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About Emmaus
Emmaus is a Reformed Baptist church in Hemet, California. We are a community of Christ followers who love God, love one another, and serve the church, community, and nations, for the glory of God and for our joy.
Our hope is that you will make Emmaus your home and that you will begin to grow with us as we study the scriptures and, through the empowering of the Holy Spirit, live in a way that honors our great King.
Time & Location
LORD'S DAY WORSHIP (SUNDAYS)
10:00am Corporate Worship
In the Emmaus Chapel at Cornerstone
26089 Girard St.
Hemet, CA 92544
EMMAUS ESSENTIALS
Sunday School For Adults
9:00am to 9:45am most Sundays (Schedule)
In the Chapel
MAILING ADDRESS
43430 E. Florida Ave. #F329
Hemet, CA 92544
LORD'S DAY WORSHIP (SUNDAYS)
10:00am Corporate Worship
In the Emmaus Chapel at Cornerstone
26089 Girard St.
Hemet, CA 92544
EMMAUS ESSENTIALS
Sunday School For Adults
9:00am to 9:45am most Sundays (Schedule)
In the Chapel
MAILING ADDRESS
43430 E. Florida Ave. #F329
Hemet, CA 92544
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Membership
Interested in becoming a member? Please join us for a four-week study in which we will make a case from the scriptures for local church membership and introduce the ministries, government, doctrines, and distinctive's of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church.
Gospel Community Groups
Gospel Community Groups are small group Bible studies. They are designed to provide an opportunity for the members of Emmaus to build deeper relationships with one another. Groups meet throughout the week to discuss the sermons from the previous Sunday, to share life, and to pray.
Sermons
Catechesis
An audio teaching series through the Baptist Catechism aimed to instruct in foundational Christian doctrine and to encourage obedience within God’s people.
Emmaus Essentials
Emmaus Essentials classes are currently offered online Sundays at 9AM. It is through our Emmaus Essentials (Sunday School) that we hope to experience an in depth study of the scriptures and Christian theology. These classes focus on the study of systematic theology, biblical theology, church history, and other topics practical to Christian living.
Theology In Particular PODCAST
A podcast produced for International Reformed Baptist Seminary: a forum for discussion of important scriptural and theological subjects by faculty, administrators, and friends of IRBS.
An Intoduction To The Christian Faith
A 24 lesson Bible study in which we consider “what man ought to believe concerning God, and what duty God requireth of man” (Baptist Catechism #6).
Emmaus Resources
- Bible Reading Plan
- Baptist Catechism
- Catechism For Girls And Boys
- Confession of Faith
- Recommended Resources
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Multi-Generational Church Ministry
At Emmaus we believe that God has given parents, especially fathers the authority and responsibility to train and instruct children up in the Lord. In addition, we believe that God has ordained the gathering of all generations, young to old, to worship Him together in one place and at one time. Therefore, each and every Sunday our children worship the Lord alongside their parents and other members of God’s family.
Sep 13
15
This can be downloaded as a PDF by logging into the CITY.
Prayer
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”
Address God and Praise Him for Who He Is (Matthew 6:11)
- “Psalm 147:5, Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure.” Hebrews 4:13, and no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. These texts say that God’s understanding is limitless, that His knowledge is perfect, and there isn’t a creature anywhere in the universe that isn’t plainly visible to His sight. Nothing is shut before the eyes of God. That is what is called divine omniscience, one of the attributes of God. An attribute, as I have said before, is something which God has declared to be true about himself ” (A.W. Tozer, Attributes of God).
Thank God for All That He Has Provided (Ephesians 5:20)
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Pray For the Ministry of Other Churches (Matt. 28:18-20)
- Reformed Baptist Church of Riverside, Riverside CA – Website
Pray For the Gospel to Spread Among All Peoples (Matt. 9:37-38)
- Country: Argentina
Population: 40,655,000
Religion: Catholic: 87{e0b72a53c242df1424785628340537005f8b2ebeecfbb0205a95286f7b4c8fc9}, Evangelical 9{e0b72a53c242df1424785628340537005f8b2ebeecfbb0205a95286f7b4c8fc9}, 4{e0b72a53c242df1424785628340537005f8b2ebeecfbb0205a95286f7b4c8fc9} Other
HeartCry Missionary: Nicolas Serrano – click here to learn more about this missionary.Overview: “The Argentine Republic, commonly known as Argentina, is located in southeastern South America and is the second largest country on the continent. Its economy is aided by an abundance of natural resources, which, at the beginning of the 20th century, enabled it to become one of the most prosperous countries in South America. Over the past 100 years, Argentina has experienced severe economic instability and has gone from being one of the richest countries in the world to being entrenched in repeated recessions. While the government has sought to manipulate the public statistics in order to hide the extent of the economy’s problems, it is estimated privately that the actual annual inflation rate over the past decade is approximately 30 percent. Since the severe economic crash from 1999 to 2002, the nation’s income disparity has been reversed slightly, but there is still a considerable income inequality. This is demonstrated by the 500,000 people who are currently living in the slums of the capital city of Buenos Aires.Catholicism is by far the dominant religion in Argentina and has had a powerful influence on the country’s affairs since its foundation. However, of the 87 percent who identify themselves with the Catholic Church, it is estimated that less than 20 percent actually practice their religion. The nation is largely influenced by postmodern and agnostic beliefs and is increasingly moving toward secular practice and ideology. Evangelicalism has seen an increase recently, and since 1980, the number of people who profess to be Evangelical has increased from just 1 million to over 3 million. The greatest needs among the Evangelicals in Argentina are sound biblical instruction and biblical training of men for the ministry.”
