Meditation Monday #6: The Apostles Creed: "I believe...in Jesus Christ, His *only begotten Son, our *Lord..." and Lord's Day 13 (Heidelberg Catechism)

Meditation Monday: The Apostles Creed: 

"I believe...in Jesus Christ, His *only begotten Son, our *Lord..." 

and Lord's Day 13 (Heidelberg Catechism)

Marissa Namirr, Gospel Gal 

You can listen to the YouTube Episode by the same title here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYR5g1EEcSo&t=15s&ab_channel=Marissa

The Creed:

I believe in God the Father Almighty,

Maker of Heaven and earth.

And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten Son, our Lord;

who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

born of the virgin Mary;

suffered under Pontius Pilate;

was crucified, dead, and buried;

He descended into hell;

the third day He rose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,

and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

from there He shall come again to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit;

a holy catholic Church,

the communion of saints;

the forgiveness of sins;

the resurrection of the body;

and the life everlasting. Amen.

Lord's Day 13

33. 

Q. Why is he called God's only-begotten Son,
since we also are children of God?
A. Because Christ alone
is the eternal, natural Son of God. 1
We, however, are children of God by adoption,
through grace, for Christ's sake. 2

1.Jn 1:1-3, 14, 18; 3:16; Rom 8:32; Heb 1; 1 Jn 4:9.
2.Jn 1:12; Rom 8:14-17; Gal 4:6; Eph 1:5, 6.

With regard to Christ as the Only-Begotten and our sonship by adoption, Ursinus writes: 

"...the divine essence is communicated from the Father to Christ wholly according to his Divinity. As we are, therefore, the natural sons of our parents, so Christ is according to his divine nature the natural and only Son of God, of the same essence and nature with the Father, out of whose substance he was begotten from everlasting, in a manner altogether beyond our comprehension. “As the Father has life in himself, so also has he given to the Son to have life in himself.” (John 5:26) The Father has, therefore, communicated to him the life by which he himself lives by himself, and by which he quickens all creatures, which life is that one and eternal Deity by whom all things are. They are sons by grace, who at one and the same time began to be, and to be the sons of God. That they are sons results, either from the grace of creation, or from the grace of conception by the Holy Spirit and union with the Word... Christ alone according to his human nature is the Son of God, by the grace of conception by the Holy Spirit, and of union with the Word; because, according to this, he was the Son of God by grace, even from the very moment in which he began to be man and to be born; and that because, by virtue of the Holy Spirit, he alone was from the substance of the Virgin, pure from all stain or corruption, and was personally united with the Word. They are adopted sons who do not begin at one and the same time to be, and to be sons; but who were already before they were adopted, or who had an existence before their adoption as sons. They have been made sons by law and the will of him who has adopted them, and given them the right and title of sons, so that they occupy the same place as if they were natural sons. So Adam, after his fall, and all those who are regenerated, are the adopted sons of God, received into favor with him on account of his natural Son, Jesus Christ. All these were the children of wrath before they were adopted into the family and church of Christ.

And Olevianus writes: 

    the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism (Question 34) puts it simply, but also profoundly.

"Q: What is adoption?
A: Adoption is an act of God's free grace,1 whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.2"

1 John 3:1. Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
John 1:12. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.
Romans 8:17. And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

And JI Packer describes our relationship to the Father beautifully: 
"But this is not to say that justification is the highest blessing ofthe gospel. Adoption

is higher, because of the richer relationship with God that it involves...This free gift of acquittal and peace, won for us at the cost of Calvary, is wonderful enough, in all conscience—but justification does not of itself imply any intimate or deep relationship with God the judge...But contrast this, now, with adoption. Adoption is a family idea, conceived in terms of love, and viewing God as father. In adoption, God takes us into his family and fellowship—he establishes us as his children and heirs. Closeness, affection and generosity are at the heart of the relationship. To be right with God the judge is a great thing, but to be loved and cared for by God the Father is a greater." #JIPacker #KnowingGod 

34. 

