Family Worship Guide for the Week of October 2-8th, 2022
Bible Passage for the Week
Deuteronomy 22:13-30
Matthew 23:13-39
Revelation 1
Psalm 42
Verse to Memorize
Hebrews 4:15-16
Catechism Questions
Q. 60. How long ago is it since Christ died?
A. More than nineteen hundred years.
Q. 61. How were pious persons saved before the coming of Christ?
A. By believing in a Savior to come.
Q. 62. How did they show their faith?
A. By offering sacrifices on God's altar.
Q. 63. What did these sacrifices represent?
A. Christ, the Lamb of God, who was to die for sinners.
People to Pray for:
Church: Reformation Church of Shelbyville
Pastor Jerry Dorris
Ministry: Daniel Courney
Civil Magistrate: Governor Eric Holcomb
Song Recommendations:
Deuteronomy 22:13-30
Matthew 23:13-39
Revelation 1
Psalm 42
Verse to Memorize
Hebrews 4:15-16
Catechism Questions
Q. 60. How long ago is it since Christ died?
A. More than nineteen hundred years.
Q. 61. How were pious persons saved before the coming of Christ?
A. By believing in a Savior to come.
Q. 62. How did they show their faith?
A. By offering sacrifices on God's altar.
Q. 63. What did these sacrifices represent?
A. Christ, the Lamb of God, who was to die for sinners.
People to Pray for:
Church: Reformation Church of Shelbyville
Pastor Jerry Dorris
Ministry: Daniel Courney
Civil Magistrate: Governor Eric Holcomb
Song Recommendations:
1. For all the saints,
who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith
before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus,
be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Allelu...
2. Thou wast their rock,
their fortress and their might;
Thou, Lord, their captain
in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness
drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Allelu...
3. O may Thy soldiers,
faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints
who nobly fought of old,
And win with them
the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia, Allelu...
4. The golden evening
brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful
warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm
of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Allelu...
5. But lo! There breaks
a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant
rise in bright array;
The King of glory
passes on his way,
Alleluia, Allelu...
6. From earth's wide bounds,
from ocean's farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl
streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith
before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus,
be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Allelu...
2. Thou wast their rock,
their fortress and their might;
Thou, Lord, their captain
in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness
drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Allelu...
3. O may Thy soldiers,
faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints
who nobly fought of old,
And win with them
the victor's crown of gold.
Alleluia, Allelu...
4. The golden evening
brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful
warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm
of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Allelu...
5. But lo! There breaks
a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant
rise in bright array;
The King of glory
passes on his way,
Alleluia, Allelu...
6. From earth's wide bounds,
from ocean's farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl
streams in the countless host,
Singing to Father,
Son, and Holy Ghost,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim, falling down before Thee,
Who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.
Early in the morning our song shall rise to Thee;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.
Holy, holy, holy! All the saints adore Thee,
Casting down their golden crowns around the glassy sea;
Cherubim and seraphim, falling down before Thee,
Who wert, and art, and evermore shalt be.
Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in pow’r, in love, and purity.
Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty!
All Thy works shall praise Thy name in earth and sky and sea;
Holy, holy, holy, merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.
Notes for Parents
Bible Passage for the Week
Deuteronomy –
Of all the sins one can commit, sexual sins are some of the worst. They are sins against one’s very own body. They harm not just others but oneself. And they harm not just oneself but others. Rape for example is an egregious abuse of another person. Adultery though not as considered as harmful in our culture still an egregious abuse and breaking of the marriage covenant. Fornication too harms others. In our culture, we argue that what happens in another person’s bedroom doesn’t impact me so why should I care? But we are not isolated individuals. Even private sexual sin that no one else may know of has an impact on everyone else. God’s law warns us to flee sexual immorality.
