Today’s devotion comes from 1 Samuel 2:1-2.
“Then Hannah prayed and said,
“My heart exults in the LORD;
My horn is exalted in the LORD,
My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies,
Because I rejoice in Your salvation.
2 “There is no one holy like the LORD,
Indeed, there is no one besides You,
Nor is there any rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:1-2.
—————-
Do we “rejoice in Your salvation”? That is, do we rejoice in the salvation provided by the LORD?
Or, do we rejoice in our salvation which we earned by our works or by as little as our alleged free-will to be saved?
Reformed Doctrine accurately summarizes Scripture and teaches that salvation is a work of God alone, by grace alone, and that God handles all the points of salvation from beginning to end: from the beginning of “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” to the end of “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. (The “T” of “TULIP” represents “Total Depravity” of man). This true doctrine of salvation is more fully taught in the Reformed Confession called Canons of Dordt.
But, in sharp contrast, other doctrine glorifies man for man’s works, or at least, other doctrine glorifies man for man’s wisdom and man’s alleged free-will to choose Christ. Other doctrine teaches that God loves everybody, Christ died for everybody, and man is ultimately saved by producing enough works or enough will to distinguish himself worthy for salvation.
Rather than cling to God’s will, other doctrine clings to their own alleged free-will.
“Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!” Psalm 2:3.
But, what does Scripture state?
“4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” Psalm 2:4-6.
“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.
“And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.” John 6:65.
“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 He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” Romans 9:15-16.
Because Scripture pounds the table that only the chosen a/k/a the elect a/k/a the predestined receive salvation and eternal life and heaven, then why do so many preachers and teachers shun it or hide it or minimize it?
Some may pay some “lip service” to Reformed “doctrines of grace”. But, when you listen to their sermons and teachings, they focus on man and what man should do (often using words like “submit” and “allow God”), rather than focus on God, God’s sovereignty, and what God has done for man’s salvation. The sermons and teachings try to build up faith in man and man’s alleged free-will and man’s works, rather than build up faith in God, God’s will, and God’s works. They shun, hide, or minimize God’s predestination a/k/a election as if they were embarrassed by it or as if view it as an obstacle to growing a church.
Rather than shun God’s predestination also known as “Unconditional Election”, we should cling to it, joyfully preaching it and teaching it, recognizing that due to our natural condition of “Total Depravity”, “Unconditional Election” is our only chance for salvation.
The Canons of Dordt in the FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination states “election is the fountain of every saving good”.
Article 9. This election was not founded upon foreseen faith, and the obedience of faith, holiness, or any other good quality of disposition in man, as the pre-requisite, cause or condition on which it depended; but men are chosen to faith and to the obedience of faith, holiness, etc., therefore election is the fountain of every saving good; from which proceed faith, holiness, and the other gifts of salvation, and finally eternal life itself, as its fruits and effects, according to that of the apostle: “He hath chosen us (not because we were) but that we should be holy, and without blame, before him in love,” Ephesians 1:4.
“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.” Ephesians 1:3-6.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 