Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ²⁵  and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.”  John 2:23-25.

Reformed doctrine a/k/a Calvinism, specifically “TULIP” teaches us what is in man:  “Total Depravity”, the “T” in “TULIP”.

Man is spiritually dead in his sin, not just wounded.  Man does not possess “free will”.  Man is bound to Satan who has taken man’s will captive.  Man is hostile to God. Man cannot please God.  Man cannot understand the things of God.  Man is in bondage to sin and Satan.  As a result of the fall, sin has totally affected all the faculties of man, making man unable to contribute anything towards his own salvation.  As the following Scriptures state, man does not seek after God, but rather man is dead in sin.                    

Romans 3:10-11:
” as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”

Ephesians 2:1: “And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,” (Emphasis added.)

Consider then the following Questions and Answers from The Heidelberg Catechism.

Question 6.  Did God then create man so wicked and perverse?

Answer.  By no means; but God created man good, and after his own image, in true righteousness and holiness, that he might rightly know God his Creator, heartily love him and live with him in eternal happiness to glorify and praise him. 

Question 7.  Whence then proceeds this depravity of human nature?

Answer.  From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise;  hence our nature is become so corrupt, that we are all conceived and born in sin.  

Question 8.  Are we then so corrupt that we are wholly incapable of doing any good, and inclined to all wickedness?

Answer.  Indeed we are;  except that we are regenerated by the Spirit of God. 

So then, what does Scripture state concerning trusting man?

Psalm 118:8
“It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man.”

Psalm 146:3
“Do not trust in princes, In mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.”

Proverbs 29:25
“The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted.”

In conclusion, we need to trust God, rather than trust man.  Consider Jeremiah 17:5-8.   

⁵  Thus says the LORD,
         “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind
         And makes flesh his strength,
         And whose heart turns away from the LORD.
    ⁶  “For he will be like a bush in the desert
         And will not see when prosperity comes,
         But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,
         A land of salt without inhabitant.
    ⁷  “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD
         And whose trust is the LORD.
    ⁸  “For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
         That extends its roots by a stream
         And will not fear when the heat comes;
         But its leaves will be green,
         And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
         Nor cease to yield fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:5-8.