Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion is John 14:4-6.

 

“⁴  “And you know the way where I am going.” 

                                         

 ⁵  Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”

                                    

There are all kinds of truths out there that could help us.  We may know them, but if we do not really believe in them, then these truths are not going to help us.

For example, I have known for as long as I can remember that I would have better health if I lost weight.  But, I carried an extra 20-40 pounds for maybe 25 years. 

Last year, I came down with a simple common cold.  I temporarily lost weight as I only wanted to eat chicken soup and sugar-free pudding.  After about 2 weeks, I lost 15 pounds.  My wife said I snored less (although I am not sure I ever snored.  )  My blood pressure and cholesterol dropped.  I had a lot more energy.  My clothes fit better, and people said I looked better.  Even the arches of my feet felt better.

Then, I really believed that I would have better health if I lost weight.  I started to eat Healthy Choice frozen dinners for dinner, and I ate less sweets and fats.  Instead of just exercising in the morning four or so times a week in the morning, I also exercised in the afternoon.  I stayed on my diet and exercise, and I dropped another 25 pounds.  So far, through the grace of God, I have kept it off for about a year.

Please forgive me for being too personal and for writing these things that could repel rather than attract.  But, I do believe they illustrate the difference between “knowing” and “really believing”. 

These things also illustrate the real cause of such true faith.  As Thomas asked, “how do we know the way?”

Going back to my illustration one last time, Jesus gave me the grace to come down with that common cold.  I have had common colds before, but this time he used this common cold to begin this work in me.  And, He finished the good work He began in me.

There is a certain cockiness in pure knowledge.  We can be “puffed up”.  We can brag.  We can become arrogant.  I Corinthians Chapter 13.  We can take over and try to perfect ourselves by our own flesh.  Galatians 3:3.                   

We need to really believe that Jesus is our only Savior to the extent that we find all things in him necessary to our salvation.  Here is what Question and Answer 30 of The Heidelberg Catechism states.

Question 30.  Do such then believe in Jesus the only Savior, who seek their salvation and welfare of saints, of themselves, or anywhere else?

Answer.  They do not;  for though they boast of him in words, yet in deeds they deny Jesus the only deliverer and Savior;  for one of these two things must be true, that either Jesus is not a complete Savior;  or that they, who by a true faith receive this Savior, must find all things in him necessary to their salvation.  (Emphasis added.)

We need to really believe that Jesus is our only Savior to the extent that we really believe that we receive that initial faith from him, that He will preserve us to the end, and that He will give us all other saving gifts.  Here is what Article 8 of SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE “Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby” of The Canons of Dordt states. 

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.  (Emphasis added.) 

In conclusion, Jesus is more than just an objective truth, “take it or leave it”.  Jesus, “the way”, delivers us from just “knowing” to “really believing”.