NOTES OUT OF THE CATECHISM CLASSES Of Rev. J. Fraanje Using The Catechism Book
SPECIMENS OF DIVINE TRUTHS
Of Faith
Lesson 33 Part III
Thousands of people have stranded upon a reef in this matter. They believe they are prepared to die and think that God has made them ready, but they have made themselves ready in a rash sort of belief.
No, true saving faith causes the soul not only to know that he lies condemned before God, but also to know who God is and that His justice must be satisfied.
I do not say that every child of God can speak about this equally well. The Lord gives one person more gifts to distinguish one thing from another than another person but, they all shall be taught this in a greater or lesser degree. This is indispensible to salvation. “He that cometh to God must believe that He is” said Paul (Hebrews 11:6). By this he means not only believe that He exists, but also who He is in all His attributes. The Holy Spirit teaches this to a sinner through saving faith.
But now our time is almost gone. We must end this lesson.
It is the last time this year that we shall meet with another in Catechism class.
If the Lord will and we live, next week will come Christmas Day and then New Year’s Day. Have any of you ever reflected upon how important Christmas is? It is written in the Bible, “For everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted” (Luke 18:14). Now this is applicable to each one of us in this life, but do you know where it had even more significance?
Adam was established in a very high position. God had placed Him there in creation. Yet he wanted to be even greater than he was. He wanted to elevate himself but was debased to an unspeakable degree through sin. Everyone understands this.
On the other hand, Christ was as God - equal with the Father and the Holy Ghost, and took upon Himself the form of a servant in His Me diators hip. He humbled Himself to become man from this extremely high state, being even God Himself. No one can humble himself as Christ humbled Himself, but can anyone ever be exalted to the degree He was? The Lord exalted Him above all brethren and said, “Sit thou at My Right hand.” Adam desired to exalt himself to that position but was abased. Christ, however, abased Himself and was exalted. We commemorate this abasement at Christmas time.
It is a custom nowadays for people to erect a Christmas tree in Sunday school, churches and in homes complete with lights and decorated with all sorts of pretty things, and think that this belongs to Christmas. But I caution you, boys and girls, do not participate in this kind of ungodliness because it is heathen idolatry. Is it necessary to celebrate the precious commemoration of the birth of the Mediator in this pagan way? It is horrible to do so. Be sure that you do not go along with such things even though the whole world does it.
Even though your parents or others in whose home you live think it is not objectionable, you must still not do it. I do not mean by this to invite you to disobedience, no, I merely say: if you do not participate in such sins, it is not disobedience.
I know of one little four-year-old boy whose father and mother had no scruples. Once they went to the fair and took this little fellow along with them. But when he saw the bustle and commotion in that village, what do you suppose he did? All of a sudden he pulled his hands loose from his parent’s and ran as fast as he could out of that village. The mother and father stared at him in surprise; you can imagine. But they had to go find him, though, because he was much too young to be unattended. And where do you think he had gone?
Just outside of that village was a marshy field with much reeds and ditches which were dry in summertime. They found their little boy in one of those dry ditches on his knees and they heard him fervently praying, saying that he was unconverted and could not go to that fair and asked if the Lord would give him a new heart.
When the parents heard that, they had not the courage or desire anymore to go to the fair. It made them ashamed. Quietly they went back home with their little boy. This points out how declining sinful activities is not disobedience.
I hope that you too may be burdened with sin and that seed being sown may no longer fall on a stony heart, but in a quickened heart as in well prepared soil. All sorts of thorns and weeds may grow up but they can never choke out that saving faith.
Perhaps there are some amongst us here who can relate to that little boy, who also occasionally seek out a hidden place to call upon the Lord. May the Lord discover you more and more to Himself and to yourself.
May He, by the Holy Spirit working in you, cause you to personally take hold of the merits of Christ by saving faith, that you may be privileged to say also, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God.”
May the Lord do this for His Name’s sake.
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Bekijk de hele uitgave van vrijdag 1 april 1977
The Banner of Truth | 20 Pagina's
Bekijk de hele uitgave van vrijdag 1 april 1977
The Banner of Truth | 20 Pagina's