The Bread of Life “I am the bread of life.” —John 6:35 Read John 6:22-37 The Lord Jesus declares that He is the bread of life. Bread in itself is not alive. However, it nourishes our body when we eat it. The Lord Jesus is the living bread, and through His power He nourishes us. This bread will never become stale or mouldy. He said that He was the bread of life, and that meant that He would have to be crushed and ground as wheat, even pulverized on Golgotha’s hill, but it was there He earned salvation for those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. Are you hungry for the bread of life? This bread will satisfy you completely! Earthly bread cannot do this; hunger pangs come back again and again. But this heavenly bread has eternal value. Come and listen to the Saviour’s voice which calls us to Himself: “I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (John 6:35). What does the Lord Jesus, as the bread of life mean to you? This devotional was taken from “The Time of Your Life” a daily devotional published by the Youth & Educational Committee of the FRC. To order a printed copy of this book, contact: bookorders@frcna.org. #John #Salvation

By Rev. Mark Kelderman & Rev. Maarten Kuivenhoven If I knew your bank account number and deposited two million dollars into your account, I would have imputed (reckoned, declared, or counted) it to you or your account. What this means practically is that since I have put this money into your account, the very next moment you can come into the bank and withdraw part or all of it. It is rightfully yours even though it was an entirely gracious act since I did not owe you anything. Now, imagine this account is in the red because you had borrowed a million dollars, and I told you I would pay off your million dollar debt and then for the rest of your life you could forever draw from my account whenever you had need. Then, when my money entered your account, immediately the million dollar debt was paid and you have a lifetime of credit to draw from what is rightfully yours. Of course, it cost me to do this for you but you have been justified from your debt and are now free. “Put as simply as possible, justification is an act of God where He declares an ungodly sinner to be righteous.” Justification is basic to a proper understanding of the gospel and salvation. We must understand this doctrine and we must be justified ourselves. Put as simply as possible, justification is an act of God where He declares an ungodly sinner to be righteous. To begin with, we are unrighteous. We are ungodly; we do not imitate God as we were created to do. Since God is perfectly holy and righteous, He cannot have us in His presence, but we cannot help ourselves out of this situation because every sin increases our guilt and proves we are corrupt at the core of our being. We need to be made new creatures. The only way that God can deal with us, then, is when we would become righteous as our unrighteousness is taken away. That is exactly the message of the gospel. “For he (God) hath made him (Christ) to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21). When we think of our salvation, our earlier simple story has parallels. Of course, there is no comparison of money with our sins, but the fact is that we are in debt to God. Because of our debt of sin, the payment accepted is death. And even if we could pay that debt, we would also need a righteousness to grant us standing with God. Now this is the wonderful transaction of the gospel which is seen in the text above. The Son of God came down from heaven to take upon Himself our debt. This debt is imputed to Him; it is put on His account. Therefore, He was reckoned to be guilty of death even though He never committed sin. This is why Christ Jesus had to die: He was counted guilty by the same principle of justice that pronounces us guilt-free when we come to Him in Spirit-given faith (Eph. 2:8). He died as the substitute of His people. He puts His righteousness to our account so that we become the righteousness of God in Him. In the words of the Heidelberg Catechism, “God, without any merit of man, but only of mere grace, grants and imputes to me the perfect satisfaction, righteousness, and holiness of christ; even so, as if I never had had, nor committed any sin; yea, as if I had fully accomplished all that obedience which Christ has accomplished for me, inasmuch as I embrace such a benefit with a believing heart.” Justifying faith is an act of the sinner who, with God-given faith, lays hold upon Christ and His righteousness. God justifies the ungodly. Justification, therefore, is an act of God but it is received by faith. In so doing, we are declared righteous before God. We are justified by faith. It is in believing this truth that we will experience the peace of God in our hearts and be assured by God that we are adopted as sons and daughters into his family. Justification has everything to do with Christ; without Him and His active and passive obedience, we could never be declared just with God. But through Christ and true