August 2: The Ninth Sunday after Pentecost
Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths. –Genesis 3:7
Satan comes and suggests that God will keep you down if you obey him. You’ll never be all that you can be unless you get a little carpe diem going on in your life. So Adam and the Woman did and how did they end up? They end up doing what most of us do most of the time: self-justification. They try to make an atonement for themselves with fig leaves. It’s pathetic. We can easily scoff at their primitiveness: I mean, leaves! But surely they are better off than we are, who have become sophisticated at it. We can even become self-justifiers in Jesus’ name and for the sake of his church and often do.
Nonetheless, there is a Second Adam whose eyes were only open to God. He knew that to be all that he could be, he would have to empty himself of the glory he already had. Instead of seizing the day, he was seized. He really was naked on the cross scorning its shame, but the reward for obeying about the second tree (the cross), is that he became the justifier of those who didn’t obey about the first tree.
That’s the gospel! Come hear it preached and enacted in the Supper with Jesus this Sunday.
The related hymns we’ll sing are:
O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing
How Firm a Foundation
Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners
Sunday school for children (in Genesis) and adults (on Reformed Treasures) is up and running! Coffee and other treats are served at 9:15, teaching begins at 9:30, and we break to get ready for worship at 10:15.
Visitors are always welcome!