Trinity Fellowship

Study in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith

A bride purchases her gown and puts it on for just one day. After, she will change into regular clothes, and her white wedding dress is put away. In the new covenant, the way we see a bride for just one day is the way God sees us every day of our lives in Christ. This is a covenant sealed and consummated forever by the blood of the Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. He has given us a garment of salv...

Study in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith

Jesus is no longer a pilgrim on His way. The cross is no longer in front of Him. He has no more trials, no more foes, no more work left to be done. He has arrived at His appointed destination, and ministers from there on your behalf. Jesus is before the Father, at the true tabernacle where God Himself dwells, and is committed to brining us near to God through His superior ministry. He is the more...

Study in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith

No matter where you are or what you have done, the High Priest and Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, has been perfectly fitted to your need. If you will come to Him, not as a decent person in need of a life coach to give some pointers, but as a ruined sinner in need of a new life, He will give exactly what is needed. He is the Priest who represents you and the sacrifice who took your place. He will take...

Study in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith

Study in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith

One reason many Christians struggle with assurance is that they are accustomed to looking to what is familiar instead of what is permanent. A succession of earthly priests became as familiar to Israel as therapeutic moralism has become to us. Hebrews urges us forward by looking beyond the familiar to what is ancient and permanent. Jesus Christ is better than the earthly priests in every way. He po...

Study in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith

Like the Hebrews, many Christians seem content with the familiar. In some ways, following rules is simpler than growing in the grace and wisdom of having God's law written on our hearts. We would rather gaze upon God's work in some other person or hero rather than to draw near and gaze upon Him ourselves. Yet this is the goal for which Christ came – that we may draw near to God Himself. Fix your e...

Study in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith

Jesus is our Melchizedek. He is our King of Righteousness, cleansing us from our sin and clothing us in perfect obedience. His is the City of Peace, where those who have found His righteousness shall dwell forever with Him. Forever He will rule as the righteous king over his city of eternal peace. "And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place1 of God is with man. He...

Study in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith

The royal psalms point to Christ, the ideal King. Jesus will find out all his enemies and they will be destroyed by the appearance of his coming. He has started this process already by his first coming and the establishment of his reign in history. His victory over sin, the world, the devil and death should fill us with unspeakable joy. Are you on the right side of this glorious triumph? Are you g...

Consider the source of your salvation and your assurance. If our salvation were a cooperative effort between God and man, how could this provide a strong encouragement? Salvation and its assurance would be reduced to "You will not be lost if *you*… If God's promises depended on us, we are without any consolation at all. What we think we have today may vanish tomorrow. Even the chain of salvation i...

Study in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith

After jolting this Hebrew congregation awake with a stern warning, the author is now sure of better things, namely their salvation. The warning operates as intended; it will offend the cowards and apostates and send them out, but it will also strengthen the saints. They can be encouraged by the fruit of the Spirit that they've already evidenced, and now they can double down and press further up an...

Study in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith

General Patton held to a strategy of always advancing the attack. He kept pressing because he said he didn't like paying for the same real estate twice. The author of Hebrews is encouraging the same. If we would close this life with Christ; if we would enter His rest, if we would enjoy assurance, we must not stand still but keep pushing onward. The Lord is severe with traitors like Judas. If we de...

Study in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith

Study in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith

How long have you been a Christian? Do these admonitions apply to you? What is the condition of your maturity? Do you need someone to go over the basics with you again? Or are you diligently applying the basics, and hungry for more? If you are hungry for more, do you see that holiness is at the centre? Do you study the priesthood of Christ, for example, in order to discern both good and evil? Or a...

The same Holy Spirit which appeared at Pentecost is at work today. He has sustained and energized the Christian church through the ages, and He does so still. He provides the power to not be ashamed when the father of lies continues to bring false charges against God's elect. He stirs up the mutual self-giving love among believers. He gives a sound mind and self-control as we pursue our holy calli...

Study in the 1689 Second London Baptist Confession of Faith