Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

This is a special post on this Good Friday dedicated to help us better understand the meaning of Christ’s death on the cross for us.

Reformed Doctrine teaches “Limited Atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

In the briefest nutshell, “Limited Atonement” summarizes Scripture that Christ died only for the elect, not for everyone in the world. 

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 8.

“O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!
2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength
Because of Your adversaries,
To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.

3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
4 What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?
5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God,
And You crown him with glory and majesty!
6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;
You have put all things under his feet,
7 All sheep and oxen,
And also the beasts of the field,
8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,
Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth!”  Psalm chapter 8.

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All of God’s creation (the heavens, the earth, the animals, and man) display God’s splendor and majesty.

All of the Scriptures proudly attribute the heavens, the earth, the animals, and man as being distinctly created by God.  We see this throughout Scripture from the beginning to the end, from the first book of Genesis to the last book of Revelation.

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”  Genesis 1:1.  “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.  …”  Genesis 1:31.

“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”  Revelation 4:11.

And, day by day, Genesis chapter 1 pounds the table that each part of creation was created in a day, for a total of six days.  Six times, we even see each of the six days defined similar to the first day:  “… And there was evening and there was morning, one day.”  Genesis 1:5.  Thus, there is no room for error.  Scripture clearly and repeatedly refutes any foolish speculation that creation was completed over thousands or millions or billions of years.  Creation was completed in less than one week.

And yet, other doctrine tries to subtract from the majesty of God by teaching or tolerating evolution.

But, Reformed Doctrine recognizes that Scripture continually teaches both that God created the heavens, the earth, the animals, and man and that God’s creation displays God’s majesty.

Is teaching or tolerating evolution a minor mistake?  What does Scripture state?

“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.  For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.  For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.”  Romans 1:20-25.

“O Lord, our Lord,
How majestic is Your name in all the earth,
Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!”  Psalm 8:1.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 7.

“O Lord my God, in You I have taken refuge;
Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,
2 Or he will tear my soul like a lion,
Dragging me away, while there is none to deliver.

3 O Lord my God, if I have done this,
If there is injustice in my hands,
4 If I have rewarded evil to my friend,
Or have plundered him who without cause was my adversary,
5 Let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it;
And let him trample my life down to the ground
And lay my glory in the dust.  Selah.

6 Arise, O Lord, in Your anger;
Lift up Yourself against the rage of my adversaries,
And arouse Yourself for me;  You have appointed judgment.
7 Let the assembly of the peoples encompass You,
And over them return on high.
8 The Lord judges the peoples;
Vindicate me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me.
9 O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous;
For the righteous God tries the hearts and minds.
10 My shield is with God,
Who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
And a God who has indignation every day.

12 If a man does not repent, He will sharpen His sword;
He has bent His bow and made it ready.
13 He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons;
He makes His arrows fiery shafts.
14 Behold, he travails with wickedness,
And he conceives mischief and brings forth falsehood.
15 He has dug a pit and hollowed it out,
And has fallen into the hole which he made.
16 His mischief will return upon his own head,
And his violence will descend upon his own pate.

17 I will give thanks to the Lord according to His righteousness
And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.”  Psalm chapter 7.

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Other doctrine presents their god of their wishful imaginations who is like Santa Claus and who bows down to their alleged free-will like a helpless observer sitting on clouds and wringing his hands at what man does.

But, Reformed Doctrine presents the God of Scripture as a righteous and powerful judge who has indignation every day and who is well-prepared and ready to punish all evil.  Verses 9-13.

Other doctrine focuses on its own righteousness.

But, Reformed Doctrine focuses on the righteousness of God and gives thanks for it.  Verse 17.

“15 My mouth shall tell of Your righteousness
And of Your salvation all day long;
For I do not know the sum of them.
16 I will come with the mighty deeds of the Lord God;
I will make mention of Your righteousness, Yours alone.

17 O God, You have taught me from my youth,
And I still declare Your wondrous deeds.
18 And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me,
Until I declare Your strength to this generation,
Your power to all who are to come.
19 For Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the heavens,
You who have done great things;
O God, who is like You?”  Psalm 71:15-19.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 6.

“O Lord, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
Nor chasten me in Your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am pining away;
Heal me, O Lord, for my bones are dismayed.
3 And my soul is greatly dismayed;
But You, O Lord—how long?

