How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?

Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her yet without sin.

Hebrews 2:14 (ESV)

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same.

Matthew 26:38 (ESV)

Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”

Luke 1:31 (ESV)

And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.

Luke 1:35 (ESV)

And the angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.

Hebrews 7:26 (ESV)

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

Who is the Redeemer of God's elect?

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, for ever.

1 Timothy 2:5-6 (ESV)

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.

John 1:14 (ESV)

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Romans 9:5 (ESV)

To them (Israel) belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.

Hebrews 7:23-24 (ESV)

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he (The Lord Jesus Christ) holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the redeemer of God’s elect!

Did God leave all mankind to perish in the estate of sin and misery?

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.

Ephesians 1:3-4 (ESV)

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.

The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, has blessed us in Christ, choosing all the believing in Christ before the foundation of the world; this is true election and predestination.

Romans 3:21-22 (ESV)

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

The Lord God has declared the believing in Jesus Christ righteous. This is a covenant of grace, because it is not by keeping the law that we are righteous, but it is through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe.

What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

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

Death is threefold:

First, spiritual death, the separation of the sinner from God.

Second, physical death, the separation of the soul from the body.

Third, eternal death, the abandonment of the soul in hell.

Genesis 3:8, 24 (ESV)

And they heard the sound of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden...He drove out the man, and at the east of the garden of Eden he placed the cherubim and a flaming sword that turned every way to guard the way to the tree of life.

Ephesians 2:3 (ESV)

among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.

Galatians 3:10 (ESV)

“Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.”

Romans 6:23, Matthew 25:41 (ESV)

For the wages of sin is death...“Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?

The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam's first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called Original Sin; together with all actual transgressions which proceed from it.

Romans 5:19 (ESV)

For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners.

Romans 3:10 (ESV)

None is righteous, no, not one;

Ephesians 2:1 (ESV)

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins

Psalms 51:5 (ESV)

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,

and in sin did my mother conceive me.

Matthew 15:19-20 (ESV)

For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person.

Adam choose the way of sin for all of his children; therefore, none are righteous, all are dead in sin, all are born sinners and our hearts are not righteous.

Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?

The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.

Romans 5:12 (NASB)

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

I have spent the past twenty-four years working at the bedside as a Registered Nurse. I spent the majority of that time in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit. During that time, I have witnessed human death more than a thousand times; in every instance, death is a horrible, horrible thing. Death is not the natural end of life but a curse on human life because of sin.

Death is threefold:

First, spiritual death, separation from God.

Second, physical death, separation from the body.

Third, eternal death, abandonment in hell.

In this life we have many trials and tribulations because of the curse, and our bodies are dying and decaying. 

Did all mankind fall in Adam's first transgression?

The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression.

God created heaven, and earth and sea, and all that is in them. (Acts 4:24) 

God created man in his own image, in the the image of God he created them male and female he created man; for it is through the marriage of a male and female that man is to fill the earth and subdue it, to rule over the fish of the sea, the birds of the sky, and every living thing that moves on the earth. (Gn 1:26-28)

The Lord God placed man in the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it. He told man that he could eat freely from any tree in the garden except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God warned man that doing so would result in death. (Gn 2:15-17)

The man and the woman both ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; (Gn 3:16) therefore, all of mankind became condemned because of the sin of our first parents. (Rom 5:18) 

What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created?

The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created, was eating the forbidden fruit. (Shorter Catechism, A. 15)

In the beginning, God create man male and female, and he blessed them, and he said to them to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth and rule over all that God created on the earth. (Gn 1:27-28)

God gave to them for food, any tree, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God warned the man, that breaking the commandment would result in death. (Gn 2:16-17)

Having listened to the lies of the serpent, the fruit of the tree delighted the eyes of the woman, so she ate, and she gave also to her husband with her and he ate. (Gn 3:4-6)

Thus, original sin, and all sin, is going away from the original estate in which God created mankind.

What is sin?

Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God. (Shorter Catechism, A. 14)

1 John 3:4 (NASB)

Everyone who practices sin also practices lawlessness; and sin is lawlessness.

The KJV (1611) translates this verse “transgression of the law.” However, it is possible to sin when there is no law; (Rom. 5:13) therefore, sin is more than transgression of the law, sin is lawlessness, living in such a way that there is no law or law giver. 

Sin is always against God because it is going away from God, it is rebellion against the creator and the way that he has created the world. Sin is wanting ones own way, it is refusing to acknowledge God as the Sovereign Lord of the universe, and for that matter, the Sovereign Lord of your life. The absolute essence of sin is placing one’s own will above the will of God. (BBC) 

When Jesus was questioned about sexual sin, he did not do what his questioners expected; they expected him to go to the law of Moses but he went to the beginning. 

Matthew 19:4-5 (NASB)

And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE, and said, ‘FOR THIS REASON A MAN SHALL LEAVE HIS FATHER AND MOTHER AND BE JOINED TO HIS WIFE, AND THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH’?

Sin is going away from God’s plan and will. Sin is not only transgressing the law but it is also knowing the right thing to do and not doing it. (James 4:17)

Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created?

Our parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God.[1]

The preacher in Ecclesiastes 7:29, said: “Behold, I have found only this, that God made men upright, but they have sought out many devices.”[2]

God created our first parents (Adam and Eve) upright and perfect; however, Satan using the subtlety of the serpent, seduced Eve to eat from the knowledge of good and evil, and she ate; she in turn seduced her husband Adam, and he willfully transgressed the commandment of God.[3] God permitted our first parents to fall from the original state of righteousness in which he created them.[4]

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[1] The Shorter Catechism, 13.

[2] NASB.

[3] Genesis 2:12-13.

[4] The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689, 6:1-2.

What special act of providence did God exercise toward man in the estate wherein he was created?

When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death.[1]

Moses wrote that the man who practices the righteousness based on law shall live by that righteousness.[2]Therefore, the covenant of grace is not like the first covenant which was based on perfect obedience, the law is not of faith, for he who practices the law shall live by the law.[3]

God told the man, after creating him, and placing him in the garden, to cultivate it and keep it, that he could eat from any tree in the garden, except from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God warned the man, that in the day that he ate from it, he would certainly die.[4]

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[1] The Shorter Catechism, 12.

[2] Romans 10:5.

[3] Galatians 3:12.

[4] Genesis 2:17.

What are God’s works of providence?

God’s works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.[1]

God will always act righteously and kindly toward all of his creatures, because God is righteous and kind.[2]

The Son of God, Jesus Christ, is the radiance of God’s glory in human flesh. When we look to Christ, we are looking to God, for he is the exact representation of God’s nature. Not only is he the exact representation of the nature of God, being the Word, he is the power of God. He is at the righthand of the Father, having made purification of sins, nothing or no one can thwart the Word.[3]

The throne of God is not on the earth but is established in heaven. This means that God’s rule is above rule of man. His rule is perfect and powerful, there is nothing that God cannot do. Though it may seem at times, that the enemy has the upper hand, God’s sovereignty rules over all of his creation and all of his creatures.[4]

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[1] The Shorter Catechism, 11.

[2] Psalm 145:17.

[3] Hebrews 1:3.

[4] Psalm 103:19.

How did God create man?

God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.[1]

Genesis 1:27 (NASB)

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

The final supreme act of God, on the sixth day, was the creation of man. People today do not like to use the term man, because in their minds it means maleness, but God created man, male and female, in the image of God; therefore, all, male and female should be treated with the dignity afforded to the image of our creator. 

Colossians 3:10 (NASB)

and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him—

When we lie, we make God out to be a liar; when we steal, we make God out to be a thief; and when we are unfaithful, we make God out to be unfaithful.

Genesis 1:28 (NASB)

God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Man is not to be abased and become like the creatures of the earth, but man is to rule over the fish, the birds, and every living thing the moves on the earth. 

