His Word Today

To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David.

¹ My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? ² O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest. ³ Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. ⁴ In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them. ⁵ To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. ⁶ But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people. ⁷ All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; ⁸ “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”       ⁹ Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. ¹⁰ On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God. ¹¹ Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. ¹² Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; ¹³they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. ¹⁴ I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; ¹⁵ my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death. ¹⁶ For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—¹⁷ I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; ¹⁸ they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. ¹⁹ But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! ²⁰ Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog! ²¹ Save me from the mouth of the lion! You have rescued me from the horns of the wild oxen! ” (Psalm 22:1-21 ESV).

Psalm 22 is the beginning of a trilogy of psalms with the Holy Spirit joining it to Psalms 23 and 24. The despair of Psalm 22 gives way to the security of Yahweh the Shepherd in Psalm 23 and the imputed righteousness from Yahweh the King in Psalm 24. The truths expressed by David in all three psalms respectively drives away personal despair and provides eternal security in the LORD for the believer.

It is apparent that the suffering David experienced predicts the greater suffering Jesus Christ will experience while on the cross. David’s personal sense of abandonment by God (vs. 1-2) parallels the greater abandonment Jesus experienced on the cross. David’s physical suffering points (vs. 14-15) to the greater physical suffering Christ will experience on the cross. David’s keen awareness of his enemies (vs. 16-18) parallels the greater persecution Jesus will experience on the cross.

However, throughout the beginning portion of this psalm, David repeatedly speaks of trust in Yahweh, the sovereign LORD. He not only remembers the trust God’s people had in the LORD during their lives (vs. 4-5), but also the trust David had in his own life (vs. 10-11), and his trust in the LORD concerning the future (vs. 11, 19-21).

Dr. R. C. Sproul writes, “The Gospels tell us that on the cross, Jesus prayed Psalm 22 (Matt. 27:46). He endured true forsakenness—for a time—on the cross, the darkness at that hour showing the removal of the light of God’s countenance from Him. Our Lord’s fear in anticipating the cross proved to be justified (26:36–46), for He did not pass through any ordinary death. Instead, He bore in the place of His people the judgment of divine wrath upon transgression. John Calvin comments that the reason for Christ’s anguish was not merely death “but because there was before his eyes the curse of God, to which all who are sinners are exposed.”

During this Advent 2021 season, may each of us praise and thank the LORD for sending His Son to take our place on the cross and to endure the curse from God for our sin.

Soli deo Gloria!  

A Miktam of David.

^1 “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. ²I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” ³ As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. ⁴ The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. ⁵ The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. ⁶ The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.           ⁷ I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. ⁸ I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. ⁹ Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. ¹⁰ For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. ¹¹ You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16 (ESV)

Psalm 16 is also a Psalm of David. The psalm’s outline is as follows.  

I.   David’s Security (16:1–7)

A. David’s confidence (16:1–2, 5–7): David finds security in the Lord.

1.  The Lord protects him (16:1).

2.  The Lord provides for him (16:2, 5–7).

B.  David’s companions (16:3): David looks up to the godly of the land.

C.  David’s commitment (16:4): David vows never to offer sacrifices to idols.

II. David’s Son (16:8–11): These verses, although written by David, predict the future work of Jesus Christ.

A. Jesus’ reliance upon his Father (16:8).

B.  Jesus’ resurrection by his Father (16:9–10).

C.  Jesus’ reign with his Father (16:11).

Psalm 16:8-11 is quoted in two New Testament passages. Both passages are found in the Book of Acts.

First, Acts 2:24-31 says, “²⁴ God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. ²⁵ For David says concerning him, “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; ²⁶ therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. ²⁷ For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. ²⁸ You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ ²⁹ “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ³⁰ Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, ³¹ he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.”

The Apostle Peter quoted Psalm 16 concerning Jesus Christ on the Day of Pentecost. David was speaking about his own human experience and suffering. However, Peter understood that David was ultimately speaking about Jesus.

The Apostle Paul also quoted from Psalm 16 as recorded by Luke in Acts 13:34-37. The text says, “³⁴ And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, “‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ ³⁵ Therefore he says also in another psalm, “‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ ³⁶ For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, ³⁷ but he whom God raised up did not see corruption.”  

