You will certainly stumble, but the LORD keeps you from falling. Photo: Jake Mills, via Unsplash CONTEXT: Psalm 37 is a collection of proverbs, each set in two line couplets that form an acrostic, in which each set of couplets begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alefbet . Although each couplet stands on its own, the overall theme of Psalm 37 is clear: to answer the age old question of how it is that the wicked prosper, while the righteous so often seem to languish. Today we'll just be reading a few couplets that capture the gist of this long psalm. Psalm 37 Of David. 1   Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; 2   for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3   Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4  Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5   Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 6  He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun. 7   Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. -- 12  The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; 13  but the LORD laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming. 14  The wicked draw the sword and bend the bow to bring down the poor and needy, to slay those whose ways are upright. 15  But their swords will pierce their own hearts, and their bows will be broken. -- 23  The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; 24  though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. -- 27  Turn from evil and do good; then you will dwell in the land forever. 28  For the LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. -- 39  The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD ; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. 40  The LORD helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints Article 8: The Certainty of This Preservation It is not by our own merits or strength but by God’s undeserved mercy that we neither forfeit faith and grace totally nor remain in our downfalls to the end and are lost. With respect to ourselves this not only easily could happen, but also undoubtedly would happen; but with respect to God it cannot possibly happen, since his plan cannot be changed, his promise cannot fail, the calling according to his purpose cannot be revoked, the merit of Christ as well as his interceding and preserving cannot be nullified, and the sealing of the Holy Spirit can neither be invalidated nor wiped out. Summary One of the most frustrating aspects of the Christian life is the fact that so many people who have little to no regard for the way of the LORD seem to be doing so much better than those who earnestly desire to live a godly life. Seeing people succeed in their ways when they carry out their wicked schemes can cause one to wonder if the sacrifices the LORD calls us to make to follow His law are really worth it. Notice that throughout this psalm, David doesn't call you to deny the reality that you see around you. He doesn't try to convince his readers that the prosperity we see godless people enjoying is just an illusion or something other that what it seems to be, or that the suffering God's people endure isn't real. Rather, David - inspired by the Holy Spirit - calls you to reorient your perspective. Don't be so preoccupied with the way things are now. Instead, see things from the vantage point of eternity. The success the wicked enjoy now will not last: it will soon die away. David reminds you that even as they revel in their prosperity, the LORD laughs at the wicked, for He knows their day is coming. So do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong. Instead, cling to the rock solid promises that Psalm 37 reminds you of: The LORD will give you the desires of your heart; He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn; The LORD loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. The salvation of the righteous comes from the LORD ; he is their stronghold in time of trouble.   Dig Deeper   In Hebrew poetry, the primary meaning of a poem or narrative often comes right in the middle, rather than in the end as we would often expect it to. Verses 23-24 come right smack in the middle, and therefore the primary point of Psalm 37: 23  The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; 24  though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand. It's passages like this that form the foundation for the doctrines of the Canons of Dordt. If you needed to rely upon your own stumbling strength to get you across the heavenly finish line, not only could you fall, forfeiting faith and grace totally, but you undoubtedly would. David here reminds you that you will stumble through life. But he also reminds you that, like a loving Father, the LORD upholds you with His hand so that you will not fall. So put your hope in the LORD, who helps and delivers you as you take refuge in Him. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who upholds us with His hand even as we stumble; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you would be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; and that you would not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 2 Thessalonians 2

