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Archive for the ‘God’s Law’ Category

Fourth Commandment

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Faith, General, God's Law, tagged , , , , , , , on May 31, 2026| Leave a Comment »

There is probably not any theological issue about which you cannot find controversy and disagreement in some sphere. From major heresies to minor differences in conviction, they are everywhere. This fact fortifies the double need of confessions and catechisms, to pin down the Scripture’s teaching on sound doctrine, and to define and defend what it means to be Christian. In my years of contact and interaction with the public, there have been two disagreements of doctrine and practice that are quite common: what version of the Bible you use and the Sabbath.

It may surprise you to find out that there are more than two convictions (Saturday or Sunday) about what the Sabbath is for present day Christians, and how it should be practiced (1).

Sabbath does not originate in the Law of Moses but in the command of God at creation. The word sabbath means rest or stop work. It is an acknowledgement, commemoration, and practice of what God did after creating the world. We worship, serve, rest, and refresh in Sabbath. The word hallowed means sanctified or set apart as holy. Since God hallowed the day, so should we.

Question 63: Which is the fourth commandment?
Answer: The fourth commandment is, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work; but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God; in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.” Exodus 20:8-11

Question 64: What is required in the fourth commandment?
Answer: The fourth commandment requires the keeping holy to God such set times as he has appointed in his word, expressly one whole day in seven to be a holy Sabbath to himself.

Leviticus 19:30; Deuteronomy 5:12

Question 65: Which day of the seven has God appointed to be the weekly Sabbath?
Answer: From the creation of the world to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly Sabbath; and the first day of the week ever since, to continue to the end of the world, which is the Christian Sabbath.

Genesis 2:3; John 20:19; Acts 20:7; 1 Corinthians 16:1, 2; Revelation 1:10

  1. Defining the Debate by R.C. Sproul

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Third Commandment

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Faith, General, Glory, God's Law, tagged , , , , , , , , on May 22, 2026| Leave a Comment »

What is in a name? Is it a mere label or representation of a concept, thing, or person? Does a name have significance, and if so, who assigns the significance? In the case of God’s name, He assigns significance to His name by the third commandment and many other commands, exhortations, and warnings. The significance of His name is more than a representation of His person, power, deeds, and glory, however. His name has innate power proceeding from His person (1) to put demons to flight, heal the sick, bring meaningful comfort to the distraught, and more. I am reminded of Proverbs 18:10: “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous runs into it and are safe”, or more literally, “are set securely on high.”

Taking God’s name in vain is using it intentionally or flippantly with disrespect. (2) God demonstrates His intolerance of denigrating the glory of His name during several circumstances in Scriptures. The first of these appears in the early stages of Israel. “The son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name and cursed… let all the congregation stone him… ‘If anyone curses his God, then he will bear his sin. Moreover, the one who blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death.'” (3)

His name is not a talisman to be wielded at the will of anyone who names it, but God does endow His name with power for those who trust in Him according to His will. We must treat His name with reverence and care, but we are also commanded to call on His name (4) and “Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to His name” (5).

Question 59: Which is the third commandment?
Answer: The third commandment is, “Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” Exodus 20:7.

Question 60: What is required in the third commandment?
Answer: The third commandment requires the holy and reverent use of God’s name, titles, attributes, ordinances, words, and works.

Psalm 29:2; 111:9; 138:2; Deuteronomy 32:1-4; 28:58-59; Matthew 6:9; Ecclesiastes 5:1; Job 36:24; Revelation 4:8; 15:3, 4.

Question 61: What is forbidden in the third commandment?
Answer: The third commandment forbids all profaning and abusing of anything whereby God makes himself known.

Exodus 20:7; Malachi 1:6, 7; Leviticus 20:3; 19:12; Matthew 5:34-37; Isaiah 52:5.

Question 62: What is the reason annexed to the third commandment?
Answer: The reason annexed to the third commandment is, that however the breakers of this commandment may escape punishment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment.

Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 28:58, 59; Malachi 2:2.