It is the command of God for man to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth and subdue it; therefore, the family is the basic structure of human society. 

When Jesus was asked about sexuality, he went to the creative account; therefore, any sexual relationship that is not a marriage of one man and one woman is a deviation away from God’s plan.

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[1] The Shorter Catechism, 10.

What is the work of creation?

The work of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.[1]

Genesis 1:1 (NASB)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

God created everything in the universe; there was nothing, and God created everything.

Hebrews 11:3 (NASB)

By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.

It is by the Word that God created everything that now exist. He did not create from matter but created the matter. He did not create in time but created time.

Genesis 1:31 (NASB)

God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

We should look at creation through God’s eyes; for what God created in six days is very good.

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[1] The Shorter Catechism, 9.

How doth God execute his decrees?

God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.[1]

Revelation 4:11 (NASB)

Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.

God created the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them; therefore, he is worthy of all glory and honor and praise. Nothing exist that God did not will, for he created all things that exist from nothing. 

Daniel 4:35 (NASB)

All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,

But He does according to His will in the host of heaven

And among the inhabitants of earth;

And no one can ward off His hand

Or say to Him, “What have You done?”

This was the confession of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon. Once brought low by God, God returned him to reason; understood and proclaimed that God does what he wants, however he wants to do it, and there is nothing that a mere man can to do to thwart the providence of God.

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[1] The Shorter Catechism, 8.

What are the decrees of God?

The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.[1]

Ephesians 1:11-12 (NASB)

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.

All of history is moving towards a climactic subjection to God.[2] It might not appear that God is in control, but God is firmly in control of history. 

We do not serve a God who created the universe and stepped away, or a God who is incapable of bringing about his purpose. Everything, and I mean everything that occurs is in some sense predestined by God.

Why does a good and sovereign God allow tragedies and evil? I do not know, but I am confident that evil will eventually be defeated, for God’s purpose and will is for good.[3] It is a mystery how God’s sovereignty and human responsibility work together.[4]

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[1] The Shorter Catechism, 7.

[2] IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament

[3] Romans 8:28.

[4] ESV Global Study Bible Notes.

How many persons are there in the Godhead?

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

Matthew 28:19 (NASB)

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Do you believe that God is one Divine being existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all of whom are equally God in essence? 

Belief in the Trinity is an essential to the christian faith. All Christians from Acts to the present day have believed that God is Father, Son, and Spirit. Throughout christian history, the Godhead has been invoked during baptismal ceremonies. 

In believers baptism, Christians publicly identify themselves with the Triune Godhead.[1] During the baptismal ceremony, the baptizer invokes the Godhead saying, “I baptize you my brother, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.”

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[1] Believer's Bible Commentary, Matthew 28:19, 20.

Are there more Gods than one?

There is but one only, the living and true God.

Deuteronomy 6:4 (NASB)

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!

This verse is called the Shema because the verse begins, “Hear, O Israel!;” Shema is the Hebrew word for hear. What was Israel to hear but that the LORD (i.e. יְהוָֹה Yehovah or יַהְוֶה Yahveh ) is their God? They should also hear that the LORD (i.e. יְהוָֹה Yehovah or יַהְוֶה Yahveh ) is one. Saying that the Lord alone is Israel’s God is a statement of exclusivity, for Israel was to bow down to no other so called gods.

In the book of Deuteronomy, verse 6:4 follows another Shema, the Ten Commandments which where given by the mouth of God on Mt. Sinai in the desert and all of Israel heard the word of the LORD and they were afraid. 

In Deuteronomy, Moses is recounting all of these things to the sons of Israel. He reminds that the LORD said, “I am the LORD your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of slavery.” (Dt 5:6)

All of Israel was to hear that the LORD is their God, the LORD is one! Therefore, all of Israel shall love the LORD their God with all of their heart, and with all of their soul, and with all of their might; observing all that the LORD commanded. (Dt. 6:5-6)

What is God?

God is Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.[1]

Exodus 34:6-7 (NASB)

Then the LORD passed by in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin; yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generations.”

