Theological & Doxological Meditations #39
The Duty God Requires of Man
Q. What is the duty God requires of man?
A. The duty which God requires of man is obedience to his revealed will (Micah 6:8; I Samuel15:22).
#534, The Trinity Hymnal (© 1990)
William Cowper, 1779
O for a closer walk with God,
a calm and heav’nly frame,
a light to shine upn the road
that leads me to the Lamb!
Return, O holy Dove, return,
sweet messenger of rest;
I hate the sins that made thee mourn,
and drove thee from my breast.
The dearest idol I have known,
whate’er that idol be,
help me to tear it from thy throne,
and worship only thee.
So shall my walk be close with God,
calm and serene my frame;
so purer light shall mark the road
that leads me to the Lamb.
Theological & Doxological Meditations #38
Benefits in Resurrection
Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ in the resurrection?
A. At the resurrection, believers being raised up in glory (1 Corinthians 15:43), shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment (Matthew 10:32; 25:23), and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God (1 John3:2; 1 Corinthians13:12) to all eternity (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18).
Blessed Are the Sons of God
#526, The Trinity Hymnal (© 1990)
Joseph Humphreys, 1743
Blessed are the sons of God,
they are bought with Christ’s own blood;
they are ransomed from the grave,
life eternal they shall have:
with them numbered may we be,here and in eternity.
They are justified by grace,
they enjoy the Savior’s peace;
all their sins are washed away,
they shall stand in God’s great day:
with them numbered may we be,
here and in eternity.
They are lights upon the earth,
children of a heav’nly birth;
one with God, with Jesus one,
glory is in them begun:
with them numbered may we be,
here and in eternity.
Theolgical & Doxological Meditations #37
Q. What benefits do believers receive from Christ at death?
A. The souls of believers are at their death made perfect in holiness (Hebrews 12:23),
and do immediately pass into glory (Philippians 1:23);
and their bodies, being still united to Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:14),
do rest in their graves (Isaiah 57:2) till the resurrection
(Job 19:26).
I Know That My Redeemer Lives
#690, The Trinity Hymnal
Charles Wesley, 1742
I know that my Redeemer lives,
and ever prays for me;
a token of his love he gives,
a pledge of liberty.
I find him lifting up my head;
he brings salvation near;
his presence makes me free indeed
and he will soon appear.
He wills that I should holy be:
who can withstand his will?
The counsel of his grace in me
he surely shall fulfill.
Jesus, I hang upon your Word:
I steadfastly believe
you will return and claim me,
Lord, and to yourself receive.
Theological & Doxological Meditations #36
Benefits of Redemption’s Benefits
Q. What are the benefits which in this life do accompany or flow from justification, adoption and sanctification?
A. The benefits which in this life do accompany or flow
from justification, adoption and sanctification are,
assurance of God’s love,
peace of conscience,
joy in the Holy Ghost (Rom 5:1-2,5),
increase of grace (Pro 4:18),
and perseverance therein to the end (1 Jn 5:13).
O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go
#708, The Trinity Hymnal
George Matheson, 1882
O Love that wilt not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
that in thine ocean depths its flow
may richer, fuller be.
O Light that follow’st all my way,
I yield my flick’ring torch to thee;
my heart restores its boorowed ray,
that in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
may brighgter, fairer be.
O Joy that seekest me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
and feel the promise is not vain
that morn shall tearless be.
O Cross that liftest up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
and from the ground there blossoms red
life that shall endless be.
Theological and Doxological Meditation #35
Sanctification
Q. What is sanctification?
A. Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace (2 Thes 2:13), whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God (Eph 4:24), and are enbled more and more to die unto sin,
and live unto righteousness (Rom 8:1).
and live unto righteousness (Rom 8:1).
#527, The Trinity Hymnal
Isaac Watts, 1674-1748
Blest are the humble souls that see
their emptiness and poverty;
treasures of grace to them are giv’n,
and crowns of joy laid up in heaven.
Blest are the men of broken heart,
who mourn for sin with inward smart;
the blood of Christ divinely flows,
a healing balm for all their woes.