Dr. John MacArthur writes, “These words expressed the confidence of the lesser David, but were applied Messianically to the resurrection of the Greater David (the Lord Jesus Christ) both by Peter (Acts 2:25–28) and Paul (Acts 13:35).

Advent not only points to the birth of Christ, but also to the death, burial and ultimately the resurrection of Jesus. That is why He came to earth: to deliver His people from their sins and to impute his righteousness upon those who are recipients of God’s sovereign grace and God given faith (Ephesians 2:8-9).

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 Twenty: Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience. Part 2.

2. God alone is Lord of the conscience,^a and hath left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men which are in anything contrary to his Word, or beside it, in matters of faith or worship.^b So that to believe such doctrines, or to obey such commands out of conscience, is to betray true liberty of conscience;^c and the requiring of an implicit faith, and an absolute and blind obedience, is to destroy liberty of conscience, and reason also.^d

a. Rom 14:4; James 4:12. • b. Mat 15:9; 23:8-10; Acts 4:19; 5:29; 1 Cor 7:23; 2 Cor 1:24. • c. Psa 5:1; Gal 1:10; 2:4-5; 5:1; Col 2:20-23. • d. Isa 8:20; Jer 8:9; Hosea 5:11; John 4:22; Acts 17:11; Rom 10:17; 14:23; Rev 13:12, 16-17.

3. They who, upon pretense of Christian liberty, do practice any sin, or cherish any lust, do thereby destroy the end of Christian liberty; which is, that, being delivered out of the hands of our enemies, we might serve the Lord without fear, in holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.^a

a. Luke 1:74-75; John 8:34; Gal 5:13; 1 Pet 2:16; 2 Pet 2:19.

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

Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

\Soli deo Gloria!

To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David.

“O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above  the heavens. ² Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes, to still the enemy and the avenger. ³ When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, ⁴ what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? ⁵ Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor. ⁶ You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet, ⁷ all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, ⁸ the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. ⁹ O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” (Psalm 8 (ESV)

Psalm 8 is one of the more familiar psalms in the Hebrew collection. In fact, numerous gospel songs have been composed from vs. 1 alone. The outline of this Psalm of David is as follows:

I. The Lord’s Greatness (8:1–3, 9): David marvels at the glory of the Lord.

A. As seen in creation (8:1, 3, 9): The majesty of the Lord fills the heavens and the earth.

B.  As sung by children (8:2): Little children praise the Lord.

II. The Lord’s Goodness (8:3–8)

A. The amazement (8:3–5): Considering the Lord’s greatness, David is amazed that the Lord has shown such concern for humans and has crowned them with honor.

B.  The assignment (8:6–8): The Lord placed humans in charge of everything he has made.

The subject of Psalm 8 is the LORD’s greatness and goodness. Creation reveals the majesty of the Creator. Three New Testament passages ascribe greatness and goodness of the LORD to Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:27–28 (ESV) says, “²⁷ For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. ²⁸ When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.”

The Apostle Paul references Psalm 8:6 when he says the God has put all things in subjection under his feet. The person to whom Paul is referring to is Jesus Christ (I Corinthians 15:20-26).

Ephesians 1:22 (ESV) says, “And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church.”

Once again, it is the Apostle Paul quoting from Psalm 8:6. The apostle is stating that God the Father placed all things under the subjection of God the Son, Jesus Christ.

The final New Testament reference is from the Book of Hebrews. Hebrews 2:5–10 (ESV) says, “⁵ For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. ⁶ It has been testified somewhere, “What is man, that you are mindful of him, or the son of man, that you care for him? ⁷ You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, ⁸ putting everything in subjection under his feet.” Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. ⁹ But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. ¹⁰ For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering.”

The writer of Hebrews clearly identifies the person about whom David was ultimately writing.  That individual is the Lord Jesus Christ.

During this Advent Season of 2021, let us take time to praise the Lord Jesus Christ for being not only our Creator but also our Sustainer. Everything is in subjection to His authority.

Soli deo Gloria.

