Does your daily prayer routine include asking God to curse? HeartLight.org Psalm 5 (NIV) For the director of music. For pipes. A psalm of David. 1  Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament. 2  Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. 3  In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly. 4  For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome. 5  The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong; 6  you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, Lord, detest. 7  But I, by your great love ( ḥěʹ·sěḏ ), can come into your house; in reverence I bow down toward your holy temple. 8  Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies— make your way straight before me. 9  Not a word from their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with malice. Their throat is an open grave; with their tongues they tell lies. 10  Declare them guilty, O God! Let their intrigues be their downfall. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you. 11  But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. 12  Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Articles 1-9 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 The cause of this undeserved election is exclusively the good pleasure of God.  This does not involve God’s choosing certain human qualities or actions from among all those possible as a condition of salvation,  but rather involves adopting certain particular persons from among the common mass of sinners as God’s own possession. Summary David would have found our normal prayer posture - folding our hands, bowing our heads and closing our eyes - to be quite odd. There's nothing wrong with praying that way, and there are many benefits to doing so, but it's hard to imagine David's head bowed and hands folded as he begins his prayer by blurting out for the LORD to listen to my words and to hear my cry for help. David certainly isn't being irreverent in His prayer. He a cknowledges the LORD as my King and my God. But David knows that the relationship goes deeper than just a king and his subject. David knows what we confess here in the Canons, that he is God's own possession. David realizes that he's been set apart from the arrogant, bloodthirsty and deceitful people because of the LORD's ḥěʹ·sěḏ - God's great covenantal love. Both David's identity and his daily activities are defined by God's ḥěʹ·sěḏ love. Psalm 5 is often referred to as the Morning Psalm due to how David notes that he begins each day by laying his requests before the LORD. As important as it is for you to regularly take part in gathered corporate worship, you must also come into the LORD's house and reverently bow down toward His holy temple every day on your own. David here, inspired by the Holy Spirit, helps demonstrate that everything you have going on: your laments, pleas for help , and even seemingly mundane daily requests can and must be lifted to the LORD in your daily personal prayers.   Dig Deeper   David actually stuffs two separate prayers into this short Psalm. The second prayer begins in v8 with a straightforward request to lead me, LORD, in your righteousness. But the other requests David makes are anything but straight forward. In the first prayer of this Psalm, David a cknowledged who God was by stating what and who God hates - all those who do wrong. In this second prayer, David actually asks God to declare them guilty , and to banish them for their many sins. These sort of requests for God to bring misfortune and disaster upon His enemies are called imprecatory prayers, and the Psalms are full of them. Some Christians consider them an embarrassment and contrary to Jesus' teaching to love our enemies. But Holman's Bible Dictionary helps explain why these imprecatory psalms ought to be included in your regular prayer life: these Biblical prayers remind us that: vengeance belongs to the LORD, not to us; God's righteousness demands judgment on the wicked; God's ḥěʹ·sěḏ  love for His covenant people necessitates His intervention and protection for them; You can trust God with all of your thoughts and desires when you pray to Him. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, my King and my God; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that God will lead you in His righteousness even as He brings vengeance to all those who do wrong; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Hebrews 4

You're God's special possession, so declare His praises in all you do. DailyVerses.net 1 Peter 1:1-2, 2:9-10 (NIV) 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2  who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. -- 2:9  ...You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10  Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Articles 1-9 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 The cause of this undeserved election is exclusively the good pleasure of God.  This does not involve God’s choosing certain human qualities or actions from among all those possible as a condition of salvation,  but rather involves adopting certain particular persons from among the common mass of sinners as God’s own possession. Summary You can tell quite a bit about a New Testament epistle (letter) by its title. Most of these epistles were written as an open letter to particular churches in various cities. We identify them by the name of the city they were written to, calling them the epistle to the Romans, Ephesians, Galatians, Corinthians, etc. A few epistles were written to specific individuals, such as the letters to Timothy, Titus and Philemon. Epistles that carry the name of its author, like this letter from Peter, are called catholic epistles, because they were written to a large swath of people all at once. The introduction identifies places like Pontus, Cappadocia, and Bithynia, which are places you'd likely have difficulty pinpointing on a map. They were small communities on the fringes of the Roman Empire that even people in that day and age would have had trouble locating. Not only does Peter address these backwoods places, he refers to the original recipients as being scattered exiles - in other words, people who are not at home. So it's all the more remarkable the way Peter refers to them (and us) in chapter two. In Christ, these otherwise insignificant exiles are a chosen people, royal priesthood, and a holy nation! Those who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father undergo a massive identity shift. It doesn't matter who you used to be, where you came from, or what your social status was before. