Justifying faith has components including, agreement to the truth of the divine revelation, agreement with the authority of God's testimony, heartfelt agreement of the will and, trust in God's character, unreserved surrender of the will to his guidance, and dependence on His merits for salvation. This week we continue with a look at the faith and life of David. A man who demonstrated great faith in the Lord in many ways in his life. We see that even repentance and confession of sin are acts of faith. David is an example of that faith as he confesses his sin to the Lord in Psalms 51, and expressed his relief at forgiveness in Psalms 32.

James 2:8-13 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.\ 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.

In 1631, two English printers made a huge mistake. When printing a new edition of the Bible, they accidentally left out one word and caused a huge commotion. They left out the word "not" in the seventh commandment. As a result, those who bought that edition of the Bible were surprised when they read these words: "Thou shalt commit adultery." You can imagine how surprised the readers were! This caused such an uproar that the king demanded that all of these editions be destroyed. He also fined the printers a large sum of money. Thankfully, almost all of the printings were destroyed before that misprint could mislead many people. Almost 400 years have passed since "The Wicked Bible" was first printed. However, the sin of adultery has been around for thousands of years before that. The Bible talks about Joseph rejecting the advances of Potiphar's wife, David's adultery with Bathsheba, and the unfaithfulness of Hosea's wife. While it has happened many times, the Bible makes it clear that this is not something that pleases God. In fact, the Law of Moses prescribes the death penalty for those who commit adultery. But what did Jesus think about it? Was it something to be forgiven or to be judged? This was the question posed to Him in our passage today.

This lesson analyzes James chapter 4 to expose the root of church conflict as selfish desire and spiritual adultery. It contrasts worldly values of self-gratification with biblical calls to deny oneself and seek God's kingdom first. The speaker emphasizes that unanswered prayer often stems from asking with wrong motives rather than a lack of divine power. True victory over sin requires submitting to God's authority and resisting the devil through reliance on grace. The message concludes by urging believers to align their wills with God's to break the cycle of internal and external strife. Why do Christians fight with one another? What causes conflict in churches? Where do wars and quarrels come from according to James? What does James mean by "lusts that war in your members"? What is hedonism, and how does it relate to James 4? Why does James use such shocking language in James 4? Is James really accusing Christians of murder and adultery? Who is James writing to in James chapter 4? Why does James begin the chapter with conflict and questions? What is the storytelling technique "in medias res," and why does James use it? How does selfish desire lead to sin? What is the relationship between desire, coveting, and conflict? What does the Bible say is the real source of our problems? Is the problem the world around us or our own hearts? Why doesn't God answer some prayers? What does it mean to ask God with wrong motives? How should Christians pray according to James? What does "ask amiss" mean? Is God obligated to give us everything we ask for? How does the Lord's Prayer correct selfish praying? What is the difference between God's will and my desires?

Dr. Schmidt examines several illustrations that Jeremiah uses to describe the spiritual adultery and idolatry that the Jews of Judah had embraced.

Around But Not In With them — But Not With them — But Missing out on the Right One With them — But Not With Them This teaching explores the vital necessity of divine wisdom as a protective guide for life, drawing primarily from Proverbs 5 and Ecclesiastes 8. It contrasts the blessed state of those who find wisdom with the peril of being physically present in holy places yet spiritually disconnected from God's truth. The preacher emphasizes that proximity to right people or religious routines does not guarantee salvation without an internal transformation and active heed to God's voice. By examining Solomon's experience and the covenant faithfulness in Psalm 89, the message highlights how God's grace covers believers even when they face consequences for their folly. Ultimately, the text urges listeners to actively pursue spiritual wisdom rather than relying on external associations or worldly success. The message centers on this warning: it is possible to be around the right people, in the right place, hearing the right truth, and still be on the verge of ruin if we do not actually heed the wisdom of God. Proverbs teaches that wisdom is a gift from God, not just information. Like a wife is described as a good gift from the Lord, wisdom is also pictured as a gracious helper that guards, guides, corrects, and keeps us from destruction. God's wisdom helps us on His is well-marked highway: it tells us when to slow down, when to stop, when to turn, and when danger is ahead. The message warns that there are many competing voices in life. The strange woman in Proverbs 5 represents both physical temptation and spiritual adultery — leaving God's wisdom for another voice, an

The sermon examines Leviticus 18 to establish that Christian moral boundaries are grounded in God's authoritative word rather than shifting cultural norms. It specifically addresses adultery, abortion, and homosexual behavior as violations of divine order, contrasting secular relativism with the consistent biblical standard. The preacher emphasizes that these laws protect social integrity and reflect God's love, urging believers to obey out of gratitude for redemption. Despite the severity of these sins, the message highlights the sufficiency of Christ's forgiveness for all who repent. Ultimately, the congregation is called to uphold scriptural truth while extending the gospel of grace to a world in rebellion.

David's sin with Bathsheba is his greatest error, and though he repents of it, the effects are felt for the rest of his life.

1. What not? 2. Why not? 3. How not? Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 41