Today’s devotion comes from Romans 3:9-18.
“9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;
10 as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
13 “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
14 “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”;
15 “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”
18 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.” Romans 3:9-18.
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“Total Depravity” of man, the “T” of “TULIP”, is presented in today’s Scripture.
What hope is there? There is no hope in man.
Even in Psalm Chapter 36, from which the above-stated verse 18 comes, there is a clue. Immediately following a similar description of “Total Depravity” in Psalm 36:1-4, in sharpest contrast to the “Total Depravity” of man, there is the lovingkindness of God.
“5 Your lovingkindness, O LORD, extends to the heavens,
Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
Your judgments are like a great deep.
O LORD, You preserve man and beast.
7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
8 They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house;
And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.
9 For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.” Psalm 36:5-9.
Your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
6 Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;
Your judgments are like a great deep.
O LORD, You preserve man and beast.
7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.
8 They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house;
And You give them to drink of the river of Your delights.
9 For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light.” Psalm 36:5-9.
The lovingkindness of God is the only hope for man.
When all is in total despair due to the “Total Depravity” of man, the lovingkindness of God comes to the rescue!
Like the lovingkindness of God is immediately presented after the “Total Depravity” of man in Psalm Chapter 36, “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP” is immediately presented in “TULIP” after “Total Depravity”. Certainly, after reading today’s Scripture, we can better understand that there is no hope in man, there is no condition such as works or even faith, that man can present to God deserving election and salvation. Man’s only hope is that God will unconditionally come to the rescue and show lovingkindness to some men, His elect.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 