Today’s devotion comes from Mark 9:42-48.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe to stumble, it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, [where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.] If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame, than, having your two feet, to be cast into hell, [where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.] If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE, AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.” Mark 9:42-48.
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As horrific as it is to think about cutting off a part of the body, if it was necessary and helpful to avoid the much more horrific hell, it would be worth it.
But, the problem is that we cannot get rid of sin that “easily”.
Other doctrine believes that we just need more wisdom to know the Law and more will to obey the Law, all of which other doctrine believes is within us.
But, Reformed Doctrine rightly understands Scripture that sin does not just affect a few parts of the body, but sin affects all the members of the body including the heart deep within us, and that sin does not just affect or injure us, we are dead in sin. Reformed Doctrine labels this natural condition of man “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.
Reformed Doctrine rightly understands Scripture that we we need to be made alive, we need a new heart and a new spirit, and we need all of our body of flesh to be cut off, so to speak. And, only God can do all of that.
Our hope is not based on the Law. Our hope is based on Christ alone.
Our hope is not based on us cutting off a part of the body causing us to stumble. Our hope is based on Christ cutting off “the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ” as stated in the following Scripture.
“For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority; and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.” Colossians 2:9-15.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 