In the first part of our worship we are reflecting on the one hand the endless supply of God?s grace which is given freely apart from works (Lam 3:22–24), and on the other hand the grace by which we labor to please the Lord (2 Pet 1:3–11). Lamentations, of course, was written at a time when Israel had stubbornly strayed from the Lord. If God?s faithfulness was conditional upon Israel?s works, well, then they had absolutely no right to expect grace amidst their apostasy. But ?the steadfast love of the LORD never ceases?, because ?great is your faithfulness.?

In 2 Pet 1:3–11 Peter calls us to ?make every effort? to grow in holiness, to be ?diligent? to live as Christians. Scripture opposes works as a means of earning grace. But Scripture commends diligent efforts and works as the only right way for Christians who have received ?the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence.? It is therefore by no means a contradiction to exult in free grace, and to earnestly strive to to please God. We do not strive to earn grace. But we must strive to serve. So come and rejoice in God whose grace knows no end. And strive with all your heart and body to live for God?s pleasure.

God Calls Us to Worship

Lamentations 3:22–24 (p. 688)

TH #692 ?To You, O Lord, I Fly?

Prayer

God Hears Our Confession and Restores Us

2 Peter 1:3–11 (p. 1018)

Shorter Catechism Qs. 91–93 (Lesson here)

Q. 91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?

A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them.

Q. 92. What is a sacrament?

A. A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.

Q. 93. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament?

A. The sacraments of the New Testaments are, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.

TH #254 ?Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed?

Gifts and Offering

God Speaks and We Listen

Genesis 1:26–2:3 (p. 1)

God. Life. Work.

Rev. Ken Han

God Renews His Covenant Promises

Baptized Christians who are members in good standing in Reformed or evangelical churches are invited to participate. Otherwise, please let the bread and the cup pass you by. We will sing TH #427 ?Amidst Us Our Beloved Stands? stanzas 1?2 during the distribution of the bread, and stanzas 3?4 during the distribution of the cup.

God Dismisses Us with Blessing

TH #355 ?We Are God?s People?

Benediction

Upcoming Events and Notices

May 19 (Lord’s Day): Please join us for potluck fellowship meal after the worship service. Set Up: Cindy Keck & Janny Ligtenberg. Clean Up: Kelly Rogers & Genie Summers.

May 22 (Wednesday 10 AM): All the women of Grace are invited to the Han residence for a time of study, prayer, and fellowship. A light lunch will be served.

May 23 (Thursday 7 AM): The Temecula men?s group will meet at the Han residence.

May 26 (Lord?s Day): Please note that after the worship service, children will meet for about 20 minutes of instruction. If your children are between 5?7 years of age, they are invited to meet with Mia. If your children are between 8?12 years of age, they are invited to meet with Sean and Amanda. Your teenage children are invited to meet with one of our elders.

Nursery Volunteers

May 19: Cindy Keck & Yoori Han

May 26: Kelly Rogers & Christian Rogers

Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome

Q. 91. How do the sacraments become effectual means of salvation?

A. The sacraments become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them, or in him that doth administer them; but only by the blessing of Christ, and the working of his Spirit in them that by faith receive them.

Q. 92. What is a sacrament?

A. A sacrament is a holy ordinance instituted by Christ; wherein, by sensible signs, Christ, and the benefits of the new covenant, are represented, sealed, and applied to believers.

Q. 93. Which are the sacraments of the New Testament?

A. The sacraments of the New Testaments are, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper.

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?Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, ?Take, eat; this is my body.? And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, ?Drink of it, all of you, for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father?s kingdom.?? (Matthew 26:26?29 ESV)

?Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.? (Matthew 28:19?20 ESV)

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The word “sacrament” basically means “holy things.” But the word takes a more defined and nuanced meaning in the context of our Christian faith. The sacraments are the outward and visible representations of the internal and invisible work of God’s grace. The two sacraments (they are sacraments because the Lord Jesus himself commanded them to be practiced perpetually) are baptism and the Lord’s Supper. These two things are effectual means of salvation in that, and only in so far as, they point us beyond the thing itself to the saving love of God accomplished in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is received by faith alone. The power is not in the sacraments, but in Jesus working through his Spirit. We do not receive any benefit from them unless we receive them in faith. The sacraments are not effectual means of salvation if by that we mean the naked, physical acts of receiving them save us from God’s judgment or convey any spiritual blessings to us. Sacraments are effectual means of salvation not by their own power or the power of the one performing them, but by what is meant by them: Christ and faith in him.

We can also think of the sacraments as an effectual means of salvation if we view salvation as the total process begun with our conversion and finished when we are delivered or “saved” out of this fallen world. If we think of salvation not just as the beginning of our Christian faith but the whole experience that includes the beginning, the middle, and the end, we can see the many ways the sacraments convey essential spiritual blessings we need for our life on this side of heaven. Of course, when we are in heaven there will be no more sacraments. Who needs symbols when you have the real thing? Who needs a foretaste of the glories to come when the glory has come in full? Heaven has no room for signs and symbols, because heaven only has the real things. So it helps to think of the sacraments as the spiritual provisions God gives to sojourners in this world.

