1 September 2020 – Malachi 1:6-14 Monday, Aug 31 2020

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the LORD’s table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. Malachi 1:6–14

Malachi repeatedly refers to the NAME – which relates to the essence of who God is, especially His love and faithfulness to Israel. When you are reading the Old Testament and you come across the name Yahweh, which most English translations render as LORD in all capital letters, pay attention to the fact that this is not a title for God but the name by which He has revealed Himself to be in covenant with His people. Very commonly, God’s covenant with His people will be in view.

The fact that the LORD has brought us into His family through Jesus Christ, that He has covenanted with us in this way, ought to be the most important thing in our lives. It is why we sing “let goods and kindred go.” Nothing else should to be as central to our personal identities than this: “In Christ, I am loved by God with an everlasting love so that I am now and forever a member of His family.”

This means that to despise the Name of the LORD doesn’t require us to run around taking the LORD’s name in vain; despising the LORD’s name frequently involves simply taking that which is most weighty and treating it as though it were of little importance. This is what Esau did when despised his birthright – exchanging it for a bowl of stew. Sadly, many people throughout history, individuals who were privileged to be part of God’s covenant people, have turned away from the glory of the LORD for little more than that bowl of stew.

MEMORY WORK – Shorter Catechism Q/A 31
Q. 31. What is effectual calling?
A. Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.

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31 August 2020 – Malachi 2:1-9 Sunday, Aug 30 2020

“And now, O priests, this command is for you. If you will not listen, if you will not take it to heart to give honor to my name, says the LORD of hosts, then I will send the curse upon you and I will curse your blessings. Indeed, I have already cursed them, because you do not lay it to heart. Behold, I will rebuke your offspring, and spread dung on your faces, the dung of your offerings, and you shall be taken away with it. So shall you know that I have sent this command to you, that my covenant with Levi may stand, says the LORD of hosts. My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name. True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity. For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts. But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the LORD of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.” – Malachi 2:1–9

Allen P. Ross writes:

Malachi had to deal with a variety of sins among the clergy and the people. In chapter 1 he focused on their “cheap” worship and contempt for the ritual; and in the second half of this chapter he will address the problem of divorce and marriage to pagans. Whenever there are such violations, it almost always is connected to corrupt teaching. Somehow the people had the idea that these things were not serious sins, or that they could do them and get away with them. Malachi turns in this passage therefore to lay the blame where it belongs: with the priests and their false teaching. Blaming the priests for the problems in no way let the guilty off the hook; they too were responsible for their sins even if they were unaware of what Scripture said about it – ignorance is never an excuse for breaking the Law. But the guilt was greater for those who by their false teaching caused people to stumble.

The short message breaks down into three parts: the condemnation (vv. 1-4), the covenant standard (vv. 5-7), and the charge (vv. 8-9). It is constructed for the greatest rhetorical effect. First, he condemns the priests for their failure in ministry – this would have grabbed their attention, but also sparked their interest to see what he was so upset about. Second, he lays out the standard for the ministry so they would know what they failed to do. And finally, he states explicitly what they have done wrong in the light of that standard.

MEMORY WORK – Shorter Catechism Q/A 30
Q. 30. How doth the Spirit apply to us the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling.

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29 August 2020 – Malachi 1:6-14 Friday, Aug 28 2020

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the LORD’s table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. Malachi 1:6–1

James Montgomery Boice writes:

There is one more interesting point in this section. It is the suggestion in verse 10 that it would be better in God’s sight for the Jerusalem temple to be closed than for such contemptible service to continue: “Oh, that one of you would shut the temple doors, so that you would not light useless fires on my altar! I am not pleased with you,’ says the LORD Almighty,’ and I will accept no offering from your hands.’” It is an interesting footnote to this text that the Qumran or Dead Sea Community later used it to justify their own rejection of the Jerusalem temple and its priests.

God’s wish that someone might close the doors of the temple veils a threat that God would Himself bring the temple worship to an end, which He did forever by the agency of the roman armies under Titus in A.D. 70. Should not the same judgment rightly apply today? We are much concerned with evangelism, church planting, and church growth. But the cause of Christ would be better advanced in some instances by closing some churches than by opening them. By the existence of unbelieving churches the gospel of Christ is diluted and even contradicted in our land.

MEMORY WORK – Shorter Catechism Q/A 29
Q. 29. How are we made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ?
A. We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit.