As you read the passages in Deuteronomy, see how God’s law is designed to protect marriage, family, and the vulnerable. It punishes sexual sin. See how fornication is found to be shameful as well as rape. See how God’s law also protects the innocent from being falsely accused. One of the duties of a woman if she is assaulted is to cry out for help. She has a duty to say something. In the day of the #metoo movement, one of the problems with not following God’s law is that women may wait 20-40 years before speaking out about a sexual abuse. The problem with this delay in reporting is that it makes proving a crime incredibly difficult. It also leaves the whole system ripe for false accusations. Someone may commit fornication which is sinful but later feel remorseful and accuse their willing partner in fornication of rape. God’s law is just. It protects victims and also the falsely accused.
When talking with your children, depending upon their age and maturity levels, this all may be over their heads. Yet there is still work you can do to implement this passage. It is important that you teach your children that they should come to you if anyone ever try to touch them inappropriately or get them to do things that they are uncomfortable with. Teach your children that no one should touch them in their private parts or under their clothes unless it’s a doctor doing his work. You need to have age-appropriate conversations. Tell them never to listen to someone who says not to tell. We live in a time where sexual abuse is sadly a reality. It’s your duty to protect your children.
Teach your daughters and sons about the situations that they put themselves in. May I suggest you implement a couple of rules in your home and with your family. Keep bedroom doors open unless someone is changing. Shut and locked bedroom doors are temptations. If your teenage son is always alone in a locked room, then you need to have a talk to him about lust. Another rule that I suggest is that you do not allow guests to go into your children’s bedrooms and don’t let your children go into bedrooms when you visit other people’s homes. Bedrooms are for sleeping. If they need to play with toys, bring them out of the bedrooms and play in a common area. This is a good rule for protecting your children and for showing good hospitality.
Matthew-
We are working through this passage one more time and looking at the last woe. The Pharisees were careful to care for the tombs of the prophets and saints who came before. They had a great love for church history and yet by their rejection of Christ, they show that their love for the saints of the past wasn’t real. They would not have loved the prophets if they were alive. They would have persecuted them just like their fathers did. The prophets pointed to Jesus and the Pharisees hate him.
We ought to honor our fathers in the faith. Remembering the faithful who have departed is good. We ought to read and learn from church history. Christianity is a religion in continuity with those who came before. Much of modern evangelicalism acts like Christianity started 50 years ago or that they are the peak of all Christian history. We reject this. But there is a temptation to say we love those who came before while rejecting what they actually believed and taught. We can say we love Calvin but have no place for those who would be modern Calvins or Luthers. We can say we love the reformation but hate preaching that follows in the footsteps of the reformers. The faithful preached to the conscience and rebuked sins. They constantly pointed people away from the things of this world and to Christ. Hypocrites make a great show of their love for church history and tradition but reject the word of God which faithful saints pointed to. They instead persecute those who are like the saints of old. May that not be said of us. May we love living saints as we say we love dead ones.
Revelation 1
The book of Revelation is often a mysterious book. Because of its imagery, many people get confused. There have been a lot of off the wall interpretations of it. The book however is called Revelation. It is meant to reveal something to us. The first chapter is the key to unlocking the book. I highly recommend that you check out this resource to help understand the book. Dr. Philip Kayser walks through the first chapter and shows you the books own principles for interpreting it. https://revelation.biblicalblueprints.org/principles-of-interpretation
Psalm 42 –
This psalm begins with great imagery of a deer panting for water. The psalm writer longs for the presence of God. Yet God seemed distant to him. There are times in our lives whether through our sin, because of God’s discipline, or because God is testing our faith, that we go through valleys in our walk. Sometimes it seems like our enemies are victorious.
Discouragement, depression, and spiritual dryness impact even the best saints. Yet the psalm writer knew that God is his hope. The Psalm writer didn’t stop panting for the water. He knows that God has not forsaken him. Therefore, even though he was weighed down with anxiety and cares, the psalm writer says this “Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. “ He was going to cling to God and praise Him.
The book of Philippians tells us to be anxious about nothing but in everything with prayer and supplications in thanksgiving to make our requests known to God. The key to fighting discouragement and depression is not to despair but to praise God. Give thanks even when you do not feel like it. Count your blessings. See that God is with you. And tell God your concerns. Then the peace that passes understanding will be yours.
