Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 

^“6  And He said to them, “Rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:
         ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS,
         BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME.
    ⁷  ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME,
         TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’

 ⁸  “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”  Mark 7:6-8. 

We are missing a more important point if we limit the teaching of this Scripture to the specific point that we should not hold to obscure Jewish traditions and rituals such as the washing of hands which may lead us to neglect the commandments of God.

The more important general point is that people can worship God in vain if they teach or hold to false doctrines.  Despite society’s constant loud message that it does not matter what one believes, it does matter what one believes.  “Spirituality” is not enough.  Zeal is not enough.  Paul noted that the nation of Israel had a zeal for God, “but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.  Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works.”  Romans 9:31-32.

Paul continues:  “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.  For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.  For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.  For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.”  Romans 10:1-5. 

John 4:24 states:  “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Paul makes it clear that it is not only those worshippers who adhere to another religion that are in trouble.  Paul calls those who “merely” distort the gospel of Christ as “accursed”.  He states:  “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;  which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!  As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”  Galatians 1:6-9. 

Calvin in his Commentary on these verses states:  “…  his greatest severity of language is directed, as we shall see, against the false apostles. He charges them with turning aside, not only from his gospel, but from Christ; for it was impossible for them to retain their attachment to Christ, without acknowledging that he has graciously delivered us from the bondage of the law.  But such a belief cannot be reconciled with those notions respecting the obligation of ceremonial observance which the false apostles inculcated.  They were removed from Christ; not that they entirely rejected Christianity, but that the corruption of their doctrines was such as to leave them nothing more than an imaginary Christ.

Thus, in our own times, the Papists, choosing to have a divided and mangled Christ, have none, and are therefore “removed from Christ.”  They are full of superstitions, which are directly at variance with the nature of Christ.  Let it be carefully observed, that we are removed from Christ, when we fall into those views which are inconsistent with his mediatorial office; for light can have no fellowship with darkness.

On the same principle, he calls it another gospel, that is, a gospel different from the true one.  And yet the false apostles professed that they preached the gospel of Christ; but, mingling with it their own inventions, by which its principal efficacy was destroyed, they held a false, corrupt, and spurious gospel.  …  The gospel of Christ.  To know what are the leading points of the gospel, is a matter of unceasing importance. When these are attacked, the gospel is destroyed.  … 

Of what avail was it to profess respect for the gospel, and not to know what it meant?  With Papists, who hold themselves bound to render implicit faith, that might be perfectly sufficient; but with Christians, where there is no knowledge, there is no faith.  That the Galatians, who were otherwise disposed to obey the gospel, might not wander hither and thither, and “find no rest for the sole of their foot,” (Genesis 8:9,) Paul enjoins them to stand steadfastly by his doctrine. He demands such unhesitating belief of his preaching, that he pronounces a curse on all who dared to contradict it.  …

Or an angel from heaven.  In order to destroy more completely the pretensions of the false apostles, he rises so high as to speak of angels; and, on the supposition that they taught a different doctrine, he does not satisfy himself with saying that they were not entitled to be heard, but declares that they ought to be held accursed.  Some may think, that it was absurd to engage in a controversy with angels about his doctrine; but a just view of the whole matter will enable any one to perceive, that this part of the apostle’s proceedings was proper and necessary.  It is impossible, no doubt, for angels from heaven to teach anything else than the certain truth of God. But when the credit due to doctrines which God had revealed concerning the salvation of men was the subject of controversy, he did not reckon it enough to disclaim the judgment of men, without declining, at the same time, the authority of angels.  …

Accordingly he enjoins them to regard as devils those who shall dare to bring forward a gospel different from his, — meaning by another gospel, one to which the inventions of other men are added; for the doctrine of the false apostles was not entirely contrary, or even different, from that of Paul, but corrupted by false additions.  …”   (Emphasis added by bold font.)

Here is the link to his full Commentary on Galatians 1:6-9 – Click here: Commentary on Galatians and Ephesians | Christian Classics Ethereal Library

What I think is particularly noteworthy is the importance that Calvin puts on the doctrine of salvation which is the gospel.  Note Calvin’s conclusion that “another gospel” was “not entirely contrary, or even different, from that of Paul, but corrupted by false additions“. 

So, what could these false additions be?  Calvin states, as most directly taught by Galatians, that they could be “the obligation of ceremonial observance”.  But, Calvin also adds that they could be the Papists (followers of the Catholic Pope) who were “full of superstitions”.

Could the false addition be “our works” such as those who teach that we are saved by “faith and works”?

Could the false addition be “our free will” such as those who teach that we are saved through “our free will acceptance of Christ”? 

I am not going to answer these last two questions within the limited confines of this email.  I only want to emphasize the general importance of believing and teaching a true doctrine of salvation.  For more, I refer you to my article – Click here to learn how Calvinism is the true doctrine of salvation