faith in Him, we are set free from the condemnation of the law and are adopted as children of God. When we are justified before God, there is absolutely no sin which we have committed or will commit that can ever stand against us, because we stand before God in Christ. God can as soon cast away His Son as He could cast away any who are in Christ by faith. The knowledge and comfort of this truth of justification is connected to our faith. In so far as I embrace these things for myself, I will receive the benefit of them in my soul. This does not change the fact and reality of my standing with God, but it affects my comfort of this truth. We are justified once for all and it is the growth in this knowledge that will cause us to rejoice and live lives of service and gratitude to God for all that He has done for us. So go to the bank of God’s grace by faith, and draw on His account grace for grace. Everything you need for every day is in Christ. Go to him, pleading on his faithful promise, and believe His word of grace for all things are yours in Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 3:21–23). This article originally appeared in the Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth, March 2011, under the title, “Declared to be Free.” Posted here with permission. #2Corinthians #Justification #Theology

The Way, the Truth, and the Life “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” —John 14:6 Read John 14:1-14 The disciple Thomas asked the question we find in verse 5: “Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and, how can we know the way?” Jesus answered him with the surprising words of our text: “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” In the words “I am the way,” God and the sinner are brought back together! For the Lord Jesus is the Way – He has paved the way back to the Father’s house through His intercessory prayers and His merits. The way to eternal life is a narrow way – surely there is no other way! All other ways lead to a dead end street. “I am the truth” means that the Lord is the opposite of falsehood and deceit. So often, we prefer lies rather than the truth because by nature, we do not know what truth is. But in our text the Lord declares that He is the Truth. The Lord Jesus also says that He is “the life,” which means that He gives true meaning to life. We do not know what life is really all about because we are dead in trespasses and sins. But Christ is true life! Therefore, seek life where you can find it, with the Lord Jesus alone! The only way back to God is through the Saviour who testified, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” What does this saying of the Lord Jesus mean to you? This devotional was taken from “The Time of Your Life” a daily devotional published by the Youth & Educational Committee of the FRC. To order a printed copy of this book, contact: bookorders@frcna.org. #John #Salvation

The I Am And God said unto Moses, “I AM THAT I AM.” —Exodus 3:14a Read Exodus 3:1-14 No doubt you are familiar with the history of Moses, including how the LORD called him to go to the children of Israel. This directive was given him in Midian in a most incredible way: Moses saw a burning bush that was not consumed by the fire. As Moses approached the bush, the LORD rebuked him, saying, “Draw not nigh…for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground” (Ex. 3:5). Moses hid his face, for he knew that no one can see God and live. He knew his sinful heart and feared for his life. But the Lord continued addressing Moses, saying, “Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people the children of Israel out of Egypt” (Ex. 3:10). Moses protested, “Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?” (Ex. 3:11). He even continues protesting: “Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you: and they shall say to me: What is his name, what shall I say unto them?” And God responds to Moses, “I AM THAT I AM.” This is the meaning of the name Yahweh. He is the faithful one! What does the name Yahweh mean? This devotional was taken from “The Time of Your Life” a daily devotional published by the Youth & Educational Committee of the FRC. To order a printed copy of this book, contact: bookorders@frcna.org. #Exodus

… who will end the old year and begin the new year praying, “Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). Teens who commit to pray this prayer—to really pray this prayer—are committing to do a number of things. They: Are Committing to Know Their Bibles This prayer is the next-to-the-last words in the Bible. And that’s because you cannot really pray them until you know about and believe everything that’s come before. God. Creation. Paradise. The Fall. Sin. Depravity. Hopelessness. Promises. Prophecies. Hope. Jesus Christ. Birth. Suffering. Death. Resurrection. Ascension. Promises. Great Commission. Holy Spirit. Waiting. Praying, “Come, Lord Jesus,” is the only proper response, if you know all these things. It’s a prayer that says, “I’ve heard, I’ve read, I believe. Jesus come, and have every