Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 6, 2020

“For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor. For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.”

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 2:11-21.

“But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.  For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles;  but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.  The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.  But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?

“We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles;  nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law;  since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.  But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin?  May it never be!  For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.  For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.  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.  I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”  Galatians 2:11-21.

——————-

“For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.”  Verse 19.

“For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.”  Romans 7:5.

“What shall we say then?  Is the Law sin?  May it never be!  On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law;  for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.”  But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind;  for apart from the Law sin is dead.  I was once alive apart from the Law;  but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”  Romans 7:7-11.

Some teach that the Law in today’s Scripture refers to only circumcision or the ceremonial law.  But, we clearly see the above Scripture refers to the Ten Commandments including “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.” 

The Canons of Dordt recognizes it in the following article in the section titled “THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof” by use of the term “decalogue” which refers to Ten Commandments.

Article 5.  In the same light are we to consider the law of the decalogue, delivered by God to his peculiar people the Jews, by the hands of Moses.  For though it discovers the greatness of sin, and more and more convinces man thereof, yet as it neither points out a remedy, nor imparts strength to extricate him from misery, and thus being weak through the flesh, leaves the transgressor under the curse, man cannot by this law obtain saving grace.

Yes, certainly the Ten Commandments are good.  “So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”  Romans 7:12.

But, as “holy and righteous and good” as the Ten Commandments are, the problem again is sin.  “But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind;  for apart from the Law sin is dead.  I was once alive apart from the Law;  but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”  Romans 7:8-11.

But, there is hope!

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.  For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.  But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:4-6.

“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.  I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”  Verses 20-21.

“But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba!  Father!”  Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son;  and if a son, then an heir through God.”  Galatians 4:4-7.

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”  Galatians 3:24-26.

“When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us;  and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”  Colossians 2:13-15.

“But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.  For He Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall,  by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.”  Ephesians 2:13-16.

But, some also teach that after conversion, we should subject ourselves to the Ten Commandments.

What does today’s Scripture state?

“For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.”  Verse 18.

“You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law;  you have fallen from grace.  For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.”  Galatians 5:4-5.

Consider the following Scripture, understanding that Mount Sinai represents the Ten Commandments, the place where Moses received the Ten Commandments and gave them to the people.

“Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?  For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman.  But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise.  This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants:  one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves;  she is Hagar.  Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children.  But the Jerusalem above is free;  she is our mother.  For it is written,

“REJOICE, BARREN WOMAN WHO DOES NOT BEAR;
BREAK FORTH AND SHOUT, YOU WHO ARE NOT IN LABOR;
FOR MORE NUMEROUS ARE THE CHILDREN OF THE DESOLATE
THAN OF THE ONE WHO HAS A HUSBAND.”

And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise.  But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also.  But what does the Scripture say?

“CAST OUT THE BONDWOMAN AND HER SON,
FOR THE SON OF THE BONDWOMAN SHALL NOT BE AN HEIR WITH THE SON OF THE FREE WOMAN.”

So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman.”  Galatians 4:21-31.

“For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse;  for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”  Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident;  for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”  However, the Law is not of faith;  on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.”  Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”  Galatians 3:10-14.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 5, 2020

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 2:6-10.

“But from those who were of high reputation (what they were makes no difference to me;  God shows no partiality)—well, those who were of reputation contributed nothing to me.  But on the contrary, seeing that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been to the circumcised (for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles), and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.  They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.”  Galatians 2:6-10.

——————–

It is a wonderful thing to recognize God’s work in others.

Paul recognized God’s work in Peter:  “(for He who effectually worked for Peter in his apostleship to the circumcised effectually worked for me also to the Gentiles)”  Verse 8.

And, James, Cephas (another name for Peter), and John recognized God’s work in Paul:  “and recognizing the grace that had been given to me, James and Cephas and John, who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we might go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.”  Verse 9.

But, it is also a wonderful thing to recognize God giving us the will to do His work.  Both Paul and the group of James and Cephas and John recognized that God had given each of them the will to care for the poor.  “They only asked us to remember the poor—the very thing I also was eager to do.”  Verse 10.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-6.

“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”  Ephesians 4:11-13.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 4, 2020

“But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.”

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 2:1-5.

“Then after an interval of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus along also.  It was because of a revelation that I went up;  and I submitted to them the gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but I did so in private to those who were of reputation, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.  But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.  But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.  But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.”  Galatians 2:1-5.

