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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 Nine: Of Free Will.

1. God hath endued the will of man with that natural liberty, that is neither forced nor by any absolute necessity of nature determined to good or evil.^a

a. Deut 30:19; Mat 17:12; James 1:14.

2. Man, in his state of innocence, had freedom and power to will and to do that which is good and well-pleasing to God,^a but yet mutably, so that he might fall from it.^b

a. Gen 1:26; Eccl 7:29. • b. Gen 2:16-17; 3:6.

3. Man, by his fall into a state of sin, hath wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation;^a so as a natural man, being altogether averse from that good,^b and dead in sin,^c is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto.^d

a. John 15:5; Rom 5:6; 8:7. • b. Rom 3:10, 12. • c. Eph 2:1, 5; Col 2:13. • d. John 6:44, 65; 1 Cor 2:14; Eph 2:2-5; Titus 3:3-5.

4. When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he frees him from his natural bondage under sin,^a and by his grace alone enables him freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good;^b yet so as that, by reason of his remaining corruption, he doth not perfectly, nor only, will that which is good, but doth also will that which is evil.^c

a. John 8:34, 36; Col 1:13. • b. Rom 6:18, 22; Phil 2:13. • c. Rom 7:15, 18-19, 21, 23; Gal 5:17.

5. The will of man is made perfectly and immutably free to good alone, in the state of glory only.^a

a. Eph 4:13; Heb 12:23; 1 John 3:2; Jude 1:24.

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

Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

\Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁸ …having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.” (Ephesians 1:18-19 (ESV)

Paul prayed that the Ephesian believers in Christ would possess an increasing and lasting understanding of the Scriptures. This understanding, or enlightenment, unto biblical truth would extend to three particular areas of the believer’s life in Christ. What are those three areas?

First, “that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you.” Second, “that you may know…, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” Third, “that you may know…what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.”

What are believers to know (οἶδα; oida), understand, comprehend and remember?  The factual knowledge the believer is to also know is the immeasurable greatness of God’s power to each and every believer in Christ. This supreme and surpassing greatness of God’s unique and exclusive ability is extended to all believers. It is without measure. In other words, it is extraordinary.

Dr. John Walvoord says, “The word “power” (dynamis; cf. 3:20) means a spiritually dynamic and living force. This power of God is directed toward believers.” This power is God’s ability to regenerate, redeem, justify, adopt, indwell, sanctify and ultimately glorify each and every believer in Christ. This power changes the sinner’s status from an object of God’s holy wrath (Romans 1:18-32; Ephesians 2:1-3), to become a believer in Christ who is an object of His holy love (I John 4:7-12).

This accomplishment is through the working of God’s great might. The Lord’s powerful strength functions and accomplishes what God intends for it to accomplish: the salvation of a spiritually dead and wicked sinner into a holy and righteous child of God.

Take the time today to pray that God would open the eyes of your heart and provide you a deeper understanding of this biblical truth. Have a blessed day. Take time to thank God for calling you by His grace alone, through God given faith alone, unto eternal life in Christ alone

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁸ …having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.” (Ephesians 1:18-19 (ESV)

Paul prayed that the Ephesian believers in Christ would possess an increasing and lasting understanding of the Scriptures. This understanding, or enlightenment, unto biblical truth would extend to three particular areas of the believer’s life in Christ. What are those three areas?

First, “that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you.” Second, “that you may know…, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”

Again, to know (οἶδα; oida) means to understand, comprehend and remember. It is a factual knowledge. What the believer is to also know are the riches of His glorious inheritance. God is the subject. It is His inheritance. We, as believers in Christ, are the Lord’s inheritance. Paul calls believers saints (ἅγιος; hagios). Believers in Christ are God’s holy and dedicated people. This is a soul stirring truth to grasp and comprehend.