knee bow before You.” (Philippians 2:10-11). It’s a prayer that says, “I don’t believe the worldview of our culture. I reject it all. And I believe God’s Word. And I desire Jesus’ glory to be seen.” Are Committing to be Led by the Holy Spirit This prayer in verse 20, is prayed also in verse 17, but with one addition: In verse 17 the Holy Spirit is also praying. “And the Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’” The Holy Spirit longs for Jesus to return. The Bride echoes the Spirit’s desire, because the Spirit lives in the Bride. Repeatedly we are told in the New Testament to put away the desires of the flesh and set our minds on things above. And this way of living is described as, “living according to the Spirit,” or as “walking by the Spirit.” If we are living according to the Spirit than His desires become our desires. And He desires Jesus to come. And so will you. Are Committing to Pray the Promises of God Three times in Revelation 22, Jesus Christ says, “I am coming quickly” (verses 7, 12 & 20). At least 42 other times in the Bible, Jesus’ second coming is told. In Acts 1:11, an angel promises Jesus’ disciples that He will come again, in the same way they saw Him go. 45 times. That’s how often God has promised that Jesus will return. Praying the promises of God means that when Christ says, “I am coming quickly,” then we respond with, “Come, Lord Jesus.” This is one of the most frequent promises. It should be our most frequent prayer. The Puritans taught that the greatest comforts and assurances that we can hold in this life, come from God’s promises. Know it. Desire it. Pray it. Are Committing to Flee from Sin A teen who really prays, “Come, Lord Jesus,” is a teen who’s felt and seen the pain of sin in his and her own heart and life and world. You’ve see it and desire to be free from it. And you know when the Lord Jesus returns, sin, and it’s effects will be no more. Finally! (See Revelation 21:4, 21:27; 1 Corinthians 15:54). But until then—as you are waiting and praying—you’re spending your best energy fighting sin. If you long to be holy then, you will desire to be holy now. Are Committing to Make Everything in Life Second to Jesus Christ Teens have so much before them: School, career, marriage, children. Life! And when we’re in the midst of any one of these it feels like that is our main pursuit in life. We can be so focused on it. This prayer, “Come, Lord Jesus,” puts all of these second. To Him. It’s an admission that He can interrupt all of these other plans in your life, and that that’s your desire. It’s a prayer that says: “Christ is first. He is best.” It’s a prayer that says, “I live by faith, and not be sight.” We ‘see’ school all these other things, but Jesus we don’t see. But we believe and we long to see. This prayer is a confession that you feel this distance between you and your Savior. You sense that something’s missing, something not yet complete. He’s not here. And so you cry out, “Come, Lord Jesus!” Can you picture the day? The day when He returns? You can hardly imagine, I know, but from God’s Word you begin to hope: Free from sin with your own two eyes seeing Him face to face. Your loved ones, your friends! Oh yes! Them too! But to see God… That’s the hope of glory. So what about you? Are you that teen? Will you commit to finish this old year and begin 2018 praying, “Come, Lord Jesus!”? #Revelation

Read: Luke 2:8-20 Did you ever notice this: That the shepherds twice stood in the presence of God that night the angel appeared unto them? The first time was when the glory of God shone around them. Then they had great fear. They were terrified at God’s presence. The second time was when they entered the stable and saw “the Babe lying in a manger.” That Babe was also God. But then they had no fear. Then they had only great joy. It’s clear: In Jesus we can enter the presence of God and not be afraid, but instead rejoice. Jesus is the way to the Father. This is why we pray “in Jesus’ name.” This is why we worship Jesus Christ and adore Him! This is why rejoice so much over His birth! #Christmas #Luke

LESSON 6: THE DOLEANTIE OF 1886 AND THE UNION OF 1892 BIBLE READING: John 17 (Click here to display printable version) During the 1800’s the Dutch Reformed Church was more or less a liberal church. There were still orthodox and sound ministers present. There were however also very liberal ministers who openly taught false doctrine in this church. Both kinds of ministers were allowed to preach and to present their views. Overall, there was no real contention for the truth and authority of the Scriptures. This all contributed to the development of the Secession, as we saw in the previous chapter. ABRAHAM KUYPER Not all orthodox members left the Dutch Reformed Church. Many who were also concerned about the errors of the Dutch Reformed Church remained in this state church. They did not go along with the Secession. They thought the seceders were too strict and too narrow minded. However many of these people, who were still within the Dutch Reformed Church, later did leave this