¹ “Why do the heathen rage, And the people imagine a vain thing? ² The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, ³ Let us break their bands asunder, And cast away their cords from us. ⁴ He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: The Lord shall have them in derision. ⁵ Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure. ⁶ Yet have I set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion. ⁷ I will declare the decree: The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; This day have I begotten thee. ⁸ Ask of me, And I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. ⁹ Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. ¹⁰ Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth. ¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. ¹² Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, And ye perish from the way, When his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” (Psalm 2)

A four point outline may be derived from Psalm 2. Take note of the following.

1. The Arrogant. 2:1-3. The psalmist gives an accurate description of sinful, human rebellion against the One, True God.  
2. The Almighty 2:4-6. The psalmist then presents the LORD’s divine reaction to arrogant, sinful rebellion.
3. The Anointed 2:7-9. The psalmist depicts the anointed One’s divine rule.
4. The Advice. 2:10-12. The psalmist cautions all humans in all levels of life to not only serve the LORD with fear but also to rejoice with trembling.

Psalm 2 describes the Messiah’s incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection. The psalm is quoted in four New Testament passages.

Acts 4:23–28 (ESV) says, “²³ When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. ²⁴ And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, ²⁵ who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, “ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? ²⁶ The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— ²⁷ for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, ²⁸ to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.”  

Luke attributes Psalm 2 to King David. The setting is when the Jewish leadership released the Apostle Peter and John following their arrest for healing a lame beggar and for preaching the Gospel in the Temple (Acts 3:1-4:22). The early church saw obvious parallels in what King David wrote and the persecution they were experiencing.

Secondly, Acts 13:32-33 (ESV) says “³² And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, ³³ this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “ ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.”

Luke records Paul and Barnabas’ preaching the Gospel in Antioch of Pisidia (Acts 13:13-52). Paul cited Psalm 2 to his Jewish audience in the synagogue (Acts 13:14-16) as being fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Thirdly, Hebrews 1:1–5 (ESV) says , “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, ² but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. ³ He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, ⁴ having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. ⁵ For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”?”

The writer of Hebrews expressed the truth of the eternality, incarnation, crucifixion and exaltation of the Son, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 2:9).  The text also describes the unique relationship between God the Father and God the Son.  

Finally, Hebrews 5:5 (ESV) says, “⁵ So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you.”

By quoting  Psalm 2:7, the writer further explains that Jesus Christ’s incarnation, and His priesthood were both by God the Father’s divine appointment (cf. John 8:54). Jesus’ humanity does not in any way diminish His eternal deity. or alter the essential equality within the Trinity (cf. John 10:30; 14:9–11). Psalm 2 acknowledges the Son of God, Jesus Christ, as both King and Messiah. Jesus Christ is the King-Priest.

May Psalm 2, and each of the New Testament references to the same, enrich your Advent season this year. May each of us have a greater understanding that Jesus Christ is the Anointed Son of God who came to earth to fulfill the Father’s sovereign will for our salvation.

Soli deo Gloria!

⁴⁴ Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, ⁴⁶ and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, ⁴⁷ and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:44–48 (ESV)

The title for today’s blog is The Witness of Scripture. Among other definitions, a witness is one who pledges to tell the truth about a particular subject. Truth is that which reflects reality.

The biblical text today is taken from Luke 24:44-48. This is the gospel writer’s account of Jesus’ Great Commission to his disciples when He appeared to them following the testimony of His appearance to the two Emmaus Disciples (Luke 24:13-35). This would chronologically be the first of three commissions by Jesus recorded in the New Testament (Matthew 28:16-20; Acts 1:1-8).

Jesus instructed His disciples then, and disciples today, that His eternality, incarnation, life, death, burial, resurrection and eternal reign was not just spoken by Himself but also revealed by Scripture. Within the immediate context of Luke 24, Scripture, or the Old Testament, refers to the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms. This is the three-fold division of the OT Hebrew Bible.

Today’s text says that Jesus opened (διανοίγω; dianoigo) diagnosed, or explained to His disciples so they could understand His death on the cross followed by His bodily resurrection. It was through this work by the Lord that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. It is to this gospel, or good news, that disciples in Christ continue to be witnesses of even to this day and age.

