Our Only Hope In Life And Death

In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus gives us an important lesson in hope without using that word. He says, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” 

 

There are two reasons Jesus gives for His disciples to lay up treasures in heaven and not on earth: First, what or whom we are trusting for our treasure (our hope for happiness) other than God directs the heart in that same direction and away from God. Second, earthly treasures are not lasting, but heavenly treasures are. In other words, they are a better investment and reflect a better object of hope. 

 

What Jesus teaches here reveals that whatever we put our hope in other than God is a poor replacement for Him. Is your hope in your house and never allowing change to your familiar setting? There will come a day you must leave that home for the last time, in a family member’s car to the assisted living center, in an ambulance to the hospital, or in a hearse to the funeral home. Is your hope your physical ability and health? Someday they will be in your rearview mirror. Are you placing your hope in your vocation? Your working days are numbered. 

 

There is only one hope that we have in life that is certain and lasting, since it goes beyond death, and that is to know that we have eternal life through Jesus Christ and we have a true relationship with God (John 3:16; 1 John 1:3, 7).

 

This is the focus of the first question and answer of The New City Catechism, which reads: “What is our only hope in life and death?  Answer: That we are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ.”

 

“Our only hope in life and death” speaks of the only ultimate object of hope that is certain and cannot be taken away. Standing behind the statement that, “We are not our own but belong, body and soul, both in life and death, to God and to our Savior Jesus Christ,” is the awareness that the history of redemption and the Scriptures are organized around covenants that God makes with people that show He has committed Himself to be their God and for them to be His people, belonging to Him (Ex. 6:7; 19:4-6; 29:45; Lev. 26:12; Jer. 7:23; 11:4; 24:7; 30:22; Ezekiel 11:20; 14:11; 36:28; 37:27; 2 Cor. 6:16; Rev. 21:7).

 

The idea of covenant also highlights that God chooses, saves, and transforms His people by His sovereign grace. When a person has truly trusted in Jesus Christ as their Savior, this means they are objects of God’s sovereign grace and love, which assures us of a certain future and eternity. This, then, is the point of this first question. Paul words the truth this way in Romans 14:7–8: "For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord. So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s."

 

The New City Catechism follows the Heidelberg Catechism (1562) in both including this question and answer and placing it first. It is not hard to see why. This is one of the most important questions we can ask and answer, and to settle in our own life. Make it your ambition to live by and in line with the truths communicated here. We belong to Him and He is committed to us. As such, the final words of Psalm 23 provide unequaled comfort: “Surely goodness and steadfast love shall hotly pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

 

Joyfully catechizing with you,

Tom

The Use Of Catechisms: An Introduction

Over the past nine years I have encouraged the use of The New City Catechism (hereafter NCC), which debuted in 2017. This catechism derives from both the Westminster Shorter Catechism (1647, hereafter WSC) and the Heidelberg Catechism(1563). The NCC is more useful for contemporary users since it has only fifty-two questions (as opposed to the one hundred, seven of the WSC), its length makes it possible to memorize and/or to go through in one year, it has a free app that also makes it easier to use, the app can be put in children’s mode and used with younger readers, and it gives a great overview of the key doctrines of the Bible. 

 

Professing Christians who have been in Evangelical churches any time at all may think it odd that anyone is encouraging the use of a catechism.  There is not only a prejudice against such tools, but a great deal of misunderstanding.  Many conclude, “Catechetical instruction is one of those religious hoops to jump through in cold, sterile congregations!”[1]  Like any tool, a catechism can be misused and sometimes is.  However, this does not negate their helpfulness if utilized properly—namely to ground a person in the basics of the gospel and the Scriptures.

 

The lack of biblical and theological understanding among the Church today is well documented.[2]  Part of this stems from a misunderstanding of grace, one which suggests we should exercise easy belief (mere mental assent) in Jesus Christ as Savior and then try to stay away from study as far as we can, lest we become legalistic and/or make our Christianity something less than a relationship.  It is almost as if the less we know, the more we can claim, “Hey, it’s all about a relationship with Jesus!” The lack of biblical literacy also stems from the fact that the contemporary Church has made little use of theologically substantive training materials that can aid believers to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.  

 

Catechisms are just such a tool. They are designed to root and ground children, new saints, and inquiring unbelievers in the basics of the faith and the gospel. In fact, since it was so common in the early church for those who had professed faith in Jesus Christ eventually to turn away from their profession, catechisms were developed to help the person “decide if he still wanted to submit to Christian baptism and gave the church opportunity to discern (as far as human observation can do this) the genuineness of his, or her, conversion…. This use of catechisms served as a safeguard for the purity of the church.”[3]

 

The term catechism is taken from the Greek word katecheo, which means “teach” or “instruct”. To catechize “simply means to teach Biblical truth in an orderly way.  Generally, this is done with questions and answers accompanied by Biblical support and explanation.”[4]  Catechetical instruction is not something done only in Roman Catholic or cold liberal churches.  In fact, it was one of the factors which enabled the Reformation of the 16^th-17^th centuries to remain on solid footing and to spread successfully.[5]

 

The use of the NCC fits in our church since we are a church serious about having a biblical, experiential knowledge of God, we value making disciples, and we value parents equipping their children for the Christian life. This tool helps with each of these values. 

