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Archive for the ‘Baptist Catechism’ Category

Made a Righteous Child of God

Posted in Adoption, Assurance, Baptist Catechism, Doctrine, Faith, Forgiveness, General, Grace, Justification, Salvation, tagged , , , , , on December 11, 2025| Leave a Comment »

”Be a good little boy (or girl),” we are apt to say. The problem is, even the best of children cannot be truly good. The purpose of the Law is to both to teach us what we should be and that we cannot be that. Many do not want to be good, but those effectually called (“Effectual Calling”) will persist in a desire to be good owing to the enabling indwelling of the Holy Spirit. This pushes them to Christ (Galatians 3:24) who is able to make them right. Justify is “1To demonstrate or prove to be just, right, or valid. 2To free (a human) of the guilt and penalty attached to grievous sin.” (1) Since no man or woman can prove him/herself just or right before God, the justification must come from without. “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies.” (Romans 8:33) What we cannot do, God graciously does.

But how does He justify undeniable sinners? Does He merely overlook the sin and the guilt of the sinner? No, the price was paid in Christ’s death, and a glorious transfer is made. “He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) Without this transfer from Christ to us, God would in fact be unjust. With the transfer, His righteousness is demonstrated “so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3:26) Trust Jesus Christ who alone can remove the source of your guilt, which is sin, and justify you in the eyes of God.

Justification is so great and gracious, but the goodness of God shines even brighter. What if I pulled someone out of a muddy ditch, cleaned them up, clothed him in clean garments, and then said, “I’ve cleaned you up. Now be on your way and have a good life.” I might even provide him with some food, a little starter money, and a place to live. But where is his sense of belonging, source of counsel, provision of friendship and mentorship? As a part of justifying the sinner, God adopts him into His spiritual family where He is his Eternal Father and other believers are his eternal and temporal, spiritual brothers and sisters. Emotional and spiritual belonging and provision are secured. He is not a cleaned-up orphan but a provisioned, protected, and purpose driven son of his Heavenly Father.

Oh, I give glory to God for justifying this sinner and adopting him into His family. I am blessed beyond understanding even as I seek to understand and pursue the God-given purpose in it all.

Question 37: What is justification?

Answer: Justification is an act of God’s free grace, by which he pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

Romans 3:24, 5:19; Ephesians 1:7; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Philippians 3:9; Galatians 2:16

Question 38: What is adoption?

Answer: Adoption is an act of God’s free grace, by which we are received into the company of God’s children and have a right to all the privileges of his sons.

1 John 3:1; John 1:12; Romans 8:16-17

  1. “The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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Effectual Calling

Posted in Assurance, Baptist Catechism, Dependence, Faith, Salvation, tagged , , , , , , , , , on November 23, 2025| 1 Comment »

Today we consider effectual calling and its benefits. We are never amiss to repeat and confirm the truths of God. Salvation is totally and absolutely of God. He alone draws the sinner to Himself in a way that cannot be precluded, prevented, or postponed- that is, an irresistible grace. Call is a command from a sovereign Creator and Ruler. All of this occurs in the face of a sinner who hates and resists the very God who calls Him. But the resistance does not persist, because the calling is effectual.

To change this from a theological explanation to a personal application, I ask the following question. What do you personally think is the greatest felt benefit of His effectual calling? Is it empowering to live righteously and for Him? Is it boldness to proclaim the Gospel, knowing that it will land on those He is calling? Is it peace and joy in the knowledge of His care for you?

For me it is the assurance that nothing will, and nothing can separate me from God. As Romans 8:38-39 says, “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” And the thing that I feared most separating me from God was me. I would reject or neglect or displease or fail Him. But I can’t and won’t, because it says, “nor any other created thing.” I am a “created thing”, therefore, I cannot separate myself from Him. Can I reject or neglect or displease or fail Him? Yes, but it will be temporary, because His effectual calling leads to the perseverance of the saints. My faith will last to the end because He gave and sustains it in me. I am not passive in the process, and though I fail frequently, I am held tightly, securely, inextricably. Security, peace, joy, and confidence are the result as He trains me to trust Him. His training ground are trials coupled with the need to question and pray. He prevails; He sustains; He wins; I win; He gets the glory.

Question 35: What is effectual calling?
Answer: Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, to convince us of our sin and misery, to enlighten our minds in the knowledge of Christ, to renew our wills, and thus persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel. 2 Timothy 1:9; John 6:44, 45; 16:8-11; Acts 2:37; 26:18; Ezekiel 36:26; Romans 8:30; 1 Corinthians 1:24; 12:3.

Question 36: What benefits do those who are effectually called receive in this life?
Answer: Those who are effectually called receive in this life justification, adoption, sanctification, and the several benefits which in this life accompany or flow from them. Romans 8:30-32; Galatians 3:26; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 6:11; Ephesians 1:5.