———————-

For Paul, who was “circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews;  as to the Law, a Pharisee;  as to zeal, a persecutor of the church;  as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.” (Philippians 3:5-6), it would have been easy for him to satisfy those who wanted to bring his group into the bondage of the Law.

“But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.”  Verse 5.  Paul refused to pervert the truth of the gospel, which is the freedom and liberty “which we have in Christ Jesus”.  Paul knew that the Galatians were watching him closely, and this was “the truth of the gospel”.

Paul later said to the Galatians:  “It was for freedom that Christ set us free;  therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.

Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.  And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.  You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law;  you have fallen from grace.  For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.”  Galatians 5:1-5.

Immediately following the list of his credentials to appear righteous according to the Law in the first paragraph above, Paul stated:  “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,”  Philippians 3:7-9.

“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.  For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.  But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

What shall we say then?  Is the Law sin?  May it never be!  On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law;  for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.”  But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind;  for apart from the Law sin is dead.”  Romans 7:4-8.

“For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.  For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.”  Galatians 2:18-19.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 3, 2020

“For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people?”

This is a special devotion based on the following Scripture.

“For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people?  Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?”

The LORD said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken;  for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.”  Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!”  And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you;  and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”  But He said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!”  Then the LORD said, “Behold, there is a place by Me, and you shall stand there on the rock;  and it will come about, while My glory is passing by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with My hand until I have passed by.  Then I will take My hand away and you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen.”  Exodus 33:16-23.

———————-

Article 7.  Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, he hath out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen, from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault, from their primitive state of rectitude, into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of Salvation.  …

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.  Canons of Dordt, FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination. 

Moses asked two questions which God answered by which we can learn how we can know that we are the elect, God’s chosen people.  Moses asked:  “For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people?  Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?”  Verse 16.

Although God did directly state that He favored Moses, He said more which helps us learn how we can know that we are the elect, God’s chosen people.

“And He (God) said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you;  and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”  Verse 19.

In other words, after God’s goodness to us (so to speak, after God’s goodness passes before us), God makes us understand by His Spirit that He was good to us and thereby makes us understand that we are His elect, His chosen people.

As God covered Moses with His hand, often we do not understand God’s goodness to us until it passes us by.  We see something approach, but it often may appear meaningless or it even may appear bad to us.  But, after it passes by, God reveals by His Spirit that it was a blessing to us and that He is continually faithful and good to us.

We can understand this point through “TULIP”, and we can also understand this point through our many daily life experiences.

Regarding the points of “TULIP”, although God the Father was certainly good to us before the foundation of the world when He unconditionally elected us, “Unconditional Election”, obviously we were not yet born to understand His goodness to us at that time.  When Christ, God the Son, died for us, “Limited Atonement”, we were also not yet born at that time to understand all the saving gifts that he purchased for us through His death.  We also were not aware at the time when the Holy Spirit, God the Spirit, pervaded our inmost recesses and softened our hardened heart and infused new qualities into our will and caused us rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit  (“Irresistible Grace”).  Finally, we have thought during times of our life that we were drifting away from God, but God preserved us (“Preservation of the Saints”).

Regarding our many daily life experiences, many times we also do not understand the benefit of what we experience at that time.  But, the Spirit later reveals to us how they were blessings to us and the Spirit also causes us to understand that God was continually faithful and good to us.

“9 but just as it is written,

“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.”

10 For to us God revealed them through the Spirit;  for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.”  1 Corinthians 2:9-10.

Thus, in summary, after we receive God’s goodness, the Spirit reveals to us that they were blessings to us, the Spirit causes us to understand that God was continually faithful and good to us, and the Spirit causes us to understand that we are the elect, God’s chosen people.

Now, why does God make us wait?  Why cannot we see from the beginning that the thing that approaches us is for our good?

“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope;  for who hopes for what he already sees?”  Romans 8:24.

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”  1 Peter 1:6-7.

There is also the danger that we would get proud and fat and lazy (rather than be humble and dependent on the Lord) if we could see from the beginning that the thing that approaches us is for our good.

“3 For I was envious of the arrogant
As I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no pains in their death,
And their body is fat.
5 They are not in trouble as other men,
Nor are they plagued like mankind.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
The garment of violence covers them.
7 Their eye bulges from fatness;
The imaginations of their heart run riot.
8 They mock and wickedly speak of oppression;
They speak from on high.
9 They have set their mouth against the heavens,
And their tongue parades through the earth.”  Psalm 73:3-9.

We may wonder and have to wait, but there is hope!

