Morning Worship
Call to Worship: Psalm 105:1-3
Opening Hymn: 234 “The God of Abraham Praise”
Confession of Sin
O great and everlasting God, Who dwells in unapproachable light, Who searches and knows the thoughts and intentions of the heart; We confess that we have not loved You with all our heart, nor with all our soul, nor with all our mind, nor with all our strength; Nor our neighbors as ourselves. We have loved what we ought not to have loved; We have coveted what is not ours; We have not been content with Your provisions for us. We have complained in our hearts about our family, about our friends, about our health, about our occupations, about Your church, and about our trials. We have sought our security in those things which perish, rather than in You, the Everlasting God. Chasten, cleanse, and forgive us, through Jesus Christ, who is able for all time to save us who approach You through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for us. Amen.
Assurance of Pardon: Romans 1:16-17
Hymn of Preparation: Hymn 243 “How Firm a Foundation”
Old Covenant Reading: Psalm 19:1-14
New Covenant Reading: 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
Sermon: Life Built on Truth
Psalm of Response: Psalm 119M “O How I Love Your Holy Law”
Confession of Faith: Apostles Creed (p. 851)
Doxology (Hymn 568)
Closing Psalm: Psalm 4 “Give Ear, God of My Righteousness”
Evening Worship
Hymns: 528, Psalm 85, 413
OT: Psalm 85:1-13
NT: Romans 5:1-11
Revive Us Again
Suggested Preparations
Monday (6/28) Read and discuss 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17.
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (ESV)
Commenting on verses 13 and 14, John Byron writes:
Paul’s transition from talking about those who delight in wickedness in 2:12 to giving thanks for the Thessalonians in 2:13-14 might seem a bit abrupt if we don’t appreciate the way he is contrasting the two groups. His thanksgiving to God is for those who believed “in the truth,” unlike those who “believed the lie” (2:11). He points out that God’s call to them came through the gospel (2:14), which the others had refused to love (2:10), and God’s choice to save the Thessalonians (2:13) stands in contrast to those who are perishing (2:10). While those others will be condemned, the Thessalonians will “share in the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
In many ways the themes found in this thanksgiving echo what we saw in 1 Thessalonians. The believers in Thessalonica are loved, chosen, and empowered/sanctified by the Holy Spirit. We noted in 1 Thessalonians that God’s love and choice of the Thessalonians reflected His love and choice of Israel.
But while this may be intended to reemphasize God’s choice of them, Paul also outlines the activities of God in salvation in what Gordon Fee calls a “proto-Trinitarian soteriological moment.” The phrase “loved by the Lord” is certainly a reference to Jesus as the So. The “love” associated with Jesus is most likely His death on behalf of humanity. Of the other five times Paul speaks of “Christ’s love,” it is usually associated with His death. In all of his letters “choice,” “election,” or “calling” to salvation is always attributed to God the Father. In turn, salvation is made effective by the work of the Spirit. Although this not [a full systematic presentation of Trinitarian theology] as it will be defined by the later church, it does designate each person of the Godhead as distinct persons active in salvation. This is an early echo, if you will, of what will become a fuller, more nuanced understanding of the Godhead and its working in salvation. The confidence Paul expresses in this thanksgiving is that God has been and is still at work in the Thessalonians.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 68. What is required in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life, and the life of others.
Tuesday (6/29) Read and discuss 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12.
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him, we ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is by the activity of Satan with all power and false signs and wonders, and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. (ESV)
Let’s make four applications from today’s passage:
- First, when you are telling anyone about the Second Coming … whether you are teaching a class or simply talking with your children, … remember what the LORD commands us in Exodus 23 verse 9: “You are not to boil goat in its mother’s milk.” That is, you are not to take that which is intended to bring and to support life – a mother’s milk – and use it as an instrument of death. Why does the LORD teach us about the Second Coming? He teaches us about the Second Coming to strengthen us in our resolve as we live for Him in this world and to comfort us as we go through hardships. Please don’t speculate about the Second Coming, the mark of the beast, the man of lawlessness, or anything else in such a way that you sew confusion and unrest among the people of God rather than assurance and a love for the truth.
