You need to know the enemy is waging war against you. CONTEXT: Yesterday we read about how we've died and been buried to sin in Christ, which could almost make it seem like sin is no longer a temptation or a problem for Christians. But, of course, you know that it is. In today's passage, Paul gives words to the daily struggle with sin that we all face, and often lose. Romans 7:14–25 (NASB95) 14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin. Canons of Dordt Point V, Article 1 Those people whom God according to his purpose calls into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord and regenerates by the Holy Spirit, he also sets free from the reign and slavery of sin, though in this life not entirely from the flesh and from the body of sin. Article 2 Hence daily sins of weakness arise, and blemishes cling to even the best works of God’s people, giving them continual cause to humble themselves before God, to flee for refuge to Christ crucified, to put the flesh to death more and more by the Spirit of supplication and by holy exercises of godliness, and to strain toward the goal of perfection, until they are freed from this body of death and reign with the Lamb of God in heaven. Summary Everyone who's been a Christian for longer than a few hours recognizes the struggle that Paul testifies to in today's painful passage. You know that so often, you are not practicing what you would like to do - that is, to live for the praise, honor and glory of our Triune God - but that instead you find yourself doing just the opposite: the very thing you hate. Paul wants you to know that you're not alone - in more ways than one. First of all, he struggled in the same way! Notice how poignantly he writes here. The somewhat in-your-face diatribe he engaged in yesterday's passage is gone, replaced with humble admissions of his own continual failures. But Paul provides more than just comradery here. He wants you to know you have the Law on your side too. Maybe that doesn't seem very comforting; after all, nobody likes being continually convicted by a Law we can't keep. But understand that inasmuch as it helps you identify and repent of indwelling sin, the Law is good. You must learn to joyfully concur with the law of God in your inner being, even though it often stings a bit! Dig Deeper You need to know that you are at war. Maybe that's not quite the best way to put it. Rather, war is being waged against you, even if you're unaware of it and aren't fighting against it. By God's grace, we're not all that familiar with wars here in North America. We certainly know they're being fought, but the actual battle fronts are always far away on the other side of the world, not in our own communities or neighborhoods. But the war that Paul writes of in today's passage is different - it's as close to home as it gets, because this war is being fought by a sin that dwells in you, and it's making you a prisoner. This is a battle for your being - for you as a person. It's being waged between the law of your mind - that is, your desire to serve the law of God - and the law of sin which is in your members (Sarx / your flesh). It's a fight you face every moment of every day, although weakness and fatigue so often convince you to just give in and let sin win. But notice that today's passage doesn't provide any strategies for battling back. In fact, it almost seems like Paul gives up and considers himself a wretched man trapped in a body of death. The Bible in general, and Paul in particular, provide plenty of tactics for you prevail often in the daily battles you face against sin. But today's passage is more of an intel report than a battle plan. You need to be aware of what you're facing, and that you can't overcome this enemy on your own. It's starting next week, as we read through the greatest words ever written - Romans 8 - that you'll be reminded why it is that Paul ends this painful passage with thanksgiving. You have been set free from the body of this death, because as we'll read Monday morning, even though you so often fail to prevail in your war against sin, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, to whom we give thanks through Jesus Christ our Lord! ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the strength to battle sin daily, even as you know that our Savior has won the war; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

