Cornerstone Berean Church

The pursuit of the good life will only leave you empty, exasperated, and exhausted; so pursue Christ instead, in whom alone are all the treasures of true wisdom.

Paragraph 1 The covenant of works being broken by sin, and made unprofitable unto life, God was pleased to give forth the promise of Christ, the seed of the woman, as the means of calling the elect, and begetting in them faith and repentance;1 in this promise the gospel, as to the substance of it, was revealed, and [is] therein effectual for the conversion and salvation of sinners.2 1 Gen. 3:15 2 Rev. 13:8 — Paragraph 2 This promise of Christ, and salvation by him, is revealed only by the Word of God;3 neither do the works of creation or providence, with the light of nature, make discovery of Christ, or of grace by him, so much as in a general or obscure way;4 much less that men destitute of the revelation of Him by the promise or gospel, should be enabled thereby to attain saving faith or repentance.5 3 Rom. 1;17 4 Rom. 10:14–15,17 5 Prov. 29:18; Isa. 25:7; 60:2–3 —

God has afflicted mankind with the griefs of life to turn our hearts back to Him in humility by upending our illusion that human endeavor can overcome the curse.

— Paragraph 3 Besides this law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, his graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits;6 and partly holding forth divers instructions of moral duties,7 all which ceremonial laws being appointed only to the time of reformation, are, by Jesus Christ the true Messiah and only law-giver, who was furnished with power from the Father for that end abrogated and taken away.8 6 Heb. 10:1; Col. 2:17 7 1 Cor. 5:7 8 Col. 2:14,16–17; Eph. 2:14,16 — Paragraph 4 To them also he gave sundry judicial laws, which expired together with the state of that people, not obliging any now by virtue of that institution; their general equity only being of moral use.9 9 1 Cor. 9:8–10 — Paragraph 5 The moral law does for ever bind all, as well justified persons as others, to the obedience thereof,10 and that not only in regard of the matter contained in it, but also in respect of the authority of God the Creator, who gave it;11 neither does Christ in the Gospel any way dissolve, but much strengthen this obligation.12 10 Rom. 13:8–10; James 2:8,10–12 11 James 2:10–11 12 Matt. 5:17–19; Rom. 3:31

Considered apart from the LORD, all things are wearisome and frustrating and have no lasting remembrance; but God promises justice and joy to all who fear and love Him.

Life in this broken world is a confusing mess that cannot be understood or controlled by human wisdom, but by faith we can learn to be joyfully content with our portion in it and to use what we are given for worship.

Of the Law of God Chapter 19 — Paragraph 1 God gave to Adam a law of universal obedience written in his heart, and a particular precept of not eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil;1 by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience;2 promised life upon the fulfilling, and threatened death upon the breach of it, and endued him with power and ability to keep it.3 1 Gen. 1:27; Eccles. 7:29 2 Rom. 10:5 3 Gal. 3:10,12 — Paragraph 2 The same law that was first written in the heart of man continued to be a perfect rule of righteousness after the fall,4 and was delivered by God upon Mount Sinai, in ten commandments, and written in two tables, the four first containing our duty towards God, and the other six, our duty to man.5 4 Rom. 2:14–15 5 Deut. 10:4

Though His own people were appalled by His gruesome death, yet by it the LORD's Servant was highly exalted and brought salvation to the nations.

NO HANDOUT PROVIDED God's Sovereignty in everything that happens. God's Long Suffering with sinful people The folly of the Israelites pre-occupation with false gods.

