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.

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

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: ,

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.

Comments Off on “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.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , ,

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.

Comments Off on “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.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , ,

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.

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

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , , ,

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.

Comments Off on “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”

Posted in Uncategorized

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.

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

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: ,

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 26, 2020

“Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 13:5-10.

“Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith;  examine yourselves!  Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?  But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.  Now we pray to God that you do no wrong;  not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved.  For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.  For we rejoice when we ourselves are weak but you are strong;  this we also pray for, that you be made complete.  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 13:5-10.

—————-

Paul’s life was so invested and so intertwined in the lives of the Corinthians that he seemed to have difficulty talking about them without talking about himself.  He flipped back and forth from talking about them to talking about himself.

Paul starts out asking the Corinthians to examine themselves, but he immediately follows it up with:  “But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.”

Paul prays that the Corinthians do no wrong, but he immediately follows it up with:  “not that we ourselves may appear approved”, and he then flips back to them:  “but that you may do what is right”, and then he flips back to himself:  “even though we may appear unapproved.”

This flipping back and forth seems awkward, but it is a demonstration of the love and the unity that Paul had with the Corinthians.  It is a lesson for us to follow.

“Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”  Colossians 3:14.

“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 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.

“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.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body;  and be thankful.”  Colossians 3:12-15.

Comments Off on “Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , ,

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 24, 2020

“we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 13:1-4.

“This is the third time I am coming to you.  EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES.  I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that if I come again I will not spare anyone, since you are seeking for proof of the Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but mighty in you.  For indeed He was crucified because of weakness, yet He lives because of the power of God.  For we also are weak in Him, yet we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.”  2 Corinthians 13:1-4.

———————

In our prior devotion, we covered the point that restoration should be done with gentleness.  But, that does not mean that there is no or little power in the gentle restoration.  The gentle restoration is “divinely powerful” and effective to accomplish its purpose.

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.  We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”  2 Corinthians 10:3-11.

This is “Irresistible Grace”, the “I” of “TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation as taught in the Canons of Dordt.  “Irresistible Grace” is “evidently a supernatural work, most powerful, and at the same time most delightful, astonishing, mysterious, and ineffable”.

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.

Article 12.  And this is the regeneration so highly celebrated in Scripture, and denominated a new creation:  a resurrection from the dead, a making alive, which God works in us without our aid.  But this is in no wise effected merely by the external preaching of the gospel, by moral suasion, or such a mode of operation, that after God has performed his part, it still remains in the power of man to be regenerated or not, to be converted, or to continue unconverted;  but it is evidently a supernatural work, most powerful, and at the same time most delightful, astonishing, mysterious, and ineffable;  not inferior in efficacy to creation, or the resurrection from the dead, as the Scripture inspired by the author of this work declares;  so that all in whose heart God works in this marvelous manner, are certainly, infallibly, and effectually regenerated, and do actually believe. – Whereupon the will thus renewed, is not only actuated and influenced by God, but in consequence of this influence, becomes itself active.  Wherefore also, man is himself rightly said to believe and repent, by virtue of that grace received.  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 You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.”  Psalm 5:4.

“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:48.

But, there is hope!

“How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You
To dwell in Your courts.
We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
Your holy temple.”  Psalm 65:4.

“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.

“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely;  and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.

“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.

Comments Off on “we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: , , ,

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 23, 2020

“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 12:19-21.

“All this time you have been thinking that we are defending ourselves to you.  Actually, it is in the sight of God that we have been speaking in Christ;  and all for your upbuilding, beloved.  For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish;  that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances;  I am afraid that when I come again my God may humiliate me before you, and I may mourn over many of those who have sinned in the past and not repented of the impurity, immorality and sensuality which they have practiced.”  2 Corinthians 12:19-21.

——————–

It does appear that Paul was defending his apostleship to the Corinthians in the last two chapters, but the length, twists, sarcasm, and other strangeness of it begged the question that Paul answers in today’s Scripture.

What was Paul trying to accomplish?

Paul was trying to be gentle in restoring the Corinthians.

Think of how common it is for us to stumble and “beat around the bush” when we have some difficult criticism to say to a loved one!   

“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness;  each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.”   Galatians 6:1.

“What do you desire?  Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness?”  1 Corinthians 4:21.

“For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness— nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority.  But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.”  1 Thessalonians 2:5-7.

“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Ephesians 4:1-3.

“Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.  The Lord is near.”  Philippians 4:5.

“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.

“So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”  Romans 14:19.

Comments Off on “Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags:

Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 22, 2020

“from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 12:11-18.

“I have become foolish;  you yourselves compelled me.  Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.  The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with all perseverance, by signs and wonders and miracles.  For in what respect were you treated as inferior to the rest of the churches, except that I myself did not become a burden to you?  Forgive me this wrong!

Here for this third time I am ready to come to you, and I will not be a burden to you;  for I do not seek what is yours, but you;  for children are not responsible to save up for their parents, but parents for their children.  I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls.  If I love you more, am I to be loved less?  But be that as it may, I did not burden you myself;  nevertheless, crafty fellow that I am, I took you in by deceit.  Certainly I have not taken advantage of you through any of those whom I have sent to you, have I?  I urged Titus to go, and I sent the brother with him.  Titus did not take any advantage of you, did he?  Did we not conduct ourselves in the same spirit and walk in the same steps?”  2 Corinthians 12:11-18.

————

Paul could have exercised his right.

“So also the Lord directed those who proclaim the gospel to get their living from the gospel.”  1 Corinthians 9:14.

“The elders who rule well are to be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.  For the Scripture says, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING,” and “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”  1 Timothy 5:17.

But, Paul did not want to be a financial burden to the church in Corinth.  How often does he make that point in today’s Scripture and elsewhere!

We should not ignore that point, particularly because Scripture repeatedly warns us that there are many false prophets in the world.

We should also not ignore that point, particularly because Scripture warns us about the character of some men in the last days who do try to take advantage of their position in different ways as a minister.

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.  For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,  unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;  Avoid such men as these.  For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  2 Timothy 3:1-7.

There are some ministers who try to captivate their congregations into only paying attention to the minister’s own charm and teaching, rather than also encouraging their congregation to study Scriptures on their own.  They never seem to take delight in what the congregation knows.  They never seem to delight in the congregation coming to the knowledge of the truth.  They only want their congregation to be in awe of them, to sit silently in the pews, and to fill the collection plate.

“But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”  2 Timothy 3:13.

But, there is hope!

“Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.  But they will not make further progress;  for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.”  2 Timothy 3:8-9.

If we do not know the Scriptures, and if we only trust our minister, then we will be more susceptible of being taken advantage.

“You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:14-17.

“But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
And in His law he meditates day and night.”  Psalm 1:2.

“104 From Your precepts I get understanding;
Therefore I hate every false way.

105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.”  Psalm 119:104-105.

Comments Off on “from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.”

Posted in Uncategorized | Tags: ,

« Newer Posts - Older Posts »

Categories