It might be surprising to hear that you've already died and been buried. CONTEXT: For the past five chapters, Paul has been unpacking the glorious details of salvation by grace alone, through faith alone, because of Christ alone, and not based on our efforts. Romans 6:1–14 (NASB95) 1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin. 8 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, 13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. 14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 88 Q. What is involved in genuine repentance or conversion? A. Two things: the dying-away of the old self, and the coming-to-life of the new. Q&A 89 Q. What is the dying-away of the old self? A. It is to be genuinely sorry for sin, to hate it more and more, and to run away from it. Q&A 90 Q. What is the coming-to-life of the new self? A. It is wholehearted joy in God through Christ and a delight to do every kind of good as God wants us to. Summary Paul begins using a literary method that he's become famous for here in the book of Romans called the diatribe. He begins with a rhetorical question, like what shall we say then?, and then goes on to shoot down the suggestion with spectacular theology. He wants to get ahead of the fallacious conclusion that our not yet fully healed minds naturally come to: if we're saved by grace alone and not by our own righteousness, why not continue in sin so that grace may increase? After all, as some have concluded, God loves to forgive, and I love to sin. Seems like a match made in heaven, right? Paul responds to his own question with words that were far more forceful in the language he wrote in than the way it appears when translated may it never be! The old KJV captures it a bit more with the paraphrase God forbid! This sort of reasoning ought to be unthinkable for anybody who's been baptized into Christ Jesus. We often equate baptism with the beginning of new life, and in many ways it is, both for newborns who so often receive it, as well as older converts who've embraced the truth of the gospel. But here we get reminded that we've also been baptized into Christ's death and burial. Dig Deeper This requires a massive shift in our thinking (which you may remember, is exactly what the word repent means). First of all, it might be quite surprising to hear that you've already died and been buried - that is, our old self was crucified with Christ, and we have been buried with Him through baptism into death. But this seemingly morbid reality gives way to the beautiful new life we crave, for since we have become united with Christ in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be [united] in the likeness of His resurrection. This new reality sets the stage for the first set of imperatives (commands) that flow out of the gospel of grace: Consider yourself to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus; Do not let sin reign in your mortal body... or presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; Instead, present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God; And remember, sin shall not be master over you! AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, whose glory raised Christ from the dead; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the insight and ability to continually die to sin and come to new life in Christ; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Your salvation depends upon the details unpacked in this passage. Romans 5:12-14 (NIV) CONTEXT: This passage sets the framework for the entire gospel. Consequently, it becomes the key by which the whole rest of the Bible ought to be interpreted. 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned— 13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone’s account where there is no law. 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come. Canons of Dordt Point III/IV, Article 2: The Spread of Corruption Man brought forth children of the same nature as himself after the fall. That is to say, being corrupt he brought forth corrupt children. The corruption spread, by God’s just judgment, from Adam to all his descendants—except for Christ alone—not by way of imitation (as in former times the Pelagians would have it) but by way of the propagation of his perverted nature. Point II, Article 2: The Satisfaction Made by Christ Since, however, we ourselves cannot give this satisfaction or deliver ourselves from God’s anger, God in his boundless mercy has given us as a guarantee his only begotten Son, who was made to be sin and a curse for us, in our place, on the cross, in order that he might give satisfaction for us. Summary Today's Summary and Dig Deeper sections are reposted from June 26, 2025 You may have a ton of questions about why this world which God created good and perfect is now broken and riddled with sin, but one thing you don't need to wonder about is how it got this way. Your Sunday School instinct might be popping up right now, eager to offer that explanation. It was the Serpent in the Garden, right? Well, kinda... sorta... actually, no! We often ascribe way to much power to the devil. The Serpent simply served up the suggestion, and although he certainly is sinful, he wasn't the one who corrupted creation. Paul here, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, explains that sin entered the world through one man. It was Adam's fault. And since Adam represented you and me, it actually was our fault. Just to add emphasis to that last point - that you and I share the blame right alongside Adam - Paul explains that death came to all people - not just Adam - because all sinned. It's not just that we sinned afterwards, but