Are they, then, also to be admitted to this Supper who show themselves by their confession and life to be unbelieving and ungodly?

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 82. Are they, then, also to be admitted to this Supper who show themselves by their confession and life to be unbelieving and ungodly?

Answer. No, for thereby the covenant of God is profaned and His wrath provoked against the whole congregation;[1] therefore, the Christian Church is bound, according to the order of Christ and His Apostles, to exclude such persons by the Office of the Keys until they amend their lives.

[1] Ps 50:16-17; Isa 1:11-17, 66:3; Jer 7:21-23; Mt 7:6; 1 Cor 11:17-34; 2 Thes 3:6; Tit 3:10-11

All have sinned

Daily Light Devotions - April 12 - Evening

All have sinned, ...

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." 1

Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. 2

How then can man be in the right before God? How can he who is born of woman be pure? 3

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 4

For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 5

David said to Nathan, "I have sinned against the LORD." And Nathan said to David, "The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 6

And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. 7

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 8

if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister. 9

we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. 10

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1 Rom 3:23,10,12; 2 Ecc 7:20; 3 Job 25:4; 4 Heb 4:1; 5 Psa 51:3,5; 6 2 Sam 12:13; 7 Rom 8:30; 8 2 Cor 3:18; 9 Col 1:23; 10 1 Thess 2:12

What the law could not do

Daily Light Devotions - April 12 - Morning

What the law could not do ...

For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, 1

For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come instead of the true form of these realities, it can never, by the same sacrifices that are continually offered every year, make perfect those who draw near. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, since the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have any consciousness of sins? 2

Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, 3

Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 4

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1 Rom 8:3; 2 Heb 10:1,2; 3 Acts 13:39; 4 Heb 2:14-17

Who are to come to the table of the Lord?

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 81. Who are to come to the table of the Lord?

Answer. Those who are displeased with themselves for their sins, yet trust that these are forgiven them, and that their remaining infirmity is covered by the suffering and death of Christ; who also desire more and more to strengthen their faith and to amend their life. But the impenitent and hypocrites eat and drink judgment to themselves.[1]

[1] Ps 51:3, 103:1-4; Mt 5:6; Jn 7:37-38; 1 Cor 10:19-22, 11:26-32

Teach me thy way, O LORD

Daily Light Devotions - April 11 - Evening

Teach me thy way, O LORD.

Teach me your way, O LORD, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. 1

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. 2

Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. 3

I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 4

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 5

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 6

Let us know; let us press on to know the LORD; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth." 7

All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. 8

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1 Psa 27:11; 2 Psa 32:8; 3 Psa 25:8,9; 4 John 10:9; 5 John 14:6; 6 Heb 10:19-22; 7 Hos 6:3; 8 Psa 25:10

He that restraineth his lips is wise

Daily Light Devotions - April 11 - Morning

... He that restraineth his lips is wise.

When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. 1

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 2

Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city. 3

For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 4

for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." 5

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! 6

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 7

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 8

and in their mouth no lie was found, for they are blameless. 9

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1 Prov 10:19; 2 James 1:19; 3 Prov 16:32; 4 James 3:2; 5 Matt 12:37; 6 Psa 141:3; 7 1 Pet 2:21-23; 8 Heb 12:3; 9 Rev 14:5

What difference is there between the Lord’s Supper and the Pope’s Mass?

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 80. What difference is there between the Lord’s Supper and the Pope’s Mass?

Answer. The Lord’s Supper testifies to us that we have full forgiveness of all our sins by the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ, which He Himself once accomplished on the cross;[1] and that by the Holy Spirit we are ingrafted into Christ,[2] who, with His true body, is now in heaven at the right hand of the Father,[3] and is there to be worshipped.[4] But the Mass teaches that the living and the dead do not have forgiveness of sins through the sufferings of Christ, unless Christ is still daily offered for them by the priests, and that Christ is bodily under the form of bread and wine, and is therefore to be worshipped in them. And thus the Mass at bottom is nothing else than a denial of the one sacrifice and suffering of Jesus Christ,[5] and an accursed idolatry.

[1] Mt 26:28; Jn 19:30; Heb 7:27, 9:12, 25-28, 10:10-12, 14; [2] 1 Cor 6:17, 10:16-17; [3] Jn 20:17; Acts 7:55-56; Heb 1:3, 8:1; [4] Lk 24:52; Jn 4:21-24, 20:17; Acts 7:55; Php 3:20-21; Col 3:1; 1 Thes 1:9-10; [5] Mt 4:10; Heb 9, 10

All that will live godly in Christ Jesus

Daily Light Devotions - April 10 - Evening

All that will live godly in Christ Jesus ...

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 1

For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a person's enemies will be those of his own household. 2

You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 3

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions--is not from the Father but is from the world. 4

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 5

I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 6

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1 2 Tim 3:12; 2 Matt 10:35,36; 3 James 4:4; 4 1 John 2:15,16; 5 John 15:18-20; 6 John 17:14

I am black, but comely

Daily Light Devotions - April 10 - Morning

I am black, but comely.

I am very dark, but lovely, O daughters of Jerusalem, like the tents of Kedar, like the curtains of Solomon. 1

Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. 2

And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD. 3

But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord." 4

Behold, you are beautiful, my love, behold, you are beautiful! Your eyes are doves behind your veil. Your hair is like a flock of goats leaping down the slopes of Gilead. 5

therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes." 6

You are altogether beautiful, my love; there is no flaw in you. 7

So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 8

And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven." 9

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out. 10

and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11

Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. 12

And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 13

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 14

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1 Sol 1:5; 2 Psa 51:5; 3 Ezek 16:14; 4 Luke 5:8; 5 Sol 4:1; 6 Job 42:6; 7 Sol 4:7; 8 Rom 7:21; 9 Matt 9:2; 10 Rom 7:18; 11 Col 2:10; 12 Col 1:28; 13 1 Cor 6:11; 14 1 Pet 2:9;

Why then does Christ call the bread His body, and the cup His blood, or the new covenant in His blood ...?

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 79. Why then does Christ call the bread His body, and the cup His blood, or the new covenant in His blood; and the apostle Paul, the communion of the body and the blood of Christ?

Answer. Christ speaks thus with great cause, namely, not only to teach us thereby, that like as the bread and wine sustain this temporal life, so also His crucified body and shed blood are the true meat and drink of our souls unto life eternal;[1] but much more, by this visible sign and pledge to assure us that we are as really partakers of His true body and blood by the working of the Holy Spirit, as we receive by the mouth of the body these holy tokens in remembrance of Him;[2] and that all His sufferings and obedience are as certainly our own, as if we ourselves had suffered and done all in our own person.[3]

[1] Jn 6:51-55; [2] 1 Cor 5:16-17, 10:16-17, 11:26; [3] Rom 6:5-11

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD

Daily Light Devotions - April 9 - Evening

I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD.

I will recount the steadfast love of the LORD, the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD has granted us, and the great goodness to the house of Israel that he has granted them according to his compassion, according to the abundance of his steadfast love. 1

He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. 2

For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. 3

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 4

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 5

and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee. 6

who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. 7

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 8

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1 Isa 63:7; 2 Psa 40:2; 3 Gal 2:20; 4 Rom 8:32; 5 Rom 5:8; 6 2 Cor 1:22; 7 Eph 1:14; 8 Eph 2:4-6

Fear not; for I have redeemed thee

Daily Light Devotions - April 9 - Morning

Fear not; for I have redeemed thee.

But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 1

"Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. 2

I have blotted out your transgressions like a cloud and your sins like mist; return to me, for I have redeemed you. 3

but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. 4

Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name. He will surely plead their cause, that he may give rest to the earth, but unrest to the inhabitants of Babylon. 5

My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. 6

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 7

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1 Isa 43:1; 2 Isa 54:4,5; 3 Isa 44:22; 4 1 Pet 1:19; 5 Jer 50:34; 6 John 10:29; 7 Gal 1:3-5