This Lord’s Day

We look at the temptation of our Lord in the afternoon service. (Luke 4:1-13) There are many reasons why this passage is important, but I want to focus on an implication that may be overlooked, namely the authority and power of scripture.

The father of lies (as ‘devil’ means ’slanderer’) attempts to have the second Adam sin and thus destroy the plan of redemption (Genesis 3:15). And though Jesus is the divine son of God, and thus has infinite might at His disposal, He chooses not to banish Satan in some glorious display of heaven’s power but rather with the Word of God. Three times he is tempted and in each instance he refutes the devil with a passage of scripture.

Jesus, unlike His contemporaries, submits Himself to live by the Old Testament scriptures, and to be sustained by the eternal truth that was communicated to the prophets of old. (see also 2 Peter 1:19-21) In particular, Jesus quotes from the Law of Moses (Deuteronomy) thus confirming the validity and inspiration of that word. Though spoken long ago, Moses’ words still contain power and authority for they are the very word of God.

We may draw two conclusions from these facts:

First, Satan is not above mis/ab-using the Bible to further his own gain (see Luke 4:10-11). Hearing our Lord’s submission to scripture, the devil comes, as someone notes, “with a Bible under his arm and a text in his mouth!” If Jesus believes God’s Word then perhaps God’s Word could be used to make Jesus believe in Satan (or his words). Our Lord, however, rebukes him with scripture. So we must take care to properly understand and apply the words of scriptures and not be taken in by every person who claims to have the key to understanding it all. Many errors, heresies and sins have been countenanced through the Bible simply because of a lack of giving due diligence to understanding the proper meaning of the text.

Second, we must submit to God’s Word as the final authority in all matters of doctrine and life (cf. Belgic Confession, Article 7). We close with these words from J.C. Ryle’s devotional on Luke to emphasize how we may practice this in our daily lives:

“Let us learn from this single fact, if we learn nothing else from this wondrous history, the high authority of the Bible, and the immense value of a knowledge of its contents. Let us read it, search into it, pray over it, diligently, perseveringly, unweariedly. Let us strive to be so thoroughly acquainted with its pages, that its text may abide in our memories, and stand ready at our right hand in the day of need. Let us be able to appeal from every perversion and false interpretation of its meaning, to those thousand plain passages, which are written as it were with a sunbeam. The Bible is indeed a sword, but we must take heed that we know it well, if we would use it with effect.”

This Lord’s Day

We consider Malachi 3:8-10 in light of the eight commandment in the morning service. Since we are also celebrating the Lord’s Supper we may take a moment to consider the significance of ’stealing’ and ‘giving’ in regards to the suffering, sacrifice and death of Christ.

We have fallen in Adam and therefore, by nature, try to take what is not ours. (Genesis 3:1-6) We jealously guard our possessions and even seek to have the world and all its riches, because we, like the thief of old want to steal (John 10:10) But God, in His sovereign mercy, has rescued us from our sins by giving us salvation and eternal life. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:

The Lord’s Supper, then, is a reminder of God’s gift and is an encouragement for us to give to one another within the body of Christ. The body can only live if all of its members edify one another. The life of the church, then, is that of giving and sacrificing. Consider, then, how you may contribute to the congregation by what Christ has given you (Ephesians 4:11-16)

And do not forget the world, who has not yet received this gift. Pray for your non-Christian neighbours and friends that God may open their eyes to receive the message of salvation in faith.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17

This Lord’s Day

We welcome Rev. Mitchell Ramkissoon to our pulpit. Rev. Ramkissoon is the pastor of Parkland Reformed Church (URC) in Ponoka.

Yearly Bible Reading

Have you ever read through the Bible in a year? If not, now is the time to start.

Here are some outlines you may follow for your edification:

http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html

http://www.edginet.org/mcheyne/printables.html

We might wonder, however, if there is any benefit to reading through the Bible in year: will I retain anything from reading so many chapters a day? Isn’t it better to read smaller portions to meditate on?

It is true that we will not remember everything but we do need to be reminded that:

“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
2 Timothy 3:15-16 [emphasis mine]

In other words, reading through the Bible will prevent us from reading those portions of scripture that we may prefer over others.

Furthermore, this type of study helps us to see the Bible in its redemptive-historical scope. In other words we may appreciate the ‘big plan’ of salvation and see how more clearly how God work “all things for good” (Romans 8:28).

Enjoy!