that in that fateful moment in the garden, when Adam sinned, we all sinned. If you're curious as to why Adam is implicated when it was Eve who took that first bite, Paul explains this as well. Adam, writes Paul, broke the command. God set the conditions for the covenant He entered into with Adam (and subsequently us) - to work the garden and keep it holy and to not eat from the tree in the middle of the garden. These commands were given to Adam before Eve had even been created. Still curious? Dig Deeper. Dig Deeper We began by noting that this passage sets the context for the entire gospel (Good News), but so far, all we've seen is how it explains the bad news. But this passage delivers all of its good news in one key word. Adam wasn't just the one who sinned by breaking a command. He was also the pattern of the One to come. You'll at least be able to figure out the Greek word Paul used there: typos. As one lexicon defines it, a typos is "a model or example which anticipates or precedes a later realization—‘archetype, figure, foreshadow, symbol.’" What this means is that Adam is not the only option we have to represent us. There would be another, and that would of course be our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This is the gospel: All who are represented by Adam fail to meet God's covenant requirements and are cast out of paradise, but everyone represented by the new Adam - Jesus Christ - have the perfect righteousness required to satisfy the covenant and have peace with God. Christ's grace is stronger than Adam's sin. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our covenant God and Father, ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Thank God that although you share in Adam's guilt, you also share in Christ's perfect righteousness; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

You have what you're looking for: peace with God. Photo credit: Colton Duke, via Unsplash Romans 5:1–11 (NASB95) 1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. 6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 60 Q. How are you right with God? A. Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God’s commandments and of never having kept any of them, and even though I am still inclined toward all evil, nevertheless, without my deserving it at all, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me. Summary This is it. This is the climactic conclusion to the grand narrative we've been working our way through this year, one short passage every weekday. Our Story began in the Garden, where Adam rebelled from His Creator's covenant and was driven out of the LORD's presence. He was barred from returning by one of God's mightiest angels wielding a flaming sword. The Story continued through generation after generation of people, called by God into a new covenant, codified on stone tablets that were broken to bits before they ever made it down the mountain. Provisions were made in the form a tabernacle and later a grand temple in which the atonement that sin required could be symbolized through the shedding of blood by sacrificial animals. Although the people's faithfulness ebbed and flowed throughout the ages, God remained rock solid to the covenant He'd obligated Himself to. He providentially cared for His rebellious people, as a Shepherd does for His sheep. People certainly enjoyed God's blessing, but through it all they never really had what they so desperately longed for: shalom - the peace that comes when everything is the way it's supposed to be; a comprehensive peace predicated upon, first and foremost, having peace with God - a peace that proved impossible to achieve on our own. And so it is that I consider the opening words of Romans 5 to be the most important words ever written, that having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, all because while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. In this way, God demonstrates His own love toward is, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Dig Deeper It seems pretty early to be reaching the Bible's 'climactic conclusion'. After all, we still have two months of reading before we make it to the end! And all you need to do is to look around you and notice that although we now have peace with God, things are nowhere near the way they're supposed to be. For we still live in the midst of tribulations - a word that doesn't get used very much anymore, but one that best translates the idea Paul immediately shifts to after announcing our new found peace. Even though we've already have been fully reconciled to God through Christ, we've not yet begun to realized the full benefits of it here and now. But your knowledge of this peace - that is, your theology - enables you to exult in the midst of the tribulations you continue to face. You can glory, boast and even rejoice (words used by various other translations) in your tribulation because as you do so, it ultimately strengthens the hope you have because the love of God has been poured out within your heart. Although we've already learned so much as we've read through the Bible together this year, in many ways the best is still yet to come as we unpack the glorious details of this tremendous peace with God that we've been given. And the more you come to understand it, the more you will fully experience this peace, even as tribulations roar all around you. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who has poured His love out through the Holy Spirit who was given to us; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you'll come to deeply understand this all encompassing peace, so that you will be able to exult in your tribulations; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