Catechism/ Memory Verse
There are not multiple ways to heaven. The Bible makes it clear that there is no other name given among men by which we may be saved but the name of Christ. Ever since Adam sinned the only way for man to have his sins forgiven is by Jesus Christ. Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhist, Mormons, nor any other religious person will not enter the kingdom of heaven except through faith in the Jesus Christ of the bible. This is true not only after the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ but it was true before Christ was born. The Old Testament saints were not saved by their good deeds. They were not saved by the animal sacrifices as if the blood of bulls and goats can forgive sins. They were saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ. They looked forward to the coming of Christ as we look backwards to His coming. They showed their faith by their obedience to the law of God including the ceremonial law. The sacrifices were a way that they showed their faith and also a way that God strengthened their faith. The sacrifices reminded them of their need for Christ’s sacrifice. Therefore, do not be deceived, there is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus. You and your children must have Christ. You reveal your faith through your obedience to the commands of God.
People to Pray for:
Our dear brothers in Shelbyville have been an encouragement to us in our work. It is good to have likeminded Christians who are bold to proclaim the gospel in public and bear the shame of standing opposed to abortion and homosexuality. God has blessed their work and grown their church. They are in a familiar position to us in needing to find a larger meeting place. They have found a building, but it is going to take a lot of work to make it happen. Please pay that God will bless them with the finances to renovate this new building. Pray that they will be bold.
We are also praying for the missionary we financial support, Daniel Courney. He is in Nepal and working to proclaim the gospel and build up churches. Pray for his health and wellbeing as He preaches. Pray God preserve He and his family from persecution and give them favor with the people in Nepal.
Lastly, we are lifting up Governor Eric Holcomb. Pray for God to give Him wisdom and boldness to stand on what is right. Pray that God would open Gov Holcomb’s eyes to his sin and need of a savior.
Church History Spotlight
Francis of Assisi 1181-October 3rd 1226
“We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh, but, instead, we must be simple, humble and pure.”
All the heroes of the faith were sinners and many even came into their work through less than desirable ways. Francis of Assisi grew up the son of a wealthy silk merchant and spent his youth lavishing in that wealth. After military service, he began to have a heart for God. He had a love for the church and in particular felt called by God to help restore a small country church in San Damiano. With the zeal of youth, he unfortunately didn’t go at restoring it in the most legal or God-honoring way. He sold some of his father’s silk without asking and tried to give those proceeds to the leader of the church who refused. Francis threw the gold coils on the floor of the church. Francis hid in a cave because his father was very angry at his son. His father recovered his stolen money and wanted the civil magistrates to compel Francis to make restitution. Francis in the middle of the court proceedings renounced his father and gave up his inheritance. He even cast off the expensive clothing given to him by his father. He took a vow of poverty and began to spend all his time to make repairs to the church from his own hard labor. Though, Francis sinned in his zeal, God did enable Francis to become a preacher who taught against the love of money and brought reforms to the church. He also preached the gospel in Islamic lands. We should have a godly zeal, but we must make sure that we walk not according to the flesh but with a simple and pure humility.
Highlight from the Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A. There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.
2 Corinthians 13:14a The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
My son’s favorite hymn is Holy Holy Holy. We sing it often. It reminds us three times over that God is Holy. God is not set apart. He is unique. There are no other gods than Him and there is no one else like Him. While we humans share in some of his attributes like love, we are not God. There is no being on the planet and in the universe like God. He is one of a kind. There is no one or nothing to compare Him to. As we think of fathers for example. We know that God is Father. But earthly fathers are to be a model of him. We are to start with God as Father and then earthly fathers are to follow Him. We don’t start with earthly fathers and then extrapolate back to God. God is the standard. And yet even as we consider fatherhood, God’s Fatherhood is one of a kind.
In other words, what I am trying to say is that God is God, and we are not. God reveals Himself to us and we are to believe what He says about Himself, but we can never expect to have a complete and perfect comprehension of God in all his being. God is so unique that to consider Him blows our minds. He is in His fullness cannot fit in our limited comprehension. There are things about Him that we must receive with Faith trusting His Word.
The fact that God is one and three is one of these truths that we must believe but can never fully get our minds around. There is no one else in the universe who is completely one and yet three persons.
