ow.ly/Aq6s8 The Westminster Larger (Q&A 107-110) and Shorter (Q&A 49-52) Catechisms On the Second Commandment (Reformed Worship, the Regulative Principle of Worship, Etc.) by Jim Dodson (Free MP3s) ow.ly/Aq6s8. These four messages make up some of the best teaching you will ever hear on the second commandment, Puritan and Reformed worship, and the regulative principle of worship. __________ The Regulative Principle of Worship (which is really just sola Scriptura in worship - ed.) as found in Gods Word is accurately summarized for us in the Westminster Confession of Faith 21:1: But the acceptable way of worshiping the true God is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imaginations and devices of men, or the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representation, or any other way not prescribed in the holy Scripture. In like manner, carefully note the answer given to question 109 of the Larger Catechism (What are the sins forbidden in the second commandment?): The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, all devising, counselling, commanding, using and any wise approving, any religious worship not instituted by God himself; tolerating a false religion; the making any representation of God, of all or of any of the three persons, either inwardly in our mind, or outwardly in any kind of image or likeness of any creature whatsoever... corrupting the worship of God, adding to it, or taking from it, whether invented and taken up of ourselves, or received by tradition from others, though under the title of antiquity, custom, devotion, good intent, or any other pretence whatsoever... all neglect, contempt, hindering, and opposing the worship and ordinances which God hath appointed. A short summary of the Regulative Principle of Worship is simply this: What Scripture does not authorize it forbids. Most churches (Romish churches, Orthodox churches, Anglican churches, Lutheran, Baptist, Methodist, Pentecostal, Evangelical, and most Reformed and Presbyterian churches) are operating on an altogether different principle from the one just stated. The principle they are operating on is: What Scripture does not forbid, it permits. Since Christ in the New Covenant has not expressly forbidden drama, dancing, candles, incense, musical instruments, uninspired hymns, crossing oneself, banners, crosses, images, etc. within the house of God, the vast majority of churches today permit these (to lesser or greater degrees) and many more practices into their worship services. However, the Regulative Principle of Worship would prevent all the above practices into the worship of God because they are all without the authorization of Christ, the mediator of the New Covenant. In other words, every religious practice or symbol in the worship of Gods people must have a divine warrant from Gods Word either by (1) command; or by (2) authorized example of the apostles; or by (3) good and necessary inference. - Greg Price, Foundation for Reformation: The Regulative Principle of Worship, on the PURITAN HARD DRIVE and free at swrb/newslett/actualnls/REFORMATION-RPW-GP.htm __________ The Regulative Principle of Worship declares that God alone is sovereign in worship. The Regulative Principle of Worship simply applies the principles of Calvinism (i.e. Gods sovereign Lordship) to worship, whereas the view that what God doesnt forbid in worship is permitted is applying the principles of Arminianism (i.e. mans sovereign lordship) to worship. Just as fallen man naturally seeks to impose his will in salvation (e.g. I can cooperate with God in salvation, or I have a natural freedom to choose Christ), so fallen man naturally seeks to impose his will in worship (I can cooperate with God in worship by adding what I desire so long as God doesnt specifically forbid it). But just as God condemns a man-centered salvation, so God condemns a man-centered worship (Col. 2:23 specifically condemns all will-worship, i.e. all worship instituted by man). - Greg Price, Foundation for Reformation: The Regulative Principle of Worship, p. 10, free at swrb/newslett/actualnls/REFORMATION-RPW-GP.htm or on the Puritan Hard Drive __________ ow.ly/Aq6U6 Calvinism, Reformation (Reformed) Worship, the Second Commandment, and the Regulative Principle of Worship by Dr. Steven Dilday (Free MP3s) ow.ly/Aq6U6 __________ Take heed of all occasions of idolatry, for idolatry is devil-worship. Psalm 106: 37. If you search through the whole Bible, there is not one sin that God has more followed with plagues than idolatry. The Jews have a saying, that in every evil that befalls them, there is uncia aurei vituli, an ounce of the golden calf in it. Hell is a place for idolaters. For without are idolaters. Rev 22: 15. Senesius calls the devil a rejoicer at idols, because the image-worshippers help to fill hell. - Thomas Watson, The Ten Commandments (emphases added), on the Puritan Hard Drive __________ By all which, you see where the idolatry of worship lies. The instituting of any, though the smallest part of worship, in and by our own authority, without scripture-warrant, makes it idolatrous, as well as if we worshipped an idol (Ex: 20:5). - John Flavel, The Works of John Flavel, Vol, 4. p. 527 (on the Puritan Hard Drive). __________ Doctrine is not an affair of the tongue, but of the life; is not apprehended by the intellect and memory merely, like other branches of learning; but is received only when it possesses the whole soul, and finds its seat and habitation in the inmost recesses of the heart. - John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion 3.6.4 __________ Colossians 2:8,20-23. The emphasis of the great apostle throughout this chapter is on forsaking the traditions and commandments of men, and rather clinging to Christ and His commandments, for in Him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge . . in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power (Col 2:3,9-10). Dear ones, you are not complete in yourself or in any man-made ceremonies in worship. You are complete, made full and acceptable through His work on your behalf. He is the head of the church, not you or me. He is our Prophet, Priest, and King. He alone directs our worship and presents it acceptable to the Father. Paul infers