- Second, the fact that the “mystery of lawlessness” like the “man of lawlessness” arises from inside the visible church means that each of us has a responsibility to be discerning. When the Bible warns us against trusting in earthly princes that includes ecclesiastical princes such as Priests and Popes. True faith is not merely believing things about God. True faith involves trusting God personally and directly.
- The third point of application is closely related to the second – and it comes directly out of tonight’s passage. Paul is writing these things so that we would not only know the truth but so that we would love and cling to it. Think of Psalm 1, which we sang together this past Sunday evening. The blessed person is the one who meditates upon God’s word so as to put God’s word into practice.
- Fourth, and finally, remember what is going to happen when the man of lawlessness is finally revealed. “The Lord Jesus will kill [him] with the breath of his mouth and bring [him] to nothing by the appearance of his coming.”
So, yes, as you pay attention to the political and social turmoil of our day – you are going to feel disoriented. Yes, you have every reason to grieve over the loss to our nation – and over the crass promotion of evil in our day. But we have no reason to become hysterical or to despair. King Jesus is in charge … and He is coming again. So, “don’t worry … be faithful!”
MEMORY WORK
Q. 69. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?
A. The sixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbor unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto.
Wednesday (6/30) Read and discuss Psalm 19:1-14.
The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words,
whose voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them he has set a tent for the sun,
which comes out like a bridegroom leaving his chamber,
and, like a strong man, runs its course with joy.
Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them,
and there is nothing hidden from its heat.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure,
making wise the simple;
the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
the fear of the LORD is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the LORD are true,
and righteous altogether.
More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors?
Declare me innocent from hidden faults.
Keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins;
let them not have dominion over me!
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. (ESV)
This psalm beautifully refutes one of the most common errors in our day regarding the Law of the LORD. Reformed Christians speak of three uses of the law. The first use of the law is that it serves as both a mirror for our performance and a measuring line of perfect righteousness. As such, the law drives self-righteous people away from themselves and to Jesus Christ. Regretfully, the law-gospel distinction has been distorted in many Lutheran and Reformed circles (along with others) to teach that when the law reveals how far we fall short of God’s standards; it drives us away from the law and to the gospel. If enough qualifiers are added to this assertion, it turns out to be true – but without the qualifiers it can lead us to a fundamentally mistaken understanding of God’s law. Thankfully, Psalm 19 corrects this misunderstanding. Please look once again at verses 7-11 with a few key words highlighted:
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the testimony of the Lord is sure,
making wise the simple;
8 the precepts of the Lord are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;
9 the fear of the Lord is clean,
enduring forever;
the rules of the Lord are true,
and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11 Moreover, by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
You will see that God’s law is portrayed in the most positive light. Rather than destroying us, God uses it to revive our souls (v. 7). Instead of causing us to flee from the law to the gospel, Psalm 19 portrays God’s law as something to be desired. Indeed, His laws are sweeter than honey to the believer. Is the law to be valued only in that it reveals our inability to keep them and therefore reveal our need for Christ? By no means! Verse 11 tells us that “in keeping them there is great reward”. The LORD does graciously use the law to drive people from self-sufficiency back to Christ. But when we come to Christ, we discover that He has not left us to figure out everything for ourselves. He gives us His law so that we might know what loving God and our neighbor actually looks like – to the end that we would actually do so.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 70. Which is the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Thursday (7/1) Read and discuss Romans 5:1-11.
Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (ESV)
Commenting on verses 3-5, R.C. Sproul writes:
Tribulation puts muscle on our souls. Tribulation makes it possible for the people of God to persevere rather than to give up. Tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character (v. 4). An easy life does nothing to produce character. Character is forged in the crucible of pain. Character is built when we have no alternative but to persevere in tribulation. Those who come out on the other side are those in whose souls God has built character. The result of character is hope (v. 4) – there it is again. Authentically joyful people are those who know where their hope is. They have been through the crucible. They have been through afflictions, persecution, and rejection from their friends. They have been through pain. They have identified with the humiliation of Christ. They have been crucified with Christ and raised in his resurrection and now participate in his exultation. That is the hope that Christian character produces.
What about the result of that hope? Here is the best part: Now hope does not disappoint (v. 5). Other translations say that hope “does not make us ashamed.” It is embarrassing that the world’s idea of hope is to invest it in some particular enterprise only to see that enterprise fail. When it fails we are dashed to pieces, but the hope that we have from God will never disappoint. It will never embarrass us. We will never have to be ashamed for putting our confidence and trust in Christ. If you put your trust in anything else but Christ you are destined for disappointment and embarrassment. Hope in Christ is the only hope that never shames us. The New Testament tells us that if we are not in the faith, if we do not believe, we are without hope and destined ultimately to disappointment.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 71. What is required in the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbor’s chastity, in heart, speech and behavior.
Friday (7/2) Read and discuss Psalm 85:1-13.
LORD, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you covered all their sin. Selah
You withdrew all your wrath;
you turned from your hot anger.
Restore us again, O God of our salvation,
and put away your indignation toward us!
Will you be angry with us forever?
Will you prolong your anger to all generations?
Will you not revive us again,
that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your steadfast love, O LORD,
and grant us your salvation.
Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints;
but let them not turn back to folly.
Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him,
that glory may dwell in our land.
Steadfast love and faithfulness meet;
righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs up from the ground,
and righteousness looks down from the sky.
Yes, the LORD will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase.
Righteousness will go before him
and make his footsteps a way. (ESV)
Tim Keller writes:
Love and truth must meet in harmony (verse 10). But how can God in faithfulness punish sin yet also in love embrace sinners? Christ reconciles all things in heaven and earth by making peace through His blood (Colossians 1:20). When Jesus bore our punishment on the cross, love and holiness “kissed” – they were both fulfilled at once. Love without holiness is mere sentiment; righteousness and law with a grasp of grace is Pharisaism. Our natural temperaments incline us to one or the other, but the Gospel keeps truth and love together in our lives. Nd the more they are unified within us, the more we are brought into the deepest relationship with those who believe the Gospel too.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 72. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words and actions.
Saturday (7/3) Read and discuss 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17.
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.
Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (ESV)
James Grant writes:
What can Paul say to encourage us as we face these trials? Paul appeals to the power of God because it is God who started the process of salvation: “But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.” Paul makes two strong statements about God’s power. First, God started this in the beginning. AS Paul says in Ephesians, God “chose us in [Christ] before ethe foundation of the world” (1:4). What we have here in this early letter of 1 Thessalonians is a short statement that gives us insight into Paul’s theology. God has a plan and a purpose, and God’s plan will not be stopped. In other letters, notably Ephesians and Romans, Paul gives a more detailed examination of this concept of God’s sovereign choice, but in this early letter Paul provides a short, concise statement about God’s sovereignty and power in order to encourage these believers as they face evil and wickedness.
Secondly, we should be encouraged by Paul’s words because he points out that God has given us His very own Spirit. Not only did God start this process of salvation, but by the gift of His Spirit He will make sure this process reaches its appointed conclusion – our sanctification and belief in the truth. It is the Spirit of God who is at work in us to make our faith grow, our love increase, and our hope remain steadfast. God has loved us and chosen us to be His, and He has demonstrated this by the gift of His Spirit who will sanctify us and reveal the truth to us so that we will obtain eternal glory. So Paul concludes with this prayer: “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.” Paul is confident that the Lord Jesus Christ, who has comforted us, will continue to establish our hearts.
MEMORY WORK
Q. 73. Which is the eighth commandment?
A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal.