Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Acts 3:13-16.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+3&version=NASB

I quote only the following verse.

“And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know;  and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.”  Acts 3:16.

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We see three bases or instruments of the healing of the lame man in today’s Scripture, and this meditation will help us to understand the bases or instruments to our salvation.

Ultimately, Jesus healed the lame man, but Jesus used three bases or instruments of the healing of the lame man in today’s Scripture.  First, “it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know”.  Second, there is “the basis of faith in His name“.  Third, “faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.”

In the following article of the Belgic Confession, we see “the Holy Ghost kindleth in our hearts an upright faith, which embraces Jesus Christ, with all his merits” and we see this faith described as “an instrument with which we embrace Christ our Righteousness” and “faith is an instrument that keeps us in communion with him in all his benefits”.

Article 22:  Of Faith in Jesus Christ.

We believe that, to attain the true knowledge of this great mystery, the Holy Ghost kindleth in our hearts an upright faith, which embraces Jesus Christ, with all his merits, appropriates him, and seeks nothing more besides him.  For it must needs follow, either that all things, which are requisite to our salvation, are not in Jesus Christ, or if all things are in him, that then those who possess Jesus Christ through faith, have complete salvation in him.  Therefore, for any to assert, that Christ is not sufficient, but that something more is required besides him, would be too gross a blasphemy:  for hence it would follow, that Christ was but half a Savior.  Therefore we justly say with Paul, that we are justified by faith alone, or by faith without works.  However, to speak more clearly, we do not mean, that faith itself justifies us, for it is only an instrument with which we embrace Christ our Righteousness.  But Jesus Christ, imputing to us all his merits and so many holy works which he has done for us, and in our stead, is our Righteousness.  And faith is an instrument that keeps us in communion with him in all his benefits, which, when become ours, are more than sufficient to acquit us of our sins.

In a similar chain of thought, ultimately God saves us, but God uses bases or instruments of our salvation.  First, “by grace you have been saved”.  Second, we are saved “through faith“.  Third, this faith is “not of yourselves, it is the gift of God“.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9.