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We will devote each Lord’s Day in 2021 at hiswordtoday.org to present a portion of the Westminster Confession of Faith (WCF). For those unfamiliar with the WCF, a brief explanation is appropriate. 

The Westminster Confession of Faith is a Reformed confession of faith. Drawn up by the 1646 Westminster Assembly as part of the Westminster Standards to be a confession of the Church of England, it became and remains the “subordinate standard” of doctrine (to Scripture) in the Church of Scotland and has been influential within Presbyterian churches worldwide.

It is to that “most precise and accurate summary of the content of biblical Christianity” that we will give our time and attention to each Lord’s Day in the year of our Lord, 2021. I trust you will be edified and encouraged each week by The Westminster Confession of Faith.

Chapter Eighteen: Of the Assurance of Grace and Salvation. Part 1.

1. Although hypocrites and other unregenerate men may vainly deceive themselves with false hopes and carnal presumptions of being in the favour of God and estate of salvation,^a which hope of theirs shall perish:^b yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love him in sincerity, endeavoring to walk in all good conscience before him, may in this life be certainly assured that they are in a state of grace,^c and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, which hope shall never make them ashamed.^d

a. Deut 29:19; Job 8:13-14; Micah 3:11; John 8:41. • b. Mat 7:22-23. • c. 1 John 2:3; 3:14, 18-19, 21, 24; 5:13. • d. Rom 5:2, 5.

2. This certainty is not a bare conjectural and probable persuasion, grounded upon a fallible hope;^a but an infallible assurance of faith, founded upon the divine truth of the promises of salvation,^b the inward evidence of those graces unto which these promises are made,^c the testimony of the Spirit of adoption witnessing with our spirits that we are the children of God:^d which Spirit is the earnest of our inheritance, whereby we are sealed to the day of redemption.^e

a. Heb 6:11, 19. • b. Heb 6:17-18. • c. 2 Cor 1:12; 2 Pet 1:4-5, 10-11; 1 John 2:3; 3:14. • d. Rom 8:15-16. • e. Eph 1:13-14; 4:30; 2 Cor 1:21-22.

I encourage you to read the portions of Scripture listed in this post.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

\Soli deo Gloria!

^22 “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.” (Ephesians 5:22-24).  

Once again, the Apostle Paul cited that biblical submission was one evidence of the Holy Spirit’s filling (Ephesians 5:21). It is a personal and relational submission. Submitting (ὑποτάσσω; hypotasso) means to willingly obey, and be obedient (Luke 2:51; Eph. 5:22). It also means to bring oneself bring under control, and to put oneself in subjection (1 Cor.  15:27; Eph. 1:22; Php. 3:21; Heb. 2:5, 8). It is the Holy Spirit who does this work in the believer’s heart.

In other words, biblical submission is being responsible to and responsible for another believer. In the case of today’s text, it is the wife willingly seeking the filling of the Holy Spirit in order to being responsible to, and for, her own husband.

The reason for God instructing the wife to submit to her own husband is also given in today’s text. It is because the husband is the head of the wife. The word head (κεφαλή; kephale) means the one who has the supreme responsibility. This responsibility is solely on behalf of his wife. As we have already noted, the wife has a responsibility to and for her husband. The husband has an even greater responsibility to his wife. The husband’s responsibility will be examined in Ephesians 5:25-31.

The wife’s submission, and the husband’s headship, is comparable to Christ and the church. The church has a responsibility to Christ (Mathew 28:16-20; Acts 1:1-8) and Christ even more so on behalf of the church. This is because He alone is the church’s Savior and Lord (Acts 2:22-36; Phil. 2:1-11).  

Paul draws a conclusion in vs. 24. As the church submits to Christ, so too should a wives submit to their own husbands in everything. It should be duly noted in the context that the word everything (πᾶς; pas) does not mean that the husband should expect, or even demand, his wife disobey the Lord. A godly husband would never demand this of his wife. A godly wife would never comply in this scenario to her husband.

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Redemption in Christ restores the intimacy men and women were created to enjoy in marriage (Gen. 1:26-27; 2:18-25). A Christian wife is called to grateful acceptance of her husband’s care and leadership. In other passages on Christ’s headship in this letter, Paul speaks of the way Christ governs the universe and the church (1:22) and serves as the source of the body’s health and growth to maturity.”

When a wife fulfills her responsibilities in marriage, and the husband his, there is great and consistent harmony and blessing. The husband bears the greatest responsibility in fostering this harmony and blessing. It is to that subject we will examine when our study in Ephesians continues.    

Soli deo Gloria!   

