Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion focuses on Mark 7:14-23.  We will focus on verses 18 to 23.  

 

^“18  And He said to them, “Are you so lacking in understanding also?  Do you not understand that whatever goes into the man from outside cannot defile him, 

                                       

 ¹⁹  because it does not go into his heart, but into his stomach, and is eliminated?” (Thus He declared all foods clean.)

                                       

We are missing a more important general point if we limit the teaching of this Scripture to the specific point that all foods are clean.

The more important general point is the condition of man’s heart and the only remedy.

The condition of man’s heart is shown clearly here.  “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.”  Mark 7:21-22.

^“10  as it is written,
         “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
    ¹¹  THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
         THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
    ¹²  ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
         THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
         THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
    ¹³  “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
         WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
         “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
    ¹⁴  “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”;
    ¹⁵  “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
    ¹⁶  DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
    ¹⁷  AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”
    ¹⁸  “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”  Romans 3:10-18.

This condition is described by “Total Depravity”, the “T” in “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism.

So, how do we deal with such a heart of man?

The Conscience may affect man’s own actions.  The Conscience may help him somewhat.  At times, man may follow his Conscience and sin less times and sin “less worse” (evil thoughts instead of evil deeds).  “For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.”  Romans 2:14-16.  But, man should not depend solely on his Conscience.  His Conscience will not keep him pure nor justify him.  Moreover, the Conscience may be defiled.  Titus 1:15 states:  “To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.”

The Law will give man more knowledge (beyond just his Conscience) as to what is sinful and will hold man accountable.  “Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;”.  Romans 3:19.  ^“But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.”  1 Timothy 1:8-11.  But, man should not depend solely on the Law, “because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.  Romans 3:20.   

The Government will punish man.  “… But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.”  Romans 13:5.  But, man should not depend solely on the Government.  The Government may restrain man from committing some types of sins and may restrain man from committing as many sins as he may want to commit, but the Government will obviously not restrain all sins nor will it restrain any evil thoughts. 

At best, the Conscience, the Law, and the Government may make man be like one in a courtroom:  clean and groomed, well-dressed, and in perfect behavior.  But, for how long? 

At best, the Conscience, the Law, and the Government may help to sweep and put in order man’s heart, but it is only temporary, like what is described in Luke 11:24-26:  “When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’  “And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order.  “Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”  (Emphasis added.)

The only remedy:

We need the permanent protection of the Holy Spirit to indwell us and to protect us and to produce the fruit of the Spirit within us.  “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”  Romans 8:3-4. 

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”  Galatians 5:16-17.

^“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23.