In that regard, the two sacraments of baptism and Lord’s Supper work a little differently and mean somewhat different things. DV, in the weeks to come we will see how they work and what exactly they mean. In the mean time, there are obvious ways to benefit from the sacraments. For example, as believers we should remind ourselves of our baptism. If when we are faced with temptation, and then call to mind how we have been baptized and called into Christ’s gracious kingdom, then we will see with a little more clarity the true nature of sin, which crucified our dear Lord, and the gracious and redeeming love of our Savior. Of course, we don’t typically make much of our baptism the way we may make much of our political leanings, artistic preferences, etc. But we need to make much of our baptism, and make much of sin’s nature and Christ’s love.

We can benefit from the Lord’s Supper as well. We should really be surprised why something Jesus himself has commanded is not obeyed frequently, and how we have replaced Christ’s commands with traditions of man. The Lord’s Supper should be practiced far more frequently than is the case in many churches today.

And as often as we receive the Supper we need to remember we are receiving but a foretaste of heaven, and look forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb. The Supper should shake our priorities straight every time we receive it. We live not for this age, but for the age to come. In the mean time, Christ never turns away from his table the weakest believer. All struggling believers who come with faith and repentance are welcome. The only price of admission is your empty hands. Receive the bread and the cup rejoicing in the richness of God’s mercy. The weary and hard-pressed always have a seat at the table of Christ’s body and blood.

? Ken Han –

Q. 88. What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption?

A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption are, his ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.

Q. 89. How is the Word made effectual to salvation?

A. The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching, of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation.

Q. 90. How is the Word to be read and heard, that it may become effectual to salvation?

A. That the Word may become effectual to salvation, we must attend thereunto with diligence, preparation, and prayer; receive it with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives.

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Simon Peter answered [Jesus], ?Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.? (John 6:68–69)

And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32)

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. (2 Tim 3:16)

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Our God is a giving God. He supplies us everything we need to fulfill his commandments. Of course, this is the heart of the gospel. He gave us Jesus Christ, whose active obedience (perfect obedience to God?s Law) is imputed to us as our righteousness. Thus the righteousness that God demands from us is supplied to us freely through Jesus Christ. In fact, we never really understand God unless we know him as one who gives everything we need: righteousness for eternal life, and strength for the present life.

Our heavenly Father?s giving heart is no where more clearly seen than in the ordinances he has given us. Chief among the many gifts he gave us are the Word, sacraments, and prayer. It is a little bit unfortunate to call them ?ordinances,? because to us the word ?ordinance? has somewhat of a restrictive connotation. After all, when was the last time an ordinance (e.g. civic ordinance) filled us with joy?

But not so with God?s ordinances. God instituted especially three things and ordered them to be the means by which we receive strength for our daily life. ?Ordinary means of grace? in this sense does not mean ?not special,? but shares the basic meaning of ?ordinance,? which is something decreed by God.

The three things God has ordained (this word also shares the same basic meaning) for such use are the Word, sacraments, and prayer. In the weeks to come we will discuss the sacraments and prayer. For now we focus on God?s Word.

One of the greatest blessings we enjoy is the easy access we have to God?s Word. It was not always so. In times past, as well as many places in the world today, people simply did not have access to God?s Word. Sometimes people were forbidden, as is the case still today in some places. Sometimes God?s Word was simply not available because they were not translated into common languages (again, this is still the case today in many places). But a typical English speaker today has no lack of access to the Bible. Local libraries stock them without an exception. We can read it for free online. There are people who give away Bibles for free!

If so, we certainly need to recognize God?s kindness to us in making his Word so readily available to us. And not squandering the gift or the opportunity, apply ourselves to study God?s Word. By the way, you do know that studying God?s Word is actually good for you, don?t you? God?s Word is the means by which he communicates to us the benefits of redemption!

So, then, how should we read and hear God?s Word?

First, with diligence, preparation, and prayer. God gave us his Word because he wants us to learn. That means the essential meaning of God?s Word is not beyond our grasp. Yet we need to apply our due diligence to study. In the same way we encourage our children to apply themselves to practice and study their school subjects, we need to remind ourselves to do the same. There are, indeed, some things in the Bible that are difficult, and by God?s providence not everyone reaches the same level of understanding. In those matters we need to be humble. Just because we don?t understand something in the Bible does not mean the authority shifts from the Word to us. Be humble, stand firm on what you do know, and with prayer and humility seek to understand better.

Second, we read and hear with faith and love, lay it up in our hearts, and practice it in our lives. It means we read and hear God?s Word not only with our minds to gather information, but also with our heart. Love the One who speaks in the Word. Obey the One who speaks in the Word. Only when both our mind and heart are engaged do we experience the power of God?s Word to give us understanding, life, and joy.

Here are some practical questions. Are you joyful in the Lord? If you are not, there may be a number of reasons. But we should certainly examine how we read and hear God?s Word. Is it with gratitude you read and hear? Is it with humility? Do you listen to find fault in others? Listen rather to gain a better understanding of what you are without Christ, and what you are in Christ.

? Ken Han –