Today’s devotion comes from John 1:35-42.
“Again the next day John was standing with two of his disciples, and he looked at Jesus as He walked, and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus. And Jesus turned and saw them following, and *said to them, “What do you seek?” They said to Him, “Rabbi (which translated means Teacher), where are You staying?” He *said to them, “Come, and you will see.” So they came and saw where He was staying; and they stayed with Him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. One of the two who heard John speak and followed Him, was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. He *found first his own brother Simon and *said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which translated means Christ). He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon the son of John; you shall be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).” John 1:35-42.
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Consider that there were not lengthy, flowery, nor persuasive words that were used that made disciples.
Each (“Behold, the Lamb of God!”, “What do you seek?”, “Come, and you will see.”, and “We have found the Messiah”) was five words or less. Each was a simple and short declaration or question or invitation.
Other doctrine is based on man’s wisdom, man’s alleged free-will, and man’s works, and it needs such lengthy, flowery, or persuasive words to make disciples.
But, Reformed Doctrine is based on God’s wisdom, God’s will, and God’s work, and it needs none of that lengthy, flowery, nor persuasive words to make disciples.
“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. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-5.
We see that Paul’s message and preaching was simply “Jesus Christ, and Him crucified”.
Reformed Doctrine teaches what was accomplished by “Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” in “Limited Atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine as more fully taught in the Canons of Dordt.
“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. SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby of Canons of Dordt.
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation …” Romans 1:16.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 