Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 18, 2020

“Love never fails; … But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 13:8-13.

“Love never fails;  but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away;  if there are tongues, they will cease;  if there is knowledge, it will be done away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part;  but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.  When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child;  when I became a man, I did away with childish things.  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face;  now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known.  But now faith, hope, love, abide these three;  but the greatest of these is love.”  1 Corinthians 13:8-13.

—————-

How is love greater than faith and hope?

There comes a time when we see and no longer need to hope and have faith.  

“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.

“Jesus *said to him (the disciple Thomas), “Because you have seen Me, have you believed?  Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”  John 20:29.

But, “Love never fails”, that is, God’s love never fails.

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:38-39.

The source of our faith, our hope, our love, and everything else that we need for salvation is God’s love for us.

“The LORD appeared to him from afar, saying,
“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”  Jeremiah 31:3.

“For those whom He foreknew (loved), He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30.

“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.

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8.

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”  1 John 4:10.

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:  …  

Article 9.  This purpose proceeding from everlasting love towards the elect, has from the beginning of the world to this day been powerfully accomplished, and will henceforward still continue to be accomplished, notwithstanding all the ineffectual opposition of the gates of hell, so that the elect in due time may be gathered together into one, and that there never may be wanting a church composed of believers, the foundation of which is laid in the blood of Christ, which may steadfastly love, and faithfully serve him as their Savior, who as a bridegroom for his bride, laid down his life for them upon the cross, and which may celebrate his praises here and through all eternity.  Canons of Dordt in the section titled SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.

“We love, because He first loved us.”  1 John 4:19.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 17, 2020

“Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 13:1-7.

“If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge;  and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous;  love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly;  it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;  bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”  1 Corinthians 13:1-7.

——————-

Love is often thought to be a temporary, one-time “showy” gesture like something done on Valentine’s Day.

But, today’s Scripture defines love as “bears all things” and “endures all things” that takes a lifetime to prove.

Today’s Scripture also defines love as more quiet and reserved:  “love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly;  it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth”.

Therefore, although there are many examples of love, I am going to give one example of love that is not often thought of an example of love, even though it is a very common and very important example of love that exhibits all these qualities of love.

Love is being good at your job, patiently and kindly serving your customers.

Love is being good at your job, not being jealous of your supervisor who got the promotion that you deserved.

Love is being good at your job without bragging, without being arrogant, and without otherwise acting unbecomingly.

Love is being good at your job looking out for the interests of your customers, not seeking your own interests on the job.

Love is being good at your job, finishing serving your customers when such service takes longer than expected and cuts into your time off.

Love is being good at your job, not being provoked by your customers, nor taking into account a wrong suffered, when they are demanding and selfish.

Love is being good at your job, not cutting corners, but rather continually learning how to do a better job, thereby not rejoicing in unrightneousness, but rather, rejoicing with the truth.

Love is being good at your job, whatever your job may be at work or at home, by bearing all things that the job requires, hoping and believing that God will bless you in your work, and enduring all things that come your way on the job.

But, there is hope!

“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.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23.

“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 | May 15, 2020

“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 12:27-31.

“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.  And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.  All are not apostles, are they?  All are not prophets, are they?  All are not teachers, are they?  All are not workers of miracles, are they?  All do not have gifts of healings, do they?  All do not speak with tongues, do they?  All do not interpret, do they?  But earnestly desire the greater gifts.

And I show you a still more excellent way.”  1 Corinthians 12:27-31.

—————

We all do not have the same spiritual gifts nor the same ministries.  We need each other.  

“All are not apostles, are they?  All are not prophets, are they?  All are not teachers, are they?  All are not workers of miracles, are they?”  Verse 29.

“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.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-7.

“If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?  If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?  But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”  1 Corinthians 12:17-18.

“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;  …  from whom (Christ) the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”  Ephesians 4:11-12 and 16.

We should help and encourage each other.

“6 Each one helps his neighbor
And says to his brother, “Be strong!”
7 So the craftsman encourages the smelter,
And he who smooths metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil,
Saying of the soldering, “It is good”;
And he fastens it with nails,
So that it will not totter.”  Isaiah 41:6-7.

“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:11.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 14, 2020

“God has so composed the body, … that the members may have the same care for one another.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 12:14-26.