— Paragraph 3 The Lord Jesus, in His human nature thus united to the divine, in the person of the Son, was sanctified and anointed with the Holy Spirit above measure,13 having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge;14 in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell,15 to the end that being holy, harmless, undefiled,16 and full of grace and truth,17 He might be throughly furnished to execute the office of mediator and surety;18 which office He took not upon himself, but was thereunto called by His Father;19 who also put all power and judgement in His hand, and gave Him commandment to execute the same.20 13 Ps. 45:7; Acts 10:38; John 3:34 14 Col. 2:3 15 Col. 1:19 16 Heb. 7:26 17 John 1:14 18 Heb. 7:22 19 Heb. 5:5 20 John 5:22,27; Matt. 28:18; Acts 2:36 — Paragraph 4 This office the Lord Jesus did most willingly undertake,21 which that He might discharge He was made under the law,22 and did perfectly fulfill it, and underwent the punishment due to us, which we should have born and suffered,23 being made sin and a curse for us;24 enduring most grievous sorrows in His soul, and most painful sufferings in His body;25 was crucified, and died, and remained in the state of the dead, yet saw no corruption:26 on the third day He arose from the dead27 with the same body in which He suffered,28 with which He also ascended into heaven,29 and there sits at the right hand of His Father making intercession,30 and shall return to judge men and angels at the end of the world.31 21 Ps. 40:7–8; Heb. 10:5–10; John 10:18 22 Gal 4:4; Matt. 3:15 23 Gal. 3:13; Isa. 53:6; 1 Pet. 3:18 24 2 Cor. 5:21 25 Matt. 26:37,38; Luke 22:44; Matt. 27:46 26 Acts 13:37 27 1 Cor. 15:3–4 28 John 20:25,27 29 Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9–11 30 Rom. 8:34; Heb. 9:24 31 Acts 10:42; Rom. 14:9–10; Acts 1:11; 2 Pet. 2:4

The Big Idea – Our burden of Sin is only resolved through confession and our redemption. When the burden is lifted, it inspires the righteous and upright to profound joy and goodness.

Those who are in Christ have been moved from the realm of sin and death to the realm of the spirit of life.

The LORD expects married couples to honor their marital covenant as the most important human bond and to prioritize their marriage over all other human relationships.

Chapter 17 Paragraph 1 Those whom God has accepted in the beloved, effectually called and sanctified by his Spirit, and given the precious faith of his elect unto, can neither totally nor finally fall from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved, seeing the gifts and callings of God are without repentance, from which source he still begets and nourishes in them faith, repentance, love, joy, hope, and all the graces of the Spirit unto immortality;1 and though many storms and floods arise and beat against them, yet they shall never be able to take them off that foundation and rock which by faith they are fastened upon; notwithstanding, through unbelief and the temptations of Satan, the sensible sight of the light and love of God may for a time be clouded and obscured from them,2 yet he is still the same, and they shall be sure to be kept by the power of God unto salvation, where they shall enjoy their purchased possession, they being engraved upon the palm of his hands, and their names having been written in the book of life from all eternity.3 1 John 10:28,29; Phil. 1:6; 2 Tim. 2:19; 1 John 2:19 2 Ps. 89:31–32; 1 Cor. 11:32 3 Mal. 3:6

Nothing is more important than to believe that Christ died for our sins, was buried, and was raised again on the third day in fulfillment of the Scriptures.

Sermon was authored by our Associate Pastor Candidate Josh Coleman. Josh was affirmed by our body on April 13, 2025, and has accepted the call to minister here. He and his family will move to Kearney in late summer. Accurate thoughts about the character of God and the works of God are the greatest defense against evil desires and the greatest motivation toward the pursuit of Holiness. No outline or slides provided for today's message

No Handout today

True satisfaction and fulfillment can only be found in the Lord, by seeking Him first and by finding delight in Him above all.

The LORD's just judgment of Zedekiah and idolatrous Judah vindicated Jeremiah as a true prophet, and Jehoiachin's restoration prefigured the LORD's merciful kindness granted to us in Christ.

