To Becoming a Precious Living Stone in God's House
Since I have been delivered from my misery by grace alone through Christ, without any merit of my own, why must I yet do good works?
Because Christ,
- having redeemed me by His blood,
- also renews me by His Holy Spirit to be His image,
- so that with my whole life I may show myself thankful to God for His benefits,
Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
1 Peter 2:5-10
- you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
- Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.”
- Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,”
- and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
- But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
- who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
and He may be praised by me
For the Bible Tells Me So...
Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
Further, that I myself may be assured of my faith by its fruits,
For the Bible Tells Me So...
Matthew 7:17-18 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.
Galatians 5:22-24
- But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
- gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
- And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
and that by my godly walk of life I may win my neighbors for Christ.
For the Bible Tells Me So...
Matthew 5:14-16
- You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
- Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.
- Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
- for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men.
- Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another.
1 Peter 3:1-2 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear.
The Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 32
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