“For the body is not one member, but many.  If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.  And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.  If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be?  If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be?  But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.  If they were all one member, where would the body be?  But now there are many members, but one body.  And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”;  or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.”  On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary;  and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, whereas our more presentable members have no need of it.  But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.  And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it;  if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.”  1 Corinthians 12:14-26.

——————

My mother had a gift to encourage others, and she loved encouraging others.

I may have needed constant encouragement, or in the language of today’s Scripture, I may have been “weaker”, “less honorable”, and “less presentable”, because my mother was always there for me to be a constant source of encouragement to me.  One of her favorite sayings of encouragement to me was:  “Cream always rises to the top.”

There are others who need less encouragement.  They may only need a “word of encouragement” which is a common and good expression to remember.  Sometimes, it only takes us to say “Hi!” and smile at them, and they light up like a Christmas tree and are “good to go” for the rest of the day.

And, those who may need more help in one area often need less help in another area.

So, let us be patient and kind and give to all what they need.

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;  bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone;  just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.  Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”  Colossians 3:12-14.

And, there is hope and help!

God is in control.

“But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”  Verse 18.

“…  But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.”  Verses 24-25.

In addition to the gift of encouragement, there are all types of different spiritual gifts given to the members of Christ’s body, the church, to care for another.

“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.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-7.

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”  Ephesians 4:7.

“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;  …  from whom (Christ) the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.”  Ephesians 4:11-12 and 16.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 13, 2020

“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 12:12-13.

“For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ.  For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.”  1 Corinthians 12:12-13.

————————–

“Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.”  1 Corinthians 12:27.

All of God’s blessings are in Christ, so what a privilege and joy it is for us to be members of Christ’s body!

‘… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;  but that she would be holy and blameless.  So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies.  He who loves his own wife loves himself;  for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.”  Ephesians 5:25-30.

“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.  For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female;  for you are all one in Christ Jesus.  And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”  Galatians 3:24-29.

“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.

“For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes;  therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.  Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and anointed us is God, who also sealed us and gave us the Spirit in our hearts as a pledge.”  2 Corinthians 1:20-22.

“And the testimony is this, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son.  He who has the Son has the life;  he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”  1 John 5:11-12.

“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 | May 12, 2020

“There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 12:1-11.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Corinthians+12&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“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.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.  For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-11.

——————

Other doctrine focuses on man and man’s work.

But, Reformed Doctrine focuses on God and God’s work.

“There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons”  Verse 6.

“But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”  Verse 11.

“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 fears, worries, and is anxious, because of its focus on man and man’s work.

But, Reformed Doctrine is peaceful, full of joy, and steadfast, because it trusts in God and God’s work.

“9 “Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure’;
11 Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken;  truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.”  Isaiah 46:9-11.

“Thus says the LORD, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the LORD.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

“19 The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.
20 Bless the LORD, you His angels,
Mighty in strength, who perform His word,
Obeying the voice of His word!
21 Bless the LORD, all you His hosts,
You who serve Him, doing His will.
22 Bless the LORD, all you works of His,
In all places of His dominion;
Bless the LORD, O my soul!”  Psalm 103:19-22.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 11, 2020

“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 11:27-34.

“Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.  But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.  For he who eats and drinks, eats and drinks judgment to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.  For this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.  But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.  But when we are judged, we are disciplined by the Lord so that we will not be condemned along with the world.

So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.  If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment.  The remaining matters I will arrange when I come.”  1 Corinthians 11:27-34.

—————–

“Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.”  Verse 27.

There are different ways in which we can do the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy way.  One way was a specific problem for the Corinthians as stated in 1 Corinthians 11:21  “for in your eating each one takes his own supper first;  and one is hungry and another is drunk.”.  It was repeated in today’s Scripture in verse 34:  “If anyone is hungry, let him eat at home, so that you will not come together for judgment.”

Today’s devotion focuses on another way in which we can do the Lord’s Supper in an unworthy way.  We can regard what was accomplished by the Lord’s death in an unworthy way as the following Scripture teaches.

“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.  Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?  For we know Him who said, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.”  And again, “THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.”  It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”  Hebrews 10:26-31.

I think this Scripture applies to those who steadfastly continue to hang on to false doctrine and insufficient belief of what was accomplished by the Lord’s death despite receiving knowledge of the truth.