Exodus 34:6-7 is one of my favorite passages in all of Scripture, which includes the story that proceeds and follows. When Israel proclaimed the proper name of their God (Yhvh i.e. יְהוָֹה Yehovah or יַהְוֶה Yahveh ) they were invoking the nature of God, given to Moses on Mount Sinai. 

John 1:17-18 (NASB)

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

In the words of the prologue to his gospel, John is pointing to the man Jesus as God in human flesh. He does this by using the picture of Exodus 34:6-7 in his proclamation about Jesus. How can that which is Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth become flesh? This is the question that caused the Arminian controversy; the heresy that says that Jesus is a created being and not God. 

John 14:7 (NASB)

If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

To answer the question what is God, God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ and dwelt amongst us. (Jn 1:14) What is God? The person of Jesus Christ has explained him. (Jn 1:18) “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” (Col 1:15,NASB) And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.” (Heb 1:3-4, NASB)

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[1] The Shorter Catechism, Question 4.

What do the Scriptures principally teach?

The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man.[1]

2 Timothy 1:13 (NASB)

Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.

I learned a five step method for interpreting Scripture:[2]

1.    Grasp the text in their town.

2.    Measure the width of the river to cross.

3.    Cross the principlizing bridge.

4.    Consult the biblical map.

5.    Grasp the text in our town

The point of this is to come to the universal principle taught in the text that is applicable in the lives of everyone, then personally apply the principle in our own lives. There are also a few criteria to observer:[3]

§  The principle should be reflected in the text.

§  The principle should be timeless and not tied to a specific situation.

§  The principle should not be culturally bound. 

§  The principle should correspond to the teaching of the rest of Scripture.

§  The principle should be relevant to both the biblical and the contemporary audience.

The goal is to grasp the meaning of the text that God intended. People make the mistake of hyper-literal interpretation; attempting to apply the meaning meant for the ancient audience, or hyper-spiritualizing the text; creating a meaning that was not intended by God. All of Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;(2 Tm 3:16) therefore, there is a universal principle in every text of Scripture but that principle is not universally applied in the same way. 

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[1] The Shorter Catechism, question 3.

[2] J. Scott Duvall and J. Daniel Hays, Grasping God’s Word 3^rd ed. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012), ch. 2.

[3] Ibid.

What rule hath God given to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him?

The word of God, which is contained in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, is the only rule to direct us how we may glorify and enjoy him.[1]

Ephesians 2:20 (NASB)

having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NASB)

All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.

The latin, “Sola Scriptura,” was the rallying cry of the Reformation. It would be Scripture alone by which Protestant churches would be organized, and the rule by which the followers of Jesus Christ would live out their lives. The Old Testament is the writings of the prophets and the New Testament is the writings of the apostles; Jesus Christ is the corner stone of both the Old Testament and the New Testament because he is the Word of God become flesh. (Jn. 1:1, 14) The Scriptures were held hostage by the medieval catholic church, and was freed for all the people to read in the protestant reformation. 

1 John 1:3 (NASB)

what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.

The Scriptures came under attack in the post-reformation period. Then in the modern era skepticism, naturalism, and mysticism came to the forefront; however, can a sinful man, living in a sinful world, come to know and worship the Father God and the Son of God without the Scriptures? There is a natural revelation, but because of sin, man needs a special revelation from God, and it has come to us in the Scriptures, that we might know and have fellowship with the Father and the Son through reading and studying the Scriptures in both the Old and New Testament text.

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[1] The Shorter Catechism, Question 2.

What is the chief end of man?

A man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.[1]

1 Corinthians 10:31 (NASB) 

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Why was man created? In my study, there is a painting of my father. This is a creation of my daughter’s, in the likeness of her grandfather, in one of the places on the earth that he enjoyed. Did she create this work of art for the glory of the painting? Did the painting create itself? When someone looks at a painting, you can marvel at it’s beauty, but ultimately, you most marvel at the artist who created the work of art. It is God who created the heavens, and the earth, and the sea, and all that they contain. We can enjoy the things, and persons, and work that we do, but it is God who gets all the glory, because it is God who created all.