²² “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ²³ For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. ²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.” (Ephesians 5:22–24 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul cited that biblical submission was one evidence of the Holy Spirit’s filling in the believer’s life (Ephesians 5:21). It is a personal and relational submission. Submitting (ὑποτάσσω; hypotasso) means to willingly obey, and be obedient (Luke 2:51; Eph. 5:22). It also means to bring oneself bring under control, and to put oneself in subjection (1 Cor.  15:27; Eph. 1:22; Php. 3:21; Heb. 2:5, 8). It is the Holy Spirit who does this work in the believer’s heart.

The Strong’s Greek Lexicon explains that submission is a “Greek military term meaning ‘to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader’. In non-military use, it was ‘a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden’.”

It is the believers’ reverence (φόβος; phobos), fear and awe of Christ that prompts this voluntary attitude and behavior of submission. Submission cannot be demanded by an individual towards an individual. It must be truly voluntary for the act of submission to be truly biblical.

This is especially true in the marriage relationship which the Apostle Paul begins to address in Ephesians 5:22-33. The phrase “Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord” is often misunderstood. In the Greek, the verse reads as follows: “Wives, to your own husbands, as to the Lord.” The verb submit is not actually contained in vs. 22 but in the immediate context is taken from Ephesians 5:21.

Women are not commanded to submit. Rather, wives are to recognize that the Holy Spirit’s filling in their lives will bring them to an attitude of being personally responsible to and responsible for their own husband. The husband is never to demand or command his wife to submit to him. However, God calls the Christian wife to grateful acceptance of her husband’s care and leadership in the family.

Like an individual’s submission to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to one another (Eph. 5:21), the godly wife seeks her husband’s welfare. Submission is a voluntary attitude of cooperation and a mutual carrying in the responsibility of the marriage. King Lemuel outlined the characteristics of a submissive and godly wife who is filled by the Holy Spirit in Proverbs 31:10-31.   

More to come concerning submission within the home. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!   

“How I dread preaching on the estate of marriage! I am reluctant to do it because I am afraid if I once get really involved in the subject it will make a lot of work for me and for others.” – Martin Luther, The Estate of Marriage (1522)  

The command for believers in Christ to be filled by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) is initially evidenced by worship and gratitude to God and submission to one another (Eph. 5:19-21). In Ephesians 5:22-6:9, the Apostle Paul will explain how mutual submission is to be demonstrated in the home and at work. Paul begins with marriage (Ephesians 5:22-33).

Having served as a pastor for over 40 years, I have done my fair share of weddings. In fact, my wife and I recently visited with an 80’s something couple who are delightfully married. It is the second marriage for them, since both their respective former spouses died. If love is lovelier the second time around, this dear couple certainly attest to this adage.

In every wedding I have the privilege and responsibility to officiate, I require pre-marital counseling. In the six sessions, the prospective couple and I biblically examine the various aspects of marriage. This ranges from their personality differences, finances, children, church involvement, and in-laws.

By far, the most enjoyable session for me, and hopefully for the future husband and wife, is taken from Ephesians 5:22-33. The three of us spend a considerable time examining exactly what is meant by submission and love, respectively by the wife and husband. It always turns out to be an enlightening and edifying occasion for all.

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Jesus gives life to a new community of love – the church, His own body. His love defines the marriage relationship for His people. Paul teaches that the genders are complimentary and a man and a woman are equal before God. Redemption restores the intimacy men and women were created to enjoy in marriage.”

For the next several days, we will examine the responsibilities of both spouses in a truly biblical marriage relationship. Hopefully, couples will be challenged and edified and the Lord will be glorified. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!    

¹⁸ “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ²⁰ giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:18–20 (ESV)

A believer in Christ is to seek the filling of the Holy Spirit. The evidence of such filling includes singing praises to God with fellow believers in a corporate worship setting. The filling of the Spirit also includes personal worship. Making melody to the Lord in one’s mind, emotions and will should not only frame our weekly corporate worship but also our daily worship.

Another evidence the Apostle Paul gives for the Holy Spirit’s filling is the discipline and attitude of thanksgiving. Giving thanks means to actively and consistently express gratitude to God. Believers in Christ should be grateful to God not only for who He is, but also what He has done. Believers in Christ are to be always grateful to God for everything in their lives.

The Apostle Paul cites one more evidence of the Spirit’s filling. It is personal and relational submission. Submitting (ὑποτάσσω; hypotasso) means to willingly obey, and be obedient (Luke 2:51; Eph. 5:22). It also means to bring oneself under control, and to put in subjection (1 Cor.  15:27; Eph. 1:22; Php. 3:21; Heb. 2:5, 8). It is the Holy Spirit who does this work in the believer’s heart.

