WE’VE been in Principles of Spiritual Growth – The Cross. This is such a vital topic I’m going to take another meditative pause and side trip to go a little further in and up in our consideration. Selah
Are you growing in Christ – Part 2
THIS blog is actually a rewrite of a long series of emails I sent some time ago to my Elder flock as weekly encouragements and instruction. Our church divides the congregation into small groups or flocks, and assigns them to the different Elders for spiritual oversight and shepherding. On the occasion of this particular note, it was a Good Friday, and there was no school that day, so I broke from my normal routine to work on a couple of catechism questions in preparation for a future posting to my other blog, Captive Thoughts. They were catechism questions #’s17 & 18:
WSC Q17. Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?
WSC Q18. Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?
BOTH are reminders of where the real battle of life truly resides, as Paul reminds us in Romans 7, it resides within us, that “no good thing.”
IN studying spiritual growth truth teachings, some of the sources I appreciate often claim that the Reformed Faith falls short in the emphasis on The Cross, and its central role in dealing with the problem of self. But look again at the opening half answer to Westminster Large Catechism question #75
WLC Q.75. What is sanctification?
A. Sanctification is a work of God’s grace, whereby they whom God hath, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them …
FROM None But The Hungry Heart we read this,
God is taking pains to show us that we ourselves are the problem. The root trouble is the sinner; he must be dealt with. Our sins are dealt with by the Blood, but we ourselves are dealt with by the Cross. The Blood procures our pardon for what we have done; the Cross procures our deliverance from what we are.” (Gal 2:20) -W.N.
IN all the swirling noise that surrounds us these days, the political confusion, attacks upon the things we hold precious like the family, our children, our liberties; failures in leadership from top to bottom in state and church; violations of trust and broken promises between institutions and individuals, it is easy to grow weary and want to retreat. One can understand why the ancient monastic spirit has been so attractive in various times of history; to retreat and hide from it all is very inviting. But those most close to God know that there is no place to escape the greater enemy residing within, our own sin wrecked heart, thoughts, and resulting behaviors. There is no hiding place but one, and it is not a place but a Person (Rom. 7:24-25); a Person who must be obeyed in the place where He has positioned and assigned us; from that point to follow him faithfully in the way (John 21:22).
MY son Jon hosts a radio talk show, and there was an occasion remembered when listening to him on air conversing with a caller who was on a rant about the topic of the moment, and all the problems and despairs of current events. Jon paused for a moment then asked, “You know what the problem really is don’t you? … The problem is sin. Until that problem is dealt with and resolved in our lives, these other issues really aren’t going to go away.” Hearing that, was a moment that made this father’s heart smile.
BEFORE I began to write this, my thoughts turned to the first question of the Heidelberg Catechism. I opened G.I. Williamson’s study guide and noticed the dedication: “To Dick G. Vanderpyl, An Elder who never stopped growing.” The need to grow never does stop, and we need to be reminded of that constantly. The thing is, that which is necessary for our growth, the putting off of the old and putting on of Christ (Eph. 4:20-24), is very often quite painful and unpleasant, but necessary none-the-less. If we do not persevere and grow in Christ, the outcome will be quite detrimental.
So, my encouragement and instruction comes from Heidelberg Catechism Question #1: What is your only comfort in life and death?
ANSWER: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil; and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.
I TRUST this is your comfort as well, and like Dick G. Vanderpyl, I pray you never stopped growing in the depths of your purposed calling and goal, “Not I, but Christ.”
NEXT time we’ll pick up where we left off in our serial reading in Principles of Spiritual Growth – The Cross. In the meantime,
With prayerful regards in Christ,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa 30:15, Jas. 1:2
