Today’s devotion comes from Romans 8:28-30.
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” Romans 8:28-30.
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Other doctrine teaches that God causes some good things to go to those who love God.
But, Reformed Doctrine teaches that God causes all things to work together for good to only those who are called according to His purpose, namely His elect.
Other doctrine hates God’s predestination, loves man’s alleged free-will, and twists the meaning of “foreknew” into their claim that whatever “predestined” means in this and other texts that they cannot avoid, that the meaning and application of “foreknew” is that God predestined on the basis of what God saw through history that man did such as man’s good works or man’s free-will choice of Christ.
But, Reformed Doctrine loves and cherishes God’s predestination, knowing that it is man’s only hope for salvation. Reformed Doctrine loves God’s Will. Reformed Doctrine teaches that the meaning and application of “foreknew” is that God predestined on the basis of whom God chose according to His purpose and His love alone.
Other doctrine teaches that God is for those people who do sufficient good works or for those who sufficiently exercised their alleged free-will to choose Christ.
But, Reformed Doctrine teaches that God is for only those who are called according to His purpose, namely His elect.
Other doctrine teaches that God delivered Christ to the cross to be a sacrifice for everybody.
But, Reformed Doctrine teaches that God delivered Christ to the cross to be a sacrifice for only those who are called according to His purpose, namely His elect.
In summary, other doctrine presents their god as one who critically looks at what man does at each step, and accordingly, responds and rewards or punishes man based on what man does.
In summary, Reformed Doctrine presents the God of Scripture Who causes all things to work together for good to only those who are called according to His purpose, namely His elect. Reformed Doctrine presents the God of Scripture Who only is for those who are called according to His purpose, namely His elect. Reformed Doctrine presents the God of Scripture Who freely gives all things only those who are called according to His purpose, namely His elect.
In many other devotions, we have studied the Scripture and Reformed creeds which supports this teaching of Reformed Doctrine. The main purpose of this devotion is meditate on the good things that God causes to work together for good to only those who are called according to His purpose, namely His elect. This devotion will group these good things into two groups.
First, and most important of all, as stated in verses 29-30, God saves only those who are called according to His purpose, namely His elect. He conforms them to the image of Christ and justifies them and glorifies them.
“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. It was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. …” Ephesians 1:3-7.
Second, as stated in verse 32, God freely gives all things only to those for whom Christ died, namely for only those who are called according to His purpose, namely His elect.
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield;
The LORD gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” Psalm 84:11.
“Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.” Psalm 103:1-5
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 the Canons of Dordt.
In conclusion, Psalm chapter 23 is a good summary.
“The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
You have anointed my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm chapter 23.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 