My wife and I are hosting a Sunday afternoon Bible Study near Camp Zama at our house. Our place is about a 5 minute walk from Soubudaimae station on the Odakyu line.  We have a group of Filipino's and Japanese meeting from 2-4 on Sunday afternoons.  If you would be interested in joining us please let me know.  You can reach me, Andy, by phone at 090-4069-2059 or email at andrewduncan7@hotmail.com.  This Bible study is in conjunction with a PCA Church Plant that is starting soon.  If you have any interest in the Bible study or Church plant contact me Andy Duncan or stop by sagaminochuch.blogspot.com for more information. 

Here is a study we have been doing recently on the Westminster Shorter Catechism.  Here is a link to the pdf of our recent study on WSC Questions 14-16 What is sin.
Go to http://freepdfhosting.com0ca1d28053.pdf   and check out the study. 

If you have any interest in joining us Sunday afternoons for this study let me know. It is near camp Zama and and I pick up some of the people who come to the study and would be more than happy to pick you up as well.  Drop me a line at 09040692059 or andrewduncan7@hotmail.com

Here is a Study on Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 19. Excuse the grammar and spelling it was written quickly. Let me know what you think! And if youw ould like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

Q. 19. What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

A. All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever.

Last week we talked about sin. What it was, where it came from, Adams responsibility and and how we all are responsible for sin and how we all sin all the time everyday. This week we are going to talk about the effects of Adam's sin. What effect it had on him what punishments we took because of Adams and our sin.

All people are lost in sin. Read for me Rom 8:22. All people, but especially unbelievers, hate to admit this. They try to find some explanation for the state of the world without reference to the true God of this world and punishment in sin. People try to convince themselves that the world can be made a perfect place and that man by learning more and trying harder can get rid of death and pain and disease and war. Bbut this is is only the imagination. Can someone read for me Romans 1:18. God has reveled his punishment but people actively lie to themselves that what is obvious about our misery in this world is able to be changed by our own efforts.

In contrast, Christian doctrine teaches that man is in a terrible position after sin entered the world. First people have lost communion with God and are receiving God's wrath and curse. God created people with a ability and desire to have relationship with Him in eternity. People need this. Read Ecc 3:11. But because of sin this desire for true infinite and eternal communion with God cannot be met and the heart of man is always trying to fill up this hole with something else. That is why the book of Ecc is devoted to explaining how even the richest and most powerful people still have no real joy. Secondly, we see that in this life that not only is their emptiness and desire that cannot be met but there is real misery int his life Read Job 5:7. It is only a matter of time until disease, famine war or disaster claim us all. Read Psalm 73:5. A wicked man may prosper for a moment but even he will have to deal with the miseries of this life. Thirdly all people everywhere must deal with death.Read Heb 9:27. Death is an enemy we all meet. Death is not normal or natural as some say but terrible and evil. It causes pain and breaks relationships. This is why Jesus cries at Lazurasus tomb in John 11. Jesus knew he would raise him and he knew that his relationship with him was secure but nonetheless he weeps because sin is a terrible painful thing brought on by sin. Finally, because of sin there is both first death, death in the body and second death the pain of hell. Jesus talks about hell often Matt3:12,8:12

But we need to understand that all people are subject to ll four kinds of punishment from sin. We have lost communion, we suffer difficulties in this life, have to face death and are sentenced to hell. But, for the Christian things are different. First,As for this life and the loss of communion with God, because of Christ repairing that bridge of relationship, we no longer suffer the detachment from God as non believers do. Our relationship is far from perfect but it is repaired and we have peace and hope because of it. Secondly misery and pain in this life. We still experience all things unbelievers do but we have a framework to put them into we have a hope that even thought there is great difficultly we will someday conquer it all. Thirdly death. We too must experience death but we know that death is not the end. Not only that we know that our soul is already brought back to life waiting for eternal life Read Eph 2:1. And finally the eternal punishment for hell. We know that although we deserve this punishment, Christ having paid penalty and we receiving his righteousness know that we do not need to suffer this punishment.

1)What is a great truth that unbelievers hate to admit?

2)There is a 4 part punishment that people receive because of sin, what are the 4 parts?

3)How can we see that people have lost communion with God?

4)What are some of the miseries of this life?

5)What book of the Bible talks about peoples loss of relationship with God?

6)People have lost what they need and want most relationship with God, What are some ways in which people try to replace it?

7)Does everyone experience the same misery in this life.

8)Do Christians suffer in this life the say way as unbelievers?

9)What is the difference between Christians and non-Christians in how they deal with and experience death?

10)Does God have a good purpose in the miseries in daily life that believers experience?

Here is a Study on Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 20. Excuse the grammar and spelling it was written quickly. Let me know what you think! And if you would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

Q. 20. Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery? A. God, having out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer.

So far we have talked about how people have gone from no sin also called being innocent to being in sin also called being in misery. This week we will look at how God brings people out of sin and misery into and into new life or brings them into salvation.

It is by God's mercy and grace alone that people can be freed from sin and misery. People by themselves are unable to do anything to free themselves from sin and misery. Reformed Christianity calls this election. The teaching of election says that 1)God has chosen out of all lost people a certain number to be saved. 2)God does not choose these people because of anything good in them. These people are not inherently better than other people who are not saved. 3)God has chosen these people to be saved through Jesus Christ alone. 4)This election or this choosing of certain people was made from all eternity past. God chose these people before they were born and even before the creation of the world itself.

This is one of the more difficult teachings of the Bible to accept but it is also very clearly taught in the Bible. Read Ephesians 1:4-5. The word “predestinate” simply means to choose beforehand the destiny of a person. Read John 15:16. Jesus talks here about choosing the disciples and not the other way around. This teaching can also be seen in the OT. Read Deut 7:6. Both we who believe in Christ and our OT brothers and sisters were chosen by God to be his people.

The very first question that comes when talking about the teaching of election is “why”? Why did God chose this person over that person? It can seem to us as being unfair. All men deserve punishment so it cannot be unfair if a person gets what they deserve so when God does not choose a person it is not unfair, it is by definition fair because He is giving that person what they deserve. Jesus speaks like this in Matt 20:15.

Another question is “If I am elect is this automatic? Am I chosen regardless of my action?” This is a wrong way to think about election. God has chosen us meaning that he has taken the elect into his family but he does this by bringing a person into belief and life in Christ. Christ is still the connecting point and the elect must go through. God has chosen to establish that relationship between the Christian and Christ but that does not take away the necessity of that relationship. Please read Rom 8:30

Another difficulty people have is that if a person is not elect there is nothing they can do about it no matter how hard they try. The thought here is that a person could want to be saved or want to come to Christ but that person would not be accepted by Christ. But we can say that no man can be saved unles he is given a new heart that wants to come to Christ. Read Psalm 110:3. The Bible also teaches that any person that truly comes to Christ in faith will not be condemned.

The doctrine of election is difficult, no it is impossible for us to really understand. But because it is difficult does not make it untrue. In reading the Bible and dealing with God we must accept that we will not be able to understand certain things and this is one of them. Instead of this causing anger it should cause us to worship even more and trust that the Father is greater than we can understand and his wisdom is more than we can understand. This is how Paul responds to this teaching of election in Rom 11:33.

This teaching on election should have 3 results. 1)The teaching of election should not cause we Christians to despair but it should give us joy that our Father loves us and that our sin and failure in this life cannot make us unlovable to Him. 2)It also should remind us that we deserve no credit for becoming followers of Christ. We did not do it. We are not smarter or more attractive than non believers. Without God's choosing we are dead in sin. 3)It should cause us to work all the harder in this life to honor and glorify our heavenly Father who chose us. Read 2 Peter 1:10-11

1)What is the teaching of Election?

2)Why has God chosen certain people?

3)When did God chose people for salvation?

4)In election unfair?

5)How are chosen or elect people saved?

6)What are 3 things that the doctrine of election should make Christians do, think and believe?

7)How are some ways this week that your knowledge that God has chosen you and loves you make you act differently?

8)What are some areas in your life that you can be more trusting of God the Father knowing that he has chosen you from eternity past?

Here is a Study on Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 21. Excuse the grammar and spelling it was written quickly. Let me know what you think! And if you would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

Q. 21. Who is the Redeemer of God's elect? A. The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ , who, being the eternal Son of God , became man and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever

Last week we talked about the teaching of election or being chosen by God. This week we will talk about the Redeemer or the person who buys us back from sin and the death to life and God the Father. The only Redeemer of the elect is Jesus Christ. Read Acts 4:12. Jesus says this himself in John 14:6. And the apostle John says something similar in 1 John 2:23.

Why is it important to say very strongly that Jesus Christ is the only Redeemer of God's elect? Because many or most people want to b elieve otherwise, even people inside the church. Have you heard the statement “All roads lead to God”? What do you think about that? Can a person who believes in Buddha or Mohammad be elect?