“16 When I pondered to understand this,
It was troublesome in my sight
17 Until I came into the sanctuary of God;
Then I perceived their end.
18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.”  Psalm 73:16-18.

“The secret of the LORD is for those who fear Him,
And He will make them know His covenant.”  Psalm 25:14.

Here is what the Canon of Dordt states in part about how we can learn that we are the elect, God’s chosen people, in the section titled FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination.

Article 12.  The elect in due time, though in various degrees and in different measures, attain the assurance of this their eternal and unchangeable election, not by inquisitively prying into the secret and deep things of God, but by observing in themselves with a spiritual joy and holy pleasure, the infallible fruits of election pointed out in the Word of God – such as a true faith in Christ, filial fear, a godly sorrow for sin, a hungering and thirsting after righteousness, etc.

Article 16.  Those who do not yet experience a lively faith in Christ, an assured confidence of soul, peace of conscience, an earnest endeavor after filial obedience, and glorying in God through Christ, efficaciously wrought in them, and do nevertheless persist in the use of the means which God hath appointed for working these graces in us, ought not to be alarmed at the mention of reprobation, nor to rank themselves among the reprobate, but diligently to persevere in the use of means, and with ardent desires, devoutly and humbly to wait for a season of richer grace.  Much less cause have they to be terrified by the doctrine of reprobation, who, though they seriously desire to be turned to God, to please him only, and to be delivered from the body of death, cannot yet reach that measure of holiness and faith to which they aspire;  since a merciful God has promised that he will not quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed.  But this doctrine is justly terrible to those, who, regardless of God and of the Savior Jesus Christ, have wholly given themselves up to the cares of the world, and the pleasures of the flesh, so long as they are not seriously converted to God.

God showed in His glory to Moses, and to us today, that He deserves all credit for our salvation.

Moses prayed:  “show me Your glory!”

We often so focus on speculating on the awesome physical sight of what Moses saw, namely the back of the LORD, that we neglect the glory of God’s statement:  “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”  Verse 19.

This statement is later repeated by Paul in his letter to the Romans where he comments on it.  “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.

This is Who God is.  This is the name of the LORD Which He proclaims.  This is how God describes Himself.  “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you;  and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”

But, many prefer to just describe God as a God of love, falsely teaching that God loves everybody, Christ died for everybody, and that man gets the credit and glory and reason to boast for distinguishing himself worthy of salvation by contributing his own works or at least his own alleged free-will choice of Christ.

But, what does Scripture state?

“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 1:30-31.

“So then it (our salvation) does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:16.

God gets all the credit and all the glory for our salvation.

While we wait, there is hope!

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”  Romans 8:13-14.

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba!  Father!”  The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.”  Romans 8:15-17.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | August 2, 2020

“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 1:18-24.

“Then three years later I went up to Jerusalem to become acquainted with Cephas (Peter), and stayed with him fifteen days.  But I did not see any other of the apostles except James, the Lord’s brother.  (Now in what I am writing to you, I assure you before God that I am not lying.)  Then I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.  I was still unknown by sight to the churches of Judea which were in Christ;  but only, they kept hearing, “He who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.”  And they were glorifying God because of me.”  Galatians 1:18-24.

—————–

At first, if we isolate and only meditate on the last verse, then it may sound like Paul was prideful when he said:  “And they were glorifying God because of me.”

But, after some good thought considering the context of that verse, we recognize Paul’s humility and that it was amazing that “He (Paul) who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith which he once tried to destroy.”

When others recognize that our good works had to be done by God working in us, God giving us the will to do those works and God working in us for His good pleasure, then they will glorify God.

“And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”  Mark 2:12.

“For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.  For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;”  2 Corinthians 4:5-7.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

Other doctrine likes to draw attention to man’s wisdom and man’s will, and worse yet, often the preacher likes to draw attention to his own wisdom and his own will.

But, Reformed Doctrine likes to draw attention to God giving us the will to do His will and God working in us for His good pleasure.  

“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”  John 3:21.

“Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”  Matthew 5:16.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 31, 2020

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” – “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 1:13-17.

“For you have heard of my former manner of life in Judaism, how I used to persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it;  and I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.  But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me;  but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.”  Galatians 1:13-17.

——————

For those who most highly esteem their will, they should consider how Paul used his will to “persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it”.

For those who most highly esteem their education, they should consider Paul “was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries among my countrymen, being more extremely zealous for my ancestral traditions.”  And yet, Paul used his education, position, and zeal to “persecute the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it”.

