“ Summary, Part 3 ” C. WORLDLY THOUGHTS AND CONVERSATION [20:55]. “We love the world when our thoughts are fixed on the world” (cf. Col 1:28, 3:16; Heb 10:24, 3:13). Consider Is 58:13-14. 1. SINS. Thinking about business, pursuing our personal worldly interests, and idle talk. 2. BLESSINGS. Joy in the Lord, “riding on the heights of the earth (which means prevailing over our enemies: the world, the flesh, and the devil), and a feast of the good things of the Lord. D. CAUSING OTHERS TO BE EMPLOYED FOR OUR BENEFIT (Ex 20:10) [29:29]. All are obliged to love and obey God, and we must not cause them to sin. This includes going out to eat, and buying groceries. 2 Sam 24:18-25 – David insisted on giving offerings for which he sacrificed. VI. WHAT ARE THE WORKS OF NECESSITY AND MERCY? [35:47]. In Mt 12:1-7, Jesus tore down the Pharisees’ legalistic walls. A. WORKS OF NECESSITY. Examples: health care, military, police, rescue, residential food services, power, and preachers. B. WORKS OF MERCY. Mt 12:9-14 – goodness to others. Examples: health care, visitation, ministry, and emergency aid. C. WORKS OF PIETY. Examples: preaching, witnessing, Bible study, and Sunday school.
“ Summary, Part 2 ” 3. WITH MODERATION. This means limited, with due restraint, and temperate, and applies to anything that would take us away from our worship, either on the Lord’s Day or during our daily worship and preparations. V. WHAT SINS DOES THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT FORBID? [15:24]. Consider WLC Question 119. A. NEGLECT AND CARELESSNESS IN OUR DUTIES. 1. WHAT ARE THEY? The public and private practice of worship. 2. HOW DO WE NEGLECT THEM? By not preparing, remembering, or attending to the Lord’s Day. 3. HOW ARE WE CARELESS IN THEM? By not preparing or getting rest, or being dull in worship (cf. Ez 22:26). B. IDLENESS AND PROFANING THE LORD’S DAY [19:06]. Consider WLC Question 119b. 1. PROFANING THE LORD’S DAY. This means making it something common, like every other day. 2. IDLENESS. Though it is a day of rest, we can still be inefficient and useless. 3. SIN. This goes without saying.
“ Summary, Part 1 ” We continue in IV. WE ARE TO PREPARE FOR THE SABBATH with C. WHAT DO WE PREPARE? [starting at 6:31 of the audio]. 1. OUR WORLDLY EMPLOYMENTS. This doesn’t only mean our jobs, but all of our regular worldly engagements. Neh 13:19 – Nehemiah ordered the gates shut and guarded because merchants had been continuing in business endeavors on the Sabbath. 2. OUR HEARTS (Mt 15:8-9) [9:12]. This entails at least six things: a. diligence in prayer and study all week; b. diligence in family worship; c. on Saturday evenings, study and confess the sins of the week to come to the Lord’s Day in peace (cf. Eph 4:30); d. also on Saturday, pray for the preacher; e. on Sunday, maintain diligence in devotions (church doesn’t substitute for this); f. quiet your heart and mind from worldly distractions before the service (cf. Mt. 6:21). D. HOW DO WE PREPARE? [11:50]. Consider the Westminster Larger Catechism, Question 117e. 1. WITH FORESIGHT. This means to take provident care of the future. Our love for the Lord’s Day should permeate our thinking all week long. 2. WITH DILIGENCE. This means a constant effort to accomplish what is undertaken. Are we complete and circumspect in this preparation?
“ Summary, Part 4 (final) ” D. HOW DO WE REMEMBER THE LORD’S DAY? [45:11] We do it by keeping it holy. ‘Holy’ means to set apart, to hallow, for worship of God; to be kept from the profane (cf. WLC #117a). E. CONCLUSION. We are to set aside one day as sacred for the worship of God. Is less time or more time with God better? Mt 6:21 – Where your heart is, so is your treasure. IV. WE ARE TO PREPARE FOR THE LORD’S DAY [48:35]. A. WE ARE TO PREPARE. WLC #117d – We prepare a lot for things we enjoy, and it is not a burden to us to do so. Does it seem that way when we prepare for the Lord’s Day? B. WHEN DO WE PREPARE? Lk 23:54 – The “preparation day” was the evening before the Sabbath (cf. Ex 16:22-26). We take time to prepare for most everything in life. WLC #117d – root out anything that would hinder the Sabbath day.
