Bible.com Colossians 2:6-15 (NIV) 6  So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Articles 1- 5 Article

FaithLife.com Ephesians 4:22–5:2 (NIV) 22  You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23  to be made new in the you are still angry, 27  and do not give the devil a foothold. 28  Anyone who has been stealing must other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 5 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2   Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity

Habakkuk 2:4-5 (NIV) “See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but (Part 2) Our good works, proceeding from the good root of faith, are good and acceptable to God, since (1:2) As we look across our world and even our own communities today, many of the complaints Habakkuk Habakkuk ends his short book with a psalm of praise looking forward to the day when the LORD will come But it's God's response in 2:4 that catches our attention today.

The Church's primary strategy is to provide 'food for your soul'. 2 Timothy 4:1–5 (NIV) In the presence judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2  Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Today: 2 Timothy 4

Church discipline always works. Sometimes it also results in restoration. Read / Listen Listen to passage & devotional: Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 85 Q. How is the kingdom of heaven closed and opened by Christian discipline? A. According to the command of Christ: Those who, though called Christians, profess unchristian teachings or live unchristian lives, and after repeated and loving counsel refuse to abandon their errors and wickedness, and after being reported to the church, that is, to its officers, fail to respond also to their admonition— such persons the officers exclude from the Christian fellowship by withholding the sacraments from them, and God himself excludes them from the kingdom of Christ. Such persons, when promising and demonstrating genuine reform, are received again as members of Christ and of his church. Summary Yesterday we read about the ugly account in which a man who had been proudly sinning in a way that made the pagans blush. Paul took the Corinthian church to task for tolerating such an ugly sin and instructed them to "expel the wicked man from among you (1 Cor. 5.13)." Church discipline, while necessary, can often seem cold and callous. But when done faithfully, it always works. Sometimes it works by simply ridding the church of a cancerous sin which might infect others. But in this particular case, and many others since then, church discipline achieves its primary goal: bringing the wayward sinner into repentance. The man we read about yesterday is quite likely the same man we read about today, only this time he's characterized by overwhelming sorrow rather than sinful pride. Being put out from the church had the exact intended effect upon him, which the Holy Spirit used to open the man's eyes to see his sin and come to repentance. Paul's instructions regarding this man are quite different than what we read yesterday. Instead of "handing him over to Satan," the church must comfort him. Rather than expulsion, he must be forgiven. Dig Deeper The Belgic Confession is part of the Three Forms of Unity, which, along with the Heidelberg Catechism and the Canons of Dordt, gives expression to what Reformed churches believe the Bible says. It gives the Church three key tasks that it must perform in order to be considered a true church: Preach the pure gospel; Maintain the pure administration of the sacraments; Exercise church discipline to punish sin. In general, we're pretty good at these first two marks. But faithfully exercising church discipline is never easy. It's awkward, embarrassing, and can easily and quickly go off the rails. Besides, as upper midwesterners, we abhor confrontation, so it's way easier to just pretend we don't see the obvious. Maybe if we just work harder at the first two marks, we think to ourselves, the need for the third will vanish. But yet we've been commanded to keep the church pure. We're not interested in chasing out repentant sinners; in fact, we need to attract more of them! But those who willfully, continually, and unrepentantly put their own wants and desires ahead of the Kingdom have no business being in it. For our own good, and possibly even theirs, we must - after repeated brotherly counsel and pleading for them to repent - show them the door. AAA Prayer (About) ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, who demands perfect obedience, but welcomes all those who repent of their sin; ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that your church would be welcoming to repentant sinners, but hostile to those who unrepentantly cling to sin. ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year, a chapter a day - 1 Corinthians 4

Hebrews 2:1–4 (NIV) 2 We must pay the most careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away. 2   For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity

Grace and faith are free gifts, worthy of your deepest gratitude. bibleversestogo.com Ephesians 2:1-10 (NIV) 2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2  in which you used to live when Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election 1 - God's right to condemn all people 2 - God

Ephesians 2:1–5 (NIV) 2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used It certainly is "a lamp for our feet, and a light on our path (Psalm 119:105)" providing endless wisdom Today: Matthew 22

Galatians 2:16 (NIV) [We] know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith Listen to passage & devotional: Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 23: The Justification of Sinners

2 Corinthians 1:21–22 (NIV) 21  Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22  set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity