A Survey Through The Heidelberg Catechism LORD’S DAY #26

One Church/Two Characters Invisible  Elect – direct recipients of the Covenant of Grace  Universal  Inward/spiritual relationship to Christ  Not apparent to the world  Full, spiritual benefits Visible  All who outwardly profess faith and hold to the promise of God’s covenant for their children  Local/Non-centralized, temporal and generational  Outwardly demonstrated allegiance to Christ  Apparent to the world by nature of its society  Enjoyment of outward/temporal privileges

Christ’s Parable of the Four Soils “A sower went out to sow. 4 And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. 5 Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, 6 but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. 7 Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. 8 Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” (Mt. 13:3b-9, ESV)

Christ’s Parable of the Four Soils 19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. 20 As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, 21 yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. 22 As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.

Christ’s Parable of the Four Soils 23 As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” (Mt. 13:3b-9, ESV)

Christ’s Parable of the Four Soils  #1: the path – those who are not regenerated by the Holy Spirit and so hear but reject the Word.  #2: the rocky ground – those who “endure for a while” but are still not regenerated by the Holy Spirit.  #3: thorny ground – those who are unfruitful, also being not regenerated by the Holy Spirit.  #4: good soil – regeneration by the Holy Spirit begun even before the fruit is demonstrated. the elect the visible church

One Church/Two Characters Invisible  Full, spiritual benefits Visible  Enjoyment of outward/temporal privileges  Membership – organizational and confessional affiliation, government and discipline  Means of Grace – Preaching, Sacraments, Prayer

The Necessity of Experiential Regeneration  Not a step an individual decides or takes on his own (Total Depravity) but is the inward work of the Holy Spirit that results, typically, in an outward expression of conversion.  In the case of an adult, trauma, emotions, guilt, hunger, etc. can be used by the Holy Spirit to bring about evident conversion (even if the work of regeneration, which may or may not be a specific point in time, has been going on previously).  In the case of an infant born to believing parents, the promise of regeneration is present and the discipleship of parents may be used of the Holy Spirit to bring about conversion.  In the case of one without reasoning, the same is true.

So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’” (Mt. 13:28b-30, ESV)

Enjoyment of outward/temporal privileges  Membership – organizational and confessional affiliation, government and discipline  True believers are visibly united with other true believers  Imposters identify with the visible church for a time and can receive benefits of/in this life but have no true association with true believers.

Enjoyment of outward/temporal privileges  Means of Grace – Preaching, Sacraments, Prayer  Holy Spirit softens or hardens the heart under the Word.  Sacraments represent the work of the Holy Spirit in the elect but also signify and condemn imposters who participate in the practices.  Holy Spirit delivers the prayers of the elect but hinders efforts of imposters who wish to bargain with God.

New Covenant Presbyterian Church Preaching God’s Sovereign Grace to a World of Need 128 St. Mary’s Church Rd. Abingdon, MD