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“Not What These Hands Have Done” (1)

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Doctrine, Faith, Forgiveness, General, Grace, Salvation, Work of Jesus, Work of the Holy Spirit, tagged , , , , , , on November 22, 2025| Leave a Comment »

There is nothing in salvation brought about by man, not conviction, not faith, not the purchase of the sinner, not conversion, not assurance. I rejoice with Jonah, who said, “I will sacrifice to You with a voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the Lord.” (Jonah 2:9)

The catechism questions before us touch on the work that God, the Holy Spirit, does to bring about the “regeneration and renewing” of the sinner. He opens a person’s heart to respond (Acts 16:14) and be born of the Spirit (John 3:5) by washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5-6), so that salvation is by grace through faith and not of works (Ephesians 2:8-9).

As Horatius Bonar well put it,

“Not what these hands have done
can save this guilty soul;
not what this toiling flesh has borne
can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do
can give me peace with God;
not all my prayers and sighs and tears
can bear my awful load.” (1)

He goes on to praise the Christ for the singular excellence and efficacy of His saving work on our behalf. It is wonderful. From that work the Spirit applies the grace to the sinner.

Isaac Watts voices this collaborative work by saying,

”’Tis through the purchase of His death
Who hung upon the tree,
The Spirit is sent down to breathe
On such dry bones as we.” (2)

All glory goes to God for saving the unworthy sinner.

Question 33: How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?

Answer: We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effective application of it to us, by his Holy Spirit.  John 3:5-6; Titus 3:5-6

Question 34: How does the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?

Answer: The Spirit applies to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. 1 John 5:1; Philippians 1:29; Ephesians 2:8; Acts 16:14; 18:27

  1. “Not What These Hands Have Done” by Horatius Bonar, 1864
  2. “’Tis Not by Works of Righteousness” by Isaac Watts,

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Whiplash

Posted in Baptist Catechism, General, theology, Work of Jesus on November 9, 2025| Leave a Comment »

From the glories of heaven incessantly praised by angels, willingly and purposefully submitting to the humility of vulnerability and dependence as a baby, pains of bruised knees, cut fingers, hunger and thirst, conflicts, turmoil, misunderstood, disrespected, denied, accused, rejected, falsely condemned, suffered, died, descended, raised, ascended, seated, “highly exalted” because He emptied Himself, “becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Brothers and Sisters in Christ, this is nothing short of positional and experiential whiplash: exalted…humbled…highly exalted, and all for our good. We joyously add praise to His name for His grand and gracious rescue!

Question 31: What do we mean by Christ’s humiliation?

Answer: By Christ’s humiliation we mean that he was born, and that in a low condition; that he was made under the law, and underwent the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; that he was buried, and continued under the power of death for a time.

Luke 2:7; Galatians 4:4; Isaiah 53:3; Luke 22:44; Matthew 12:40; 27:46; Philippians 2:8; Mark 15:45-6.

Question 32: What do we mean by Christ’s exaltation?

Answer: By Christ’s exaltation we mean his rising again from the dead on the third day, ascending up into heaven, sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and coming to judge the world at the last day.

1 Corinthians 15:4; Acts 1:11; Mark 16:19; Acts 17:31.

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Priest and King

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Faith, General, God Thoughts, Gospel, Person of Jesus, theology, Work of Jesus on October 29, 2025| Leave a Comment »

In the last entry we considered that the offices of prophet, priest, and king are the means and authority by which our Redeemer Christ accomplished our grand rescue. Jesus is the only one in Scripture who fulfilled all three offices. Some, like David who was both prophet and king, fulfilled two offices, but only Christ fulfilled three.

Now we consider the offices of priest and king (1).

Who can imagine a priest who crawls up onto the altar? That is what Jesus did, becoming the sacrifice as well as the mediator and intercessor before the Father, and a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (2).

As sovereign king, He has power to bring about all that He has purchased for us. “For You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9) Thus, He rules over His church as Head (3), indeed “over all rule and authority” (4), and will at last rule visibly over all the earth and then forever (5).

Question 29: How does Christ perform the office of a priest?
Answer: Christ performs the office of a priest by once offering himself as a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and to reconcile us to God; and by making continual intercession for us before God.

1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 2: 17; 7:25; 9:28; Ephesians 5:2; Romans 8:34.

Question 30: How does Christ perform the office of a king?
Answer: Christ performs the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

Psalm 110:1-2; Matthew 2:6; Luke 1:32-33; 1 Corinthians 15:25.