Why is Jesus the only Redeemer? Because Jesus alone is qualified to be our Redeemer because of His eternal Godness and true humanity. What does this mean? 1)It means that Jesus Christ is God. He is of one substance or essence with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is infinite eternal and unchangeable. In the same way we think about God the Father as God we should think about Jesus as God. We know Jesus is God from Scripture. 1)Jesus is called God (Is 9:6 John 20:28) 2)Jesus has the attributes of God (John 1:1, 2:24-25) 3)Jesus is able to do the mighty works of God (John 5:21, Col 1:16 4) Jesus is worshipped as God (John 20:28, Rev 5:12-14). Many groups that seem like Christians really are not because they say different things about Jesus. Jehovahs Witnesses for example believe that Jesus became God. They say Jesus was created and that he is only a god not the God.

Now, Jesus as very true God became human meaning he took on human form. Jesus full God became full man without ceasing to be God. Jesus the Son as God was united to human nature without conversion, composition or confusion. 1)Some believe that for Jesus to become man it makes the God part or the man part change in some way. They say the God part becomes less or the man part becomes less. But the Early church believers set the standard from many discussion and meetings and have taught from the beginning of the church that Jesus is both 100% God and 100% man neither God nor man is less. 2)Others believed that the uniting of Jesus with human nature means that human nature mixed with God nature so that he is some weird different thing not really God and not really man. But the church teaches that God is 100% both they are held together but they are not mixed. 3)Others say that Jesus within himself has 2 different personalities he has a God part and a human part. He is 2 personsalities they say. But the Church says this wrong and teaches that Jesus is not 2 persons, he is 1 person. Jesus is a divine person who takes on human nature. He has a divine-human personality in which there is perfect unity but still a distinction between the natures.


1)Who is the only Redeemer of God's people?

2)Why is Jesus the only Redeemer?

3)How do we know that Jesus is God?

4)What are some teachings that misunderstand who Jesus is? Why are they wrong?

5)Is it easy to understand the true nature of Jesus? Can we fully explain how Jesus is 100% God and 100% man? Does our inability to explain make it untrue?

6)How does knowing Jesus being true God took on real human nature effect your life and your thinking?

7)If Jesus is real man can he truly understand what you feel and who you are?

Here is a Study on Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 22. Excuse the grammar and spelling it was written quickly. Let me know what you think! And if you would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

Q. 22. How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man? A. Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul [a], being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the virgin Mary, and born of her yet without sin [c].

問２２ キリストは、神の御子でありつつ、とのようにして人になられたのですか。 答 神の御子キリストが人になられたのは、聖霊の御力によって処女マリアの胎に宿り・彼女から生まれながらも(1)・罪はない(2)という仕方で、真実の体(3)と理性的霊魂(4)をおとりになることによってでした。

Before, we learned about the 2 natures one person of Jesus Christ. He is one divine person who took on human nature. Now we will look at how this came to be or said another way how Jesus the Son of God took human nature.

First the Virgin birth. In the Roman Catholic understanding of the Virgin Birth, the emphasis falls on the word virgin and this is because Mary receives the greatest attention. As a result she is lifted up. She is hailed as the mother of God and the “Queen of Heaven”. In contrast to this is the Reformed protestant position who wants to show the emphasis is on Christ. So they emphasize the word Birth. Even though Christ was the eternal son of God he was born the son of man. This means He was humbled. This means He was brought low. He was far above humanity in his position but he brought himself low. He lived, died and suffered. All of this including his very birth are acts of Jesus lowering himself. We often overlook this when we think of Christ humiliation and lowering. His being born even if he were born as a prince would still be a lowering and a humiliation.

We must ask an important question: Is it acceptable to speak about Mary as the Mother of God? This statement can often be used to lift up Mary to the place of God. When it is used like this or used to lift Mary up to this level then it is utterly false. But at th same time it is important to understand that this phrase can be used correctly and used in a true way that honors and glorifies God. The Bible teaches that Jesus is a person and has 2 natures God and man. This means that Jesus was God when He was born of Mary. The child born to May was the God-man. IN this sense then it is necessary to call Mary the mother of God. This should nt lift Mary up to God because she did not change from a person to God but rather this should Christ's lowering humiliation as he came down to be born to a woman. Jesus came down to Mary's level.

We must avoid some mistakes when we talk about Mark and the birth of Jesus. 1)We must avoid the error that makes virginity equal with sinlessness. Some teach that Mary was not only a virgin but also sinless. Mary because of her humanity if by definition sinful. Her virginity does not make her sinless. 2)Her virginity when Jesus was born does not mean she remained a perpetual version. Mary was married to Joseph and the had more children after Jesus. The Roman Catholic church teaches that In order for Jesus to be born of a holy woman like Mary she had to be a virgin and in order for Mary to be holy enough to be Jesus' mother she had to be a virgin always even after he was born. This is wrong because it misunderstand what Holy means. Read 1 Peter 2:9. What does holy mean? It also treats sex as though it is a sin. Is sex a sin? Is sex less than good in some way? Is it better not to have sex?

2)Another mistake is to be like modern people who reject miracles and say that a virgin birth is impossible. Many people even in the church will reject the idea of a virgin birth because it is too miraculous and they will reject Christs sinlessness because that is too miraculous. The true doctrine teaches that birth through a virgin was a true event. It was necessary because only through a miracle

could Could Jesus the son of God be born with a true human nature yet without sin. Jesus was born by the power of the Holy Spirit. Read Luke 1:35. Mary was overshadowed by the Spirit in order to bring Christ to human form. Christ took human form being born to Mary but he did not take on her human sinfulness.

When we say that Jesus took on a true human body we mean that Jesus took on himself the same kind of body we have. We stress this point because there is another cult heresy teaching known as Doecetism. Some teach that Christ only appeared to be human. They teach that Christ did not have a real human body it was more like a visual trick. When we say that Jesus had a reasonable soul it means that just as we have body and soul so did Christ. Some early in the church wanted to say Christ had a human body but no soul this was because he was a human shell filled with God. But this would not make him 100% God and 100% man. The bible teaches that Jesus was hungry and thirsty just like a mans body. It also teaches that he cried and felt sorrow grief and increased in knowledge just like a man soul. Read Heb 2:17-18

This teaching about the virgin birth is essential to our faith system. Without a virgin birth there is gospel of salvation. Why do I say this? It is because unless Christ became true man but perfect man he is not able to stand in our place as a sacrifice and he would not through his perfect life be able to be the one who earned a place at the right hand of God the Father. Read Rom 5. Jesus needs to be 100% God and man so that he can act as the bridge as the connection point between God and Man in order to restore the broken relationship.

1)Is it ok to say Mary is the Mother of God?

2)What are some mistakes when we talk about the virgin birth?

3)Why was it necessary for Christ to be born of a virgin?

4)What does the Holy Spirit who overshadowed Mary mean?

5)What does it mean when we say that Christ had true body?

6)What does it mean when we say that Christ had reasonable soul?

7)Why is it necessary for Jesus to be the God-man for our salvation?

Here is a Study on Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 23. Excuse the grammar and spelling it was written quickly. Let me know what you think! And if you would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

Westminster Shorter Catechism 23

Q. 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer? A. Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet [a], of a priest , and of a king [c], both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation



Last week we finished talking about the person of Christ. We have been talking about his human nature and his divine personhood. How he is 100% God and 100% percent man fully united but not mixed. Today we will talk about What Christ does or what he does as his “job”. To do this we will have to go back to the beginning of the bible and move all the way through because Christs work encompasses the full work of humans. Said another way it is Christ who in his job does perfectly what people are supposed to do.

1)When God created people he created them in His image. People had true knowledge righteousness and holiness. Because of this true knowledge, hoiliness and righteousness and because he was created with the highest status in the garden we can say that Adam was a Prophet, Priest and King. First question what do these terms mean? When Adam sinned, he lost his true righteousness, holiness and knowledge and the remainder of the Bible story is about God has done in order to get people back to that position.

2)The OT tells us what God di to prepare for the day when He would send his son to save his people. What we notice throughout the OT is that the history of God's people centers around men chosen by God to be prophet, priests and kings. Lets look at the original patriarch Abraham. IN Gen 20:7 we see that he was a prophet. But if we read 13:4 we also see that he offered up sacrifices like a Priest. If we read Gen 14:1-2, 13, 17-24 it also seems that Abraham is a sort of king. Now, as Abrahams descendents grew larger God appointed different men to hold each of these offices individually alongside one another. God appointed Moses as a prophet in a special sense. Read Deut 18:15-20. He appointed Aaron as High Priest and his sons should also do this job. Read Ex 29:29. David was appointed as King. Read 2 Samuel 7:12-16. All of these positions given to men were to continue to be done by people in Israel until God would send his true Son, the one who would do all of these jobs together perfectly at once.

3)When Jesus came, he not only fulfilled all 3 of these jobs but also brought them together to complete the great work of redemption. What is the great work of redemption? We see how Christ did all of these offices as we read of his life. He spoke as no man ever before teaching fully the full word of God. In this he is the true prophet. Where does the Bible teach this? He made one full and final sacrifice. In offering this great sacrifice he shows that he is The great Priest. Where does the Bible teach this? He also claimed complete authority over men, and over natural forces commanding everything created to obey him. In doing this he shows he is the King Where Does the Bible teach this?From this we can begin to understand what is necessary for a person to become a follower of Christ. If Christ is The Prophet, we must know what only Christ can teach. We must know our own place of misery and trust his teaching. If Christ is The Priest, we also must feel our need for the sacrifice which only Christ can offer that is perfect and strong enough for our great sin. If Christ is The

King we must be freed from our slavery to sin and be made slaves of Christ in His Kingdom. Summed up, a person can only be a follower of Christ if Christ is that person Prophet, Priest and King.

