What doth the conclusion the Lord's prayer teach us?

Question 107: What doth the conclusion the Lord's prayer teach us?

Answer: The conclusion of the Lord's prayer, which is, "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever, Amen." teacheth us, to take our encouragement in prayer from God only, and in our prayers to praise him, ascribing kingdom, power and glory to him.

And, in testimony of our desire, and assurance to be heard, we say, Amen.

Dear Neighbor,

When the Westminster Puritan’s wrote their confession and this catechism, they did so from the English Version authorized by King James. The King James Bible was translated by the Puritans from the Textus Receptus. All early English translations of the Bible, except for Wycliffe’s, (The Wycliffe English Bible of 1382 was translated into English from the Latin Vulgate) were translated into English from the Textus Receptus. The Textus Receptus was a Greek New Testament by Erasmus in 1516. Erasmus was a Dutch philosopher and Christian scholar. Since the time that Erasmus put together what would be called the Textus Receptus (meaning, received text), several older Greek manuscripts of the New Testament were discovered in Northern Africa. 

So, what am I driving at? Matthew 6:13, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.” This clause is not found in the early Greek manuscripts. It is likely a later addition to the text. Perhaps, it was tradition to say these words after reciting the Lord’s prayer. I do believe, however, that there is nothing theologically incorrect about them. In fact David said very similar words to these when blessing the Lord in sight of all the people. 

1 Chronicles 29:11

Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O LORD, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.

I have enjoyed going through these 107 questions and answers of the Westminster Shorter Catechism. I hope that it aides your following the Lord Jesus Christ.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Friday: August 6, 2021

Question 106: What do we pray for in the sixth petition?

Answer: In the sixth petition, which is, "And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil," we pray, That God would either keep us from being tempted to sin, or support and deliver us when we are tempted.

Dear Neighbor,

I agree with the Westminster Puritans in praying that God would “lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” we are praying that God would keep us from being tempted and deliver us when we are tempted. However, I also believe that it goes much further than delivering us when we are tempted because evil can come from the world and the people around us, and we need protection from these as well. 

Temptation comes from three sources:

1. Satan
2. The World
3. The Flesh

When we ask God to keep us from temptation, we are asking God to protect us from Satan, the world and our own flesh. And we ask God to deliver us from evil, we are asking him to deliver us from these same three. Just as Satan, the world, and the flesh may influence us, these influence others as well. We live in a fallen and corrupt world. The Christian has been declared perfect but is not yet perfect, but even if we were made perfect, we live in an imperfect and evil world. 

Jesus Christ, the perfect Man was nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put to death, but God raised him up again! (Acts 2:23-24) The disciples were threatened to not speak in the name of Jesus Christ, but they prayed to the Lord, “take note of their threats, and grant that your bond-servants may speak your word with all confidence.” (Acts 4:29) Therefore, we are to pray likewise. 

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Thursday: August 5, 2021

Question 105: What do we pray for in the fifth petition?

Answer: In the fifth petition, which is, "And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors," we pray, That God, for Christ's sake, would freely pardon all our sins; which we are able to be rather encouraged to ask, because by his grace we are enabled from the heart to forgive others.

Dear Neighbor,

We should confess our sins to God in prayer and confess what we are holding in our heart against others. When we consider all that that God has done for us in forgiving our sins; then we realize that we cannot, nor should not hold a grudge against another. This is not to say that we should not hold others accountable but we should forgive. 

Jesus said, Luke 17:3-4, “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”

If someone sins, the believer is to show him his fault in private, and if he listens, then forgive him. However, if he does not listen, then take two or three others with you, if he listens to them, then forgive him. However, if he does not listen, tell it to the church, if he listens to the church, forgive him, but if he does not listen to the church, then stay away from him. (Mt. 18:15-17) 

However, we are not to take vengeance, give your anger to God, God has said in his Word, VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” We are to be kind to all, even to those who sin against us. (Rom. 19:20) Just as God gives good things to both the righteous and the unrighteous, we are to be like our Father who is in heaven. (Mt. 5:43-48) 

Confess your sins to God, trusting that all of your sins have been paid by the blood of Jesus Christ. Forgive what you harbor in your heart against those who have sinned against you. Give them to God and harbor no ill intent towards anyone.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Wednesday: August 4, 2021

Question 104: What do we pray for in the fourth petition?