  1. For an introduction and consideration of Christ as prophet, click on “Kinsman-Redeemer“.
  2. Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 5:6, 6:20, 7:17.
  3. Colossians 1:18
  4. Colossians 2:10
  5. Daniel 7:14, Revelation 20:4, Daniel 2:44

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Kinsman-Redeemer

Posted in Assurance, Baptist Catechism, Faith, General, God Thoughts, Person of Jesus, Salvation, Work of Jesus, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 19, 2025| 1 Comment »

The Hebrew word for Redeemer is used once in the book of Ruth to refer to Boaz, who redeemed the widow Ruth. Then also, Isaiah refers to “your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,” using the word Redeemer 13 times. A similar Hebrew term is used used twice in Ruth, kinsman or intimate friend. These are terms that show that someone like us who cares for us, rescues us. The idea is one who buys back another from slavery, debtor’s prison, or the destitution of widowhood. This concept originates in Leviticus 25:25 where God says, “If a fellow countryman of yours becomes so poor he has to sell part of his property, then his nearest kinsman is to come and buy back what his relative has sold.” The book of Ruth gives the example that specifically has the kinsman-redeemer, Boaz, marrying Ruth which is a picture of Christ and His Church. Then Isaiah fills our the description of Messiah as strong, able, willing, loving, diligent, and patient to carry out the rescue of His people. Jeremiah proclaims strongly, “Thus says the Lord of hosts, “The sons of Israel are oppressed, and the sons of Judah as well; and all who took them captive have held them fast, they have refused to let them go. Their Redeemer is strong, the Lord of hosts is His name; He will vigorously plead their case so that He may bring rest to the earth, but turmoil to the inhabitants of Babylon.”” (50:33-34)

Jesus best fulfills the dual role of kinsman-redeemer, having taken on flesh to become one of us and having died in our place to pay our sin debt, rescuing us from the wrath of God and the domain of darkness. By nature God, He had the power and purity to take the sin of everyone who believes. By nature man, He had the standing in the heavenly court to die in our place.

But wat do the offices or duties of prophet, priest, and king have to do with being a redeemer? The offices are the means and authority by which the Redeemer accomplishes this grand rescue. Consider the office of prophet. We think of a prophet as one who can reveal the future. Jesus certainly did that predicting His own future: death, resurrection, the destruction of Jerusalem, and His second coming. But in a wider sense, He reveals God, most notably in redemption through God’s justice and mercy in the plan of salvation.

Next time we will talk about Jesus as Priest and King.

Question 27: What offices does Christ perform as our Redeemer?
Answer: Christ, as our Redeemer, performs the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his condition of humiliation and exaltation. Acts 3:22; Hebrews 5:6; Psalm 2:6.

Question 28: How does Christ perform the office of a prophet?
Answer: Christ performs the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. John 1:18; 14:26; 15:15.

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Free Grace

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Blessing, Faith, General, Gospel, Grace, Joy, Person of Jesus, Salvation, Sanctification, Work of Jesus, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on June 7, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I rejoice that the transcendent, all powerful, sovereign, Creator of all things condescended to pour out His free grace upon an undeserving, rebellious sinner like me (1). I rejoice that his free grace (2) gifted me with eternal life (3), every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places while here on earth (4), all that I need for life and godliness (5), a growing knowledge of Him (6), and the ongoing sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit to completion (7).

Grace was free but not cheap. That sounds like a contradiction, but to clarify, grace was free to the recipients but very costly for “…Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (8) Not only did He leave the throne of God to die on a cross, our Redeemer “became flesh, and dwelt among us.” (9) His condescension included permanently taking on the nature of a man and temporarily taking on flesh, for “much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.” (10) “For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (11)

Question 24: Did God leave all mankind to perish in the condition of sin and misery?
Answer: God, out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, having chosen a people to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace, to deliver them out of the condition of sin and misery, and to bring them into a condition of salvation, by a Redeemer.
Ephesians 1:3-4; 2 Thessalonians 2:13; Romans 5:21; 8:29-30; 9:11-12; 11:5-7; Acts 13:48; Jeremiah 31:33.

Question 25: Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect?
Answer: 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 continues to be God and man, in two distinct natures and one person, forever.
Galatians 3:13; 1 Timothy 2:5; 3:16; John 1:14; Romans 9:5; Colossians 2:9.