Dr. John Walvorrd, former President of Dallas Theological Seminary, writes, “Jesus showed His followers all the facts written … in the Old Testament about the Messiah. The Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms are the three divisions of the Old Testament sometimes referred to in Jesus’ day. (More often, however, Moses and the Prophets were said to comprise the OT; e.g., v. 27.) In other words He showed them from different parts of the Old Testament (e.g., Deut. 18:15; Pss. 2:7; 16:10; 22:14–18; Isa. 53; 61:1) that He is the Messiah and that He must suffer and rise from the dead (Luke 24:46; cf. v. 26). Because of His death and resurrection, the message of repentance and forgiveness of sins could be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem for they were witnesses of His death and His rising from the dead.”

It is our goal during this 2021 Advent Season to particularly examine what the Psalms record about the person and work of the Messiah, Jesus Christ. When next we meet, we will begin studying Psalm 2. I encourage you to read this psalm which Acts 4:25-26 attributes to King David, attesting to the interpretive principle that Scripture interprets Scripture.  

Soli deo Gloria!

Having just concluded the Book of Ephesians, it is time to focus our attention on the Advent Season. Advent, from the Latin adventus meaning “coming or arrival.” It is the Latin translation of the Greek parousia.

In the New Testament, this is the term used for the coming of the Christ or Messiah. The annual season of Advent in the Christian calendar anticipates the “coming of Christ” from three different perspectives.

The first is the physical incarnation or birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem of Judea (Micha 5:2; Luke 1:25-38; 2:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25). It is the celebration also known as Christmas.

The second perspective is the reception of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord in the heart of the believer (John 1:12-13). God accomplishes this by grace alone through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone (Romans 3:21-26; Ephesians 2:1-0).   

The third perspective is the soon eschatological or Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It is when the Savior returns to earth in power, might and glory (Matthew 24-25; Revelation 19-22) to establish His eternal kingdom.

Of the many Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of the Messiah, the collection known as The Psalms contains several significant passages related to the coming Savior and Lord. It is to these particular passages, seventeen in all, that we will give our attention to in the several weeks. All but one of the seventeen references to which i refer is either recited, or referred to, in the New Testament.

The entire collection of Psalms is entitled “Praises” in the Hebrew text. Jewish Rabbis often designated it “The Book of Praises.” The Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the OT, labeled it “Psalms” (cf. “The Book of Psalms” in the NT: Luke 20:42; Acts 1:20). The Greek verb from which the noun “psalms” comes basically denotes the “plucking or twanging of strings,” so that an association with musical accompaniment is implied. The English title derives from the Greek term and its background. The Psalms was/is Israel’s ancient, God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16) “hymnbook,” which defined the proper spirit and content of worship of the One, True God: Yahweh.

It is helpful to recognize certain recurring genres or literary types in the Psalter. Some of the most obvious are: 1) the wisdom type with instructions for right living; 2) lamentation patterns that deal with the pangs of life (usually arising from enemies without); 3) penitential psalms (mostly dealing with the “enemy” within, i.e., sin); 4) thanksgiving psalms; and (5) kingship (universal or mediatorial; theocratic and/or messianic rule).  It is to these Messianic Psalms that we are going to give our focus.

It is my prayer that our study of The Savior in the Psalms will deeply enrich your 2021 Advent Season. May each of us gain a deeper understanding of the Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ in all three of its biblical aspects.

Soli deo Gloria!

²³ “Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. ²⁴ Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible.” (Ephesians 6:23–24 (ESV)

The Apostle Paul’s concluding thoughts in his Epistle to the Ephesians place great emphasis on four words. They are not unfamiliar words to the church. They are not unfamiliar words in this epistle or any other of Paul’s epistles. Yet, we may be so familiar with the words peace, love, faith and grace that they do not make the impact upon us as they once did. Hopefully, that will not be the case when we conclude this study today.

Peace be to the brothers. Peace (εἰρήνη; eirene) means tranquility and a freedom from worry. Peace is a fruit of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life (Gal. 5:22). Peace originates solely from God the Father surpasses all human understanding along with guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7). Peace is the result of being justified by grace alone, through faith alone in the person and work of Jesus Christ alone (Romans 1:1-2). It was this peace that Paul was extending to his brothers in Christ.