*Information taken from HeartCryMissionary.com
| “Give us this day our daily bread” |
Pray For Yours and Your Family’s Needs (Matthew 6:11)
Pray For One Another (James 5:16)
- See the CITY for a list of families to pray for.
Pray For Those Who Feed, Lead, And Care For The Flock (Col. 4:3; 2 Thess. 3:1)
- Elders: Joe Anady, Steve Bovee, Kris Vanderschuit
- Deacons: Dave Anady, Mike Thezier
Pray For Kings And Those In Authority (1 Timothy 2:2)
- Local: Hemet City Council – Linda Krupa
- State: Secretary of State – Debra Bowen
- Nation: Congressman – Raul Ruiz
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Ask Forgiveness From God And Others. Forgive Those Who Sinned Against You. (1 John 1:9)
“lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Pray That God Would Strengthen Us From Giving Into Temptation (James 1:12-17).
_______________________________________________
Worship through Song
Song of the Month
- I encourage you to incorporate musical worship in some way within your household worship time. This is also a great way to prepare for worship Sunday worship by learning the songs we sing.
- “O Great God” by Sovereign Grace Music can be purchased and downloaded here.
_______________________________________________
Preparing for the Lord’s Day
Our Sermon Text For This Week Is: Galatians 1:13-24
- “ For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.”
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Family Scripture Reading
The scriptures follow the reading plan for families outlined in Emmaus’ Passages booklet.
- Sunday – 2 Sam. 11, 2 Cor. 5
- Monday – 2 Sam. 12, 2 Cor. 5
- Tuesday – 2 Sam. 13, 2 Cor. 6
- Wednesday – 2 Sam. 14, 2 Cor. 7
- Thursday – 2 Sam. 15, 2 Cor. 8
- Friday – 2 Sam. 16, 2 Cor. 9
- Saturday – 2 Sam. 17, 2 Cor. 20
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Catechism – Instruction of God’s Word
Doctrinal Standard – Baptist Catechism #95 (Compare WSC #88)
- Q. What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption?
A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption are His ordinances, especially the Word, Baptism, the Lord’s Supper and Prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.
Memory Verse(s)
- “And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers” (Acts 2:42, ESV.)
Scripture
- Study Passage: Proverbs 2
- Support Passages: Matthew 28:18-20; Romans 10:17; Ephesians 5:15-20; Colossians 3:12-17
- Bible Story: Acts 2:41-47
Thoughts
- “Imagine a father who is away on a trip. He has been wanting to buy a horse for his son. While he is away, the father sees the perfect horse for his son. So he buys it for him. The father has paid the full price for the horse. Nothing more needs to be done to make the horse the boy’s horse. But because the boy is at home, in a different state, he cannot enjoy the benefits of having a horse. So the father hires a truck and a trailer as the way to bring the horse to the boy. Now the boy can enjoy all the benefits of having the horse that his father bought for him.The Lord Jesus paid fully to redeem His people when He died on the cross. Nothing more needs to be done to redeem them. But the benefits of being redeemed need to be brought to God’s people. The Lord Jesus has chosen ways to bring those benefits to us. This answer lists those ways. The Word of God, the (ordinances) (baptism and the Lord’s Supper), and prayer are the ‘ordinary, external ways Christ has chosen to bring us the benefits of redemption.’ As we read and hear God’s Word, as we pray, and as we receive baptism and communion, we enjoy the benefits of the redemption Christ bought for us.
The apostle Paul wrote to Timothy, giving him instructions about prayer, worship, and preaching and teaching God’s Word. He told him that using these things would result in salvation for Timothy and for those whom he ministered. Read 1 Timothy 4:15-16.” [1]
Discussion Questions
- What does redemption mean?