Though you continue to fall, Christ continues to lift you back up. All throughout history, God's people have followed a rhythm of sin that led to suffering. But God ALWAYS preserved a remnant, just as He preserves you in your salvation. Micah 7:8–9 (NIV) CONTEXT: Today's passage comes at the end of a book full of judgment and lament. Micah ends with a forward look of hope. The current cataclysmic circumstances do not encompass reality in its entirety. Nations that opposed God’s kingdom will come undone. Walls torn down will be rebuilt. God’s mighty acts of salvation accomplished at the exodus will happen again. How can Micah be so confident? Because there is no God like Yahweh. Micah’s very name means “Who is like Yahweh?” The implied answer is no one. God’s character is revealed in his name ( Lexham Context Commentary ) . 8   Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. 9   Because I have sinned against him, I will bear the Lord’s wrath, until he pleads my case and upholds my cause. He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints Article 8: The Certainty of This Preservation It is not by our own merits or strength but by God’s undeserved mercy that we neither forfeit faith and grace totally nor remain in our downfalls to the end and are lost. With respect to ourselves this not only easily could happen, but also undoubtedly would happen; but with respect to God it cannot possibly happen, since his plan cannot be changed, his promise cannot fail, the calling according to his purpose cannot be revoked, the merit of Christ as well as his interceding and preserving cannot be nullified, and the sealing of the Holy Spirit can neither be invalidated nor wiped out. Summary It would be difficult to summarize all of God's people all throughout all times using just one word, but a good candidate might be the word remnant. After all, the history of God's people shows a continual cycle that's almost as consistent as a healthy heart rhythm on an EKG monitor. God saves His people, they rejoice and obey Him for a time, but after a generation or so, most people fall back into sin and its consequences. But there's always a remnant. There's always a small number of people God preserves and restores. Think of Noah and his family, Joseph, the judges God raised up to save His people every other generation as they settled Canaan, the exiles that God brought back from Babylon, and the faithful Jews who put their hope in Jesus. God has always preserved a remnant in this new age as well throughout all the ebbs and flows of Church history. Technically speaking, the prophet Micah wasn't formally part of a remnant group. He was part of the sinful generation that lived before Israel would fall to Babylon. As a prophet (one who represents God to the people), Micah called out the sins of his people, warning of judgment for their social injustice and false religion. A chapter before today's passage, Micah famously proclaimed the LORD's requirements for His people: that they would act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God (Micah 6:8). Yet the people continued to miss God's simple mark. But Micah knows the LORD will be faithful, despite the ongoing and cyclical sins of His people. So even as he warns Israel of the LORD's coming wrath and the dark days to come, Micah has hope. He knows that the LORD will be his light , and will ultimately bring me (God's remnant people) out of the darkness and into the light.   Dig Deeper   This remnant theme forms a significant basis for this doctrine of the perseverance of the saints that we've been studying. The cycle of sin / suffering / salvation / sin / suffering / salvation keeps repeating like a heartbeat... not just generationally, but personally in each of our lives... sometimes on a daily basis! Like Micah, you can look at yourself and see how you have fallen and sinned against Him, so you deservedly bear the LORD's wrath as you so often sit in darkness as your enemy gloats over you. And this doesn't just describe your life before you've come to realize your salvation in Christ, but even after! But just as the LORD has always preserved a remnant of His people, you can be certain that He will preserve you. As the Canons put it, by God’s undeserved mercy, you can be certain that you will neither forfeit faith and grace totally nor remain in your downfalls to the end and be lost. Micah knew that the LORD's grace is stronger than His wayward people. He knew that although he had fallen, he would rise, and that even though he sat in the darkness, the LORD would be his light. Living a millennia before Christ, Micah didn't know how, but he knew His God would plead his case, uphold his cause, and bring him out into the light. You know that Christ's interceding and preserving cannot be nullified , so you have even more reason for optimism and confidence than Micah did! AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who always preserves His people; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that as you live in Micah's confidence, that you would act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with your God; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 2 Thessalonians 1

Your salvation is secure because your Savior always lives to intercede for you! Bible.com Hebrews 7:23-25 (NIV) CONTEXT: One of the key themes of Hebrews is 'Jesus is better than...'. He's better than the angels, better than Moses, and in this particular section of the book demonstrates how He's better than any earthly priest. 23  Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; 24  but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. 