Heritage Weekly #77
Dear Heritage of Faith Family,
*Quick reminder: Fellowship meal this Sunday following service
Let’s continue looking at the article on contentment by William Ames. Here are the next seven in a total of 22 points on the topic. The first eight can be found HERE.
Contentment
One of the most difficult of Christian virtues to obtain.
Dr. William Ames
9. Covetousness is opposed to contentment, Heb. 13:5.
10. Covetousness does not mean the power and faculty of desiring and seeking what is natural; or the act of that natural faculty, or its lawful operation, which is also natural; or the whole inclination of our corrupt nature (not specially condemned in any one precept but in the whole law); or the actual inordinate primary lusts (for the most part contrary to religion and condemned in the first table); or last, lusts which tend to the hurt of our neighbor (for those having a deliberate will and purpose behind them are condemned in the other commandments). Covetousness means that desire which first instigates and excites the mind to yearn for the good things of our neighbors although it has not yet occurred to us to get them by unlawful means, 1 Kings 21:2; Mark 10:19.
11. The affinity or close connection which these primary motives of injustice have with original corruption (whence they arise) has led many to confuse the two. But the following should be considered. First, original sin is an inborn disposition [habitus], so to speak, perpetually and continually with us during this life, and always in the same manner while we live here, but those motives are transient expressions of the disposition. Second, the sin in us is no more an original than a general principle of all vicious action, while the expressions of it which are condemned here are plainly limited to those which affect only our neighbor.
12. The Apostle himself in Rom. 7 clearly explains this commandment by a figure describing the operations of sin. Concupiscence, verse 7, is the same as the Passions of sinners, verse 5, and as Concupiscence effected by sin, verse 8, and must be distinguished from Indwelling sin, verse 7.
13. It is no marvel that the Pharisees (of whom Paul was one) did not acknowledge the first motives of covetousness to be sins. The same refusal is stiffly made by their cousins, the papists.
14. Those who divide this last commandment about covetousness in two, one part about coveting the house and the other about coveting the wife and other objects have forsaken all reason in this matter. They are forced either to abandon the second commandment of the first table or to turn it into a needless appendix of the first commandment so that they may in some way retain the number ten. Or rather, as is evident with many of them, obscuring the force of the second commandment in order with some show to separate from it themselves and their superstitions, they tear apart this tenth commandment. They have no choice about which is the ninth and which the tenth commandment because in the repetition of the law, Deut. 5:27, coveting the wife is put before coveting the house. They cannot say it is clearly wrong to join together these two types of coveting when they themselves in explaining the decalogue always join or rather confuse the ninth and tenth commandments. Last, the very words of the decalogue plainly show that it is one commandment, when they forbid one act (You shall not covet) and have a common object (Anything that is your neighbor’s).
May we all find our contentment in Jesus Christ!
Yours by Faith Alone,
Pastor Vaughn Christensen
><>><> FAMILY WORSHIP HELPS <><<><
Article III of HOFC By-Laws: Sacraments (Ordinances)
Section 1. Baptism
The Lord has commanded baptism with water in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19-20). Baptism with water is a sacrament (or ordinance) of the Christian church, and the Elders of the church are responsible to ensure that baptisms are administered in a scriptural fashion, and the proper signification of water baptism preserved and maintained. Water baptism signifies union with Christ in His death, burial and resurrection (Romans 6:3-7), the baptism by the Holy Spirit into the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13), the washing away of sin (Acts 22:16), the washing of regeneration (Titus 3:5), the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:6; Acts 10:44,47), and the circumcision of the heart (Colossians 2:11-12).
Water baptism does not impart grace by means of water. God imparts grace to His saints to enable them to obey Him (2 Corinthians 9:8), and strengthens them further by grace in that obedience (Hebrews 12:14-15). The faithful observance of water baptism constitutes one part of that obedience, and is therefore a means of grace.
Legitimate modes of water baptism include immersion, pouring, or sprinkling in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Romans 6:4; Acts 10:44-48; Hebrews 9:9-10). The scriptural significance of water baptism is not nullified by the mode of application.
The head of the household makes recommendations to the Elders concerning members of his household regarding the matter of baptism. Under the headship of Christ, the administration of baptism remains the responsibility of the Elders. However, in such administration, the Elders are to respect the spiritual responsibility of the head of the household. Therefore, credo-baptist heads of households will be responsible to present their family members to the Elders for baptism upon a personal profession of faith of that child. Paedo-baptist heads of households will be responsible to present their infant children, as well as any other unbaptized family members, to the Elders for baptism at the earliest opportunity.
Question of the Week (from Westminster Larger Catechism)
Q27: What misery did the fall bring upon mankind?
A27: The fall brought upon mankind the loss of communion with God,[1] his displeasure and curse; so as we are by nature children of wrath,[2] bond slaves to Satan,[3] and justly liable to all punishments in this world, and that which is to come.[4]
1. Gen. 3:8, 10, 24
2. Eph. 2:2-3
3. II Tim. 2:26
4. Gen. 2:17; Lam. 3:39; Rom. 6:23; Matt. 25:41, 46, Jude 1:7
><>><>><> 4/13 LORD’S DAY<><<><<><
Series:
The Gospel According to Mark
Sermon:
Mark 6:1-29 The Life of God’s Witness
Hymns:
p. 13 Amazing Grace
p. 79 To God Be the Glory
p. 12 Am I a soldier of the Cross?
p. 37 Holy, Holy, Holy!
p. 80 Doxology
><> OTHER NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS <><
Upcoming Events
4/13 – Fellowship Meal following Service
4/21 – Christian Leaders Roundtable Meeting – 9-noon at FOFC, Monee
4/23 – Ladies Fellowship study – 7:30 p.m. at Emrick home
4/25 – Men’s Fellowship breakfast – 6 a.m. at Harner’s
4/27 – Nursing home visit: Sunrise of Naperville North – 3 p.m.
4/30 – Gym Night at Sugar Grove Community House