church in 1886. The leader who organized this second exodus from the Dutch Reformed Church was Abraham Kuyper. Abraham Kuyper lived from 1837-1920. He was at first a very liberal minister, but in his first congregation as a minister he had talks with pious members of his church. They explained to him what was meant by the true fear of the Lord. Kuyper began to study the confessions of the church and the Institutes of John Calvin. This caused a change in his preaching. He began to protest against the unscriptural teachings within the Dutch Reformed Church. Kuyper was a great organizer. He was a highly gifted man. During his life he was a minister of state, a prime minister, and a professor of theology. He established a new church and a new university. He was highly talented. He organized a second secession from the Dutch Reformed Church which took place in 1886. The first secession took place, as we know, in 1834. This second secession took place in 1886. It was not actually called a secession. It was called a doleantie. THE “DOLEANTIE” OF 1886 The word “Doleantie” means weeping or mourning. These people grieved and mourned about the sad situation of the Dutch Reformed Church. So they left this church in 1886. How did this take place? Kuyper became a minister in Amsterdam. There were other Reformed ministers present in Amsterdam. Some were very liberal and modern. Kuyper accused these ministers at synod meetings, but the synod did not respond to these accusations. The consistory of Kuyper’s church then declared that when liberal ministers would have to preach in their church, they would not be present. Many church people didn’t attend church then either. So, when these liberal ministers preached in Kuyper’s church, they would have to preach to a very empty church. Eventually there were other struggles relating to the acceptance of members who had done confession in liberal congregations. Kuyper and his consistory could not accept them because the confession of faith required by a liberal minister was much different than the confession required by Kuyper. In 1886, he and his consistory and many other consistories within the Dutch Reformed Church separated themselves from the main church organization. They mourned about the sad situation of the Dutch Reformed Church and they called themselves the Doleantie church. Abraham Kuyper became the great leader of this new denomination. THE UNION OF 1892 In 1892 the two secession churches, called the “Christian Reformed Church”, coming from the Secession of 1834 and the Doleantie churches merged. They together formed the church that we in North America know as the Christian Reformed Churches. However, some congregations of the Christian Reformed Churches coming from the secession of 1834, didn’t want to join in with this merger. In the Netherlands they are called the “Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken.” In North America they are called: “The Free Reformed Churches.” The reasons why they did not want to merge with the Doleantie churches of Kuyper were : The whole idea of Kuyper regarding presumptive regeneration. This was the greatest concern. Abraham Kuyper had constructed a strange idea that we should view all children of believers to be born again unless later on in life it would become clear that they were not regenerated. This implied that in principle, the whole baptized congregation was considered to be saved. The whole congregation was considered to be true sheep of the Lord Jesus. Thus the call to conversion was no longer needed. Kuyper thought that preaching the need for a new heart from the Lord was not really needed. Many of the Doleantie ministers followed him in this respect. Kuyper was so vocal, outspoken and dominant that many of the Secession Church people could not really stand up to him. They more or less gave in to the dominant leadership of Kuyper. Kuyper envisioned a great and powerful new church of reformed persuasion if the Doleantie and the Secession could merge. This idea appealed to many. So they did not stand up against his false doctrines. Many thought it would not be that bad. But a few churches maintained their grave concerns against the doctrinal viewpoints of Kuyper concerning the strong link between baptism and regeneration. The fact that the Doleantie did not consider the Dutch Reformed Church to be a false church but only a sick church. The fact that this merger had not taken place on the local level but had been imposed on the church members from the top down. There was not enough love between the two churches to merge at this time. There were members of the Doleantie church who had joined without having been properly examined by that church. Two ministers, Rev. F.P.L.C. van Lingen and Rev. J. Wisse, appealed to the last synod of the Christian Reformed Church before the actual merger. This was of no avail. The concerns were not really addressed. When the merger was a fact, these two ministers who the courage with three congregations to remain what they had always been, namely Secession Christian Reformed Churches. These three congregations did not join the merger of the rest of the Christian Reformed Church with the Doleantie church, but chose to continue on, as a separate denomination. This small denomination is now known in the Netherlands by the name of “Christelijke Gereformeerde Kerken” and in North America by the name of “Free Reformed Churches of North America”. These last two mentioned churches have close ties and are in full correspondence with each other. Already in 1892, immediately after the merger, several other ministers and congregations withdrew from the newly established federation of the Christian Reformed Churches and joined Van Lingen and Wisse. In 1893 there were already 17 congregations. Their number would multiply quickly in the following years. The Union of 1892 was railroaded. It was imposed from the top down. All of a sudden church members heard on Sunday morning that they had been made members of a combined Christian Reformed Church. Many strongly disagreed with this change being imposed upon them. In various places in Holland they joined the “Free Reformed Churches”. They wished to abide by the old doctrines of the Christian Reformed Church coming from the Secession. They greatly feared Kuyper’s ideas about regeneration. They stressed the necessity of personal regeneration and conversion. Within 10 years, there were many little churches all belonging to the “Free Reformed Churches” throughout the Netherlands. These churches now have about 70,000 members in the Netherlands. In North America they number around 4000 members (2017 update: 5000 members). “A” AND “B” CHURCHES How did things go in that large church which resulted from the union or merger of 1892? The local congregations of the two mother churches were unacquainted with each other. Although officially one, many of them retained their own separate congregational life. The churches of the Secession called themselves the “A” congregations. The followers of the Doleantie called themselves the “B” congregations. Each reserved the right to call the minister of its choice, and this choice depended on the minister’s doctrinal leaning and on the school which he had attended: Kampen which was a strong “A” school, or the Free University of Amsterdam, which had been founded by Kuyper, the leader of the “B” group. It took many years before these two merged churches became functionally one church. But questions regarding the covenant views of Kuyper and his teaching of presumptive regeneration caused much turmoil. There were major disagreements and this all eventually resulted in the “liberation” of various churches in 1944. Several churches of this Christian Reformed Church left the denomination and formed the Liberated, (in Dutch: “vrijgemaakte”) churches in the Netherlands. They now have around 120,000 members in the Netherlands. In Canada they are called the Canadian Reformed Churches. The present Christian Reformed Church in the Netherlands has around 750,000 members. The Dutch Reformed Church has around 2,500,000 members. There were all along still various congregations of the Secession churches who had never officially joined up with the Christian Reformed Church in 1869. They had always stayed on their own. Around 1907 there was a certain minister named G.H. Kersten, who organized these independent congregations into a church formation, which we know as the Netherlands Reformed Congregations. They now have around 120,000 members in the Netherlands. In the course of the 20th century, many people emigrated to North America. Also many church people came to this new country. They brought along their own convictions and planted churches here in the North American scene. That is why we now have so many different kinds of Reformed Churches in Canada and the United States. QUESTIONS: How does Christ in heaven, pray for His Church? (Compare with Hebrews 7:25) What is the principle of church union? When will the unity of God’s people be fully manifested? (See Revelation 7:9-10) Describe and analyze presumptive regeneration. What is the role of the church? (John 17:14-17) * This Bible Study was produced by the Youth & Education Committee of the Free Reformed Churches,1997, under the title, “Church History.” It is aimed at a Senior Young Peoples level. Click on the tag “Bible Study: Free Reformed Church History” below for more lessons in this study. #ChurchHistory #FreeReformedChurchHistory #John

Mary was just a teenager… Yet the angel didn’t ask her, “If you think you’re up for this.” Nor did He say, “When you’re old enough to handle it, this will happen to you.” He simply told her what God had given him to tell her. She, a teenager, was about to play as big a part in God’s redemptive history as David the giant killer. Who, by the way, also was a teenager when he did that… And God never said, “But she’s just a teenager.” Or, “He’s just a teenager.” No, He chose teenagers. Teenagers can have faith. Even great faith. Because God, who is the giver of faith, shows us again and again that He gives this gift to teenagers with no hesitation. What about you? Do you believe? Would you be ready to say with Mary, “Behold the maidservant/servant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” Or would you quickly say, “But I’m just a teenager…” Or, “But… (fill in the blank with some other excuse).” You don’t have to say that about yourself. And you don’t have to let others say it of you either. God may not call you to do exactly what David did, or Mary did. But He does call you to live your teenage years by faith. And teenagers can have great faith. If you don’t, ask God. “Lord, I desire the faith of Mary.” “I desire the faith of David.” The very prayer He loves to answer! #Faith #Luke