25  Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints Article 8: The Certainty of This Preservation It is not by our own merits or strength but by God’s undeserved mercy that we neither forfeit faith and grace totally nor remain in our downfalls to the end and are lost. With respect to ourselves this not only easily could happen, but also undoubtedly would happen; but with respect to God it cannot possibly happen, since his plan cannot be changed, his promise cannot fail, the calling according to his purpose cannot be revoked, the merit of Christ as well as his interceding and preserving cannot be nullified, and the sealing of the Holy Spirit can neither be invalidated nor wiped out. Summary If the final verse of our short passage today were the only explanation we had about who Jesus is and what He's accomplished and continues to do, it would be enough! Hebrews 7:25 makes three hugely significant claims about who Jesus is and what He's done and will always do for your salvation. First, you can know that Jesus is able to save you completely. This is one of those fascinating words that gets rendered differently across various Bible translations. The ESV says that Jesus is able to save you to the uttermost. Both of these translations explain that Jesus has done everything necessary to redeem and restore you - nothing else is required! It's from phrases like this that the phrase Solus Christus (Christ Alone) was added to the Reformation motto. But the LSB adds an interesting twist to the word in its translation: Jesus is able to save forever! This is the case as well, for it only makes sense that if you've been completely saved to the uttermost, then such a salvation should last for all eternity. It's verses like this one that form the foundation of this comforting doctrine that we call the perseverance of the saints. Secondly, this verse adds a bit of tensegrity (the good tension that maintains integrity) to our theology of salvation by Christ alone: Although Christ saves completely, He doesn't just dole it out from afar. Rather, He gives it to those who come to God through Him. We've already been reminded this year that the reason you're able to come is because God has sovereignly called and equipped you to do so , but the fact remains that salvation is not passively received. You must come!   Dig Deeper   It's the third aspect of this short verse that brings us to it today: Jesus always lives to intercede for you. Commentator RT France unpacks what this means and why it's so important: The primary sense in which we come to God through Jesus is that he has offered on our behalf the perfect sacrifice. But the priests in the OT had also another function, not so often mentioned—the role of intercession for the people before God ( perhaps best exemplified by Moses , but also symbolized in the high priest’s “bearing the names of the sons of Israel over his heart … as a continuing memorial before the LORD,” Ex 28:29), and that role too is fulfilled by our high priest. Whereas his sacrifice was offered once for all, his intercession continues, and that is why we need a high priest who always lives. While he was on earth, Jesus prayed for his people , and Paul speaks in Romans 8 not only of the Spirit pleading on our behalf but also of Jesus interceding for us at God’s right hand . The theme may not be frequently mentioned, but it is a vital source of pastoral assurance and one without which the process of our salvation would be incomplete ( Hebrews 9:24 ). Remember that Jesus' title of Christ means that He's anointed to be our Prophet, Priest and King. Whereas a prophet represents God to the people, a priest represents the people to God. Know that your salvation is secure because your Savior, who has a perfect and permanent priesthood, always lives to intercede for you! AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who welcomes all who come to Him through Jesus; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you would trust Christ completely, to the uttermost and forever for your salvation since He intercedes for you; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 1 Thessalonians 5

Whether you feel close to God or far away, know your Savior is interceding for you. FaithLife.com Romans 8:31–34 (NIV) 31  What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34  Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life —is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints Article 8: The Certainty of This Preservation It is not by our own merits or strength but by God’s undeserved mercy that we neither forfeit faith and grace totally nor remain in our downfalls to the end and are lost. With respect to ourselves this not only easily could happen, but also undoubtedly would happen; but with respect to God it cannot possibly happen, since his plan cannot be changed, his promise cannot fail, the calling according to his purpose cannot be revoked, the merit of Christ as well as his interceding and preserving cannot be nullified, and the sealing of the Holy Spirit can neither be invalidated nor wiped out. Summary Today's summary is re-posted from August 21, 2024 Romans 8 never fails to disappoint. I've always taught students that when (not if) they come to the end of their rope and don't know where else to turn, open a Bible to Romans chapter 8. Every verse in it is pure comforting truth, and today's short passage is no exception. Today's opening line announced that God is for us. Just let that sink in. Maybe that phrase seems sort of cheesy to you, like an overly saccharin sweet greeting card given to cheer you out of a low moment in life. Maybe it triggers your cynical side, as you wonder how different the world would look if God were actually 'for' everyone. But that's not what it says. God isn't for everyone, He's for us! This statement comes on the heels of a passage  called the 'golden chain of our salvation,' which unpacks how God bends history for the good of those He chose for Himself before creation. God is for you!   