  1. Psalm 29:2a, 115:1 (Notice the phrase “because of”.), 148:13 (Notice the parallel of name’s glory and “His glory”.)
  2. What is taking the Lord’s name in vain?
  3. Leviticus 24:10-16
  4. Isaiah 12:4, 55:6; Psalm 105:1
  5. Psalm 29:2a

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Second Commandment

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Doctrine, Faith, General, God Thoughts, God's Law, Worship, tagged , , , , , , , , , on May 17, 2026| Leave a Comment »

In our day, we are not given to graven or carved images to worship. A strong argument could be made that we have substituted the visual arts, especially screen time with its plethora of images of strength and beauty. The lack of carved images does not make us any less idolaters. As John Calvin said, “The human heart is a perpetual idol factory.” As I was considering Calvin’s quote one day, I heard a radio preacher say, “You think most about what you love most.” Following that train of thought, it may be said that what you love most you worship.

Good theology, but how does that intersect with my daily life? Here is an example. On my way to work I pass a billboard showing the lottery millions you can win. I never have nor will I waste money on any kind of lottery, but as I passed this billboard daily, I began daydreaming about being rich and what I would do with all of that money. Of course, I could rationalize the activity as trivial or mention all of the good ways I would use the funds. One or two random thoughts about using money for good might be dismissed as an imaginative thought experiment, but this went on for more than a few days. ”If I were a rich man” (1), became a morning theme song. After a few weeks I had to avert my eyes from seeing the billboard and quote Scripture out loud to avoid the distraction.

You may be saying, he has an overwrought conscience. I don’t think so, and what if the billboard instead had pictured an insufficiently dressed man or woman? (2) The Scripture says, “Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.”” (Hebrews 13:5) Rather than be thankful for what God had abundantly provided, I began to worship unseen riches. Ezekiel 14:1-3 says, “Then some elders of Israel came to me and sat down before me. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, these men have set up their idols in their hearts and have put right before their faces the stumbling block of their iniquity. Should I be consulted by them at all?“ God is changing the hearts and minds of those whom He has called to Himself in salvation, so that they may consult with Him and be taught by Him. Let us flee “idols of the heart”, worshipping God alone, being thankful for all God has provided, and loving God more than people or things.

Question 55: Which is the second commandment?
Answer: The second commandment is, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.” Exodus 20:4-6

Question 56: What is required in the second commandment?
Answer: The second commandment requires the receiving, observing, and keeping pure and entire, all such religious worship and ordinances, as God has appointed in his word.

Deuteronomy 12:32; 32:46; Matthew 28:20

Question 57: What is forbidden in the second commandment?
Answer: The second commandment forbids the worshipping of God by images, or any other way that draws the heart away from his glory rather than toward his glory.

Romans 1:22, 23; Deuteronomy 4:15, 16; Colossians 2:18; 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31

Question 58: What are the reasons added to the second commandment?
Answer: The reasons added to the second commandment are God’s holy jealousy for his name, and the zeal he has for his own worship.

Exodus 20:4-6; Exodus 34:14; 1 Corinthians 10:22

  1. “…Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum.” You know, “Fiddler on the Roof”
  2. Rhetorical question with an obvious answer: Matthew 5:27-28

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Obedience of Faith

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Doctrine, Faith, General, God's Law, Gospel, Grace, Obedience, tagged , , , , , , , on February 7, 2026| Leave a Comment »

That our first answer today says that the summary of the obedience of faith is the ten commandments was at first bothersome to me. So, struggle with me for a moment. Afterall, John 6:28-29 says, “Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”” And Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and [h]that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Belief and faith that saves are trust alone in what Jesus Christ did on the cross to take away sin. Where do works come in? Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” So, works are the result of grace through faith, not the cause of it. And furthermore, James 2:17 says, “faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” That is, works are the evidence of faith.

The phrase, “obedience of faith” comes from two verses in Romans (1:5, 16:26). Paul declares that his purpose in God’s workings is to have “received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles.” (Romans 1:5) Therefore, as John MacArthur said, “Faith is by nature turned and toned toward obedience, so good works are inevitable in the life of one who truly believes.” (1) This is what is meant in Romans 8:3-4: “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” We can never keep the law perfectly this side of heaven, but God is working increased obedience to His moral law through in those who have a saving faith in Him. So, faith brings about obedience which could not exist otherwise. This connection of faith and obedience is the reason that “whatever is not of faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23)

The summary of obedience of faith is further simplified and summarized by Jesus: “One of them, a lawyer, asked Him a question, testing Him, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments depend the whole Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:35-40) Praise God that Christ’s saving power enables us to please Him by fulfilling righteousness.

Question 47: Where is the obedience of faith given in summary form?
Answer: A summary form of the obedience of faith is given in the Ten Commandments.

Hebrews 3:18-19; 4:2; Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 10:4; Romans 9:32.