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28 August 2020 – Ephesians 5:22-33 Thursday, Aug 27 2020

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, [30] because we are members of his body. “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. – Ephesians 5:22-33

Commenting on the profound mystery of marriage representing the relationship between Christ and His church, Thomas Winger writes:

It is amply clear that Paul neither invented the marriage allegory nor borrowed it from secular sources. It is likewise clear that Paul could not have run the allegory as a simple one-way equation in order to encourage certain behaviors in Christian marriages on the basis of Christ and the church as an illustration. For Paul, the marriage allegory is chiefly a vehicle for the proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul is the friend of the Bridegroom (akin to a best man or, better in modern times the father of the bride), who presents the church to Christ in holy marriage (2 Cor 11:2). Ephesians 5 not only contains a most remarkable restoration of the original institution and purposes of marriage as a blessing to man and wife in this life, but it also transcends the earthly blessings by revealing the mystery of the Gospel hidden in every marriage, if husband and wife would have the eyes of faith to discern it. For, each day as the husband loves his wife in a thoroughly self-sacrificing way, he proclaims Jesus Christ to her and likewise to himself as he puts to death the old man and emerges in the image of Christ. And each day, as she submits to his love, as she entrusts herself to him, as she respects his headship, she learns ever more the nature of faith and sees the contours of Christ’s redeeming sacrifice in the Christlike figure God has placed into her life. In this way marriage is for the Christian couple a very holy thing.

MEMORY WORK – Shorter Catechism Q/A 28
Q. 28. Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation?
A. Christ’s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day.

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27 August 2020 – Genesis 2:18-25 Wednesday, Aug 26 2020

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Now out of the ground the LORD God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said,

“This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.”

Therefore, a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed. – Genesis 2:18–25

James Montgomery Boice writes:

Marriage exists for God’s glory. This is why God instituted marriage. During the week I was preparing this message I attended a membership class at Tenth Presbyterian Church in which the teacher, one of our elders, said that God created sheep so that Christians might understand how they act and what they are. I had never thought of it that way, although I should have. I had thought of it the other way around, that God had created sheep and that Jesus came along and discovered that they made a good illustration. Our elder meant that God had created sheep with this end in view – that Jesus would have the illustration when he should come to this important part of his teaching. The point is: If this is true of sheep, it is even truer of marriage, for the Bible tells us explicitly that God created marriage in order that by marriage we might understand the most important of spiritual relationships.

That is why Jesus is portrayed to us in the Bible as the great bridegroom and husband of the church. It is why we who believe on him are portrayed as his bride. How are we going to communicate this greatest of all relationships if we who are Christians do not demonstrate it in our marriages? On the other hand, if we do demonstrate it there, then the world around will have a real-life illustration of how God works toward us in Christ to bring us to faith and save us from our sins.

MEMORY WORK – Shorter Catechism Q/A 27
Q. 27. Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?
A. Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time.

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26 August 2020 – Revelation 3:14-22 Tuesday, Aug 25 2020

“And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: ‘The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God’s creation. “‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me. The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne. [22] He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” – Revelation 3:14–22

David Chilton writes:

The city of Laodicea was proud of its three outstanding characteristics: Its great wealth and financial independence as an important banking center; its textile industry, which produced ‘a very fine quality of world-famous black, glossy wool’, and its scientific community, renowned not only for its prestigious medical school, but also for an eye-salve which had been well-known since the days of Aristotle. Using these facts to illustrate the problems in the church, Christ cites the general attitude of the Laodecean Christaisn: “You say: I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing.” In reality, despite the church’s wealth and undoubted social standing, it was ineffectual, accomplishing nothing for the kingdom of God. It is not a sin for a church (or an individual) to be rich – in fact, God wants us to acquire wealth (Deut. 8:18). What is sinful is the failure to use our resources for the spread of the kingdom. When a relatively poor church such as that at Smyrna was having a rich effect upon its community, there was no excuse for Laodicea’s impotence. Her problem was not wealth, but disobedience: “You do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”

Yet, in grace, Christ makes an offer of mercy: “I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire, that you may become rich; and white garments, that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and eye-salve to anoint your eyes, that you may see. The symbolism here should be obvious. True faith and genuine works of obedience are spoken of in Scripture in terms of jewelry, and especially gold; nakedness is symptomatic of disobedience [and a lack of righteousness] (Gen. 3:7), whereas being clothed in white robes is a symbol of righteousness, with regard to both justification and sanctification; and blindness is a symbol for man’s impotence and fallenness apart from God’s restoration of him to true sight – the godly, mature ability to judge righteous judgment.