God has promised to bless you and keep you. Faithlife.com Psalm 121 (ESV) 121 A Song of Ascents. 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. 4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. 8 The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Belgic Confession Article 12: The Creation of All Things We believe that the Father created heaven and earth and all other creatures from nothing, when it seemed good to him, by his Word— that is to say, by his Son. He has given all creatures their being, form, and appearance, and their various functions for serving their Creator. Even now he also sustains and governs them all, according to his eternal providence, and by his infinite power, that they may serve man, in order that man may serve God. Summary I deeply appreciate when Christian music quotes scripture. Because it is highlighted in Casting Crowns’ song “Praise You In This Storm”, I cannot think of this verse without thinking of that song, and vice versa. Casting Crowns sang about praising God during the storms of life, which fits with the theme of God’s care and protection found in Psalm 121. The psalmist writes of looking up to the hills. Where I live in Worthington, Minnesota, there are not a lot of hills to look up to. However, being in the hill country, there were plenty of hills to look up to surrounding Jerusalem. Even the temple was built upon a hill. The psalmist asks where their help comes from. It does not come from the false gods that some worshipped in those hills. Their help comes from the LORD of heaven and earth who made those very same hills. The theme of God’s protection is repeated throughout this psalm. The word keep is used six times. Additionally, it is written that the LORD will not let your foot be moved. The terrain around Jerusalem is very rocky and to prevent one’s foot from moving is to stop them from sliding and falling. The psalmist also mentions how God never sleeps. You do not need to fear God’s watch over you lapsing as he is always alert, unlike the false gods of the hills. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah mocked the prophets of Baal by suggesting that perhaps their god had fallen asleep when they needed him. Dig Deeper Often, we think of God as the giver of salvation, but when is the last time that you took a moment to consider how God watches over you? Our God cares for more than just your eternal resting place, He is actively watching over you now. The writer of Psalm 121 shows his trust in God’s protection. God is not described as some far away being who is vaguely aware of what is happening in our lives. God is instead spoken of as being very present and active in watching over His creation. The LORD is described as a shade on your right hand. Just like how a shadow is always present, God is always there. No matter where you go in life, God is with you, he sees you, and he cares for you. Find comfort in the fact that God watches over you. In times of trouble, look not to the devices of this world but to our LORD for help. Unlike the false idols of the hills, God knows you, God sees you, and God can help you. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who made heaven and earth; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray will keep you from all evil; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

Don't get bogged down praying long prayers. Follow Jesus' short pattern instead. Read / Listen Read Luke 11:1-4 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.” 2 He said to them, “When you pray, say: “ ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. 3 Give us each day our daily bread. 4 Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.’ ” Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 118 Q. What did God command us to pray for? A. Everything we need, spiritually and physically, as embraced in the prayer Christ our Lord himself taught us. Summary I wonder if the disciples were underwhelmed at first. Here they had just asked one of the best, most important question they ever ask: "Lord, teach us to pray." Not only is this one of the best things they could have asked, but there's nobody better to ask how to pray than the Son of God Himself. I'll bet that after the question was asked, a hush settled over the group in eager anticipation as to how Jesus would answer, and they sat back a bit, preparing themselves for a long and detailed explanation of how it is mortal men should speak to the Lord God Almighty. We might expect Jesus' answer here would end up making Psalm 119 look short. But instead, Jesus fully answered this all important question in just 38 words. We often refer to this passage as The Lord's Prayer, but it would be much more accurate to describe it as The Disciple's Prayer. It's not necessarily the prayer the Lord prayed, but one He gave to us, His disciples, to pray as we live for Him. We'll spend the final six weeks of this year coming to understand the pattern these 38 words set for us to pray, by Acknowledging who God is, Aligning our lives with His will, as we Ask God for "everything we need, spiritually and physically." Dig Deeper We often value things by size. If something's heavy, it's probably expensive (you might recall the fifth commandment calls us to value our parents by letting them be 'heavy' in our lives). We assume that big businesses are more profitable than small ones, and even that large churches are healthier than fellowships with just a few people. So it's not surprising to understand our instinct is that if we really want to impress God and convince Him to give us what we want, that longer and more and verbose prayers will be more effective. There is a time and place for longer public prayers filled with pious language. The Puritans perfected this art form in a way that continues to bless those who read and pray their beautiful prayers. But most of us don't have the capacity to pray this way in our day to day lives, so we don't pray as often as we should because we're intimidated by our perceived need to pray long, eloquent, prayers chock full of holy sounding words. The truth is that bigger is not always better in any aspect of life. Nearly every prayer written in the Bible, just like this model prayer that Jesus gave us, is fairly short. This is what makes it possible for you to fulfill the Bible's command to pray constantly (1 Thessalonians 5:17, Colossians 4:2, Ephesians 6:18). This isn't a command to pray one massively long prayer, but to continually pray lots of short prayers all through the day. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, hallowed be your name. ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Your Kingdom come; lead us not into temptation; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Give us each day our daily bread, and forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - John 20

You are in an unbreakable covenant relationship with God. Isaiah 59:20-21 (NIV) CONTEXT: Isaiah 59 begins with a description of the many sins of God’s people. Seeing their sad plight, God laments that no one within Israel is able to deliver them; thus, he himself must bring deliverance to his people. 20 “The Redeemer will come to Zion, to those in Jacob who repent of their sins,” declares the LORD. 21 “As for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the LORD. “My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants— from this time on and forever,” says the LORD. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Articles 1-14 Article 1: God’s Right to Condemn All People Romans 5:12-14 - Mis-Markmanship Deuteronomy 28:15-20 - Not A Tame Lion Genesis 2:15-17 - Or Else Luke 15:11-16 - Prodigious Deprivation Psalm 143 - Aggressive Prayer Pattern ​ Article 2: The Manifestation of God’s Love Zephaniah 3:14-17 - The Mighty Warrior Who Saves Lamentations 3:19-23 - Great Is Thy Faithfulness John 3:16-18 - Simple Beauty 1 John 4:8-10 - This Is Love Psalm 103 - Praise the LORD! ​ Article 3: The Preaching of the Gospel 1 Timothy 2:1-7 - God Our Savior Isaiah 52.7 - Good News! Rom 10:14-17 - The Power of Preaching 1 Cor 1.23-24 - God's Foolishness Psalm 93 - Mightier Than Chaos ​ Article 4: A Twofold Response to the Gospel John 1:9-13 - The TRUE Light John 3:31-36 - Wrath Removed John 6:37-40 - Tensegral Theology John 12:42-50 - Buffet Theology Psalm 16 - In God We Trust ​ Article 5: The Sources of Unbelief and of Faith James 1:13-18 - The Devil (didn't) Make You Do It Ecclesiastes 7:25-29 - Many Schemes Ephesians 2:8 - The Gift of God Philippians 1:27-30 - Granted Psalm 95 - The LORD is OUR God ​ Article 6: God’s Eternal Decree Isaiah 45:21-25 - Irrevocable Ezekiel 36:24-27 - A Whole New Reality Romans 9:15-21 - God's Mercy, Not Your Effort 2 Thessalonians 2:10-12 - Love The Truth Psalm 81 - Call To Worship ​ Article 7: Election Ephesians 1:3-6 - Before the Foundation Deuteronomy 7:1-10 - Set Apart John 17:1-5 - Sovereign Submission John 17:6-12 - Given Psalm 115 - God Does What He Pleases ​ Article 8: A Single Decree of Election Romans 4:1-8 - One and the Same Romans 4:9-17 - Chicken or Egg? Romans 4:18-25 - Faithfully Face the Facts Hebrews 11:39-40 - Promises Kept Psalm 33 - God's Control, Authority & Presence Article 9: Election Not Based on Foreseen Faith John 10:22-30 - Listen Up! 2 Timothy 1:7-10 - Passive & Powered Titus 3:3-7 - Transformed