Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 5:11-15.

“Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God;  and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.  We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.  For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God;  if we are of sound mind, it is for you.  For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;  and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”  2 Corinthians 5:11-15.

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“I have been crucified with Christ;  and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”  Galatians 2:20.

“For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;  for he who has died is freed from sin.”  Romans 6:5-7.

Today’s key verse reminds us of how much was accomplished by Christ on the cross.  “and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”  Verse 15.

Consider the following from the Heidelberg Catechism.

Q. 43.  What further benefit do we receive from the sacrifice and death of Christ on the cross?

A.  That by virtue thereof our old man is crucified, dead, and buried with Him;  that so the corrupt inclinations of the flesh may no more reign in us;  but that we may offer ourselves unto Him a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled “SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby”.

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.

“Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Galatians 5:23.

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:18.

“But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”  Galatians 6:14.