3-5-12 Progression yet Stability in Revelation

13- 3/5- WLC 33

Q. 33. Was the covenant of grace always administered after one and the same manner?
A. The covenant of grace was not always administered after the same manner, but the administrations of it under the Old Testament were different from those under the New.

Thoughts: The same God works with different people in different ways.  We who have lived after the Messiah has come have an advantage over those who were looking for His coming in the time of the Old Testament.  Yet, we see only through a mirror dimly- one day we will see face to face.  There is a progression in revelation.  What this part of our creeds tell us is that the kernel of truth remains the same- the person, holiness and love of God.  God does not lie- or change His mind in scripture- though sometimes we may misunderstand or misinterpret His Word.  But the application and revealing changes with time.  This, however, does not mean that what is written by God’s Spirit in the past is not true- it just is administered differently.  For example, the passages regarding the sacrifices for sin in the Old Testament are fulfilled in the one sacrifice for Christ.  The dietary and purity laws have become secondary to the ability of Christ to make us clean.  The legal laws peculiar to the nation of Israel do not apply either.  Yet there are principles in these laws from which we can learn.  Sacrifices teach us of the need to be forgiven when we fail. Purity laws teach us to listen and point to the purity of heart that is needed to see God.  National laws point to the need for order and the importance of not syncretizing beliefs.  God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Yet he recognizes we change as we perceive His Son. 

Prayer: Help us, O Lord to see the on and His coming in our lives.

3/4/12- God bridges the gap

12- 3/4- 2^nd Sunday in Lent- WLC 32

For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus. (1 Tim. 2:5)

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹² Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:11-12)

And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. (Ezek. 36:27)

Thoughts: God reaches out to us to make a relationship (that is what a covenant is about) even when we messed up the first relationship (breaking the first covenant-- Hos. 6:7).  The covenant of grace is gracious in 1) its offer of life and salvation to those who have rebelled against God and do not deserve it; 2) It’s condition of only requiring faith and no legal hoops to jump through; 3) It’s promise of the Holy Spirit to quicken in us the faith that is required of us.  In and of itself it is gracious- for we humans messed up and God still reaches out toward us to make a relationship (a covenant is a bond in grace sovereignly administered).  God reaches across the gulf that we formed by our sin and makes a bridge- (through the cross) that we might relate to Him.  We made the gap, He bridges it.  We left Him, but He came after us.  When you feel you have left God- remember He is still pursuing you.  On March fourth- we should "march forth" and seek to tell people of God's gracious love. 

Prayer: Your grace reaching out to me, O Lord, makes me grateful.  Help me to treasure my relationship with you-- loving you with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

Millau bridge in France- longest bridge in the world. 

Q. 32. How is the grace of God manifested in the second covenant?
A. The grace of God is manifested in the second covenant, in that he freely provides and offers to sinners a mediator, and life and salvation by him; and requiring faith as the condition to interest them in him, promises and gives his Holy Spirit to all his elect, to work in them that faith, with all other saving graces; and to enable them unto all holy obedience, as the evidence of the truth of their faith and thankfulness to God, and as the way which he hath appointed them to salvation.

3/3/12- The Promise of Rescue

11- 3/3- WLC- 31

Q. 31. With whom was the covenant of grace made?
A. The covenant of grace was made with Christ as the second Adam, and in him with all the elect as his seed.

²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.  ⁴⁵ So it is written: “The first man Adam became a living being”; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit.    (1 Corinthians 15:22,45)

Thoughts: The covenant of grace- is a second chance covenant for those who mess up the first one.  As we must be held by the lifeguard in order to reach safety, so we must be held by Christ and put our faith in Him- not faith in our own inability.  So this covenant is made primarily with Christ and secondarily with us.  It is a gracious promise to us that if we believe we may be saved for eternity.  Belief itself is a gift from God.  So Christ comes to us, and graciously promises us eternal life- rescuing us when we could not rescue ourselves.  

Prayer: Thank you for coming to rescue me, O Lord.  Keep me from kicking and fighting against your love and help for me.