Scripture Reading:
#1. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James 1:17)
#2. For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:14-19).
Prayer of Praise to God: Refer to the verses above and hymn below.
Hymn: Be Unto Your Name
We are a moment, You are forever
Lord of the Ages, God before time
We are a vapor, You are eternal
Love everlasting, reigning on high
[Refrain] Holy, holy, Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain
Highest praises, honor and glory
Be unto Your name, be unto Your name
We are the broken, You are the healer
Jesus, Redeemer, Mighty to save
You are the love song we'll sing forever
Bowing before You, blessing Your name
[Refrain] Holy, holy, Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb Who was slain
Highest praises, honor and glory
Be unto Your name, be unto Your name
Reading of the Law: Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. (Romans 12:14-21)
Silent Confession of Sin/Confession of Sin: O our God, we are ashamed and blush to lift our faces to you, for our iniquities have risen higher than our head, and our guilt has mounted up to the heavens. If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness that you may be feared; with you there is steadfast love; yes, with our God there is plentiful redemption, and he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Reading of the Gospel: My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1-2)
Heidelberg Catechism: Lord’s Day 42
Question #104
Q. What is God’s will for you in the fifth commandment?
A. That I honor, love, and be loyal to my father and mother and all those in authority over me; that I submit myself with proper obedience to all their good teaching and discipline; and also that I be patient with their failings—for through them God chooses to rule us.
Prayer of Thanksgiving: Thank God for loving us beyond our understanding and for the forgiveness of sins.
Prayer of Supplication: Ask God for spiritual strength and the courage to speak the truth in love.
.Bible reading and commentary:
Read: 2 Corinthians 3:7-18 (pt. 1)
It is somewhat difficult to imagine living in a different time. For example, our way of life before 9/11 compared to now. In this section of 2 Corinthians 3, Paul explains the differences before Jesus came and after by way of comparison of the Old Covenant (Mosaic) and the New Covenant. Salvation by grace alone has been the only way anyone has ever been able to be saved. No one was ever saved by their own works.
The Old Covenant (Mosaic) brought death and condemnation; the New Covenant brought life and righteousness (vv. 7-9). God’s law shows us that we need the gospel of the covenant of grace. There was probably a time when we all thought we could gain the acceptance of God by keeping his laws but we soon found out that it was impossible. However, the amazing thing about the new covenant is that when Jesus died on the cross he achieved our salvation by his works so we no longer have to strive for justification but our works. Our good works follow our salvation because we are being sanctified. The New Testament describes believers as ‘being in Christ’. Paul uses ‘in Christ’ frequently in his letters and it is a doctrine with many applications.
The Old Covenant had a fading glory, whereas the glory of the New Covenant lasts forever (vv. 10-11). The old covenant was given to Moses for the people when God gave him his law. It was accompanied ‘with glory’ (v 7). The old covenant revealed God’s holiness in a righteous standard of law that those who receive it are solemnly ordered to keep. At the heart of the law was the Ten Commandments. The covenant specified in the ten major commandments, along with many lesser ones, the behavior God required of Israel in the covenant relationship. It also declared the blessings if kept and curses if not kept perfectly. And the Israelites promised obedience without counting the consequences (Exodus 24:3).
The glory of God settled on Mount Sinai at the giving of the law and it was symbolized by the cloud that covered it (Exodus 24:16). God’s glory looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain (Exodus 24:17).The old covenant was a two-party covenant. God had his part and the Israelites had their part. Sadly, Israel failed and the rest is history. As God established the old covenant, Moses’ face shone with the reflection of God’s glory (vv 7-8). The glory mirrored in his face indicated the glory of the gift that God was giving them in the law and covenant. Moses received it on behalf of the people. The glory seen in Moses’ face, however, faded, as did the glory of the law, since it served to condemn all people because of their disobedience (v 9). Nevertheless, the glory of the law was great and it is a great gift from God. Where would we be without it in our understanding of God and the right behavior of his people?
We now come to the heart of the comparison (v 9-11): ‘For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. In this case what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. For what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory.’ It is not that the old covenant had no glory, but in comparison with the new it would seem as if it had none! The old covenant was a temporary arrangement, whereas the new is eternal (v 11). The righteousness God reckons to us through faith in the Lord Jesus is forever. The blood of the Lord Jesus by which we are saved is the ‘blood of the eternal covenant’ (Hebrews 13:20). (More to come next week).
Closing Hymn: The Doxology
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; Praise him, all creatures here below; Praise him above, ye heav’nly host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. Amen
Closing Scripture: I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:37-39).
The Lord’s Prayer (together): Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.