Luke 2:9, “And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.” Have you ever felt great fear? In Luke 2, the shepherds experience a great fear. In the Greek, it says they had mega phobia. Why? Because we’re told: “the glory of the Lord shone around them.” The shepherds had great fear because God’s glory shining was a sign of His presence. His glory is the radiance of His perfection and holiness (think of a diamond, in it’s perfection, shining and reflecting light; God’s glory is His perfection shining!). Their fear was because as sinners we cannot abide in the presence of God’s holiness. So they had great fear at the presence of God. But get this: This is what they should have had as sinners before a holy God. Great Fear. And we would be terrified too, if God’s holiness shone so directly upon us. So we can never live with God. But here then is one of the greatest parts about the message of Jesus’ birth: God shone His glory for just a moment. And then upon only the shepherds. He did it so that we see what it would be like if He did come in full glory. We’d all be mega afraid. But the wonder of this first Christmas is that Jesus Christ—who is God—hid His glory. So we wouldn’t have to fear. He hid His glory as a baby, in a manger. In other words: He came the first time not to judge, but to save. He came the first time not to condemn us in our sins, but take away our sins. So that when He comes the second time—and then, in full glory (Matthew 25:31)—then those who have had their sins forgiven by God, through faith in Jesus, will not fear. But only stand in awe at His glory. Jesus came to take away your great fear. And instead give you great joy (see Luke 2:11). That’s amazing grace. Do you believe it? Do you believe in Him? Today we can see His glory reflected in sunsets (Psalm 19), and they make us say, “Wow!” So imagine what it will be like to take in His glory directly… It will be like witnessing the light of million of the greatest sunsets all at once roll over us. Oh, for the glory of God to shine upon us! Oh for Jesus to take away all our sins! #Fear #JesusBirth #Joy #Luke

Question What are some scripture passages you would recommend meditating on and memorizing to assist in the battle against porn/sexual sins? What are some resources to assist in the battle against pornography/sexual sin? Do you have some practical recommendations for what to do/change in order to turn from Porn and turn more and more to God? Answer This question is really three questions, and I will answer one by one: Scripture Passages? 1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.” Romans 6:11-12: “Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body that you should obey its lusts.” I find it very helpful to have these verses committed to memory, to repeat them, pray them, impress upon yourself the significance of them (ie. What does it mean to be bought at a price? What did that cost Jesus Christ? Let that sink in… and remind yourself again and again of it). Resources? For a (huge) list of resources on pornography from a Christian perspective, Dr. David Murray’s website HeadHeartHand.org, is a great place to go. He has links to books, ebooks, websites, blogs, videos, podcasts and sermons all meant to teach and help!! Click here. Practical Recommendations? Many of the resources linked to above provide practical recommendations (different approaches might help different people). In the Scripture verses provided above that—reading and praying and committing them to memory to equip yourself with the sword of the Spirit to fight—those are also practical helps. My further recommendations I find helpful to divide into ‘home recommendations’ and ‘personal recommendations’: Home Recommendations: The follow basic practical steps needed to taken in every home, to protect against pornography and other unsafe and ungodly internet material. If your parents do not know this, show this list to them: Filter your internet. An absolute must in a home. Non-negotiable. Not matter who lives there. If you live on your own, do this first before you hang curtains! As a former computer programmer and current tech enthusiast, I have found none better than Circle. After purchasing, it’s free on Home WiFi—but you can (and also must!) subscribe to 3G/4G/LTE filtering as well. There is also the more familiar Covenant Eyes (monthly fee). I have found this not as smooth or easy to use as Circle, but