that to practice any will-worship (or self-imposed religion Col. 2:23) according to the commandments and doctrines of men (Col. 2:22) is to undermine the finished work of Christ (Col. 2:11-23) and to seek to usurp the headship over the church that rightly belongs to Christ (Col. 2:8-10,18-19). Self-imposed worship (i.e. any religious act, gesture, symbol, or ceremony in worship) is expressly condemned by Christ and His apostles. It is in fact false worship which no Christian should tolerate in the house of God without a verbal protest to the leadership and separation from this false worship until there is biblical reformation in worship (The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, all devising, counselling, commanding, using, and any wise approving, any religious worship not instituted by God himself (The Larger Catechism, Question 109). - Greg Price, Foundation for Reformation: The Regulative Principle of Worship, free online at swrb/newslett/actualNLs/REFORMATION-RPW-GP.htm (emphases added above) __________ The Church of the Covenanters has a precious inheritance. The achievements of the past, the privileges of the present, and the victories of the future-all, all are hers, if she be faithful. The Old Blue Banner leads to the world-wide triumph of the principles it represents. This is no presumption; it is a foregone conclusion, the very language of logic. The certainty is based on Gods revealed purpose, and glows in the richest hues of prophecy. Humility forbids boasting; we have not said that the Covenanted Church shall have this honor. But the Banner of the Covenant, by whomsoever borne, will surely be glorified with victory, as Jesus Christ, the great Captain, leads His conquerors to universal conquest. - J.C. McFeeters, Sketches of the Covenanters, p. 411. __________ And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORDs house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. (Isa. 2:2, emphases added). Now, Christians, the more great and glorious things you expect from God, as the downfall of antichrist, the conversion of the Jews, the conquest of the nations to Christ, the breaking of all yokes, the new Jerusalems coming down from above, the extraordinary pouring out of the Spirit, and a more general union among all saints, the more holy, yea, the more eminently holy in all your ways and actings it becomes you to be. - Thomas Brooks, The Crown and Glory of Christianity, 1662, Complete Works (on the Puritan Hard Drive), 1867, p. 444 __________ FREE MP3: Biblical Worship: The Regulative Principle of Worship in History by Dr. Reg Barrow ow.ly/yPHZo. The Sovereignty of God Over Worship & The Beauty of Classic Reformed Worship (Free MP3s) ow.ly/xWGwt. What Is Biblical Worship? - Defending Historic Reformation, Puritan & Covenanter (Biblical) Worship, First & Second Commandments by William J. Mencarow ow.ly/xWItr The Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW) in the New Testament by Greg Price (Puritan Worship Series) ow.ly/xWIyt The Regulative Principle of Worship in the Old Testament (The Second Commandment In Covenanter, Puritan and Reformation Worship) by Greg Price (Puritan Worship Series) ow.ly/xWIDl For God is not worshiped of us, but when it is his will to accept our worship: and it is not his will to accept our worship, but when it is according to his will. - William Perkins (Puritan), on the Puritan Hard Drive ow.ly/dZ3ua Reformed Worship & Singing the Psalms, Free MP3s ow.ly/xWGO0 Praise Him…. Whoso offereth praise glorifies me (Psa 50:23) Though nothing can add the least mite to God’s essential glory, yet praise exalts Him in the eyes of others. Praise is a setting forth of God’s honor, a lifting up of His name, a proclaiming of His excellent goodness, a release of the sweet perfume of God’s name which is sent abroad into the world. - Thomas Watson on the Puritan Hard Drive ow.ly/dZ3ua John Calvin: ...God here cuts off from men every occasion for making evasions, since he condemns by this one phrase, I have not commanded them, whatever the Jews devised. There is then no other argument needed to condemn superstitions, than that they are not commanded by God: for when men allow themselves to worship God according to their own fancies, and attend not to his commands, they pervert true religion. And if this principle was adopted by the Papists, all those fictitious modes of worship, in which they absurdly exercise themselves, would fall to the ground. It is indeed a horrible thing for the Papists to seek to discharge their duties towards God by performing their own superstitions. There is an immense number of them, as it is well known, and as it manifestly appears. Were they to admit this principle, that we cannot rightly worship God except by obeying his word, they would be delivered from their deep abyss of error. The Prophets words then are very important, when he says, that God had commanded no such thing, and that it never came to his mind; as though he had said, that men assume too much wisdom, when they devise what he never required, nay, what he never knew. - John Calvin on the Puritan Hard Drive ow.ly/dZ3ua Against Antichrists Innovations In Worship (Free Reformation MP3s, Videos & Books) ow.ly/xWGY2 SOLA SCRIPTURA AND THE REGULATIVE PRINCIPLE OF WORSHIP BY BRIAN SCHWERTLEY (Free Book) ow.ly/xWGPM How False Worship Destroys Nations Under Gods Wrath By Jim Dodson, John Calvin, Greg Price, John Knox, Kevin Reed, Westminster Divines, Dr. Steven Dilday, Thomas Watson and Others (Free MP3s) ow.ly/xWHxk New Free SWRB Android App, Free SWRB iPhone and iPad App Too, With Many Free Covenanter, Puritan and Reformed MP3s, Books and Videos By Greg Price, Various Westminster Divines (Samuel Rutherford, George Gillespie and Others), Jim Dodson, et al. ow.ly/xWHlQ ow.ly/Aq6s8 The Westminster Larger (Q&A 107-110) and Shorter (Q&A 49-52) Catechisms On the Second Commandment (Reformed Worship, the Regulative Principle of Worship, Etc.) by Jim Dodson (Free MP3s) ow.ly/Aq6s8. These four messages make up some of the best teaching you will ever hear on the second commandment, Puritan and Reformed worship, and the regulative principle of worship.
Posted on: Sun, 19 Oct 2014 14:00:03 +0000
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