Answer: In the fourth petition, which is, "Give us this day our daily bread," we pray, That of God's free gift we may receive a competent portion of the good things of this life, and enjoy his blessing with them.

Dear Neighbor,

We all have needs; both physical and spiritual needs. We need to be feed by the Word and we need to be feed with food for our stomachs. I man is both a physical and spiritual being. With our daily bread we will die. Some are starving, they are receiving a portion of bread but it is not enough. The bread that I speak of is both physical and spiritual. To be truly alive and healthy we need physical bread for the body and spiritual bread for the soul. Some are physically fat but are spiritually starved. We should pray and ask God to give us what we need and give thanks to God for the good things that he has blessed us with. 

Proverbs 30:8-9 says:

Keep deception and lies far from me,

Give me neither poverty nor riches;

Feed me with the food that is my portion,

That I not be full and deny You and say, “Who is the LORD?”

Or that I not be in want and steal,

And profane the name of my God.

We should not ask for riches but pray for what we need; both our spiritual needs and our physical needs.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Tuesday: August 3, 2021

Question 103: What do we pray for in the third petition?

Answer: In the third petition, which is, "Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven," we pray, That God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, as the angels do in heaven.

Dear Neighbor,

When we pray, we should not pray for our will, but for God’s will, as the Lord Jesus Christ did during the night preceding his suffering and death. Jesus prayed to the Father God: “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done.” (Lk. 22:42) We should petition God, not for our will, but for his will to be done.

All are saved by the grace of God alone, through faith, in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. Of ourselves we can do nothing good. The apostle Paul wrote: “For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.” (Rom. 7:18) Therefore, we must pray for God, by his grace, would enable us to willing know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, just as is done in heaven. 

In the first petition, we ask for God to enable us to glorify his name. In the second petition we pray for the Kingdom of God to come. In the third petition we pray for God to enable us as citizens of the Kingdom of God to think, speak and do what he wills. I am not able in my flesh to do the will of God, because I am by nature selfish. I must pray for the Spirit to enable me to do all that God wills. Not our will, but God’s will be done.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Monday: August 2, 2021

Question 102: What do we pray for in the second petition?

Answer: In the second petition, which is, "Thy kingdom come," we pray, That Satan's kingdom may be destroyed; and that the kingdom of grace may be advanced, ourselves and others brought into it, and kept in it; and the kingdom of glory may be hastened.

Dear Neighbor,

The coming of the kingdom of God is the greatest and deepest desire of my heart. It was not always my deepest desire but has been since the day God gave me a new heart, with a new desire. 

In his book, City of God, Augustine wrote about the reality of two kingdoms. There are two kingdoms side by side. There is the kingdom of man, ruled by Satan, and the kingdom of God, ruled by Jesus Christ. A day and hour is coming in which God will judge the world in righteousness through Jesus Christ. Satan will be vanquished and the kingdom of man will be no more. As believers, we are to pray for the advancement of God’s kingdom.

Some have said that it is sin to not be unsatisfied; however, the truth be told, I am not satisfied with the status quo. This world and the way it is, is not what I desire. My children are following the way of the world. I take care of people who are going through a great deal of suffering. People lie, steal, murder, are unfaithful and covet. I desire true community, yet I often feel lonely. I do not want to live in the City of Man any longer but desire to live in the City of God. I do not desire death but desire to truly live. I desire heaven on earth. No more death, no more pain, no more sorrow; everyone truly loving God and truly loving one another. I do not believe in a disembodied eternal existence, floating on the clouds as in some fictitious tale of old. I believe in a bodily resurrection from the dead, walking up right, in a new heaven and new earth where righteousness reigns.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Saturday: July 31, 2021

Dear Neighbor,

Question 101: What do we pray for in the first petition?

Answer: In the first petition, which is, "Hallowed be thy name," we pray, That God would enable us and others to glorify him in all that whereby he maketh himself known; and that he would dispose all things to his own glory.

It is for the glory of God and the Lamb that we pray. What is the purpose of all things? The purpose for all things is the glory of God. The very first question and answer in the Westminster Shorter Catechism:

Question 1: What is the chief end of man?

Answer: Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever.