Q. Why do you call him our Lord?
A. Because he has ransomed us,
body and soul, 1
from all our sins,
not with silver or gold
but with his precious blood, 2
and has freed us
from all the power of the devil
to make us his own possession. 3

1.1 Cor 6:20; 1 Tim 2:5, 6.
2.1 Pet 1:18, 19.
3.Col 1:13, 14; Heb 2:14, 15.

With regard to Jesus Christ as Lord, Olevianus writes:  And Ursinus states:  To be Lord is to have a right over some thing or person. Christ, therefore, is our Lord and the Lord of all, 1. Because he has dominion over us, and over all things: he has a care for all things, keeps and preserves all, and especially those who have been purchased and redeemed by his blood. 2. Because all things are subject to him, and we are bound to serve him, in body and soul, that he may be glorified by us. {203} The name Lord belongs to both natures of Christ, just as that of Prophet, Priest and King; for the names of the office, benefits, dignity and beneficence of Christ towards us are affirmed of his whole person, not by the communication of properties, as the names of the two natures and attributes of Christ, but properly in respect to each nature. For both natures of Christ will and secure our redemption: the human nature paid the price of our redemption by dying for us, and the divine gives and offers to the Father this price, and applies it unto us by the Spirit. Christ is, therefore, our Lord not only in respect to his divine nature, which has created us, but also in respect to his humanity; for even in as far as he is man, the person of Christ is Lord over all angels and men." He goes on:  "Christ is our Lord, not only in one, but in many respects. 1. By right of creation, sustenance and government in its general character, as well as that which he has in common with the Father and Holy Spirit... 2. By the right of redemption peculiar to himself; because he alone is the mediator, who has redeemed us by his blood, from sin and death, delivered us from the power of the devil and set us apart for himself. The way in which we have been redeemed is most precious, because it was far greater to redeem us with his blood than with money... 3. By reason of our preservation Christ is our Lord; because he defends us even to the end, and keeps us unto eternal life, not only by preserving our bodies from injuries, but our souls also from sin. For our preservation must be understood not only concerning our first rescue from the power of the devil, but also concerning our continual preservation and the consummation of his benefits... 4. In respect to ordination or appointment; because the Father ordained the Word, or this person, Christ, to this, that he might through him accomplish all things in heaven and on earth. For Christ is our Lord not only in that he preserves us, having rescued us from the power of the devil and made us the sons of God; but also because the Father has given us to him, and has constituted him our Prince, King and Head..." On the Grace to You website, John MacArthur is quoted saying, "One thing would do more than anything else to answer every challenge to Christ’s authority: the restoration of clear, powerful, expository preaching to its rightful place at the center of all the church’s activities. If we truly believe Christ is Lord of the church, then the church needs to hear His voice. His Word must be proclaimed and its content taught accurately, systematically, and unrelentingly whenever the church comes together. Jan Hus said the same thing. Declaring that the lordship of Christ over His church means emphatically “that the Christian ought to follow the commandments of Christ...” We would agree with Hus on this point, " the Christian ought to follow the commandments of Christ." Of this there can be no doubt. We, who are sons by adoption, by the help of the Spirit begin to gratefully obey the Father, who loved us and gave His only begotten Son for us. But MacArthur fails to present the Lordship in a way that provides us with little motivation but duty and fear. Listen again to how the Reformers position us with Christ as our Lord. There is nothing but grace expounded. With Jesus as our Lord, we recognize primarily His benefits to us and our gaze does not shift from them as His Lordship is defined. He redeems us with His blood, defends us from the presense and power of sin and the devil, and preserving us to life eternal as Prophet, Priest, King and Lord. Not surprisingly, Reformation theologians viewed Christ's authority as pure grace, blessing and benefit in the life of God's children. Their teaching on the matter is cool water in a desert of funda-gelical dogma that turns the alluring Shepherd King into a lording taskmaster. But our Shepherd King and Lord beckons and woos us. He assures us of His kindness, gives Himself for us, purchases us from slavery, and leads us with a gentle hand, rather than a driving prod, all the way to glory. Thanks be to God for His faithfulness and for providing faithful teachers who have taught us about the heart of God toward us.  Sources:  1. Zacharius Ursinus Commentary on the Heidelberg Catechism 2. Caspar Olevianus Exposition of the Apostles Creed 3. The Heidelberg Catechism 4. JI Packer: Knowing God 5. The Westminster Shorter Catechism 6. John MacArthur: " The Lord of The Church" (Grace to You Website)