Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 23, 2019

Christ will execute judgment and cause “those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”

Today’s devotion comes from John 5:25-29.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.  For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;  and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.  Do not marvel at this;  for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth;  those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”  John 5:25-29.

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Christ is called both “the Son of God” and “the Son of Man”.

Christ has authority given to Him from God the Father to execute judgment.  Christ will execute judgment and cause “those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.”

Article 37:  Of the Last Judgment.

Finally we believe, according to the Word of God, when the time appointed by the Lord (which is unknown to all creatures) is come, and the number of the elect complete, that our Lord Jesus Christ will come from heaven, corporally and visibly, as he ascended, with great glory and majesty to declare himself judge of the quick and the dead;  burning this old world with fire and flame, to cleanse it.  And then all men will personally appear before this great judge, both men and women and children, that have been from the beginning of the world to the end thereof, being summoned by the voice of the archangel, and by the sound of the trumpet of God.  For all the dead shall be raised out of the earth, and their souls joined and united with their proper bodies, in which they formerly lived.  As for those who shall then be living, they shall not die as the others, but be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and from corruptible, become incorruptible.  Then the books (that is to say the consciences) shall be opened, and the dead judged according to what they shall have done in this world, whether it be good or evil.  Nay, all men shall give an account of every idle word they have spoken, which the world only counts amusement and jest:  and then the secrets and hypocrisy of men shall be disclosed and laid open before all.  And therefore the consideration of this judgment, is justly terrible and dreadful to the wicked and ungodly, but most desirable and comfortable to the righteous and elect: because then their full deliverance shall be perfected, and there they shall receive the fruits of their labor and trouble which they have borne.  Their innocence shall be known to all, and they shall see the terrible vengeance which God shall execute on the wicked, who most cruelly persecuted, oppressed and tormented them in this world;  and who shall be convicted by the testimony of their own consciences, and being immortal, shall be tormented in that everlasting fire, which is prepared for the devil and his angels.  But on the contrary, the faithful and elect shall be crowned with glory and honor;  and the Son of God will confess their names before God his Father, and his elect angels;  all tears shall be wiped from their eyes;  and their cause which is now condemned by many judges and magistrates, as heretical and impious, will then be known to be the cause of the Son of God.  And for a gracious reward, the Lord will cause them to possess such a glory, as never entered into the heart of man to conceive.  Therefore we expect that great day with a most ardent desire to the end that we may fully enjoy the promises of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.  AMEN.  

“Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” – Revelation. 22:20.  Belgic Confession.

Q. 52.  What comfort is it to thee that “Christ shall come again to judge the quick and the dead”?

A.  That in all my sorrows and persecutions, with uplifted head I look for the very same person who before offered Himself for my sake to the tribunal of God, and has removed all curse from me, to come as judge from heaven;  who shall cast all His and my enemies into everlasting condemnation, but shall translate me with all His chosen ones to Himself, into heavenly joys and glory.  Heidelberg Catechism.

“The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness, and will throw them into the furnace of fire;  in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.  Then THE RIGHTEOUS WILL SHINE FORTH AS THE SUN in the kingdom of their Father.  He who has ears, let him hear.”  Matthew 13:41-43.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 22, 2019

“He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.”

Today’s devotion comes from John 5:19-24.

“For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing;  and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.  For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.  For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son, so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father.  He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” John 5:20-24.

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“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  He who believes in Him is not judged;  he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”  John 3:17-18.

“For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day.”  John 6:40.

“The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.  He who believes in the Son has eternal life;  but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”  John 3:35-36.

“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.

“but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God;  and that believing you may have life in His name.”  John 20:31.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 21, 2019

“My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.” – “He who keeps you will not slumber.” – “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life”

Today’s devotion comes from John 5:10-19.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+5&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.  But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”

For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.

Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing;  for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.”  John 5:16-19.

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We remember from the immediately preceding Scripture that Jesus healed the lame man on the Sabbath.   “Jesus *said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.”  John 5:8.

And, we remember from previous Scripture the justification that Jesus gave at another of His miracles on the Sabbath.

“But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.  But if you had known what this means, ‘I DESIRE COMPASSION, AND NOT A SACRIFICE,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.

For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Departing from there, He went into their synagogue.  And a man was there whose hand was withered.  And they questioned Jesus, asking, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?”—so that they might accuse Him.  And He said to them, “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out?  How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep!  So then, it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”  Matthew 12:6-12.

With that introduction, we move to the focus of today’s devotion.  “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”  God the Father does not take Sundays off.  God does not take any day off.  

“2 My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.”  Psalm 121:2-4.

“God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.”  Psalm 46:1.

“Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, …”  Psalm 23:6.

Nor does Jesus, God the Son, take Sundays off.  Jesus does not take any day off.

“Therefore He (Jesus) is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him (Jesus), since He (Jesus) always lives to make intercession for them.”  Hebrews 7:25.

Nor does the Holy Spirit, God the Spirit, take Sundays off.  The Holy Spirit does not take any day off.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;  that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”  John 14:16-17.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 20, 2019

“the works of Christ” – “So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing; and they glorified the God of Israel.”

Today’s devotion comes from John 5:1-9.

“After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes.  In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered,  [waiting  waiting for the moving of the waters;  for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water;  whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.]  A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He *said to him, “Do you wish to get well?”  The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”  Jesus *said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.”  Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.

Now it was the Sabbath on that day.”  John 5:1-9.

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“Now when John, while imprisoned, heard of the works of Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to Him, “Are You the Expected One, or shall we look for someone else?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see:  the blind receive sight and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM.  And blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.”  Matthew 11:2:6.

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the LORD has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
2 To proclaim the favorable year of the LORD
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
3 To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”  Isaiah 61:1-3.

“And large crowds came to Him, bringing with them those who were lame, crippled, blind, mute, and many others, and they laid them down at His feet;  and He healed them.  So the crowd marveled as they saw the mute speaking, the crippled restored, and the lame walking, and the blind seeing;  and they glorified the God of Israel.”  Matthew 15:30-31.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 19, 2019

“The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.” – “Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”

Today’s devotion comes from John 4:46-54.

“Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine.  And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum.  When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son;  for he was at the point of death.  So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”  The royal official *said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”  Jesus *said to him, “Go;  your son lives.”  The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.  As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living.  So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better.  Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”  So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”;  and he himself believed and his whole household.  This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee.”  John 4:46-54.

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The royal official did not need to see a sign from Jesus.  The royal official believed Jesus at His word ““Go;  your son lives.”, and he started off.

We should be like the royal official and believe God’s Word without the need to see a sign or wonder.

We should not be like “Doubting Thomas”.  “So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!”  But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”  John 20:25.

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

“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.

“yet, with respect to the promise of God, he (Abraham) did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,  and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.  THEREFORE IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”  Romans 4:20-22.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 17, 2019

“My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”

Today’s devotion comes from John 4:31-38.

“Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”  But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”  So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?”  Jesus *said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.  Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest’?  Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.  Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal;  so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.  For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’  I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored;  others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”  John 4:31-38.

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These words of Christ, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.”, inspire us by His Spirit within us that we will also have that attitude.

Christ also taught us:  “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”  John 6:27.

We may feel inadequate, but we notice in the above Scripture that God gives us this food that endures to eternal life.

“Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it is not Moses who has given you the bread out of heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread out of heaven.  For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.”  John 6:32-33.

“Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:28-29.

“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 | May 16, 2019

“What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.”

Today’s devotion comes from John 4:27-30 and John 4:39-42.

“At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why do You speak with her?”  So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and *said to the men, “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done;  this is not the Christ, is it?”  They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.

…

“From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.”  So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them;  and He stayed there two days.  Many more believed because of His word;  and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”  John 4:27-30 and John 4:39-42.

—————-

Like the Samaritan woman, we may not receive full credit and honor for our testimony and for our work (our sowing, so to speak).

“For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’”  John 4:37.

But, we can rejoice together with those who reap that God’s kingdom is growing.

“…  so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.”  John 4:36.

And, as stated in the following Scripture, each (“he who plants and he who waters”) “will receive his own reward according to his own labor.”

Most importantly, God gives opportunity to each one, and God causes the growth.  God should receive the full credit and honor.

“What then is Apollos?  And what is Paul?  Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one.  I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.  So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.  Now he who plants and he who waters are one;  but each will receive his own reward according to his own labor.  For we are God’s fellow workers;  you are God’s field, God’s building.”  1 Corinthians 3:5-9.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 15, 2019

“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Today’s devotion comes from John 4:15-26.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“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.”  The woman *said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ);  when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.”  Jesus *said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”  John 4:15-26.

————–

Today’s devotion presents Scriptures that help us meditate on the importance of worshiping God in spirit and truth and how we worship God in spirit and truth.

First, we meditate on the spirit:  the importance of worshiping God in spirit and how we worship God in spirit.

“However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you.  But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him.”  Romans 8:9.

“For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God;  for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  Romans 8:5-7.

“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  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!”  Romans 8:14-15.

“Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;  for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,  although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:  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.

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 3:2-9.

“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 2:20-21.

Second, we meditate on the truth:  the importance of worshiping God in truth and how we worship God in truth.

“Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life;  no one comes to the Father but through Me.”  John 14:6.

“For the Law was given through Moses;  grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”  John 1:17.

“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 Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-4 and 7-8.

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption,”  1 Corinthians 1:30.

“For in Him (Christ) all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;”  Colossians 2:9-10.

Consider these severe warnings.

Q. 30.  Do such then believe in Jesus the only Savior, who seek their salvation and welfare of saints, of themselves, or anywhere else?

A.  They do not;  for though they boast of Him in words, yet in deeds they deny Jesus the only deliverer and Savior;  for one of these two things must be true, either that Jesus is not a complete Savior, or that they who by a true faith receive this Savior must find all things in Him necessary to their salvation.  Heidelberg Catechism.

“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.

“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.

Due to these severe warnings, we better know the truth.  We better know what is this true gospel of Christ.

Yet, it is astonishing how few churches know and present what the true gospel of Christ is.

Most churches present the gospel as good news that salvation is dependent on man’s free-will choice, that is, God loves everyone, Christ died for everyone, and it is up to man to use his free-will to either accept or reject Christ.

But, Reformed Doctrine understands that it is not the gospel, and it is not good news, for salvation to be dependent on man’s free-will choice.

“10 as it is written,

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”  Romans 3:10-12.

“… you were dead in your trespasses and sins,” Ephesians 2:1.

Reformed Doctrine presents the gospel as good news that salvation is entirely dependent on the work of God, that is, God only loves His elect, Christ died only for God’s elect, and Christ through His sacrificial death, purchased and obtained all the saving gifts (including faith) that is necessary for the salvation of God’s elect.

“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.

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 of Canons of Dordt.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation …”  Romans 1:16.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 14, 2019

“the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

Today’s devotion comes from John 4:1-14.  Here is a link to this Scripture –  https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+4&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“There *came a woman of Samaria to draw water.  Jesus *said to her, “Give Me a drink.”  For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.  Therefore the Samaritan woman *said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?”  (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)  Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”  She *said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep;  where then do You get that living water?  You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?”  Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;  but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst;  but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”  John 4:7-14.

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What is that “water” that Jesus gives that will become “a well of water springing up to eternal life”?

Is that water simply reference to the Holy Spirit?

If so, why is there both the need to be born both “of water and the Spirit” in order to be born again such as in the following verse?  “Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”  John 3:5.

Is that water a reference to the water used to baptize believers such as in the following verse?  “Surely no one can refuse the water for these to be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we did, can he?”  Acts 10:47.

Does the action of water in a spring describe the springing action of the Holy Spirit such as in the following verse?  “…  the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”  Verse 14.

Does the action of water in cleansing describe the cleansing action of the Holy Spirit such as in the following Scriptures?  

“… 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.”  Ephesians 5:25-27.

“Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean;  I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.  Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;  and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.  I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances.”  Ezekiel 36:25-27.

Does the action of water in quenching thirst describe the quenching action of spiritual thirst of the Holy Spirit such as in the following verses?  “Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;  but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst;  …”  Verses 13-14.

Here are more Scriptures.

“3 ‘For I will pour out water on the thirsty land
And streams on the dry ground;
I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring
And My blessing on your descendants;
4 And they will spring up among the grass
Like poplars by streams of water.’”  Isaiah 44:3-4.

“I (John the Baptist) baptized you with water;  but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  Mark 1:8.

“Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him;  and a voice came out of the heavens:  “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”  Mark 1:10-11.

“Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”  Verse 10.

“But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.”  John 19:34.

“This is the One who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ;  not with the water only, but with the water and with the blood.  It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.  For there are three that testify:  the Spirit and the water and the blood;  and the three are in agreement.”  1 John 5:6-8.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | May 13, 2019

“For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God” – “You have words of eternal life.”

Today’s devotion comes from John 3:31-36.

“He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.  What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies;  and no one receives His testimony.  He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true.  For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God;  for He gives the Spirit without measure.  The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.  He who believes in the Son has eternal life;  but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”  John 3:31-36.

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“For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God;  for He gives the Spirit without measure.”  Verse 34.

“It is the Spirit who gives life;  the flesh profits nothing;  the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”  John 6:63.

“What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies;  and no one receives His testimony.”  Verse 32.

“He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.  But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”  John 1:11-13.

“Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.”  John 3:5.

“But there are some of you who do not believe.”  For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.  And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”  John 6:64-65.

“So Jesus said to the twelve, “You do not want to go away also, do you?”  Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go?  You have words of eternal life.  We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”  John 6:67-68.

“He who believes in the Son has eternal life;  but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”  Verse 36.

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