 

Because of all this, I will take us through the NCC in my newsletter articles over the next year. There may be occasional weeks I will break from this and write on something else. But for the most part I will write on one question and answer a week.  

 

My prayer is that God will use these articles in your life, the life of your children, and the lives of those whom you are discipling. I also pray that He, His Word, and the truth of the gospel, will be opened up in new and fresh ways for your delight in Him and for His glory.

 

Joyfully Catechizing With You,

 

Tom Barnes

 

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[1] Tom J. Nettles, Teaching Truth, Training Hearts: The Study Of Catechisms In Baptist Life (Amityville, NY: Calvary Press, 1998), 15, draws attention to the reality many evangelicals are suspicious of catechisms.

 

[2]For example, David Wells, No Place For Truth (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1993), 4, wrote:  “I have watched with growing disbelief as the evangelical Church has cheerfully plunged into astounding theological illiteracy.”

 

[3] Nettles, Teaching Truth, 16.

 

[4] John Piper, A Baptism Catechism (Desiring God Ministries), 1. He lists Acts 18:25; 1 Corinthians 14:19; Galatians 6:6 which all use the verb katecheo to speak of biblical instruction. 

 

[5] Nettles, Teaching Truth, 17.

Praying For Pastors/Elders

Church, I am writing this article with my own self-interest in mind. I would like to encourage you to pray for me and all our pastors/elders at the church. This guidance for prayer arises from glorious encouragement given to pastors in Jeremiah 3:15-19. 

 

In Jeremiah 3:1-14 the prophet clarifies that Judah has been unfaithful toward and treacherous against God, following in the footsteps of her sister, the northern ten tribes of Israel. Yet, this tone changes with 3:15-19, where it is prophesied that in the future God will save a remnant and enable them to be faithful to Him and so will experience covenant blessings. 

 

It is in these four covenant blessings found in this passage we discover the joyous message for pastors that can guide us in praying for them.

 

1. God will give faithful pastors in the future. 15

In verse 17, the phrase, “at that time,” speaks of the time of the New Covenant (cf. 30:3; 31:1) that includes a work of God’s Spirit in the heart to transform His people more fully and powerfully, so they have more of an ability to please God (Jer. 31:31-34; Ezek. 36:25-27). This is the very New Covenant Jesus ratified with his blood (Luke 22:20). We read in verse 15, “And I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”  

 

What Jeremiah is prophesying is that in the time of the New Covenant (the period we now are in) the empowerment that comes through the rich pouring out of the Holy Spirit upon us and His continual indwelling of us, leads to two outcomes that are different than what Judah experienced from her shepherds during the days of Jeremiah.

 

To start, these New Covenant shepherds (in other words, pastors) will be “after My own heart,” says God. This means that these pastors will want to please God (1 Samuel 13:14; Psalm 143:10) by following God’s will and seeking to carry out their ministry in a way that delights God. 

 

Under the New Covenant, Christians are empowered to serve God faithfully and fruitfully. This not only includes Christians at large, but Jeremiah singles pastors out in this prophecy. Does this mean that they will always do what is right, will be perfect, and always see wonderful outward success?  No. It does mean that God will supply every need of pastors (Phil. 4:19) to preach faithfully, to remain steadfast and patient when people oppose them (Gal. 5:22; 2 Thes. 3:5), and to find comfort when they face temptations to give up (2 Thes. 2:16-17). 

 

Note what else is promised in this verse: “And I will give you shepherds…who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.”   The shepherds God promised to give will shepherd according to knowledge and so as to give knowledge about God through His Word and, with this knowledge, the insight as to how to live out the knowledge. This does not mean that pastors/elders can be passive in their preaching ministry and God will just fill them with His knowledge. As Paul said to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:7: “Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.” Pastors/elders must study and work to understand Scripture, but to do it all along the way relying upon the grace of God in Jesus Christ to understand and to help others apply Scriptural truth. 

 

I am so comforted and encouraged by this prophecy. God has promised centuries ago to empower His pastors in the New Testament Church to do everything to which He calls them. Additionally, He tells us elsewhere (Eph. 2:10) that we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we (yes, also pastors!) should walk in them.” 

 

Pastors can preach the Word boldly, courageously, and by trust in our Lord! He is and ever will be our helper.

 

Though this promise does not mean there will always be large outward success, nevertheless God has promised that in this New Covenant era He will give success to the Church in carrying out the mission He has given to us. This should move pastors to pray, trust, and act boldly! Let’s look at this more closely in verses 16-17.

