The Benefits We Receive from Christ's Conception and Birth

From the Heidelberg Catechism, Lord's Day 14

35. What is the meaning of “conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary?”

That the eternal Son of God, who is and continues true and eternal God,[1] took upon Himself the very nature of man, of the flesh and blood of the virgin Mary,[2] by the operation of the Holy Spirit;[3] so that He might also be the true seed of David,[4] like unto His brethren in all things,[5] except for sin.[6]

[1] Jn 1:1-4, 10:30-36; Rom 1:3-4, 9:5; Col 1:15-17; 1 Jn 5:20; [2] Mt 1:18-23; Jn 1:14; Gal 4:4; Heb 2:14; [3] Mt 1:18-20; Lk 1:35; [4] 2 Sam 7:12-16; Ps 132:11; Mt 1:1; Lk 1:32; Rom 1:3; [5] Php 2:7; Heb 2:17; [6] Heb 4:15, 7:26-27

36. What benefit do you receive from the holy conception and birth of Christ?

That He is our Mediator,[1] and with His innocence and perfect holiness[2] covers, in the sight of God, my sin,[3] wherein I was conceived.[4]

[1] 1 Tim 2:5-6; Heb 2:16-17, 9:13-15; [2] Rom 8:3-4; 2 Cor 5:21; Gal 4:4-5; 1 Pt 1:18-19; [3] Ps 32:1; 1 Jn 1:9; [4] Ps 51:5

I wish you and yours a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year!

Tonight's Lessons and Carols at Christ Reformed

You are invited to join us for an evening of Lessons and Carols tonight (December 23) at 7:00 p.m.

Lessons and Carols is a service celebrating the birth of Jesus.  The fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus is told in nine Bible readings interspersed with the singing of Christmas carols and hymns.  We hope you and your family can join us for this wonderful evening as we remember the birth of Christ and hear of God’s faithfulness throughout the ages.

For more information and directions, check out the Christ Reformed website:  Christ Reformed Church

Fall in Orange County

Another typical fall/winter day in Orange County.  It is nearly 70 degrees, the leaves on my Liquid Amber have turned bright red (the only fall foliage in my yard), and then they fall off.  Winter begins today and it is supposed to be 75 degrees on Christmas--probably too warm to build a rip-roaring fire (as is our custom).

California has its troubles--but the weather is usually glorious!

Horton on Christianity and Culture

Mike Horton's take on Tim Keller's recent discussion of the two kingdoms and the transformation of culture has been posted on the White Horse Inn blog.  Well worth reading.

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Christmas and New Years at Christ Reformed

Service of Lessons and Carols (Friday night, December 23 @ 7:00 p.m.):  Lessons and Carols is a service reflecting upon the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus.  The story of redemption is told in nine Bible readings interspersed with the singing of Christmas hymns.  You are invited to join us for this wonderful evening as we remember the birth of Christ and hear of God’s faithfulness throughout the ages.

Christmas Morning (December 25 @ 10:30 a.m.):  I am preaching on 1 Timothy 1:12-17 and Paul's focus upon Christ Jesus who came into the world to save sinners.

New Year's Day (January 1, 2012 @ 10:30 a.m.):  I am focusing upon Jesus as the Lord of History, as we reflect upon the dawn of a new year.  Our text is Ephesians 1:3-14.

Note:  There will be no Sunday school classes on Christmas and New Year's Day, and no Wednesday night Bible studies until mid-January.  The Academy will reconvene in February.

For more information and directions, check out the Christ Reformed website:  Christ Reformed Church

"Christ and the Condition" -- A New Book from Michael Brown

Michael Brown's new book on Samuel Petto will be released in January.  Petto may be unknown to you (as we was to me), but he was very influential in his own day, and pastor Brown introduces him to us in Christ and the Condition.  Rev. Brown is the pastor of Christ United Reformed Church in Santee, California.

Here's the publisher's blurb:

Covenant theology is the “warp and woof” of Reformed theology, and its development was most seriously worked out during the seventeenth century. In Christ and the Condition, Michael Brown introduces us to an influential Puritan pastor who, though now largely forgotten, was a significant contributor to the covenantal debates of his day. Brown analyzes the covenantal thought of Samuel Petto and reveals a diversity of thought among the Puritans, especially concerning the Mosaic covenant. Brown’s assessment places Petto in the context of the covenantal debates and also demonstrated the implications of covenantal thought on the doctrine of justification.

Table of Contents:

A Puritan Pastor-Theologian: Petto in Context

Petto’s Covenant Schema

The Mosaic Covenant in Reformed Theology

Petto on the Mosaic Covenant

Implications for Justification

__________________________________________

You can order it here:  Click Here

"To Bring In Everlasting Righteousness" -- Daniel 9:24-27/Luke 2:1-14

Here's the audio from this morning's sermon for the fourth Sunday in advent on Daniel 9:24-27 and the ultimate jubilee brought about through the birth of Christ (cf. Luke 2:1-14).

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This Week's White Horse Inn

The Messiah (Part 3)

On this program, the hosts continue walking through the messianic story of redemption as it unfolds throughout the Old Testament. On this broadcast, the focus of the discussion primarily centers on the book of Exodus and Moses’ leading of the people of Israel to the Promised Land.

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This Week at Christ Reformed Church (December 12-18)

Sunday Morning (12/18):  On the fourth Sunday in Advent we are addressing Daniel 9 and the messianic prophecy of the seventy weeks in light of Luke 2:1-14.

Sunday Afternoon:  We take up a discussion Lord's Day 28 of our catechism and Q & A 75-77 which deal with the sacrament of the Lord's Supper  Our afternoon service begins @ 1:15 p.m.

Wednesday Night Bible Study:  We are continuing our series on the sacraments, and this week we'll continue discussing the biblical case for infant baptism.  Bible study begins at 7:00 p.m.

The Academy:  The Academy will re-convene in February 2012.

For more information and directions, check out the Christ Reformed website:  Christ Reformed Church

"In Remembrance of His Mercy" -- Luke 1:26-56

Here's the audio from this morning's sermon for the third Sunday in Advent

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