The Semper Reformata Podcast

The Swearing of OathsH/C LD37 Q101-102In this short lesson we look at legal oaths – the kind of oath you would take in court, or before a lawyer, or at a wedding, before a minister or registrar.  Before we think about this subject let’s see what the catechism says, and read some Bible passages.H/C. Q101 But may we swear an oath by the name of God in a godly manner?A. Yes, when the government demands it of its subjects, or when necessity requires it, in order to maintain and promote fidelity and truth, to God’s glory and for our neighbour’s good. Such oath-taking is based on God’s Word and was therefore rightly used by saints in the Old and the New Testament.Q.102 May we also swear by saints or other creatures?A. No. A lawful oath is a calling upon God, who alone knows the heart, to bear witness to the truth, and to punish me if I swear falsely. No creature is worthy of such honour.READ: Matthew 5:34-37.  Romans 1:9   James 5:12  Read the NOTES HERE

God's Rescue AppliedWe’re still reeling with the unforeseen realisation that despite our abhorrent corruption and pollution by sin, God has stepped in on our behalf, without any merit on our part, to rescue us from our eternal plight. He could have destroyed us for our sin. But he didn’t. Lamentations 3:22-23 We already KNOW how God has rescued us, for that is exactly what Paul has been telling us in chapter one. It has been accomplished for us, on our behalf, in Christ alone, without any input from us. It is the objective work of God. But all of that divine work, in its enactment, as it is applied to our lives, has an EFFECT upon us. We might refer to that as the empirical effects of the rescue, our first hand, observable experiences of new birth. How our rescue affects us, sinners, being rescued from our sin. What did the Lord Jesus do for us when he rescued us from our sin?Read the NOTES HERE.

Catechism Class, Lord’s Day 36. Blessed be the Name of the Lord!In this lesson we are going to look at the Catechist’s instructions on the Third Commandment. Let’s read the commandment itself first, and then the Catechism…   Exodus 20:7 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.H/C LD36 Q99. What is required in the third commandment?We are not to blaspheme or to abuse the name of God by cursing, perjury, or unnecessary oaths, nor to share in such horrible sins by being silent bystanders. Rather, we must use the holy name of God only with fear and reverence, so that we may rightly confess him, call upon him, and praise him in all our words and works. Q100. Is the blaspheming of God’s name by swearing and cursing such a grievous sin that God is angry also with those who do not prevent and forbid it as much as they can?Certainly, for no sin is greater or provokes God’s wrath more than the blaspheming of his name. That is why he commanded it to be punished with death.

Why Did God Rescue Us?Text: Ephesians 2:4-7 Paul has given us a shocking assessment of the very nature of all humanity, in every age, in every location, people of all races and creeds, men and women… They are all polluted with sin, and we discovered in Ephesians 2:4, that Paul had inserted two very important and pivotal words: BUT GOD. Someone once remarked that right here we have the biggest BUT – a contrast – in the Bible. Here’s why. Because it is an unexpected twist. There’s many’s a novel has a twist like that. But none of them can compare with this twist, this BUT.To red the NOTES CLICK THIS LINKThis sermon was preached at Ballymacashon, and at Templepatrick Reformed Church. It was recorded at Templepatrick, and is used here with their kind permission.

Catechism Class: LD35B Q97-98 Use and Misuse of Imagery and ArtRead Isaiah 40:18-31 and see how the prophet Isaiah compares the greatness of God with the pathetic worthlessness of the idols made by man hands. He says, “To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?” The question is rhetorical. There is nothing that can compare with Almighty God, – no image, no idol, no statue.Read the NOTES HERE

The Soul's PollutionText: Ephesians 2:2-4To fully appreciate how vast the work that God has done for sinners we must understand the problem, the dreadful polluted corrupt nature into which and with which we are born.  To read the NOTES CLICKThis sermon was preached at Ballymacashon Congregational church and at Templepatric Reformed Church. It was recorded live at Templepatrick an is used here with their permission.

Passover People: Thomas.Thomas the Doubter? Or more like us all than we care to think?The disciples of Jesus all had their own individual personalities, and these characteristics all come out in the Biblical record.Universally, the disciple Thomas has become known as a doubter – his name and his story has become legend – he is ‘Doubting Thomas’ – a pejorative description to this day, of anyone who has legitimate concerns about some concerning matter. Yet Thomas was not the only disciple who had periods of doubt. Mark 16:9-11 Luke 24:10-11 Thomas’s experience simply mirrored that of the rest of the disciples. So let’s set aside thinking of ‘Doubting Thomas’ for a few minutes and ask, “What can we learn from Thomas’s examination of the wounds of Christ; his personal encounter with the risen Saviour?”Read the NOTES HERE.Message preached at Ballymacashon Congregational and Templepatrick Reformed Church, - recorded at Templepatrick and used here with their permission.

Catechism Class: Lord's Day 35 Q96 How NOT to Worship GodThe second commandment is a rule to help us to keep the first commandment. There is a danger that if we invent some image of God, using our own imagination, that we will be deflected from worshipping the One True God who reveals himself to us in Scripture. Because this is so serious, after all our very soul’s salvation is at stake, our instructor warns us about the danger of any form of idolatry slipping into our worship.Read the NOTES HERE.