 

2. God will enable His Church to carry out His mission successfully. 16-17

In verse 16 we discover this startling promise: “And it shall be that when you have multiplied and have been fruitful in the land, in those days, according to the declaration of Yahweh, they shall no more say, ‘The ark of the covenant of Yahweh.’ It shall not come up upon the heart and it shall not be remembered in it and it shall not be visited/sought; it shall not be done again.” 

 

I say this is startling because what God is saying through Jeremiah is that in the New Covenant era (now!) God will enable His people to fulfill the Creation Mandate as it never has previously. That mandate in Gen. 1:27-28 includes these words: “So God created man in his own image…male and female he created them. And God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion…on the earth.’” In other words, God will enable His people through this New Covenant to fill the world with God worshipers as has never previously happened.

 

And notice that at that time, the “ark of the covenant of Yahweh” will be a thing of the past. Why?  Because the picture and lesson it provided under the Old Covenant is fulfilled in Jesus Christ (see John 1:14; 2:18-19; Col. 2:16-17; Heb. 8-10). There is nothing unclear here. These promises are for this New Covenant era.

 

Notice also the focus in v. 17, which is made by using Old Testament worship language and pictures, is on the nations coming to the true God: “At that time they will call Jerusalem the throne of Yahweh, and all nations shall be gathered to it, to the name of Yahweh, to Jerusalem, and they shall not any more walk after the stubbornness of their own evil heart.” Revelation 5:9-10 displays that this is fulfilled in the New Covenant era: “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.’” Though the complete fulfillment of this will be seen in the future New Heaven and New Earth (Revelation 21:1-8), the fulfillment has been largely started now. 

 

God, through Jeremiah, not only promises multitudes of people will come to the true God through Jesus Christ, He also promises that there will be significant ethical transformation in the people of God. We will see this in verse 18. 

 

3. God will unify His divided people. 

The way Jeremiah makes this point is as follows: “In those days the house of Judah will walk with the house of Israel, and together they shall come from the land of the north upon the land that I gave as an inheritance to your fathers.” 

 

We may not feel the power of this until we remind ourselves that the nation of Israel was to be a “light to the nations” (Isaiah 42:6; 49:6), to draw the nations to worship the true God through witnessing the wise, law-keeping behavior of God’s people (Deuteronomy 4:6-8) who love one another (cf. Leviticus 19:17-18). Yet, they failed miserably, so much so that the nation divided into two sub-nations (cf. 1 Kings 11-12; 2 Chronicles 10). 

 

What Jeremiah describes here, then, is a supernatural work of God in His people that unites them in one Savior, as one people, who will finally display their true relationship to God by their love for one another and their unity (John 13:34-35; 17:20-21). 

 

How do we know that God will keep these promises?  Consider verse 19.

 

4. Our certainty is found in this: We are dealing with a covenant-faithful God! 

“And I myself said, ‘Oh how I would have set you among [My] children, and I would have given you a land of pleasant desire, an inheritance of glorious beauty [above] the hosts of nations.  And I said you would call me, My Father,  and would not turn from following me.”

 

God showed Himself faithful always to His people under the Old Covenant, even when they were not faithful to Him. He says to Judah, through Jeremiah here, that if they had trusted in Him and thus been faithful to Him, He would have blessed them as He promised He would. Yet, they broke covenant with God (Jeremiah 31:32). Once again, God shows that He will certainly be faithful to His people under the New Covenant, for that covenant will never be broken since it is ratified and kept by a perfect Savior, Jesus Christ (Jeremiah 31:31-34; 2 Corinthians 1:20).

 

How, then, we should pray for pastors/elders.

1. These promises in Jeremiah 3:15-19 show how good God is, how much we can trust Him, and how much we ought to be willing to come to Him for His good gifts of the New Covenant. Pray that pastors/elders would have an experiential knowledge of this goodness of God.

 

2. Pray that pastor/elders never rely on self as they preach to and lead their people. What God has called them to is a ministry that He has equipped them to carry out and will continue to do so. After all, the same anointing of the Spirit to preach that Jesus had in His earthly ministry (Luke 4:18) is also what pastors have since they are united with Him (Romans 6:1-11; Ephesians 2:4-6).

 

3. Pray that as pastors/elders prepare to preach and to lead the church, they do so in the confidence that God has empowered them in Christ so they can not only see people trust in Jesus Christ as Savior, since they have been born again (1 John 5:1), pastors/elders can also see lives transformed by the Word preached (John 17:17; Rom. 1:16; 10:17; 16:25; 2 Tim. 3:16-17).

 

4. Pray that as pastors/elders preach the Word, they do so by standing upon God’s promises, for He is a covenant-keeping, a promise-keeping God—through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20). 

 

5. Pray that as pastors/elders approach each sermon, they expect God to change hearts and lives. 

 

Joyfully Shepherding You As You Pray!

 

Tom Barnes