And love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Love (ἀγάπη; agape) is the self-sacrificial love of the will which is sourced in God alone. It also is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22). It is this love which distinctly sets apart the believer in Christ from the world (John 13:34; I John 2:15-17; 4:7-11). Along with being a fruit of the Holy Spirit, agape love is also from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul writes that agape love is to be combined with a sincere faith. Faith (πίστις; pistis) is a trust in, commitment to, dependence upon and the worship of the Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, the object of the believer’s faith is sourced in the Gospel. It is the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. Grace (χάρις; charis) is the Lord’s unmerited favor to sinners who rightly deserve His justice. However, instead of justice the believer in Christ receives grace and forgiveness. Who received the justice the sinner deserved? The Lord Jesus while on the cross (2 Cor. 5:21). This is the essence of substitutionary atonement.

This wonderful benediction summarizes the major themes of Paul’s letter. The apostle reminds the church, then and now, the importance of peace (v. 15; 1:2; 2:14–15, 17; 4:3), love (1:15; 4:2, 15–16; 5:25, 28, 33), faith (6:16; 1:15; 2:8; 3:12, 17; 4:5, 13) and the grace (2:8) from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. God reminds believers of these truths, lest they be forgotten. May that never be.

Soli deo Gloria!

²¹ “So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. ²² I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts.” (Ephesians 6:21–22 (ESV)

We have come to the penultimate article in our study of the Apostle Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians. I trust you have enjoyed this exegetical examination of this wonderful portion of God’s Word.

As with many of Paul’s letters, he often concludes with the mention of his fellow workers of the gospel. Today’s text is no exception. The fellow worker Paul refers to is Tychicus.

Paul describes Tychicus as a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord. What a testimony of this believer’s relationship to his fellow Christians and to the Lord Jesus Christ. Who among us would not want to be known as beloved and faithful?  

Tychicus was one of the believers who accompanied Paul in his trip to collect and deliver the offering for the Jerusalem church (Acts 20:4). Since he is often mentioned with Trophimus of Ephesus, Tychicus was likely also a native of that city.

As today’s text indicates, he served as the courier for Paul’s letter to Ephesus (Eph. 6:21). Tychicus also brought Paul’s letters to Philemon and the Colossians (Col. 4:7). Paul certainly trusted Tychicus, otherwise he would not have given him such an important responsibility.

Most believe that Tychicus was also one of the two Christians (with Trophimus) who accompanied Titus in the delivery of 2 Corinthians (2 Cor. 8:16–24). Paul mentioned Tychicus twice in his later letters. He first mentioned sending him to Crete to be with Titus (Titus 3:12). Paul later mentioned to Timothy that he had sent Tychicus to Ephesus (2 Tim. 4:12). Evidently, Tychicus and Paul were close friends as well as coworkers, since Paul frequently referred to Tychicus as a “beloved brother.

How may you cultivate a reputation of being beloved and faithful? Take time today to ask the Lord to reveal to you what steps you may take to perpetuate such godly character. Have a blessed day in the Lord.

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 Twenty: Of Christian Liberty and Liberty of Conscience.

1. The liberty which Christ hath purchased for believers under the gospel consists in their freedom from the guilt of sin, the condemning wrath of God, the curse of the moral law;^a and in their being delivered from this present evil world, bondage to Satan, and dominion of sin,^b from the evil of afflictions, the sting of death, the victory of the grave, and everlasting damnation;^c as also in their free access to God,^d and their yielding obedience unto him, not out of slavish fear, but a child-like love and willing mind.^e All which were common also to believers under the law;^f but under the New Testament the liberty of Christians is further enlarged in their freedom from the yoke of the ceremonial law, to which the Jewish Church was subjected;^g and in greater boldness of access to the throne of grace,^h and in fuller communications of the free Spirit of God, than believers under the law did ordinarily partake of.ⁱ 

a. Gal 3:13; 1 Thes 1:10; Titus 2:14. • b. Acts 26:18; Rom 6:14; Gal 1:4; Col 1:13. • c. Psa 119:71; Rom 8:1, 28; 1 Cor 15:54-57. • d. Rom 5:1-2. • e. Rom 8:14-15; 1 John 4:18. • f. Gal 3:9, 14. • g. Acts 15:10-11; Gal 4:1-3, 6-7; 5:1. • h. Heb 4:14, 16; 10:19-22. • i. John 7:38-39; 2 Cor 3:13, 17-18.

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

Have a blessed Lord’s Day.

\Soli deo Gloria!