The Riches of His Glorious Inheritance in the SaintsWeek 9

Westminster Larger Catechism Q57-89

“For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe,…”(Eph 1:15-19)

Our theme for the next several weeks:

Question Topic Week  

57, 58 The benefits of redemption & how applied 1 10/13/2013

59, 60 Who are the recipients? 2 10/20/2013

  Justification and Sanctification: What’s the difference?Dr. David Van Drunen

  10/27/2013

61-63 The visible church 3 11/3/2013

64-65 The Invisible Church 4 11/10/2013

66-68 Union with Christ &Effectual Call 5 11/17/2013

69-71 Communion in Grace with Christ – Justification 6 11/24/2013

72-73 Justifying Faith 7 12/1/2013

74-76 Communion in Grace with Christ – Adoption & Sanctification 8 12/8/2013

77-78 The Difference Between Justification and Sanctification 9 12/15/2013

79-81 Perseverance and Assurance of Believers 10 12/22/2013

82-83 Communion in Glory with Christ – in this life 11 12/29/2013

84-87 Communion in Glory with Christ – after death 12 1/5/2014

88-89 The Final Judgment 13 1/12/2013

Where are we going?

Q. 72. What is justifying faith?A. Justifying faith is a saving grace, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and Word of God, whereby he, being convinced of his sin and misery, and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition, not only assenteth to the truth of the promise of the gospel, but receiveth and resteth upon Christ and his righteousness, therein held forth, for pardon of sin, and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for salvation.

Q. 73. How doth faith justify a sinner in the sight of God?A. Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God, not because of those other graces which do always accompany it, or of good works that are the fruits of it, nor as if the grace of faith, or any act thereof, were imputed to him for his justification; but only as it is an instrument by which he receiveth and applieth Christ and his righteousness.

What are the components of faith?

Faith

Truth(Object)

Assent Commitment

Is faith the one work that we do to be saved?

What then shall we say was gained by Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh? For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God…. (Romans 4:1-3, ESV)

“… but only as it is an instrument by which he receiveth and applieth Christ and his righteousness.” Q73

What is the connection between faith and works?

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can

that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and

one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the

things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have

works, is dead.

But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from

your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you

do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish

person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by

works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along

with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that

says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was

called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.

And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she

received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from

the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (James 2:18-26, ESV)

Some questions about faith:• How much truth is enough to believe?

– WLC 72 suggests 5 things: our sinful condition; our misery; our inability to save ourselves; the inability of any other creature to save us; the sufficiency of Christ and His righteousness to save us

– Heidelberg Catechism points to the Apostles Creed• Does faith have to be ‘perfect’ to be justifying?

– Example: the disciples… “O ye of little faith!...” (Mt 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8; 17:20; Lk 12:28)– Of the brother with weaker faith Paul says: “As for the one who is weak in faith, welcome

him, but not to quarrel over opinions. One person believes he may eat anything, while the weak person eats only vegetables. Let not the one who eats despise the one who abstains, and let not the one who abstains pass judgment on the one who eats, for God has welcomed him. (Romans 14:1-3 ESV)

– See WCF 14.3 “This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong; may be often and many ways assailed, and weakened, but gets the victory; growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance, through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.

• What is the connection between faith and reason?– Is our faith an implicit faith? Just believe because the church, the pastor or whoever says

so…? This was one of the errors of the church that the reformers wanted to correct – ours is not to be implicit faith just because the church or bishop or pope says so.

– Faith is based on historical events, doctrinal claims that can be rationally evaluated.– Our faith is not an implicit faith.

How is your faith exhibited?

• Has God called you to slay giants, to cross seas on dry ground, etc.?

• How is our obedience of faith demonstrated?– Ordinary obedience – attending to God’s word; managing your

money in a way that is consistent with faith; training your children in the Lord’s nurture and admonition.