Question 48: What is the sum of the Ten Commandments?
Answer: The sum of the Ten Commandments is to love the Lord our God, with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind; and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Matthew 22:36-40; Mark 12:28-33.

  1. https://faithalone.org/grace-in-focus-articles/the-obedience-which-is-faith-romans-15-and-1626/

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D21E, The Result

Posted in Blessing, Faith, God's Law, God's Word, Grace, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, Wickedness, tagged , , , , , on January 21, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I will have to practice by repeating Psalm 1 in order to retain it, but I have memorized it in the process of these 21 days. Reading and reflecting for 21 days has deepened my resolve to focus more on God and His Word. In context, the Scripture says, “Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.”” (1) (Galatians 3:18) A desire for God’s law and the totality of His Word is not the way of salvation but a result of it. The righteous are and will be known by these things, but salvation is by grace through faith. This grace separates the saved from the unbelieving lost, resulting in righteousness or wickedness.

I hope that you have benefited even a fraction of the amount that I have from doing this 21-day Psalm 1 Challenge. In some respects, I did it twice, because I read and journaled last month and clarified and deepened it to present to you this month.

  1. Habakkuk 2:4

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D21M, The Law Fulfilled

Posted in God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , on January 21, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Many would say that we should not even be talking about the Law since we are not under it any longer. Of course, the Law and some of the Prophets were all that the psalmist who wrote Psalm 1 had, but we would now say the Word of God which includes all 66 books. Should we ignore the Law as New Testament Christians?

What does Jesus say on the subject? “Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Whoever then annuls one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever keeps and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:17-19)

The Law has relevance for living, but it also has significance for understanding and belief. “Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,” (Luke 24:44-45)

Christ fulfilled the Law. We are free from its penalty and the ceremonial and civil components, but the moral law is being fulfilled as the Spirit works within us (Romans 8:1-4). This is all accomplished by the Incarnate Christ who died and rose and reigns, whose 1st Advent we celebrate this day (1).

  1. Originally written on 12/25/23

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D20M, Similar?

Posted in Blessing, Consequences, God's Law, God's Word, Judgment, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, tagged , , , , , on January 20, 2024| Leave a Comment »

How are the righteous and wicked similar? Both are created by and accountable to their Creator (1). Being made in their Creator’s image with a spirit, they will exist for eternity (2). Both of them have fallen, sin natures, and are therefore under God’s wrath (3). They can hear the Word of God and are responsible for what they hear (4). They both have knowledge of God’s existence, nature, and power through what is created (5). Both have sinned and deserve hell (6). The sun and rain fall on both (5), an indication of common grace.

  1. Ephesians 3:9, Romans 3:19
  2. Genesis 1:26-27, Matthew 25:46
  3. Ephesians 2:3
  4. Romans 10:18
  5. Romans 1:20
  6. Romans 3:23, 6:23
  7. Mathew 5:45

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D19E, Where are you standing?

Posted in Consequences, God's Law, Influence, Psalm 1, Witness, tagged , , , , on January 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“…nor does not stand in the path of sinners” (Psalm 1:1)

“Do not be deceived, bad company corrupts good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33) What level of association with unbelievers is corrupting? Does it have to do with the intentions for Gospel witness or the watchfulness or the agreement on the part of the unbeliever to avoid crude action and speech? Marriage and business covenants are precluded by 2 Corinthians 6:14, but are friendships and shared recreational, education, or political pursuits also disallowed?

“They themselves are in the world” and “I also have sent them into the world.” (John 17:11,18) “I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world. But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one.” (1 Corinthians 5:9-11) So, we associate with the worldly ones because Jesus sent us for the purpose of witnessing to them by our lives and words. We are not to associate with those claiming to be believers whose life denies it- hypocrites. But out associations must be measured and careful because “Bad company corrupts good morals.” (1 Corinthians 15:33)

Believers, check your intentions and any changes that may creep in and hear the counsel of fellow believers if they perceive you bending to the ways of the world.