“ Summary, Part 3 ” 3. OFTEN USED PASSAGES [28:00]: Rom 14:5-6, Gal 4:9-11, Eph 2:14-15, and Col 2:16-17. The fourth commandment is relevant and must be taught today (cf. Mk 2:27, Ps 118:24). III. DISSECTING THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT [29:42]. A. WE ARE TO REMEMBER. 1. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO REMEMBER? It means that we are to keep the Sabbath as sacred and observe it. B. WHAT ARE WE TO REMEMBER? The entire Sabbath day, all 24 hours (Ex 20:9, Westminster Larger Catechism Question #116). 2 Pet 1:10, 1 Cor 13:5 – If we don’t love the Sabbath, then we won’t love heaven. If the Christian occupies himself with it, he will soon find it too short (cf. WLC #1). WLC #117b – Do we delight in the Lord’s Day? C. WHAT IS THE BASIS OF OUR REMEMBERING ONE WHOLE DAY IN OUR WEEK? [43:39] Ex 20:11 – God rested on the seventh day of creation (cf. Gen 2:2). Mk 2:27 – The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
“ Summary, Part 2 ” C. THE FOURTH COMMANDMENT WAS NOT ABOLISHED BY CHRIST IN THE NEW COVENANT [21:03]. At least two different arguments are raised against this. 1. THAT CHRIST, IN FULFILLING THE LAW, ABOLISHED THE SABBATH. a. But what is the point of Christ being Lord of the Sabbath (Mt 12:8)? And why did He not clearly abolish something so essential to Jewish life (cf. Mt 5:17-19)? b. This group takes Rom 6:14 out of context. Rom 5-7 is anchored by Rom 6:1-2, which appeals to our death to the law as a means of salvation. Taken to its conclusion, this group would have to say this of all the commandments, including the prohibitions on blasphemy, murder, and adultery. 2. SABBATH-KEEPING IS NOT RESTATED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT, AND THEREFORE IS NOT REQUIRED [25:22]. a. Jesus gives frequent teachings on the Sabbath (Mt 12:1-14, Mk 2:23-3:6, Lk 4:1-6, Jn 5:1-18, etc.), and they do not just apply to the Jews, to whom He was speaking. b. Again, the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath (Mt 12:8). c. God’s laws have been in man’s heart since creation (Rom 2), and Jeremiah reiterated this of the future saints (Jer 31:33). d. The law is a whole part (Jas 2:10).
“ Summary, Part 1 ” I. INTRODUCTION [starting at 1:37 of the audio]. Blue laws used to ban or restrict services to promote worship on the Lord’s Day. They pertained to all of society, as do the Sabbath and the Decalogue. Rom 2:12-15 – The lost have the law in the hearts. Not only are blue laws mostly gone, but even churches are orienting themselves away from this worship. 2 Tim 3:1-4 describes formal churchgoers. II. THREE TRUTHS [11:08]. A. MAN, AS CREATED BY GOD, IS UNDER AN INESCAPABLE OBLIGATION TO RENDER TO GOD PERFECT OBEDIENCE. He is our creator, and thus has the right to demand this from us (Rom 9:20). Gen 1:26, 2:7 – God never consulted with Adam and Even before He created them. Gen 1:28 – There was no consultation here, either. Gen 2:15-17 – Another command. B. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS ARE PERPETUAL [15:50]. The Decalogue applies from creation to the end of times. 1. There are an overwhelming number of references to them in the New Testament. 2. They were written by God on stone and kept in the Ark. 3. They are written in man’s heart. 4. They were not first given to Moses at Sinai, but reflect God’s eternal, unchanging character. Gen 2:17 – God wanted His creation to be holy from the very beginning.
“ Summary, Part 4 (final) ” B. ITS SHIFT TO SUNDAY [44:43]. There is no explicit statement declaring this, but the patterns of the apostolic church yield more than enough to make it apparent. OBSERVATIONS: 1. 1 Cor 15:13-14: if there is no resurrection, our faith in the resurrected Christ is in vain. How glorious then is the first day? 2. Jesus appears to the disciples on the first day (Jn 20:19, then the next time in Jn 20:26). 3. Pentecost fell on the first day (Acts 2:1). 4. The disciples met on the first day (Acts 20:5, 7). They were already in the habit of meeting on the first day (cf. Heb 10:24-25). 5. 1 Cor 16:1-3: another example of the infant church meeting on the first day. 6. Rev 1:10: “Lord’s Day” only mentioned elsewhere in the context of the Lord’s Supper. APPLICATIONS [52:46] 1. The Sabbath is simple and beautiful (Lk 11:46). Jesus didn’t want His people burdened. 2. The Sabbath indicates the states of our hearts. Where are they on the Sabbath? The Sabbath is a delight. 3. The Sabbath is a picture of our future rest: the eternal Sabbath.