Paragraph 5 We cannot by our best works merit pardon of sin or eternal life at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them we can neither profit nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins;14 but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because they are good they proceed from his Spirit,15 and as they are wrought by us they are defiled and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God's punishment.16 14 Rom. 3:20; Eph. 2:8–9; Rom. 4:6 15 Gal. 5:22–23 16 Isa. 64:6; Ps. 43:2 — Paragraph 6 Yet notwithstanding the persons of believers being accepted through Christ, their good works also are accepted in him;17 not as though they were in this life wholly unblamable and unreprovable in God's sight, but that he, looking upon them in his Son, is pleased to accept and reward that which is sincere, although accompanied with many weaknesses and imperfections.18 17 Eph. 1:5; 1 Pet. 1:5 18 Matt. 25:21,23; Heb. 6:10 — Paragraph 7 Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands, and of good use both to themselves and to others;19 yet because they proceed not from a heart purified by faith,20 nor are done in a right manner according to the Word,21 nor to a right end, the glory of God,22 they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, nor make a man meet to receive the grace from God,23 and yet their neglect for them is more sinful and displeasing to God.24 19 2 Kings 10:30; 1 Kings 21:27,29 20 Gen. 4:5; Heb. 11:4,6 21 1 Cor. 13:1 22 Matt. 6:2,5 23 Amos 5:21–22; Rom. 9:16; Titus 3:5 24 Job 21:14–15; Matt. 25:41–43

The LORD is near to His people and will surely save them no matter their circumstances, and He will bring them safely home by keeping them under His loving discipline.

— Paragraph 2 These good works, done in obedience to God's commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith;3 and by them believers manifest their thankfulness,4 strengthen their assurance,5 edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel,6 stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God,7 whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto,8 that having their fruit unto holiness they may have the end eternal life.9 3 James 2:18,22 4 Ps. 116:12–13 5 1 John 2:3,5; 2 Pet. 1:5–11 6 Matt. 5:16 7 1 Tim. 6:1; 1 Pet. 2:15; Phil. 1:11 8 Eph. 2:10 9 Rom 6:22 — Paragraph 3 Their ability to do good works is not at all of themselves, but wholly from the Spirit of Christ;10 and that they may be enabled thereunto, besides the graces they have already received, there is necessary an actual influence of the same Holy Spirit, to work in them to will and to do of his good pleasure;11 yet are they not hereupon to grow negligent, as if they were not bound to perform any duty, unless upon a special motion of the Spirit, but they ought to be diligent in stirring up the grace of God that is in them.12 10 John 15:4–5 11 2 Cor. 3:5; Phil. 2:13 12 Phil. 2:12; Heb. 6:11–12; Isa. 64:7 — Paragraph 4 They who in their obedience attain to the greatest height which is possible in this life, are so far from being able to supererogate, and to do more than God requires, as that they fall short of much which in duty they are bound to do.13 13 Job 9:2–3; Gal. 5:17; Luke 17:10 —

The LORD alone is God and King over all the nations, and He will rightly judge those who will not trust in Him but will save those who love Him.

— Paragraph 1 Good works are only such as God has commanded in his Holy Word,1 and not such as without the warrant thereof are devised by men out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intentions.2 1 Mic. 6:8; Heb. 13:21 2 Matt. 15:9; Isa. 29:13

The LORD is gracious and kind to His servants even when they need His correction and consolation.

Chapter 15 Paragraph 3 This saving repentance is an evangelical grace,4 whereby a person, being by the Holy Spirit made sensible of the manifold evils of his sin, does, by faith in Christ, humble himself for it with godly sorrow, detestation of it, and self–abhorrancy,5 praying for pardon and strength of grace, with a purpose and endeavor, by supplies of the Spirit, to walk before God unto all well–pleasing in all things.6 4 Zech. 12:10; Acts 11:18 5 Ezek. 36:31; 2 Cor. 7:11 6 Ps. 119:6,128 Paragraph 4 As repentance is to be continued through the whole course of our lives, upon the account of the body of death, and the motions thereof, so it is every man's duty to repent of his particular known sins particularly.7 7 Luke 19:8; 1 Tim. 1:13,15 Paragraph 5 Such is the provision which God has made through Christ in the covenant of grace for the preservation of believers unto salvation, that although there is no sin so small but it deserves damnation,8 yet there is no sin so great that it shall bring damnation to them that repent,9 which makes the constant preaching of repentance necessary. 8 Rom. 6:23 9 Isa. 1:16–18, 55:7

Our deepest desires determine and empower our idols, and they will rule over us if we do not turn away from them.