  1. Isaiah 55:8-9, Romans 11:33; Job 42:2, Numbers 11:23; Psalm 115:3; John 1:14, Psalm 103:7; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:23, Jeremiah 17:9, Nehemiah 9:26
  2. Ephesians 2:8-9, John 4:10
  3. Romans 6:23
  4. Ephesians 1:3
  5. 2 Peter 1:3
  6. 2 Peter 3:17-18
  7. Philippians 1:6, 1 Corinthians 6:11
  8. Hebrews 12:2
  9. John 1:14
  10. Romans 5:15
  11. 1 Timothy 2:5

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Actions Have Consequences

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Consequences, General, Judgment, tagged , , , , , , on June 1, 2025| Leave a Comment »

The last questions that we covered of the catechism (“Federal Headship“) explained how and what happened to man because of the Fall. “All mankind…sinned in him [Adam]”, verifying federal headship, and they were “brought…into a condition of sin and misery.” The questions that we consider today explain and enumerate what those sins and miseries are. In question #22 are given three degradations of man’s nature and one of his resulting conduct.

Guilt is a judicial problem before God, not a feeling. The feeling that results from guilt is shame which compelled Adam and Eve to sew fig leaves. Unregenerate sinners, and all too often believers, ide in many ways, frequently by denying sin. Secondly, “the lack of original righteousness” renders us impotent to please God or earn His approval. The third, is “corruption of the whole nature (…original sin”) or total depravity represents such corruption as excludes that person from the ability to do right. And finally, these degradations of nature result in “actual transgressions”, thereby placing the punishable crime clearly upon the sinner without excuse.

Question #23 the misery results from what was lost and gained before God. But even in this dire pronouncement there is a glimmer of hope. The word “liable” means “subject to” or “likely to”, not required of necessity, thus preparing us for the good news of salvation in the subsequent questions.

Question 22: What is the sinfulness of that condition into which all mankind has fallen?
Answer: The sinfulness of the condition into which all mankind fell is the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the lack of original righteousness, and the corruption of our whole nature (which is commonly called original sin), together with all actual transgressions which come from this nature. Romans 5:19; 3:10; Ephesians 2:1; Isaiah 53:6; Psalm 51:5; Matthew 15:19.

Question 23: What is the misery into which all mankind fell through Adam’s first sin?
Answer: 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.
Genesis 3:8, 24; Ephesians 2:3; Galatians 3:10; Romans 6:23; Matthew 25:41-46; Psalm 9:17.

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Federal Headship

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Consequences, Faith, Forgiveness, General, Grace, Judgment, Salvation, theology, Work of Jesus, tagged , , , , , , on April 27, 2025| 1 Comment »

“In Adam all die,” (1), the Scripture says. It is a matter of federal headship, one representing many, and in this case all. It doesn’t seem fair that I should die for someone else’s sin, but I don’t want fair, because then we would all be in a world of hurt (2). I want grace. Therefore, I am thankful for federal headship, because you and I, brothers and sisters in Christ, are counted alive spiritually and will one day be glorified because of the salvific work of one man, our federal head, Christ Jesus. And that goes for anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus (3), “for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (4)

Besides all of this accusation of the unfairness of God in applying Adam’s federal headship, it matters little for judgment ultimately, since each and every one of us has committed very own multiple sins, except the perfect God-man, Jesus, the Anointed One (Christ, Messiah) of God. Each of us is guilty in his own right and accountable before God.

Question 20: Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first sin?
Answer: All mankind, descending from Adam by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first sin.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Romans 5:12, 18-19.

Question 21: Into what condition did the fall bring mankind?
Answer: The fall brought mankind into a condition of sin and misery.
Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:18-19; 7:18; Isaiah 53:6; 64:6; John 3:6-7; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Corinthians 2:14.

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:22
  2. Hell
  3. Acts 16:31
  4. Romans 10:13

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First Sin

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Consequences, General, Judgment, Sin, tagged , , , , , , , , , on March 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Our questions (#1-16 of the 1692 Baptist Catechism, Collins) thus far have focused on the glories of God and His Word. Now we turn a hard corner to talk about the Fall and its consequences. Many people seem to want to ask Adam, “Dude, what were you thinking? Look at all of the pain it caused.” I don’t have that question. I understand rebellion and its consequences in my life. My question for Adam would be, “What did you think and feel like the next morning when you woke up and realized that you would not be walking in the garden that evening with God, discussing the day?” From intimacy to estrangement, what a harsh turn self-inflicted. Question #18 defines sin as transgression. For most of us that is not helpful as a definition. “Trans” means across. “Gress” means step. So, transgression means to step across or go over the line. God had clearly defined the line: “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” (Genesis 2:16-17) But Adam’s reply came at his wife’s urging, and his full and willful rebellion: “…she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.” (Genesis 3:6)

Thus, the beginning was ended, and the end began. Earthly bliss was only a concept in the minds of Adam’s offspring, while heartache and loneliness and longing for God are the norm. But for all that, the pronouncement of the sentence included an intimation of better days and a better life: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel.” (Genesis 3:15) Satan, possessing the serpent, would receive a fatal headshot for his troubles, the poison extracted, ironically through the serpent bruising our Savior’s heel.

