Dear Family and Friends:
Today’s devotion comes from John 16:12-15.
“12 “I have many more things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
13 “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
14 “He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.
15 “All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.” John 16:12-15.
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Scripture keeps coming back to the importance of truth. In today’s Scripture, we read: “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; …” John 16:13.
Jesus stated in John 4:23-24: “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. ‘God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.’ ”
On the other hand, there are those who “did not receive the love of truth so as to be saved”. 2 Thessalonians 2: 10-13. Jesus stated both in Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7: ‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”
Truth is supremely important; failing to believe the truth can be evidence that one is not saved (“worshiping God in vain”). Truth is revealed by Scripture, not by our feelings as to what is just and true.
Scripture reveals the truth that salvation is a work of God alone, by grace alone, and that God handles all the points of salvation from unconditional election through limited atonement through irresistible grace through preservation of the saints. “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.” Romans 8:29-30.
But, there are those who believe that salvation is dependent on man. They believe man must contrubute works, or at least man must contribute faith or the will to be saved. They believe that salvation is conditional, dependent on whether man supplies the condition of works or faith. If this belief is true, man deserves partial credit for his contribution to salvation.
But, what does Scripture state? “For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” Romans 9:15-16.
The true doctrine of salvation is summarized by “TULIP“, which is the Five Points of Calvinism and which is Reformed Doctrine and more fully taught in the Reformed Confession called The Canons of Dordt. In the right column under “Links”, there is a link to The Canons of Dordt.
And, this doctrine glorifies God the most, because it gives the most credit (namely, all the credit) for our salvation to God. “But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:30-31.
So, when we read that the Holy Spirit guides us into all truth and the Holy Spirit glorifies Christ, these are not independent statements. Rather, truth glorifies Christ.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 