“ Summary, Part 3 ” II. ITS NEW TESTAMENT ORDINANCE AND CHANGE TO THE FIRST DAY [37:15]. A. ITS ORDINANCE. Mk 2:23-28 is also paralleled in Mt and Lk. OBSERVATIONS: 1. The Lord doesn’t mention a termination of the Sabbath. 2. Mt 12:6-8: Jesus exonerates the disciples from the Pharisees’ charges of Sabbath-breaking. 3. Jesus corrects the Pharisees: the Sabbath was created for man. 4. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath day and thus can change it. 5. Jesus exonerates the disciples in Scripture with works of necessity. 6. Works of mercy are allowed on the Sabbath. 7. Principles are given by instruction and example, not didactic teaching, as was the changing of the day of the Sabbath. Not everything can be declared by fiat, as the Pharisees had done. Sometimes, things need to be worked out for the sake of sensibleness.
“ Summary, Part 2 ” OBJECTION 1 [19:45]: It wasn’t a pattern we were expected to follow since it wasn’t mentioned again until by Moses at Mount Sinai. ANSWER 1: That period covered 2,500 years, compacted mostly into the book of Genesis. With all that Genesis had to communicate, it is not problematic that it didn’t speak much about the Sabbath. ANSWER 2: Gen 29:26-28: the notion of a seven-day week was well-established. Where else could it have come from? ANSWER 3: The Sabbath was in fact mentioned before the Decalogue (Ex 16:4-5, 18-30). OBSERVATIONS [26:36]: 1. This account was over two weeks before the Decalogue (“REMEMBER the Sabbath day…”). 2. It didn’t take the Israelites by surprise. 3. The Lord will provide for the seventh day on the sixth day. 4. People often forget the Lord and trust themselves (Ps 37:3, Is 58:13-14). OBJECTION 2 [29:52]: The Sabbath commandment was only meant for Israel. ANSWER: It was given to all of mankind. Deut 5:12-15: did God bring them out of Egypt and THEN give them the Sabbath? Ex 31:12-13, 16-17: the Sabbath is a unique sign between God and Israel that referred them back to the Creation (Ps 147:19-20, Rom 3:1-2, Is 56).
“ Summary, Part 1 ” Blue laws have faded over the last two generations. Liberal groups went to North Dakota to repeal their strict laws. We see it debated in various states, including here in Minnesota, year after year. Is this nostalgia, or is there a New Testament principle for the Christian Sabbath? I. ITS INSTITUTION [starting at 7:20 of the audio]. Gen 1:31-2:3 yields some observations: 1. WHY DID GOD REST? He neither slumbers, sleeps, nor get weary. 2. WHY SIX DAYS OF CREATION AND A SEVEN-DAY WEEK? He is all-powerful and could create everything in an instant. There is nothing in nature that alludes to such a pattern. When nations have tried different patterns, they failed miserably (Cf. Mk 2:27). 3. THE SABBATH WAS THE FIRST THING TO BE SANCTIFIED. For us to neglect it is to tread on holy ground (Mk 10:9). Further, why did He sanctify the Sabbath before the Fall? Sin had not yet entered the world, yet God was already drawing lines between the sacred and the common. 4. IF ALL OTHER CREATION ORDINANCES ARE STILL IN FORCE, WHY ARE WE SO EAGER TO JETTISON THE SABBATH? Jer 33:19-21: God places Israel’s willingness to break their covenant with David on their willingness to break the Sabbath, which was established with Adam, the federal head of the human race even before God’s curse upon the ground.
