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We saw in chapter seventeen of the Baptist Confession of Faith that a persevering attachment to Christ is the grand mark of genuine faith. The eighteenth chapter of the Baptist Confession of Faith explains a correlative truth, the Christian doctrine of assurance of salvation. Perseverance does not undermine the certainty of our salvation but contributes to the believer’s full assurance. This doctrine of assurance brings comfort to those who understand it. Unfortunately, the doctrine is often misunderstood or misrepresented by those who either deny it or embrace it without cause. The sermon this Lord’s Day will bring scriptural clarity to the matter.

This Lord’s Day we will observe the ordinances that Jesus bequeathed to the church by which we remember him: the Lord’s Table and baptism.

In the 19th century, English minister, J. C. Ryle, wrote a paper explaining the Lord’s Table. In it, he listed four “practical benefits” that believers receive when they participate in the observance of Communion. There are many other benefits that could be listed, but in our service this week, we will consider the four that he presented. We will add supporting Scriptures to them and focus on these great biblical truths that come alive for us at the Table.

I.     The Lord’s Table has “humbling” effect on the soul.

Scripture:        1 Timothy 1:12-17

II.      The Lord’s Table has a “cheering” effect on the soul.

Scripture:       Romans 8:31-39

III.      The Lord’s Table has a “sanctifying” effect on the soul.

Scripture:         2 Corinthians 5:17-21

IV.     The Lord’s Table has a “restraining” effect on the soul.

Scripture:         Colossians 3:1-17

Chapter 17 of the Baptist Confession of Faith addresses the subject of “The Perseverance of the Saints.” The Scriptures clearly teach this doctrine, but many misunderstand it. Some even deny it, opting instead for a doctrine called “the preservation of the saints.” But, as the sermon this Lord’s Day will show, these two ideas are not mutually exclusive. Preservation focuses on the end, or goal, God has established—our final salvation. Perseverance focuses on the means God has established—our continuing faithfulness and growing sanctification.

The sixteenth chapter of the Baptist Confession of Faith deals with the topic, “Good Works.” While the Scriptures are clear that good works do not secure our salvation, they are equally clear that good works are identifying characteristics of those who believe.

Chapter 15 of the Baptist Confession of Faith focuses our attention on the theme, “Repentance unto Life and Salvation.” We who were spiritually dead received spiritual life through repentant faith in Christ. That is the beginning of the Christian life. But Christians still struggle against the vestiges of the old nature. Christ, our Advocate, graciously represents us before the Father. Through His work, we confess our sin and persevere through this struggle.

Chapter 14 of the Baptist Confession of Faith deals with “Saving Faith.” On May 28th we worked through Ephesians 2:1-10 to understand the effect that sin has on the human will. Verse 8 of that passage explains that salvation is by grace through faith. In that sermon, we devoted only 2-3 minutes to the subject of faith. This Lord’s Day, we return to Ephesians 2:8 to delve deeply into this great theme.

Chapter 13 in the Baptist Confession of Faith explains the Bible’s teaching on sanctification or, the Christian’s pursuit of holiness. The confession strongly and correctly makes the point that salvation in Christ always sets in motion the transforming process by which Christians become come more and more holy. The sermon and the service this Lord’s Day will proclaim this truth. They will also emphasize an aspect of sanctification only implied in the confession. Most Christians believe that sanctification is an important personal matter and that it has secondary implications for the people of God (the church). However, the Bible places primary emphasis on the holiness of the people of God which, in turn, has implications for the individual. To get this wrong undermines the purity of the church in coming generations.

The twelfth article of the Baptist Confession of Faith focuses on God’s gracious work of adoption. This topic seldom receives the attention it deserves in the preaching and teaching of the churches. That is, perhaps, because it is seldom mentioned by name in the Bible, but the concept appears often. We will explore this important doctrine by examining the main passage in which it appears and will also include other passages in the sermon for a thorough explanation.

How can sinners such as we ever have a right relationship with a holy God? That is the central concern of the Gospel. There is only one true answer to that question—and we have to get it right. This is the concern of the eleventh article of the Baptist Confession of Faith, “Justification.” The sermon on this Lord’s Day will follow the apostle Paul’s explanation of this crucial doctrine in his letter to the Romans.

The subject of the service for this Lord’s Day is “The Effectual Call” (article 10 in the Baptist Confess of Faith). It refers to the initiative God takes to bring his people to salvation. He does this—not because of anything in our character or because of what we do. He calls us on the basis of his gracious intentions. When he calls us, the call is effectual, that is, it accomplishes God’s intended purpose. The instrument that God uses to accomplish his purpose is his Word applied by his Spirit.