Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

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

 

“¹ Jude, a bond-servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James,

 

To those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ:  ² May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.

                                      

³ Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.  ⁴ For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”  Jude 1:1-4.

                                  

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What is “our common salvation”?  What is “the faith”?  What is “the grace of our God”?

Catholics and Protestants all talk about “our common salvation”, “the faith”, and “the grace of our God”.

Every Protestant denomination talks about “our common salvation”, “the faith”, and “the grace of our God”.

Very few persons who call themselves Christians deny salvation, faith, and grace.

But, we know there are big differences between what people describe as “our common salvation”, “the faith”, and “the grace of our God”.

Some believe by “our common salvation” that Christ died for everyone.

Some believe by “the faith” that anyone who has any kind of “beliefs” or even just general respect for “spirituality” has “the faith”.  

Some believe by “the grace of our God” that man’s free will determines who gets it.

But, our individual beliefs don’t dictate what is “our common salvation”, “the faith”, and “the grace of our God”.  Scripture dictates what it is.

We don’t throw all of our beliefs into one pot and the resulting stew is “our common salvation”, “the faith”, and “the grace of our God”.

There is Only One Cook in the Kitchen and that is God.  There is only one Recipe for “our common salvation”, “the faith”, and “the grace of our God”.  

So then, what is “our common salvation”?  What is “the faith”?  What is “the grace of our God”?

Scriptures shows that it is “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  “TULIP” stands for “Total Depravity”, “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace”, and “Preservation of the Saints (a/k/a “Perseverance of the Saints”).  And, that is why we need to contend earnestly for it and do so.

For a brief description of “TULIP”, here is a link – Click here: TULIP | Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

For a lengthier creed concerning it, here is a link – Click here: The Canons of Dordt