Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 1:1-4.

 

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.  And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.  When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.”  Hebrews 1:1-4.

 

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Jesus Christ, the Son of God, said to His disciples:  “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also;  from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

 

Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”  Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip?  He who has seen Me has seen the Father;  how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?  The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.   Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me;  otherwise believe because of the works themselves.”  John 14:7-11. 

 

 

                                 

                                  

 

 

 

 

Answer.  They do not;  for though they boast of him in words, yet in deeds they deny Jesus the only deliverer and Savior;  for one of these two things must be true, that either Jesus is not a complete Savior;  or that they, who by a true faith receive this Savior, must find all things in him necessary to their salvation.

Question 31.  Why is he called Christ, that is anointed?

Answer.  Because he is ordained of God the Father, and anointed with the Holy Ghost, to be our chief Prophet and Teacher, who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption;  and to be our only High Priest, who by the one sacrifice of his body, has redeemed us, and makes continual intercession with the Father for us;  and also to be our eternal King, who governs us by his word and Spirit, and who defends and preserves us in (the enjoyment of) that salvation, he has purchased for us.

Question 33.  Why is Christ called the only begotten Son of God, since we are also the children of God?

Answer.  Because Christ alone is the eternal and natural Son of God;  but we are children adopted of God, by grace, for his sake.

Question 34.  Wherefore callest thou him our Lord?

Answer.  Because he hath redeemed us, both soul and body, from all our sins, not with gold or silver, but with his precious blood, and hath delivered us from all the power of the devil;  and thus hath made us his own property.

Here is what the Westminister Larger Confession states in part about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Question 36:  Who is the Mediator of the covenant of grace?

Answer:  The only Mediator of the covenant of grace is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, of one substance and equal with the Father, in the fullness of time became man, and so was and continues to be God and man, in two entire distinct natures, and one person, forever.

Question 37:  How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?

Answer:  Christ the Son of God became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance, and born of her, yet without sin.

Question 38:  Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be God?

Answer:  It was requisite that the Mediator should be God, that he might sustain and keep the human nature from sinking under the infinite wrath of God, and the power of death;  give worth and efficacy to his sufferings, obedience, and intercession;  and to satisfy God’s justice, procure his favor, purchase a peculiar people, give his Spirit to them, conquer all their enemies, and bring them to everlasting salvation.

Question 39:  Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be man?

Answer:  It was requisite that the Mediator should be man, that he might advance our nature, perform obedience to the law, suffer and make intercession for us in our nature, have a fellow feeling of our infirmities;  that we might receive the adoption of sons, and have comfort and access with boldness unto the throne of grace.

Question 40:  Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be God and man in one person?

Answer:  It was requisite that the Mediator, who was to reconcile God and man, should himself be both God and man, and this in one person, that the proper works of each nature might be accepted of God for us, and relied on by us, as the works of the whole person.

Question 41:  Why was our Mediator called Jesus?

Answer:  Our Mediator was called Jesus, because he saves his people from their sins.

Question 42:  Why was our Mediator called Christ?

Answer:  Our Mediator was called Christ, because he was anointed with the Holy Ghost above measure;  and so set apart, and fully furnished with all authority and ability, to execute the offices of prophet, priest, and king of his church, in the estate both of his humiliation and exaltation.

Question 43:  How does Christ execute the office of a prophet?

Answer:  Christ executes the office of a prophet, in his revealing to the church, in all ages, by his Spirit and Word, in divers ways of administration, the whole will of God, in all things concerning their edification and salvation.

Question 44:  How does Christ execute the office of a priest?

Answer:  Christ executes the office of a priest, in his once offering himself a sacrifice without spot to God, to be a reconciliation for the sins of his people;  and in making continual intercession for them.

Question 45:  How does Christ execute the office of a king?

Answer:  Christ executes the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself, and giving them officers, laws, and censures, by which he visibly governs them;  in bestowing saving grace upon his elect, rewarding their obedience, and correcting them for their sins, preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings, restraining and overcoming all their enemies, and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory, and their good;  and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and obey not the gospel.