Dr. John Walvoord writes, “God will inherit those whom He has purchased at a great price according to the riches of His grace (v. 7). This is the second of six times in Ephesians in which Paul referred to “riches” (1:7, 18; 2:4, 7; 3:8, 16). In 1:14 Paul wrote that the Christians’ “inheritance” is their final redemption from the presence of sin. Here in verse 18 he wrote about God’s inheritance, the saints themselves! Because of the “glorious grace” (v. 6) of “the glorious Father” (v. 17), He will receive “His glorious inheritance” (v. 18).”

Take the time today to pray that God would open the eyes of your heart and provide you a deeper understanding of this biblical truth. Have a blessed day. Take time to thank God for calling you by His grace alone, through God given faith alone, unto eternal life in Christ alone

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁸ …having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints. ¹⁹ and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.” (Ephesians 1:18-19 (ESV)

Paul prayed that the Ephesian believers in Christ would possess an increasing and lasting understanding of the Scriptures. This understanding, or enlightenment, unto biblical truth would extend to three particular areas of the believer’s life in Christ. What are those three areas?

First, “that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you.” The verb know (οἶδα; oida) means to have a knowledge, understanding and remembrance. This knowledge began at a particular point in time in the believer’s past and has continuing results unto eternity. This refers, in the context, to the effectual calling by God of the sinner unto salvation.

This results in hope (ἐλπίς; elpis) or a confident expectation that God will keep His promise of eternal life to those He has called. “Hope” in Scripture is the absolute certainty of a believer’s victory in God (cf. Rom. 8:23–24; Eph. 4:4; Col. 1:5; 1 Thess. 1:3; 1 Peter 3:15).

The word called (κλῆσις; klesis), as previously stated, refers to the effectual call of God unto salvation. This results in a new relationship. This call is by God and God alone. He alone is the author of the believer’s salvation (cf. Rom. 1:6; 8:30; Eph. 4:1, 4; 2 Tim. 1:9).

Take the time today to pray that God would open the eyes of your heart and provide you a deeper understanding of biblical truth. Take time to thank God for calling you by His grace alone, through God given faith alone, unto eternal life in Christ alone. Have a blessed day.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁸ …having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” (Ephesians 1:18 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul continued to pray that the Ephesian Christ followers would have the eyes of their hearts enlightened. What did he mean by this statement?

To begin with, the word eyes (ὀφθαλμός; ophthalmos) is used metaphorically to mean understanding and perception. The believers understanding and perception extends to the very core of their being: their heart. Heart (καρδία; kardia) is also used metaphorically to refer to the believer’s intellect, emotions and will.

Paul prayed that the Ephesian believers would have their complete understanding of salvation enlightened. The word enlightened (φωτίζω; photizo) means to reveal or to make plain. Paul desired that they would receive from God a permanent understanding of biblical truth.

Dr. Kenneth Weust writes, “The words, “being enlightened,” are a perfect participle in the Greek text, referring to a past complete act having present results. The translation reads, “The eyes of your heart having been enlightened with the present result that they are in a state of illumination.” That is, Paul is praying that a permanent work of the Holy Spirit be done in the human spirits of these saints, that their inner spiritual capacities for understanding the truth may be the recipients of a lasting benefit.”

What benefit is gained by understanding biblical truth? Dr. R.C. Sproul answers the question when he writes, “The crisis of modern humanity is found in the rupture between the study of human beings and the study of God. When our story is told in isolation or divorced from the story of God, then it (our life) become ‘a tale, told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.’ If we are considered without reference to God, we become a ‘useless passion’ as philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre declared.”

Paul expressed that this enlightenment unto biblical truth would extend to three particular areas of the believer’s life. The first two are mentioned in Ephesians 1:18. The third is found in 1:19. WE will begin to examine all three when next we meet.

Take the time today to pray that God would open the eyes of your heart and provide you a deeper understanding of biblical truth. Have a blessed day.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁶ “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, ¹⁷ that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him.” (Ephesians 1:16–17 (ESV)

From today’s text, the Apostle Paul engaged in prayer for the Ephesian believers. What God prompted the apostle to pray on behalf of them, also applies to believers today. What was the content of Paul’s prayer and how does it apply to believers today? For the next several days, we are going to examine the content of this prayer.

