Our inheritance

And what is the Inheritance of which the Spirit is the “Earnest” unto the believer? It is nothing less than God Himself! The blessed God, in the trinity of His Persons, is the everlasting portion of the saints. Is it not written “If children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ” (Rom. 8:17)? And what is Christ’s “inheritance”? “The LORD is the portion of Mine inheritance” (Psa. 16:5) He declared. The future bliss of believers will consist in the fullness of the Spirit capacitating them to enjoy God to the full! And has not the believer already “tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:3)? Yes, by the Spirit. The Spirit is the utmost proof to us of God’s love, the firstfruit of glory: “Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts” (Gal. 4:6). God, then, grants His people a taste in this world of what He has prepared for them in the world to come. The gifts and graces of the Spirit in the elect affirm the certainty of the glory awaiting them: as surely as an “earnest” guarantees the whole sum, so do the “firstfruits of the Spirit” (Rom. 8:23) the coming harvest of bliss. The nature of the Christian’s “earnest” intimates both the character and the greatness of what is in store for him: even now He bestows a measure of life, light, love, liberty; but what shall these be in their fullness! One ounce of real grace is esteemed by its possessor more highly than a ton of gold: what, then, will it be like to bathe in the ocean of God’s favour? If now there are times when we experience that peace which “passeth all understanding” (Phil. 4:7) and are made to “rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8), how incapable we are of estimating the full value of our Inheritance, for an “earnest” is but a tiny installment of that which is promised. O that the realization of this, faint though it be, may move us to look and long for the heavenly glory with greater vehemence.—A.W.PINK

CPRC Saturday night Bible Study

Hebrews 10:11-18

The Old Testament church continued to offer sacrifices which could not atone because God commanded it, it reminded them of their sins, and pointed forward to the saviour to those who had faith. Christ is called “this man” to emphasize his humanity and contrast him with the priests. Verse twelve teaches the incarnation, the sufficiency of the atonement, Christ’s high priestly office, his deity, ascension, session and sovereignty (Psalms 110 and 2). The sanctified are the elect of all ages. Perfected means the completion of their salvation (in contrast to Heb.10:1)-it is all the blessings of salvation (see Canons of Dort head II art 8) also see Col.3:14 and Matt.5:48.

The Holy Spirit witnesses to us by the Scriptures (Jer.31:31-33) and with our spirit (Rom.8:16) in our heart/mind.

When God speaks he speaks in his triunity and the Lord is the Spirit. “Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” 2 Corinthians 3:17

The covenant consists a new heart with the law internalised at regeneration, alongside the blessing of repentance and forgiveness in justification. The writer concludes that there is no need for any future sacrifices exposing the lie in Roman Catholicism, premillennial dispensationalism and Judaism.

Hebrews 10:19-25

Boldness characterises the New Testament believer in contrast to the Old Testament where it would have been dangerous presumption to approach God either at Sinai or at the ark. We enter the holiest by faith and by prayer. The “new and living” way is Christ (John 14:6) who is eternal life and the essence of the covenant. He made this holy way as our forerunner, the first to rise from death and enter heaven (John 17:19) in contrast to Enoch and Elijah who did not die and Moses who appeared in the intermediate state. The way is Christ’s flesh, his incarnation and atonement are the way into the holiest accomplishing the rending of the veil.

The house of God is his kingdom, the whole church triumphant and militant over which he presides as King and High Priest mediator for ever.

A true heart is a sincere heart of flesh possessing a genuine faith (Psalm 51:6), these two are inseparably joined just as a hypocrite can never have assurance. An “evil” conscience is one that convicts and condemns but by regeneration and the true baptism our hearts are sprinkled (1 Peter 3:21). The washing is the washing away of sins, also at regeneration (Titus 3:5, John 13:10)-“ye are clean”. The profession of our faith is our faith expressed publicly. We hold this fast by continuing in the faith (c.f. 10:38,39) and doing good works (Titus 2:14). We interact with and show interest in our brethren (Phil.2:4), by example, and exhortation provoking them and ensuring we meet with them in public worship and private fellowship. The approaching day is the return of Christ.