God is one. There is only one God. As catechism question 5 said, there is but only one, true and living God. We do not believe in multiple gods. Christians are monotheists.
Yet this one God is three persons. Not three gods but three persons. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Each person is fully 100% God. There are not each part God and when combined form the one God. No, the Father has all the fullness of God. He has all the substance, power, and glory of God. The Father is not the Son, nor does He become the Son. The Son is eternally begotten from the Father but not created. The Son, Jesus Christ, is fully God. He has all the fullness of God. He has the same substance of the Father. He has all the power and glory of God. Jesus is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. In another catechism question we will see that since His incarnation, Jesus is also 100% man. The Son is not the Father, but He is God. He is also not the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is a person. He is not a force. He is a person and is fully God. The Holy Spirit is eternally sent from the Father and the Son. He is fully God. He has all the fullness of God. He has the same substance of the Father and the Son. He has all the power and glory of God.
These three people have always existed and always will. They are God. Each person is in perfect and full communion with each person. There is a perfect endless love in the Godhead. This love spills out to you and me. The Father sends the Son. The Son purchases our salvation on the cross. The Holy Spirit applies this salvation to our lives.
God is unique and yet we are to worship Him as He reveals Himself. If we do not believe the triune truth of God, we are worshiping some other god who does not exist. We are creating idols. Therefore, while the doctrine of the trinity is something you can study and never fully comprehend it is beautiful. It is amazing to think of our God. It is good and lovely to praise Him as He is. God in three persons, blessed Trinity.
Deuteronomy –
Of all the sins one can commit, sexual sins are some of the worst. They are sins against one’s very own body. They harm not just others but oneself. And they harm not just oneself but others. Rape for example is an egregious abuse of another person. Adultery though not as considered as harmful in our culture still an egregious abuse and breaking of the marriage covenant. Fornication too harms others. In our culture, we argue that what happens in another person’s bedroom doesn’t impact me so why should I care? But we are not isolated individuals. Even private sexual sin that no one else may know of has an impact on everyone else. God’s law warns us to flee sexual immorality.
As you read the passages in Deuteronomy, see how God’s law is designed to protect marriage, family, and the vulnerable. It punishes sexual sin. See how fornication is found to be shameful as well as rape. See how God’s law also protects the innocent from being falsely accused. One of the duties of a woman if she is assaulted is to cry out for help. She has a duty to say something. In the day of the #metoo movement, one of the problems with not following God’s law is that women may wait 20-40 years before speaking out about a sexual abuse. The problem with this delay in reporting is that it makes proving a crime incredibly difficult. It also leaves the whole system ripe for false accusations. Someone may commit fornication which is sinful but later feel remorseful and accuse their willing partner in fornication of rape. God’s law is just. It protects victims and also the falsely accused.
When talking with your children, depending upon their age and maturity levels, this all may be over their heads. Yet there is still work you can do to implement this passage. It is important that you teach your children that they should come to you if anyone ever try to touch them inappropriately or get them to do things that they are uncomfortable with. Teach your children that no one should touch them in their private parts or under their clothes unless it’s a doctor doing his work. You need to have age-appropriate conversations. Tell them never to listen to someone who says not to tell. We live in a time where sexual abuse is sadly a reality. It’s your duty to protect your children.
Teach your daughters and sons about the situations that they put themselves in. May I suggest you implement a couple of rules in your home and with your family. Keep bedroom doors open unless someone is changing. Shut and locked bedroom doors are temptations. If your teenage son is always alone in a locked room, then you need to have a talk to him about lust. Another rule that I suggest is that you do not allow guests to go into your children’s bedrooms and don’t let your children go into bedrooms when you visit other people’s homes. Bedrooms are for sleeping. If they need to play with toys, bring them out of the bedrooms and play in a common area. This is a good rule for protecting your children and for showing good hospitality.
Matthew-
We are working through this passage one more time and looking at the last woe. The Pharisees were careful to care for the tombs of the prophets and saints who came before. They had a great love for church history and yet by their rejection of Christ, they show that their love for the saints of the past wasn’t real. They would not have loved the prophets if they were alive. They would have persecuted them just like their fathers did. The prophets pointed to Jesus and the Pharisees hate him.