Dig Deeper   Yesterday we noted that your salvation is secure because you're protected by His Name - that is, you're covered by God's attributes. As the Canons put it, you cannot possibly lose your salvation, since God's plan cannot be changed, God's promise cannot fail, and God's calling according to His purpose cannot be revoked. But that's not all that's holding you securely in God's hands! Today's passage adds two more layers of eternal security. First, it reminds you that nobody can truly be against you since as we've already noted, God is for you. Certainly this doesn't mean you won't face any opposition in your life, but rather that whatever opposition you do face will ultimately fail. Nobody - not even the devil himself - can bring any charge against those whom God has chosen! Secondly, you're not just held secure by what God has done and the merit of Christ - although that would be more than enough! - but also by what your Savior continues to do for you! At this very moment, He i s at the right hand of God and is also interceding for you. Know that at every moment of every day - on days that you feel close to God, and especially on days where you feel far removed - Christ Jesus is appealing on your behalf to His Father, the Sovereign God who omnipotently controls all that is. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, who will also graciously give us all things; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you would live in the confidence and assurance being so totally secured in your salvation; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 1 Thessalonians 4

You're protected by God's most powerful attribute: His Name. Knowing-Jesus.com John 17:6-10 (NIV) CONTEXT: This is part of what's often referred to as Jesus' High Priestly Prayer, which He prayed on our behalf in the moments before His arrest and crucifixion. 6  “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7  Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8  For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9  I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10  All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11  I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one. 12  While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13  “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14  I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15  My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16  They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17  Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. 18  As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19  For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints Article 8: The Certainty of This Preservation It is not by our own merits or strength but by God’s undeserved mercy that we neither forfeit faith and grace totally nor remain in our downfalls to the end and are lost. With respect to ourselves this not only easily could happen, but also undoubtedly would happen; but with respect to God it cannot possibly happen, since his plan cannot be changed, his promise cannot fail, the calling according to his purpose cannot be revoked, the merit of Christ as well as his interceding and preserving cannot be nullified, and the sealing of the Holy Spirit can neither be invalidated nor wiped out. Summary This is one of those passages of Scripture that we could focus on for several weeks straight and still not uncover all of the treasure present in it. Isn't it just amazing to realize that in this moment of agony, where Jesus in His human nature felt the full measure of fear and despair as He faced the cross, remained focused on us, His disciples! Notice how Jesus differentiates you as His disciple. He thinks of you as being holy - that is, one who is set apart. He prays, I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. This is one of the key reasons you need to constantly be reminded that your life must look different from the world around you, for you are not your own. You've been given to Christ by our Father. So today we'll limit ourselves to one of the key things Jesus asked for you of His Father: that He would protect you by the power of His name. Think of all the ways that God had protected His people in the past: He opened the Red Sea for them to pass through; He surrounded His people with His innumerable angel army; He tamed the lions and kept them from devouring Daniel; the list goes on and on. But here Jesus asks our Father for something much more powerful: to keep you clothed in His Name, protected not only from the evils of this world, but from the temptations of Sarx you face from within so that nothing in all creation can ever separate you from belonging to Him.   Dig Deeper   The Canons root your preservation - that is, your ability to remain faithful to Christ until He returns or calls you home - in God's attributes. In other words, you're not holding on by your own merits or strength, but through the power of God's Name, which Jesus prayed that you would be kept in. You cannot possibly be lost, the Canons point out, since: God's plan cannot be changed, God's promise cannot fail, and God's calling according to his purpose cannot be revoked. Jesus went on to implore His Father on your behalf: My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one . This aspect of Jesus' prayer often gets watered down into the trite phrase that we are in this world, but not of this world. Perhaps a better way to phrase that would be to say that you are very much in this world , by God's will, but you are protected from both it and the evil one because you bear the name of the Triune, living God. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who protects us in the power of His Name; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that your life would reflect the Name you've been given; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 1 Thessalonians 3

