Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion is Luke 23:39-43.

 

“³⁹  One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at Him, saying, “Are You not the Christ?  Save Yourself and us!”

                                             

Proverbs 14:27
“The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.”

                                     

Proverbs 19:23
“The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.”

 

 

James 4:6
“But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

 

Going back to a more detailed comparison of the attitude and approach of the two criminals, we see the first criminal demand:  “Save Yourself and us!”  Whereas, the second criminal only asks:  “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” 

 

Accordingly, we should question whether or not Pastors and lay people are really helping their  congregations and listeners by “easy believe-ism” by only and simply urging them to ask for salvation without sufficient emphasis on the importance of humility and fearing God.       

 

Reformed doctrine a/k/a Calvinism starts with the humility of its recognition of our “Total Depravity”, the “T” in “TULIP”.  Reformed doctrine a/k/a Calvinism fears God and honors God by its recognition that our only “chance” for salvation is “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”.  There is no condition that man can supply, whether it be works or the will to be saved, that will motivate God to save us.  “So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:16.

 

God gets all the glory for our salvation!  God supplies everything that we need for salvation, even the faith!

 

The Canons of Dordt (Second Head of Doctrine) teach: 

Article 8.  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.