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.   Dig Deeper   Think of all of the amazing things God has created, not only here on earth, but all throughout our vast universe. Out of all of those things, you are God's special possession! Literally translated, you are the best thing that God has made! And as God's prized possession , God has a very specific purpose that He's designed and redeemed you to fulfill: you are to declare the praises of Him who called you out of the darkness into His wonderful light. We're being reminded this week that your election by God was completely unconditional. In other words, the fact that you were chosen is in no way conditioned upon certain human qualities or actions, as the Canons put it. But once again we also see that although God did not base His choice of you on your own qualities or actions , He does have certain expectations for you as the recipient of His unmerited grace and favor. Be sure that in all of your activities, words and deeds that you are declaring the praises of the one who chose you to belong to Him! AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who chose you to be His special possession; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that your life as an exile in this world will declare the praise of the Triune God who saved you; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Hebrews 3

Following the herd never leads to the freedom you desire. Biblia.com Isaiah 53 (NIV) Our focus today will be on v6, but the chapter that surrounds it is too beautiful to left unread! 53 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. 7  He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 8  By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished. 9  He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10  Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. 11  After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. 12  Therefore I will give him a portion among the great,  and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Articles 1-9 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 The cause of this undeserved election is exclusively the good pleasure of God.  This does not involve God’s choosing certain human qualities or actions from among all those possible as a condition of salvation,  but rather involves adopting certain particular persons from among the common mass of sinners as God’s own possession. Summary Last week we read about Jesus being our Good Shepherd , and after being reminded of that, it felt pretty good to be a sheep. Today, Isaiah reminds us as to why it is that the Bible so often compares us to sheep, and it's not a complimentary analogy! Since many of our readers live in rural areas, you likely have had some sort of experience working with sheep, and you immediately understand how we often we reflect their poor decision making capabilities and tendency to always follow the flock/crowd. It's this contradictory tendency - to crave individual freedom while having deep seated herd mentality - that Isaiah captures in v6, writing that we all, like sheep, have gone astray. Drawing on another famous Biblical sheep metaphor, we were led by our Shepherd to lie down in green pastures and beside quiet waters, but our sinful instinct sent us walking through the darkest valley . Rather than listen to our Shepherd's voice gently calling us back, we continue to follow the herd that's gone astray.   Dig Deeper   It’s easy to blame the herd for your own sin-driven choices. After all, you’re just following the flock, not doing anything all that different from the sheep around you. But Isaiah’s words cut through that excuse: each of us  has turned to our own way.  Here’s the irony — those who lead the herd astray, whether in politics, culture, or entertainment, don’t appeal to conformity. They promise individuality, autonomy, and freedom. Yet, in chasing that illusion of independence, people end up marching in lockstep with the herd — unified not by true freedom, but by a shared drift away from the Shepherd who offers it. But Isaiah doesn't let us wallow too long in our sheep-like guilt before reminding us that our iniquity - that is, the guilt resulting from our sinful wandering - has been laid on him, the one who would become like a sheep for the sheep. Only Jesus wouldn't be like a sheep in the same way we are, He would be the sacrificial Lamb who bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, whose will prospers in the hand of the Suffering Servant; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will resist following the heard and instead know your Shepherd and listen to His voice; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Hebrews 2

You've been redeemed, and that changes everything. Galatians 4:1-7 As long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2  The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3  So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. 4  But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5  to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6  Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7  So you are no longer a slave, but God’s son; and since you are his son, God has made you also an heir. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Articles 1-9 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 The cause of this undeserved election is exclusively the good pleasure of God.  This does not involve God’s choosing certain human qualities or actions from among all those possible as a condition of salvation,  but rather involves adopting certain particular persons from among the common mass of sinners as God’s own possession. Summary In our day and age, heirs to large fortunes enjoy a privileged life and often command massive media empires. But this wasn't the case a couple of millennia ago in the Roman empire. In that age, if a wealthy father died, his estate was left to guardians and trustees until his oldest son was of legal age. However, until the set time had fully come , that boy wasn't any different from a slave . So it is with you, writes Paul. There was a time when you were underage - that is, in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces of the world. For many of us, these memories are fuzzy. Others can instantly recall the darkness and hopeless of living "captive to the world's hollow and deceptive philosophy" (Col. 2:8). This gets right to the heart of the gospel! Humanity had put itself into this miserable slavery. God's requirements for His sons were both simple and good, but yet we had rebelled from this law . Yet instead of emancipating ourselves to freedom, we became enslaved to sin. But our Father, whom we had rebelliously evicted from His world - sent His Son, born of a woman. Jesus didn't just come as a spiritual representative of our heavenly Father, rather He became like us in every regard, even being put under the law that we had failed to keep.   