Insufficiency of Our Dim Light (COD Head 3, 4 Art. 4-6; Gal 3:23-4:11)

We want to think that we are pretty good and our struggle is rather minimal. So, we want to think that we are good enough and wise enough to see the light. So, we come to Christ because we desire Christ seeing him as the way of life. The problem is that we humans underestimate the depth of our sin and depravity. We fail to see that we are completely unable to enter into the Lord's presence by our doing. So, is there any hope in our predicament? How can we have hope when even Paul the Pharisee cannot do enough to earn the Lord's favor?

Continually Confessing (2 Corinthians 13:5)

We can fall into a trap and think that once we believe the gospel we know the gospel. However, this is not what we find in the Corinthian church. When Paul writes his second letter to the Corinthian church they forgot the gospel. Paul exhorts them to examine themselves to see if they are in the faith. This is pretty strong that we are to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith. How do we know if we are in the faith? Can we have assurance that we are in Christ? What is Paul's point and what is this standard?

Our Problem of Condemnation (Romans 5:12-21; COD Head 3, 4 Arts 1-3)

Reformed confessions might not lay out the most encouraging words regarding the status of humanity. We say things like man naturally hates God and his neighbor. Or we mention that man deserves the Lord's wrath from conception. We hear these things and might wonder if such strong language is really warranted. Is man really that bad? How did man ultimately get into this predicament? Why move forward in life if we are condemned anyway?

Discerning What is Pleasing to the Lord (2 Timothy 2:14-26)

When Paul exhorts the church he exhorts us to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit. This means that in our day to day lives there might be things that we do not fully understand nor do we know what to do. Paul gives us general exhortations to live for Christ, and in Christ. How do we know that we will continue to conform to the Lord as His redeemed?

Did Christ Need to Die? (Galatians 2:20; COD Head 2, RE 7)

We know that our God is a gracious God and a merciful Lord. He is a God who forgives, and so we wonder why does Christ have to die? It would seem logical that God would just forgive Adam and let him return to Eden. However, God does not do this at all, but he sends Christ to die. So, what is the purpose of Christ's death?

Discerning our Strength in Christ (2 Timothy 2:1-13)

Paul gives us the assurance that where we are faithless God remains faithful. Does this mean that we do not seek and desire to live a Christian life? Are we indifferent or neutral to the plan of God? Paul does exhort Timothy and he exhorts us not to fall away as Paul also says, "If we deny him he will deny us." Do we seek to conform to the Lord our of fear? Do we seek to live for the honor and glory of our king just for our own benefit? What is Paul fundamentally teaching us about the Christian life?

You Shall Not Commit Adultery (Matt. 5:27-30)

Our Lord commands us not to commit adultery. We might think that in the most literal sense we have done very well. However, how does this command challenge us to live a deeper and more committed life to the Lord? What is the solution to our problem? It is important as we wrestle with these questions that we find our affirmation in our Lord.

The Same Old Covenant (Romans 3:25; RE 4, 5)

Christ’s Prisoner or Imprisoned for Christ? (2 Timothy 1:8-18)

Paul is detained by Rome because of Christ's gospel. The good news of Christ seems to be halted because Paul is in prison. In fact, there are some who have turned against Paul because of his current circumstances. It would seem that this would deter Paul. He would see his imprisonment as a negative thing. However, he does not see himself as Rome's prisoner, but as Christ's prisoner. How is it a blessing to be Christ's prisoner? How does being Christ's prisoner shift his perspective from being Rome's prisoner?

Christ Sustains His Bride (John 11:45-53)

Christ' work will be applied to his people. We certainly have seen this in John 17. We know that individuals will come to faith, but what about the church? Is the church going to be sustained until the end? Will the Lord preserve his church through thick and thin?

Steadfast Love Endures Beyond Prison (2 Timothy 1:1-7)

Paul confers a greeting to Timothy that sounds consistent. However, Paul adds “mercy” to his greeting to Timothy. This is language the echos the Old Testament concept of steadfast love. Paul is in prison writing a friend who has grieved the loss of Paul, a friend who wonders if he will see Paul again, and so how is the Lord still showing his steadfast mercy? Is God’s steadfast mercy able to be conferred beyond Paul's current circumstances? How does this assure us that Paul's greeting applies even to us today?