Man was created to glorify God, and to enjoy God forever, but man sinned and fell short of his glory. However, it is for the glory of God, that God justified man. We are justified as a gift, by the grace of God alone, through faith alone, in Christ Jesus alone, for the glory of God alone, as it is written in Scripture alone. (cf. Rom. 3:10-26)

We who are redeemed are, therefore, to pray for God’s glory before pray for anything else!

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ sake

Friday: July 30, 2021

Dear Neighbor,

Question 100: What doth the preface of the Lord's prayer teach us?

Answer: The preface of the Lord's prayer, which is, "Our Father which art in heaven," teacheth us to draw near to God with all holy reverence and confidence, as children to a father, able and ready to help us; and that we should pray with and for others.

When Jesus meet Mary Madeline in the garden, he said to her: “Go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.’” (Jn. 20:17b) This indicates a change in covenant, for God’s covenant name in Israel was Yahweh or Jehovah, but we should understand God, not as the God who took us out of slavery in Egypt, but as a loving Father who elected us and Jesus Christ as a loving brother who died for us. Therefore, when you pray, pray to your Father who loves you, for he elected you before the foundation of the earth and adopted you as a son or daughter of God. However, we should not think of God as being like an earthly father, limited in power, limited in knowledge and having faults. Our heavenly Father is all powerful, all knowing and all good. He is above earthly things, for his throne is in heaven. The Westminster Puritans are correct to say that we should pray with and for others. We are not single children, but we are a family and a household with many many children.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Thursday: July 29, 2021

Dear Neighbor,

Question 99: What rule hath God given for our direction in prayer?

Answer: The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer; but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called The Lord's Prayer.

Yesterday I mentioned that the pastor of Sylvania Church often reads Puritan prayers from The Valley of Vision. He also does something else that I think is very interesting; he prays from the psalms. He will take one of the psalms and pray it aloud, adapting it to the congregation for which he is praying. 2 Timothy 3:16-17, says: “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” Therefore, the Westminster Puritans are correct in their assertion that the whole Word of God is useful to direct us in prayer.

The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray, (cf. Luke 11:1-4) And He said to them, 

“When you pray, say:

‘Father, hallowed be Your name.

Your kingdom come.

‘Give us each day our daily bread.

‘And forgive us our sins,

For we ourselves also forgive everyone who is indebted to us.

And lead us not into temptation.’”

In Matthew 6:1-15, the Lord teaches the disciples more extensively about prayer; when, where and how to pray. When the Lord gives the module prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, he adds to Lukes version between praying for God’s kingdom and our needs, the Lord adds to pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. It is the version that is recorded in Matthew that the Westminster Puritans expound upon in the final questions and answers of the Shorter Catechism. I look forward to exploring each of these.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ sake

Wednesday: July 28, 2021

Dear Neighbor,

My personal devotional time begins each morning with a recitation of a chapter out of the Gospel According to John; after this, I write a write a letter to God; after this, I read a portion of Scripture; after this, I write a letter to you. Prayer is very very important to me. I surround my prayer time with the Scriptures. The Puritans have much to teach us about prayer, for they were a prayerful people. In the liturgy of the worship service, at Sylvania Church, our pastor often reads a Puritan Prayer from the Valley of Vision; therefore, I believe that the Puritans have much that they can teach us about prayer. 

The Westminster Shorter Catechism Question 98: What is prayer?

Answer: Prayer is an offering up of our desires unto God for things agreeable to his will, in the name of Christ, with confession of our sins, and thankful acknowledgement of his mercies.

I do not always do so, but several years ago, someone suggested to me to use the acronym A.C.T.S. while praying. 

• Adoration
• Confession
• Thanksgiving
• Supplication

Praying in this way has been very helpful. I once read The Life & Testament of Jim Elliot. Jim Elliot was a young missionary in Ecuador who died at the hands of natives that he was attempting to reach with the gospel. In his journal, Jim Elliot wrote, based on the Lord’s prayer:

• Pray for God’s name
• Pray for God’s kingdom
• Pray for God’s will
• Pray for our needs
• Pray for our debts
• Pray for our debtors
• Pray for our deliverance

Both of these suggestions: the acronym acts and praying for these seven, have been useful in my prayer life. In the remaining questions and answers given in the Westminster Shorter Catechism, we will be exploring what the Puritans suggest. May your prayer life abound to the glory of God in Jesus Christ.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

July 27, 2021

Question 97: What is required to be the worthy receiving of the Lord's supper?