Next study (DV) Hebrews 10:26-31 on Saturday July 10^th at 8pm

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Meeting ID: 718 962 8817

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Relating Faith and Good Works (cont)

Theses:

1. Faith is the source (and also the means) of good works.. 1 Thess.1:3, Heb.11
2. Faith expresses itself in good works.. James 2:14-26 because faith is invisible and the context here is justification before others not justification by faith.

Good works expressing faith can be audible (confession-see Rom.10:9) or visible (Matthew 5:16, 7:16ff). Visible is better than confession and/or supposed miraculous works because these can be false (indeed Scripture teaches that all claimed miracles are actually done by false professors and teachers).

3. Faith is a vital element in good works. See Biblical definition in Heidelberg cat. LD 33 Q 91 which teaches that the source of good works is faith, the standard of good works is God’s law and the goal of good works is the glory of God. Good works are done in LOVE, love for God and the neighbour. All obedience to the law requires faith in God’s attributes and love for his precepts. See also Westminster Confession chapter 16 section 7 which teaches that unbelievers CANNOT do good works or indeed any good (Rom.3:12)

4.Faith and works are inseparable. (and both are divine gifts). Professed faith without works is dead (James 2:1-26) i.e. hypocrisy. See also Luke 3:8 and 1 Thess.1:3. Repentance and faith (also inseparable and internal) together produce good works. Good works are SEEN (Matt.5:16, Rom.10:8,9). Even the thief on the cross (Luke 23) did good works. Elect unborn, infants who die, and believers in a coma or with dementia may never get the opportunity but we have examples who did (John the Baptist, Jacob wrestling, David hoping-Psalm 22). Remember good works are not the basis, means or reason for our salvation. Jesus was full of good works (John 10:32). See also 1 Tim.2:9,10, 6:17,18, James 3:13, Acts 9:36, 1 Tim.5:10, 5:25, Rom.2:6,7, Tit.2:7, 1 Peter 2:12, all Hebrews 11. James 2:22-perfect means complete.

Hypocrisy

There is a word for claiming to trust in Christ and boasting of having His imputed righteousness and receiving forgiveness, but without a sincere heart of repentance towards God: hypocrisy. God does not hear hypocrites. God hears the humble whose hearts are broken. We cannot sincerely call upon God for forgiveness in true faith without repentance. Where there is no repentance, there is no sincere exercise of true faith. This is how we have to understand all these passages which speak of people calling upon God, even crying to Him in prayer and yet He does not hear, because it is hypocrisy – their hearts are still turned towards sin, and not towards God.

Psalms 66:18″If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

Proverbs 28:9 “He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.”

Isaiah 1:15 “And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood.”

Job 27:8-9 “For what is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his soul? Will God hear his cry when trouble cometh upon him?”

Proverbs 1:28-30″Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me: For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD: They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.”

Ezekiel 8:18″Therefore will I also deal in fury: mine eye shall not spare, neither will I have pity: and though they cry in mine ears with a loud voice, yet will I not hear them.”

Micah 3:4″Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings.”

Zechariah 7:10-13″And oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor; and let none of you imagine evil against his brother in your heart. But they refused to hearken, and pulled away the shoulder, and stopped their ears, that they should not hear. Yea, they made their hearts as an adamant stone, lest they should hear the law, and the words which the LORD of hosts hath sent in his spirit by the former prophets: therefore came a great wrath from the LORD of hosts. Therefore it is come to pass, that as he cried, and they would not hear; so they cried, and I would not hear, saith the LORD of hosts:”

Luke 12:1b”Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.”

Faith and Works (cont.)

Abraham believed

Abraham offered.

Sung Psalm 43:1-5

Read Romans 10:5-14

Last week we looked at how faith and works were opposed.

This week we look at how they are complimentary and related.