Dig Deeper   Paul often uses two overarching analogies to describe the gospel. He often describes what Christ accomplished in legal terms, using words like guilt, forgiveness and justification. But his other favorite foil comes from the financial world - like the word he uses in v5. God sent His Son... to redeem those under the law. In other words, Jesus came to buy back those who had sold themselves into slavery. Christ's financial transaction resulted in a change in legal status for those He purchased, getting us back to Paul's favorite analogical realm. When Christ paid the price with His blood, you received adoption to sonship . Maybe that rubs you the wrong way, especially if you happen to be a daughter of God! But in the day and age Paul wrote these words, it was only sons who could be legal heirs. So as a slave turned heir , you are in every regard a son of God, no matter your sex. But the results of your redemption are far deeper than just a new legal status (as incredible as it is). It also brought about a spiritual transformation. Because you are God's sons, Paul explains, God sent the Spirit of His Son into your heart. So in Christ you've gone from being a slave to sin to one who can call out to God in the most intimate way possible - as Abba , the Aramaic word for Father. Paul sums it all up in v7. So you are no longer a slave, but God's son; and since you are His son, God has made you also an heir. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, to whom all things belong; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that your life will demonstrate gratitude for the redemption from slavery that Christ accomplished for you; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Hebrews 1

God's 'favor rests upon you.' What does that mean? GodsWord.org Luke 2:13-14 (NIV) 13  Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 14  “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Articles 1-9 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 The cause of this undeserved election is exclusively the good pleasure of God.  This does not involve God’s choosing certain human qualities or actions from among all those possible as a condition of salvation,  but rather involves adopting certain particular persons from among the common mass of sinners as God’s own possession. Summary As a key part of the most famous Christmas narrative, today's passage is immediately familiar to most people. But so often these 'familiar' verses are like icebergs, in that most people understand only the part they see on the surface. Artistic renditions of this scene only serve to muddy our conception. So often Christmas cards portray chubby little cherubs singing forth, or beautifully haloed angels with great and glorious wings coming down from on high. Neither of those scenarios are very likely what the shepherds witnessed. Rather, Luke records that a great company of the heavenly host appeared. Both of the highlighted words have a militaristic element to them. The word translated as host literally means army . In other words, God's mighty angel army, assembled at God's command to pour out His righteous wrath against sinful humanity now shouts forth in exuberant praise because today, in the town of David a Savior has been born (v11)! Imagine the sound as this massive multitude of heavenly beings prepared to do battle against the forces of evil on earth made as they discovered that the very Son of God was on His way to achieving everlasting victory over sin and death! Their triumphant song has been forever memorialized in Latin: Gloria, in excelsis Deo!   Dig Deeper   It's the final phrase of this army's song that brings us back to Christmas in March. 14  “Glory to God in the highest heaven,          and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests. ” The heavenly army praised God in the highest because they knew the sacrificial death of the newly born Savior and the perfect righteousness He would impute to God's elect would result in peace between God and His people. But what does it really mean for you today, months after Christmas, to be reminded that God's favor rests upon you? Commentator John Nolland helps explain this: And to be “of God’s good pleasure” is to be established in a favored relationship with him in which his mercy and power are experienced through his faithfulness to the covenant. In other words, having God's favor rest upon means enjoying a privileged relationship with Him, where His mercy and power are revealed through His unwavering faithfulness to the covenant. The more you understand God's unmerited favor in your life, the more you will experience the peace of Christ that caused the angel army to burst forth in praise. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, commander of the heavenly host (army) A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that your words and deeds will reflect the angel army's song: Gloria, in excelsis Deo! A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Acts 27

Let Psalm 91 melt your fear & anxiety. BibleHub.com Psalm 91 (NIV) 1  Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. 2  I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” 3  Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. 4  He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. 5  You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6  nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. 7  A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. 8  You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. 9  If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, 10  no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. 11  For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12  they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. 13  You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. 14  “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. 