The Strong’s Greek Lexicon explains that submission is a “Greek military term meaning ‘to arrange [troop divisions] in a military fashion under the command of a leader’. In non-military use, it was ‘a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden’.”

It is the believers’ reverence (φόβος; phobos), fear and awe of Christ that prompts this voluntary attitude and behavior of submission. Submission cannot be demanded by an individual towards an individual. It must be truly voluntary for the act of submission to be truly biblical. This is especially true in the marriage relationship which the Apostle Paul will be addressing in Ephesians 5:22-33.

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Regardless of their social rank, all Christians should pattern their social behavior on the humility and kindness of Christ (4:32-5:2; Luke 22:24-27; John 13:14-16).”   

Every one of us submits to someone at some place and time. It may be an employer, teacher, spouse, parent or a fellow believer in Christ. May each of us do so because of our reverence and awe of Christ and not because of intimidation by another individual.

Soli deo Gloria!   

¹⁸ “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, ²⁰ giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Ephesians 5:18–20 (ESV)

A believer in Christ is to seek the filling of the Holy Spirit. The evidence of such filling includes singing praises to God with fellow believers in a corporate worship setting. The filling of the Spirit also includes personal worship. Making melody to the Lord in one’s mind, emotions and will should not only frame our weekly corporate worship but also our daily worship.

A third evidence the Apostle Paul gives as evidence of the Holy Spirit’s filling is the discipline and attitude of thanksgiving. Giving thanks (εὐχαριστέω; eucharisteo) means to actively and consistently express gratitude to God. Believers in Christ should be grateful to God not only for who He is, but also what He has done.

Paul states that this attitude and discipline of giving thanks should be done always (πάντοτε; pantote) or at all times. Believers not only should give thanks to God all the time, but also in everything (πᾶς; pas). This means in every situation and circumstance. This parallels I Thessalonians 5:18 which says, “give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Believers are to always give thanks for everything to God the Father. This can and may be done solely because of the person and work of Jesus Christ, the Christians’ Lord and Savior.

Nineteenth century theologian Dr. Charles Hodge writes, “Christ gives us access to the Father; we come to God through Him (Christ); He (Christ) gives the right to come, and it is on Him (Christ) we depend for acceptance when we come.”   

Soli deo Gloria!   

^18 “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹ addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,” (Ephesians 5:18–19 (ESV)

What follows the command to be filled with the Spirit are some explicit actions. The Apostle Paul does not provide an exhaustive list of the Spirit’s filling in the soul of the believer in Christ. However, he does provide three actions resulting from and exhibiting the Spirit’s filling in believers’ lives.

One example of the Holy Spirit’s filling in the believer is the individual in question worships the Lord. They do not always worship in isolation but also in communion and community with other believers in Christ. This is demonstrated by today’s text.

The phrase addressing one another (λαλέω ἑαυτοῦ; laleo heautou) means to speak to fellow believers. We do this by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. As we worship the Lord we also are singing with, and in communication, with each other. Psalms are songs derived from the Old Testament Psalter. Hymns are praises to God composed by believers, which may be drawn from many portions of Scripture. Spiritual songs may refer to a general term of music, or perhaps to a testimonial song of praise concerning one’s walk with the Lord.

As believers participate in corporate worship they are singing and making melody to the Lord with their heart. They are not just singing words, but consciously attentive to praising God with their minds, emotions and will. In other words, they are praising the Lord with their soul. Church music should be a way believers’ may minister to each other, and singing should be a means of praising the Lord.

One author writes, “When we come to corporate worship, it is vital that we come not to be entertained but to show the Lord reverence and awe. We are meeting with the Sovereign who loves us and who is worthy of all the honor and glory we can ascribe to Him. Let us keep the Lord’s glory in our minds as we come to worship so that we will have the awe that is appropriate to entering His presence.”

Soli deo Gloria!   

ONE HAMMER in the hand of an obscure Augustinian monk changed the world forever. Martin Luther posted his Ninety-Five Theses on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany calling his fellow professors to examine issues of supreme theological importance. Thus began the Reformation through which the light of God’s Word was brought out of the darkness to shine with clarity once more.

One of the central cries of the Protestant Reformation was this: “The just shall live by faith.” Luther’s development of the doctrine of justification by faith alone recovered the gospel that had been hidden during the Middle Ages.

And at the center of that gospel is the affirmation that the righteousness by which we are declared just before a holy God is not our own. It’s a foreign righteousness, an alien righteousness, a righteousness that Luther said is extra nos—apart from us. Namely, it’s the righteousness of Jesus Christ—that righteousness that’s imputed or counted for all who put their trust in Him.