Psalms 73:25-26 (NASB)

Whom have I in heaven but You?

And besides You, I desire nothing on earth.

My flesh and my heart may fail,

But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

It is often the case that people and things are taken away from us. It is in these times that we should realize that God never leaves us, nor forsakes us. Why is heaven heaven? Heaven is heaven because God is in heaven. God is the most beautiful of all beings and the cause of all things. The psalmist understood that no matter what might occur in life, no matter who might leave him, and even if his body fails him, God is eternal and will not fail him. God is to be enjoyed now and throughout eternity. Do not be distracted by the things of this world, but enjoy the Lord our God, the creator of the universe.

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[1] The Shorter Catechism, Question 1.

The Shema

Deuteronomy 6:4 (NASB)

“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!

Moses said to the children of Israel, that they shall love the Lord their God with all of their heart, and with of their soul, and with all of your might; (Dt 6:5) the New Testament adds, “and with your mind.” (Lk 10:27) Moses goes on to teach the Israelites that all the words that he is charging them with today, shall be on their hearts, and they shall teach them to their children. They shall talk of them when they sit in the home, when they are walking, when they lie down, and when the rise up. (Dt. 6:6-7)

What is your greatest regret in life? 

In the Baptist tradition, believers in the church present their children before the congregation, (baby dedication) vowing to raise them in the way of the Lord; other denominations baptize their children. Whether presenting or baptizing, all agree, that children are very important in the life blood of the church.

My greatest regret in life is that I did not catechize our children. I did not teach our children they way of the Lord Jesus Christ. I cannot blame the Lord for the way that my children are going, all blame is mine, for it is the duty of fathers to teach their children the way of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I came to the Lord Jesus Christ late in life. I was converted at the age of 41. When I came to repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, our son was 20 and our daughter 16. Even then, I did not turn to teach our children, but began evangelizing the world, passing out gospel tracts, and preaching in the open-air.

I cannot catechize our children now, that time has past, but I encourage all who might read this blog to love and teach your children the way of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Beginning tomorrow morning, for the next 107 mornings, I will be going through the 107 questions, and answers, in the shorter catechism; I will be writing about them in this blog.

April 7th in the Year of Our Lord 2021

Today I am scheduled to work in the CVICU. This job has been very very difficult lately and the patients seem to be sicker than they were in the past. People have always been sick, sickness came with the fall but it seems to be more abundant now then in times past. Perhaps it is a bad patch that we are going through at the moment. I do not always know what the Lord is doing and the reason for everything under the sun. I named this blog the Nurse Theologian because I am a Registered Nurse and I spend my time off from my job in theological studies. Theological studies include the Bible, church history, systematic theology and practical theology; I believe nursing to be a practical theology. 

My time studying is a reprieve from the bedside of the sick. This job has been so very stressful as of late, I am not sure that I can even continue in it, it is more than I am able to bear, and it is not about me but about the other; human suffering and death abound, “death spread to all men because all sinned.” (Rom 5:12) My hope is in the redeemer, the Lord Jesus Christ, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting, amen. 

It is a difficult season indeed, and there is no promise of ease in this present day, but there is the hope of resurrection from the grave, and life everlasting in the Lord Jesus Christ. In the body he defeated Satan, the world, the law, sin, and even the grave. He lived a righteous life, a life that none of us have lived, nor even can live. He died on a cross for our sins according to the Scriptures, and he was buried, and he rose again the third day. He ascended to heaven, he is seated at the righthand of the Father God the Almighty, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead. My hope is not in this world but in the Lord Jesus Christ; he is the way and the truth and the life. 

As of late, and at every turn, life on the earth has become very difficult, sin, and death abound; my hope is not in this world, but in the Lord Jesus Christ, and the life everlasting to come, in the kingdom of our God.

