Today’s devotion comes from Ephesians 2:1-9.
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 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 2:1-9.
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“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins,” Verse 1.
If we are dead, then we cannot ask for help. We cannot wave for help. We cannot blink our eyes to somehow signal for help. We cannot even think that we need help. We are dead.
But, Scripture teaches us that our natural condition is not “just” that we are dead. We are hostile to God and in bondage to sin.
We are hostile to God. “And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds,” Colossians 1:21. “because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,” Romans 8:7.
“For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate.” Romans 7:14-15.
Our natural condition according to the flesh is one summarized by Reformed Doctrine as “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, as more fully taught in the Canons of Dordt.
“10 as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
13 “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
14 “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”;
15 “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”
18 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.” Romans 3:10-18.
But, there is hope!
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),” Verses 4-5.
In order for us to be saved, God provides all that we need for salvation from beginning to end.
God, the Father, chose certain people for salvation. Reformed Doctrine summarizes this point as “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”.
Christ, God the Son, died for all and only those certain people (a/k/a God’s elect) to “effectually redeem” them and “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” in the language of the Canons of Dordt. Reformed Doctrine summarizes this point as “Limited Atonement”, the “U” of “TULIP”.
The Holy Spirit, God the Spirit, performed a supernatural work of regeneration within God’s elect, making them spiritually alive, powerfully illumining their minds so that they may rightly understand the things of God, opening and softening their closed and hardened heart, infusing new good qualities into the will, and causes them to bring forth the fruits of good actions. This is a paraphrase of Canons of Dordt. Reformed Doctrine summarizes this point as “Irresistible Grace”, the “I” of “TULIP”.
“I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.” Ezekiel 36:27.
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.” Verse 16.
Although God’s elect still fall into sin, God preserves them to salvation. Reformed Doctrine summarizes this point as “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”.
Article 3. By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace, if left to their own strength. But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms, and powerfully preserves them herein, even to the end. Canons of Dordt in the section titled FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints.
No part of what is needed for salvation is provided by man. Man does not even provide faith. All are parts of God’s gift. Even faith is a gift of God. God provides all that we need for salvation from beginning to end. This is the only Gospel. This is the only “Good News”, for if man were required to provide any part needed for salvation on his own, he would be both unwilling and unable to do it.
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Verses 8-9.
“Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.” John 6:28-29.
“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-31.
“For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?” 1 Corinthians 4:7.
“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 