Now in the church these teaching and beliefs must be acknowledged fully. A church that does acknowledge Christ as propht priest and king is not a church. A true church, a true body of believers will have a)The first sign, the Prophet sign is faithful preaching of Gods word. This means that the Scriptures and scriptures alone will be taught. Churches who teach other things like Mormon churches, or churches like many modern churches that deny important things taught in the Bible are not true churches. 2) A seond sign, The Priest sign of a true church is the correct giving of sacraments. This means that the church will baptize believers and give the Lords supper. A third mark, the Kings mark of a true church is discipline. This means that the church will have elders that exercise spirtitual care and authority over the people in the church. What do these 2 things mean spiritual discipline and spiritual care? In this the Church acts like Christ. It acts as Christ body when it faithfully acts as Prophet Priest and King.

We must remember that Christ does all 3 jobs together . He does not separate them. As the church is his body, the church must also do all 3 jobs and never separate them. In your church are you faithfully doing all 3 jobs?

Here is a Study on Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 24. Excuse the grammar and spelling it was written quickly. Let me know what you think! And if you would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059


Q. 24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.
問２４　キリストは、どのようにして預言者職を果たされますか。
答　キリストが預言者職を果たされるのは、御自身の御言葉と御霊によって、私たちの救いのために神の御意志を私たちに啓示してくださることにおいてです(1)。
　　1.ヨハネ1:18、Ⅰペテロ1:10-12、ヨハネ15:15、ヨハネ20:31
Read Eph 22:20. What does this say about Christ?It teaches many things but foremost it teaches that apostles and prophets are built in their ministry upon Jesus Christ. He is the foundational, chief, ultimate prophet. The OT prophets were authorized to speak on God's behalf. What they said and wrote was the very word of God. But it was not by their own power that they spoke. It was the Spirit of Christ that spoke through them. Read 1 Peter 1:11. When Christ came into the world the revelation of Gods word came to completion. Christ was himself the prophet promised by God. Read Col 2:3. It is because of Jesus' full revelation of God's word that in history we move from the time of the prophetic word to the apostolic. By prophetic I meant the OT. The OT was a book as a whole that was a book about promise. The NT is different. We do read of prophets in the NT but their function was to "fill the gap" until the NT had been completely written. During the writing of the NT prophets were used to give the inspired instruction which we now have fully written in the NT. Because of this it is a mark of the finished work of Christ that we have no more prophets and apostles in the church today. Prophets and apostles were needed until God's full word was finally written. The prophets foretold what Christ would do and the apostles recorded what Christ did do.
The Christian view is that Christ alone is the prophet of the church and that He now speaks to the Church through the Bible alone. This doesn't mean that people are useless in communicating God's word. Read Eph 4:8,11. People had a very active role in delivery Christs' message to the church but once that communication had been completed the need for apostles and prophets was no more because Jesus now spoke to the people through his final authoritative word recorded in scripture. Apostles and prophets are not seen in the church anymore but some of the jobs listed in Eph 4 continue. Evangelists, pastors, teaching elders are permanent gifts given to the church to teach it. That means that Christ continues to call men to these offices today. But these men are not teachers of new revelations or new teachings. They are to teach what they have received not make up new stuff. Read 2 Tim 2:15. What is Timothy's job? To rightly teach what he received. Teaching in the church today is based on rightly understanding the Bible, not adding to the bible in anyway.
This does not mean that Christians today are any less that our brothers and sisters of the time when the Bible was being written instead we have a better position. Read 2 Peter 1:19. Because we have the complete word of God in scripture and the Holy Spirit as a guide and teacher we are more blessed than any OT believer and more blessed than those who were waiting for the final scripture during the time of the Apostles. What does Jesus say about John the Baptist in Matt 11:11? He said he is the greatest among the prophets but as compared with the believers that would come after, he is the least of them.
It is importatnt to stress that the foundation of true knowledge of God and of the way of salvation in Christ can only come directly from Christ by his word and Spirit. The church has confession, creeds and catechisms but these are only tools written by uninspired men in order to point us to the scriptures. We must test all teachings by the scriptures. It is importatnt to not just believe what is said by a pastor just because he is a pastor. That person is at best only a tool used by God to point to Himself. The preachers job is to point you to Christ through the teaching of His word.And ultimately it is as John says in 1 John 2:27 that the Holy Spirit must be your foundational teacher and guide.
1-What does Eph 2:21 mean?
2-Why did the prophetic word cease to be given after Christ came?
3-Why did we have prophets for a short time during the apostolic age?
4-If Christ alone is the prophet of the church, of what use are ministers now?
5-What value are there to human teachings about the Bible, confessions, creeds and catechisms? What are the dangers of these teachings?
6-Who is the foundational teacher for believers in the church now?

Here is a Study on Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 25. Excuse the grammar and spelling it was written quickly. Let me know what you think! And if you would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

Q. 25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?

A. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice,[68] and reconcile us to God,[69] and in making continual intercession for us.[70]

問２５ キリストは、どのようにして祭司職を果たされますか。

答 キリストが祭司職を果たされるのは、神の正義を満足させて私たちを神に和解させるために(1)、御自身をいけにえとしてただ一度ささげられた(2)こと、また私たちのためにとりなし続けてくださる(3)ことにおいてです。

First what is the job of a priest in the Bible?

The Biblical definition of a priest is:"A chosen officer or prince with the capacity to draw near to God and minister. He alone is responsible for offering the divinely appointed sacrifices to God, for executing the different procedures and ceremonies relating to the worship of God, and for being a representative between God and man." Their duties fell under three main headings. (Service, Teaching, and Prayer)

The first was to minister in the sanctuary, which at this time was the tabernacle, but when Israel became a settled nation it would be the temple.

Secondly, priests were responsible for teaching the people the law of God, and

Thirdly, when God's will was sought for the nation, it was the priests who prayed for guidance.

Christ Our Priest

The priests of Israel were but dim shadows of the one Great Priest of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. A few brief passages give us an understanding of the perfection found in the priestly character of Christ:

(1) Christ as Priest is appointed and chosen by God

Heb 5:5 "So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: "You are My Son, today I have begotten You."

(2) He is consecrated with an oath

Heb 7:20-22 And inasmuch as He was not made priest without an oath (for they have become priests without an oath, but He with an oath by Him who said to Him: "The Lord has sworn and will not relent, 'You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek' "), by so much more Jesus has become a surety of a better covenant.

(3) He is sinless

Heb 7:26 For such a High Priest was fitting for us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and has become higher than the heavens;

(4) His priesthood is unchangeable

Heb 7:23-24 Also there were many priests, because they were prevented by death from continuing. But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.

(5) His offering is perfect and final

Heb 9:25-28 not that He should offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood of another--He then would have had to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now, once at the end of the ages, He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

(6) He Intercedes continually

Heb 7:24-25 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood. Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

(7) He is the only mediator

1 Tim 2:5 "For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus"

In learning about Christ as Priest we have to understand something called "limited atonement". The teaching is simple but difficult to accept for some people. It teaches that Jesus Christ died as a substitute for some men not for all men. He died to save His people from their sins. Read Matt1:21

When we say Jesus Christ's substitute sacrifice is limited we do not mean that it is limited in its value.We instead mean that it is limited in its purposed use. The blood of Jesus is more valuable than anyone can measure. The benefits of the death of Jesus are freely offered to all who hear the gospel whether they are elect/chosen or not. But there is a limitation placed upon this atoning blood of Jesus by the design of the Father. The limitation is this, that those who are actually saved by the blood of Jesus Christ are those only to whom it was the Father's intention to save by the death of his son, and whom it was Christ's intention to save by dying in their place. Read John 17:6, John 10:15, John 6:38-39, John 17:9-10

There are 2 other views on Jesus' atonement which I think are not Biblical. The first is called absolute universalism. This teaches that Christ came to save all men and all men are saved by the universal atonement of Christ. But the Bible is very clear about the sad reality that some people are lost. Read Matt 25:31-46. The historic church has always rejected this view.

The second view which I think is wrong is called Conditional Universalism. This teaches that it is not God's will to save any particular person. According to this view God's will is to partly save all men and to

partly leave the decision up to them. Both Christ's blood and the persons will work together in this view. This view teaches that people have a free will and they must use their free will to choose t follow Christ.

The Reformed view which is the most biblical is what is called the "particular or limited view. We discussed this one earlier but to repeat, it teaches that Christ offered himself as a substitute for certain specific people. Jesus was sent by the father to save some men completely not to save all men partially. In the OT the high priest wore upon his breast the names of the children of Israel not the names of everyone on earth. The high priest offered sacrifices for the chosen people of God Israel, not for everyone. Read Ex 28:21. in similar but stronger fashion, Jesus made his sacrifice on the Christian and only the Christians behalf. Jesus carries all men to the finish line He is the finisher of our faith. Read Heb 12:2.