- What are the means by which Christ communicates the benefits of redemption?
- Why is it important for Christians to read the Word of God?
- Why is it important that Christians be baptized and attend baptisms?
- Why is it important for Christians to participate in the Lord’s Supper (communion)?
- Why should Christians be in continual prayer?
[1] Meade, Starr (2000). Training Heart, Teaching Minds. Phillipsburg, New Jersey, USA; P&R Publishing Company.
Devotional Thoughts, Baptist Catechism, Benefits of Redemption, Family Worship, Lord's Prayer, Starr Meade, Training Hearts Teaching Minds, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, Acts 2, Proverbs 2, Posted by .
Sep 13
12
- This is for my brothers and sisters in Christ who are struggling with trials of various kinds right now. 2 Corinthians 1 was in our Bible reading plan today, and I wanted to be sure that you were encouraged by it.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” (2 Corinthians 1:3–11, ESV)
Study Guides, 2 Corinthians 1, Encouragement, Life Issues, Joe Anady, Posted by .
Sep 13
10
As we provide a strong emphasis on family worship it is important that we approach it with balance and self evaluation. Jason Helopoulos in his book, “A Neglected Grace – Family Worship in the Christian Home” cautions Christians against the worship of family instead of worshiping families.
In chapter six titled “What Family Worship Is Not” he writes, “there are undercurrents in the evangelical world right now that place too much emphasis upon the family. We can worship the family just as easily as we can worship wealth or Buddha. And they are equally idolatrous. As we practice family worship, we do not want our world to begin to revolve around our family. Another way of saying this is, we don’t want to worship the family, we want worshiping families. There is a big difference. A family that is truly worshiping God together will naturally find itself looking outward and engaging more and more with people beyond their home. This is an appropriate response of our growth in grace. As we grow more in love with God we grow more in love with people. Those two things cannot be separated. They are two sides of the same coin. ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself’ (Matt. 22:37, 39)” [1]
[1] Helopoulos, Jason (2007). A Neglected Grace – Family Worship in the Christian Home. Ross-shire, Scotland; Christian Focus Publications, Ltd.
Study Guides, A Neglected Grace – Family Worship in the Christian Home, Family Worship, Jason Helopoulos, Posted by .
Sep 13
8
Memory Verse:
“Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause.” – Isaiah 1:16-17, ESV – Isaiah 1:16-17, ESV
Doctrinal Standard: WSC#87
Q: What is repentance unto life?
A: Repentance unto life is a saving grace, by which a sinner, being truly aware of his sinfulness, understands the mercy of God in Christ, grieves for and hates his sins, and turns from them to God, fully intending and striving for a new obedience.
Weekly Passages, Posted by .
Sep 13
8
1. Describe the character of Paul. What does scripture say about his personality and nature?
2. It is clear that the teaching of JWs or Mormonism is a false gospel. But what false gospel teaching seems to be prevalent within the modern Christian church? Share and explain.
3. How are you tempted to “distort the gospel” in your own faith. What parts of God or the Bible to you find yourself wanting to alter? Why do you think?
4. When is the biblical gospel no longer the biblical gospel? What specific alterations must be made for the gospel to no longer to be biblical? Be specific.
5. Do you know what you believe and why? Could you thoroughly explain your faith with biblical support to another? Share.
Study Guides, Gospel Community Groups, Russell Schmidt, Posted by .
Sep 13
8
1. How was your experience in our first day at our new location? Share.
2. Who was Paul? Discuss his character, history, and conversion.
3. In relating to Paul, share with one another some of the highlights of your conversion experience.
4. What type of false teaching was Paul referring to in Galatians 1? What would be some examples of this type of false teaching today?
5. Why do so many believe that salvation is by their own works when the Bible says it is by grace alone? Do you ever struggle with this belief? Share.
Study Guides, Gospel Community Groups, Russell Schmidt, Posted by .
Sep 13
8
Under “Your Kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”, we added a section to pray for the ministry of other churches.
This can be downloaded as a PDF by logging into the CITY.
Prayer
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”
Address God and Praise Him for Who He Is (Matthew 6:11)
- God’s omnipotence. “Omni meaning ‘all’ and potent, meaning ‘able to do and to have power.’ And so omnipotent means ‘able to do all and to have all power.’ It means having all the potency there is. ” (A.W. Tozer, Attributes of God). “For nothing will be impossible with God.” (Luke 1:37)
- Thank God for All That He Has Provided (Ephesians 5:20)
“Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”
Pray For Other Churches Doing the Will of Lord (Matt. 28:18-20)
- Olive Branch Ministries Church, San Jacinto – Website
Pray For The Gospel To Spread Among All Peoples (Matt. 9:37-38)
|
|
“Give us this day our daily bread”
Pray For Yours and Your Family’s Needs (Matthew 6:11)
Pray For One Another (James 5:16)
- See the CITY for a list of families to pray for.