15  He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 16  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Articles 1-8 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 Epehesians 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 Your election took place,  not  on the basis of foreseen faith,  of the obedience of faith, of holiness, or of any other good quality and disposition,  as though it were based on a prerequisite cause  or condition in the person to be chosen,  but rather, your election took place  for the purpose of faith, of the obedience of faith, of holiness, and so on.  Accordingly, election is the source of every saving good.  Faith, holiness, and the other saving gifts, and at last eternal life itself, flow forth from election as its fruits and effects. Summary One of the key things to understand about God is that He is both transcendent (He has power and control over all things) and immanent (He remains near to His creation, especially His image bearers). As we spend this year learning that God's grace is stronger than we are, we'll often find ourselves focusing more on God's transcendence - His sovereign role in our salvation. This week's Psalm helps us maintain tensegrity (the integrity that results from keeping theology in tension) in our doctrine of God. It certainly showcases God's transcendence: He is our refuge and fortress and He will command His angels. God's power and control is so great that you will not fear terror, arrows, pestilence, plagues. The battles that rage all around you, from which tens of thousands fall , will not come near you because your sovereign, all powerful Father is in control. But even more so, Psalm 91 gives us a needed dose of God's immanence. After all, He is not just a refuge and fortress, but He is my refuge and fortress. We read of Him covering you with His feathers. He will answer you when you call on Him , and He will be with you in trouble.   Dig Deeper   Verse 14 kind of sticks out like a sore thumb in the midst of our concentration on God's unconditional election these last few weeks: 14  “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. It seems to proclaim the opposite of what we've been learning, as if God extends providential grace to a person because that person loves Him. A sixteenth century reformer named Wolfgang Musculus (that has to be one of the coolest names ever!) helps us make sense of this: God does not say, Because he is without sin, because he has perfectly kept all my precepts, because he has merit and is worthy to be delivered and guarded. But God produces those qualities which are even found in the weak, the imperfect, and those still exposed to sin in the flesh. In other words, God protects and delivers not because of our perfection or worthiness, but because of the qualities He produces even in weak and imperfect people - people just like us. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will dwell in the shelter of the Most High and rest in the shadow of the Almighty; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Acts 27

You belong to God, but don't get too cocky about it. freedailybiblestudy.com Deuteronomy 9:4-6 (NIV) CONTEXT: Deuteronomy is comprised of the advice Moses gives to Israel on God's behalf right before they enter into the Promised Land. 4  After the LORD your God has driven them [the wicked nations] out before you, do not say to yourself, “The LORD has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness.” No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is going to drive them out before you. 5  It is not because of your righteousness or your integrity that you are going in to take possession of their land; but on account of the wickedness of these nations, the LORD your God will drive them out before you, to accomplish what he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 6  Understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the LORD your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Articles 1-8 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 Epehesians 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 Your election took place,  not  on the basis of foreseen faith,  of the obedience of faith, of holiness, or of any other good quality and disposition,  as though it were based on a prerequisite cause  or condition in the person to be chosen,  but rather, your election took place for the purpose of faith, of the obedience of faith, of holiness, and so on.  Accordingly, election is the source of every saving good.  Faith, holiness, and the other saving gifts, and at last eternal life itself, flow forth from election as its fruits and effects. Summary I once received an upgrade to fly first class. I didn't get that upgrade because I paid more for my ticket, but because the flight was oversold and somehow I was the lucky guy who got to move up to the empty first class seat to make room for others back in steerage. But even though I hadn't done anything to deserve such an honor, I still felt a certain smugness getting to board before others. I sat there in my plush seat nursing a complimentary beverage while pretending not to notice the serfs filing by me towards economy. Somehow I was better than them - for that moment, at least. That's exactly the attitude the LORD warned His people of as they prepared to evict the pagan Canaanites and take their homes and land. God knows our nature, and He knew the likelihood that sooner or later His people - former Egyptian slaves - would associate God's gift of freedom and land as being conditioned upon their own righteousness and integrity. But God makes it abundantly clear that their righteousness had nothing to do with it. They couldn't have possibly earned a right to live in the Promised Land, God coldly tells them, because they were a stiff-necked people. God explains exactly why the Canaanites were evicted and the Israelites would take possession. It was on account of the wickedness of the nations that the LORD drove the Canaanites out. But the new residents didn't get to move in because somehow they were better, but because the LORD was accomplishing what He swore to their fathers - to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. In other words, God was keeping His promise.   