Jennifer Bales

Ordo salutis- This is Latin for “order of salvation.” Theologically it is the order of decrees by God in bringing about the salvation of individuals. the ordo salutis is 1) election, 2) predestination, 3) calling, 4) regeneration, 5) faith, 6) repentance, 7) justification, 8) sanctification, 9) glorification.

I was taught in seminary to “preach to felt-needs” by holding each sermon up to the test: what are you asking them to do? This approach made sense. It kept my sermons fairly focused and it gave the flock something to work on. Sometimes the answer was “pray more!” It was often “give more” or “do more for God.” Other times there were instructions about how to have a happy marriage or how to forgive those who hurt you. In the best of those sermons, parishioners carried home with them some advice that might be helpful in their daily lives. It sounds good, right? What could be wrong with relaying concrete application points and actions steps, and giving my opinion about what people should do? Now I see that the end result of try-harder and do-more sermons is crushing. Those messages were not good news, no matter how pleasant and entertaining the preacher is. If we are honest, such sermons eventually result in tired, beat up Christians who carry with them the constant reminder that they do...

Sermon notes: Baptism: Matt 28:18-20 Methods for making disciples: Word and Sacrament (Baptizing). 3 Ways to Use baptism properly: -It does not save us. We trust Christ, not baptism for salvation. We look to Christ to Whom our Baptism points. -It is a visible Gospel. It preaches the Gospel to us: Christ's death, burial, resurrection. Not your act, but God's promise. Not our gift to God, but His gift to us. Not a pledge of our obedience, but His promise to us. -It is initiation into God's visible church. Disciples are made by baptizing. It is a covenant sign (Abrahamic Covenant: context) that is universal: to all nations. Matt 1:1 Jesus: Offspring. Matt 28: He is administering the Abrahamic Covenant in the New Covenant. Gal 3:16. Isa 53:8. Reformed teaching on Baptism: 39 Articles, WCF, Belgic Confession. The Bible knows nothing of an unbaptized Christian. >Christ's sacraments are inseparably connected to church membership. Acts 2:41-42 (Great Commission in action: ...

"At the heart of most religions is a moral code. At the heart of Christianity is a cross, planted in the middle of history." Michael Horton

As fallen sinners, we can come up with thousands of reasons to doubt Christ's love and patience toward us. But, he deals gently with the ignorant and wayward (Heb 5:2). He will never cast out anyone who comes to him (Jn 6:37). He doesn't break bruised reeds (Mt 12:20).

"When I am at the judgment, I will appeal to Christ alone, who is my Advocate. My works are NOT my Advocate." ~John Fonville

“The Reformed confessions teach that the pedagogical (second use) use of the law never disappears. Question 115 of the Heidelberg Catechism asks, “No one in this life can obey the Ten Commandments perfectly: Why then does God want them preached so pointedly?” Here is the answer: “First, so that the longer we live the more we may come to know our sinfulness and the more eagerly look to Christ for forgiveness of sins and righteousness.” Likewise, the Westminster Confession of Faith (19.6) states that the second use of the law remains of great use to the believer. The law helps believers to discover “the sinful pollutions of their nature, hearts and lives, so as, examining themselves thereby, they may come to further conviction of, humiliation for, and hatred against sin, together with a clearer sight of the need they have of Christ, and the perfection of His obedience.”” John Fonville “all three uses of the law (i.e., civil, pedagogical and normative) are always present in the believe...

In the Christian life, we are propelled forward in pursuing good works and righteousness by being pointed to Christ, not ourselves. We are motivated by love, gratitude, joy, safety, security, and peace--not fear and doubt.

Abraham is not Moses, not a covenant of works. The Abrahamic Covenant is God's unilateral covenant with Abraham: the promise of the Gospel (The Covenant of Grace). Galatians 3:8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached **the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “All the nations will be blessed in you.” Genesis 15:1 After these things the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great.”... 12 Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, terror and great darkness fell upon him. 13 God said to Abram, “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, where they will be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years. 14 But I will also judge the nation whom they will serve, and afterward they will come out with many possessions. 15 As for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you will be buried at a...