For those who most highly esteem collaboration (working with others), they should consider that Paul “did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me”.

In summary, for those who most highly esteem man and what man does, they should consider that Paul gave all credit for his work to God.  

“But when God, who had set me apart even from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went away to Arabia, and returned once more to Damascus.”  Verses 15-17.

“But the Lord said to him (Ananias), “Go, for he (Paul) is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel;”  Acts 9:15.

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain;  but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.”  1 Corinthians 15:10.

“All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.”  Acts 15:12.

But, there is hope for us too!

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 30, 2020

“To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.” – “But you, … do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 1:10-12.

“For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God?  Or am I striving to please men?  If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.

For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.  For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”  Galatians 1:10-12.

——————–

Yesterday, we meditated on the gospel of man compared to the gospel of God, so to speak.

Man prefers the gospel to be that God loves everyone, Christ died for everyone, and everyone has equal opportunity and power to be saved by their own free-will choice.  This is a gospel of man’s choice.

But, the true one and only gospel is that God chooses the people that He wants to save, and He provides all that is necessary for the salvation for His chosen ones.  This is the gospel of God’s choice.

This is also the only good news that God chose “out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will … from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault, from their primitive state of rectitude, into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of Salvation.  …”  The elect were “… by nature neither better nor more deserving than the others, but with them involved in one common misery  …”  Canons of Dordt, Article 7 of the section titled FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination.

“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.

“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.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-29.

In today’s Scripture, Paul recognizes that the gospel that he is preaching is not favored by man.  “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God?  Or am I striving to please men?  If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.”  Verse 10.

Likewise, today, we see most churches, including the biggest churches, preach a gospel of man’s choice.  They are “seeker-sensitive”, rather than “God-sensitive”.

“For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;  but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.”  2 Timothy 4:3.

But, as Reformed Doctrine preachers and teachers, we are not called by God to have the biggest churches;  we are called by God to faithfully preach the gospel of God’s choice.  “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”  2 Timothy 4:4.

“For I would have you know, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.  For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.”  Verses 11-12.

“Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted.”  Matthew 13:11.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 29, 2020

“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel”

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 1:6-9.

“I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;  which is really not another;  only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!  As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”  Galatians 1:6-9.

———————–

What is the gospel?  Or, what is the good news?

Is the gospel that God loves everyone, Christ died for everyone, and everyone has equal opportunity and power to be saved by their own alleged free-will to choose or reject Christ?

Or, is the gospel that God only loves His elect (His chosen people) and Christ died only for God’s elect providing all that God’s elect need for salvation?

Is it good news that salvation is determined by man’s choice, by man who is “dead in sin” according to Ephesians 2:1-5, by man who is not righteous, does not understand, does not seek God, and does not do good according to Romans 3:10-18?

Or, is it good news that salvation is determined by God’s choice, by God Who chooses the people that He wants to save, “objects of his mercy”, by God Who knows all that is necessary for salvation, and by God Who provides all that is necessary for salvation for His elect?

Nevertheless, many (if not most) prefer the gospel to be that God loves everyone, Christ died for everyone, and everyone has equal opportunity and power to be saved by their own free-will choice.

But, is the gospel determined by man’s preference or by God, the truth set forth in Scripture?

The gospel is determined by God, the truth set forth in Scripture.

“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.

“What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?  And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.”  Romans 9:22-24.

“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God;  the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

“The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”  Deuteronomy 7:6-8.

“And He brought forth His people with joy,
His chosen ones with a joyful shout.”  Psalm 105:43.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”  Luke 12:32.

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;  you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

Scripture emphasizes the importance of truth.

Jesus said both in Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7:  “‘BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’”

Jesus also stated in John 4:23-24:  “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth;  for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.  God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Not any kind of worship will suffice, but “worship in spirit and truth”.

“Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.  For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.  For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.”  Romans 10:1-3.

Not any kind of zeal will suffice, but zeal “in accordance with knowledge”, or in other words, in accordance with truth.

“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.”  2 Thessalonians 2:13.

Not any kind of faith will suffice, but “faith in the truth”.

There are those who “did not receive the love of truth so as to be saved”.  2 Thessalonians 2: 10.

Not any kind of love will suffice, but “the love of truth”.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”  Matthew 22:18.

Reformed Doctrine truly summarizes Scripture and teaches that salvation is a work of God alone, by grace alone, and that God handles all the points of salvation for His elect from “Unconditional Election” through “Limited Atonement” through “Irresistible Grace” through “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  This true doctrine of salvation is more fully taught in the Reformed Confession called Canons of Dordt.