Question 17: Did our first parents continue in the glad obedience for which they were created?
Answer: No, but desiring to be like God, our first parents forsook the obedience of faith, ate of the forbidden tree, sinned against God, and fell from the innocence in which they were created.
Genesis 3:1-7; Ecclesiastes 7:29; Romans 5:12.

Question 18: What is sin?
Answer: Sin is transgression of the revealed will of God which teaches that we are to act in perfect holiness from a heart of faith to the glory of God.
1 John 3:4; Romans 5:13; 14:23; 1 Peter 1:16; Matt, 5:48; 1 Cor. 10:31.

Question 19: What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?
Answer: The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was their eating the forbidden fruit.
Genesis 3:6, 12, 13.

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God’s Good Providence

Posted in Assurance, Baptist Catechism, Providence, tagged , , , , , , , , on February 23, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Providence is God’s control of and care for His Creation (1). Because He is good, His providence is good, and life is good. When bad things happen, we may benefit by trusting Him more or by coming to know Him. By faith and through peace and joy in our hearts, we will come to understand that even the hard things He allows are ultimately for our good.

Concerning providence, Hebrews 1:3 says,”[He] upholds all things by the word of His power. A few translations say “powerful word”, but this is a poor translation and an interpretation. “Word of His power” is an unusual phrase in English. It could be rendered wordful power or word’s power. The emphasis is on power, pointing to His being rather than what He does, like speak. This idea agrees with Colossians 1:17 which says, “in Him all things hold together.” His very person holds the universe together, which He brings about by His Word (“For He spoke, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast.” Psalm 33:9).

As to His acts by which He cares for and controls, they are “holy, wise, and powerful”. Holy works are totally separate, above, and righteous, and therefore inscrutable compared to our acts and reasonings. His acts are wise in that they apply His infinite knowledge in ways that are always to His glory and the benefit of His people. These acts are all powerful, and therefore never diminished or thwarted. Everyone says they want to be on the winning team. The perfection and excellence of His acts means that He always wins and anyone under His protection, even when the short-term pitfalls seem to say otherwise.

In question #16, I like how the answer twice points to how faith is involved in obedience. Adam and Eve could not fully understand death since they had never seen it. They had to trust God that it was bad and that eating would bring a bad result. Secondly, “the child-like dependence on God for all things” is a trust that God knows best and will provides for all of our needs. Salvation has always been by grace through faith. Jesus adds the payment for sins and power to overcome sin that Adam and Eve or anyone else could not provide. That Adam and Eve could not be perfect demonstrates that we all need God in Jesus to save our souls. I am glad He saved mine.

Q15: What are God’s works of providence?
A: God’s works of providence are the holy, wise, and powerful acts by which he preserves and governs all his creatures, and all their actions.
Q16: What special act of providence did God exercise towards man when he was first created?
A: When God had created man, he made a covenant with him that he should live and enjoy all the benefits of creation, but that he would die if he forsook the obedience that comes from faith. God commanded him not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and thus forsake his child-like dependence upon God for all things.

  1. “preserves and governs”, as the catechism answer says

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Ex Nihilo

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Creating, Faith, General, God Thoughts, God's Word on February 16, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Out of nothing?
We create in the sense of making something not previously thought of or produced by man or else improving on previous creations. But we absolutely do not, nor can we, nor should we ever claim to create something out of nothing. And since we cannot even conceive of how that happens, many skeptics, even, if not especially educated ones, deny that it is possible and deny the creation of all things by God, even though Creation screams it. Logic also attests to its necessity since anything which has a beginning must have been created by something totally outside of itself, with sufficient power and intelligence to pull it off. Our God, as revealed in Scripture, is an infinite, immaterial spirit, all powerful, uncaused First Cause. Our ability to create in the sense of using existing materials to make something new is a testimony to our being made in the image of God (Zechariah 12:1), but we simply don’t speak to the emptiness, bringing about loveliness, order, information, and persistence of the material world.

The debate has too long raged over how many genders there be. God declares that he made them male and female (Genesis 1:27), end of discussion. If we don’t stand on the Word of God, we don’t stand at all, nor long will we stand. And consider the privileges of being created in His image. Dominion over the creatures and all of creation come first and most tangibly to our minds, but knowledge of self, God, and the world, and righteousness before God which was at first given and still available through His Son, are better and bigger.

All glory be to our Creator!

Question 13: What is the work of creation?
Answer: The work of creation is God’s making all things [out] of nothing, by the word of his power and all very good.
Genesis 1:1, 31; Hebrews 11:3; Exodus 20:11; Romans 4:17.

Question 14: How did God create man?
Answer: God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.
Genesis 1:27-28; Colossians 3:10; Ephesians 4:24.

