Covenant Reformed Presbyterian Church

I want to draw you in to today's question by asking you a personal question. A question for you to evaluate. Are you in Adam, or are you in Christ?

This week in the rest of the chapter, 2 Samuel 5:17-25, we will see how, though our enemies attack us, God enables His anointed King to lead us to victory.

In looking at this subject, we are going to do something a little different today. We are going to look at four scripture passages that are related to each other. We read two of them already: Gen 3:1-8 which shows the sin of eating the forbidden fruit; 1 John 2:15-17 which speaks of the lust of the flesh, of the eyes, and the pride of life. The other two are Luke 4:1-13, where we have the temptation of Christ and His outward response; and Psalm 63, where we see the thoughts of His heart when He was tempted. In looking at this today, I hope you will see how eating the forbidden fruit was a rejection of God for an idol.

Today in 2 Samuel 5:6-16, we see how God establishes David's throne in Jerusalem which is also called Mount Zion. Now, Jesus is said to be on His throne in Mt. Zion above. Today in David we will see shadows that teach us about the reign of King Jesus, and not only teach us, but that unite our hearts to Him as our King!

Today, we will see how the tribes of Israel besides Judah, finally received David, God's anointed king, as their king. It was a glorious day for them—and also delightful to David. All of this is given to encourage us to see how good and how important it is for us to receive King Jesus as our King. He is the one that God provided for us to save us.

This week, we are looking at the fact that our first parents chose to sin against God. We will see that this was an act of their (our) free will as the one great human family.

Our gracious God is doing a great work to save the world. He has the plan. In the grand scheme, He is always forming a people for Himself out of the ruins of the fall. In Samuel, we see how He gathers the people He redeems into a kingdom of righteousness. Presently, we are seeing particular things that God's anointed King will not tolerate. With Abner, we saw that clever policy and military muscle do not bring the kingdom. Last week, we saw with Joab how bitterness that cannot forgive has no place. Today, with the sons of Rimmon, we see that selfish ambition has no place.

He had made us and He told us that He was giving us the whole creation. He gave us clear terms. We read about those in Gen 1-2. We saw the overall arrangement and our purpose to fill the earth and use it to bless each other. Let's read from Genesis 1:26 – 2:25 again today, only, this time, we will focus on the covenant, the terms of life that He established with us to go on in life.

David, who was very glad to see Israel finally coming to him, as God had promised, set the terms in a way that forced Abner to acknowledge that David, not Abner, was in charge. Almost everyone was glad to see this union under David, but David's nephew Joab, who was the commander of David's armies, although he certainly wanted to see David as king of all Israel, had a bitter grudge against Abner that took first place in his response.

To put this very succinctly, God is carrying out the plan He has for His whole creation. He is moving the whole creation along to its ultimate destiny of glory.

Today in 2 Samuel 3, we are going to look at the surprising ways that God used to advanced His kingdom when He brought David from being King over Judah to being King over all twelve tribes of Israel. God had purposed to do it, so why didn't He just have all twelve tribes come over after Saul died? It would have been much tidier than having Abner lead them all in rebellion.

This week's question is question 10, which singles out God's creation of man. This is a very straightforward description of what God did as found in God's Word. First, it simply says that He created us—directly and personally. Second, it says that He made us male and female. Third, it says that He created us after His image in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. See John 4, Col 3:10, Eph 4:24. Fourth, it says that we were given dominion over the creatures. Clearly stated in Genesis 1. Today, I want to show you how your God's joy and loving delight in us is demonstrated in the way He created us. Praise be to Him!

It has been several weeks since we have been in our sermon series from 2 Samuel. We stopped in the middle of a 2 Sam 2. Today we will look at the rest of chapter 2. Here we see a contrast between David, who is a prince of peace, and Abner, who is a warmonger.

As we come to a new year this week, I thought it would be helpful for us to take a look at the book in the Bible that is given to instruct us in how to live beautifully: Proverbs. Chapter 1 describes the purpose of the whole book and gives us a good overview of its contents. It sets us in the right direction. It shows us how to live beautifully (wisely).

This week, we take up question 8 which explains the two ways that God carries out His plan—the two ways that He brings it about or executes it.

As many of you know, I sometimes interrupt our regular sermon series to preach on a subject that has presented itself to us in God's providence. So today, I am going to speak about two sons who have been born—given to us, the Lord Jesus Christ, and Lawrence Kubik—who is being baptised today. While there is no comparison, there is a beautiful correlation and connection. In the opening of Isaiah 9, he brings words of tremendous encouragement. In the first five verses, He tells them of wonderful changes that are coming, but with each one, suspense builds as to how He is going to bring these blessings about.

The three persons are clearly distinguished here. Jesus begins by saying, "You believe in God." This speaks of the One God (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). But then in John 14, Jesus goes on to speak of three distinct divine persons.

The Jews were baptised to enter the New Covenant when they accepted Him as the promised Messiah, and the Gentiles when they were called to come to God through faith in Him. Both Jews and Gentiles came with their children. But after churches were established, most of the baptisms were of the children born in those families. So it is today in churches that practice household baptism.

Since it is true that we know God innately, the Scriptures often simply assume and assert (without argumentation) that there is only one true God.