find what works best for you. Do not allow electronics into your bedroom. Never. Ever. Another absolute must. Provide passwords and account info to your parents. Always. Let them know every social app you’re using, and let them have full access to it. If they don’t, tell them and allow them today. And explain to them what each one is for. If you’re older and moved out of your parents’ home, you can still tell them. Or tell your elder. You need accountability. Turn on Google SafeSearch. Do it. And lock it. (If you have Circle, that is an option in the Circle app you can click.) It also filters YouTube comments, which lean towards being a complete cesspool of filth. Personal Recommendations: Filter your internet. Again. If you have 3G/4G/LTE on your cellphone or any other electronic device, you need to pay for a filtering or accountability subscription. You need to—it’s simply the cost of owning and using a cellphone. Cellphones are expensive, get used to it. (Or get rid of it). Commit yourself not to sin sexually. Job 31:1, “I made a covenant with my eyes not to look lustfully at a young woman.” (NIV) Say, “I will not. I will not. I will not.” Think of your mother, and your sisters. Would you want other young men to think of them the way you’re tempted to think of other girls and women? (Does this work for girls too?) Think of God. He commands us to be sexually pure (not sexually abstinent, by the way—He’s not against sexual relations; in their proper place in marriage He gives His blessing upon them). But He says, “No.” Why do you say, “Yes,” then? Using pornography is unbelief. It’s telling God that you know better and that you don’t really believe Him when He says it’s not good. If you’re dating someone: Never ‘make out’. Never. Kissing a boyfriend or girlfriend in a way different than you would your mother or father is sexual in nature. It’s also electrifying(!) and hard to stop. Save yourself for marriage. This is not directly related to pornography, I know, but in the same ballpark of sexual sin. And related to self-control! (See below ‘Final Note’). Tell someone. Tell your parents (one or the other perhaps, or both) of your temptations to sin. Tell your pastor, tell your elder, or tell a close friend or godly older person in church. This is not an absolute must unless you’re stuck and continually failing at resisting sexual sin. But it can be helpful (and humbling! … but better to cut your hand off and enter heaven with only one hand than to miss heaven altogether because you were embarassed.) Final Note Sexual sin is different than other sin (like stealing, or murder). Because God made us all with sexual desires—but He didn’t make us all thieves. Sexual desire itself is not sin. It was part of the “good” creation before sin. But God tells us it is fitting to pursue only in the context of marriage. So with sexual desire, the main thing is: Do we have self control? Self-control is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23), and can be prayed for and developed. To ask it another way: Will we bring all our thoughts and sexual desires to be captive to God’s will? And know this: God is also gracious to those who confess their sexual sin to Him, because Jesus Christ died on the cross also to forgive sexual sins. To take a note from Dr. David Murray: “If we confess our masturbation, He is faithful and just to forgive us our masturbation and to cleanse us from all our masturbation!” (paraphrase of 1 John 1:9). Pastor Tim #Pornography #1Corinthians #Job #Galatians #Technology #Sexuality #Romans

Question I want to do what is right, yet I fall again and again. I repent, get up again, and attempt to change; however I get depressed when I seemingly fall again and again. How can I break the cycle of sin? How can I grow in the ability to fight sin via Christ and his transformative grace rather than by my own devices? Answer First, you are not alone in your struggle. Even the Apostle Paul battled with indwelling sin as a believer. Just read Romans Rom 7:19 “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” His cry is a common one for believers, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?.” The beautiful answer is, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (v.25). Second, we should remember that the Lord leaves sin in his people to foster humility. Knowledge of sin has an emptying influence, especially besetting sins. They bring us low, tender, and needy. These sins should be an ever-present reminder that we need the grace of God moment by moment. Sadly, the “cycle of sin” will continue until the day of your glorification. New victories will be given, but only to give way to new battles. It is a fight, a warfare, a race that must be run. Third, battling a besetting sin is only possible when we realize that effort and personal strength alone won’t do it. We need the Spirit’s influence and help to fight daily against it, where our growing desire is for holiness. Prayer becomes key. Taking every thought captive to the Lord (2 Corinthians 10:5), asking for strength in a time of