– As Larry Burkett (former host of Money Matters) used to say: “Do really trust God; or do you just say you trust God?”

– More???

• QUESTIONS?• COMMENTS?• OBJECTIONS?• MUSINGS?

Relationships – the Stuff of Life

Relationship (thinking of personal relationships)

1. The condition or fact of being related; connection or association.

2. Connection by blood or marriage; kinship.

3. A particular type of connection existing between people related to or having dealings with each other: has a close relationship with his siblings.

4. A romantic involvement.

Relationships – the Stuff of Life

• How are personal relationships formed or established?• What does the 5th commandment teach us about the

various relationships we are in?– “Honor your father and your mother that your days may be long

upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you.”

• What is the fundamental relationship that every person has with God? With each other?

• What obligations do each of those relationships have?– Love God– Love your neighbor

Christianity and Relationships

• Can we say that “Christianity is not a religion – it is a relationship?”– Why or why not?

• Can we say that salvation is “entering into a personal relationship with God (or with Christ)?”– Why or why not?

Q. 74. What is adoption?A. Adoption is an act of the free grace of God, in and for his only Son Jesus Christ, whereby all those that are justified are received into the number of his children, have his name put upon them, the Spirit of his Son given to them, are under his fatherly care and dispensations, admitted to all the liberties and privileges of the sons of God, made heirs of all the promises, and fellow heirs with Christ in glory.

Justification and Adoption

• Which would you consider the primary benefit of redemption?

• Which would you consider the highest blessing?• In justification, what is God viewed as?• In adoption what is God viewed as?

The Richest Picture of God – “Father”• Is God the Father of all men?

– Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8:43-44, ESV)

• Is God called “father” in the OT?• Where is God called “Father” first?

– Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, Israel is my firstborn son, and I say to you, “Let my son go that he may serve me.” If you refuse to let him go, behold, I will kill your firstborn son.’” (Exodus 4:22-23, ESV)

– Do you thus repay the Lord,you foolish and senseless people?Is not he your father, who created you,who made you and established you? (Deuteronomy 32:6, ESV)

– For you are our Father,though Abraham does not know us,and Israel does not acknowledge us;you, O Lord, are our Father,our Redeemer from of old is your name. (Isaiah 63:16, ESV)

The Essence of Christianity

He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:11-13, ESV)

Jesus’ Relationship to God the FatherFor I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me. (John 6:38, ESV)

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. (John 17:4, ESV)• Implies authority

For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. (John 5:20, ESV)

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. (John 15:9-10, ESV)• Implies affection

Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. (John 16:32, ESV)• Implies fellowship

“Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, (John 17:1, ESV)

The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (John 5:22-23, ESV)• Implies Honor

Our Relationship with Jesus

While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50, ESV)

Adoption in the Sermon on the Mount: a Family Code

• But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. … You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:44-48, ESV)

• In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 5:16, ESV)

• “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 6:1, ESV)

Adoption in the Sermon on the Mount: Basis for Prayer

• Pray then like this:“Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name. (Matthew 6:9, ESV)

Adoption in the Sermon on the Mount: Basis of Faith

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:25-26, ESV)

Benefits of Adoption: Privileges of the Sons of God

• How does Paul portray our new adoptive relationship here?– I mean that the heir, as long as he is a child, is no different from

a slave, though he is the owner of everything, but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by his father. In the same way we also, when we were children, were enslaved to the elementary principles of the world. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God. (Galatians 4:1-7, ESV)

Adoption, like justification, is simultaneously legal and relational, as is the obverse: alienation and condemnation. Adoption is not a goal held out to children who successfully imitate their parents; nor is it the result of an infusion of familial characteristics or genes. Rather it is a change in legal status that issues in a relationship that is gradually reflected in the child’s identity, characteristics, and actions. From the courtroom, with the legal status and inheritance unilaterally established, the child moves into the security of a growing and thriving future.

(Michael Horton, The Christian Faith, A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on the Way p 645)