Dig Deeper   These five 'Doctrines of Grace' that we've begun unpacking this year are known by a famous acronym: T-U-L-I-P. These Canons, which were written in Latin, don't follow that particular order, which is why we've started the year with the U, which stands for U nconditional Election. This foundational point - that God's election of particular people to salvation was not conditioned on us being any better, less guilty or more righteous than those whom God passed over - is the longest of the five points. In many ways, this first point is the toughest pill for us to swallow (and therefore needs the most explanation), since we have such a strong intuition to want to somehow think we've earned the honor. It's often said that we'll never know why it is that God chose us for salvation, and there's certainly truth in that statement. But we can be a bit more precise. Our passage today helps us understand exactly why God saved you: because you're a member of His covenant; the same covenant that the LORD swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This means that God has legally obligated Himself to you. What you don't know is why God chose you in particular to be part of His covenant people. But you can know for sure that His choice was certainly not conditioned by anything you have done or will do in your lifetime. Your election is completely based in God's grace. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who is faithful to accomplish what He swore to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that as you come to understand God's election more, you will grow more humble and less conceited that He's chosen you to be part of His covenant people; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Acts 26

God's unconditional election has transformed your core identity! Titus 3:3-7 (NIV) 3  At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. 4  But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 5  he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6  whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7  so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. 8  This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Articles 1-8 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 Epehesians 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 Your election took place,  not  on the basis of foreseen faith,  of the obedience of faith, of holiness, or of any other good quality and disposition,  as though it were based on a prerequisite cause  or condition in the person to be chosen,  but rather, your election took place  for the purpose of faith, of the obedience of faith, of holiness, and so on.  Accordingly, election is the source of every saving good.  Faith, holiness, and the other saving gifts, and at last eternal life itself, flow forth from election as its fruits and effects. Summary The description in v3 will hit harder for some of you than others - that at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved. Some of you identify quickly and easily with these words that once describe you. For others, your Christian journey started at the earliest of ages, and while you've certainly hit bumps in the road, you've never really lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. The point that Paul is making here doesn't really have anything to do with how long you lived that way, but rather that this is the stock everyone has come from. Nobody was born with what's been called a tabla rassa - that is, a blank slate upon which you could freely choose a life of good or evil. All of us began life predisposed to sin. But at some point - a very young age for many of you, at a later time in life for others - the kindness and love of God (literally philanthropa - love for mankind) appeared . This was that 'born again' moment in which you were regenerated , in which your heart of unbelieving stone was changed into a softened, believing heart of flesh . What's key for you to understand today is that God's choice to graciously intervene in your life was unconditioned, meaning that he saved you, not because of the righteous things you had done, but because of His mercy.   Dig Deeper   Did you catch it? Remember to always be on the lookout for so that clauses in the passages we read. These so that clauses often don't just tell us what God did, but they also inform us as to why He did it. In other words, God did this so that you would be that. And there's a really big so that clause in v7. God saved you through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit so that you might become an heir . The Spirit's washing and renewal didn't just clean you externally, it gave you an entirely new identity as a son of God! You now stand to inherit all that the Father has! This means that the temporary success and failures of this life are not your primary concern. After all, you've been made an heir of the One who created all things, so live with your sights set on the sure and certain hope of eternal life. Of course, the heirs of worldly fortunes have a reputation for wild and licentious living, knowing that whatever expenses they rack up in their younger years will be more than covered by the immense sum they're set to inherit at a certain age. But as an heir of the King of kings, this is not at all how you are to live as you wait for your coming inheritance to be made complete. Rather, Paul writes, those who have been trusted in God must be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, the ultimate philanthropist (lover of mankind) A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the wisdom to live into the new identity given to you in your Spiritual rebirth; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Acts 25

You're saved by grace and empowered by the Spirit. he-numbers-the-stars.tumblr.com 2 Timothy 1:7-10 (NIV) 7  For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8  So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9  He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10  but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Articles 1-8 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 Epehesians 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 Your election took place,  not  on the basis of foreseen faith,  of the obedience of faith, of holiness, or of any other good quality and disposition,  as though it were based on a prerequisite cause  or condition in the person to be chosen,  but rather  for the purpose of faith, of the obedience of faith, of holiness, and so on.  Accordingly, election is the source of every saving good.  