We need to recognize one aspect about the particular atonement of Christ, namely that it has a universal element. By this I mean that Jesus limited atonement is universal in that Jesus promised that his atonement would be for someone from every tribe, tongue and nation on earth. Read 1 John 2:2. The Bible does not teach that every person will be saved but it does teach that from every group of people on earth Jesus will save some.

The doctrine of limited atonement should bring the Christian joy and confidence. Read Gal 2:20. Paul can talk about being saved personally only because Christ in fact died for some in particular which included Paul. If Christ had not died for him in particular, he could not have said this. The Christian says: "I have sinned. I am guilty. I cannot be saved unless there is someone willing and able to take my punishment, and to earn salvation for me. In order to save me, Christ was both perfect in his active obedience and in his passive obedience. By active obedience I mean that Christ was perfect in obeying all of God's commands. By perfect passive obedience, I mean that Christ suffered all the punishment that was due to me for my sinful disobedience.Because Christ was perfect in active and passive obedience for me he is my great priest. Christ is the great high priest. read Hebrews 2:17, 3:1, 4 14-16,5:1-10,6:20; 7:11, 21, 26; 8:1, 3; 9:7

Q. 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?

A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us [a], and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies .

問２６ キリストは、どのようにして王職を果たされますか。

答 キリストが王職を果たされるのは、私たちを御自身に従わせ(1)、治め(2)、守ってくださる(3)こと、また御自身と私たちとのあらゆる敵を抑えて征服してくださる(4)ことにおいてです。

When Jesus was crucified, what was written above his head on the cross? Read Matt 27:37. This was meant as a joke but it was true nonetheless. Jesus is the king of his kingdom. Christ is King even now. The kingly work of Jesus is a present Spiritual activity. Many Christians don't fully understand what this means and don’t fully allow it take the place it should in their daily lives an thinking because of they are confused by the time in which we live. I think this has to do somewhat because of a teaching called dispensationalism. To believe in dispensationalism as I will explain it is not heretical but I think it is a teaching that is not as faithful to the full teaching of the Bible as it should be. This is one area where we can agree to disagree but I do think dispensationsal teaching robs Christians of fully appreciating the current reality of Christs Kingship.

What is dispensationlsim? Dispensationalism is a teaching that divides Bible history into certain distinct periods or dispensations. In these different periods, dispensationalism teaches that God has had different ways of dealing with people. During the time of Moses for example it is said that God dealt with people according to the law as compared to the present where he deals with them according to grace. The truth is that God has always maintained the law and has always dealt with sinners by grace as the only way of salvation. But for todays we will focus o one particular point of dispensational teaching. According to dispensational teaching Christ is not yet King. Dispensational teaching generally teaches Chrsit came to offer himself to the Jews as Kingbut when they refused He delayed taking the king position in his earthly kingdom until a later point in the future. So in their teaching, he came and did the wor of salvation but waits until his second coming to become fully king. In the time from his death and resurrection Christ is using the Church as the instrucment of Salvation. But when Christ returnshe will establish his rule and kingdom on earth for 1000 years. His kingdom during this time will look similar to the Kingdoms of earth we see today except for the moral perfection of his kingdom.

In contrast to the dispensational teaching, I think the Bible teaches 1)The Kingdom of Christ is already in existence. Read Col 1:13. 2) The Kingdom of Christ is spiritual and invisible. Read John 18:36. It is a Kingdom that does not have a time limit. Read 2 Peter 1:11. But this current Kingdom of Christ will will be more fully perfected at the 2nd coming. Read 1 Cor 15:24. His Kingdom is now real and is growing. It will eventually be complete and final. The Kingdom of Christ is seen in his body the Church and is in operation in the world at large even though they do not yet recognize it. Dispensationalists make the mistake of not seeing the Church as part of Christs current Kingdom and seperating the people of Israel and the Church as distinct people of God. Read Eph.

We also want to be careful. We cannot say that the Kingdom of Christ is equal to the church. This is the error of the Roman Catholic church. According to the Roman Catholic teaching, the Roman church itself represents the Kingdom of God in this wolrd. That is why the Roman church feels everything must be under its central control. Christ rules all of life through his spokesman the Pope.

In contrast to both of these teachings, the Reformed view is the church and the kingdom are closely related but not identical. Christ is the king and head of the church but his kingdom includes more than just the church. Christ rules over every sphere of life but the church should not control other orgaizatons like government. The Church must teach the people involved in government and schools and hospitals but it not to rule over them. IN every area of life believers are repsponsible to live out Christ but they are responsible to Christ himself not the church. Christ directly rules his people by the Spirit. Christ is King here and now both through the work of His people in the church but even beyond them in the work of the spirit.

The Westmninster Confession mentions in this question that as Christ is King he conquers our enemies. There are different ways of peopleThere are 3 main views about Jesus Kingly rule and its relation to his Kingly rule over enemies with relation to the 1000 years mentioned in Revelation. These views are named Amillenialism, Premillenialism and Postmillenialism. This is a very complicated discussion which I save for another day. For today, I will say that I am an Amilienialist which means that 1)No one can know when Christ will establish his final earthly kingdom on earth where he will finally destroy the enemies of God. Read Matt 24:36, Acts 1:7. The scriptures also say that the days when the fitst started all the way till the days we are now living in are considered the last days. So although not final, the work of Christ conquering his and our enemies has already bugn in the world. Read Heb 1:2, Acts 2:17, John 6:39.

Here is a Study on Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 27. Excuse the grammar and spelling it was written quickly. Let me know what you think! And if you would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

Q. 27. Wherein did Christ's humiliation consist?

A. Christ's humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition [a], made under the law , undergoing the miseries of this life [c], the wrath of God [d], and the cursed death of the cross [e]; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time. [f]

問２７ キリストのへり下りは、どの点にありましたか。

答 キリストのへり下りは、次の点にありました。キリストが生まれられたこと、それも低い状態であられた(1)こと、律法のもとに置かれた(2)こと、こ の世の悲惨(3)と神の怒り(4)と十字架ののろいの死とを忍ばれた(5)こと、葬られた(6)こと、しばらく死の力のもとに留まられた(7)ことです。

We need to really understand what Christ's humiliation means and included so that we can truly begin to think about the nature of salvation. There are 6 points concerning how Christ humiliated himself that we will discuss today.

1)It is amazing that God should come into this world by taking to himself. C.S. Lewis made a comparison. He said that Christ taking human form is like a shepherd becoming a lamb in order to sacrifice himself to save the rest of the sheep. Think what it means for a person to lower himself in that way. Now realize that the distance between God and human beings is so much greater than the distance between people and sheep.

2)When Christ became what position did he take? He did not take the position of a recognized King. He came into this world with very little and in a boring seemingly very normal family. Christ the creator, received nothing at like the glory he deserved. Luke 2

3)Christ is the one who made the Law, the giver of the Law the one who made the rules yet in becoming a person he made himself under the law. When he became a person it became his duty to submit to the law just as any other person. In this we must remember that in keeping the law he was tempted in every way to break the law just like we are. He was tempted and it may seem strange to say but it was indescribably difficult for him to remain perfect in all things at all times. Read Col 1:15-17

4)Jesus experienced the miseries that we experience. He did not experience one misery, what misery is that? He did not experience guilt because he was never guilty. He knew about poverty, hunger, pain and sorrow. He was hated and ridiculed. Read Is 53:4. He experienced all the pain of the fall except that he was sinless. Read Luke 4.

5)The suffering came to full expression when Jesus suffered the full consequences of sin in taking on God's wrath. Read Matt 27:46. When Jesus said this he was experiencing the same kind of pain that the lost will experience on judgment day. Christ was made a curse. Read Gal 3:13.

6)Christ suffered humiliation in paying the the penalty for sin. The payment Christ paid was becoming the one very thing he was not. Read 2 Cor 5:21. Christ the creator of life suffered death. The God of the universe died.

The Lord suffered all of these things voluntarily. Read Phil 2:5-8. In reading about Christ becoming man we need once again to talk about Christ not stopping to be God. Christ is both God and man 100%. There is a teaching called kenosis which the church from the beginning has rejected. Kenosis in Greek means to empty and in Phil 2:7 some people interpret this to mean that Christ emptied r stopped being God when he became a person. People who believe kenosis say that Christ stopped being God when he became a person and this is also part of Christ humiliation. But the Bible teaches that Christ did not subtract his deity but added humanity. We can say this for 3 reasons. 1)Christ is divine in nature. The divine nature cannot change. Read Malachi 3:6. 2)Jesus was God throughout his humiliation. Read Luke 1:35. Kenosis is rejected because it does not help us in anyway understand the incarnation of Jesus. We cannot understand how the divine and human can both 100%, and kenosis pretends to help us understand but it does not.

Jesus humiliation did not involve a subtraction of deity but we can say that most people who saw Christ did realize that he was God. Jesus also spent the majority of his life not showing his power and glory. Only the years of his public ministry. Read John 2:11. His miracles attested to his divine nature but even in that his full Godness was hidden. Christ said he intentionally will only reveal himself to his sheep until he comes in his full glory at the last judgment.

Here is a Study on Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 28. Excuse the grammar and spelling it was written quickly. Let me know what you think! And if you would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059
Q. 28. Wherein consisteth Christ's exaltation?