Because of that affirmation Luther was involved in serious controversies—controversies that culminated in his being brought to trial before the princes of the church and even before the emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, Charles the V. And there at the Diet of Worms, summoned in Germany, Luther was called upon to recant his views. He answered his interlocutors by saying, “Revoco? You want me to say revoco? That I recant? I will not recant unless I am convinced by sacred Scripture or by evident reason. I cannot recant for my conscience is held captive by the Word of God. And to act against conscience is neither right nor safe. Here I stand. I can do no other. God help me.”

In every generation the gospel must be published anew with the same boldness, and the same clarity, and the same urgency that came forth in the 16th century Reformation. The church has always done this in both the spoken word and in song—producing hymns that tell us of the great salvation that has been wrought by God alone through Christ alone.”  Dr. R. C. Sproul

Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

Soli deo Gloria!

Many Christians observe the anniversary of Martin Luther nailing his 95 Thesis on the church door of Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517. 2021 marks the 504th anniversary of the event which sparked the Protestant Reformation.

Pastor Burk Parsons writes, “Ultimately, the Word of God was the hero of the Reformation, not Luther. The power was not in Martin Luther or John Calvin or any of the Reformers—the power was the gospel unto salvation for everyone who believes. The fuel and the fire of the Reformation was the Holy Spirit who brought revival and reformation not only in doctrine, but in worship, in the church, in the home, and in the hearts of all those He brought to repentance and faith in Jesus Christ—all for the glory of God to the end that the nations might know, love, and proclaim the name of our triune God coram Deo, before His face forever.”

In light of this significant event in church history, I would encourage you to meditate upon the lyrics of the following hymn by Dr. R. C. Sproul . It is entitled Glory to the Holy One and is based upon Isaiah 6:1-7.

Seated on the heav’nly throne
Above all mortal view
The King supreme in glory sat
Bathed in resplendent hue.

Refrain
“Holy, Holy, Holy”
Cried the seraph throng
Glory to the Holy One
Join in heaven’s song.

All around the mercy seat
The heav’nly creatures sang
Glory to our God on high
Their poignant anthem rang.

Shielded eyes and covered feet
The angels hovered high
Glory shook the portal walls
And smoke rose to the sky.

“Angel come now, purge my lips
Make pure my soul anew
Now I’ll rise and stand again
In grace to go for you.”

Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,” (Ephesians 5:18 (ESV).

Today, we examine the second commandment contained in Ephesians 5:18: “but be filled with the Spirit.” What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit?

The Holy Spirit’s indwelling (John 7:37–39; 14:17; Rom. 5:5; 8:9; 1 Cor. 2:12; 6:19–20; 1 John 3:24; 4:13), sealing (2 Cor. 1:22; Eph. 1:13; 4:30), and baptism (1 Cor. 12:13; Gal. 3:27) of the converted sinner occur at the time of their regeneration (John 3:1-8; Titus 3:1-5). However, God does command the believer to be filled with the Spirit.

The word filled (πληρόω; pleroo) is a present, passive imperative. The believer is commanded to allow the Holy Spirit to completely fill or control their life and living. Alcohol controls the individual and prompts them to do things they would not ordinarily do. So also the Holy Spirit is to control and prompt the believer to do things they would not normally do in bringing glory and praise to God.

Dr. John Walvoord writes, “Believers are commanded to be filled constantly with the Holy Spirit. Each Christian has all the Spirit, but the command here is that the Spirit have all of him. The wise walk, then, is one that is characterized by the Holy Spirit’s control.”

The evidence of the Holy Spirit’s control of the believer in Christ is the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “While the sealing of the Spirit (Eph. 1:13-14; 4:30) is a once for all initiation in the Christian life, the filling of the Spirit applies to all the Christian life. This filling is progressive and is to be sought on an ongoing basis. In the parallel passage in Colossians, Paul tells Christians to let the ‘peace of Christ’ govern their hearts and to allow the ‘word of Christ’ to dwell in them richly (Col. 3:15-16). The one who is filled with the Spirit is filled with Christ, God, and His Word (Eph. 1:21; 3:19; 4:10; cf. John 14:16, 26; 16:12-15; 17:17).”  

Are you obeying the command to be filled with the Holy Spirit? A daily study of God’s Word and constant prayer to be filled is indispensable. The evidence of God’s answer to your study and prayers is the fruit of the Spirit being evidenced by your life because of the fullness of the Spirit at that moment in your life.   

Soli deo Gloria!