Works are the expression of faith (James 2:22). Faith is their source (1 Thess.1:3, 2 Thess.1:11). Contrariwise unbelief is the source of evil works (Mark 7:20-22)

Faith is internal (a matter of soul/heart) Ps.28:7, 57:1,112:7, Prov.3:5,6, John 14:1, Acts 8:37, Eph.3:17, Heb.10:22, Rom.10:9,10.

Contrarywise doubt is in the heart: Mark11:22,23, 16:14. Luke 8:12.

The corollary is that other graces are matters of the heart as well e.g. hope (Ps.42:5, 43:5, Heb.6:19), love (Deut.30:6, Rom.5:5, 1 Tim.1:5) and joy (Ps.19:8).

Works are external (the body does them): Gen.5:29, Deut.30:9, Neh.2:128, Job 1:10, Jer.10:3,9, Is.44:12, Rom.6:13, 2 Cor.5;10

The Law of Moses (covenant at Sinai) was added!

 Covenant at Sinai

   We must always bear in mind that the Abrahamic Covenant was in no wise superseded or placed in abeyance by the revelation given through Moses; it was still in unabated force. The law was, in reality, an “addition” to it and designed to more effectually secure its objects. It was therefore fitting that the grace and mercy made known to Abraham should receive such enlargement and illustration as might make the Law not a hindrance, but the handmaid, to the believing reception of its truth. The grace of the Abrahamic Covenant and the law of Moses had an important mutual relation. They threw light on one another, and in combination were designed to secure a common end. It was, then, the Levitical institutions which supplied the enlarged instruction that the circumstances of the Nation now rendered necessary. First and foremost was the directions given for the public manifestation of the fellowship and intercourse with God which it was the privilege of Israel to enjoy. A sanctuary was to be erected, the pattern which was revealed to Moses in the mount, and the materials for which were to be supplied by the freewill offerings of the people—intimating that all must be regulated by the Divine will, but that only a free and spontaneous worship from them was acceptable. The tabernacle was at once a pledge that God dwelt in their midst, and a visible means of enjoying that communion with Him to which He had graciously admitted them: it was a perpetual memorial of it, and a help to train them to those more spiritual apprehensions of the worship of God which the Gospel alone has fully revealed and realised.

  So far, then, from the Mosaic economy cancelling the Abrahamic promises, it was “added” thereto. Had that economy been one exclusively of works (as some of our moderns imagine), then the whole of Israel had been damned the first day it was instituted. Had it been a strict regime of law, untempered by mercy, then no pardon had been available (which flatly contradicts Leviticus 26:40-46), and in such a case the Siniatic Covenant could not have been reckoned among Israel’s blessings (Rom. 9:4). The word “added” in Galatians 3:19 proves that the dispensation of law was not established as a thing distinct by itself alone, but was an appendix to the grace of the Abrahamic Covenant. In other words, the moral law and the ceremonial law which accompanied it, were given with evangelical ends: to show sinners their need of Christ, and to indicate how He would meet that need.

   There was a far greater number of the godless in Israel who made a wrong use of the Law, perverting the design of the Siniatic constitution, divorcing it from the Abrahamic Covenant. These shut their eyes to the depths and spirituality of the Law’s requirements, for they were determined to attain unto a righteousness before God on a merely legal basis, and therefore they reduced the Decalogue to an outward performance of certain rules of conduct. This, of course, engendered a servile spirit, for where duties are not performed from high motives and grateful impulses, they necessarily become a burden and are discharged solely for the wages to be paid in return. Such a spirit actuated the Scribes and Pharisees who were “hirelings” and not sons. Moreover, such a degradation of the Law could only result in formality and hypocrisy. Finally, those who thus erred concerning the Law’s place and spirit could neither look rightly for the Messiah nor welcome Him when He appeared. A.W. PINK.

Full article (page 14): Microsoft Word – STUD-137.doc (eternallifeministries.org)

Contrariwise those who believed in the covenant with Abraham, the seed which would bless all nations and accepted the covenant at Sinai in FAITH looking to the Prophet like Moses who was to come were justified.