You won't do anything as valuable today as reading God's Word! Photo: Alice Rouse, via Unsplash Psalm 119:65–72 (NIV) ט  Teth (Psalm 119 is an acrostic poem, with each of its 22 sections beginning with a successive letter in the Hebrew alefbet (alphabet). In this section where each line begins with the letter ט , five of the eight lines begin with the word ṭôb, which means 'good.' 65  Do good to your servant according to your word, Lord. 66  Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands. 67  Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. 68  You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees. 69  Though the arrogant have smeared me with lies, I keep your precepts with all my heart. 70   Their hearts are callous and unfeeling, but I delight in your law. 71  It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. 72  The law from your mouth is more precious to me than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints Article 7: Renewal to Repentance God preserves in His saints when they fall his imperishable seed from which they have been born again, lest it perish or be dislodged. Also, by His Word and Spirit he certainly and effectively renews them to repentance so that they have a heartfelt and godly sorrow for the sins they have committed; they seek and obtain, through faith and with a contrite heart, forgiveness in the blood of the Mediator; they experience again the grace of a reconciled God; they through faith adore his mercies; and that they from then on more eagerly work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Summary Did you notice all of the words highlighted in blue as you read through the psalm? The entire psalter uses synonyms like commands, decrees, precepts and laws as poetic stand ins to represent scripture, the very words of God. The 119th Psalm, this grand poetic masterpiece, goes all in as it sings the benefits and blessings of the Bible. But this particular strophe of Psalm 119 isn't about God's Word per se, rather it describes the effects that God's Word has. The Bible: reminds of God's faithfulness; teaches knowledge and good judgement; keeps us from going astray; demonstrates how we can be ṭôb ( good ) as God is ṭôb; brings the reader delight; is more precious than thousands of pieces of silver and gold. As we close another week out, the ט  Teth section of Psalm 119 reminds us once again of why it is that it's so important for you to read scripture every day. It's not just some arbitrary religious rule you need to comply with, rather it's very much for your benefit! What else will you do today that will bring you true delight and be worth more than thousands of pieces of silver and gold?   Dig Deeper   It's the psalmist's admission in v67 that grabs our attention today: 67  Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I obey your word. We don't know what this affliction was or what sin the psalmist committed to incur it, but that really doesn't matter. What's important here is the connection the psalmist makes between sin, suffering and sanctification. In other words, we are often subjected to divinely ordained suffering because of our sin, suffering that God uses to sanctify us - that is, to teach us His decrees (it's important to note that not all suffering comes as a direct result of a particular sin). This is the good grief that God uses to pull you back when you go astray . The Canons describe it as a heartfelt and godly sorrow for the sins you have committed . Through it, the Spirit causes you to seek and obtain forgiveness in the blood of the Mediator . Or as the Psalmist puts it here in the 119th, 71  It was good (ṭôb) for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who is good ( ṭôb) and what He does is good (ṭôb); A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you would learn from your afflictions so that you would cling to your Mediator, learn from God's decrees, and go on to obey His Word; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 1 Thessalonians 2

Live in fear, but don't be afraid. Credit: Mike Measley, Evangelical Free Bible Church 1 Peter 1:13–21 (NET) CONTEXT: We read the passage that follows this one, which told us of the spiritual teflon that protects your soul from being stained by your ongoing sin, earlier this week. Our focus today is what it means to, as Paul writes in Philippians 2:12 , work out your salvation with fear and trembling . 13  Therefore, get your minds ready for action by being fully sober, and set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14  Like obedient children, do not comply with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance, 15  but, like the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in all of your conduct, 16  for it is written, “ You shall be holy, because I am holy .” 17  And if you address as Father the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work, live out the time of your temporary residence here in reverence [Literally: phobos (fear)]. 18  You know that from your empty way of life inherited from your ancestors you were ransomed—not by perishable things like silver or gold, 19  but by precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ. 