Preparing To Rejoice In Him // March 4, 2018

PREPARE YOUR HEART FOR WORSHIP ON MARCH 4, 2018

REFLECTION

We will come to the Table this Sunday to feast with our Lord; Christ, himself, invites us to come and sit with him. What makes this time so special from any other day in worship? It’s special because even though we are sinners, beggars, idolaters and rebels a King sets the table and makes a place for us – filth and all – and is pleased to dine with us, his family. Read these words from John Calvin’s Short Treatise on the Lords’ Supper to help you better prepare for this coming Sunday.

“Here, then, is the singular consolation which we derive from the Supper. It directs and leads us to the cross of Jesus Christ and to his resurrection, to certify us that whatever iniquity there may be in us, the Lord nevertheless recognises and accepts us as righteous—whatever materials of death may be in us, he nevertheless gives us life— whatever misery, may be in us, he nevertheless fills us with all felicity. Or to explain the matter more simply—as in ourselves we are devoid of all good, and have not one particle of what might help to procure salvation, the Supper is an attestation that, having been made partakers of the death and passion of Jesus Christ, we have every thing that is useful and salutary to us.”

“If the truth of us being justified by Christ alone is lost, then all Christian truths are lost. For there is no middle ground between ‘passive’ and ‘works’ righteousness. The person who wanders away from ‘passive’ righteousness has no other choice but ‘works’ righteousness; that is to say ‘If he does not depend on the work of Christ, he must depend on his own work.’ So we must truthfully proclaim and continually repeat the truth of this ‘passive’ or ‘Christian’ righteousness so that Christians continue to hold to it and never confuse with ‘works’ righteousness. Otherwise we will never be able to understand God’s truth, because on this truth and only on this truth the church is built and has its being.” – Martin Luther, Arguments of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians

“It is the universal impression that righteousness is obtained through the deeds of the Law. This impression is instinctive and therefore doubly dangerous. Gross sins and vices may be recognized or else repressed by the threat of punishment. But this sin, this opinion of man’s own righteousness refuses to be classified as sin. It wants to be esteemed as high-class religion. Hence, it constitutes the mighty influence of the devil over the entire world.” ~Martin Luther on Galatians

WORSHIP IN SONG :: Hark, The Voice Of Love And Mercy

Hark, the voice of love and mercy, sounds aloud from Calvary
See, it rends the rocks asunder; shakes the earth and veils the sky
“It is finished, It is finished,” Hear the dying Savior cry
“It is finished, It is finished,” Hear the dying Savior cry

“It is finished,” O, what pleasure do these charming words afford
Heavenly blessings, without measure flow to us from Christ the Lord
“It is finished, it is finished,” Saints the dying words record
“It is finished, it is finished,” Saints the dying words record

Finished all the types and shadows of the ceremonial law
Finished all that God had promised; death and hell no more shall awe
“It is finished, it is finished,” Saints from hence your comfort draw
“It is finished, it is finished,” Saints from hence your comfort draw

Tune your harps anew, ye seraphs; join to sing the pleasing theme
Saints on earth and all in heaven join to praise Immanuel’s name
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory to the bleeding Lamb!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Glory to the bleeding lamb!

<a href="http://redmountainmusic.bandcamp.com/album/help-my-unbelief">Help My Unbelief by Red Mountain Music</a>

GOD CALLS US TO WORSHIP :: John 6:35

[35] Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst. (ESV)

CONFESSION OF FAITH :: Heidelberg Catechism, Questions 60-61

Q. 60. How are you righteous before God?

A. Only by true faith in Jesus Christ. Even though my conscience accuses me of having grievously sinned against all God’s commandments, of never having kept any of them, and of still being inclined toward all evil, nevertheless, without any merit of my own, out of sheer grace, God grants and credits to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of Christ, as if I had never sinned nor been a sinner, and as if I had been as perfectly obedient as Christ was obedient for me.

Q. 61. Why do you say that through faith alone you are righteous?

A. Not because I please God by the worthiness of my faith. It is because only Christ’s satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness make me righteous before God, and because I can accept this righteousness and make it mine in no other way than through faith.