11 October 2015 A.D. Rev. Van Horn on WSC Q.41
11 October 2015 A.D. Rev. Van Horn on WSC Q.41
Van Horn, Leonard.
“October 11: Van Horn on WSC Q.41.” This
Day in Presbyterian History. 11 Oct 2015. http://www.thisday.pcahistory.org/2015/10/october-11-van-horn-on-wsc-q-41/.
Accessed 11 Oct 2015.
October
11: Van Horn on WSC Q. 41
STUDIES IN THE WESTMINSTER SHORTER
CATECHISM
by Rev. Leonard T. Van Horn
by Rev. Leonard T. Van Horn
A.
— The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments.
Questions:
1.
What do we mean by “summarily comprehended?”
We
mean that the sum and the chief heads of the law are therein contained.
The moral law is more fully set forth in the scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments.
2.
When was the moral law first published?
The
moral law was first published when God wrote it on the heart of Adam.
3.
Where are the ten commandments found in Scripture?
The
ten commandments are found in the twentieth chapter of Exodus and in
slightly a different form in the fifth chapter of Deuteronomy. However,
the differences are very minor and include nothing essential.
4.
How are the commandments divided?
We
divide them today as “ten commandments” as was done by the Greek Church in
early days. There is also the division of the duties towards God and those
duties towards our fellow-man.
5.
Could we say that the ten commandments includes all of the moral law?
We
could say that the ten commandments are an amazingly comprehensive summary
of the moral law. They include both things required of the inward man and
of the outward behavior. Within them there is an amazing teaching in that
if a sin is forbidden, in the words of God there is a duty commanded.
6.
How can we have a better understanding of the ten commandments?
Our
Larger Catechism,
in answer to Question 95 gives us certain :’;,,’::0 for a right
understanding of the commandments. It would be good for all of us to
memorize all eight of the rules given and the proof texts too. Too many of
us are woefully ignorant of these eight rules, rules that, rightly
applied, will indeed lead us to a closer walk with our God, all
to His glory.
OBEDIENCE-AND LOVE
“Master,
which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto Him, Thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy
heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great
commandment.” Thus our Lord Jesus Christ gives the first part of the
summary of the law, agreeing perfectly with Deut.
6:5
. And thus he ties up the matter of obedience to Him
for the obeying of his commandments is the essence of obedience to
Him—with the matter of our love for Him. The two are woven together throughout
the Bible.
An
excellent question is: How do we know we love God? Seven wonderful signs
were given by Thomas Watson many years ago. He lists:
(1)
Our desire will be after Him.
(2) We cannot find contentment in any thing without Him.
(3) We hate that which would separate us from God, namely sin.
(4) We have sympathy for one another.
(5) We labor to render Him lovely to others.
(6) We weep bitterly for His absence.
(7) We are willing to do and to suffer for Him.
All of these have to do with the matter of our obeying Him for unless these characteristics are part of us we will not obey Him.
(2) We cannot find contentment in any thing without Him.
(3) We hate that which would separate us from God, namely sin.
(4) We have sympathy for one another.
(5) We labor to render Him lovely to others.
(6) We weep bitterly for His absence.
(7) We are willing to do and to suffer for Him.
All of these have to do with the matter of our obeying Him for unless these characteristics are part of us we will not obey Him.
The
question was once asked by a student: “Why do we not obey Him as we
should?” The answer that came to mind was simply. “We are not burning in
holy love.” Paul’s prayer for the Christians at Ephesus was “That Christ
may dwell.in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in
love,” (Eph. 3:17
), It would be well for us, if we are really serious
about obeying Him, to engage in some real prayer regarding our love for
Him—praying that the Holy Spirit will give us a love such as we have never
had before, praying that we might show forth some real labors of love in
the days ahead; heart-felt prayer that we might have a love for Him that
will always be glowing; heart-felt prayer that it may never be said of us,
“Thou hast left thy first love.”
A
wise preacher once said that love is involved with delighting in an
object. It is possible that our difficulty is in not delighting in Him
enough, not delighting in his Word, in prayer, in telling others about
Him! When was the last time we prayed, “Lord, I love Thee!” When was the
last time we felt this? When was the last time we told Him that we love
Him more than anyone or anything on this earth. If it has been some time
this may well be the reason for our lack of obedience.
Published
By: THE SHIELD and SWORD. {NC.
Vol. 3 No. 41 (May 1964)
Rev. Leonard T. Van Horn, Editor
Vol. 3 No. 41 (May 1964)
Rev. Leonard T. Van Horn, Editor
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