He has been talking about the difference between unbelief and belief united with faith. He has been talking about apostasy from and belief in the Gospel. God's rest is believing and uniting with faith in the Gospel. It is living the Gospel.

Where does it say that?

Listen to the words of Jesus: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30, ESV).  God's rest is wearing the yoke of Jesus; it is carrying the burden of Jesus. God's rest is believing and uniting with faith in the Gospel.

The Hebrews were considering committing apostasy – turning from their stand on the Gospel – committing unbelief toward the Gospel. They were considering turning back to the Old Testament Sacrificial and Ceremonial Law. They were going to go back and try to earn their salvation.

Do we understand how stupid that was? Do we understand the insanity of trying to earn salvation? What is the Law?  Jesus put it this way: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48, ESV).  In other words, “be perfect like God, and you will earn salvation.”  So, it's difficult to earn salvation.  Right?

Or is it?

How are we born? David wrote, “Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me” (Psalm 51:5, ESV).  We are all born sinners.

Do we understand, then, that the point of the Law is not that it is a way to salvation? The Law says be perfect, and it is not possible for us to be perfect. The Law says all you have to do is fill seven holes with six pegs. And we in our insanity say – then there must be some arrangement that we can put six pegs in that fill the seven holes! We cannot put six pegs in seven holes, and we cannot keep the Law of God. If we try, we will never enter God's rest.

Jesus was saying, “Are you tired of carrying a heavy load? Do you understand that it is not possible for you to save yourself? Do you understand that you are a sinner worthy only of God's Wrath? Do you understand that salvation can only come through God becoming flesh and blood Man, living under God’s Law sinlessly, dying for everyone who would ever believe, and physically rising from the dead and ascending back to His Throne? That is the Gospel; that is what I have done. I have taken the heavy yoke; I have taken the heavy burden. Believe in Me, and take on My yoke – take on My burden – it is light.”

And yes, there is still a yoke, there is still a burden – we are called not merely to believe, but to unite that belief with faith in obedience. We no longer seek to follow the Law for salvation, but we follow the Moral Law in thanksgiving for what God has done for us.

            The author of Hebrews continues:  “although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: ‘And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.’”

            The author of Hebrews now directs his readers to the opening chapters of the book of Genesis, and he shows them a type of God's rest. In the book of Genesis we read how God created the world in six days, and then rested on the seventh day. God acted with creative imagination for six days, and then He rested by merely sustaining what He had created.

God has given humanity that pattern of seven days in which to live: six days are for us to work to use our creative imagination to provide for ourselves and for our families – the seventh day is to be given in trust to the worship of God.

God created in this way and gave us this example – this pattern of living our lives and worshiping Him as a type – as a foreshadowing – of the fullness of God's rest in Gospel Life in Jesus. In God's rest, we give up all of our striving for ourselves and give ourselves over in trust to the worship of God – in living lives now in the worship of God.

“And again in this passage he said, ‘They shall not enter my rest.’” There was a very large number of people in the wilderness who died not entering God's rest, yet there were some who did enter God's rest – through the Gospel – through belief in the Gospel and uniting with it through faith in obedience. 

And we know that because the author of Hebrews is using this argument for people in the first century that God's rest was not cut off from them at that time, and we understand that God's rest is not cut off for us – in our day.

“Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience,”

Again, there are people who hear the Good News – the Gospel – and reject it – they do not believe it. Then there are people who think they believe it, who want to believe it – for whatever reason, but they fall away – they apostatize – they turn away from where they stood.  These will not enter God's rest.

However, “it remains for some to enter it.”  There are some yet still to enter God's rest. There are some who have not heard the Gospel – who need to hear the Gospel – who will believe the Gospel. And there are those who have heard the Gospel, and have not yet believed the Gospel – but will.

How do we know that?   Because Jesus said there are a certain number of people who will believe.  Jesus prayed,”All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled” (John 17:10-12, ESV).

And John records, “But nothing unclean will ever enter [the New Jerusalem], nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life” (Revelation 21:27, ESV).

