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June 28: Van Horn on WSC Q. 25

28 June, 2015 in June 2015 by archivist | No comments

STUDIES IN THE WESTMINSTER SHORTER CATECHISM
by Rev. Leonard T. Van Horn

Q. 25. — How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?

A. — Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us.

Scripture References: Heb. 9:14, 28: Rom. 3:25; Rom. 10:4; Heb. 2:17; Heb. 7:25.

Questions:

1. What did Christ do for us as the first part of his office as a priest?

The first part of Christ’s priestly office was the offering up a sacrifice to God for us. The sacrifice was Himself, the shedding of blood unto death.

2. What is a sacrifice?

A sacrifice is a holy offering rendered to God by a priest of God’s appointment.

3. Did Christ offer a sacrifice of Himself more than once?

No, he offered Himself a sacrifice only one time, and this was sufficient for the sins of His people. (Heb. 9:38).

4. Why did Christ offer Himself as a sacrifice for us?

Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice for us that he might satisfy God’s justice for us and that he might reconcile us to God.

5. When the word “us” is used in the above question, of whom is it speaking?

It is speaking of the elect, not all of mankind. (John 10:15)

6. How did Christ’s sacrifice satisfy God’s justice?

It is so for this sacrifice was accepted by God and was worthy of acceptance.

7. What does Christ do for us as the second part of his office as a priest?

The second part of Christ’s priestly office is his making intercession o for us. Isa. 43: 12)

8. Where is the intercession made and what does He do for us in this intercession?

The intercession is made at the right hand of God. By it He prays to and pleads to God for us; because of it our sins are pardoned, our prayers are answered and we are actually reconciled. It should be remembered that He is the only intercessor in heaven for us.

OUR INTERCESSOR

The Belgic Confession makes the matter of Christ’s intercession very plain when it states: “We believe that we have no access unto God, save alone through the only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Further on, less there be those who would seek another intercessor, it states: “And if we seek for one who hath power and majesty, who is there that has so much of both as he who sits at the right hand of his Father, and who hath all power in heaven and on earth?” (Article 26),

There always have been present in the world those who look for “another intercessor” thinking that they might somehow find some extra power without going through the straight and narrow way, the way of salvation through Jesus Christ. The church is ever called on to take offense against such false beliefs as “another intercessor” and must always be ready to give an answer to such false beliefs. The Christian believer is convinced that Christ is the intercessor and is thankful for Him. However, there is ever the danger of the Christian taking Him for granted, not having the recognition that Christ’s intercession is true and powerful and therefore being properly grateful for it. Isaac Watts had the true approach to the matter when he wrote:

“Alas! and did my Saviour bleed?
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

But drops of grief can ne’er repay
The debt of love I owe;
Here, Lord, I give myself away’
Tis all that I can do.”

The case can be put very simply to the born again Christian: Have you even experienced the drops of grief, to say nothing of the giving of yourself? Posstbly the difficulty in regard to our realizing what we have in the intercession of Christ is that we never cared enough about it to grieve over what He did for us. A Christian acquaintance of mine can never start talking about his Saviour’s sacrifice for him without shedding tears. You say, “Emotionalism!” Sincere tears about Christ’s sacrifice and His subsequent intercession will never harm anyone. The question is: Do we care that much? (Eph.3:14-21)

Published By: THE SHIELD and SWORD, INC.
Vol. 3 No. 25 (January 1963)
Rev. Leonard T. Van Horn, Editor

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September 13: Andrew Pickens

13 September, 2012 in September 2012 by davidtmyers | No comments

This Day in Presbyterian History: 

Keeping the Patriotic Fires Burning on the Altar of Liberty

Known as “the fighting elder,”  Andrew Pickens was one of those rare men who talked little, but let his actions do the talking for him.  And when he was done “talking,” there was no doubt in what he had “said.”

Born in Buck’s County in Pennsylvania on September 13, 1739, of Scots-Irish Presbyterian  parents who had emigrated to the colonies, Andrew Pickens received the common schooling which most everyone else possessed.  In 1752, his parents moved to Waxhaws, South Carolina where they stayed for a while until 1764.  They bought land in Abbeville County, South Carolina near the Georgia border, and established Hopewell Plantation. In 1765, Andrew married Rebecca Calhoun, and produced a number of children with her.  The number is actually disputed, with some saying over a dozen children, others ten children, and still others six.

He and his wife being Presbyterians, they cultivated the habit of family worship, with daily devotions and the singing of psalms.  In fact, it was said that he was “so Presbyterian,” that he would have suffered martyrdom first before singing an Isaac Watts hymn!  Church observances obviously played a big part in his personal and family devotion.  Eventually, he was elected to the office of ruling elder later in life.

Coming to the colonies right around the time of the American Revolution, he played a prominent role in winning independence in the southern colonies.  Beginning as a captain of the militia, he eventually became a Brigadier General in the Continental Army.  He saw action at Cowpens, Augusta, the Seige of Ninety-Six, and Eutaw Springs.  Like Marion and Sumpter, he was an outstanding partisan fighter.

After the war, he served in various ways in government, first in the state, and then for a term in the national congress.  He is buried at Old Stone Presbyterian Church cemetery in Clemson, South Carolina.  

Words to live by:  On his tombstone, it is inscribed that Andrew Pickens was “a Christian, a patriot, and a soldier.”  To some, the last two designations may seem contrary to the first one, that of a Christian. But some of God’s elect, like Joshua, and David, and the centurion of the gospels, these three descriptive names are not contradictory.  In fact, to those of us who enjoy the liberty which they in ancient and modern times have bought for us, we must be thankful for their service to God and country.  In fact, go to those who have served in our own military over the decades in your congregation, and thank them for their service.  Let us not just think of them on Memorial Day, or July 4th, but always through the year. And let us think of those on point today who are continuing to serve in harm’s way, and especially their families who are separated from them.

Through the Scriptures: Ezekiel 8 – 11

Through the Standards: The third petition of the Lord’s Prayer, according to the Shorter Catechism

WSC 103 — “What do we pray for in the third petition?
A.  In the third petition, (which is, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven,) we pray, That God, by his grace, would make us able and willing to know, obey, and submit to his will in all things, as the angels do in heaven.”

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