Deuteronomy 9:4-6 - You're Not That Awesome Psalm 91 - The Shelter of the Most High Article 10: Election Based on God’s Good Pleasure Luke 2:13-14 - Christmas in March Galatians 4:1-7 - From Slave to Son Isaiah 53:6 - Herd Mentality 1 Peter 2:9-10 - You're The Best Thing God Has! Psalm 5 - The Morning Psalm Article 11: God’s election is unalterable. Malachi 3:6-7 - Keep It Simple Hebrews 6:13-20 - Unchanging Anchor Hebrews 13:1-8 - Keep On Loving Hebrews 6:13-20 - Unchangeable Blessing Psalm 110 - Victory in Jesus Article 12: The Assurance of election Hebrews 11:1-6 - Confident Assurance Malachi 3:14-18 - Childlike Fear 2 Corinthians 7:8-11 - Godly Sorrow Matthew 5:6 - Stay Hungry Psalm 65 - The Hearer of Prayers ​ Article 13/14: The Fruit of our assurance Isaiah 57:14-21 - God's Second Residence 2 Peter 1:3-10 - Make Every Effort Isaiah 42:1-9 - The Sovereign & His Servant Deuteronomy 29:29 - The Secret Things Psalm 96 - Soli Deo Gloria Article 17: The Salvation of the Infants of Believers Since we must make judgments about God’s will from his Word, which testifies that the children of believers are holy, not by nature but by virtue of the gracious covenant in which they together with their parents are included, Godly parents ought not to doubt the election and salvation of their children whom God calls out of this life in infancy. Summary We could write an entire theology book based only on Isaiah 59:21 - and it would end up being a multi-volume set! But today we'll need to suffice ourselves with only a few short paragraphs. Once again, we see our God affirm the key aspect of His relationship to us: He is in covenant with us. A covenant has been famously described as "a bond in blood, sovereignly administered." Covenants are often compared to contracts, but contracts are rarely 'bonds in blood.' A covenant, then, is so much more significant; it's an eternal contract written in the blood of Christ. By means of His covenant, God has legally obligated Himself to you! As part of this covenant, He has given you His Spirit, who will not depart from you. This is the basis for our theme this year: that God's grace is stronger than you are. Whatever else may happen to you, you can be absolutely certain that the Holy Spirit will always be with you in the midst of it. Nothing can ever pry you away from Him. But in His covenant, God has given you even more! He has put His words in your mouth. Our Covenant God is not some far off deity looking down from above just watching and waiting to see if we can figure things out on our own. No, He sets His word - the truth - in our mouths. The Bible isn't just meant to be read on your own (although that's important!), it's been put in your mouth to be proclaimed to those who need to hear it. Calvin comments here that although God could speak directly or use angels, He chooses to speak to us through human messengers for our benefit. By using people like us, He gently draws us to Himself. Dig Deeper God wants you to know that these covenant promises are not just for you. His word will be on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants—from this time on and forever. It's promises like this that give us utmost confidence that, as the Canons put it, the children of godly parents whom God calls out of this life in infancy have salvation, because they too are party to this covenant that God will always be faithful to. Isaiah 59:21 probably isn't on anyone's top ten list of favorite Bible passages. It's somewhat obscure and not well known. But it's passages like this that provide you with endless peace and comfort. It's to passages like today's that Calvin goes on to encourage you... ...always to look to when you are tempted by adversity, and when everything does not succeed according to your wish; for you must be supported and upheld by the word and the Spirit, of which the Lord declares that you shall never be left destitute. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, whose covenant is with us; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will always be supported and upheld by the word and the Spirit; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Matthew 9

Watch out for the lady trying to seduce you! BiblePic.com Ecclesiastes 7:25-29 CONTEXT: The book of Ecclesiastes contain the life long wisdom of the Teacher, a character modeled after King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live. This passage is shocking at first, but as we view it in the context of the Proverbs Solomon wrote, it will begin to make much more sense. 25 So I turned my mind to understand, to investigate and to search out wisdom and the scheme of things and to understand the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly. 26 I find more bitter than death the woman who is a snare, whose heart is a trap and whose hands are chains. The man who pleases God will escape her, but the sinner she will ensnare. 