The Suffering Servant

The translation that I read, (NASB) gives Isaiah 53 the title: The Suffering Servant. Biblical interpretation is a very interesting thing and can be thwarted by our desires and presuppositions. For example: The 21st century Jewish Rabbi would tell you that the suffering servant in Isaiah 53 is Israel. The christian dispensationalist interprets the passage to be about Israel but in a different way; it is the confession of Israel on a future date, when Israel comes to repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. However, the unlearned person who has heard the story of Jesus but does not have a theological grid by which to interpret the Scripture would simply say, the passage is about Jesus. The simplest interpretation is often the correct interpretation, that is, if you are seeing Christ in all of Scripture because the Scriptures are written about Jesus Christ.

John 6:35 (NASB)

“I am the bread of life!”

John 8:12 (NASB)

“I am the Light of the world!”

John 10:7 (NASB)

“I am the door of the sheep!”

John 10:11 (NASB)

“I am the good shepherd!”

John 11:25 (NASB)

“I am the resurrection and the life!”

John 14:6 (NASB)

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life!”

John 15:1 (NASB)

“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser!”

A God Who Hears

Dear Neighbor,

My reading this morning came form Isaiah 45-48; for Israel, there is comfort in Cyrus, there is comfort in the fall of Babylon’s idols, there is comfort in the fall of Babylon and there is comfort in Israel’s return from captivity. Where do we find comfort except in the historical bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ and his promise to return to raise us up to eternal life in the new heaven and the new earth. 

I confess that my wife and I are struggling. We are going through a very difficult time and often feel like we are going through this difficult time alone. We are struggling because our children have departed from us and scorn us. Our God is not an idol of wood are metal set upon a shelf but a living God whose throne is in heaven. Jesus Christ is God incarnate, he died and rose again, he ascend, he sat down at the righthand of the Father and he lives to make intercession for us. He made this promise to his disciples, Matthew 18:19-20 (NASB), “Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask, it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven. For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” 

In fictional T.V. shows or movies, a group of characters might come together and hold a prayer vigil for an injured or suffering person in their midst; however, does this happen in the church? I understand that vs. 19-20 are regarding church discipline and our children are not members of the church. I do not even know what I am saying at the moment except that we are hurting and in need of prayer.

Michael Peek, BSN, RN, MTS

Events and American Evangelicalsim

My conversion to the Lord Jesus Christ was a slow process. I did not come to the Lord quickly, making a decision for the Lord but American Evangelicalism is based on quick decisions. The alter call, the Roman road (Rom 3:23, 5:8, 6:23, 10:9) and the sinners prayer all came about in order to elicit a quick decision in the mind of an awakened sinner. I had an experience with this type of evangelism in 1994. I was awakened to the fact that I was a sinner fallen short of the glory of God; that I was deserving of death and hell but was led in the sinners prayer without any knowledge of the Lord. I soon departed the church and would not return until the year 2003 when I was drawn to read the Scriptures. I would read the Scriptures for over six years before a question was put to me regarding life and my answer was to follow Jesus Christ. For this reason I believe that conversion is a process by which a person is regenerated from within by the holy Spirit of God and from without by the means of grace given to the church. The means of grace are preaching the word, teaching doctrine and the sacraments. I am a Baptist by convection but I believe that there is much missing in American evangelicalism because I believe that conversion is a process and not an event. Much of American evangelicalism is event based. My profession, the profession that I was called too before becoming a follower of Christ is nursing. The apostle Paul wrote, 1 Corinthians 7:24 (NASB), “Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.” This does not mean with regards to growing in the Lord but with regards to occupation. In March, 2016, I began taking classes, online, through Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, working towards a Master degree in theological studies, not because I desired a change in profession but desired doctrine, something that I felt missing in my Christian upbringing. Why am I talking about this this morning? I do not know but it is on my mind nonetheless.

The Blessing

Abraham•Isaac•Jacob•David•Jesus, this is the line through which all of the nations on the earth shall be blessed. John the Baptist said, John 3:35-36 (NASB) “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand. He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” It is through faith in Jesus Christ that all are saved!

