Lord’s Day 33: Q&A 88-91: Dying and Rising
Continuing from last week’s Q&As on good works, we lean more into what repentance looks like: how repentance is akin to dying and rising again; Dying to our old, sinful nature, and being raised to new life in Jesus Christ. Once again sharing in his death and resurrection as we seek to glorify God and live for God’s Kingdom.
In fact, not only do we need to die and rise, but we need to run - to flee, as Paul puts it - from our sins. This is the ongoing process of sanctification that the believer need to under go every moment of every day as we struggle against the works of our flesh and instead seek to do good works for the Kingdom.
We learn from the Catechism that true good works aren’t just good for goodness’ sake but rather they’re good for God’s sake. I like this placement of good works right before we get into the Ten Commandments because it sets us up to not see the Commandments in a negative light but in a positive light; how do we do good works by following God’s Law? What does living out that Law mean for our lives as people who constantly seek to turn away from our sins and turn to God?
Lord’s Day 33
Q&A 88-91
CONFESSION AND ASSURANCE
Gracious Lord, we confess to you today that, although you call us to a better life in you, we cling to our sinful nature. We do not despise our sins as we should. Rather than fleeing from them, we embrace them. Instead of living in true faith in you alone, we lean on our own understanding and opinions. Forgive us, Lord, for not putting to death our old selves. Help us to embrace the new life you promise us, Holy Spirit, that we may turn from our evil ways and come to new life in Christ, our Savior, in whose name we humbly pray, Amen.
Leader: Brothers and Sisters, if you are truly sorry for your sins, repent! Put to death your sinful nature and come to new life in Jesus Christ who conquered sin and death.
People: May we live for the glory of God alone with wholehearted joy in God through Christ!
PRAYER FOR HOLY LIVING
God - Father, Son, and Spirit: as we have heard your law for our lives, we pray that it would take root within us. We pray that you, Holy Spirit, would continue to convict us of our sins and spur us onto new life in you, O Christ. We pray that we would not be stagnant in our walk of faith, but that we would actively turn again and again from our sins and repent of them; that we would continually die to our old selves and be raised to new life every day in you, Jesus. We thank and praise you, Lord, for giving us the ability to joyfully live in you and for your glory. Continue to work in us as we seek to live for you alone and to do every kind of good work that as we run away from our sins we may run to you and bear fruit for your kingdom. We pray this in the strong and powerful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.
PRAYER FOR ILLUMINATION
Lord, as we prepare to open your word, may you be present within us and within this place, Holy Spirit. Stir in us through the hearing of your word that we may seek more and more to die to our old selves and be raised to new life in you, living lives for your glory as you speak to us through your holy scriptures.
BENEDICTION
As you leave this time of gathered worship, go out into this world as newly raised to life followers of Christ. Live joyfully in this fallen world. Pursue the glorification of our God above all else. Do good works for the glory of God’s kingdom, and continue to run from your sinful nature that the world may see and give glory to God. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
