Latest Sermon, Jan 22, 2012: Printable Sermon Outline
LISTEN> Heartbeat Ahead of Time: The Inner Life of Jesus Revealed in the Psalms … Psalm 30: Jesus’ Resurrection Joy Urged Upon Us
God’s Beauty Regimen Is Not Skin-deep
Have you ever thought about why you hate your driver’s license photo? Don’t you dismiss it as a one-inch-square lie told against your person? You don’t REALLY look like this, do you? Do you find yourself irrationally anxious for the passing of four years simply so you can try for a better photo?
Rationally, though, you know it really does identify you. It’s you, documented under a harsh governmental glare and held accountable to an unflinching official standard applied to each one of us. The unposed you simply feels like the exposed you.
Then why are you willing to show that naked self to the world? It allows you to drive!
It’s because you know that the small shame of that self-exposure will bring the greater reward of freedom. We remember being teenagers—driving represents freedom, zooming across the countryside on a beautiful day. [read on…]
Who are we?
New Life Orthodox Presbyterian Church is a community of people joined together by faith in Jesus Christ, the one sent by the Father to die for our sins. In Jesus, we have… a new Savior and Friend; a new Father in heaven; a new Spirit of love and boldness; a new family in other believers; a new task while here on earth; a new hope for eternity… a new life!
Living as God’s new creation is not a momentary, one-time act, but a life-changing passion. We at New Life are committed to serving Christ—being and making faithful disciples. It is an exhilarating, life-long calling.
We invite you to share it with us.
What is the Reformed faith?
The Reformed faith takes the Bible with the utmost seriousness. It is but another way of saying that “from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen” (Rom. 11:36). The Reformed faith seeks to maintain the entire teaching of the Bible, rightly understood… (continued at Orthodox Presbyterian Church website—our denomination)
A Brief and Untechnical Statement of the Reformed Faith by Benjamin B. Warfield
I believe that my one aim in life and death should be to glorify God and enjoy him forever; and that God teaches me how to glorify him in his holy Word, that is, the Bible, which he had given by the infallible inspiration of this Holy Spirit in order that I may certainly know what I am to believe concerning him and what duty he requires of me. [Read on…]
Who are those old guys at the top of the page?
Just six of the many people who have preceded us in making an impact for the Christian faith. Although they were fallible humans, their devotion to knowing Christ, promoting His gospel, and teaching it clearly is inspiring to us all in carrying out our own callings.
Learn about them here: Martin Luther (1483-1546); J. Gresham Machen (1881-1937); John Calvin (1520-67); Charles Spurgeon (1834-92); Jonathan Edwards (1703-58); and Augustine (354-430).
Westminster Larger Catechism Question 95: Of what use is the moral law to all men?
Answer: The moral law is of use to all men, to inform them of the holy nature and will of God,[g] and of their duty, binding them to walk accordingly;[h] to convince them of their disability to keep it, and of the sinful pollution of their nature, hearts, and lives;[i] to humble them in the sense of their sin and misery,[k] and thereby help them to a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ,[l] and of the perfection of his obedience.[m]
g. Rom. 1:20. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse. Lev. 11:44–45. For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy. Lev. 20:7–8. Sanctify yourselves there fore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God. And ye shall keep my statutes, and do them: I am the LORD which sanctify you. Rom. 7:12. Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good.
h. Mic. 6:8. He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? James 2:10–11. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. Rom. 1:32. … who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.
i. Ps. 19:11–12. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Rom. 3:20. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Rom. 7:7. What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
k. Rom. 3:9, 23. What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin…. For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.
l. Gal. 3:21–22, 24. Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law. But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe…. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
m. Rom. 10:4. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
[Read the complete Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms here.]
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