Psalms 118:24 (NASB), says, “This is the day which the LORD has made;

Let us rejoice and be glad in it.” I do not know what will come today. I did not know that I would be where I am today but my trust is in the Lord who created heaven and earth. I know that I am scheduled to work in the CVICU today but I do not yet know whom I will be caring for or their present condition. We are all like grass, lovely when we are blooming but all wither and fade; however, the word of the Lord remains forever (Is 40:6-8) and he has promised eternal life for all who repent and believe in the Son.

Maundy Thurday

Isaiah 33:22 (NASB)

For the LORD is our judge,

The LORD is our lawgiver,

The LORD is our king;

He will save us—

Yesterday evening, Sylvania Church held our annual Maundy Thursday Service. Maundy comes from the Latin mandatum, which means “to command.” On Thursday evening, before his arrest, trial and death by crucifixion, Jesus commanded that his disciples love one anther. (Jn 13:34, 15:12, 17) On this night he also instituted the Lord’s supper. (1 Cor 11:24, 25)  The service is traditionally a salaam service, as we reflect on the final words of Jesus and his death for our sins. 

The service began with a Hymn, “When I survey the Wondrous Cross,” and was followed by a Scripture reading, (Luke 22:14-23, 22:39-23:31) given by our pastor, Phillip Dancy. After which was a spoken confession, with parts spoken by the leader and parts spoken by the people. This is a very difficult confession because in it, the pastor puts himself in the place of Pilot and the congregation in the place of the people, as they request Barabbas released and Jesus crucified. Next there were seven Scripture readings, given by seven men; they were the last seven words of Jesus:

1. Luke 23:32-34
2. Luke 23:39-43
3. John 19:25-27
4. Matthew 27:45-47
5. John 19:28-29
6. John 19:30
7. Luke 23:44-46

After hearing these last words of our Lord Jesus Christ, we were then given a time to meditate on the cross; preparing our hearts and minds to eat the elements of the Lord’s supper. (1 Corinthians 11:28 (NASB)

“But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”

We then ate of the bread and drank of the cup; representing the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. After this, a Hymn and a historical confession of faith:

The Nicene Creed

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father; by whom all things were made; who for us and for our salvation came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day he rose again according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father; and he shall come again, with glory, to judge both the living and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.

Pastor Dancy gave a benediction, urging all to reflect on these things, preparing our hearts and minds for Easter Sunday. The departing Hymn:

The Lord’s Prayer

Our Father

Which art in heaven

Hallowed be

Thy name

Thy kingdom come

Thy will be done

On Earth

As it is in heaven

Give us this day

Our daily bread

And forgive us our debts

As we forgive our debtors

And lead us not into temptation

But deliver us from evil

For Thine is the kingdom

And the power, and the glory

Forever

Amen

A Costly Cornerstone

Isaiah 28:16 (NASB)

Therefore thus says the Lord GOD,

“Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone,

A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed.

He who believes in it will not be disturbed.

This prophecy given through Isaiah is one of the most quoted by the New Testament writers: Matt 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Eph 2:20; Rom 9:33; 10:11; 1 Pet 2:6. There is no doubt that Matthew, Mark, Luke, Peter and Paul who penned these New Testament text were saying that Jesus is the stone that the Lord God placed in Zion, that whoever believes in him should not perish.

My personal favorite text in all of Scripture is Romans 3:21-31. The NASB translators titled this section, “Justification by Faith.” Leading up to this passage, Paul shows that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God; both Jew and Gentile have sinned. The Gentile has sinned without law and the Jew has sinned with law. However, God in his mercy has laid in Zion a costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed and whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life. Later, in his letter to the church in Rome, Paul explains that God has not rejected the Jewish nation in favor of the Gentiles, but in fact, the Gentiles attained the righteousness of God by faith; but Israel did not because Israel pursued it as though it were by works. (Rom 3:30-33)