A. Christ's exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day [a], in ascending up into heaven , in sitting at the right hand [c] of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day [d].

問２８ キリストの高挙は、どの点にありますか。

答 キリストの高挙は、次の点にあります。キリストが三日目に死人の中からよみがえられた(1)こと、天に昇られた(2)こと、父なる神の右に座しておられる(3)こと、終わりの日に世をさばくためにこられる(4)ことです

What did Jesus say as he was finishing his work on earth? Read John 17:5. Today we will look at the exaltation or the lifting up of Christ to his high position.

What are the parts of Jesus' exaltation? 1)First of all there is the Lord's resurrection. The body that rose from the grave was the same body Jesus had before he died. It was different in quality but the same in identity. What do I mean by that? Read Luke 24:37-39 There are a number of theories that try to disbelieve what the bible teaches about the resurrection. One says that the disciples believed so strongly that Jesus would rise again that they imagined the whole thing. This doesn't make much sense because the bible teaches that the disciples did not think Jesus would rise from he grave and they did not believe it when it did happen. Read Luke 23. Other say that the disciples have deliberately lied. This doesn't work so well because the disciples were willing to go to the death because of this teaching. Why die for a lie?

2)The second part of Jesus' exaltation is his ascension or going up. Read Acts 1-11. Here Jesus in the body goes to take his position that he had from before the world began. The historic Christian faith teaches that the real man Jesus dies, was raised and ascended. many modern people like the Jesus story but cannot accept the resurrection and ascension. But there is no Christian story with these two essential elements. As Paul said if Christ is not raised we are the most pitiable of all people.

3) the third step of our Lord's exaltation is his sitting at the right hand of the Father. This is a figurative description meaning that Jesus is sitting at the pace of honor with the father. Jesus has also received the name that is above every name. Read Phil 2:9-10. Why did God give these things since Jesus had them before the incarnation anyway? The reason is that when Jesus returned to the Father he was not only God but also man. Because he was man he could receive the honor that God gave. So Christ received an honor which is reserved for him alone.

4)The fourth part of Christ's exaltation can be seen in his Second coming to judge the world which has not yet happened. Quickly concerning the teaching of Jesus' second coming, it is not wise and not biblical to try and figure out when this will happen. A)Read Matt 24:36, Mark 13:32, Acts 1:7. We are not told when he will return and anyone who claims differently is making up a story. B) If we are not told the time, then we also will not be given understandable signs by which we can guess the time of his second coming. Many have thought the events mentioned in Matt 24 5-35 talk about signs that will point us to

know the time of the second coming. But Jesus said in Matt 24 that this generation or the generation that he was speaking to would not pass away until these things had happened. Matt 24:34. We believe that these things did happen in that generation and because Jesus' coming will be like the flood during Noah's time, every will be surprised and not see it coming. It is wrong to look for signs of Christ return ad anyone who says they know when is selling something. C)The coming of Christ will be sudden, public and people will see it with their own eyes. At the coming the dead will be raised. Read John 5:28 and those currently living will be instantly changed 1 Thess 4:17, 1 Cor 5:10. At that time the Lord will separate all people in to the saved or lost.

It is important to remember that Christ is still active now during his time of exaltation. He did not go on vacation and he is not less here then when he was bodily present 2000 years ago. Christ left to prepare a place for us. John 14:3. He continues to intercede for us his people. Heb 7:25. He continues his conquest over his enemies. 1 Cor 15: 25-26. Christ's exaltation will never end. He is forever glorified and with him in that exaltation all his children will take part. 1Cor 15:23

Here is a Study on Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 29. Excuse the grammar and spelling it was written quickly. Let me know what you think! And if you would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

Q. 29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?

A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit

問２９ キリストが手に入れたあがないは、どのようにして私たちに分け与えられますか。

答 キリストが手に入れたあがないが、私たちに分け与えられるのは、キリストの聖霊(1)がそれを私たちに有効に当てはめてくださる(2)ことによってです。

The only redeemer/ savior of God's chosen people is the Lord Jesus. This is true not only because He accomplished our redemption (in his messianic work as prophet priest and king). It is also true because He applies this redemption to to His chosen through the work of the Holy Spirit, This does not mean that the Holy Spirit is just a force or power. No he is a person. He is equal with the Father and Son in power and glory. He is of the same substance with them. OUr salvation, in other words, is a result of the mighty power and grace of the 3 persons of the Godhead, not only Jesus. We must understand that this doctrine of the trinity is necessary to our doctrine of salvation. God the Fahter has given His Son to be the redeemer of the elect. Christ the son, has purchased redemption by his active and passive obedience. The Holy Spirit applies redemption to the chosen people of God. All "Christian" teachings must be judged according to its faithfulness to the teaching about the Triune God.

For example there are three teachings which claim to be Christian but they are not. Pelagianism, Socianism, Unitarianism. All of these teachings are different in many regards but in one way they hold a person must accomplish their own salvation. Another view called Arminianism comes from the 1600''s. A preacher named James Arminius taught that the salvation of sinners depended partly on God and partly on man. He taught that sinners depend upon God the Father, who gave Jesus Christ to die for them; and upon Jesus Christ , who gave himself as a sacrafice for sin. But he did not believe that sinners depend upon the Holy Spirit alonje for regeneration or new life. Arminianism has become a common name for the system of teaching that fails to recognize the work of the HS in a proper manner. And whenever there is failure in this regard it tends to work against proper undersanding of God in the entire system. The historic Christian teaching about Christs work of redemption through the HS comes in the Reformed teaching which has been known by different names in the past(Augustinianism, etc...)

As we consider how we are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ we need to understand something called the "ordo salutis" or the order of the application of redemption.There are 6 "steps" in the order of salvation but keep in mind that these steps give us a logical order and should not be thought of as a needing a passage of time between events. These successive stepscan occur virtually at the same time. The breaking down of steps is the the biblical process given in an order so we can recogize the stages that progress in the person as they redeemed by christ through the work of the Spirit.

1) Effectual Calling: This is made up of 2 parts. A)Calling:The gospel is preached to sinners without distinction , and salvation is freely offered to all. B)Regeneration: Only when the HS creates a new nature in a sinner are they able to hear the gospel in a saving way. Read Romans 8:30 and Matt 20:16

2)Conversion: The turning of a sinner to Christ. This also has 2 parts. A)Repentance: The whole man turns away from sin. B)Faith: The whole person turns to Jesus Christ. reads Acts 9

3)Justification: When a sinner trust in Christ, they are accepted at once as righteous. Eph 2: 1-6

4)Adoption: When a sinner trusts in Christ and is justified, they are also brought in as children of God. Read Romans 8:12-17

5)Sanctification; From conversion until death the Holy Spirit enables a believer to fight against sin and for holiness. Read Romans 6: 1-14

6)Glorification: At the last day, when Christ returns, believers will be made perfect in body and soul. Read 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 and 42-49

Here is a Study on Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 30. Excuse the grammar and spelling it was written quickly. Let me know what you think! And if you would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

Q. 30. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?

A. The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling

Q. 31. What is effectual calling?

A. Effectual calling is the work of God's Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.

問３０ 御霊は、キリストの手に入れたあがないを、どのようにして私たちに当てはめてくださるのですか。

答 御霊が、キリストの手に入れたあがないを私たちに当てはめてくださるのは、私たちの中に信仰を働かせ(1)、それによって私たちを有効召命においてキリストに結びつける(2)ことによってです。

問３１ 有効召命とは何ですか。

答 有効召命とは、神の御霊の御業です(1)。これによって御霊は、私たちに自分の罪と悲惨とを自覚させ(2)・私たちの心をキリストを知る知識に明るく し(3)・私たちの意志を新しくする(4)という仕方で、福音において一方的に提供されるイエス・キリストを私たちが受いれるように説得し、受けいれさせ てくださるのです

Read John 6:63,Eph 2:8,1Cor1:9,2 Tim1:8-9,Ezek 11:19, John6:44

God has decided to bring sinners to salvation through the preaching of the gospel. Read 1Cor1:21. It is for this reason Christ gave his church the task of going into all the world to preach the gospel of every man. Read Matt28:29-20. Except for infants who die in infancy, and mentally retarded persons who are not capable of grasping he significance of the words, this is the way in which men must be saved. Read Romans 10:17.

But the great question is : Why do some people accept the gospel when they hear it, while aothers do not? To answer this questionwe must first understand that the reason is not in the gospel itself. It is the same gospel that is preached to one man as preached to another. Jesus Christ freely offered the gospel to all sinners without exception. Some people say that salvation is only offered to the elect/chosen people. But this we do not accept. Read Romans 10:13. There is nothing in the gospel offer itself that prevents any person from accepting the offer of salvation contained in it.

Secondly, we must understand that the difference in one accepting and another not is not dependent on the person. We might imagine that one person accepts the gospel and this makes them smarter, better or more wise than another person but this is not correct All men are equally dead in the mind, body and soul because of sin. Read Eph 2:1. And no person ever receives the gospel because of their own natural

desire to do so. Read 1Cor 2:14. If God left people to chose the gospel by themselves, no one ever would chose to accept the gospel.