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Declared and Done

Posted in Baptist Catechism, God Thoughts, theology, tagged , , , , , , , , , on January 19, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Our two catechism questions for today are like two sides of the same coin. What God decrees, He accomplishes; nothing accomplished is outside of His decree; both proceed from His will. Because of this connection, His decree and accomplishment through creation and providential care are so inseparable that they are hard to talk about separately. Consider Psalm 115:3: “But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.” What He “does” is create and providentially guide, and what He “pleases” is His decree proceeding forth from His will, which cannot be overcome or questioned (1).

It is good to mention the Christian definition of providence. Rather than being an impersonal hand of an absentee manager as the Agnostics (notably Deists) and nominal Christians fancy it, providence is the care, control, and rule of an involved, benevolent Father God. Being a giver of good gifts (James 1:17) and “righteous in all His ways” (Psalm 145:17), He is not fickle, changeable, vindictive, or trifling. He is good. Foreordain is a word meaning simply to “appoint or decree beforehand.” (2) Certainly, He is an omnipotent and omniscient God to be able to pull off what He decrees (3). All glory be to Him.

Question 11: What are the decrees of God?
Answer: The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby for his own glory, he has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.
Ephesians 1:11; Romans 11:36; Daniel 4:35; Isaiah 46:10; Psalm 115:3; Amos 3:6.

Question 12: How does God execute his decrees?
Answer: God executes his decrees in the works of creation and providence.
Genesis 1:1; Revelation 4:11; Matthew 5:45; 6:26; Acts 14:17: Proverbs 16:9, 33; 19:21; 20:24; 21:1, 31

  1. Job 42:2
  2. https://www.bing.com/search?q=define+foreordain&FORM=DCTSRC
  3. all powerful and all knowing

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3 in 1

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Faith, God Thoughts, theology, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 11, 2025| Leave a Comment »

3 in 1 Multipurpose Oil (1) was as much an assumed part of a household when I was growing up as toast for breakfast. Its ability to “clean, lubricate, and protect” (1b) was as multi-purposed as Jell-O and Duct Tape (2). But all of these examples are uses rather than essentials of existence.

Deuteronomy 6:4, called the Shema (“to hear”) in Hebrew, says, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!” It does not merely say that there is one God, but it also communicates that God is a unity, one in essence. However, 2 Corinthians 13:14 says, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all,” and all are declared to be God in various places. How can there be one God who has three parts?

In reality, He doesn’t have three parts which is heresy (3). Instead, God is three persons, one in essence. Language and logic cannot fully explain or grasp triune God, three in one. It is true, the Bible teaches both the trinity and unity (4) of God in both the Old and New Testaments, and therefore, we believe it and declare it.

Thus, the catechism asks…

Question 9: Are there more Gods than one?

Answer: There is only one living and true God.

Deuteronomy 6:4, Jeremiah 10:10, Psalm 96:4-5.

Question 10: How many persons are there in the Godhead?

Answer: There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory.

1 Corinthians 2:11, 8:6; John 1:1, 10:30, 14:9, 20:28; Acts 5:3-4, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 1:3,8.

  1. a) https://www.fohbc.org/PDF_Files/3-In-One_Oil_CMunsey.pdf and b) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-in-One_Oil
  2. a) https://www.kraftheinz.com/jell-o/recipes and b) https://allusesof.com/electricity/19-uses-of-duct-tape/#:~:text=19%20uses%20of%20duct%20tape%201%201.%20Remove,Squeeze%20Toothpaste%20in%20their%20tube.%20…%20More%20items
  3. Either polytheism or modalism
  4. Though some skeptic will immediately point out that the words trinity and unity appear nowhere in the Scriptures, being labels for concepts clearly taught.

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Use of the Scriptures

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Faith, God Thoughts, Grace, Obedience, tagged , , , , , , , , on December 1, 2024| Leave a Comment »

What does the Bible teach and who is it written for?

These questions are covered in questions 6 and 7 of the Baptist Catechism:

Question 6: May all men make use of the Scriptures?
Answer: All men are not only permitted, but commanded and exhorted, to read, hear, and understand the Scriptures.
Question 7: What do the Scriptures mainly teach?
Answer: The Scriptures mainly teach what man is to believe about God and what duty God requires of man.