They hang on to the false doctrine that Jesus died for everyone and they love to speak about the power in Christ’s blood.  But, they realize that their doctrine forces them to conclude that Christ’s blood (as they claim, shed for everyone) by itself did not save, “purchase”, or “redeem” anyone, because they admit that most people are not saved.  They claim that it is up to man to generate his own faith through his own free will in order to make Christ’s blood effective to save.  They claim that the only difference between the saved and the unsaved is not Christ’s blood, because everyone gets the blood, but rather the only difference is whether or not a certain individual will generate his own faith through his own free will to make the blood effective. According to this false doctrine and insufficient belief of what was accomplished by the Lord’s death, man’s faith, not Christ’s blood, is the determining factor as to whether or not one will be saved.

Because they talk about the blood of Christ all the time, it is true that in a sense they are trampling it, not in the sense of being hateful to it but in the sense of treating it as common and ineffective by itself, like the description in Matthew 5:13:  “…  if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again?  It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”

This Hebrews 10:26-31 Scripture does not apply to the person who steadfastly rejects Christ.  That person did not receive the knowledge of truth as stated in Hebrews 10:26.  That person is not sanctified, so to speak, as is stated in Hebrews 10:29.  That person does not talk about the blood of Christ.

Rather, this Hebrews 10:26-31 Scripture speaks about those received or were exposed to knowledge of the truth and were sanctified so to speak but nevertheless denied the power of the blood and insulted the Spirit of grace.  This Scripture applies to those who love to talk about Christ’s blood all the time, but who really treat Christ’s blood as ineffective by itself, that it does not actually “save”, “purchase”, nor “redeem” anyone, because they teach that most people are not saved and that it is up to man to generate his own faith through his own free will in order to make Christ’s blood effective to save.

Likewise, they can be compared to the one who insults the Spirit of Grace as is mentioned above in Hebrews 10:29.  Think of a situation in which your father took you out to a very expensive dinner and even left the tip in addition.  However, you did not think that the tip was sufficient so you add your $5 to the tip.  Wouldn’t your father be insulted that you thought that what he did was not enough?  Likewise, they insult God by their doctrine that believes that the blood of Christ is not enough, they feel that they must add their own tip of faith.

They waiver in unbelief and live in fear, uncertain if they can generate enough faith on their own and keep enough faith on their own.  They are not confident of what the blood of Jesus accomplished.

But, there is hope!

Reformed Doctrine proclaims what was accomplished by the Lord’s death.

Consider what the Canons of Dordt states was accomplished by the Lord’s death:  “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” and “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”.  Article 8 of SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.

“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”  Hebrews 10:19-22.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 10, 2020

“proclaim the Lord’s death”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

“For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread;  and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you;  do this in remembrance of Me.”  In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood;  do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”  For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”  1 Corinthians 11:23-26.

—————-

When we do the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner, we do more than only properly eat the bread and drink the cup, so that we avoid the Corinthians’ behavior (“for in your eating each one takes his own supper first; and one is hungry and another is drunk.”  1 Corinthians 11:21).

When we do the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner, we do more than examine ourselves.  (“Therefore whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner, shall be guilty of the body and the blood of the Lord.  But a man must examine himself, and in so doing he is to eat of the bread and drink of the cup.”  1 Corinthians 11:27-28).

When we do the Lord’s Supper in a worthy manner. we “proclaim the Lord’s death”, that is, we proclaim what was accomplished by the Lord’s death.  We fully honor the Lord’s sacrifice.

Other doctrine preaches that God loves everybody and that Christ died for everybody.  But, they maintain that Lord’s death itself did not save anyone, because they admit that most people are not saved.  They claim that it is up to man to generate his own faith through his own alleged free will in order to make Christ’s blood effective to save him.

They teach that Christ’s blood is only an offer to save.  They claim that the only difference between the saved and the unsaved is not Christ’s blood, because everyone gets the blood (everyone gets the offer), but rather the only difference is whether or not a certain individual will accept the offer and generate his own faith through his own free will to make the blood effective to save himself.  According to their logic and teaching, man’s acceptance and man’s faith, not Christ’s blood, is the determining factor as to whether or not one will be saved.  Thereby, man gets most of the glory or at least some of the glory.

But, Reformed Doctrine preaches that God loves only His elect, and that Christ died only for God’s elect.  The Lord’s death procured all the saving benefits that God’s elect need for salvation, including the gift of faith.  Christ’s blood is the determining factor as to whether or not one will be saved.  Thereby, God gets all the glory.