But, some people do accept the gospel. How? The answer is that people who accept the gospel offer are effectually called. They are effectually called because they hear the gospel preached and are regenerated by the Holy Spirit.

What is effectually calling? 1)The gospel is preached to a group of persons. Everyone who hears the gospel preached is dead in sin. They cannot believe because they consider it foolish. 2) Then, for some people, the Holy Spirit performs a mighty work. It is called a quickening in Eph 2:5, it I a creation in Eph2:10, being born again in John 3:4. This is a miracle that resores a person spiritually. 3)In these cases, the result of the regenerating work of the HS is this:What was foolish stories now pricks the heart. Read Acts 2:37. What was just nonsense becomes to be understood as the word of God. 1 Thess2:13.

We can compare effectual calling to the raising of Lazarus from the dead in John 11. Lazarus as we read in that story was dead. He was nbot able to hear or do anything. Yet, Jesus walked up to his grave and said "Lazarus come out". The same is true with people who hear the gospel. All people are dead in sin unable to do anything. But for some the Holy SPirit enters them and brings them to life. LIke Jesus Lazarus the power to hear his voice and come so too the HS gives some the ability to hear and obey the gospel.

Does this teaching make us like game pieces in God's game? No. 1)No person is lost against their own will. By nature no person wants to receive the things of God, they are lost in sin. God is not the creator of sin. 2)Regeneration is not an act of coercion(forcing a person against their will). Rather regeneration is an act of creation(creating a new will in a person). Regeneration is a work of irresistable grace, not because they are made to do what they do not want to do, but irresistable because God changes a person such that they want to do what they did not want to do before God changed who they were.

When a person is made alive by the HS3 things happen. 1) A person will see the truth of the gospel. 2)A person will see their ownguilt before God. 3)That person will repent of their sin and believe in the person of Jesus Christ.

2 Things need to beavoided 1)Feelings about salvation are not the base of our assurance that we have been called by God. People can have strong feelings about God that are not called by God. MAtt 13:5, 20-21, Heb 6:4-8. The effectual calling of the Holy Spirit may sudden and come with a dtrong feeling or it may be something slow that grows over a long period of time. 2)A person can not be excused from their duty to come to God because they do not feel they have been regenerated. People cannot say they would believe if they could but God has not given them the Spirit to believe. God calls all people to repent and believe, and it is everyones duty to repent and believe. And no person knows regeneration before belief. They know they are regenerated after they believe. It is by obeying the gospel invitation that we cn be sure that we have been regenerated by the HS. John 7:17, 2 Peter 1:10

A little change of pace. We had been studying the Westminster Standards but that seemed to be getting a little to dense for the attendees so we will switch gears and move forward working topic by topic through a book called concise theology by J.I Packer.If you would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

Miracles: God shows His presence and power in this World:

Read 1 Kings 17:22. Do you believe this happened? Scripture has no single word for miracle. The concept of miracle is a blend of the thoughts expressed by 3 terms; wonder, mighty work and sign.

First lets talk about the word wonder in the Bible. When we think of a miracle, we think of something that causes us to wonder. What does this mean? Read Isa 29:14, Hab 1:5, Acts 3:6-12. A wonder, is a work of God that causes a person to be amazed because it is something beyond their ability to understand or do. A miracle or wonder is an observed event that makes a person aware of God's presence and power. Unexplainable "coincidences" and awesome events are works of wonder.

Secondly, the term Mighty work. When the Bible uses this term it focuses on the impression that the miracle makes, it points to the presence of supernatural works of God involving power that God alone has. These are the powers God posses to create everything from nothing, to create life from no life. For example, this includes the raising of the dead. Jesus did this 3 times not counting his ow resurrection. Read Luke 7:1-17, 8:49-56, John 11:38-44. Elisha, Elijah, Peter and Paul each did this miraculous act once. Read 1 Kings 17:17-24, 2 Kings 4:18-37, Acts 9:36-41, Acts 20:9-12. This power cannot be explained. We also must remember that this alone is God's power anyone claiming to have this power and claiming to use it independently or use it by their own will is wrong. Mighty work also refers to special healings like the woman with the flow of blood Luke 8:43-48. All of these mighty works work not just to be cool things done to impress us but they all have a redemptive and restorative and re-creative purpose. The purpose of miracales is to teach, restore, renew and build up, not to impress.

Thirdly, the bible use the word Sign. John uses this word most in his gospel were 7 key miracles or 7 key signs occur. When sign refers to miracle in the Bible it is emphasizing the the teaching role of miracles. The miracles of the Bible are clustered into groups. They mostly occur in the Exodus, the lives of Elijah and Elisha, and with Christ and his apostles. These people are all authentic messengers of God and as such are given special and unique times of ability. Christ himself being God has this power without measure. He is unique in this. When the miracles or signs are done they are done to show God's power in salvation and judgment. As said before these miracles or signs are not done to look cool, they are done to show salvation and judgment. Read Exod 4:1-9, 1 Kings 17:24, John 10:38, John 14:11, 2 Cor 12:12, Heb 2:3-4.

LAstly, we must remember that the word of God is more important than miracles in our lives: Read Deut 13:1-5. Miracles are very rare and experienced by very few. The word of God is our sure foundation and it is by what everything else including miracles must be tested.

If you would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

32. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?

A. They that are effectually called do in this life partake of justification, adoption, and sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life do either accompany or flow from them [a].

Q. 33. What is justification?

A. Justification is an act of God's free grace [a], wherein he pardoneth all our sins , and accepteth us as righteous in his sight [c], only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us [d], and received by faith alone

問３２ 有効召命されている者は、この世で、どんな祝福を分け与えられますか。

答 有効召命されている者は、この世で、義認(1)、子とされること(2)、聖化、この世でそれらに伴い、あるいはそれらから流れ出るいくつもの祝福(3)を分け与えられます。

問３３ 義認とは、何ですか。

答 義認とは、神の一方的恵みによる決定です。それによって神は、私たちのすべての罪をゆるし(1)、私たちを御前に正しいと受けいれてくださいます(2)。それはただ、私たちに転嫁され(3)信仰によってだけ受けとるキリストの義のゆえです

Read: Rom. 8:30; I Cor. 1:30; 6:11; Eph. 1:5-7, 2 Cor 5:21, Rom 5:19, Gal 2:16

We have talked about effectual calling and conversion. Today we will talk about Justification. What is Justification?

The great big question that this question about justification deals with is "How can a guilty sinner be made righteous before God?" How can a sinner be made a non-sinner? How can the guilty be made not guilty? What we need to think about of if we are to really understand justification is a guilty person standing in front of a righteous judge. Read Deut 25:1. This text talks about how a judge declares or says officially whether a man is righteous or guilty. A judges' statement is final, it is law. But since as Rom 3:23 says we are all guilty before God because we have been declared guilty by God because of sin...How then can God declare a sinner righteous?

The answer is that God himself makes the sinner rightoeus. God offers perfect righteousness to sinners eventhough they are not yet perfectly holy. What do we mean when we say perfectly righteous and perfectly holy? The great justification of Christ makes us perfectly rightoeous before God even though we are not yet fully holy, we still sin and we still will face death.

What is the perfect righteousness that we sinners receive? he righteousness of Christ. How is this done? Through a process called imputation. What is imputation? When we say imputation we mean that God has imputed/reckoned/regarded/given to our account what does not belong to us. God in imputation has given the righteousness of Christ to us. God in imputation gives to/regards/looks at the sinner with the same eyes that he sees His Son Christ.

How does imputation work? This is difficult for us to understand. Originally Adam was created holy and righteous but he sinned and all humainty fell with him. HIs sin was imputed to all the people that came after. Why? He was our representative. He stood as our original representative. Did we elect him? Did we chose him? No, God put him in that position. His actions determined our future. This is the same for Christ. His perfect righteousness was not ours but it was given to us. Read Rom 5.

Who does the work of Justification? Read Rom 8:33. It is God who makes us rightoeus. It is important to understand this so that we do not think we ourselves have justified ourselves through our belief in Christ. It is God who gives righteousness. OUr faith is not a good work that God is so pleased by that he gives us the righteousness of Christ. Faith is not what produces righteousness. Our received righteousness before God comes from and is built on the work of Christ alone. Thst is why we cannot just have "faith" we must have faith in Christ. Faith is only an instrument. The power is in the life death and resurrection of Christ. He has won our salvation and it is his righteousness that we receive.

Justification is something that happens only once. A person cannot be justified multiple times.When a Christian believes and recieves Christ throught the effectual calling of the HS we are free from sin from that moment on. We still have to deal with sin but it no longer has eternal power over us. Read Rom 8:1. This is about Justification.

Now in order to fully understand justification we need to talk about the relationship of believeing and receiveing the imputation of Christ righteousness and works. Read Gal 2:16. Although a person is not justified by doing good things, nonetheless good works cannot be taken away from justification. Justification must produce good works. If we have received the righteousness of Christ this must be visible in our lives. Read James 2:26. A person who shows no life of belief, repentance and righteous works must question their position in Christ. There are no magic words that get you into Christ and are a free pass into heaven. The life of Christ that is imputed to Christians is a belief in the heart and a life lived every day. If you separate those two things you are not in Christ.