Answer: It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord's body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgement to themselves.

This is a good and biblical answer, however, there is something missing from this answer. The thing missing is church membership. I do not mean membership in the particular local church in which a traveler might take part in the Lord’s Supper, but I mean membership in the church universal. We do not believe in Baptismal regeneration; therefore, this is not of which I am speaking. However, we do believe that Baptism is a church ordinance; therefore, Baptism is a prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and the Lord’s Supper. Faith in Jesus Christ is the prerequisite to Baptism, believers Baptism is the prerequisite to church membership and church membership is the prerequisite to participation in the Lord’s Supper. 

The apostle Paul wrote, 1 Corinthians 11:27-32

Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord. But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly. For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep. But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

The period of time before participating in and ingesting the Lord’s supper is a time to reflect on persistent personal sin, to confess it and forsake it. We should also reflect while taking the the Lord’s Supper that “ Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Cor. 15:3-4) It is the joy of a believer to participate in the ordinance of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Monday: July 26, 2021

Question 96: What is the Lord's supper?

Answer: The Lord's Supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ's appointment, his death is showed forth; and the worth receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace.

Dear Neighbor,

I do not believe that this answer is sufficient. I believe “The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience whereby members of the church, through partaking of the bread and the fruit of the vine, memorialize the death of the Redeemer and anticipate His second coming.” (BFM, Article 7b) 

The Westminster Puritans believe that the Lord’s Supper is a sacrament but I believe that it is a symbolic act of obedience. Remember, the word sacrament implies that the act itself conveys grace to the believer. I do not believe that the act of receiving the Lord’s Supper conveys any grace to the believer. 

Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

The Lord’s Supper is a remembrance of the last supper that the Lord Jesus Christ had with his disciples. At that supper, the Lord explained his atoning death to his disciples with the use of bread and wine. He used the bread to symbolize his body broken for believers and he used the wine to symbolize his blood shed for believers. 

Hebrews 9:22

And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Jesus commanded that his disciples do this in remembrance of him. (Luke 22:19)

The Lord’s Supper is a symbolic act of obedience, whereby members of the church, memorialize the death of the Lord Jesus Christ and anticipate his second coming. It is at his second coming that we will celebrate the wedding supper of the Lamb. (Rev. 19:7) Regular observance of the Lord’s Supper is a teaching moment for the church and is a teaching moment for the parents of their unbelieving children. Unbelieving are not participants but witnesses of the symbolic act and the obedience demonstrated by their parents.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Friday: July 23, 2021

Question 95: To whom is baptism to be administered?

Answer: Baptism is not to be administered to any that are out of the visible church, till they profess their faith in Christ, and obedience to him; but the infants of such as are members of the visible church are to be baptized.

Dear Neighbor,

I know by what means they came to this answer, but being men who spent much time in the Scripture, I do not understand how they held to it. There is much that we all do out of habit, and because others did it before us; but the truth is, the second part of this answer is fallacy. There is absolutely no instance of anyone being Baptized in Scripture except that of a believer. 

I believe that the reformers were on the path to abandon the practice of infant baptism but they chickened out. Throughout the middle ages, and during the time of the reformation, the way that governments counted its citizenry was through church baptismal records. If only believers were baptized, not all persons born in the country would be counted. In order to have governmental protection, the reformers attached themselves to the state, and the Westminster Puritans were no different.

An inference, therefore, was made on a text in Acts 16:31-34 and attached to circumcision in the Abrahamic covenant. There is no reference in Scripture that links baptism and circumcision. When one really looks at it, the whole thing is just crazy, but human emotion takes over and blinds reason.

The Phillipian Jailer asked Paul and Silas, Acts 16:30-34 (NASB)

“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” And they spoke the word of the Lord to him together with all who were in his house. And he took them that very hour of the night and washed their wounds, and immediately he was baptized, he and all his household. And he brought them into his house and set food before them, and rejoiced greatly, having believed in God with his whole household.

I do not have time in the few minutes that I write this morning to explain and refute infant baptism as it relates to covenant theology, however, the Scripture only teaches believers baptism and not that of unbelievers, which includes a believers infant. There is no indiction in the aforementioned text that suggest infant baptism but only suggest that those who believed were baptized. In order to make such an inference, there must be other examples in Scripture but there simply is not any. 