It is at moments like these that I have to remind myself that the catechism is a concise question and answer format. That format has its significant advantages, making the main things the main things, but it does leave some holes that are hard to not comment on. The one detail I feel compelled to add about question 6 is “believe”. All men are commanded and exhorted to read, hear, understand, and believe the Scriptures. Examples include the command to the Philippian jailer to “believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31), “there is salvation in no one else” (Acts 4:12), “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies” (John 11:25), and “unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” (John 8:24)

The succinct answer to question 7 is spot on. It is very God-centered rather than emphasizing what the sinner will get out of trusting God. The Scripture does list many benefits to trusting and obeying God, but these point also to His goodness and justice. I only feel compelled to clarify that our “duty God requires of man” is as follows: “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” (John 6:29) since “by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight.” (Romans 3:20)

Take note of the fact that the Bible does not look to any external source of authority or truth. Truly, Scripture alone properly understood by the guidance of the Holy Spirit is our source of truth and practice. We plead with all men to submit to it as such, because it brings life and godliness, peace and joy, purpose and direction.

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Epistemology

Posted in Assurance, Baptist Catechism, Doctrine, Faith, General, God Thoughts, Questioning, theology, Truth, Work of the Holy Spirit, tagged , , , , , , , , , on November 27, 2024| Leave a Comment »

How do we know? How do we know we know?

I would like to propose a definition of “know”: to perceive and be convinced of truth. Since truth is what is in accordance with fact or reality rather than what is thought to be, knowing something that is not true is not knowing but believing something to be true that isn’t. This definition of truth accepts that truth is an absolute, not a perception or belief apart from reality.

So, back to the question: How do we know? How do we know that what we believe and claim to be true is in fact true? Not being omniscient, we must rely on (believe, hold presuppositions) sources of truth. Evidence for the truthfulness of a source is important. There are two types of evidence: internal and external. Question 5 of the Baptist Catechism gives both concerning the Christian’s source of truth.

Question 5: How do we know that the Bible is the Word of God?

Answer: The Bible evidences itself to be God’s Word by the heavenliness of its doctrine, the unity of its parts, and its power to convert sinners and to edify saints. But only the Spirit of God can make us willing to agree and submit to the Bible as the Word of God.

The internal evidences are “heavenliness of its doctrine” and “the unity of its parts”. The former points to its high view of God and accurate view of man. The latter demonstrates its internal consistency even in the light of 40 authors in 66 books over 1500 years.

The external evidences are its “power to convert sinners” and “[power] to edify saints”. Lives are changed. This is the reason that personal testimony is so important and persuasive. The Bible is not just a set of facts and rules. It is a life-giving change agent. Other external evidences such as scientific discoveries, archaeology, logical arguments, historical confirmations, and answers to prayer, are useful, removing barriers to open-minded skeptics, but the Word of God opened to us by the Spirit of God is our only solid, unchangeable, ruling source of truth and knowledge.

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Infallible

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Doctrine, Experience, Faith, General, theology, tagged , , , , , , , on November 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Can you think of anything infallible? There are certainly things that are trustworthy and consistent, but only two things are truly infallible, God and His Word.

Question 4: What is the Word of God?
Answer: The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, being given by divine inspiration, are the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 5:17- 18; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Psalm 19:7-8.

Contained in a limited 66 books of Old and New Testament as witnessed by internal evidence (1), these were then confirmed by the church fathers and counsels as the whole of the Bible, the Word of God (2).

This communication from God is most narrowly declared to be the “only infallible rule”. Only is quite the exclusive word and declaration. Cannot experience or conscience or reason or observation or evidence also be used? These may only be used as they agree with and confirm what the Word of God says, but all of these other rules are fallible. They do not hold a candle to the brightness in trustworthiness of God’s Word. We must submit to this Bible as our rule, our guide, our instructor and manager, the very words from our King.

To what part of life does the Scripture apply? It should have full reign over “faith and practice”, belief and conduct, which includes perspective, intention, speech, emotion (3) Right practice arises from right belief and right belief arises from right teaching which arises from truth which arises from the Word of God. If you base your faith and practice on any other foundation, you will be led astray and ruined.

God’s Word is declared to be truth by Jesus: “Your Word is truth.” (John 17:17b) The source of God’s Word is the inspiration of God resting upon the biblical authors (2 Timothy 3:16), directed or moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).

In a world awash with truth claims from Empiricism to Historicity to Existentialism to Spiritism, the Bible stands out by boldly claiming to have an exclusive corner on truth. Jesus, as its author and defender, claims Himself to be “the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him.” (John 14:6) All other truths, for the devout follower of Christ, are considered true to the extent that they line up with the Word of God.

May our practical (actual lived out) theology grow in alignment to our stated (what we argue for) theology.

  1. “Thus says the Lord”, 2 Peter 3:14-16, “The word of the Lord came to me saying”, John 5:37, 12:49, etc
  2. https://www.historyinthebible.com/supplementary_pages/church_fathers.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_of_the_New_Testament_canon
  3. In all of this list, our ability to perfectly align our faith and practice to God’s Word is beyond our capabilities, and no more so that in our short-term emotional responses, but we can do as David did, pour out our woes and come around to declaring God’s goodness, righteousness, and provision.

