Today’s devotion comes from Acts 27:27-32.
“27 But when the fourteenth night came, as we were being driven about in the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors began to surmise that they were approaching some land.
28 They took soundings and found it to be twenty fathoms; and a little farther on they took another sounding and found it to be fifteen fathoms.
29 Fearing that we might run aground somewhere on the rocks, they cast four anchors from the stern and wished for daybreak.
30 But as the sailors were trying to escape from the ship and had let down the ship’s boat into the sea, on the pretense of intending to lay out anchors from the bow,
31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, “Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.”
32 Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it fall away.” Acts 27:27-32.
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Life is like this ship’s voyage through rough seas. “… Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.” Acts 14:22. We are in danger of “doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” James 1:6. We are in danger of being “tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine” Ephesians 4:14. We are in danger of suffering “shipwreck” in regard to our faith. 1 Timothy 1:19.
Now, we do believe in “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”. We know the end. God will preserve us safely to salvation.
Likewise, the sailors in today’s Scripture knew that there would be no loss of life. Paul encouraged and prophesied: “Yet now I urge you to keep up your courage, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship.” Acts 27:22. Nevertheless, Paul warned them in today’s Scripture: “Unless these men remain in the ship, you yourselves cannot be saved.” Acts 27:31.
The lesson for today is that we must remain in the true church. Although like the sailors, we face danger, and may be anxious or even panic, we must not leave the true church. Although we live in a very individualistic world, we must not leave the true church. We must continually seek to become or stay members of the true church.
I am not saying that we can never leave one individual church or denomination to go to another. But, I am saying that we cannot live in a separate state from the church.
Here is what Articles 28 and 29 of The Belgic Confession state:
Article 28: That every one is bound to join himself to the true Church.
We believe, since this holy congregation is an assembly of those who are saved, and that out of it there is no salvation, that no person of whatsoever state or condition he may be, ought to withdraw himself, to live in a separate state from it; but that all men are in duty bound to join and unite themselves with it; maintaining the unity of the Church; submitting themselves to the doctrine and discipline thereof; bowing their necks under the yoke of Jesus Christ; and as mutual members of the same body, serving to the edification of the brethren, according to the talents God has given them. And that this may be the more effectually observed, it is the duty of all believers, according to the word of God, to separate themselves from all those who do not belong to the Church, and to join themselves to this congregation, wheresoever God hath established it, even though the magistrates and edicts of princes were against it, yea, though they should suffer death or any other corporal punishment. Therefore all those, who separate themselves from the same, or do not join themselves to it, act contrary to the ordinance of God. (Emphasis added.)
Article 29: Of the marks of the true Church, and wherein she differs from the false Church.
We believe, that we ought diligently and circumspectly to discern from the Word of God which is the true Church, since all sects which are in the world assume to themselves the name of the Church. But we speak not here of hypocrites, who are mixed in the Church with the good, yet are not of the Church, though externally in it; but we say that the body and communion of the true Church must be distinguished from all sects, who call themselves the Church. The marks, by which the true Church is known, are these: if the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein; if she maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ; if church discipline is exercised in punishing of sin: in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the Church. Hereby the true Church may certainly be known, from which no man has a right to separate himself. With respect to those, who are members of the Church, they may be known by the marks of Christians: namely, by faith; and when they have received Jesus Christ the only Savior, they avoid sin, follow after righteousness, love the true God and their neighbor, neither turn aside to the right or left, and crucify the flesh with the works thereof. But this is not to be understood, as if there did not remain in them great infirmities; but they fight against them through the Spirit, all the days of their life, continually taking their refuge in the blood, death, passion and obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ, “in whom they have remission of sins, through faith in him.” As for the false Church, she ascribes more power and authority to herself and her ordinances than to the Word of God, and will not submit herself to the yoke of Christ. Neither does she administer the sacraments as appointed by Christ in his Word, but adds to and takes from them, as she thinks proper; she relieth more upon men than upon Christ; and persecutes those, who live holily according to the Word of God, and rebuke her for her errors, covetousness, and idolatry. These two Churches are easily known and distinguished from each other. (Emphasis added.)
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 