KCPC Blog

Living by Faith in the Wilderness

 

The author of Hebrews teaches God’s people in Christ that although we have been redeemed from sin, death and the devil, we live between promise and fulfillment in the wilderness of this present age. As God’s people we have yet to arrive and receive the full consummation of God’s promises. We are already made a kingdom of priests in Christ and so we are to live by faith as a counter-cultural kingdom people before the world (Rev. 1:5-6). God calls us to live by faith in this present age primarily by keeping our eyes on Jesus, our Great High Priest, who has faithfully gone ahead of us, and has sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high.

 

We learn in Hebrews 11 that saving faith that God gives to his people is characterized in several important ways. Faith’s focus is on Christ as He is draped in all His magnificent glory and perfect righteousness (Heb. 1:1-4; 12:2). We are to travel this arduous road as pilgrims knowing that we have all we need in the Perfect person, completed work, and ongoing intercession of Jesus for us. Faith’s endurance is that God has granted this to us, that all of God’s people will endure to the end (Heb. 10:36, 39, 11:49-12:3). Faith’s sight is that as pilgrims we behold the Triune, Sovereign, Eternal God who is invisible and who lives in unapproachable light, who is self-existent, and who has clearly spoken in creation and in His Word (Heb. 1:1-3; 11:6; 1 Tim. 1:17). Faith’s commendation is that when we walk by faith with right hearts, right worship, right relationship, and right response to His salvation and judgment in Christ, we please God—which brings deep and unimaginable joy (“Joy inexpressible and full of glory”-1 Pet. 1:8!).

 

Faith’s inheritance teaches us that this present age is not our home and we await a Heavenly Home (Heb. 11:13-16). Faith’s confidence is that although we don’t see the promises of God being fulfilled, we know that God is able to do what He has promised to do! Faith’s courage is that we are often persecuted and scoffed at by the world, yet we know that we’re more than overcomers through Jesus who loved us. Faith’s power is that we live by faith humble lives, carrying our cross and displaying the power of God in weakness. Let us live counter-culturally by faith as congregation of priests at KCPC, living joyfully and gratefully as God’s redeemed children!

 

In  Christ,

Pastor Charles

Book Review

Pastor Biggs wrote the following review for the upcomming edition of New Horizon’s:

 

“The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap between Gospel Passion and the Pursuit of Godliness”

Charles R. Biggs

 book review

The Bible teaches us that “without holiness no man shall see the LORD.” The glory of God and our holiness are the end goals of our salvation (Eph. 1:4-5). J. C. Ryle wrote in the 19th century: “We must be holy, because this is one grand end and purpose for which Christ came into the world….Jesus is a complete Savior.”

Pastor Kevin DeYoung in this very clear and pastorally concerned book says that the problem in many congregations today is that “there is a gap between our love for the gospel and our love for godliness” (pg. 21). We love to hear the gospel (as we should!), but we are not as earnest about our love for holiness.

DeYoung faithfully guides the reader past the errors of what holiness is not, and addresses the grave dangers of legalism and antinomianism in the Christian life (pgs. 33-47).

We are saved by grace alone through faith, but we are saved for, or unto good works (Eph. 2:8-10; pg. 25). Redemption is salvation from the penalty and the power of sin. We are forgiven and set free to serve God obediently (pgs. 63ff). As our Lord Jesus said: “If you love me, keep my commandments.”

As a help for growing in holiness, DeYoung makes the important distinctions between the indicatives and the imperatives in Scripture. The indicatives are the reality of who we are in Jesus Christ, and the imperatives are those commands that we do in light of who we are in Christ (Col. 3:1-4).

In Christ, believers can seek “extraordinary holiness through ordinary means” through prayer, Bible reading, and hearing the Word of God preached, as well as in fellowship with other believers and regular attendance to the Lord’s Supper. These are the means that Christ has provided for believers to grow in holiness and be like him (pg. 133ff).

DeYoung concludes reminding believers that we should seek to live a life of daily repentance. We always need God’s grace to grow, and when we fail, and when we fall short, we should seek the grace and mercy of Jesus, asking Him to help us in our weakness (pg. 137ff).

I commend the careful balance and pastoral tone of the writer, and the proper focus on the Triune God in the salvation of His people. This book will be outstanding for bible study groups, and has a helpful study guide at the end. This book I would recommend highly for all Christians, but especially those who are new Christians and new to the Reformed faith as a balanced and healthy guide to growing spiritually in Jesus.

Pastor DeYoung concludes with this admonition: “God wants you to be holy. Through faith he already counts you holy in Christ. Now he intends to make you holy in Christ…God saved you to sanctify you…by His grace it can be yours” (pg. 146).

CRB

Sermon 2-2-2013

This Sunday Pastor Biggs continued his sermon series from the Book of Hebrews. His sermon was entitled “The Son of God” with the text Hebrews 1:1-14. 

The Scripture Lesson came from Psalm 89:19-37 and Acts 2:22-36.

The theme of the sermon was: Jesus Christ is the eternal and exalted Son of God who is superior to the angels.

 

Here is the Outline:

Hebrews.Online Sermon Notes.Heb.1.5_14.Son of God and Angels.02.03.13

 

Have a blessed week!

Caleb