What does the Scripture teach about Baptism?

Christian baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is an act of obedience symbolizing the believer’s faith in a crucified, buried, and risen Saviour, the believer’s death to sin, the burial of the old life, and the resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus. It is a testimony to his faith in the final resurrection of the dead. Being a church ordinance, it is prerequisite to the privileges of church membership and to the Lord’s Supper. (BFM, Article 7a)

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Thursday: July 22, 2021

Question 94: What is baptism?

Answer: Baptism is a sacrament, wherein the washing with water in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, doth signify and seal our ingrafting into Christ, and partaking of the benefits of the covenant of grace, and our engagement to be the Lord's.

Dear Neighbor,

Baptism is not a sacrament, whereas, by calling Baptism a sacrament, the word implies conveyance of grace. No one has been or ever will be sealed our ingrafted into Christ through the act of Baptism. However, Baptism is required for church membership, that you a believer may then take part in the activities of the church, but it does not give us the benefits of the covenant of grace, for all was given to us when we first believed. 

Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

All Christian works follow after faith, which comes to us by grace, which is the gift of God. Baptism is, therefore, a good work. Christian Baptism is the immersion of a believer in water in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Baptism does not save anyone, nor seal anyone into Christ, nor convey grace, nor make us the Lord’s. Baptism is an act of obedience that symbolizes a believers faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, who died for our sins, and was buried, and was raised again the third day. Christian Baptism also symbolizes the believers death to sin, the burial of his old self, and resurrection to walk in newness of life in Christ Jesus.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Baptism is the testimony of a believers faith in the final, bodily, resurrection of the dead at Christ coming.

While Baptism is not required for salvation (see the thief on the cross, Luke 23:42-43) it is required for church membership. Since Baptism is a command of Christ, to refuse Baptism would negate entrance into the church community. The believer must be taught to observe all that the Lord Jesus Christ commanded. Baptism is the first act of obedience for the new believer, and is, therefore, a teaching moment for the church.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Wednesday: July 21, 2021

Question 93: Which are the sacraments of the New Testament?

Answer: The sacraments of the New Testament are, Baptism, and the Lord's supper.

Dear Neighbor,

I believe it of necessity that I once again define sacrament and ordinance. In answer to question 92, the Westminster Puritans said, “A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ.” I agree that the Baptism and the Lord’s supper are ordinances instituted by Christ, and they are Holy because Christ instituted them, but for what purpose and to whom? This is the purpose of the questions that follow, but for now, let us once again define sacrament and ordinance.

The authors of The Baptist Faith & Message define ordinance and sacrament thus:

• Ordinance means decree or command.
• The word sacrament implies that the act itself conveys grace to the believer.

Both the Westminster Puritans and Baptist agree that the Lord Jesus Christ instituted Baptism and the Lord’s supper, and there are none but these. (cf. Mt. 28:19 & 1 Co. 11:23) On Thursday and Friday we will explorer the questions of Baptism.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Tuesday: July 20, 2021

Question 92: What is a sacrament?

Answer: A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ, wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.

Dear Neighbor,

As I said yesterday, I do not like the word sacrament being used of baptism and the Lord’s supper because the word sacrament implies that the act itself conveys grace to the participant. I, however, prefer to call them ordinances because an ordinance is a decree or command; therefore, I am pleased to read in answer to question 92 that the Westminster Puritans said, “A sacrament is an holy ordinance instituted by Christ.” However, I do not believe that the entire second half of the answer is correct: “wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.” I do not like the answer because it implies that the act itself conveys grace. 

I knew when I began to write about the questions and answers given in the Westminster Shorter Catechism that I would be in agreement with the Puritans up to this point but would be in disagreement with them regarding this subject. My convictions are Reformed with regard to soteriology but my convictions are Baptist with regard to ecclesiology; therefore, I am a Reformed Baptist. In systematic theology, soteriology is the study of the salvation of man and ecclesiology is the study of the church.

I do not believe that Christ, the benefits of the new covenant, are sealed and applied through the act of participation in the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s supper. I do not believe this because it is not biblical but comes from tradition. 