“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.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 28, 2020

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age”

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 1:1-5.

“Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through the agency of man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me,

To the churches of Galatia:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forevermore.  Amen.”  Galatians 1:1-5.

——————

God does not rescue everyone.  God rescues His elect, His people.

God does not show grace to everyone.  God shows grace to His elect, His people.

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”  Matthew 22:18.

“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.

Consider the following from Canons of Dordt in the section titled FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination.

Article 7.  Election is the unchangeable purpose of God, whereby, before the foundation of the world, he hath out of mere grace, according to the sovereign good pleasure of his own will, chosen, from the whole human race, which had fallen through their own fault, from their primitive state of rectitude, into sin and destruction, a certain number of persons to redemption in Christ, whom he from eternity appointed the Mediator and Head of the elect, and the foundation of Salvation.

This elect number, though by nature neither better nor more deserving than the others, but with them involved in one common misery, God hath decreed to give to Christ, to be saved by him, and effectually to call and draw them to his communion by his Word and Spirit, to bestow upon them true faith, justification and sanctification;  and having powerfully preserved them in the fellowship of his Son, finally, to glorify them for the demonstration of his mercy, and for the praise of his glorious grace;  as it is written:  “According as he hath chosen us in him, before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy, and without blame before him in love;  having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved,”  Ephesians 1:4,5,6.  And elsewhere:  “Whom he did predestinate, them he also called;  and whom he called, them he also justified;  and whom he justified, them he also glorified,”  Romans 8:30.  

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.

“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God;  the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

“The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but because the Lord loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”  Deuteronomy 7:6-8.

“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.”  Luke 12:32.

“And He brought forth His people with joy,
His chosen ones with a joyful shout.”  Psalm 105:43.

“He brought me forth also into a broad place;
He rescued me, because He delighted in me.”  Psalm 18:19.

“8 “Commit yourself to the LORD;  let Him deliver him;
Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.”

9 Yet You are He who brought me forth from the womb;
You made me trust when upon my mother’s breasts.
10 Upon You I was cast from birth;
You have been my God from my mother’s womb.”  Psalm 22:8-10.

“3 “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob,
And all the remnant of the house of Israel,
You who have been borne by Me from birth
And have been carried from the womb;
4 Even to your old age I will be the same,
And even to your graying years I will bear you!
I have done it, and I will carry you;
And I will bear you and I will deliver you.”  Isaiah 46:3-4.

“68 “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel,
For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
69 And has raised up a horn of salvation for us
In the house of David His servant—
70 As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from of old—
71 Salvation FROM OUR ENEMIES,
And FROM THE HAND OF ALL WHO HATE US;
72 To show mercy toward our fathers,
And to remember His holy covenant,
73 The oath which He swore to Abraham our father,
74 To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies,
Might serve Him without fear,
75 In holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.”  Luke 1:68-75.

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom;  to Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”  2 Timothy 4:18.

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;  you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 27, 2020

“He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 13:11-14.

“Finally, brethren, rejoice, be made complete, be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace;  and the God of love and peace will be with you.  Greet one another with a holy kiss.  All the saints greet you.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.”  2 Corinthians 13:11-14.

——————

How could Paul change his tone so much and so quickly?

We remember what Paul said in the immediately preceding verse.  “For this reason I am writing these things while absent, so that when present I need not use severity, in accordance with the authority which the Lord gave me for building up and not for tearing down.”  2 Corinthians 13:10.

Paul had faith in the work of God in the Corinthians.  

For all of the elect and only the elect, those who did receive the grace of God and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, they would rejoice, they would be made complete, they would be comforted, they would be like-minded, and they would live in peace.

Paul concluded the letters to the Corinthians with this final encouraging point which is in sharp contrast with the final point heard in many  sermons that draw the focus back to man and what man should do.

Other doctrine does not trust the work of God because they believe that man has free-will to resist the grace of God.

But, Reformed Doctrine believes the Scriptures and the sovereignty of God.  They trust the work of God because they believe in the “Irresistible Grace” of God, the “I” of “TULIP” the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation as more fully taught in the Canons of Dordt.

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, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised, infuses new qualities into the will, which though heretofore dead, he quickens;  from being evil, disobedient and refractory, he renders it good, obedient, and pliable;  actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.  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.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6.

“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:4-9.

“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.

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