27 “Look,” says the Teacher, “this is what I have discovered: “Adding one thing to another to discover the scheme of things— 28 while I was still searching but not finding— I found one upright man among a thousand, but not one upright woman among them all. 29 This only have I found: God created man (ʾā·ḏām) upright, but they have gone in search of many schemes.” Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election 1 - God's right to condemn all people 2 - God shows His sovereign love in the sending of Jesus Christ 3 - The Preaching of the Gospel 4 - A Twofold Response to the Gospel 5 - The Sources of Unbelief and of Faith The cause or blame for this unbelief, as well as for all other sins, is not at all in God, but in man. Faith in Jesus Christ, however, and salvation through him is a free gift of God Summary At first glance, this passage seems to be full of the misogyny and sexist attitudes that so many people think the Bible is full of. So let's begin here by addressing the elephant in the room: no, the Teacher is not disparaging women as a whole in this passage. With that out of the way, we can begin to make some sense out of it. This passage comes at the end of a section in which the Teacher grapples with the frustrating fact that so often the wicked prosper while the righteous suffer. Ultimately, the Teacher knows that the wicked will get what they have coming, so remaining in sin and wickedness is foolish. But the Teacher wants to understand why so many people persist in the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly. Enter the woman who is a snare. The book of Proverbs, which is comprised mostly of Solomon's collected writings, features two primary female characters. One of these is Lady Wisdom, the lady man ought to pursue. The other is Lady Folly, the woman the Teacher has in mind here, who continually snares men with her seductive schemes. After long investigation, the Teacher identifies the root of the world's problems, and as our Canons explain, it's not God's fault that things are the way they are. God created man upright, but they have gone in search of many [of Lady Folly's] schemes. Dig Deeper Let's dwell on the Teacher's conclusion a bit longer. Notice the switch from the singular man to the plural they. The Bible identifies the first man, Adam, as the one who introduced sin into the world. Although Adam stood before God pointing his finger at the woman who 'snared' him and the serpent, the rest of us are quick to point our fingers back at Adam, as if all of the world's subsequent problems are his fault. But the Teacher reminds us here that all of us have compounded and increased the sin Adam introduced by going in search of many schemes. Notice that we can't even blame Lady Folly for her seduction - we actively go in search of her schemes just as much as she comes looking for us. The Teacher was unable to find one upright woman among them all. Certainly, the Teacher is being hyperbolic here; this passage does not teach that women are inferior to men. It refers to the exhaustive search King Solomon made for an upright woman, marrying and taking in hundreds of women, a search that ultimately caused his downfall (1 Kings 11:3). All of them, to one degree or another, was less than upright and pulled him away from God (again, this reflects the sinful condition of humanity as a whole, not just women). But even our pessimistic Teacher mentions a glimmer of hope. He teaches us that the man who escapes Lady Folly pleases God. In all of human history, there has only been one upright man who successfully resisted her seductions. That man, of course, is your Savior, Jesus Christ. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who is pleased with those who escape Lady Folly; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will realize the stupidity of wickedness and the madness of folly; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Acts 4

Easter has come & gone, but continue to be grateful for your Savior's suffering. Read / Listen Read Isaiah 53:1-6 Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? 2 He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. 3 He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4 Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. 6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 37 Q. What do you understand by the word “suffered”? A. That during his whole life on earth, but especially at the end, Christ sustained in body and soul the anger of God against the sin of the whole human race. This he did in order that, by his suffering as the only atoning sacrifice, he might set us free, body and soul, from eternal condemnation, Summary The book of Isaiah has many prophecies concerning the Messiah (Christ). Many of them focus on the birth of Jesus and his life. Isaiah 53 focuses on his suffering and death. There is no way to make this less extreme: Jesus suffered mightily on our behalf. Isaiah’s prophecy speaks of what Jesus would endure for us: Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed (v4-5) Through his death, Jesus bore our suffering. Through his crucifixion he took our