We ought to honor our fathers in the faith. Remembering the faithful who have departed is good. We ought to read and learn from church history. Christianity is a religion in continuity with those who came before. Much of modern evangelicalism acts like Christianity started 50 years ago or that they are the peak of all Christian history. We reject this. But there is a temptation to say we love those who came before while rejecting what they actually believed and taught. We can say we love Calvin but have no place for those who would be modern Calvins or Luthers. We can say we love the reformation but hate preaching that follows in the footsteps of the reformers. The faithful preached to the conscience and rebuked sins. They constantly pointed people away from the things of this world and to Christ. Hypocrites make a great show of their love for church history and tradition but reject the word of God which faithful saints pointed to. They instead persecute those who are like the saints of old. May that not be said of us. May we love living saints as we say we love dead ones.
Revelation 1
The book of Revelation is often a mysterious book. Because of its imagery, many people get confused. There have been a lot of off the wall interpretations of it. The book however is called Revelation. It is meant to reveal something to us. The first chapter is the key to unlocking the book. I highly recommend that you check out this resource to help understand the book. Dr. Philip Kayser walks through the first chapter and shows you the books own principles for interpreting it. https://revelation.biblicalblueprints.org/principles-of-interpretation
Psalm 42 –
This psalm begins with great imagery of a deer panting for water. The psalm writer longs for the presence of God. Yet God seemed distant to him. There are times in our lives whether through our sin, because of God’s discipline, or because God is testing our faith, that we go through valleys in our walk. Sometimes it seems like our enemies are victorious.
Discouragement, depression, and spiritual dryness impact even the best saints. Yet the psalm writer knew that God is his hope. The Psalm writer didn’t stop panting for the water. He knows that God has not forsaken him. Therefore, even though he was weighed down with anxiety and cares, the psalm writer says this “Hope in God, for I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God. “ He was going to cling to God and praise Him.
The book of Philippians tells us to be anxious about nothing but in everything with prayer and supplications in thanksgiving to make our requests known to God. The key to fighting discouragement and depression is not to despair but to praise God. Give thanks even when you do not feel like it. Count your blessings. See that God is with you. And tell God your concerns. Then the peace that passes understanding will be yours.
Catechism/ Memory Verse
There are not multiple ways to heaven. The Bible makes it clear that there is no other name given among men by which we may be saved but the name of Christ. Ever since Adam sinned the only way for man to have his sins forgiven is by Jesus Christ. Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Buddhist, Mormons, nor any other religious person will not enter the kingdom of heaven except through faith in the Jesus Christ of the bible. This is true not only after the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ but it was true before Christ was born. The Old Testament saints were not saved by their good deeds. They were not saved by the animal sacrifices as if the blood of bulls and goats can forgive sins. They were saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ. They looked forward to the coming of Christ as we look backwards to His coming. They showed their faith by their obedience to the law of God including the ceremonial law. The sacrifices were a way that they showed their faith and also a way that God strengthened their faith. The sacrifices reminded them of their need for Christ’s sacrifice. Therefore, do not be deceived, there is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus. You and your children must have Christ. You reveal your faith through your obedience to the commands of God.
People to Pray for:
Our dear brothers in Shelbyville have been an encouragement to us in our work. It is good to have likeminded Christians who are bold to proclaim the gospel in public and bear the shame of standing opposed to abortion and homosexuality. God has blessed their work and grown their church. They are in a familiar position to us in needing to find a larger meeting place. They have found a building, but it is going to take a lot of work to make it happen. Please pay that God will bless them with the finances to renovate this new building. Pray that they will be bold.
We are also praying for the missionary we financial support, Daniel Courney. He is in Nepal and working to proclaim the gospel and build up churches. Pray for his health and wellbeing as He preaches. Pray God preserve He and his family from persecution and give them favor with the people in Nepal.
Lastly, we are lifting up Governor Eric Holcomb. Pray for God to give Him wisdom and boldness to stand on what is right. Pray that God would open Gov Holcomb’s eyes to his sin and need of a savior.