“ Summary, Part 3 (final) ” IV. GODLY ZEAL IN EVANGELISM [33:37]. With zeal, we are far less likely to shun these opportunities. Zeal is a burning desire to please God. This can be very convicting when we are silent. J.C. Ryle teaches that true godly zeal requires four things: knowledge (proclaiming the truth of the gospel), biblical examples (new methods aren’t necessary), charity and love (to support a winsome message), and humility (we may be saved, but we are still sinners). APPLICATIONS [43:48]. 1. There is no biblical enterprise more exciting than evangelism. 2. Zeal in evangelism is good for the soul. 3. Don’t use evangelism to neglect worldly obligations. 4. The result may be painful and costly. 5. Evangelism is the means God uses to save souls. 6. Our evangelism creates joy in heaven. 6. We are to go into the world and evangelize everyone.
“ Summary, Part 2 ” II. GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY IN EVANGELISM [14:50]. It is tempting to ask the hyper-Calvinist question: if God is sovereign in all things, including the salvation of souls, then why share the gospel at all? Simply: because we are commanded to do it (cf. Eph 1:11). Where we are to deliver the message, God works out the salvation. We know that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing comes by the word of God”, but we can mistake this as our own cause producing a saving effect. But that conclusion does not square with the whole of the Bible. WE will never create hearing or faith in anyone, let alone save anyone. When God calls someone to repentance, He brings someone with the gospel to them. He is the cause and we are only the means, and God works it all out providentially in His good time. III. GOD’S COMMAND TO EVANGELIZE [23:56]. Mt 28:19, Mk 15:16, Ps 105:1, Is 12:4 – All simple commands to go into the world, make known His deeds, declare His deeds, and make mention that His name is exalted. Whenever we sense a window opening to a witness opportunity, it is a subpoena from God to testify to His truth. Just as one witness in the stand doesn’t usually decide a whole trial, our witness may be one seed of many sown by many gospel planters. Anyone saved knows enough to deliver the gospel.
“ Summary, Part 1 ” After the Battle of Marathon, a messenger ran 26 miles to Athens to deliver the news of the victory. His excitement carried him the whole way, non-stop, even to his death. This is a memorable image for the evangelizing Christian, but does it mirror our own witness? I. WHAT IS EVANGELISM? [starting at 5:43 of the audio]. We must first consider what it is not: it is not an example, a relationship, or an invitation to church. All of them are good and necessary for the Christian, but they are not evangelism. The gospel is known as the Good News, not the Good Example. Put simply, evangelism is making the gospel known. Many people live good lives who are not known to be Christians or are not Christians at all. 1 Pet 3:15 – Does merely living an exemplary life convict the lost of their sins and their need for Christ? Eph 4:11-12 – We are not all called to be in the ministry, but we are called and equipped to minister the gospel.
“ Summary, Part 3 (final) ” APPLICATIONS [47:54]. What should right thinking about God’s sovereignty produce? 1. It should produce reverence. Without it, God will be small and unreal. 2. It should affect our worship with swelling praise. Job 42:5-6, Is 6:1-5 – When they got a glimpse of the sovereign God, they saw their utter sinfulness. 3. It gives us reason to pray. If God is not sovereign, why would we pray? 1 Jn 5:14-15 – He is sovereign, but He is also a God of means. 4. It gives us great comfort in this life. When calamity strikes, we know that God is there, on His throne, ruling out of the holiness that works all for the good of those who love Him. Ps 10, Acts 2:22-23 – Wicked men do evil, but they unwittingly serve God, who uses their deeds for His good ends. 5. It gives assurance of the Christian’s salvation. Rom 8:29-30, 2 Tim 1:12 – He not only saved us, but ordained our salvation before time. 6. It gives reason to repent. Our sovereign God knows us far more than we know ourselves, including every last sin, and will hold us to account. Without Christ’s pardon, one will not provide a satisfactory one.
“ Summary, Part 2 ” III. THE ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD DEFINED [28:57]. A. This is the godhood of God. To deny His sovereignty is to deny Him. B. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MAN ACKNOWLEDGED. God’s sovereignty does not negate this. IV. SCRIPTURAL PROOFS OF GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY [32:02]. PSALM 115:3-8 – Heathens craft their own gods. Fallen man is prone to idol worship, be it physical or abstract. But God is sovereign and does what He pleases. No one can stop Him. ISAIAH 46:3-11 – God’s people went after the gods of Babylon. His creatures wanted to create their own gods, turning the divine order upside down. Unlike our idols, God drives every process and every event everywhere in the universe. DANIEL 4:34-35 – Nebuchadnezzar needed to learn that God, not he, is sovereign over all (cf. Pr 18:15, 21:1). EPHESIANS 1:11 – The context is that God chose His elect from the foundation of the world. His plan was to provide a Savior. ROMANS 11:33-36 – The context here is a mystery, but this doxological statement affirms the fact of God’s sovereignty.