Not merely are there a certain number of people who will be in the Kingdom, but from all of eternity, God has planned that particular people will be in the Kingdom – and every one that God has chosen to be His will believe in the Gospel and unite it with faith in obedience – and “not one [will be] lost except the son of destruction, that the scripture might be fulfilled.”

Everyone God intends to save will be saved. Everyone God intends to bring into God's rest will come into God's rest. And until that day, there is still time to believe.

“Again he appoints a certain day, ‘Today,’ saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted, ‘Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.’”

            As David puts it in Psalm 95, as he writes about the events of the rebellion in the wilderness, he stresses the word “today”– you have today – you have now – you have this moment – you have until God takes your life.

            The warning is given in this text – not to harden our hearts – not to apostatize – but to believe the Gospel – to unite the Gospel with faith in obedience – to enter into God's rest – to take on the yoke and the burden of Jesus – which is light, because He has paid the debt for the sin of everyone who ever believe, and He has credited His Righteous Life to everyone who will ever believe.

            But we can't put it off – we don't have any idea how long we have. Today could be the last day of your life, and if you do not believe you will not enter God's rest – you will have committed the one damnable sin.

            Yesterday was the funeral for my brother’s mother-in-law. One thing I greatly appreciated about the service was her desire to make sure that everyone who attended heard the Gospel and received a call to believe it. She purchased two booklets to be handed out to everyone who came to the service, and shortly before her death, she recorded a video about her life and in it she also explained that the only way to be received into the Kingdom of God – God's rest – is through believing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. She had the privilege of knowing that she was dying for about a year, so she could prepare how she wanted to say this message to make sure that everyone heard it. But most of us don't know – we may not live through this worship service – we may not live through coffee hour – we may not live through this afternoon.

Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts. Today is the day to believe – you may not get another.

Let us pray:

            Almighty God, we thank You that we live in a place where the Gospel can be preached in relative ease. We ask that You would convict us – that we would assess what we believe seriously – lest we fail to come into Your rest.  Help us to understand that Your rest is living the Gospel Life – not merely believing the facts of the Gospel but living them out by uniting them with faith in obedience.  And let none of us take the call to believe the Gospel lightly, but understand that today is the day – there might not be another.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Prayer Meeting

Due to a funeral, there will not be a prayer meeting at the church tomorrow (Saturday).  Please gather together and pray with each other.

General Synod

Please continue to pray for General Synod as the discussion continue about the conscience clause. homosexuality, and other issues.  May God be glorified in the work and conclusions of the Synod.

Puritan Wisdom

"The best servants do not set their minds upon their blessings more than their responsibilities, and the best Christians do not set their comforts and incomes as more important than the honour and duty they owe to their God. But note, the best way to joy, peace, and assurance is to set your minds on your responsibilities. Ah! Had many mourning, complaining Christians done this, their mourning would have turned into rejoicing, and they're complaining into singing. The high way to seek comfort is to seek comfort less, and duty more. Set your mind on what you should do more than on what you would like to have. While faith is trusting in Christ, the Lord comes, and by his Spirit seals up life, love, and glory to us." – Thomas Brooks, Works, 3:59 – 60.

Reformed Wisdom

"Nothing is so effective in keeping true Christianity alive as the yeast of zealous Christians scattered throughout the Church. Like salt, they prevent the whole body from falling into a state of decay. No one but people of this kind can revive Churches that are about to die. It is impossible to overestimate the debt that all Christians owe to zeal. The greatest mistake the leaders of a Church can make is to drive zealous people out of its congregation. By doing so they drain out the life-blood of the system, and advance the church's decline and death. God delights in honoring zeal. Look through the list of Christians who have been used most mightily by God. Who are the people that have left the deepest and most indelible marks on the Church of their day? Who are the people that God has generally honored to build up the walls of His Zion, and also to fight the enemy at the gate? He does not use people of learning and literary talent as readily as people of zeal." -- J. C. Ryle.  (Gently lifted from:  http://jcrylequotes.com/2012/06/18/god-delights-in-honoring-zeal/)