Pray For Those Who Feed, Lead, And Care For The Flock (Col. 4:3; 2 Thess. 3:1)
- Elders: Joe Anady, Steve Bovee, Kris Vanderschuit
- Deacons: Dave Anady, Mike Thezier
Pray For Kings And Those In Authority (1 Timothy 2:2)
- Local: San Jacinto Mayor Pro Tem – Alonso Ledezma
- State: Attorney General – Kamala Harris
- Nation: Secretary of State – John Kerry
“Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.”
Ask Forgiveness From God And Others. Forgive Those Who Sinned Against You. (1 John 1:9)
“lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
Pray That God Would Strengthen Us From Giving Into Temptation (James 1:12-17).
_______________________________________________
Worship through Song
Song of the Month
- I encourage you to incorporate musical worship in some way within your household worship time. This is also a great way to prepare for worship Sunday worship by learning the songs we sing.
- “O Great God” by Sovereign Grace Music can be purchased and downloaded here.
_______________________________________________
Preparing for the Lord’s Day
Our Sermon Text For This Week Is: Galatians 1:10-24
- For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. 11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel. 12 For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. 13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers. 15 But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, 16 was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone; 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me, but I went away into Arabia, and returned again to Damascus. 18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James the Lord’s brother. 20 (In what I am writing to you, before God, I do not lie!) 21 Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was still unknown in person to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. 23 They only were hearing it said, “He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God because of me.
________________________________________________
Family Scripture Reading
The scriptures follow the reading plan for families outlined in Emmaus’ Passages booklet.
- Sunday – 2 Sam. 2, 1 Cor. 13
Monday – 2 Sam. 3, 1 Cor. 14
Tuesday – 2 Sam. 4-5, 1 Cor. 15
Wednesday – 2 Sam. 6, 1 Cor. 16
Thursday – 2 Sam. 7, 2 Cor. 1
Friday – 2 Sam. 8-9, 2 Cor. 2
Saturday – 2 Sam. 10, 2 Cor. 3
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Catechism – Instruction of God’s Word
Doctrinal Standard WSC #87
- Q. What is repentance unto life?
- A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, by which a sinner, being truly aware of his sinfulness, understands the mercy of God in Christ, grieves for and hates his sins, and turns from them to God, fully intending and striving for a new obedience.
Memory Verse(s)
- “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from before my eyes; cease to do evil, 17 learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1:16-17, ESV).
Scripture
- Study Passage: II Corinthians 7
- Support Passages: Psalm 51:5-13, 80:3,7,19; Acts 2:37-38, 5:30-31, 11:18; II Timothy 2:25
- Bible Story: Luke 15:11-24
Thoughts
- Below is taken from chapter 15 of the The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689 – Notes by Peter Masters.
- “15.1 Those of the elect who are converted in riper years [adult life], having lived some time in the state of nature [unsaved], and in this state served various lusts and pleasures, God gives repentance which leads to life, through an effectual call.1 1 Tit 3.2-5.
- 15.2. Because there is not one person who does good and commits no sin,2 and because the best of men may fall into great sins and provocations [to God] through the power and deceitfulness of their own indwelling corruption and the prevalency [superior power] of temptation, God has mercifully provided in the covenant of grace that when believers sin and fall they shall be renewed [restored] through repentance to salvation.3 2 Ecc 7.20. 3 Luke 22.31-32.
- 15.3. Saving repentance is an evangelical grace4 by which a person who is made to feel, by the Holy Spirit, the manifold evils of his sin, and being given faith in Christ, humbles himself over his sin with godly sorrow, detestation [hatred] of his sin and self-abhorrency [self-disgust or shame].5 In such repentance the person also prays for pardon and strength of grace, and has a purpose and endeavour [a striving aim and desire], by supplies of the Spirit’s power, to walk before God and to totally please Him in all things.6 4 Zech 12.10; Acts 11.18. 5 Ezek 36.31; 2 Cor 7.11. 6 Psa 119.6 & 128.
- 15.4. As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, on account of the body of death [continuing corruption], and the motions of it, it is therefore every man’s duty to repent of his particular known sins particularly7 [ie: of individual sins known to him, naming them and repenting of them]. 7 Luke 19.8; 1 Tim 1.13-15.