You Shall Not Murder (Matthew 5:21-26)

It is very easy not to murder someone. We can tell that we are doing well because we have not literally killed a human being out of vengeance. However, Christ humbles us by telling us we have all murdered. How have we murdered an individual? Why is it important to know the right standard of holiness rather than our own holy standard?

All Saved, Some, or None? Who Decides? (John 17; COD 2, Art 7, 8, RE 1)

John captures Christ's prayer before Christ goes to the cross. This prayer reveals to us that Christ is very aware of his mission and his purpose of entering history. Christ prays not only for himself, but also his disciples. His disciples are not the immediate 11, but also for us who will come to believe through his word. What does this prayer teach us about Christ's atonement? What assurance does this give us that Christ will not give up on those who has come to redeem?

King Redeemer of the Kinsmen Redeemer (Matthew 1:18-2:12)

Joseph considers his legal recourse regarding his pregnant fiancé. He thinks that she loves another man because Joseph knows that she is not carrying his child, and so Joseph desires to quietly break off their relationship by appealing to Deuteronomy 24. An angel appears to him and reveals that Deuteronomy 24 is not going to be used, but rather Deuteronomy 25. Joseph will be the levirate redeemer establishing the legality of Christ's line. Why is it so important that Joseph takes Mary to be his wife?

A General Call? (Matthew 11:25-30; 5, 6 RE 6)

Christ invites his audience who hears his word to come to him.  We are promised blessing if we are not offended by Christ.  This sounds strange because why would we be offended by Christ?  Nevertheless we are promised that as we respond to the gospel in faith we will take the yoke of Christ upon us.  His teaching will progressively become more and more of who we are.  Clearly, Christ is assuring us that as we take hold of Christ by faith, as we come under his control more and more we will enjoy his blessings.  How can Christ give such a call without contradicting what we heard regarding God’s election before the foundations of the world? 

A Tragedy or Triumph? (Luke 2:1-21)

When the Lord declares that he will be victorious over the serpent there is no doubt that the Lord will be victorious over the serpent. God does not overpromise what he is capable of accomplishing. Our expectation of this victory is that Christ is going to send an action hero, a special forces unit, or have a military strategy that would set this world on end. The Lord is going to conduct his battle according to our values rather than showing his strength through humility.

Luke tells us that the Lord does reveals some of the heavenly army, but the angels only sing praises regarding Christ. The Lord recruits the shepherds, but they lack integrity. They do not come to fight, but only bear witness to the angels in heaven praising God. This seems like a flop, but in reality this is exactly how God intends to manifest his victory. The Lord will be exalted through humiliation.

I have Come to Fulfill (Matthew 5:17-20)

Christ tells us that he has come to fulfill. This means that Christ has come to put the law and the prophets in their place. In our culture putting someone in their place means we put them down or we knock them down a few pegs. This is not at all what Christ means. Christ has entered history, he has taken on the flesh, and he has done enter history as the God/man so that we can have life in him. Redemption is only found in our incarnate savior. As we are found in Christ we live as living sacrifices to Christ. It is very important that we understand Matthew 5:17-20 in its proper context so that we do not strive to keep the rigors of the law in our flesh, but as we walk by faith saying amen to the Lord’s promises.

Christ’s Universal Payment? (1 John 2:2)

John writes to the church with the assurance that Christ's payment satisfies the sins of the world. This sounds like the whole world is saved. This cannot be the case because right in Genesis 3:15 God promises that there are going to be two lines of people in the human race. There are those who are identified with Christ and those who are not identified with Christ. Christ's payment for the whole world must mean that Christ came to secure an international people.

Saved through Baptism? (1 Peter 3:21,22)

Peter tells us, "Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you." This is a pretty strong statement as it sounds like this baptism actually gives us the blessings of Christ. However, Peter says after this, "not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ." We are those who make a pledge to God and then we are baptized. This sounds like we first profess, and then we receive baptism. However, we notice the precedent is actually quite different. Scripture actually teaches us that first someone professes, and then the household if baptized. How does Noah's flood teach us this very promise?

Why the Heinous Cross (Gal 3:12,14 COD Head 2 Arts. 1, 2 RE 2)

The Lord told Adam that the day he eats of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he will surely die. The Lord cannot just overlook his justice in order to show his mercy. Christ has to die on the cross for the Lord's justice to be satisfied. It is in Christ's death on the cross that his mercy is manifested. How does Paul use the Mosaic arrangement to give us a deeper understanding of Christ's cross?