punishment. Jesus was nailed to the cross so that all who call him Lord would not have to be. Our sin put Jesus on that cross. Why? The last part of verse five tells us, By his wounds we are healed. Dig Deeper Our only hope for salvation is through Jesus. This has been the focus of our worship, reflection and celebration, especially these last few days, and also our primary focus as we've read through the Bible this year. Today we are going to focus on Jesus’ suffering. Here is what the gospel of Matthew says Jesus went through on our behalf: Jesus was betrayed by one is his disciples, Judas and deserted by the others. Matthew 26:47-9 While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Then all the disciples deserted him and fled. He was beaten and mocked. Matthew 26:67 Then [members of the Sanhedrin] spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?” He was flogged, mocked again, and mistreated. Matthew 27:26-30 But [Pilate] had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. [The soldiers] stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After all of that, they crucified him. Jesus went through all of that to save God’s elect. While we should feel sorrow over what Jesus went through to save us from our sins, we can also feel gratitude. Jesus was betrayed, deserted, beaten, spit on, mocked, flogged, and crucified to save God’s children. Jesus knew exactly what he had to do and he did it to save the lost. Thank you, Jesus. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Jesus, you are our Savior who suffered on our behalf; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: May I be grateful for your suffering ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - Matthew 3

Thank God for Jesus’ perfect sacrifice every day! Biblia.com Hebrews 2:14–18 (ESV) 14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Articles 1-3 Article 4: Reasons For The Infinite Value of Christ’s Death This death is of such great value and worth for the reason that the person who suffered it is— as was necessary to be our Savior— not only a true and perfectly holy human, but also the only begotten Son of God, of the same eternal and infinite essence with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Another reason is that this death was accompanied by the experience of God’s wrath and curse, which we by our sins had fully deserved. Summary So far this week, we’ve taken a look at how Jesus is fully God and fully man united in one person. But the question still remains to be answered - Why is that so important? Why is it so important for our salvation that Jesus is both fully God and fully man? The author of Hebrews tells us as much in our passage today, at least the importance of why Jesus needed to be fully man. Having been talking about how Christ is not ashamed to be called our brother, believers throughout every age are reminded of the necessity for Jesus taking on our flesh, tabernacling among us. Jesus took on our flesh in order that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. Not only that, but we are told: He had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. It was necessary for Jesus to take on our flesh so that He could pay the debt of our sins. The Canons remind us of this necessity, that Jesus be a true and perfectly holy man as human nature must pay the debt of sin (which is echoed in the Heidelberg Catechism QA 16). So, it was necessary for Jesus to fully man. Then why is it also necessary for Jesus to be the only begotten Son of God? Because it’s only by Jesus being fully God that He could bear the weight of God’s just wrath on our sin (see HC Q & A 17). This is why Jesus was the perfect sacrificial lamb on your and my behalf, why His sacrifice is of infinite value! Dig Deeper As I write this, this week is preparation week for our congregation as we look forward to celebrating Communion in our congregation this upcoming Lord’s Day. It is this perfect sacrifice of infinite value that we remember, celebrate, and proclaim whenever we gather around the Lord’s Table together. But it shouldn’t be just when we celebrate Communion, nor only at Good Friday and Easter, which we celebrated not too long ago. Every Lord’s Day, as we gather as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to worship the One True God, we come together to celebrate, praise, and worship the Lord out of gratitude and love for what He’s done for us in the perfect sacrifice of Jesus! And every day, through the Lord’s grace and strength, may our lives be ones lived in gratitude for what God has done as the Gospel works its way into our daily life, thanking and praising the Lord often for His amazing grace in Jesus! AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, in heaven. Hallowed be His name! ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that when temptation comes, you will remember that because Christ Himself suffered when tempted, He is able to help those being tempted; ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Romans 5