Today’s devotion comes from Acts 2:14-21.
“But Peter, taking his stand with the eleven, raised his voice and declared to them: “Men of Judea and all you who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you and give heed to my words. For these men are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only the third hour of the day; but this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel:
17 ‘AND IT SHALL BE IN THE LAST DAYS,’ God says,
‘THAT I WILL POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT ON ALL MANKIND;
AND YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY,
AND YOUR YOUNG MEN SHALL SEE VISIONS,
AND YOUR OLD MEN SHALL DREAM DREAMS;
18 EVEN ON MY BONDSLAVES, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN,
I WILL IN THOSE DAYS POUR FORTH OF MY SPIRIT
And they shall prophesy.
19 ‘AND I WILL GRANT WONDERS IN THE SKY ABOVE
AND SIGNS ON THE EARTH BELOW,
BLOOD, AND FIRE, AND VAPOR OF SMOKE.
20 ‘THE SUN WILL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS
AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD,
BEFORE THE GREAT AND GLORIOUS DAY OF THE LORD SHALL COME.
21 ‘AND IT SHALL BE THAT EVERYONE WHO CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.’” Acts 2:14-21.
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Other doctrine views this pouring of the Spirit that occurred at Pentecost and later as God loved everyone, Christ died for everyone, and the Holy Spirit was poured on everyone, but it is up to man to use his own alleged free-will to either choose Christ or reject Christ and thus be saved if he chose Christ.
Reformed Doctrine admits that the Holy Spirit was poured on many more people than previously and also poured on a broader range of people, including Gentiles as well as Jews, and even people of “every tribe and tongue and people and nation” (See Revelation 5:9). But, Reformed Doctrine, using Joel 2:32 and other Scripture, teaches that only God’s elect receives the Holy Spirit.
Today’s Scripture states in verse 15: “this is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel”. Specifically, the quote comes from Joel 2:29-32. But, unlike the Scripture above, Joel 2:28-32 contains the following verse.
“And it will come about that whoever calls on the name of the LORD
Will be delivered;
For on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem
There will be those who escape,
As the Lord has said,
Even among the survivors whom the LORD calls.” Joel 2:32.
The importance of Joel 2:32 is that it provides an understanding of the pouring of the Spirit that occurred at Pentecost and later. Just like not everyone survived in the events prophesied by Joel 2:28-32, but only those “whom the LORD calls”, not everyone will receive the Spirit in the events prophesied by today’s Scripture (Acts 2:17-21), but only those whom the LORD calls.
“… you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” Acts 2:38-39.
And, this promise of the Holy Spirit comes to only those who are in Christ Jesus.
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:13-14.
In other words, Christ, by his death on the cross for all and only the elect, earned all the saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, “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” as stated in Article 8 in SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.
Article 9. This election was not founded upon foreseen faith, and the obedience of faith, holiness, or any other good quality of disposition in man, as the pre-requisite, cause or condition on which it depended; but men are chosen to faith and to the obedience of faith, holiness, etc., therefore election is the fountain of every saving good; from which proceed faith, holiness, and the other gifts of salvation, and finally eternal life itself, as its fruits and effects, according to that of the apostle: “He hath chosen us (not because we were) but that we should be holy, and without blame, before him in love,” Ephesians 1:4. FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination of Canons of Dordt.
“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13.
“God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.” Hebrews 2:4.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 