Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ⁶ But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel; ⁷ nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.” ⁸ That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants. ⁹ For this is the word of promise: “AT THIS TIME I WILL COME, AND SARAH SHALL HAVE A SON.” ¹⁰ And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; ¹¹ for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, ¹² it was said to her, “THE OLDER WILL SERVE THE YOUNGER.” ¹³ Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.”  Romans 9:1-13. 

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“Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, is the subject of Romans Chapter 8, including this Scripture for today.  We already know that these points hang together to form a logical doctrine of salvation.  For example, it is logical that there is the need for the second point of “Unconditional Election”, because of the first point of “Total Depravity“, the “T” of “TULIP”, that man is dead in sin and can contribute nothing (no condition whether it be his own works or faith or anything else) to his salvation.

In today’s Scripture, we read that the purpose of this “Unconditional Election” is that “God’s purpose according to His choice would stand“.  God chooses to be sovereign in the area of salvation.  God is not only sovereign over stars;  God is also sovereign over sinners:  “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,”  Ephesians 1:4-5. 

Matthew 25:34
“Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.”

“He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him  with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth.  In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,”  Ephesians 1:9-11.

“⁹ “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
¹⁰ Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
¹¹ Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.

 ¹² “Listen to Me, you stubborn-minded,
Who are far from righteousness.
¹³ “I bring near My righteousness, it is not far off;
And My salvation will not delay.
And I will grant salvation in Zion,
And My glory for Israel.”

There are those who resist God’s sovereignty in the area of salvation.  They say:  “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!”  Psalm 2:3. 

What is God’s response?

“⁴  He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
⁵  Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
⁶  “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

⁷ “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
⁸ ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
⁹ ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”

 ¹⁰ Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
¹¹ Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
¹² Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all whotake refuge in Him!”  Psalm 2:4-12.

But, for those who resist God’s sovereignty in the area of salvation.  Isaiah 45:9 warns:                                                                                

“Woe to the one who quarrels with his Maker—
An earthenware vessel among the vessels of earth!
Will the clay say to the potter, ‘What are you doing?’
Or the thing you are making say, ‘He has no hands’?” 

In conclusion, God predestines “… according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will”  Ephesians 1:11.  “The LORD has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.”  Psalm 103:19