The purpose of Paul’s prayer is indicated by the conjunction that which introduces what is called a purpose clause. The purpose of this prayer involves each member of the Trinity: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Paul prayed that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, would give each believer the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Take notice that the definite article the is used immediately before the proper noun Spirit. Also notice that the noun Spirit is capitalized indicating the translators identification that this is a reference to the Holy Spirit.  

Paul prays that God the Father would give, or provide, each believer in Christ the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Wisdom (σοφία; Sophia) refers to the practical application of God’s Word by the believer into their life and living. Revelation (ἀποκάλυψις; apokalypsis) means to disclose or reveal for the purpose of greater understanding or illumination.

Paul was not praying that the believers in Ephesus, and by implication believers today, needed to still be indwelt, sealed, baptized, gifted or even filled by the Holy Spirit. With the exception of being repeatedly filled (Ephesians 5:18), all of these benefits of and by the Spirit occur in the believer’s life at the point of conversion.

Rather, Paul was praying for the Spirit’s illumination in the individual Christian. Illumination is the work of the Holy Spirit to help believers in Christ to not only hear and receive God’s Word, but also to properly understand the intended message and meaning of God’s Word. The goal of this understanding is obedient application of the God’s truth in the believer’s life.

I Corinthians 2:9-11 says, “⁹ But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”— ¹⁰ these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

Dr. R. C. Sproul comments that, “Illumination is not to be confused with revelation. It is commonplace today to hear people speak about private revelations they claim to have received from the Holy Spirit. The work of the Holy Spirit in illumination is not the supplying of new information or fresh revelation beyond those found in sacred Scripture.”   

Spirit wrought illumination is intended to convict and convince believers of the truth of God’s Word, and then to apply that truth into their lives. In other words, the Holy Spirit works through the Word of God, and with the Word of God, but never against the Word of God. Remember, the Word of God is the Holy Spirit’s book (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21).

May the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ give each of us today the Spirit of wisdom and revelation. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

Soli deo Gloria!

¹⁵ “For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, ¹⁶ I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.” (Ephesians 1:15–16 (ESV)

In my library is a book by Arthur W. Pink entitled Gleanings from Paul. In his book, Arthur W. Pink presents a detailed study of Paul and his God honoring prayers. Throughout his letters, Paul offers prayer to God that are among the richest sources in all of Scripture the how, why and power of prayer. Ephesians 1:15-16 begins Paul’s prayer for the Ephesian believers.

Today’s text begins with the phrase for this reason. The phrase for this reason  (dia touto; δια τουτο) may be translated “Wherefore” or “on this account.” What Paul means is that what he going to pray is because of all that is true of the saints which in general is stated in Ephesians 1:3–14. It is also because of what is said of these believers in verse 13, that the apostle thanks God for the Ephesian Christians and prays for them.

Paul has actively received news of the Ephesian believer’s trust, commitment, dependence and worship of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their faith in the Lord Jesus is evidenced by their good works, especially their self-sacrificial love toward all their fellow Christians (I Corinthians 13:1-8).

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “Paul had ministered in Ephesus for more than two years (Acts 18-20), but the time of writing (this epistle) may be as much as five years. The church had grown considerably since then. It may also be that Paul mentions people who live in the cities where the epistle circulated whose faith and love he knows only by report.”

It is for this particular reason that Paul feels provoked to pray. His prayer is one of ongoing thanks for the Ephesian church. We will begin examining the particulars of Paul’s prayer when next we meet. I would encourage you to begin reading Ephesians 1:17-23.

Who do you personally know for which you can thank God, not only for their faith in the Lord Jesus but also for their love for all the saints? Have a blessed day.

Soli deo Gloria!

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 Eight: Of Christ the Mediator. Part 3.

7. Christ, in the work of mediation, acteth according to both natures; by each nature doing that which is proper to itself;^a yet, by reason of the unity of the person, that which is proper to one nature is sometimes, in Scripture, attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.^b

a. Heb 9:14; 1 Pet 3:18. • b. John 3:13; Acts 20:28; 1 John 3:16.