If you would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

Q. 34. What is adoption?

A. Adoption is an act of God's free grace [a], whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges, of the sons of God

問３４ 子とされることとは、何ですか。

答 子とされることも、神の一方的恵みによる決定です(1)。それによって私たちは、神の子らの数に入れられ、神の子らのあらゆる特権に権利を持つものになるのです

Read 1 John 3:1, John 1:12, Rom 8:17

Adoption follows justification in the logical order of things. This is obvious because God cannot accept anyone into his family unless and until that person is made righteous. There can never be a guilty member of God's family. However, we should not thnk that adoption is experienced later than justification in the life of a believer. As soon as a person is justified by belief and faith, they are adopted.

What is adoption? We are lead by scripture to believe that only some people are children of God and they become children of God only through the process of adoption. If we think about the relationship that sinners have with God we understad that sinful people before juistification are homeless orphans, they are not members of God's family by birth. Sadly, after sin eneterd the world we became children of Satan. Who calls people children of Satan? Where does he say this? But as we said people after sin, as they are not I God7s family and are orphans disconnected from love of the Father. Read Eph 2:12.

But, when a person is adopted they become a full member of God's family. Adoption is the act of God by which a person is transferred from the lost human race into the fellowship of the redeemed. The adoption of God is even more meaningful action than when adopting a child from an orphanage. Why? Gal 4:4-7.

There are several things that we need to emphasize so that we can really understand adoption. 1)It is a work of God that takes effect in a moment of time. It is not something that takes a long time, it is an instant action. 2) It is something that remains in effect permamently. Adopted children can never be forsaken by God. Read John 10:29. 3) Adoption is something we are made conscious of. We understand our relationship to our Father in Heaven. Read Gal 4:6. We understand that we are children of God it is not some weird thing that we cannot understand it is a relationship which becomes the center of our being.

How does God make us aware that we have been adopted? 1)The witness by which we know this is a joint witness. The Holy spirit testifies to our adoption with us. OUr spirit with the HS testify to our adoption. 2)Scripture is the HS testimony. Isa 8:20. We can only be sure that the Spirit is speaking to us if it is in agreement with Scripture. 3) The witness of the HS with our spirit can only be experienced when God enables us to say of ourselves what the Scriptures say of true believers. For example the Bible says that whoever believes on Jesus Christ shall not perish but have everlasting life. If God enables me to say this if myself sincerely "I believe in Jesus Christ" then I have joint witness of the HS, my spirit and scripture. Read Rom 8:29-35, Heb 12:6-11

Q. 86. What is faith in Jesus Christ?

A. Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace [a], whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel

Q. 87. What is repentance unto life?

A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace [a], whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ , doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God [c], with full purpose of, and endeavour after, new obedience

問８６ イエス・キリストヘの信仰とは、何ですか。

答 イエス・キリストへの信仰は、救いの恵みです(1)。それによって私たちは、救いのために、福音において提供されているままにキリストのみを受けいれ、彼にのみ寄り頼むのです

問８７ 命に至る悔い改めとは、何ですか。

答 命に至る悔い改めも、救いの恵みです(1)。それによって罪人は、自分の罪をほんとうに自覚し(2)キリストにある神のあわれみを理解して(3)、自分の罪を嘆き憎みつつ、罪から神へと立ち帰り(4)、新しい服従をはっきりと目差し努力するようになるのです

Read Eph2:8,John1:12, Gal 2:16, Acts 11:18, Acts 2:37-38, Ezek 36:31, 2 Cor 7:11

Effectual calling would not be what it is if it did not result in conversion. And because conversion always results from effectual calling we skip the order of the WSC and will do questions 86-87 even though last week we 31 and 32.

What is conversion? Conversion can be defined as a complete revolution in the mind/hert/soul of a person where a sinner turns from all belief that he is a good and righteous person and trusts in Christ alone for salvation. Let us break conversion down like this:

1)First there is the enterance of light into the soul. The dead sinner because of the work of regeneration by the HS is now able to receive the truth of the gospel. Jesus is now able to be received by this person. Christ through his Word and Spirit teaches the person 2 things 1)The sinners lost condition and 2)The sinners need of Christ. The first element of conversion is correct knowledge of self and correct knowledge of Jesus Christ.

2)Secondly there is the enterance of heat into the soul. By this I mean the person now feels a conviction about the guilt of sin. A regenerated person cannot receive the knowledge of the truth without feeling a personal conviction of sin and the need of Christ. Why do I say this? Read Acts 2. This does not mean that the element of feeling will all be experienced at once or in the same way by every person. But no one can be saved without the knowledge of Christ and the conviction of need for him.

3)Thirdly, There is the enterance of power into the soul. By this I mean that a person who has felt the need of salvation and seen Christ for his person of salvation now feels the need to act in repentance.

The sinner must turn from sin to Crist. It is only when a sinner turns to Christ that we can say that they are converted. What is turning to Christ? Romans 14:11

We must becareful because there is true conversion where a person comes to Christ and false conversion where they only appear/pretend or seem like they have come to Christ. A person who knows everything about the Bible and knows many things about Jesus, are they converted? Maybe. Aperson who attends Church regularly and is knows the gospel, are they converted? Maybe. A person can have all the knowledge in the world, attend church every week, sing in the choir and be a bible study attender but if they feel no conviction for sin, and no love for Christ they are not really converted. Faith and repentance are not just sudden momentary things. They are not something we need only for a particular time in life. These are things we must have throughout the christian life. What we call conversion is just the beginning of faith and repentance. When a person begins to truly repent and believe they are converted but the rest of their life is daily acts repentance and belief.

Conversion is a very gradual process.. Many true believers cannot tell you the day and time they "converted". And according to the Bible the proof f conversion is not being able to say a time and date that you believe but rather the continuing in the life of faith and bearing the fruits of faith. . If a person can truly say that they lives daily lives of repentance and faith that person has the evidence of the work of the Spirit in them, they do not have to worry if they cannot remember an exact time or moment of "conversion". The bible tells us to make our calling and election sure by giving diligence 2Peter 1:10 and continuing the ways of faith, repentance and obedience to the Lord.

If you are in the Zama area and would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

Glory

Read Ezekiel 1:28. God's goal is his own glory. This requires explanation because it is easily misunderstood. God's desire for his own glory does not point to Him being egotistical but rather it points to divine love. God wants to be praised for His being infintely praiseworthy and for being infinitely great and good; he wants to be honored for all that He is. But, the glory that is his central goal is a two sided two staged desire or goal. He wants to (A) show his glory to His creation and to (B) have his creation adore what they have received and what they see when they have seen. In this we see the purpose of creation, God's glory. His glory to demonstrate through creation and his glory to receive praise because of that creation. We as created beings, need to realize that God's self glory or the infinite glory he has within himself and the glory He receives from the creation are both things that ultimetely are unto God they also are for our own supreme joy . Read Zeph 3:14-17.

Now, let's look at Glory in the OT. Glory in the OT has a lot of meaning behind it. It carries with it a sense of weight, worth, wealth, spleandor and dignity. When God reveals his glory all of these things are involved with the meaning. Read Exodus 33:18-37. When Moses asked to be shown God's glory he wanted to be shown Gpod's nature, character and power. What God revealed was his glory through an awe inspiring physical manifestation, the Shekinah cloud that could be described as white hot fire Ex 24:17. The Shekinah was called was called the glory of God and it appeared at significant moments in the Bible story as a sign of God's active presence.

In the NT, writers proclaim that the glory of God, His nature, power character and purpose can now be seen in the person and role of Jesus Christ. Read John 1:14-18, 2Cor 4:3-6, Heb 1:1-3. Also in the NT we see the picture of God's glory shown in the work of grace whereby sinners are saved and enemies give praise to God because of redemption. Read Eph 1: 6, 12, 14). We redeemed are to give glory to God by spoken word (Rev 4:9, 19:7). All of life is a purposely directed act of giving glory to God 1 Cor 10:31.

God makes clear that he will not share glory. God would not share the glory of redemption with idols in the OT, Isa 42:8 and God will not share the glory of salvation with anyone today. God will share no glory with any created thing human or not because He alone is the one who saves. First to last every stage in the process of salvation comes from the Lord this is why the reformation often said Glory to God alone. It is necessary to remember that we deserve no glory for our own salvation and we can only look at the glory of God and give glory to God because of who He is and what he has done.

If you are in the Zama area and would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

Idolatry:

Read Hosea 2:13. What is idolatry? What kinds of idolatry do we see today? There are 2 kinds of idolatry the worship of physical objects and syncretism(the blending of religions).

First, lets talk about blending religions, beliefs and ideas with belief in the God of the bible and Jesus Christ. Do you know of any examples of syncretism or blending? This blending is something which all of us must pay attention and ask the Spirit to help us see in our own hearts and minds where the influence of the world is taking effect because it is so so easy to let the world inflience our minds and beliefs.

