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November 15: Rev. John Witherspoon

15 November, 2012 in November 2012 by davidtmyers | No comments

This Day in Presbyterian History:

The Preacher and Politician Meets His Savior

These days, we don’t meet many preachers or politicians who have accomplished as much in the realms of both church and state as the Rev. John Witherspoon did in his seventy-one years of life—and those accomplishments spanned two nations, as well! And that is the reason why we have dealt with this man and his ministry on five separate dates, this one included. (See also February 5, May 17, August 7, and October 20).  He was that faithful to the Savior God, the saints of God, and to the average citizens of this great republic.  He would go to be with that Savior on November 15, 1794.

Born in Scotland and raised to an effective ministry for the kingdom of God there in that “mother country,” Witherspoon answered the call to come to the American colonies. John and Elizabeth Witherspoon, along with their five children, traveled here by ship in 1768. Taking the presidency of the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University), he brought stability to that educational facility in their instruction, library, and financial matters. In the twenty-six years in which he was president, preaching in the nearby Princeton Presbyterian Church known as Nassau Presbyterian, which he founded, and teaching six courses of college level instruction, he taught a president of the United States (James Madison), a Vice-president, nine cabinet members, twenty-one senators, thirty-nine congressmen, three justices of the Supreme Court of the United States, twelve state governors, five members of the Constitutional Convention in 1787, and  fifty-two delegates out of one hundred and eighty-eight teaching and ruling elders of the first General Assembly in 1789 of the Presbyterian Church in America.  Talk about a vital presence in both the church and the state!

We have all heard of John Witherspoon being the only clergyman who signed the Declaration of Independence, present on that occasion as one of four delegates from the State of New Jersey. But how many of us are aware of the fact that he was to serve on one hundred of the committees working to set up the new nation? He helped draft the Acts of Confederation and supported the adoption of the United States Constitution.

Despite the importance of this civil side of John Witherspoon, he never forgot that first and foremost, he was a herald of the gospel. Consider his words in a sermon he preached in 1758:

“I shall now conclude my discourse by preaching this Savior to all who hear me, and entreating you to believe in Jesus Christ, for there is no salvation in any other.  If you are not reconciled to God through Jesus Christ, if you are not clothed with the spotless robe of His righteousness, you must forever perish.”

Witherspoon understood that, as his precious Savior put it in the gospels, you could possess the whole world but lose your own soul outside of Jesus Christ. There was and is no profit in that sad situation.

John Witherspoon would become blind two years before his death at seventy-one years of age. He is buried in the Princeton Cemetery with an inscription on his tombstone of 239 words, all in Latin!

Words to live by:  It is rare to find someone in history who accomplished so much for church and state.  Usually, when we find someone who has been known for his work in government, it is at the impoverishment of his Christian testimony. But in John Witherspoon’s faith and life, he simply believed strongly that his faith should impact every area of life, including that of the national affairs of his new country.  This culture mandate is no different from what is demanded of all believers today.  We must enter into every sphere of life with the changeless message of the gospel, seeking to influence those spheres in which God has placed us for His glory and the good of the people found there.

Through the Scriptures:  James 1, 2

Through the Standards: The efficiency of baptism

WCF 28:6
The efficacy of Baptism is not tied to that moment of time wherein it is administered; yet, notwithstanding, by the right use of this ordinance, the grace promised is not only offered, but really exhibited, and conferred, by the Holy Ghost, to such (whether of age or infants) as that grace belongs unto, according to the counsel of God’s own will, in His appointed time.”

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September 8: WSC Q. 85

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

This Day in Presbyterian History:  

Faith Wholly and Only in Christ

With nothing of great significance in historic Presbyterianism on this  date of September 8, we return to the heart of evangelical and Reformed religion, that is, “What is faith in Jesus Christ?”  That question and answer is number 85 in our Westminster Shorter Catechism.  It answers “Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as  he is offered to us in the gospel.”

The Confession, first of all, clearly tell us by the change of topics from that which has gone before, that we are in a new section of the subordinate standards.  Being convicted by the law of God and shown to be sinners, facing nothing but the wrath and curse of God for that sin, and those sins, we now see what God requires of us, namely, faith in Jesus Christ. This is the path unto salvation, indeed, this is salvation itself. Here is eternal life for all those who rely upon  Jesus Christ for eternal life.

We are told first that it is “a saving grace.”  Not only is it a divine disposition of undeserved favor towards us, it is a divine gift in us, an inclination in our soul by the Holy Spirit working in us. In every sect and cult which has ever been in existence, there is the fundamental idea that human beings earn salvation, rather than simply receiving the free favor of God for that salvation.  Eternal life is never deserved or earned, according to the Scriptures.  This is a saving grace.

