Preparing our Hearts to Worship
In an effort to help you prepare for the January 20, 2019, Sunday morning corporate worship gathering and to aid you in your own reflections on the God’s Story of Salvation through the Scriptures. I wanted to pose a few questions and provide a few resources to prayerfully consider over the coming days. Our sermon is entitled, “Salvation by Grace through Faith”. The main Scriptures for the day are Romans 3:21-31.
(Pick and choose from the many resources and options, which I have tried to make available for your devotional life.)
From the Scriptures
Please read through Chapter 3 of Believethis week, this is an edited selection of Scriptures from the NIV that seeks to show how certain beliefs, ways of living and character qualities are elaborated upon throughout all of Scripture.
From the Creeds and Confessions
Heidelberg Catechism Q21 What is true faith? True faith is not only a sure knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in his Word, but also a firm confidence which the Holy Spirit works in my heart by the gospel, that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sins, everlasting righteousness and salvation are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits.
Belgic Confession, Article 22 Article 22: Of Faith in Jesus Christ. We believe that, to attain the true knowledge of this great mystery, the Holy Ghost kindleth in our hearts an upright faith, which embraces Jesus Christ, with all his merits, appropriates him, and seeks nothing more besides him. For it must needs follow, either that all things, which are requisite to our salvation, are not in Jesus Christ, or if all things are in him, that then those who possess Jesus Christ through faith, have complete salvation in him. Therefore, for any to assert, that Christ is not sufficient, but that something more is required besides him, would be too gross a blasphemy: for hence it would follow, that Christ was but half a Savior. Therefore we justly say with Paul, that we are justified by faith alone, or by faith without works. However, to speak more clearly, we do not mean, that faith itself justifies us, for it is only an instrument with which we embrace Christ our Righteousness. But Jesus Christ, imputing to us all his merits and so many holy works which he has done for us, and in our stead, is our Righteousness. And faith is an instrument that keeps us in communion with him in all his benefits, which, when become ours, are more than sufficient to acquit us of our sins.
From the songs, hymns and spiritual songs of the Church
Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness (Charles Wesley):Lyrics, Audio
Salvation unto us has come:Lyrics, Video
All We Sinners (David Crowder Band): Lyrics, Music
The Power of the Cross (Getty): Lyrics, Music
For Thoughtful Reflection, Prayer, or further Study
Read and thoughtful reflect upon Ligonier’s By Grace Alone Through Faith Alone.
Listen to or Read Ray Steadman’s Sermon But Now.
The Sermon will be available online on January 20, 2019 at 12:30 pm.
Disclaimer: Reference to a particular article or website does not constitute endorsement or agreement with everything in that article or on that website.
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