Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 5:11-15.

 

“¹¹ Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God;  and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.  ¹² We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.  ¹³ For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God;  if we are of sound mind, it is for you.  ¹⁴ For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;  ¹⁵ and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”  2 Corinthians 5:11-15.

 

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Christ’s death procures benefits for us that makes us live for God.  Here is what The Canons of Dordt state about the death of Christ.  “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.”

 

“For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;  for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.  For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”  Romans 14:7-9. 

 

In conclusion, The Heidelberg Catechism sums it up so well. 

 

“Question 1.  What is thy only comfort in life and death?

 

Answer.  That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ; who, with his precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil;  and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.”