This faith in Jesus Christ speaks of receiving and rest upon Jesus Christ alone for salvation.  Both of these verbs are the acts of faith in Christ Jesus.  We first of all “receive” Jesus Christ.  John 1:12 speaks of “as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe on His name.” (NASB)     We must receive Christ.  Then we speak of “resting” upon Him alone for salvation.  It is faith alone which is the key phrase in the Scriptures, to say nothing of the Protestant Reformation.  It is faith plus nothing.  If even a scintillate of works, righteous works are found in the formula, than we are left with the terrible idea that Christ did not finish the work of redemption during His perfect life and sacrificial death on the cross.  Paul says it all when in Galatians 2:21, he writes, “I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” (NASB)  It is as we renounce our own righteousness, and so laying hold on Christ, relying upon him, putting all confidence in Him, and in Him alone, for eternal life.

How do we receive and rest upon Christ?  Is is only “as he is offered to us in the gospel.” He is the Sin-bearer, Substitute, fully satisfying God’s justice against sin, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and the Savior of mankind.  This is the one in Whom we can trust for our salvation.

Words to live by:  Think of all things which Christ means to you for a moment.  What came to your mind and heart when He first revealed Himself to you?  What answers did He give to your questions at that time?  What solace did He offer to your troubled heart then?  Think about how He was offered in the gospel to you in time past.  Then rejoice anew in the gospel message which you received and rested upon at that time, or even period of life.  And memorize this catechism answer, for it can be a powerful reminder of the salvation which you experienced when you possessed faith in Jesus Christ.

Through the Scriptures:  2 Chronicles 26 – 29

Through the Standards: The first petition of the Lord’s Prayer, in the Larger Catechism

WLC 190 — “What do we pray for in the first petition?
A.  In the first petition, (which is, Hallowed be thy name,) acknowledging the utter inability and indisposition that is in ourselves and all men to honor God aright, we pray, that God would by his grace enable and incline us and others to know, to acknowledge, and highly to esteem him, his titles, attributes, ordinances, word, works, and whatsoever he is pleased to make himself known by; and to glorify him in thought, word, and deed: that he would prevent and remove atheism, ignorance, idolatry, profaneness, and whatsoever is dishonorable to him; and, by his over-ruling providence, direct and dispose of all things to his own glory.”

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September 4: WSC Q. 82

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

This Day in Presbyterian History:

Our Sorry State in Light of the Law

Finding no historical record of Presbyterianism on this date, the Shorter Catechism which immediately follows the exposition of the Ten Commandments, number 82, occupies our attention on this day, September 4, 2012.  Our Confessional Fathers ask and answer, “Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God?  Answer: No mere man, since the fall, is able, in this life, perfectly to keep the commandments of God: but does daily break them in thought, words, and deed.”

We could sum up the commandments of God from Exodus 20 here so that we could know exactly what we are talking about in this answer.  The children’s version, found in Alexander Whyte’s book of several centuries ago on “The Shorter Catechism with a Commentary,” helps us with their remembrance:

1. You shall not have more gods but Me.

2. Before no idol bow the knee.

3. Take not the name of God in vain.

4. Nor dare the Sabbath day profane.

5. Give both your parents honor due.

6. Take heed that you no murder do.

7. Abstain from words and deeds unclean.

8. Nor steal, though you are poor and mean (e.g. low).

9. Nor make a willful lie, nor love it.

10. What is your neighbor’s do not covet.

No ordinary person since the fall can keep God’s commandments.  That is the sense of those beginning words in this catechism.  Certainly Jesus kept perfectly His Father’s laws in His active obedience, but He was both God and man, not an ordinary man.  Adam and Eve kept God’s moral law perfectly before the fall, but this answer defines itself with the phrase “after the fall.”  No ordinary people, either of themselves, or by any grace received in their lives, can be perfectly obedient to the commandments of God.

Indeed, we, as the Confessional Fathers all too sadly acknowledge, “daily break them in thought, word, and deed.”  All of our sins which we commit are thus reduced to three areas of our lives.  Our thoughts no one but God sees, and so no one knows the sinfulness of ourselves better than us.  Jesus enumerated the list of sinful thoughts in Matthew 15:19 when he spoke of “murder, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders.” (NASB)  James in chapter 3 of his letter spoke of the futility of controlling our tongues, in that we sometimes bless God and curse men, who have been made in God’s image.  And John, in his letter in chapter 3, mentions the practice of sin, which is lawlessness. (v. 4)

And yet, here the good news.  All of these sins are under the blood of Christ, and therefore forgiven by His grace with genuine biblical repentance on our parts.  Every sin does deserve God’s wrath and curse, but praise God, Jesus become a curse for us, taking the wrath of God upon Himself on that cursed tree.  To escape this holy wrath, God required faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, using the appointed outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption.

Words to live by:  Every time this contributor thinks he has been successful in  pleasing God more and more, he goes back to the Ten Commandments, and their treatment of them in the Westminster Standards.  He then finds that even in his best efforts, there has been plenty of weakness exhibited in thought, word, and deed.  Where would we be without the all-sufficiency of Jesus Christ?  Praise God for His work of sanctification, which enables us to more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.

Through the Scriptures:  2 Chronicles 14 – 16

Through the Standards:  Direction of prayer   

WLC 186 — “What rule has God given for our direction in the duty of prayer?
A.  The whole word of God is of use to direct us in the duty of prayer; but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which our Savior Christ taught his disciples, commonly called The Lord’s Prayer.”