Church History Spotlight
Francis of Assisi 1181-October 3rd 1226
“We must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh, but, instead, we must be simple, humble and pure.”
All the heroes of the faith were sinners and many even came into their work through less than desirable ways. Francis of Assisi grew up the son of a wealthy silk merchant and spent his youth lavishing in that wealth. After military service, he began to have a heart for God. He had a love for the church and in particular felt called by God to help restore a small country church in San Damiano. With the zeal of youth, he unfortunately didn’t go at restoring it in the most legal or God-honoring way. He sold some of his father’s silk without asking and tried to give those proceeds to the leader of the church who refused. Francis threw the gold coils on the floor of the church. Francis hid in a cave because his father was very angry at his son. His father recovered his stolen money and wanted the civil magistrates to compel Francis to make restitution. Francis in the middle of the court proceedings renounced his father and gave up his inheritance. He even cast off the expensive clothing given to him by his father. He took a vow of poverty and began to spend all his time to make repairs to the church from his own hard labor. Though, Francis sinned in his zeal, God did enable Francis to become a preacher who taught against the love of money and brought reforms to the church. He also preached the gospel in Islamic lands. We should have a godly zeal, but we must make sure that we walk not according to the flesh but with a simple and pure humility.
Highlight from the Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 6. How many persons are there in the Godhead?
A. There are three persons in the Godhead; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.
2 Corinthians 13:14a The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
My son’s favorite hymn is Holy Holy Holy. We sing it often. It reminds us three times over that God is Holy. God is not set apart. He is unique. There are no other gods than Him and there is no one else like Him. While we humans share in some of his attributes like love, we are not God. There is no being on the planet and in the universe like God. He is one of a kind. There is no one or nothing to compare Him to. As we think of fathers for example. We know that God is Father. But earthly fathers are to be a model of him. We are to start with God as Father and then earthly fathers are to follow Him. We don’t start with earthly fathers and then extrapolate back to God. God is the standard. And yet even as we consider fatherhood, God’s Fatherhood is one of a kind.
In other words, what I am trying to say is that God is God, and we are not. God reveals Himself to us and we are to believe what He says about Himself, but we can never expect to have a complete and perfect comprehension of God in all his being. God is so unique that to consider Him blows our minds. He is in His fullness cannot fit in our limited comprehension. There are things about Him that we must receive with Faith trusting His Word.
The fact that God is one and three is one of these truths that we must believe but can never fully get our minds around. There is no one else in the universe who is completely one and yet three persons.
God is one. There is only one God. As catechism question 5 said, there is but only one, true and living God. We do not believe in multiple gods. Christians are monotheists.
Yet this one God is three persons. Not three gods but three persons. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Each person is fully 100% God. There are not each part God and when combined form the one God. No, the Father has all the fullness of God. He has all the substance, power, and glory of God. The Father is not the Son, nor does He become the Son. The Son is eternally begotten from the Father but not created. The Son, Jesus Christ, is fully God. He has all the fullness of God. He has the same substance of the Father. He has all the power and glory of God. Jesus is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. In another catechism question we will see that since His incarnation, Jesus is also 100% man. The Son is not the Father, but He is God. He is also not the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is a person. He is not a force. He is a person and is fully God. The Holy Spirit is eternally sent from the Father and the Son. He is fully God. He has all the fullness of God. He has the same substance of the Father and the Son. He has all the power and glory of God.
These three people have always existed and always will. They are God. Each person is in perfect and full communion with each person. There is a perfect endless love in the Godhead. This love spills out to you and me. The Father sends the Son. The Son purchases our salvation on the cross. The Holy Spirit applies this salvation to our lives.
God is unique and yet we are to worship Him as He reveals Himself. If we do not believe the triune truth of God, we are worshiping some other god who does not exist. We are creating idols. Therefore, while the doctrine of the trinity is something you can study and never fully comprehend it is beautiful. It is amazing to think of our God. It is good and lovely to praise Him as He is. God in three persons, blessed Trinity.
Posted in Family Ministry
Posted in Family Worship Guide 2022, Family Worship Guide October 2022, October 2022
Posted in Family Worship Guide 2022, Family Worship Guide October 2022, October 2022