- 15.5. Such is the provision which God has made through Christ in the covenant of grace for the preservation of believers in the way of salvation, that although even the smallest sin deserves damnation,8 yet there is no sin great enough to bring damnation on those who repent.9 This makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary [essential]. 8 Rom 6.23. 9 Isa 1.16-18; 55.7” [1]
Discussion Questions
- What does it mean to repent?
- Why is repentance so important in a Christian’s life?
- Explain how repentance and faith are connected?
- Where does the ability to repent come from? Explain
- Discuss the work of the Trinity (Father, Son, and Spirit) in bringing about repentance in a believers life.
- If you are living an unrepentant life what does it reveal about your heart?
- What steps should be taken to bring about heart transformation?
[1] Masters, Peter (1982). The Baptist Confession of Faith 1689 – Notes by Peter Masters. Ashland, Ohio, USA; BookMasters, Inc.
Devotional Thoughts, Family Worship, London Baptist Confession of Faith 1689, Peter Masters, Voice of the Martyrs, Westminster Shorter Catechism, Family Devotional Guidelines, Phil Anady, 2 Corinthians 7, Isaiah 1, Luke 15, Posted by .
Sep 13
3
Below is a quote from Calvin that I came across this morning while reading in the Institutes of the Christian Religion, book 3, chapter 6 entitled, The Life of the Christian Man.
Here, Calvin is first of all confronting those who confess Jesus as Lord but live in a way contrary to the gospel. His exhortation is strong. But afterwards he provides comfort to those who, although they may be truly striving after Christ, are frustrated with the slow progress when it comes to their growth in holiness.
If you take the time to read Calvin you will soon discover that he has the heart of a pastor. He understands that within the church there will always be some who need exhortation, and others who need comfort – he is careful to provide both.
“Doctrine is not an affair of the tongue, but of the life; is not apprehended by the intellect and memory merely, like other branches of learning; but is received only when it possesses the whole soul, and finds its seat and habitation in the inmost recesses of the heart. Let them, therefore, either cease to insult God, by boasting that they are what they are not, or let them show themselves not unworthy disciples of their divine Master. To doctrine in which our religion is contained we have given the first place, since by it our salvation commences; but it must be transfused into the breast, and pass into the conduct, and so transform us into itself, as not to prove unfruitful. If philosophers are justly offended, and banish from their company with disgrace those who, while professing an art which ought to be the mistress of their conduct, convert it into mere loquacious sophistry, with how much better reason shall we detest those flimsy sophists who are contented to let the Gospel play upon their lips, when, from its efficacy, it ought to penetrate the inmost affections of the heart, fix its seat in the soul, and pervade the whole man a hundred times more than the frigid discourses of philosophers?
I insist not that the life of the Christian shall breathe nothing but the perfect Gospel, though this is to be desired, and ought to be attempted. I insist not so strictly on evangelical perfection, as to refuse to acknowledge as a Christian any man who has not attained it. In this way all would be excluded from the Church, since there is no man who is not far removed from this perfection, while many, who have made but little progress, would be undeservedly rejected. What then? Let us set this before our eye as the end at which we ought constantly to aim. Let it be regarded as the goal towards which we are to run. For you cannot divide the matter with God, undertaking part of what his word enjoins, and omitting part at pleasure. For, in the first place, God uniformly recommends integrity as the principal part of his worship, meaning by integrity real singleness of mind, devoid of gloss and fiction, and to this is opposed a double mind; as if it had been said, that the spiritual commencement of a good life is when the internal affections are sincerely devoted to God, in the cultivation of holiness and justice. But seeing that, in this earthly prison of the body, no man is supplied with strength sufficient to hasten in his course with due alacrity, while the greater number are so oppressed with weakness, that hesitating, and halting, and even crawling on the ground, they make little progress, let every one of us go as far as his humble ability enables him, and prosecute the journey once begun. No one will travel so badly as not daily to make some degree of progress. This, therefore, let us never cease to do, that we may daily advance in the way of the Lord; and let us not despair because of the slender measure of success. How little soever the success may correspond with our wish, our labour is not lost when to-day is better than yesterday, provided with true singleness of mind we keep our aim, and aspire to the goal, not speaking flattering things to ourselves, nor indulging our vices, but making it our constant endeavour to become better, until we attain to goodness itself. If during the whole course of our life we seek and follow, we shall at length attain it, when relieved from the infirmity of flesh we are admitted to full fellowship with God.” (Calvin, 447)
Devotional Thoughts, Good Thoughts from Others, Encouragement, Joe Anady, Posted by .
"Him we proclaim,
warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom,
that we may present everyone mature in Christ."
(Colossians 1:28, ESV)
