Providence ultimately exists for the “praise of the glory of God’s wisdom, power, justice, infinite goodness and mercy.” (1689 Confession, 5. 1)
The Weakness
John Owen points out that “even the best of saints, being left to themselves will quickly appear to be less than men-to be nothing. All our own strength is weakness, and all our wisdom folly.”
Of Temptation, The Nature and Power of it. (Sovereign Grace Publishers, Wilmington, Delaware, 1972) 92
Saving Faith’s Working
What does saving faith do?
it yields obedience to God’s commands.
it trembles at God’s threatenings.
it embraces the promises of God.
1689 Confession, 14. 2
Take Care What You Worship
Before Israel became a nation, the people of the world attempted to build the Tower of Babel. They desired a unified one world order. That kind of thinking and acting has always had problems. Such a unity can never be achieved by people who are sinners. Babel sought to promote a religion of self and power, having no need for God. So God came down among them and dispersed them by confusing their language (Gen. 11:8, 9). The beauty of a unified people is exemplified by the Church in her New Covenant relationship with her risen Head and Husband, our Lord Jesus Christ. God’s people are always one in Christ, because Jesus and the Father are one (John 17:11, 20-23). When we consider Israel as a nation, we find that the nation was not permitted to intermarry with other nations because true worship would then be corrupted. In Exodus 34:12-16 God said: “Take care, lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land to which you go, lest it become a snare in your midst. You shall tear down their altars and break their pillars and cut down their Asherim (for you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God), lest you make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land, and when they whore after their gods and sacrifice to their gods and you are invited, you eat of his sacrifice, and you take of their daughters for your sons, and their daughters whore after their gods and make your sons whore after their gods.” All of these sins were to be viewed as abominations.
Abiding Fruit Articles, An Abomination to the Egyptians, Genesis 43:32
Get It Right
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