Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.

 

“¹  And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.

 

²  For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

 

³  I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling,

 

⁴  and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,

 

⁵  so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 2:1-5.

 

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There are two ways our “faith” could rest on the wisdom of man.  First, as shown here, the preacher could “come with superiority of speech or of wisdom”.  The preacher could be eloquent, charming, and clever.  Second, the listener could depend on himself to be wise enough to have faith in Christ and that “his” faith is worthy because of his own contribution.    

 

We see the first type of “faith”, which is really not true faith.  They may hear a traveling evangelist in a tent revival who is eloquent, charming, and clever, and they may respond in the altar call, but when the traveling evangelist leaves, their faith also eventually leaves.   They are like the rocky soil in the Parable of the Sower.  “Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root;  they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.”  Luke 8:13.

 

We also see the second type of “faith”, which is also not true faith.  They are not as emotional as the first type.  They take pride in their own wisdom.  They are careful not to be too spontaneous;  they don’t get in trouble.  They also may “wisely” conclude it is good business to go to church at least for a time.  They are in control of their “free will” and they are proud of all their accomplishments, including their own “faith”.  They make the right choices which may include faith until other choices take priority.  They are like the soil among the thorns in the Parable of the Sower.  “The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”  Luke 8:14. 

 

But, those who have true faith depend on the power of God to receive and to keep their faith.  They are humble.  They take no offense at predestination.  They know their only hope is God, and they cling to God and His words.  They are like the good soil among the thorns in the Parable of the Sower.  “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.”  Luke 8:15.

 

Here is what The Canons of Dordt states about this faith that rests on the power of God.  This faith is a gift of God, not seduced by the wisdom of the eloquent, charming, and clever preacher nor seized by the wisdom of the wise listener:  “… the world through its wisdom did not come to know God”.  1 Corinthians 1:21.

                                

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.