Blest are the meek, who stand afar
from rage and passion, noise and war;
God will secure their happy state,
and plead their cause against the great.
Blest are the souls that thirst for grace,
hunger and long for righteousness;
they shall be well supplied and fed,
with living streams and living bread.
Blest are the men whose hearts do move
and melt with sympathy and love;
from Christ the Lord shall they obtain
like sympathy and love again.
Blest are the pure, whose hearts are clean
from the defiling pow’rs of sin;
with endless pleasure they shall see
a God of spotless purity.
Blest are the men of peaceful life,
who quench the coals of growing strife;
they schall be called the heirs of bliss,
the sons of God, the God of peace.
Blest are the suff’rers who partake
of pain and shame for Jesus’ sake;
their souls shall triumph in the Lord,
glory and joy are their reward.
Theological and Doxological Meditation #34
Adoption
Q. What is adoption?
A. Adoption is an act of God’s free grace (1 Jn 3:1), whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God (Jn 1:12).
#261, The Trinity Hymnal
What wondrous love is this,
O my soul, O my soul,
what wondrous love is this, O my soul!
What wondrous love is this
that caused the Lord of bliss
to bear the dreadful curse
for my soul, for my soul,
to bear the dreadful curse for my soul!
To God and to the Lamb,
I will sing, I will sing,
to God and to the Lamb, I will sing;
to God and to the Lamb,
who is the great I AM,
while millions join the theme,
I will sing, I will sing,
while millions join the theme,
I will sing.
And when from death I’m free,
I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and when from death I’m free, I’ll sing on;
and when from death I’m free,
I’ll sing and joyful be,
and through eternity
I’ll sing on, I’ll sing on,
and through eternity I’ll sing on!
Theological and Doxological Meditation #33
Justification
Q. What is justification?
A. Justification is an act of God’s free grace,
wherein he pardoneth all our sins (Ephesians 1:7),
and accepteth us as righteous in his sight (2 Corinthians 5:21),
only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us (Romans 5:19),
and received by faith alone (Galatians 2:16).
#520, The Trinity Hymnal
Jesus, thy blood and righteousness
my beauty are, my glorious dress;
‘midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
with joy shall I lift up my head.
Bold shall I stand in thy great day;
for who aught to my charge shall lay?
Fully absolved through these I am
from sin and fear, from guilt and shame.
When from the dust of death I rise
to claim my mansion in thge skies,
ev’n then this shall be all my plea,
Jesus hath lived, hath died, for me.
Jesus, be endless praise to thee,
whose boundless mercy hath for me
for me a full atonement made,
an everlasting ransom paid.
O let the dead now hear thy voice;
now bid thy banished ones rejoice;
their beauty this, their glorious dress,
Jesus, thy blood and righteousness.
Theological and Doxological Meditation #32
Benefits of Redemption
Q. What benefits do they that are effectually called partake of in this life?
A. They that are effectually called do in this life
and sanctification,
and the several benefits which in this life
do either accompany or flow from them.
#526, The Trinity Hymnal
Joseph Humphreys, 1743; alt.
Blessed are the sons of God,
they are bought with Christ’s own blood;
they are ransomed from the grave,
life eternal they shall have:
With them numbered may we be,
here and in eternity.
They are justified by grace,
they enjoy the Savior’s peace;
all their sins are washed away,
they shall stand in God’s great day:
With them numbered may we be,
here and in eternity.
They are lights upon the earth,
children of a heav’nly birth;
one with God, with Jesus one,
glory is in them begun:
With them numbered may we be,
here and in eternity.
Theological and Doxological Meditation #31
Effectual Calling
Q. What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit (2 Tim 1:9),
whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery (Acts 2:37), enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ (Acts 26:18), and renewing our wills (Ezk 36:26),
he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ,
freely offered to us in the gospel (John 6:44).
#458, The Trinity Hymnal
Augustus M. Toplady, 1740-1778
What tho’ I cannot break my chain
or e’er throw off my load,
the things impossible to men
are possible to God.
Who, who shall in thy presence stand,
or match Omnipotence;
unfold the grasp of thy right hand
and pluck the sinner thence?