MEMORY WORK – Shorter Catechism Q/A 26
Q. 26. How doth Christ execute the office of a king?
A. Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

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25 August 2020 – Malachi 1:1-5 Monday, Aug 24 2020

The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the LORD of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.’” Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the LORD beyond the border of Israel!” – Malachi 1:1-5

The sufferings of God’s people are temporary; the LORD’s judgments upon His enemies are permanent. And the people of Judah could see this, for they were living at the time when Edom had just been destroyed! And they had not merely lost a major battle. They have been shattered. There were still Edomites around. In fact, some of them were living in Judah – but the nation itself was being shattered – and the LORD is making clear that they will never rise again.

Here are three simple but profound questions to ask:

Assyria was once a great super-power. They ravaged the northern tribes of Israel and threatened Judah in the South. Here’s the question: How man Assyrians have you met
Edom was a thorn in Israel’s side for hundreds of years. They mocked Israel in her suffering and even took part in looting God’s people. Yet, here’s the question: How many Edomites have you met?
Abraham was called by the LORD, out of Ur of the Chaldees, nearly 4,000 years ago. The LORD made a covenant of faithful love with Abraham and his offspring that all the nations of the earth would be blessed in His Seed. Have you ever met someone who is an heir of this promise? Well, you are surrounded by them every week when you come to public worship!

As the Apostle Paul reminded the Galatians: “If you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.”

Tor the past 2,000 years there have always been people (both inside and outside of the Church) who have spoken as though the Church is in a perilous condition. That unless we adapted to this aspect of culture or to that the Church would soon cease to exist. Don’t you believe that for a minute. Jesus Christ is building His Church so not even the gates of hell will not stand against it!

This is why we sing:

The Church shall never perish!
Her dear Lord to defend,
to guide, sustain, and cherish,
is with her to the end;
though there be those that hate her,
and false sons in her pale,
against both foe and traitor
she ever shall prevail.

This is not a song about the greatness of the Church. This is a song about the greatness of our God. So, whenever you sing it, would you remember the LORD’s work in protecting and building His Church as a clear sign that the LORD loves His Church – and that He loves you!

MEMORY WORK – Shorter Catechism Q/A 25
Q. 25. How doth Christ execute the office of a priest?
A. Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual intercession for us.

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24 August 2020 – Malachi 1:6-14 Sunday, Aug 23 2020

“A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If then I am a father, where is my honor? And if I am a master, where is my fear? says the LORD of hosts to you, O priests, who despise my name. But you say, ‘How have we despised your name?’ By offering polluted food upon my altar. But you say, ‘How have we polluted you?’ By saying that the LORD’s table may be despised. When you offer blind animals in sacrifice, is that not evil? And when you offer those that are lame or sick, is that not evil? Present that to your governor; will he accept you or show you favor? says the LORD of hosts. And now entreat the favor of God, that he may be gracious to us. With such a gift from your hand, will he show favor to any of you? says the LORD of hosts. Oh that there were one among you who would shut the doors, that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain! I have no pleasure in you, says the LORD of hosts, and I will not accept an offering from your hand. For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the LORD of hosts. But you profane it when you say that the Lord’s table is polluted, and its fruit, that is, its food may be despised. But you say, ‘What a weariness this is,’ and you snort at it, says the LORD of hosts. You bring what has been taken by violence or is lame or sick, and this you bring as your offering! Shall I accept that from your hand? says the LORD. Cursed be the cheat who has a male in his flock, and vows it, and yet sacrifices to the Lord what is blemished. For I am a great King, says the LORD of hosts, and my name will be feared among the nations. Malachi 1:6–14

Malachi’s second disputation runs all the way from 1:6 through 2:9. It would be helpful for you to read this entire disputation as a whole, but due to the length of this disputation, we are going, LORD willing, to study it in two sermons. Thankfully, there is a pretty clear place to divide the passage at the end of verse 14.

Commenting on verse 10, Allen P. Ross writes:

Now the prophet declares the word of the LORD in the form of a strong wish: “O that someone would shut the doors so that you might not kindle fire on my altar in vain.” It would be better to lock the doors of the temple and keep the people out. If they continue to worship this way, then the fire they light on the altar will be worthless and their effort in vain. Clearly God would rather they repent and worship correctly; but if not, it is better not to worship at all.

