Today, January 12, rather than prepare an entirely new devotion based on the next Scripture, I have decided to make extensive additions and changes to yesterday’s January 11, 2024 devotion. The importance of a true understanding of faith deserves this pause over this topic. God willing, the next devotion will be Sunday, January 14.
Today’s devotion comes from Joshua 13:1-7. Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Joshua%2013&version=NASB1995
I quote only the following verses.
“Now Joshua was old and advanced in years when the LORD said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and very much of the land remains to be possessed. … I will drive them out from before the sons of Israel; only allot it to Israel for an inheritance as I have commanded you. Now therefore, apportion this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh.” Joshua 13:1 and 6-7.
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Think of how difficult it would be for you to give a house that was occupied by a hostile tenant to one of your children. And yet, that is a comparison was what Joshua was called to do.
Although the LORD promised to drive Israel’s enemies out from these lands, and there was already great progress as we read in previous chapters, verse 1 stated that “very much of the land remains to be possessed” by Israel.
It is not difficult to believe “pie in the sky” promises and dream about them being completely fulfilled sometime in the future so long as we are not required to take action before they are completely fulfilled. But, it is much more difficult to take action upon such a promise now when we can still see our enemies in front of us.
So to speak, the LORD required more from Joshua than “only” the faith that other doctrine provides through the wisdom and will of man.
The LORD commanded Joshua to act on the basis of the faith that the LORD gave Joshua. The LORD commanded Joshua to allot and apportion the land even though the land was full of Israel’s enemies who hated Israel and were eager to go to war against them and kill them.
But, there is hope!
Reformed Doctrine teaches that faith comes to us as a gift of God. And that God-given faith produces good works.
“And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.” Hebrews 11:32-34.
“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. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” Ephesians 2:8-10.
The Reformed confessions clearly and consistently teach that faith is a gift of God.
Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.
Article 14. Faith is therefore to be considered as the gift of God, not on account of its being offered by God to man, to be accepted or rejected at his pleasure; but because it is in reality conferred, breathed, and infused into him; or even because God bestows the power or ability to believe, and then expects that man should by the exercise of his own free will, consent to the terms of that salvation, and actually believe in Christ; but because he who works in man both to will and to do, and indeed all things in all, produces both the will to believe, and the act of believing also.
Consider the following from the Heidelberg Catechism.
“Q. 21. What is true faith?
A. True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in His Word, but also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost works by the gospel in my heart; that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sin, everlasting righteousness, and salvation are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits.
Consider the following from the Belgic Confession.
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. … 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.
“… To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.” 2 Peter 1:1-3.
“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,” Ephesians 1:3.
“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.
That faith is a justifying faith that Christ purchased for all His elect and only His elect through His death on the cross.
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; …”
Moreover, this is a faith which produces good works.
Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.
Article 11. But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God; but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man; he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, … that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.
In summary, Christ is fully our Savior Who gave us all that we need for salvation, including justifying faith and Who made us zealous for good deeds, “who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” Titus 2:14.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 