Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ⁴²  Many believed in Him there.”  John 10:40-42. 

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Earlier in this chapter, we read about certain Jews who, despite seeing Jesus’ miracles and despite hearing Jesus’ preaching and despite all their religious education and participation, did not believe Jesus, but instead accused Jesus of blaspheming and tried to seize and stone Him.

On the other hand, today, we read about this Scripture about the “many” who heard John’s preaching, and despite the fact that “John performed no sign”, believed in Jesus.

Likewise, today, there are those who, despite attending church many times and hearing good preaching and despite reading much Scripture, do not believe.    

Likewise, today, there are those who, despite not attending church as much nor hearing as good preaching nor reading as much Scripture, do believe.

The lesson here is NOT that good preaching and good Scripture reading do not matter.  We should take advantage of these means of grace.

But, through this Scripture and comparison, we can better understand that faith is a gift of God.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9. 

Here is part of what The Canons of Dordt state about faith. 

Article 6.  That some receive the gift of faith from God, and others do not receive it proceeds from God’s eternal decree, “For known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world,” Acts 15:18.  “Who worketh all things after the counsel of his will,” Ephesians 1:11.  According to which decree, he graciously softens the hearts of the elect, however obstinate, and inclines them to believe, while he leaves the non-elect in his just judgment to their own wickedness and obduracy.  And herein is especially displayed the profound, and merciful, and at the same time the righteous discrimination between men, equally involved in ruin;  or that decree of election and reprobation, revealed in the Word of God, which though men of perverse, impure and unstable minds wrest to their own destruction, yet to holy and pious souls affords unspeakable consolation.