Reformed Doctrine proclaims what was accomplished by the Lord’s death.

Consider what the Canons of Dordt states was accomplished by the Lord’s death:  “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”.  This is “the Lord’s death” a/k/a “the word of the cross” a/k/a “Christ crucified”.

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.  SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.  

Consider these words highlighted above of “redeem” and “purchased”.  When a man redeems or purchases something, he gets only what he  redeemed or purchased.  He does not get everything in the store.  If Christ shed his blood for everyone, then everyone would be redeemed or purchased for salvation.  But, Scripture teaches us that not everyone is saved.  Not everyone is redeemed.  Not everyone is purchased.  Only God’s elect are redeemed and purchased for salvation.  Christ shed his blood only for God’s elect.  But, for all of God’s elect and only for God’s elect, the Lord’s death accomplished all that they need for salvation.

Reformed Doctrine rejoices and proclaims all that the Lord’s death accomplished for God’s elect.  

“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 we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:23-24.

“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.  For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.  I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 2:1-5.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 8, 2020

“For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 11:17-22.

“But in giving this instruction, I do not praise you, because you come together not for the better but for the worse.  For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you;  and in part I believe it.  For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.  Therefore when you meet together, it is not to eat the Lord’s Supper, for in your eating each one takes his own supper first;  and one is hungry and another is drunk.  What!  Do you not have houses in which to eat and drink?  Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing?  What shall I say to you?  Shall I praise you?  In this I will not praise you.”  1 Corinthians 11:17-22.

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In our churches when we partake of the Lord’s Supper, we do not have the specific problem:  “for in your eating each one takes his own supper first;  and one is hungry and another is drunk.”  Verse 21.

But, in our churches, we do have the general problem of divisions and factions.

Most importantly, as Reformed Doctrine teaches, God is in control, and His sovereignty rules over all.

“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.”  Psalm 103:19.

God will save all of His elect, including preserving them through the existence of divisions and factions that are in the churches.  They are the “approved” in the the following Scripture.

“For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.”  Verse 19.

“But HE WHO BOASTS IS TO BOAST IN THE LORD.  For it is not he who commends himself that is approved, but he whom the Lord commends.”  2 Corinthians 10:17-18.

“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.

These elect (“approved” who are “evident among you”) are also called “lights in the world” who appear in the midst of a “crooked and perverse generation” in the following Scripture.

“Do all things without grumbling or disputing;  so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,”  Philippians 2:14-15.

In summary, we see throughout Scripture God sharply contrasting those whom He approved a/k/a His elect a/k/a His lights in the world from those who create and love factions a/k/a vessels of wrath a/k/a crooked and perverse generation so that He would highlight the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy.

“Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:19-21.

“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.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 7, 2020

“whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Corinthians 11:1-15.

“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Now I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold firmly to the traditions, just as I delivered them to you.  But I want you to understand that Christ is the head of every man, and the man is the head of a woman, and God is the head of Christ.  Every man who has something on his head while praying or prophesying disgraces his head.  But every woman who has her head uncovered while praying or prophesying disgraces her head, for she is one and the same as the woman whose head is shaved.  For if a woman does not cover her head, let her also have her hair cut off;  but if it is disgraceful for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, let her cover her head.  For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God;  but the woman is the glory of man.  For man does not originate from woman, but woman from man;  for indeed man was not created for the woman’s sake, but woman for the man’s sake.  Therefore the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels.  However, in the Lord, neither is woman independent of man, nor is man independent of woman.  For as the woman originates from the man, so also the man has his birth through the woman;  and all things originate from God.  Judge for yourselves:  is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?  Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her?  For her hair is given to her for a covering.  But if one is inclined to be contentious, we have no other practice, nor have the churches of God.”  1 Corinthians 11:1-15.

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“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”  Verse 1.

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;”  Philippians 2:3.

“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”  Philippians 2:5-8.

Considering what Christ did for us, even if we do not completely understand or agree to this Scripture, is it too difficult for a man to get a haircut and to not wear a hat in church in order to be obedient to this Scripture?

Considering what Christ did for us, even if we do not completely understand or agree to this Scripture, is it too difficult for a woman to have long hair or to place a hat, bow, or pin on her head as a covering in church in order to be obedient to this Scripture?

“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;  just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.”  1 Corinthians 10:31-33.

“Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts;  and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.”  1 Corinthians 4:5.

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