Faith to be healed I fain would have,
O might it now be giv’n;
thou canst, thou canst the sinner save,
and make me meet for heav’n.
Bound down with twice ten thousand ties,
yet let me hear thy call;
my soul in confidence shall rise,
shall rise and break through all.
Thou canst o’ercome this heart of mine,
thou wilt victorious prove;
for everlasting strength is thine,
and everlasting love.
Theological & Doxological Meditation #30
Mode of Application
Q. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
Q. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. The Spirit applieth to us
the redemption purchased by Christ,
by working faith in us (Eph 2:8),
and thereby uniting us to Christ
in our effectual calling (Eph 3:17; 1 Cor 1:9).
By Grace I’m Saved, Grace Free and Boundless
#456, The Trinity Hymnal (© 1990)
Christian L. Scheidt, 1742, centro
Alt. 1990, mod.
By grace I’m saved,
grace free and boundless;
my soul, believe and doubt it not.
Why stagger at this word of promise?
Has Scripture ever falsehood taught?
No; then this word must true remain:
by grace you too shall heav’n obtain.
By grace! None dare lay claim to merit;
our works and conduct have no worth.
God in his love sent our Redeemer,
Christ Jesus, to this sinful earth;
his death did for our sins atone,
and we are saved by grace alone.
By grace! O mark this word of promise
when you are by your sins oppressed,
when Satan plagues your troubled conscience,
and when your heart is seeking rest.
What reason cannot comprehend
God by his grace to you will send.
By grace! This ground of faith is certain;
so long as God is true, it stands.
What saints have penned by inspiration,
what in his Word our God commands,
what our whole faith must rest upon,
is grace alone, grace in his Son.
Theological and Doxological Meditation #29
Redemption Applied
Q. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ,
by the effectual application of it to us (John 1:12)
by his Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5).
#461, Trinity Hymnal (© 1990)
Horatius Bonar, 1861
Not what my hands have done
can save my guilty soul;
not what my toiling flesh has born
can make my spirit whole.
Not what I feel or do
can give me peace with God;
not all my prayers and sighs and tears
can bear my awful load.
Thy work alone, O Christ,
can ease this weight of sin;
thy blood alone, O Lamb of God,
can give me peace within.
Thy love to me, O God,
not mine, O Lord, to thee,
can rid me of this dark unrest,
and set my spirit free.
Thy grace alone, O God,
to me can pardon speak;
thy pow’r alone, O Son of God,
can this sor bondage break.
No other work, save thine,
no other blood will do;
no strength, save that which is divine,
can bear me safely through.
I bless the Christ of God;
I rest on love divine;
and with unfalt’ring lip and heart,
I call this Savior mine.
His cross dispels each doubt;
I bury in his tomb
each thought of unbelief and fear,
each ling’ring shade of gloom.
I praise the God of grace;
I trust his truth and might;
he calls me his, I call him mine,
my God, my joy, my light.
‘Tis he who saveth me,
and freely pardon gives;
I love because he loveth me,
I live because he lives.
Theological and Doxological Meditation #28
Christ’s Exaltation
Q. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation?
A. Christ’s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day (1 Cor 15:4),
in ascending up into heaven,
in sitting at the right hand of God the Father (Mark 16:19),
and in coming to judge the world at the last day (Acts 17:31).
#300, Trinity Hymnal (© 1990)
Blessing and honor and glory and power,
wisdom and riches and strength evermore
give ye to him who our battle hath won,
whose are the kingdom, the crown and the throne.
Soundeth the heav’n of the heav’ns with his name;
ringeth the earth with his glory and fame;
ocean and mountain, stream, forest, and flower
echo his praises and tell of his power.
Ever ascendeth the song and the joy;
ever descendeth the love from on high;
blessing and honor and glory and praise–
this is the theme of the hymns that we raise.
Give we the glory and praise to the Lamb;
take we the robe and the harp and the palm;
sing we the song of the Lamb that was slain,
dying in weakness, but rising to reign.
Theological and Doxological Meditation #27
Christ’s Humiliation
Q. Wherein did
Christ’s humiliation consist?
Christ’s humiliation consist?