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D19M, Re-evaluate

Posted in Blessing, Consequences, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, Wickedness, tagged , , , , , on January 19, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Re-evaluate what counsel you walk in. Does it claim to be wise only to really be worldly wise? Does it claim to be biblical when in reality it is tainted by cultural thinking and tradition? Does it claim to be Christian though wrapped in secular theory, education, or psychology? Does it claim to be healthy and profitable but turns out to only be the schemes of man? It is not enough to stand still and be a spectator with regards to counsel. Walk in God’s counsel found in God’s Word, meditating on it and praying for good application of it for your circumstances. May God help us to hear the “voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues.” (Revelation18:4)

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D18E, “Therefore”

Posted in Consequences, General, God's Law, Psalm 1, Wickedness, tagged , , , on January 18, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“Therefore” Psalm 1:5

Not because “they are like chaff” (v.4). That is a metaphor the result of their conduct and belief, not the cause. They shall not “stand in the judgment…” (v.5), because they do not delight in God’s law (v.2), and therefore not in Him or His salvation. God said, “I have spread out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in the way which is not good, following their own thoughts, a people who continually provoke Me to My face.” (Isaiah 65:2-3a) “…They refused to take correction. They have made their faces harder than rock; They have refused to repent.” (Jeremiah 5:3) “But they refused to pay attention and turned a stubborn shoulder and stopped their ears from hearing.” (Zechariah 7:11) God’s wrath upon them is fully justified and justice demands it, because of their refusal to listen or believe in God and their participation in evil. (v.1)

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D17E, Hide His Word

Posted in Blessing, Delights, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, Wickedness on January 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

I have two sons who can memorize long dialogues in movies by just watching it several times. I am not so gifted. However, if you repeat something long and often enough, it eventually sticks. This day I realized that I had memorized a bit more than the first three verses of Psalm 1.

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. For he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season, and its leaf does not wither, and in whatever he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so.” Psalm 1:1-4a

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D17M, “Delight”

Posted in Blessing, Delights, God Thoughts, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, Wickedness, tagged , , , on January 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord.” (Psalm 1:2)

It is not enough to not “walk…stand…[or]sit” (v.1) in wickedness. We need God and His Word daily. And because it is a relationship, apathy or lack of passion cools or destroys the relationship. Where is your delight? Perhaps a better question, which delight(s) are you developing?

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D16E, Contrasting Ways

Posted in Blessing, Consequences, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Psalm 1, Sanctification, Wickedness, tagged , , , , , , on January 16, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The whole of Psalm 1 is about contrasting ways. One establishes, blesses, makes righteous and eternal the traveler. The other brings death, that is, separation from God, the righteous, life, and blessing. The starkness of the contrast is meant to warn the sinner and saint away from the one and toward the other, for their good.

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D15E, “Scoffing”

Posted in God's Law, God's Word, Psalm 1, Wickedness, tagged , , on January 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »

What is scoffing but saying with derisive passion that it is not so? (1) And about what are they scoffing? Is it not about the truth of God’s Word, the veracity of His promises, the wonder of His grace, the miracles of His workings, the condition of man, the hope of salvation, and the wisdom of living a godly life?

“A scoffer does not love one who reproves him, he will not go to the wise.” (Proverbs 15:12)

“Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and blows for the back of fools.” (Proverbs 19:29)

“Drive out the scoffer and contentions will go out, even strife and dishonor will cease.” (Proverbs 22:10)

  1. Dictionary definition- “contemptuously ridiculing or mocking someone or something”

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D15M, Wicked Counsel

Posted in Blessing, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , on January 15, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“The counsel of the wicked” (Psalm 1:1)

Is wicked counsel limited to those actively pursuing evil, or does it include seemingly benign culture wisdom like “it’s just the way its always been done.”

Jephthah of Judges 11 was desperate and vowed a foolish thing when he tried to buy God off instead of resolving to serve Him all of his life. David could not give up numbering the people even when warned not to (2 Samuel 24), and he had the ark carried on a cart (1 Chronicles 13). These seemed like the thing to do but people were killed because of them. And so, it was with Joshua and the elders who only sent a few thousand men to fight at Ai without inquiring of the Lord (Joshua 7). Had they inquired, God would have showed them Achan’s sin. More people lost their lives. Let us take heed not to walk in the counsel of wicked, be it ever so benign, passive, or non-threatening. Walk in God’s counsel watching, waiting, and inquiring of the Lord.

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D14E, Rooted in the Source

Posted in Blessing, God's Law, God's Word, Metaphor, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , on January 14, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“He will be like a tree firmly planted…in whatever he does, he prospers.” (Psalm 1:3)

The psalmist moves smoothly into and out of the metaphor, transitioning from he to tree and tree to he. It all points to the righteous prospering. Why does he prosper? In the metaphor, the tree prospers because it is rooted in the Source, the Living (flowing) Water of Life. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that the water He gives prevents thirst and springs up to eternal life (John4:14). The righteous man rooted in this Source is in a perpetual state of fruitfulness, undeterred growth, and prosperous activity.