20  He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was manifested in these last times for your sake. 21  Through him you now trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints Article 7: Renewal to Repentance God preserves in His saints when they fall his imperishable seed from which they have been born again, lest it perish or be dislodged. Also, by His Word and Spirit he certainly and effectively renews them to repentance so that they have a heartfelt and godly sorrow for the sins they have committed; they seek and obtain, through faith and with a contrite heart, forgiveness in the blood of the Mediator; they experience again the grace of a reconciled God; they through faith adore his mercies; and that they from then on more eagerly work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Summary It seems like we always feel the need to explain that when the Bible calls God's people to live in fear , which it so often does, that it doesn't really mean what it says. After all, the whole idea of living in fear seems contrary to the Bible's message of confidence that comes from having peace with our Sovereign God and Father. So the Greek word phobos , which clearly means fear , often gets watered down in to words like awe, respect or reverence, as the editors of the NET Bible did here. But today's passage from Peter's first letter really explains well how it is that you're to, as the Canons put it echoing Philippians 2, more eagerly work out your own salvation with fear and trembling . And in general, the NET Bible translated the passage really well. This godly fear  certainly isn't a terror or dread, but rather an attitude of total focus and single minded devotion to God. It begins, as we've seen so often as we read the Bible together each day, with how you think. Peter implores you to get your mind ready for action! Christianity is not a passive, sit back and relax type of lifestyle! You're called to action by becoming holy in all of your conduct. And this action begins by dialing your mind in. To do this, writes Peter, set your hope completely on the grace that will be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. In other words, keep your eye on the prize. Stop complying with the evil urges you used to follow in your ignorance , and instead live out the time of your temporary residence here in fear!   Dig Deeper   Comfort breeds complacency. Most car wrecks occur very close to where the driver lives because the familiarity of the area makes it so much easier to be distracted. But when you're driving through an unfamiliar or more difficult area, you're driving with an increased sense of fear. This sort of fear doesn't paralyze you with a feeling of doom (if it does, maybe you better let somebody else drive!), but it heightens all of your senses and makes you a better driver. Think of the times where life seemed to be crashing in on you. Maybe it was an illness, injury or financial crisis. Remember how much more you prayed and relied on the Lord during that time of trial? And now that the Lord has delivered you from that season, you can see how He strengthened you through it as you fearfully relied on Him. That's what Peter has in mind here; live with this fear -filled intensity every day! But that's so hard to do so when life is, for the most part, so comfortable. This comfort so easily blinds you to the reality of this world, which Peter describes as ignorant; a temporary residence, an empty way of life, filled with perishable things. Remember that you were ransomed - bought at a tremendously high price - by the precious blood like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb, namely Christ . Battle those evil urges you used to follow when you lived in ignorance - those comfortable urges that lull you sleep and put you in grave danger - and live out the time of your temporary residence here in a healthy, godly fear . AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, the one who impartially judges according to each one’s work; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the desire to get your minds ready for action so that you live each day in godly fear; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: 1 Thessalonians 1

You need to care enough to hurt carefully. Paul was not Minnesota nice. Image credit 2 Corinthians 7:8–13 (NIV) 8  Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9   yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10  Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11  See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12  So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13  By all this we are encouraged. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints Article 7: Renewal to Repentance God preserves in His saints when they fall his imperishable seed from which they have been born again, lest it perish or be dislodged. Also, by His Word and Spirit he certainly and effectively renews them to repentance so that they have a heartfelt and godly sorrow for the sins they have committed; they seek and obtain, through faith and with a contrite heart, forgiveness in the blood of the Mediator; they experience again the grace of a reconciled God; they through faith adore his mercies; and that they from then on more eagerly work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Summary I suppose there may be some people who don't care about the pain their critical words impart, but thankfully most people do. At least here in Minnesota they do, anyways. Here most of us are on the other extreme of this spectrum, mortified by the thought of causing offense and worldly sorrow , so too often we bite our lip when we ought to offer sound, albeit critical, advice. As it so often does, the narrow road of discipleship navigates right down the middle, directly between the poles. Certainly many people could learn from us Minnesotans and keep their critical comments to themselves. But on the other hand, we're designed to live in community as Christians, supporting each other, even as we hold one another accountable. Uncomfortable conversations occasionally are a key component in carrying this call out. This means that we need to care enough to hurt carefully . That's what Paul did with the Corinthians. He had taken them to task often in his first letter, which initially caused them sorrow. But although he did at first, Paul no longer regrets it; in fact, as he wrote this second letter, he was happy he'd done so! For although that first letter hurt them, it was only for a little while. For the sorrow he'd stirred up in them - the sorrow which God intended! - led them to repentance. Paul's seemingly offensive words, which inflicted this godly sorrow, ended up producing earnestness, eagerness to clear themselves, indignation [towards their sin], alarm, longing, concern and readiness to see justice done . In other words, Paul's carefully injurious words completely turned this community around. They had been heading towards death, but now once again they were being led to salvation.   Dig Deeper   We live in a society in which the words love and tolerance have become nearly synonymous. We're told that the best way to show love is to not just accept, but fully endorse any feelings, desires or actions another person might have. Even when their feelings, desires and actions conflict with God's commands, and even when such behavior will hurt them, both in this world, and especially in the world to come. Thankfully this hollow, dangerous expression of love which the world demands is not the way your Father loves you. As we read a few days ago in Psalm 23 , He shows His love by walking with you through the dark valley, comforting you with His rod and staff, which He occasionally uses to inflict temporary pain meant to steer you away from sinful feelings, desires and actions which would hurt you even more. Often God exercises this critical discipline through the Christian community He's placed you in. But understand that as you fulfill this mutual responsibility to others, you're not given blanket permission to impose your own ideas and opinions on those around you. The Canons remind us that God has designed this heartfelt and godly sorrow to be delivered by His Word and Spirit. When tough words are necessary, make sure they're God's Word, not your own. This is all the more reason for you, your family and your church community to be saturated in God's Word, which drives out our sinful, selfish opinions and keeps us continually experiencing the grace of a reconciled God, adoring His mercies, and causes us to more eagerly work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who loves us enough to cause godly sorrow when needed; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the wisdom and courage to care enough to hurt carefully; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: John 21

If it quacks, it's a duck. If you keep on sinning, what are you? Heartlight.org 1 John 3:7–10 (ESV) 7  Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8  Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9  No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10  By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints Article 7: Renewal to Repentance God preserves in His saints when they fall his imperishable seed from which they have been born again, lest it perish or be dislodged. Also, by His Word and Spirit he certainly and effectively renews them to repentance so that they have a heartfelt and godly sorrow for the sins they have committed; they seek and obtain, through faith and with a contrite heart, forgiveness in the blood of the Mediator; they experience again the grace of a reconciled God; they through faith adore his mercies; and that they from then on more eagerly work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Summary John has one simple instruction for you in today's passage: do not let anyone deceive you. More literally rendered, he commands you to not allow anyone to pull you away from the truth. This imperative has massive implications once you begin to realize the deceptive nature of so much in this world. Nearly every aspect of it - both good and bad things -have the capacity and often the intention to pry you away from the truth you've been given. The primary truth that John wants you to cling to is that as a Christian, you've been born of God, and that since God's seed abides in you, so sin is incompatible with your new nature . Certainly John doesn't mean that true Christians never sin, for then there would be no true Christians. Rather, John's concern is those who makes a practice of sinning; that is, they let sin fester without fighting against it. John's point is simple. Behavior betrays being. A dog barks, a duck quacks. In the same way, people's actions make it evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: those who unrepentantly keep sinning are of the devil, while those who have been made righteous in Christ will practice righteousness.   