Paragraph 3 This faith, although it be in different stages, and may be weak or strong,11 yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as is all other saving grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers;12 and therefore, though it may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory,13 growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ,14 who is both the author and finisher of our faith.15 11 Heb. 5:13–14; Matt. 6:30; Rom. 4:19–20 12 2 Pet. 1:1 13 Eph. 6:16; 1 John 5:4–5 14 Heb. 6:11–12; Col. 2:2 15 Heb. 12:2 Chapter 15 — Paragraph 1 Such of the elect that are converted at riper years, having sometime lived in the state of nature, and therein served divers pleasures, God in their effectual calling gives them repentance to life.1 1 Titus 3:2–5 — Paragraph 2 Whereas there is none that does good and does not sin,2 and the best of men may, through the power and deceitfulness of their corruption dwelling in them, with the prevalency of temptation, fall in to great sins and provocations; God has, in the covenant of grace, mercifully provided that believers so sinning and falling be renewed through repentance unto salvation.3 2 Eccles. 7:20 3 Luke 22:31–32

Paragraph 1 The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts,1 and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word;2 by which also, and by the administration of baptism and the Lord's supper, prayer, and other means appointed of God, it is increased and strengthened.3 1 2 Cor. 4:13; Eph. 2:8 2 Rom. 10:14,17 3 Luke 17:5; 1 Pet. 2:2; Acts 20:32 — Paragraph 2 By this faith a Christian believes to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word for the authority of God himself,4 and also apprehends an excellency therein above all other writings and all things in the world,5 as it bears forth the glory of God in his attributes, the excellency of Christ in his nature and offices, and the power and fullness of the Holy Spirit in his workings and operations: and so is enabled to cast his soul upon the truth consequently believed;6 and also acts differently upon that which each particular passage thereof contains; yielding obedience to the commands,7 trembling at the threatenings,8 and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come;9 but the principle acts of saving faith have immediate relation to Christ, accepting, receiving, and resting upon him alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.10 4 Acts 24:14 5 Ps. 19:7-10, 69:72 6 2 Tim. 1:12 7 John 15:14 8 Isa. 116:2 9 Heb. 11:13 10 John 1:12; Acts 16:31; Gal. 2:20; Acts 15:11 — Paragraph 3 This faith, although it be in different stages, and may be weak or strong,11 yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it, as is all other saving grace, from the faith and common grace of temporary believers;12 and therefore, though it may be many times assailed and weakened, yet it gets the victory,13 growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ,14 who is both the author and finisher of our faith.15 11 Heb. 5:13–14; Matt. 6:30; Rom. 4:19–20 12 2 Pet. 1:1 13 Eph. 6:16; 1 John 5:4–5 14 Heb. 6:11–12; Col. 2:2 15 Heb. 12:2

Understanding the sources of their superstitions and recognizing the force they wielded in shaping their lives will keep us from walking the same course to destruction.

The LORD patiently pleads with His people even when they rebel, but He will bring His just judgments against the rebellious.

An Exposition of the 2nd (1689) London Baptist Confession  Chapter 13.1-3: Of Sanctification 13.1 They who are united to Christ, effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart and a new spirit created in them through the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection, are also farther sanctified, really and personally,a through the same virtue, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them;b the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed,c and the several lusts of it are more and more weakened and mortified,d and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces,e to the practice of all true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.f

We can wear no better identity than that of Christ. Our joy in trials is in the hands of our Father who has put His Fatherhood on display by sending His  only Son to die for our sins and then return Him to His great glory in heaven. His jealous love wants us to know the affections of His sufficiency.