“ Summary, Part 1 ” I. INTRODUCTION. The doctrine of sovereignty is among the most unpalatable to unbelievers and even quite a number of professing Christians. Though mystery fills the doctrine, it is nevertheless taught in Scripture. II. THE PROPER APPROACH [starting at 6:53 of the audio]. A. HOW NOT TO APPROACH THE DOCTRINE. In Ps 50, God rebuked Israel for anthropomorphizing Him. Gods of our own invention are not gods at all. B. HOW TO APPROACH THE DOCTRINE. 1. We must approach it with deep humility (cf. Is 55:8-9). 2. The Bible alone is our guide. 2 Tim 3:14-17 – A warrant for sola scriptura. Is 8:19-20 – Wise men who speak without the authority of Scripture aren’t wise at all. 3. We must have an attitude of faith (cf. Mt 11:25-27). Where we can wade with reason, faith will help us swim. The sure truth of God’s word will keep us afloat. 4. We must have a childlike dependence on the Holy Spirit. The Interpreter must reveal what we know of the things of God (cf. 1 Cor 2:12, Deut 29:29, Eph 1:15-17).
“ Summary, Part 3 (final) ” FIFTH, God regards the offering of our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to Him, as spiritual service and worship. We can only do this with constant contact with the Bible, in diligent study and prayer. 2 Cor 6:14-7:1 [39:56] – Consider three things from this passage: FIRST, consider what holiness means: conscientiously maintaining a proper relationship with the people of this world. They are not to be our bosom buddies, but we must consider if we impact them more than they impact us. SECOND, behold the great incentive to holiness. What Christian would trample his birthright for a mess of the world’s pottage? THIRD, ponder the essential prerequisite for holiness. It is perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Christians used to be known as “God-fearers”, but not so much now. Joy in the Lord is an irrelevant truth without the whole truth, which includes a necessary fear of Him. This point itself means three things [50:27]: FIRST, perfection and nothing less should be the aim of every Christian. SECOND, repentance and confession should be a daily practice. THIRD, the saint is moved to holiness by fear of offending God. A lack of this fear prevents sanctification. “Tender motives are not enough to restrain sin.”
“ Summary, Part 2 ” Some so-called Christian Left believes that “sexual immorality” in verse 18 is a mistranslation of the Greek word ‘porneia’, from which English derives ‘pornography’. But how else would they translate it, in this verse and others? Cf. Mk 7:21; Acts 15:20, 29; Gal 5:19; Eph 5:3; 1 Thes 4:3; 1 Cor 6:9; Heb 13:4. As women should present themselves modestly, men should make covenants with their eyes and minds. Rom 12:1 – Modesty and chastity are both acts of worship. This addresses Christians in a number of ways [31:03]. FIRST, it is addressed to saints (cf. Heb 3:1). SECOND, saints should be motivated to regard their bodies as holy because of the “mercies of God”; not just because of who we are, but because of what it means. THIRD, if you would regard your body as holy, you must embrace the unspeakable privilege and duty of offering your body as a living and holy sacrifice to God. What greater honor than to be called to imitate the Lord Jesus Christ. FOURTH, this self-offering of our bodies as living and holy sacrifices finds acceptance with God. This is not an act of “going above and beyond”, but a basic expectation of holiness.
“ Summary, Part 1 ” We continue with IV. CLOSING EXHORTATION TO SAINTS: IF YOU WOULD PROVE YOUR ARE HOLY, REGARD AS HOLY WHAT GOD REGARDS AS HOLY [starting at 4:09 of the audio]. First, if you are a saint, you must regard yourself as holy. This has practical implications in the way we live. God considers us holy, and so we must regard ourselves. Your must demonstrate that you are a child of your holy heavenly Father by a life of childlike obedience. 1 Pet 1:14-16 – Note how Peter connects obedience and holiness. Our behavior will reflect this. We rebuke our previous lawless behavior and live in imitation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The Bible presents holiness not merely in the abstract, but also in the concrete. THIS MEANS THAT YOU MUST REGARD YOUR BODY AS HOLY [9:55]. This will invite scorn from the unsaved. 1 Cor 6:18-20 – Our bodies are not our own. Even the unsaved are creations of God, but the saved have been purchased with Christ’s blood and thus doubly belong to Him. Keeping this in mind is a very powerful deterrent against sin.
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