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D13E, “Not Stand”

Posted in Consequences, God's Law, Judgment, tagged , , on January 13, 2024| Leave a Comment »

“The wicked will not stand in the judgment.” (Psalm 1:5)

“Not stand” is a metaphor perishing, being destroyed, or falling when The Judgment comes. And if you are not in the assembly of the righteous, then you are delegated to the assembly of the wicked with the devil and his angels in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10-15).

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D12M, Ways of the Wicked

Posted in Blessing, Consequences, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , , , on January 12, 2024| Leave a Comment »

In Psalm 1:1, the psalmist lists three ways of the wicked to be avoided: “counsel…path…seat.”

Counsel is the advice or wisdom of the wicked, and therefore of the world. Walking in their counsel means that you have more than heard it or considered it. It means you are heeding it and have more than your toe dipped in this way. If you are day and night meditating on God’s Word, I cannot see how you would get past the considering and rejecting it phase.

Path or way is the rut or habit that sinners run in. We should not even stand there, let alone walk or run there. Keep your way far from that way, even if you must bushwack across country to avoid it. In reality, however, heed “Thus says the Lord, “Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, Where the good way is, and walk in it; And you will find rest for your souls.”” (Jeremiah 6:16)

Seat is a place of repose. In their self-satisfied, self-important perspective, scoffers mock the righteous and anyone who would dare to seek for truth. Do not take up your repose nor linger in their presence, but rather run out of earshot.

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D10E, “Law of the LORD*”

Posted in Blessing, God's Law, God's Word, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , on January 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

The Law of the LORD has several nuanced meanings referring to the total body of God’s commands and instruction, to the narrower part of that body-the Pentateuch or first five books of the Moses, or simply the Ten Commandments. When God commanded Joshua to meditate on “the book of the law”, it undoubtably meant the five books of Moses. By the time of the psalmist, it would have included the histories of Joshua and Judges and perhaps some part of the Samuels and Chronicles.

Among its many purposes, the law reveals God’s righteousness and our wickedness, God’s will and our resistance to it, the way of life and of death, and points us to Christ (Galatians 3:24-25). We have so much more in the canon of God’s completed revelation, and by the Holy Spirit we are enabled to fulfill the works of the law (Romans 8:3-4). We are no longer under the curse of the law, but the law of liberty or law of Christ (James 1:25, Galatians 3:13, 6:2). These direct us. The New Covenant law is not different than the Old Covenant moral law in content, only deeper as it includes matters of the heart- intentions. We may and should meditate on the Law of the LORD both day and night so that “He shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.” (Psalm 37:6, KJV)

*LORD- YHWH (Yahweh), the I AM (self-existent) covenant keeping God

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D10M, Cart or Horse?

Posted in Blessing, Faith, God's Law, God's Word, Gospel, Grace, Piety, Sanctification, tagged , , , , on January 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Psalm 1 lays out an overview of the characteristics of the righteous and the wicked. Do the characteristics listed in verses 1-3 make a man righteous or do those made righteous do these things?

Verse six says, “The Lord knows (approves, has regard to (1)) the way of the righteous.” Does that mean that the sinner is saved by keeping the law or that the one declared righteous lives rightly and is approved?

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16) Are these two passages contradictory, or were Old Testament saints saved by a different means than we are today?

No, these two passages agree but one speaks of cause and the other effect. God saved by the same means in the Old Testament. In Habakkuk 2:4 the Lord says to the prophet, “Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith.” God is referring to those who would judge Israel, as He said, “I am raising up the Chaldeans.” (Habakkuk 1:6) But anyone is a “proud one” who seeks to make his own way apart from God, so He states how one lives (is saved, justified, continues)- by faith.

The whole of Scripture agrees: “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10) Works is excluded (Romans 3:27-28). So where do works come in? They are the effect, or result. Those made righteous by “grace… through faith” will demonstrate it by their works (James 2:18-26).

  1. NASB 1995 center notes

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Myrela

Exploring nature, ancient civilizations, art, photography, and written reflections through stories, visuals, and cultural inspiration.

Overflows from the Heart

"But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart…" Matthew 15:18

CreatorWorship

Pointing to the One who made, saved, and sustains