A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born,
and that in a low condition (Luke 2:7),
made under the law (Galatians 4:4),
undergoing the miseries of this life (Isaiah 53:3),
the wrath of God (Matthew 27:46),
and the cursed death of the cross (Philippians 2:8),
in being buried,
and continuing under the power of death for a time (Matthew 12:40).
and that in a low condition (Luke 2:7),
made under the law (Galatians 4:4),
undergoing the miseries of this life (Isaiah 53:3),
the wrath of God (Matthew 27:46),
and the cursed death of the cross (Philippians 2:8),
in being buried,
and continuing under the power of death for a time (Matthew 12:40).
#239, Trinity Hymnal (© 1990)
Who is this, so weak and helpless,
child of lowly Hebrew maid,
rudely in a stable sheltered,
coldly in a manger laid?
‘Tis the Lord of all creation,
who this wondrous path has trod;
he is God from everlasting,
and to everlasting God.
Who is this, a Man of Sorrows,
walking sadly life’s hard way,
homeless, weary, sighing, weeping
over sin and Satan’s sway?
‘Tis our God, our glorious Savior,
who above the starry sky
is for us a place preparing,
where no tear can dim the eye.
Who is this? Behold him shedding
drops of blood upon the ground!
Who is this, despised, rejected,
mocked, insulted, beaten, bound?
‘Tis our God, who gifts and graces
on his church is pouring down;
who shall smite in holy vengeance
all his foes beneath his throne.
Who is this that hangs there dying
while the rude world scoffs and scrons,
numbered with the malefactors,
torn with nails, and crowned with thorns?
‘Tis our God who lives forever
‘mid the shining ones on high,
in the glorious golden city,
reigning everlastingly.
Theological and Doxological Meditation #26
Christ’s Royal Office
Q. How does Christ execute the office of a king?
A. Christ executes
the office of a king,
in subduing us to himself
(Psalm 110:3),
in ruling and defending us
(Isaiah 33:22),
and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies
O God, Your Judgments Give the King
Reformed Presbyterian Book of Psalms, 1940
#312, Trinity Hymnal (© 1990)
O God, your judgments give the King,
his son your righteousness;
with right he shall your people judge,
your poor with uprightness.
And then the mountains shall bring forth
to all the people peace;
the hills because of righteousness
their blessing shall increase.
The people’s poor ones he shall judge,
the needy’s children bless;
and he will break in pieces those
who would the poor oppress.
The just shall flourish in his days,
and prosper in his reign;
and while the moon endures he shall
abundant peace maintain.
His large and great dominion shall
from sea to sea extend;
it from the River shall reach forth
to earth’s remotest end.
Yea, kings shall all before him bow,
all nations shall obey;
he’ll save the needy when they cry,
the poor who have no stay.
Now blessed be the Lord our God,
the God of Israel,
for he alone does wondrous works
in glory that excel.
And blessed be his glorious name
to all eternity.
The whole earth let his glory fill;
amen, so let it be.
Theological and Doxological Meditation #25
Christ’s Priestly Office
Q. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
A. Christ executes the office of a priest,
in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice
to satisfy divine justice (Heb 9:28),
and reconcile us to God (Heb 2:17);
and in making continual intercession for us (Heb 7:25).
#305, Trinity Hymnal (© 1990)
Arise, my soul, arise,
shake off your guilty fears;
the bleeding Sacrifice
in my behalf appears:
before the throne my Surety stands,
before the throne my Surety stands,
my name is written on his hands.
He ever lives above,
for me to intercede,
his all-redeeming love,
his precious blood to plead;
his blood atoned for ev’ry race,
his blood atoned for ev’ry race,
and sprinkles now the throne of grace.
Five bleeding wounds he bears,
he received on Calvary;
they pour effectual prayers,
they strongly plead for me.
“Forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“forgive him, O forgive,” they cry,
“nor let that ransomed sinner die!”
My God is reconciled;
his pard’ning voice I hear;
he owns me for his child,
I can no longer fear;
with confidence I now draw nigh,
with confidence I now draw nigh,
and “Father, Abba, Father!” cry.
The Misadventures of Captain Headknowledge 