Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ²²  But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?

 ²³  “Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

 ²⁴  “But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”–He said to the paralytic–“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.”

 ²⁵  Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.

 ²⁶  They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.”  Luke 5:20-26. 

Few need to be healed of their paralysis.  All need to be forgiven of their sins.

We may not even “know” that we sin, but if we do not know that we sin, our sins will not be forgiven.  “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.”  1 John 1:8. 

We may know our sins, but if we do not confess our sins, our sins will not be forgiven.  “When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away Through my groaning all day long.  For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;  My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.”  Psalm 32:3-4. 

We may know our sins, and even confess our sins, but if we do not really believe that Jesus has the authority to forgive our sins, then we lack saving faith and our sins will not be forgiven.  See John 8:12-59, especially verse 24:  “Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins;  for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.”  John 8:24.

We may know our sins, and even confess our sins, and believe that Jesus has the authority to forgive our sins, but if we do not really believe that Jesus desires to forgive our sins, then our sins will not be forgiven.  We are reminded of yesterdays’ devotion.  “While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy;  and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”  And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing;  be cleansed.”  And immediately the leprosy left him.”  Luke 5:12-13.  We are also reminded that an element of faith is that “… He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6. 

In summary, knowledge of sins, confession of sins, belief in Jesus’ authority to forgive sins, and belief in Jesus’ desire to forgive our sins, are important parts of faith.  There may be other parts of faith.  I break faith down to some elements, not to discourage anyone, but rather to point to the need for us to receive saving faith as a gift of God.  Arminians often portray faith as just a simple exercise of their alleged free-will.  But, who is to say that simply squinting your eyes and saying”  “I believe.” is faith or sufficient faith to save? 

We need that saving faith that comes as a gift of God. 

Article 8 of The Canons of Dordt states:  “For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation: that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death; should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing; and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.”  (Emphasis added.) 

God will give us all of what we need.  He will plant the seed of faith within our hearts.  He will show us Scripture that will build our faith.  He will bring us through experiences, like fire, that will prove our faith.