CPRC Saturday Night Bible Study

Hebrews 9:23-28

It was necessary that the patterns of things (in the tabernacle/temple) be purified because all human worship of God is contaminated by sin and needs purified by Christ’s blood typified by the sprinkling of animal blood. The “better sacrifices” that cleanse heaven are Christ’s perfect life and atoning death but why heaven needs cleansed is mysterious! The “holy places made with hands” figures of the true are the tabernacle and all its furniture which foreshadow Christ in several ways e.g. as bread of life, water of cleansing, light of the world etc. The true holy place or heavenly tabernacle is firstly Christ’s body, then the church and also heaven itself.

Christ appears in God’s presence for us because we continually need a mediator and intercessor. Christ could not offer himself more than once because he did not need to, as his once for all sacrifice was effective, uniquely purging his people and eventually all creation from sin. Furthermore his resurrection and ascension proved his acceptance by God and made any return to humiliation impossible and ridiculous. He removes the guilt of sin, the power of sin and eventually the presence of sin.

The analogy is that all men are appointed to die once and so was Christ, except we all die for our sin individually but he dies for all the sins of his people collectively. Both are/were the judgement of God. The many are all his elect.

Christ’s second coming will be in glory and power to rule, not to bear sin, as he did in his incarnation.

Hebrews 10:1-4

The “good things to come” were the New Testament Gospel age which bring to God’s people eternal life and the hope of glory.

The shadow of the law is really Christ’s shadow as the law as schoolmaster leads to him by the conviction of sin. Hence he is the image of these things, the image of the invisible God. The proof that the sacrifices could not perfect those who offered them were that they were repeated, pointing to the ultimate sacrifice, reminding them of their sins and warning them never to trust in them. Animal sacrifices can never atone for human sin. “ In expiation, the victim must correspond in dignity to the nature of the offences expiated and the value of the blessings secured.” Pink

Hebrews 10:5-10

Christ speaks in Psalm 40 in words the Spirit gave to David to write down. The body prepared for Christ was his physical body and the volume of the book the Old Testament scriptures.

Animal sacrifices were never acceptable to God, they only typified the ultimate sacrifice and only acceptable offering God required which was the life of perfect obedience including the death of our Saviour. God wants obedience rather than sacrifice (1 Sam.15:22). We are sanctified (made holy) and consecrated (set apart) in Christ-united to him in regeneration and by faith we are justified, sanctified and glorified (John 17:19).

Next study (DV) June 26^th 8pm on line and at church on Hebrews 10:11-25

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Relating Faith and Works

Sung Psalm 27;1-5

Read Romans 3:19-31

We covered numerous verses in the whole of Romans and many in Galatians showing how faith and works are:

Opposed: 1) In election and calling– Rom.9:11, 2 Tim.1:9

                  2) In justification and salvation– Rom.3:28, Eph.2:8,9, Gal.23:11, Phil.3:9

                   3)And also in regeneration—Titus 3:5

Trusting our Lord Jesus Christ

My times are in thy hand

Whatever they may be

Pleasant or painful, dark or bright

As best may seem to Thee.

My times are in thy hand

Why should I doubt or fear?

My father’s hand will never cause

His child a needless tear.

Mt times are in thy hand

Jesus the crucified!

Those hands my cruel sins had pierced

Are now my guard and guide.

Faith and Good works

Sung Psalm 1 (note v3)

Read 1 Timothy 6:6-21 (note v18)

Good works are such in God’s sight (Eph.2:10)

How are works similar to, different from, and related to faith?

Similarities: Good works like faith are necessary (Heb.11:6, Eph.2:8,9)

                      Good works are evidence of faith (James 2:18)

                      Good works, like faith are both by grace and a gift.

                      The believer is the subject of both.

                     They are both difficult because of the old man of sin (Rom.7)

Differences: An object of good works cannot really be defined.

                       There is no equivalent in good works to a bond, to knowledge and trust or assurance (see studies on faith).

Next week (DV) we shall look at the relationship between faith and good works.