Faith, holiness, and the other saving gifts, and at last eternal life itself, flow forth from election as its fruits and effects. Summary One of the mistaken ways throughout the centuries that people have tried to explain God's election is that before choosing those He would elect to salvation, God looked down the corridors of time into the future and could see how each person would turn out. Those who He foresaw exhibiting power, love and self-discipline, who were not ashamed of the testimony about our Lord and lived an overall holy life were added to the number of elect. We, especially in our North American context, have such a strong sense of fairness. We expect that having good things ought to always result from working hard. We take a dim view of those who simply have good things given to them that they haven't earned. So we go to great lengths to explain divine election in a way that fits our overall paradigm. But passages like today's shatter our contrived explanations that those who receive God's grace must have done something to qualify for it. Here we read that this grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time! And Paul gives no indication that this pre-temporal transaction was based on qualities we'd someday demonstrate on our own. Quite the opposite: he writes that the power, love and self-discipline we do model was given by the Spirit of God.   Dig Deeper   Remember that we're always looking for tensegrity in our theology . Tensegrity is a contraction of the words tension and integrity. It describes the strength and stability achieved when materials are held in the proper tension. And this passage helps you maintain this important theological tensegrity in your life. On the one hand, the grace you've received is an undeserved gift that is not conditioned on anything you have done. You did not earn it - it was given to you in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time. In this regard, you remain completely passive in your own salvation. It's been achieved externally and imputed to you. But having saved you, God now has tremendous expectations for you. After all, if your Christian life was nothing more than just passive submission, then timidity would be an excellent attribute! But that's not what the Spirit makes you. Instead, He's given you power - which Paul mentions twice - to suffer for the gospel and to live a holy life . This is what it means to be a Christian who understands well these Reformed doctrines of grace: you are humble, knowing that you've done nothing to earn this gift of grace, but you're also active, using the power given to you to fight off indwelling sin and build up the faith you've been given. AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who saved us and called us to a holy life; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that you will live in theological tensegrity - humble, yet building up and using the Spiritual power you've been given; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Acts 24

Keep listening to Jesus, and then follow what He says. Biblia.com John 10:22-30 (NIV) 22  Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23  and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24  The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25  Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26  but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27  My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29  My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30  I and the Father are one.” Canons of Dordt Point 1 - God's Unconditional Election Index for Articles 1-8 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 Epehesians 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 Your election took place,  not  on the basis of foreseen faith,  of the obedience of faith, of holiness, or of any other good quality and disposition,  as though it were based on a prerequisite cause  or condition in the person to be chosen,  but rather  for the purpose of faith, of the obedience of faith, of holiness, and so on.  Accordingly, election is the source of every saving good.  Faith, holiness, and the other saving gifts, and at last eternal life itself, flow forth from election as its fruits and effects. Summary The idea of Jesus speaking of His sheep conjures up images of an idyllic scene, perhaps with a few little children sitting around Jesus, while He lovingly speaks of Him as being our shepherd. But this instance here in John 10 is nothing like that. Quite the opposite in fact. Instead of little children surrounding Jesus and listening intently to what He says, Jesus here has been cornered by a group who want Jesus to tell them plainly is He is the Messiah. Lest you think that these folks are simply seeking spiritual truth, remember that their inquiry comes after all sorts of teachings and miracles which ought to have supplied an abundance of proof that Jesus was, in fact, the Messiah. Jesus angrily rejects them, telling them that they do not believe because they were not His sheep. We'll likely come back to theses verses later this year and dive into the negative implications of this reply, but today we'll focus on the incredible positive truths Jesus' statement indicates about you. First and foremost, Jesus helps us understand that there are two kinds of people in this world: those who are His sheep, and those who are not. If you believe that Jesus is the Messiah, your faith proves that you are His one of His sheep! This means that you were given to Jesus by our Father, who is greater than all.   Dig Deeper   Jesus' short, terse reply to these impatient people helps you understand five key things about yourself: Jesus' sheep listen to His voice - Notice the ongoing aspect of the verb listen; it's not that you listened in the past, but that you continually listen to His voice, which, of course, we hear in His Word. Jesus knows you - You may feel like nobody in this world understands you, and you might even be right about that. But as one of Christ's sheep, you can be assured that He truly knows who you are; Jesus' sheep follow Him - You need to continue listening to your shepherd, but simply listening isn't sufficient. You need to understand what He's saying and follow Him. Jesus gives His sheep eternal life - This means that you will never perish! Jesus promises you that no one will snatch you out of His hand. This is certainly a verse we'll revisit later in the year as we continue to understand what it means that God's grace is stronger than you are! AAA Prayer (About) A CKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS : Our Father, who is greater than all; A LIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray for the strength, wisdom and desire to continue listening to your Shepherd and to follow Him ; A SK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED: Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Acts 23