WSC 99 — “What rule has God given for our direction in prayer?
A.  The whole Word of God is of use to direct us in prayer; but the special rule of direction is that form of prayer which Christ taught his disciples, commonly called The Lord’s Prayer.“

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August 26: WSC Q. 39

26 August, 2012 in August 2012 by davidtmyers | No comments

This Day in Presbyterian History:

What does God require of you?

Finding nothing noteworthy for this day in history, August 26,  we go to Shorter Catechism No. 39 which states, “The duty which God requires of man is obedience to his revealed will.”

There have been movements all down through church history which have tried to outlaw the idea and even the word of “duty.”  Somehow, we should eschew the concept of duty and replace it with the word and concept of “love.”  And in one sense, there is nothing wrong with that in that all of us who confess the name of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior do evidence that saving faith by loving to do what He requires.  In fact, because we love Him, we recognize our requirement or our duty to obey what He  has revealed for us in Holy Scripture.

We owe obedience to God, because of Who He is.  He is our Creator.  As His creatures, we are under an obligation to worship and serve Him.  But with a higher obligation of being His spiritual sons and daughters by being bought with a price, even His precious blood, we are required to worship and serve Him.

The matter of that obedience is His revealed will.  Moses in Deuteronomy 29:29 says that “the secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things He has revealed belong” to us and our families. (NASB)  “Secret things” are questions filled with “Why did God do this or why didn’t God do that?”.  The “why” questions can only be answered by three persons — God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  Our finite minds don’t have the wisdom of the Infinite.  We can only trust our heavenly Father to do His sovereign will, and causing everything to work together for good.

The things He has revealed are found in the Bible.  God requires obedience for those things.  John said in 1 John 5:3 “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.” (NASB)  They are not irksome, oppressive, or grievous.  And 1 John 2:3, “By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.” (NASB)  Obedience is a mark of the believer.  It is an evidence that we are born of Him.

Words to live by: Obedience to God’s revealed will.  There is our path of blessing.  Here is our rule of life.  To fulfil it, first, we must know God’s revealed will.  This is the reason why a Scripture passage is part and parcel of this historical devotional.  As we know God’s Word, we then can obey it.  Second, we pray that God would build us up in the most holy faith so that we can  have the spiritual strength for obedience.  Last, we pray for obedience to God’s revealed will on the part of our families, our church family, and our nation.

Through the Scriptures:   1 Chronicles 14 – 16

Through the Standards: The help of the Holy Spirit in Prayer

WLC 182 — “How does the Spirit help us to pray?
A. We not knowing what to pray for as we ought, the Spirit helps our infirmities, by enabling us to understand both for whom, and what, and how prayer is to be made; and by working and quickening in our hearts (although not in all persons, nor at all times, in the same measure) those apprehensions, affections, and graces which are requisite for the right performance of that duty.”

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July 3 : Rev. Alfred Ackley

3 July, 2012 in July 2012 by davidtmyers | No comments

This Day in Presbyterian History:   

“Why Should I Worship a Dead Jew?”

The Presbyterian evangelist in Los Angeles never forgot the callous challenge of the young Jewish man.  And yet every Christian can be grateful that the questioning man attending the evangelistic meeting of the Rev. Alfred Ackley asked this question.  For it produced in evangelist Ackley the desire to compose a hymn of confidence in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ.

To the immediate question of our title, Alfred Ackley had responded, “But Jesus lives!  He lives, I tell you.  He is not dead, but lives here and now. Jesus Christ is more alive today than ever before.  I can prove it by my own experience, as well as by the testimony of countless thousands.”  Those words were enough to convince the young man, and he received Jesus as his personal Lord and Savior that very evening.

Going home that night, Rev. Ackley couldn’t get the questioning words of doubt out of his heart.  So the veteran hymn writer, who  had already penned some 1500 spiritual songs and hymns during his lifetime, went home and wrote the words of “He lives.”  In fact, on his grave stone in Los Angeles, above his name is the score of beginning  musical notes from the chorus of this hymn, and the two words “He lives!”  Ackley died on June 3, 1960.

Words to Live By:  Not found in our Trinity Hymnal , review the familiar words (maybe sing them?) of the hymn.  You might find them in an older hymnal, or you can find them on the web. The point is, all of us from our own experience, the spiritual experiences of others, and most important, the testimony of Scripture, can be sure that we worship and serve, not a dead Savior, but One who is living yesterday, today, and tomorrow, until He comes.

Through the Scriptures: Hosea 5 – 7

Through the Standards: Proof texts of the Second commandment

Deuteronomy 5:8 – 10
“Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any things that is in heaven above, or that is in th earth beneath,or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not  bow down thyself unto them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.” (KJV)

Deuteronomy 6:13 – 15
“Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name.  Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you.  (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.” (KJV)

Matthew 15:9
“But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.” (KJV)

Matthew 28:20
“Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you . . . .” (KJV)

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