8. To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same;^a making intercession for them,^b and revealing unto them, in and by the Word, the mysteries of salvation;^c effectually persuading them by his Spirit to believe and obey; and governing their hearts by his Word and Spirit;^d overcoming all their enemies by his almighty power and wisdom, in such manner and ways as are most consonant to his wonderful and unsearchable dispensation.^e

a. John 6:37, 39; 10:15-16. • b. Rom 8:34; 1 John 2:1-2. • c. John 15:13, 15; 17:6; Eph 1:7-9. • d. John 14:16; 17:17; Rom 8:9, 14; 15:18-19; 2 Cor 4:13; Heb 12:2. • e. Psa 110:1; Mal 4:2-3; 1 Cor 15:25-26; Col 2:15.

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

Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

\Soli deo Gloria!

^13 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV)

What does the Bible mean when in Ephesians 1:14 the Apostle Paul speaks of believers in Christ acquiring possession of their inheritance? Let examine the word possession today.

The word possession (περιποίησις; peripoiesis) literally means gaining a personal piece of property. The Bible speaks of believers in Christ being God’s own possession (I Peter 2:9), and believers possessing salvation in the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Greek language scholar Kenneth Wuest writes, “The words “purchased possession” are peripoiēsis (περιποιησις), which “expresses the general idea of preserving, acquiring, gaining for one’s self, without specific reference to a price” (Expositors). It refers to the saints as God’s heritage which He preserves for Himself. The final redemption of this possession is glorification, when the physical body will be the recipient of the work of salvation. The soul and spirit are now the recipients of God’s saving grace. The body will experience that work at the Rapture when the first resurrection takes place. This will result to the praise of God’s glory.”

Dr. R. C. Sproul explains, “The goal of the Spirit’s work is that it be unto the praise of His glory. This is the main point of Ephesians 1:3-14. This phrase is repeated as the goal and main point of the Father’s work (vv.3-6; cf. v.12), and of the Son’s work (vv.7-12; cf. v.12). Thus, the overriding main point of all of vv.3-14 is that the work of the Trinity in electing, redeeming, and sealing is to the glory of God. That is why election and predestination are repeated (vv.3, 4, 11), since God can receive glory for the work of redemption only if that work is all of God. If believers contribute anything independently to their salvation, then Paul could say that they get to share the glory, but instead, all the glory belongs to God.”

This is why the 16^th century Protestant Reformers used the phase Soli deo Gloria! In the Latin language, it means to God alone, be the glory. Amen!     

^13 “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, ¹⁴ who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:13–14 (ESV)

What does it mean when the Scriptures say that the Holy Spirit is the believer’s seal? The word seal (σφραγίζω; sphragizo) means to be marked for possession or identity, to be made secure, and to be safely delivered to one’s intended destination. For the believer in Christ, God marks each one with the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9). This identifies the individual as God’s purchased possession and also indicates that their destiny for heaven is safe and secure.

Jesus taught that the Holy Spirit was the promise from God the Father (Luke 24:49). God’s promise of the Holy Spirit extends to all who trust in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior: Jews as well as Gentiles (Ezekiel 36:26-27; Joel 2:28; John 14-16; Acts 1:1-5; 2:33-39; Galatians 3:14; 4:6).

As the believer’s seal, the Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our inheritance in Christ (Ephesians 1:11-12). The word guarantee (ἀρραβών; arrabon) means a first installment, a down payment or pledge. As a down payment of the believer’s complete redemption in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:22; 5:1-5), the Holy Spirit provides each believer with a foretaste of the glory of the heavenly age to come (Romans 8:18-23).

The Holy Spirit indwells each and every believer (Romans 8:9). His presence assures each of us that we will acquire possession of our inheritance. When next we meet, we will conduct an in depth examination of the word possession and what this means for the believer in Christ.

Take the time today to thank the Holy Spirit for being your guarantee from God. Heaven is truly your home.

Soli deo Gloria!