Link to Wes Huff video in this class. Closing comments by Abe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RMcz3T3fj0

Paragraph 1 All those that are justified, God conferred, in and for the sake of his only Son Jesus Christ, to make partakers of the grace of adoption,1 by which they are taken into the number, and enjoy the liberties and privileges of the children of God,2 have his name put on them,3 receive the spirit of adoption,4 have access to the throne of grace with boldness, are enabled to cry Abba, Father,5 are pitied,6 protected,7 provided for,8 and chastened by him as by a Father,9 yet never cast off,10 but sealed to the day of redemption,11 and inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation.12 1 Eph. 1:5; Gal. 4:4–5 2 John 1:12; Rom. 8:17 3 2 Cor. 6:18; Rev. 3:12 4 Rom. 8:15 5 Gal. 4:6; Eph. 2:18 6 Ps. 103:13 7 Prov. 14:26; 1 Pet. 5:7 8 Heb. 12:6 9 Isa. 54:8–9 10 Lam. 3:31 11 Eph. 4:30 12 Heb. 1:14, 6:12

Faithlessness produces fear and results in great loss, but faith produces fearlessness and results in great gain.

Because Christ is our perfect King and High Priest, we will live in the presence of the LORD in perfect peace and prosperity without any guilt or shame for all eternity.

— Paragraph 4 God did from all eternity decree to justify all the elect,11 and Christ did in the fullness of time die for their sins, and rise again for their justification;12 nevertheless, they are not justified personally, until the Holy Spirit in time does actually apply Christ to them.13 11 Gal. 3:8, 1 Pet. 1:2, 1 Tim. 2:6 12 Rom. 4:25 13 Col. 1:21–22, Titus 3:4–7 — Paragraph 5 God continues to forgive the sins of those that are justified,14 and although they can never fall from the state of justification,15 yet they may, by their sins, fall under God's fatherly displeasure;16 and in that condition they usually do not have the light of his countenance restored to them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.17 14 Matt. 6:12, 1 John 1:7,9 15 John 10:28 16 Ps. 89:31–33 17 Ps. 32:5, Ps. 51, Matt. 26:75 — Paragraph 6 The justification of believers under the Old Testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the New Testament.18 18 Gal. 3:9; Rom. 4:22–24

The LORD is right in His judgments toward us; but because He is merciful, He executed an everlasting covenant in which He promised eternal good to us and now moves us to respond in faith.

Paragraph 2 Faith thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification;6 yet is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but works by love.7 6 Rom. 3:28 7 Gal.5:6, James 2:17,22,26 — Paragraph 3 Christ, by his obedience and death, did fully discharge the debt of all those who are justified; and did, by the sacrifice of himself in the blood of his cross, undergoing in their stead the penalty due to them, make a proper, real, and full satisfaction to God's justice in their behalf;8 yet, in as much as he was given by the Father for them, and his obedience and satisfaction accepted in their stead, and both freely, not for anything in them,9 their justification is only of free grace, that both the exact justice and rich grace of God might be glorified in the justification of sinners.10 8 Heb. 10:14; 1 Pet. 1:18–19; Isa. 53:5–6 9 Rom. 8:32; 2 Cor. 5:21 10 Rom. 3:26; Eph. 1:6–7, 2:7

The thoughts, words and actions of the believer should be noticeably contrasted to our old nature and the culture of the world because we are a new creation, brought to life by the power of Christ's work on the cross.  

Considering our finitude brings wisdom as we look to our everlasting God for instruction, mercy, satisfaction, and purpose. Respond to your finitude according to a fear of the LORD by... I. Contrasting your short life with the everlasting God. (v. 1-6) II. Contemplating the power of His anger and wrath toward sin. (v. 7-11) III. Calling out to Him for instruction, for mercy, for satisfaction, and for purpose. (v. 12-17)

Jesus invites all who are weary from their works and burdened under the requirements of the Law to come to Him for true rest.

The LORD revealed to Joseph, and now to us, that Jesus was born of the Holy Spirit and is the one who will save all who believe on Him.

In the New Covenant, the LORD promised a new reality that is substantially different from that found in the Old Covenant, ensuring a sure salvation for all in it.