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First Things

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Blessing, General, God Thoughts, theology on November 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

As we began the catechism questions in the worship service, The Catechism starts off with questions of highest import.

Question 1: Who is the first and best of beings? Answer: God is the first and best of beings.
Isaiah 44:6; Psalm 8:1; 96:4; 97:9, 1 Samuel 2:2

First has more than one meaning. Chronologically it means first in time, or in this case, eternity. Additionally, it means first in position, rank, or accomplishment, as it says in Isaiah 44:6-7a: “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me. Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it…”

He is best: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!” (Psalm 8:1) Being best of beings extends far beyond power and glory. “There is no one holy like the Lord…” (2 Samuel 2:2a) Holy is so unreachable and unfathomable to us. We can better understand and appreciate a best being who “…is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.” (Psalm 145:17)

He is best at being best, that is, He is best at any and all areas of which you may think.

Question2: What is the chief end of man? Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. 1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalm 16:11, 37:4, 73:25-26; Isaiah 43:7

What is our purpose for existing, our reason to remain alive, the goal around which we should center our lives? The answer given is twofold when the question asks for just one. I think that they are really one answer given from two perspectives, God’s and ours. Enjoying God, while obviously a great benefit to us, is the ultimate way to glorify God. Our passion of enjoyment of Him communicates more solidly than words that He is valuable and worthy of my attention, worship, witness, relationship, obedience, and our whole life. The more I cherish and desire Him, the more He is glorified. Therefore, do not look at your belief in God as a responsibility to be fulfilled but a relationship to be sought out.

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Unexpected Delight

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Education, Faith, God Thoughts, God's Word, tagged , , , , , , , , on November 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Having heard catechism questions read in a worship service several times and done well, I thought it might be of benefit for our church to do so. I volunteered to the pastor, receiving an enthusiastic confirmation.

Following is how I introduced the subject to the church:

“Considering that “the Word of God [is] the only infallible rule of faith and practice” (1), why are confessions, creeds, and catechisms useful and prudent (though not necessary)? The truths about God, man, and the way of salvation are scattered throughout the Scripture like nuggets in a quartz vein of a goldmine. Many do not have the skills or inclination to dig so hard, tough that is no excuse to not learn and acquire them. So, a catechism is a systematic, focused, concise set of questions and answers to train the young, the uninformed (2), and the forgetful in the overall message of the Scriptures. We are accused of indoctrination. [Certainly,] the world continually teaches and persuades of its lies, so we must counter with truth carefully and consistently conveyed.”

I did not grow up with confessions and catechisms and only occasionally recited the Apostle’s Creed in church. In fact, when I first came in contact with them, I thought they were unnecessary and even detrimental since they could be a source of division. Furthermore, why not just study Scripture so that you get it right? That is more complicated than it may first appear. There are the matters of Hermeneutics (3) and Exegesis. Throwing around big words and saying it is complicated throws up red flags for many people to avoid the subject and claim agnosticism concerning truth. That is a cop out. The Scripture encourages and enjoins with these words: “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth…” (4)(John 16:13), and “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15). So, you can know and must avail yourself to know. Having a tool to point you to the major points of truth in Scripture, like a confession or catechism with Scripture references to look up, is very helpful for the “young, uninformed, and forgetful.” They are also useful to parents and teachers of the Word in order to convey the basics and crucials of Scriptures while pursuing the study of the details in Bible Study.

God has no grandchildren, that is, each generation must be convicted, repent, and believe on the Lord Jesus, but that does not absolve the church, the teacher, and the parent from indoctrinating their hearers in the truth. All belief systems indoctrinate (5); we best not fall behind.

  1. This quote is part of the answer to question 4 of the Baptist Catechism of 1693 (Collins), which makes the rest of the sentence somewhat of an irony.
  2. I originally wrote “ignorant” which is not wrong, but I thought better of it since many people would be insulted by the term, though accurate.
  3. Three good articles on biblical hermeneutics: https://www.apologeticsindex.org/5846-biblical-interpretation-rules#hermeneutics; https://www.logos.com/grow/biblical-hermeneutics-guide/?msockid=091b1c02a8ee649603de0914a9f96573; https://seminary.grace.edu/what-is-biblical-hermeneutics/
  4. Since context is king and this Jesus was speaking to His disciples, it is proper to understand that the truth they were to be guided into was the inspiration of the Scriptures. However, immediately after Jesus prays the Father “sanctify them in the truth;…” (John 17:17), He continues with “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word” (v.20). You, believer, are included.
  5. A fact I know all too well from having studied Biology at a secular university

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