Last week, we saw David's Christ-like response to the news of Saul's & Israel's demise. He truly grieved. He brought justice to the Amalekite for killing the Lord's Anointed. Today, we are moving on in 2 Samuel chapter 1, picking up with verse 17. Here we are shown a wonderful example of godly lamentation.

Today in our Westminster Shorter Catechism series, we are going to look at a basic definition of God—things we need to know about Him and why we need to know them.

Today, in the opening chapter of 2 Samuel, we see the very Christ-like response of David as soon as he receives the news about the demise of King Saul.

We saw that we cannot rely on human wisdom to bring us to God (I Cor 1:18 – 2:16). Human wisdom does not bring people to God. Trusting in Christ crucified does. Today's question, question 3, is related to last week's question. I want to show you that the focus of these principal teachings of scripture, what we are to believe and how we are to live, is Jesus.

Today, we come to the end of First Samuel. Here we have the demise of Saul to make room for David to take the throne. We have seen God preparing David by His grace to be a model of King Jesus. We have seen Saul come to ruin, a man who was never brought to personal repentance and was a king like the nations instead of like Jesus. Here in chapter 31, we see the striking contrast between Saul's demise and David's rise.

Today, we are moving on to Question 2. If you are convinced that your chief end is to glorify and enjoy God (and I hope you are), then you will want to know how to do that! Q. 2 tells us.

Today, I will review 1 Sam 30:1-10, 'David Returns Home ' then, cover the rest of chapter 30.

Last week, we began a new afternoon sermon series on the Shorter Catechism. I did an introductory message to show you that God has called us to confess our faith, therefore faithful churches have always had creeds and confessions. We are to hold to the pattern of such sound words in opposition to false doctrine, false beliefs, that some who profess Christ hold. As those gathered for worship, it is proper for us to confess these articles of faith. So we will do that each week. Today, we come to the First Question in the Catechism. So I will ask the question and then we will confess the answer together. Q. 1. What is the chief end of Man? A. Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.

People of God, see how much the Lord loves us. He will not allow those that He loves to go on being lukewarm. David did not repent when God rescued him. Gentle measures failed, so now the Lord takes more severe measures.

This afternoon, I am going to start a new sermon series on the Shorter Catechism. It seems like I sense a need for this about every five years. But why do we do Catechism, and what are we trying to accomplish? Five years ago, I emphasised that we are called to do Catechism. I want to do that again, but to emphasise that it is Christ that we are given when we believe the articles of faith. The goal is for us to be rooted and built up in the faith.

My dear brothers and sisters, in this chapter our Lord shows us that He is the One who rescues us when we have become hopelessly entangled with the world through faithless compromise like David was.

Today, since we have the blessing of welcoming nine new members, and of baptising four covenant children, I am going to break from our regular sermon series in Samuel. Those who are joining want to be a part of a church with a biblical confession and practice. That is why they have come. I want to show you today that where you worship, and what church you are a part of, is important because God is those who will worship Him in spirit and truth.

John's great burden in this Epistle is to encourage believers to continue trusting in Christ for ongoing fellowship with God—that we grow in our knowledge of God, in our delight in Him, in our love for Him and for others, in our obedience and in our service. Since faith in Jesus is the vehicle that fuels our growing relationship with God, it is essential for us to have certainty about Jesus—that He is indeed the One who saves us!

This week, we will focus on why our Lord, as a faithful Saviour, rejects Saul.

In 1 John 4, John has much to say about love. In 1 John 4:7-12, we saw how, as those who are adopted into God's family, we have the perfect conditions for love—a new nature from God and new environment in His house. In 1 John 4:12-19, we saw how our security increases as we mature in love. Today in 1 John 4:20 – 5:5, we are going to see still more about love. Here, we are given a reality check about our love, and then we are sent to Him for help. It is a tremendously helpful passage! Let's dig in.

I am so thankful for the realistic picture the Bible gives us even of the heroes of the faith like David. It shows us their godliness as well as their sin. This is helpful for our walk. But this is not the best part. The best part is that the Bible shows us how God's grace intersects with their lives. This helps us to trust Him and love Him better. Today, we see David in a time of weariness. He pursues relief in a sinful way.

This week, we are going to look at one of the effects of "maturing love:" It makes us secure. A child who grows up in a loving family becomes more and more mature in that love and more and more secure about his place in that family. He knows that He belongs there. Our reading today is 1 John 4:12-19. As has often been the case in our study of 1 John, we have a transitional verse that was included in last week's reading: verse 12.

In 1 Sam 26, we see David, God's anointed king, having to deal with Saul all over again. Back in chapter 24, King Saul had been pursing David to destroy him in almost exactly the same way until one day when he entered a cave, unaware that David was hiding there and was forced to confess when David spared him that David was righteous and he was wicked. He left David alone for a while after that (chapter 25), but in 26 he is at it all over again

Today in First John, we are covering chapter 4, verses 7-12. In the last three sermons we looked at evidences that we know God. The first one was that we obey God as God. The second is a subset of the first… we love our brothers—other Christians. The third evidence is that we follow those who preach the truth. This week, John shows us from whence love comes—the source of it.