September 29, 2018 - Preparing for the Lord’s Day
September 29, 2018Preparing for the Lord’s Day
The Order of Salvation: Election, Predestination, Effectual Calling,Regeneration, Conversion, Justification, Adoption, Sanctification, Perseverance, Glorification
To enter the kingdom of God, we must be born again (see John 3:3). This is a bedrock conviction of the Evangelical church. Yet how does one come to be born again? If we rely upon the popular understanding of rebirth, we would say, “Repent and believe, then you will be reborn.” However, when we go to the word of God, we see a different order. We know that we must repent and believe to be saved, but how can we if we are spiritually dead? The Holy Spirit must first cause the heart to be reborn through the word of God (see 1 Peter 1:23). The spiritually dead man must first come alive. Those who are trapped under the tyranny of sin and death must be set free. Then they will repent and believe. Similarly, babies do not cause themselves to be born; they are born according to the will of another. This is why the Lord Jesus chose the language of rebirth to show us that it is of God’s will and work that one is born again (see John 1:12-13).
This Sunday we continue our sermon series on the ordo salutis (order of salvation). As we saw last week, God’s work of salvation began before the creation of the world in His electing and predestinating love for His people. This Sunday we will see that, through the preaching of the word, God causes His elect to be reborn unto eternal life. To come prepared for the sermon, take time this week to read and to meditate upon Ephesians 2:1-7, Ezekiel 36:26-27, John 1:12-13 and 3:1-8, 1 Peter 1:3, James 1:18, and Westminster Confession of Faith 10.1,2.
As we gather to worship the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit this Lord’s day, we will join our hearts in song, singing the Hymn of Praise “O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing,” the Acclamation of Praise “And Can It Be That I Should Gain,” and the Hymn of Response “Jesus Paid it All.” Let us come to worship this Sunday prepared to hear God’s Word, to receive it in faith, to love and treasure it in our hearts, and to practice it in our lives that we may continue to glorify and enjoy Him!
Bulletin
Sermon Notes