Dig Deeper   As we read through our passage from 1 Peter yesterday , we learned that our souls were coated in a sort of spiritual teflon that keeps the sins we still commit as Christians from corrupting our nature, which has been born of God. It's this idea that the Canons summarize here in this week's article: that God preserves His imperishable seed in His saints when they fall into sin . John certainly endorses the doctrine Peter laid out that the Canons echo. So far this year we've read 38 passages written by John that have helped us understand that God's grace is stronger than we are, and that we're so firmly held in God's grip that nothing can pry us out. But John here issues a warning not to abuse this so-called spiritual teflon. You can't just keep on sinning without repentance and expect the teflon to keep sin's stain from sticking. Rather, John reminds you here that because God’s seed abides in you, your behavior must look different from the world. You cannot go on sinning, because you have been born of God . So stay on guard. The world will continually try to convince you that a little sin is just fine. It will even abuse the truth to make you think that since you're protected by spiritual teflon, it can't hurt you. But let no one deceive you. You're a child of God. So just like a duck can't help but quack, make sure you make every effort to always do what is right. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, whose seed abides in us, His childre n; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will be kept from temptation and that you'll feel repentant when you get decieved; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: John 20

Your soul's been coated with spiritual teflon! Not even the filthiest of sins can stick to a soul coated with spiritual teflon! 1 Peter 1:22–25 (NIV) 22  Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. 23  For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. 24  For, “All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, 25   but the word of the LORD endures forever.”  (Isaiah 40:6-8) And this is the word that was preached to you. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Point 2 - Limited Atonement Point 3 - Total Depravity Point 4 - Irresistible Grace Point 5 - Perseverance of the Saints Article 7: Renewal to Repentance God preserves in His saints when they fall his imperishable seed from which they have been born again, lest it perish or be dislodged. Also, by His Word and Spirit he certainly and effectively renews them to repentance so that they have a heartfelt and godly sorrow for the sins they have committed; they seek and obtain, through faith and with a contrite heart, forgiveness in the blood of the Mediator; they experience again the grace of a reconciled God; they through faith adore his mercies; and that they from then on more eagerly work out their own salvation with fear and trembling. Summary At first glance, Peter's opening statement here seems downright heretical: Now that you have purified yourselves... Literally translated, Peter writes, now that you have made your soul holy... . Taken by itself, this clause seems completely contradictory to the gospel, in that it makes it seem like it's up to you to make yourself holy, when all year long we've read about how incapable we are as sinners to accomplish this on our own. If it's up to you to purify yourself, then it's up to you keep yourself purified . That would mean that after each and every sin you commit - both the monstrous sins we've read about these last few weeks and even the 'peccadillos' (little sins, most of which don't even get noticed by anyone other than God) - you would need to begin the purification process all over again. Even if you could somehow accomplish this, you'd never be fully purified, for even the pride resulting from accomplishing that would be a stain. But the second half of the sentence makes sense of the first half. You've certainly have made your soul holy, but you've done so simply by obeying (literally: listening to ) the truth. In other words, you've heard the gospel's promise and put your faith in it. And because of this, as Peter wrote earlier in this opening chapter, you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls (v9). So the only action you've taken to purify yourself is to completely trust in the fully accomplished work of your Savior, Jesus Christ. He took your filthy sin and replaced it with His pure righteousness and holiness.   Dig Deeper   Peter's description of what it means to be born again is one of the key passages from which we build this comforting doctrine of the perseverance of the saints . Peter writes that your new birth doesn't stem from perishable seed, as did your first birth, but rather from imperishable seed. The Legacy Standard Bible's more literal translation helps make it clear why this verse is so foundational for the doctrine of perseverance: for you have been born again not of corruptible seed but incorruptible . It's as if your soul has been coated in spiritual Teflon; each time you sin, you drag your soul through the mud, but because it's been reborn from incorruptible seed, it remains pure! Peter also makes clear how it is that this spiritual teflon gets applied: it's through the living and enduring Word of God. There is power in God's Word! It literally changes the composition of a person's soul from corruptible to incorruptible. To support this, Peter quotes Isaiah's famous claim about the enduring power of God's Word, which forms the basis of the phrase that closes out each episode of the podcast version of these posts. Whatever glory we can muster quickly fades away, but the Word of the LORD endures forever! Nothing - not even all of your indwelling sin - can ever undo the soul purifying work that God's Word has done in you. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, whose powerful Word is living and enduring; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that, having been purified , you will love one another deeply, from the heart; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: John 17