Corrupt worship is another sin. The purpose of shutting the doors would be “so that you do not light my altar in vain.” The word “in vain” is the adverbial spelling based on the word “to be gracious” [which Malachi has just used]. It forms a powerful word play: seek His grace or your worship will be gratuitous (vain). … Their corrupt worship would be pointless, for no good reason, a waste of time. God takes no pleasure in worthless worship; in fact, He rejects it! If people do not worship properly with love and devotion, but only out of compulsion to follow a ritual, their gift will be worthless, and their activities counted as sin.

MEMORY WORK – Shorter Catechism Q/A 24
Q. 24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.

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22 August 2020 – Malachi 1:1-5 Friday, Aug 21 2020

The oracle of the word of the LORD to Israel by Malachi.

“I have loved you,” says the LORD. But you say, “How have you loved us?” “Is not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares the LORD. “Yet I have loved Jacob but Esau I have hated. I have laid waste his hill country and left his heritage to jackals of the desert.” If Edom says, “We are shattered but we will rebuild the ruins,” the LORD of hosts says, “They may build, but I will tear down, and they will be called ‘the wicked country,’ and ‘the people with whom the LORD is angry forever.’” Your own eyes shall see this, and you shall say, “Great is the LORD beyond the border of Israel!” – Malachi 1:1-5

Andrew Hill writes:

Malachi’s sermons were directed to a touch audience. His congregation included the righteous, the disillusioned, the cynical, the callous, the dishonest, the apathetic, the doubting, the skeptical and the outright wicked. What does a preacher say to this type of crowd? As a sensitive pastor, Malachi [begins with the reality] of God’s love to a disheartened people. As a lofty theologian, he instructed the people in a basic doctrinal catechism, emphasizing the nature of God as universal King, faithful Suzerain [Suzerain = Great King that other kings and nations owe allegiance to. The bible teaches this elsewhere when it calls the LORD and/or Jesus “King of Kings and Lord of Lords.”], and righteous Judge. As Yahweh’s stern prophet, Malachi rebuked corrupt priests and warned of the coming day of God’s judgment. As a spiritual mentor, he called his audience to a more sincere life of worship, and challenged the people to embrace the ethical standards of the Mosaic covenant. But above all, Malachi was Yahweh’s messenger, and his vital word to Israel was profoundly simple: “‘I have always loved you,’ says the LORD.”

MEMORY WORK – Shorter Catechism Q/A 24
Q. 24. How doth Christ execute the office of a prophet?
A. Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.

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21 August 2020 – Ephesians 5:15-21 Thursday, Aug 20 2020

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. – Ephesians 5:15-21

James Montgomery Boice writes:

First, being filled with the Spirit is not the same thing as being “baptized” by the Spirit. Some, having confused the two, have taught the need for a second work of grace, usually accompanied by the gift of speaking in tongues, if a person is to grow or get on in the Christian life. Actually, the baptism of the Spirit refers to the work of the Spirit in regenerating us and uniting us to Christ, which is how we become Christians in the first place. It is rightly called “baptism,” because baptism is the sacrament marking the beginning of the Christian life. It is something that happens to every Christian and does not need to be urged upon him.

Billing “filled” with the Spirit is something that is urged upon Christians, which is what Paul does here. But it does not concern any special miraculous gifts such as speaking in tongues. Rather, it refers to our being under the Holy Spirit’s control and leading that our though and life are entirely taken up with Jesus Christ, to whom it is the Spirit’s chief responsibility to bear witness. In Acts there are ten occasions, at Pentecost and afterward, when an individual or group of individuals is said to have been filled with the Holy Spirit. In each case the common factor is that the persons involved immediately bore testimony to Jesus.

Paul says that the wise man should desire to be so filled with God’s Spirit that he might bear a faithful and effective testimony to Jesus Christ. Quite obviously, this will be a testimony conveyed by the upright character of his or her life, which is what Paul has been talking about all along. Also, quite obviously, it will be a testimony conveyed by the content and character of his or her speech, which is what the next two verses deal with.

MEMORY WORK – Shorter Catechism Q/A 23
Q. 23. What offices doth Christ execute as our redeemer?
A. Christ, as our redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation.

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