temptation (2 Corinthians 12:8-10), resisting and fleeing from the opportunity (James 4:7) are all vital. These are God’s tools for us, not necessarily to overcome besetting sins, but to wage a valiant war against them. If there is a silver bullet to killing sin, I do not know what it is. The only victory I can find on this side of eternity is “even our faith” (1 John 5:4). I have been encouraged many times by the words of John Newton in a letter he wrote to someone asking the same question you did: As to the remedy, neither our state nor His honor are affected by the workings of indwelling sin—in the hearts of those whom He has taught to wrestle, strive, and mourn, on account of what they feel. Though sin wars in us—it shall not reign in us. And though it breaks our peace—it cannot separate from His love. Nor is it inconsistent with His holiness, and perfection, to manifest His favor to such poor defiled creatures, or to admit them to communion with Himself; for they are not considered as in themselves—but as one with Jesus, to whom they have fled for refuge, and by whom they live a life of faith. Hope this helps! Pastor Jerrold #Prayer #Sin

By Rev. Mark Kelderman & Rev. Maarten Kuivenhoven Do you ever wonder what faith is? The Bible speaks of faith as the gracious gift of God. It focuses on Christ. It is what connects sinners to Christ; it embraces Christ and all his benefits. Faith clings to Christ in the midst of the storms of life. Faith is strong when active but weak when mixed with sin and unbelief. Faith seems difficult to visualize and yet it is the very center of a sinner’s relationship with God. Without faith, it is impossible to live and die in Christ. So often we struggle with the impossibility of believing. We come up with excuses and say, “God has to do it. God has to give faith.” And that is true — he gives faith, and he delights to give it. God comes to us in the gospel and calls us to repentance and faith. We saw what repentance was last time; let’s focus now on our call to faith. The call of the gospel leads us to see our inability to believe, but it also shows that christ is a suitable and sufficient Savior for those who are dead in sins and trespasses (Eph. 2:1). Mark 5:25-34 This is what the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5:25–34 believed about Christ. She was sick for twelve years already. She recognized her illness. She had visited every doctor around but her condition only worsened. You would think that she would give up altogether. But then she heard of Jesus. She approached Jesus, think- ing, “If I can only touch the hem of his coat, I shall be healed.” But isn’t that presumptuous? How can this woman say that she will go to Jesus? But that is what faith does. It hears of Christ and goes to him despite the difficulty and impossibility of our sinful condition. Christ was drawing this woman as the physician with a cure for her body and for her soul. That is how Christ presents himself in the gospel. Faith acts upon Christ. When it acts upon anything less, it is not faith. There were people who followed Jesus for his miracles and healings because they loved to see the demonstrations of his power, but this sick woman followed him because she was in distress. Despite the odds, she went to Jesus. She pressed through the crowds. It seemed impossible to reach Jesus and yet she did. She reached out her hand and touched the hem of his garment. And… she was healed! Faith was her life support. Without faith, this woman would not have gone to Jesus. Without faith, this woman would not have been healed; she would have died. Jesus’ words are life: “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole, go in peace and be whole of thy plague.” Our sickness of sin is like that woman’s sickness. We try many different remedies to get rid of our sin. We try to hide it or pretend that it does not exist. We are like Adam and Eve who hid themselves, but God sought them out and asked, “Adam, where are you?” he does the same with us every time we hear the gospel: “Sinner, where are you?” he calls us to trust in him for the forgiveness of our sins, for the healing of our souls and lives. How do I believe? How do I believe, you ask? Think of faith like a straw in a drink. You can stare at the drink and you can guess what flavor it is. You can see the color. You can see the consistency of the liquid. You can see the froth on top of the soda, but you will never enjoy the drink if you do not put your mouth to the straw and drink. That is how faith works. You can look at Christ. You can know all about him and yet you will never know him until you drink and eat of him. And what does Christ say about those who eat and drink of him? Whoever comes to him will never hunger, and whoever believes will never thirst (John 6:35). Test his Word, his promise, his character; you will not be disappointed! This article originally appeared in the Banner of Sovereign Grace Truth, February 2011, under the title, “The Reformed Faith (13): Life Support.” Posted here with permission. #Faith #Mark #Salvation