Theological Term of the Week

eschatology
The study of what the Bible says about final things (or last things), including personal last events like individual death and the intermediate state; and corporate or general last events like the return of Christ, the final judgment, the millennial kingdom, etc.

• In scripture: 

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 ESV)

Click to read more ...

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 66. What are sacraments?

Answer: Sacraments are holy signs and seals for us to see. They are instituted by God so that by our use of them he might make us understand more clearly the promise of the gospel and might put his seal on that promise. (a)

And this is the gospel promise: to forgive our sins and give us eternal life by grace alone because of Christ’s one sacrifice finished on the cross. (b)

(Scriptural proofs after the fold.)

Click to read more ...

Sunday's Hymn: As with Gladness Men of Old

As with gladness men of old
Did the guiding star behold;
As with joy they hailed its light,
Leading onward, beaming bright;
So, most gracious God, may we
Evermore be led to thee.

As with joyful steps they sped
To that lowly cradle bed,
There to bend the knee before
Him whom heaven and earth adore;
So may we with willing feet
Ever seek thy mercy-seat.

As they offered gifts most rare
At that cradle rude and bare;
So may we with holy joy,
Pure, and free from sin’s alloy,
All our costliest treasures bring,
Christ, to thee, our heav’nly King.

Holy Jesus, ev’ry day
Keep us in the narrow way;
And, when earthly things are past,
Bring our ransomed souls at last
Where they need no star to guide,
Where no clouds thy glory hide.

In the heav’nly country bright
Need they no created light;
Thou its Light, its Joy, its Crown,
Thou its Sun which goes not down;
There for ever may we sing
Alleluias to our King.

—William C. Dix

Other hymns, worship songs, prayers, sermons excerpts, or quotes posted today:

• Be Thou My Vision at Graces Daily
• Oh, Come, Little Children at The Happy Wonderer
• Second Week in Advent at The Upward Call
• In Gratitude We Give With Joy from Trevin Wax
• Peace on Earth at Tried With Fire
• A Sacred Riddle at Theology for Girls
• Lord’s Day 49, 2014 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Your goodness is no increase to God’s wealth at Blogging Theologically
• Your weekly dose of Spurgeon: A fixed faith at Pyromaniacs

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.