Why then baptize and participate in the Lord’s supper at all? Because the Lord Jesus Christ commanded us to. It is our obedience to Christ’s commandments that testifies to God’s grace. I read this morning in James that “faith without works is dead.” (Jam. 2:29) The ordinances are pictures and remembrances of grace. The act does not convey grace but we do receive grace and blessing when we obey Christ’s commandments and remember what he has done for us.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Monday: July 19, 2021

Question 91: How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?

Answer: The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them.

Dear Neighbor,

The word sacrament is derived from the ancient Roman religions of making and oath to and worshiping the gods; for this reason the Roman Catholic church adopted this word into the Christian faith. The Westminster puritans continued to use the word in their confession and catechisms; both longer and shorter catechisms. The Baptist decided to make a change and call them ordinances. It became excepted in Roman Catholicism that there was virtue in the ordinances and in the priest who administered them.

I do not believe this to be true. I do not believe that Baptism and the Lord’s supper are acts that convey grace but are commands given by Christ as pictures and affirmation of grace. Baptist do not observe Baptism and the Lord’s supper because they convey grace, an effectual means of salvation, but because Christ commanded that we do so.

The ordinances of Baptism and the Lord’s supper are illustrations and remembrances of grace. Believers do not receive grace and blessing through sacramental grace, but by believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and obeying all that Christ commanded.

Once again I encourage you to consider Acts 2:41-42 as the bases:

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Saturday: July 17, 2021

Question 90: How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?

Answer: The the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practise it in our lives.

Dear Neighbor,

The bases for these final questions and answers is Acts 2:41-42

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Those who received the Word began to practice the Christian life!

In the parable of the Sower and the Soils; (Mark 4:1-20) Jesus explained that there are four ways in which people receive the Word:

1. People who hear, but do not receive the Word.
2. People who hear, receive the Word, but do not lay it up in their hearts.
3. People who hear, receive the Word, lay it up in their hearts, but do not practice it in their lives.
4. People who hear, receive the Word, lay it up in their hearts, and practice it in their lives.

In Matthew 13:16, Jesus said to his disciples: “But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear.”

The Word of God must not be heard only but must be received with faith and love, laid up in our hearts, and practiced in our lives. The apostle James wrote, James 1:23-24

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.

Do not take the reading our hearing of the Word lightly, but attend to it with diligence, prayerfully prepare yourself and others to receive the Word with faith and love, that you may lay it up in your hearts, and practice what the Word says in your lives.

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Friday: July 16, 2021

Question 89: How is the Word made effectual to salvation?

Answer: The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.

Dear Neighbor,

Yesterday, I wrote that the bases for these final questions in the Westminster Shorter Catechism were set in the answer to question 88; therefore, even if the answers deviate, we will not, for this is the bases, the establishment of the church of Jesus Christ.

Acts 2:41-42

So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

The apostle Paul wrote to his apprentice Timothy: “Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.” (1 Tim. 4:13) Why? Because the apostle Paul understood, “The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul.” (Ps. 19:7) The Hebrew word, תּוֹרָה (torah) translated into English, Law, means direction or instruction. Therefore, the Word is made effectual to salvation by directing the hearer to the incarnate Word, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Matthew 28:18-20

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, Law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless. (1 Tim 1:8-9) Whoever walks according to the flesh, is unrighteous, for the righteous man shall live by faith. (Rom. 1:17) For this reason the apostle Paul wrote, Romans 1:16, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” It is through preaching the Word that we ensure salvation both for ourselves and for those who hear. (1 Tim. 4:16)

Michael Peek

Your Servant for Jesus’ Sake

Thursday: July 15, 2021

Question 88 of the Westminster Shorter Catechism:

“What are the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?”

Answer:

“The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption, are his ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.”

Acts 2:41-42

“So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”

All of the remaining questions in the Westminster Shorter Catechism deal with the ordinances of the Word, sacraments and prayer. The proof text given for their answer to question 88 is Acts 2:41-42; therefore, I think it prudent that we return to this text when considering every answer to the end of the catechism.

In Acts 2:41-42 we can see the workings of the early church. These are not things that are historically based or tied to a specific culture in time and place, but are universal in practice for all who believe. Some of the things that the early church were doing, following this text in Acts 2:43-47 are historical-culturally based, and may be debated by some, but those practices found in Acts 2:41-42 are universal in their application. 

I believe that we should note from the text, those who received the word were baptized and added to the church; it is these who were devoting themselves to the apostles teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.