Category: Weekly 2016

(1) What is Saving Faith? (Part 2)

The Westminster Confession of Faith, the best summary of the Christian faith in the English language states:

By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein; [e] and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, [f] trembling at the threatenings, [g] and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come. [h] But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace. [i]

What is Saving Faith?

The Westminster Confession of Faith, the best summary of the Christian faith in the English language states:

The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, [a] is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, [b] and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word, [c] by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments, and prayer, it is increased and strengthened. [d]
[a] Hebrews 10:39 “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”

[b] 2 Corinthians 4:13 “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.”

Ephesians 1:17-19 “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.”

Forbearing and Forgiving One Another

Colossians 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.

The ability to forgive others, the capacity to exercise tolerance and patience toward others who have done us wrong, the Apostle Paul tells us, must be the trait of a true Christian.

The reality in today’s sin-stricken world is that people seek vengeance, retaliation, as an expression of the right to personal freedom, as a show of backbone and strength. Human wrath seems to be the way to resolve conflicts. Might is right. This is so evident in the international realm, in the national realm, in the home.

(1) The Fragility of Life

James 4:13-16 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. But now ye rejoice in your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil.

1) How Great Thou Art

– Inspired by a Thunder and Lightning Storm

Carl Boberg, a Swedish pastor, editor of a Christian newspaper, and member of the Swedish Parliament was suddenly caught in a midday thunderstorm in 1886 while visiting a beautiful part of the coast of Sweden. The rolling thunder and flashing lightning filled him with awe.

Following the violent storm, Boberg was inspired by the calm water, clear, brilliant sunlight and sweet songs of the birds. The experience caused him to fall on his knees in humble adoration of his mighty God. He penned his exaltation in a poem that later was translated into German and then from that into Russian.