creation on SermonAudio

In this class we discuss ways we can widen the scope of our spiritual practices farther than the reformation triangle of Word, Meditation, and Prayer. Though we can broaden beyond just those three practices specifically, we never move completely beyond them. They remain the center and foundation of all our spiritual formation. Specifically in this class, we discuss how we can look outside of ourselves to God's creation, and look within ourselves with self-examination, as tools for spiritual growth.

The sermon explores the critical relationship between divine order and spiritual discernment, contrasting the successful rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls in Nehemiah with the chaotic failure of Babel. It establishes that God is inherently orderly, as demonstrated in creation and His redemptive plan, and calls believers to align their lives with this structure to avoid confusion and gain clarity. The preacher argues that maturity and faithfulness, cultivated through trials and obedience, are essential for developing the discernment needed to resist deception. Ultimately, the drive for faithful service within the church stems not from obligation but from a profound appreciation of God's forgiveness, which rightly orders human affections toward selfless love and labor for His kingdom.

The sermon addresses the neglect of the Sabbath in modern Protestantism and calls for a recovery of its biblical doctrine as a creation ordinance and moral law. It argues that keeping the Lord's Day is essential for resisting worldly slavery and maintaining the spiritual health of the church. The central message emphasizes that true Sabbath-keeping requires an internal delight in God rather than mere external compliance or drudgery. By honoring the day as holy and setting aside worldly pleasures, believers experience restored communion with Christ and divine blessing. Ultimately, the preacher urges the congregation to align their affections with God, viewing the Sabbath as a foretaste of eternal rest and joy.

The sermon centers on Psalm 145, urging believers to shift their focus from personal burdens to the infinite greatness of God. It emphasizes the responsibility of each generation to praise God's mighty acts and pass this testimony down to children. Pastor Wilkins highlights God's unsearchable wisdom, His gracious character, and His sovereign control over all creation and history. By reflecting on God's faithfulness in sustaining life and preserving His people, the message encourages a lifestyle of continuous worship and trust. Ultimately, it calls for a heartfelt response of adoration that acknowledges God's eternal kingdom and worthiness.

The sermon explores the theological depth of God as a refuge, moving beyond familiar scripture to address the ultimate danger of divine judgment. By contrasting Psalm 46 with Nahum, it establishes that while creation may shake under God's wrath, believers find safety in His character rather than circumstances. The central message resolves the tension between God's holiness and mercy through the atoning work of Christ on the cross. Jesus absorbs the full punishment for sin, allowing God to remain just while justifying the ungodly. Consequently, those in Christ face no condemnation and possess an immovable security that transcends earthly turmoil and death.

Heidelberg Catechism Q. 31 teaches that Christ is called "Anointed" because He is ordained by the Father and anointed with the Holy Spirit as our Prophet, High Priest, and King. This lesson focuses on Christ's offices as **Priest and King**. As Priest, Christ fulfills the Old Testament priesthoods represented by Adam, Melchizedek, and Aaron. Adam served as a priest in Eden, representing mankind before God. Melchizedek was both priest and king, foreshadowing Christ's unique and everlasting priesthood. The Aaronic priests sacrificed, interceded, and blessed, pointing forward to Christ, the great High Priest. Christ is both the Priest and the perfect sacrifice. Unlike the repeated sacrifices of the Old Testament, He offered Himself once for all, perfectly satisfying God's justice and eternally redeeming His people. He continues His priestly work by interceding for them before the Father and blessing them with salvation, grace, mercy, the Holy Spirit, and every spiritual blessing. His sacrifice, intercession, and blessing cannot be separated. As King, Christ fulfills the Old Testament kings, especially David. Unlike earthly kings, whose kingdoms were temporary and limited to Israel, Christ possesses an eternal kingdom and rules over all creation. He conquers not through earthly weapons but through humility, suffering, sacrificial death, His Word, and His Spirit. Christ reigns by ruling His people and His church, defending and preserving His people, and conquering every enemy—including sin, Satan, and death. He is the almighty King who will ultimately place every enemy under His feet.

The sermon argues against the allegorical interpretation of Scripture, which it attributes to Greek philosophy and figures like Augustine, asserting that this approach undermines the literal fulfillment of God's promises to Israel. It contends that spiritualizing Old Testament prophecies about the land and kingdom is a deceptive lie that denies the future physical restoration of national Israel and the earth. The speaker emphasizes that Israel remains central to God's redemptive plan as the lens through which He reveals Himself to the nations and the channel for blessing the world. By examining passages such as Amos 9 and Romans 11, the text highlights God's irrevocable covenant with Abraham's descendants and His ultimate purpose to restore creation under Messiah's reign from Jerusalem. The message concludes by affirming that trusting in literal interpretation is essential for understanding the scope of future glory and the faithfulness of God.

If God created man male and female on the sixth day, where does a second creation of man come from? Ask why God takes both accounts up again here and says it once more, in the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him. Ask what is left of a doctrine that needs two Adams once those words stand. Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.