Though there is only one God and only one true faith, the God and faith of the Bible, our world having rejected God has been full of other/false religions ever since the Fall, read Rom 1:18-25. Not only has the world made false religions but the world always wants to take these various religions and join them together in different ways. Even today, the New Age movement has a desire to take many different religions and join them with the God and Faith of the Bible. There is great on Christians pressure from people outside of the church to take there religion and make it more compatible more friendly with other belief systems. This blending of religions is idolatry not in the form of worshipping stone objects but in that it causes us to worship something other than the God of the Bible exclusively. Read Ex 20:5

This desire to take the True Religion and blend it with the surrounding world has been a problem and a temptation for a very long time. The Israelites in when they escaped Egypt were tempted to worship other gods. They had started to believe some of what they had learned from Egyptian worship culture, Read Ex 32. This problem continued as they entered the promised land, Read Joshua/Judges. The spiritual issue for Israel was whether the Israelites would remember that Yahweh, their covenant God was all sufficient, 100% able for them. He required a pledge of 100% exclusive worship. To worship any other god or to bring in beliefs from any other religion was spiritual adultery, Read Jer 3, Ezek 16, Hos 2.

As we move into the NT times we see that blending religions was very popular in the Roman empire. There, in that time, worshipping many gods by many different ways was standard practice. Christian teachers and apostles fought hard to keep different forms of teachings out of the church. Read Heb, Eph and 1/2 Corinthians. It is because of this desire for the world to attack the true worship of God in this way that the Church held councils and meetings and declared the true teaching of the bible on various things. The church made official creeds about the trinity, the incarnation and other subjects because of a desire to stay away from the problem of idolatry through blending religions.

Now let us briefly deal with idolatry as it is a worship of physical onjects. What do we mean by worship of physical objects? Is this kind of idolatry limited to worshipping a statue? What other kinds of physical objects can become idols. Romans 1:25. Createde things become gods. What are created things? everything that is created can become a god. A chair is a created thing but is probably not likely to become a god to you but what are some created things that you value so highly that they slowly turn into gods? Children? School? Money? We do not like to admit that these things can become something that we worship but sadly a famous theologian said that our hearts are little idol factories, they are constantly trying to get us to worship other things and to focus on ourselves above and beyond God the creator.

Scripture is very forceful about how evil it is to practice idolatry. It warns against worshipping a stone idols. It mocks worship in this way, read Psm 115 4-7, Isa 44:9-20. It also talks about how contact with idols can have very serious effects Read 1 Cor 8:4-6, 10:19-21. The bible also discusses how the worship of anything plus Christ is idolatrous, so adding any other belief or way of thinking to the BIble is idolatryIn , Read Rom, Eph and Gal. Inour day and in our country we are dealing with temptations to visit shrines, temple etc(physical idolatry) and to incorporate the old beliefs of the past (spiritual idolatry). We must be very vigillent in guarding our hearts, minds and worship practices from these kinds of idolatry. Read 1 John 5:19-21

If you are in the Zama area and would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

Covenant

What is a covenant? Where do we read about covenants in the bible? What is the significance of covenants? Read Gen 12:1-3. Covenants in scripture are agreements that tie 2 people or parties together in specific relationships. These relationships have certain responsibilities , promises, claims and obligations for both people/parties. For example Read Mal. 2:14 and the marriage covenant.

When God makes a covenant with his creatures he alone makes the rules of the covenant. For example Gen 9:9 and the covenant with Noah. Where else do we see God setting up covenants in this way?

What kind of covenant did God make with Adam and Eve? Where do we read about it? What were the rules? We call this particular covenant the "covenant of works". When Adam and Eve failed to obey the terms of the agreement that God had made with them, God did not destroy them but rather established a new covenant with them one of grace. We call this a covenant of grace. He did this by offering them a savior that would come. Read Gen 3:15 God uses this type of relationship man from beginning to end. After Adam and Eve we see the covenant with Noah and then a covenant with Abraham. All of these covenants were covenants of grace and were all based on the promises of God. What is God' covenant with Abraham? What are his promises to Abraham? Gen 12:1-3. Because Abraham believed the promises of God it was credited to him as righteousness. Gen 15:6. God's next covenant was with Israel on Mt. Siani. Read Ex 3:15 and Deut 7:7-8. Even though there were rules and laws and punishments in this covenant with Israel, can we still call it a covenant of Grace? Israel ultimately failed to keep their end of the bargain and showed the great need God's people have for redemption and an even better covenant. Read Jer 31:31,-34, 32:38-40.

This covenant with Israel was done to prepare the way for God coming in the person of his Son. The Son was to come and fulfill all the promises and give the substance of the covenant. Christ obeyed the law and followed the rules of the covenant perfectly and in ding so he inherited all the covenant blessings that sinful people could not inherit. He followed the covenant completely where we could not.

Because Christ was able to fulfill the Old covenant that God had with Israel, God is then able to enter into an enhanced a stronger covenant of grace with his people . Read Heb 13:20. This covenant has better promises. Heb 8:6 and is based on a better sacrifice Heb 9:23.

The goal of Gods covenants is always the gathering and sanctifying of his people.What do I mean by this? Rev 7:9, 21:1-2, 21:3.

God's covenant relationship with people encapsulates all of our relationship with him. Christ's heavenly ministry continues to be that of a covenant mediator. Heb 12;24. Salvation is covenant salvation: It includes justification, sanctification, adoption and regeneration which are all covenant mercies. God's law is covenant law and keeping that law is the truest expression of gratitude for covenant grace and of loyalty to our covenant God. Covenanting with God in response to HIs covenanting with us should be a regular devotional exercise for all believers both in private and in our rememberance of the Lord's supper. An understanding of the covenant of grace guides us through and helps us to appreciate all the wonders of God's redeeming love.

Your HW is to read Hebrews 7-10 and think about how Christ is the head of the new covenant and what this new covenant means.

If you are in the Zama area and would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

Law:

Read Deut 5:1. Were people created free? In regards to Law, people were not created free meaning that they were not free to make law and not free to be a law unto themselves. People were created to obey God's law. This requirement to obey the law was not to be hard because God had created people so that grateful obedience would bring highest happiness; duty and delight would have come together as they did with Jesus (Read John 4:34, Psalms 112:1, 119:14 etc...). BUt, the fallen human heart hates God's law both because it is an absolute law and because it is God's (Rom 1). Those in Christ, come to find that not only do they love the law and want to keep it out of gratefulness (Rom 7:18-22) but also that the HS leads them to higher degrees of obedience (Rom 7:6, Heb 10:16).

God's moral law is very clearly discussed in Scripture.What does God's moral law mean? With the Decalouge or the 10 commandments, other Mosaic statutes (Exodus), sermons by prophets, the teaching of Jesus and NT letters. All of these reflect God's Holy character. What does holy mean? It also reflects God's purposes for humanity. God's commands behavior that he loves and forbids behavior that he hates. Jesus summarizes this moral law, where does he do this and what does he say? Mathew 22:37-40. Christ here takes the OT moral law and hangs everything on this summary. The moral teaching of Christ and his apostles is the old law deepened and reapplied to new circumstances, the world in which the savior has come.

Biblical law is of various sorts. Moral laws command personal and community behavior that is always our duty. The political laws of the OT applied principles of moral law to the OT people of God when Israel was God's nation state. The ot ceremonial laws (what are these and where do we find them?) for ceremonial cleansing, sacrifice and diet were temporary and are cancelled out by the coming of Christ (Matt 15:20, Mark 7:15-19, 1 Tim 4:3-5, Heb 10:1-14). This happened because the symbolic meaning of the of these laws had been fulfilled by christs life death and resurrection. The many laws of the OT help to show how the whole life of a person in God's kingdom should be lived in unity not divided and seperated.

God requires total obedience of every person to the total implications of his law. It binds the whole person forever. BUt in this not just action but also a desire, both right action and right desire are required by God. Read Matt 15:7-8, 23:25-28.

If you are in the Zama area and would like to join us for the study on Sunday afternoons contact me andrewduncan7@hotmail.com or 090-4069-2059

Read Romans 7:7

What is the purpose of God's law?

Scripture teaches that God has made his law to have 3 purposes. It's 1st function is to be a mirror for us. It reflects the perfect righteousness of God while at the same time reflecting our sinfulness. The law gives knowledge of sin. Read Rom 3:20, 4:15, 5:13, 7:7-11. By showing us and giving us knowledge of our sin the law shows us our need to be forgiven and our need of repentance and faith in Christ. Read Gal 3:19-24.

Secondly, the law has a purpose to restrain evil. The law is unable to change a persons heart but the law can stop some sin by threatening judgment. This can be seen in civil laws that give judgment for offenses. Read Deut 13:6-11, 19:16-21, Rom 13:3-4. The law makes it so society in the sinful world can still function.

Thirdly, the law has a purpose guide the person who has been renewed in the Lord to good works and into the way of life God has planned for them to live in HIs image. Read Eph 2:10. The law tells God's people what is pleasing to HIm and how they can in following the law please him. It is like a family code. Christ was speaking of this when he said that those who become his disciples must be taught to keep commands. Read Matt 5:18-20. Obedience to Christ's commands prove a persons love for HIm. Read John14:15.

The Christian is freed from seeing the law as a way to earn salvation(Rom 6:14, 1 Cor 9:20) but the Christian is under Christ's law as a rule of life (1Cor 9:21, Gal6:2)