My Only Comfort in Life and in Death
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
7/24/2016 AM
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Text:
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Isaiah 51;
Lord's Day 1
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Psalters: |
269, 324, 301, 204 |
- What it is.
- The Heidelberg’s treatment of Scripture’s teachings is from the subjective, personal, experiential perspective.
- What comfort is NOT.
- Comfort arises from knowledge over against a contradictory experience.
- A summary of faith’s knowledge is found in our creeds: Apostles’, Belgic, Heidelberg, Canons.
- What must be known for comfort when faced with misery?
- First, faith and truth recognize that I am a sinner!
- My constant experience of misery indicates that something is seriously wrong! I am a sinner!
- It is essential that I know the horrible nature of my sin against my God and Father and the power with which it enslaves me.
- Second, faith seizes on Scripture’s declaration of redemption in Jesus, so I belong to Him – He makes me His responsibility.
- Jesus fully satisfied for all my sins, paying the full price needed, so the Father is well-pleased.
- And He preserves me as His possession, making all things subservient to my salvation.
- He assures me of eternal life. My appropriating the gospel by faith is the work of His Spirit assuring me that I am His child.
- Third, my faith makes me willing and ready to live unto Him, so I know how to show my gratitude to God for saving me.
- My comfort is experienced in my consciously belonging to Him, and consciously not belonging to myself.
- Comfort does not take away my misery, but enables me to respond better (properly) to my misery by bearing it (I Cor. 10:13).
- Comfort is only experienced in the way of my constantly confessing that I “am not our own.”
- This is an “only” comfort, for while all else will disappoint, my God never does.