The Pure Word of Life in the Day of Death
By Pastor Benjamin Glaser - Posted at Thoughts From Parson Farms:
Ministering to Those Most in Need of the Hope Available Alone in Jesus ChristGood Morning,
When the Directory gives directions to ministers and elders it does so in all solemnity. There is a general lack of seriousness in the church today, and no more so than in the way we do not take as gravely as we should the reality of death and what comes next. Either we speak of it not, or find ourselves using euphemisms that deny the power. In the somewhat long section today from the DPW we see that as the elders and minister, as well as brothers and sisters in Christ are brought opportunity to pastorally care for those in the throws of the end that some pointed questions need to be asked, especially if it is evident that the person declining knows not the saving grace of the Lord Jesus. All of our interactions with men should be seasoned with mercy and love. Yet, it should always show itself most pronounced when we are given opportunity to offer the gospel to those who are far from it. There is nothing more important than life, than the free gift of heaven.
It is in light of that particular truth that our DPW section warns us in no uncertain terms that as we are visiting with one near to be departed that we must not keep back the words of life. All that is to say that if we do find ourselves heart-to-heart speaking to a known brother than we are then to be found encouraging them to be at rest in Christ. There are no sweeter words. Let’s read it:
If it appear that he hath not a due sense of his sins, endeavours ought to be used to convince him of his sins, of the guilt and desert of them; of the filth and pollution which the soul contracts by them; and of the curse of the law, and wrath of God, due to them; that he may be truly affected with and humbled for them: and withal make known the danger of deferring repentance, and of neglecting salvation at any time offered; to awaken his conscience, and rouse him up out of a stupid and secure condition, to apprehend the justice and wrath of God, before whom none can stand, but he that, lost in himself, layeth hold upon Christ by faith.
If he hath endeavoured to walk in the ways of holiness, and to serve God in uprightness, although not without many failings and infirmities; or, if his spirit be broken with the sense of sin, or cast down through want of the sense of God’s favour; then it will be fit to raise him up, by setting before him the freeness and fulness of God’s grace, the sufficiency of righteousness in Christ, the gracious offers in the gospel, that all who repent, and believe with all their heart in God’s mercy through Christ, renouncing their own righteousness, shall have life and salvation in him. It may be also useful to shew him, that death hath in it no spiritual evil to be feared by those that are in Christ, because sin, the sting of death, is taken away by Christ, who hath delivered all that are his from the bondage of the fear of death, triumphed over the grave, given us victory, is himself entered into glory to prepare a place for his people: so that neither life nor death shall be able to separate them from God’s love in Christ, in whom such are sure, though now they must be laid in the dust, to obtain a joyful and glorious resurrection to eternal life.
When the Directory gives directions to ministers and elders it does so in all solemnity. There is a general lack of seriousness in the church today, and no more so than in the way we do not take as gravely as we should the reality of death and what comes next. Either we speak of it not, or find ourselves using euphemisms that deny the power. In the somewhat long section today from the DPW we see that as the elders and minister, as well as brothers and sisters in Christ are brought opportunity to pastorally care for those in the throws of the end that some pointed questions need to be asked, especially if it is evident that the person declining knows not the saving grace of the Lord Jesus. All of our interactions with men should be seasoned with mercy and love. Yet, it should always show itself most pronounced when we are given opportunity to offer the gospel to those who are far from it. There is nothing more important than life, than the free gift of heaven.
It is in light of that particular truth that our DPW section warns us in no uncertain terms that as we are visiting with one near to be departed that we must not keep back the words of life. All that is to say that if we do find ourselves heart-to-heart speaking to a known brother than we are then to be found encouraging them to be at rest in Christ. There are no sweeter words. Let’s read it:
If it appear that he hath not a due sense of his sins, endeavours ought to be used to convince him of his sins, of the guilt and desert of them; of the filth and pollution which the soul contracts by them; and of the curse of the law, and wrath of God, due to them; that he may be truly affected with and humbled for them: and withal make known the danger of deferring repentance, and of neglecting salvation at any time offered; to awaken his conscience, and rouse him up out of a stupid and secure condition, to apprehend the justice and wrath of God, before whom none can stand, but he that, lost in himself, layeth hold upon Christ by faith.
If he hath endeavoured to walk in the ways of holiness, and to serve God in uprightness, although not without many failings and infirmities; or, if his spirit be broken with the sense of sin, or cast down through want of the sense of God’s favour; then it will be fit to raise him up, by setting before him the freeness and fulness of God’s grace, the sufficiency of righteousness in Christ, the gracious offers in the gospel, that all who repent, and believe with all their heart in God’s mercy through Christ, renouncing their own righteousness, shall have life and salvation in him. It may be also useful to shew him, that death hath in it no spiritual evil to be feared by those that are in Christ, because sin, the sting of death, is taken away by Christ, who hath delivered all that are his from the bondage of the fear of death, triumphed over the grave, given us victory, is himself entered into glory to prepare a place for his people: so that neither life nor death shall be able to separate them from God’s love in Christ, in whom such are sure, though now they must be laid in the dust, to obtain a joyful and glorious resurrection to eternal life.
Comments
Post a Comment
Welcome! Please feel free to comment, but anti-Christian comments or profanity will not be tolerated. Thank you, ed.