4 Return, O Lord, rescue my soul;
Save me because of Your lovingkindness.
5 For there is no mention of You in death;
In Sheol who will give You thanks?

6 I am weary with my sighing;
Every night I make my bed swim,
I dissolve my couch with my tears.
7 My eye has wasted away with grief;
It has become old because of all my adversaries.

8 Depart from me, all you who do iniquity,
For the Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my supplication,
The Lord receives my prayer.
10 All my enemies will be ashamed and greatly dismayed;
They shall turn back, they will suddenly be ashamed.”   Psalm chapter 6.

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Other doctrine pleads:

“Save me because of my works.”

or

“Save me because of my wisdom and my will.  I chose You.”

or

“Save me because I am as cute as a “rescue” puppy in a shelter.”

But, Reformed Doctrine pleads:

“Save me because of Your lovingkindness.  You chose me.”

“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 7:7-8.

“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.

“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,”  Ephesians 1:4-5.

“26 Help me, O Lord my God;
Save me according to Your lovingkindness.
27 And let them know that this is Your hand;
You, Lord, have done it.”  Psalm 109:26-27.

“34 O give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
35 Then say, “Save us, O God of our salvation,
And gather us and deliver us from the nations,
To give thanks to Your holy name,
And glory in Your praise.”
36 Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
From everlasting even to everlasting.”  1 Chronicles 16:34-36.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 5.

“Give ear to my words, O Lord,
Consider my groaning.
2 Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God,
For to You I pray.
3 In the morning, O Lord, You will hear my voice;
In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.

4 For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.
6 You destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.
7 But as for me, by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house,
At Your holy temple I will bow in reverence for You.

8 O Lord, lead me in Your righteousness because of my foes;
Make Your way straight before me.
9 There is nothing reliable in what they say;
Their inward part is destruction itself.
Their throat is an open grave;
They flatter with their tongue.
10 Hold them guilty, O God;
By their own devices let them fall!
In the multitude of their transgressions thrust them out,
For they are rebellious against You.

11 But let all who take refuge in You be glad,
Let them ever sing for joy;
And may You shelter them,
That those who love Your name may exult in You.
12 For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.”  Psalm chapter 5.

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God does not love everybody.  Christ did not die for everybody.  Accordingly, Reformed Doctrine teaches “Limited Atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

We see that God does not love everybody very clearly in today’s Scripture.

“5 The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.
6 You destroy those who speak falsehood;
The Lord abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.”  Verses 5-6.

In sharpest contrast to God’s hate and destruction of the wicked, we see God’s blessing and favor upon the righteous.

“For it is You who blesses the righteous man, O Lord,
You surround him with favor as with a shield.”  Verse 12.

“You are my hiding place;  You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance.  Selah.”  Psalm 32:7.

“Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the Lord, lovingkindness shall surround him.”  Psalm 32:10.

“11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord gives grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.
12 O Lord of hosts,
How blessed is the man who trusts in You!”  Psalm 84:11-12.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 4.

“Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress;
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer.

2 O sons of men, how long will my honor become a reproach?
How long will you love what is worthless and aim at deception?  Selah.
3 But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself;
The Lord hears when I call to Him.

4 Tremble, and do not sin;
Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.
5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And trust in the Lord.

6 Many are saying, “Who will show us any good?”
Lift up the light of Your countenance upon us, O Lord!
7 You have put gladness in my heart,
More than when their grain and new wine abound.
8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.”  Psalm chapter 4.

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Reformed Doctrine teaches “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Today’s Scripture reminds us of “Unconditional Election” by using the words “set apart” which have similar meaning as “elected”:  “But know that the Lord has set apart the godly man for Himself;  …”  Verse 3.

It may take us awhile to believe that we are elect, because obviously our 21st century names are not listed in Scripture.  Canons of Dordt recognize it by stating:

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

From time to time, we may wonder along with the “many”:  “Who will show us any good?”  Verse 6.  But, then we realize more and more over time, that God is good to us and that God is our faithful Father and thus that we are part of His elect.

In today’s Scripture, David, the Psalmist, observed:

“7 You have put gladness in my heart,
More than when their grain and new wine abound.
8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep,
For You alone, O Lord, make me to dwell in safety.”  Verses 7 and 8.

These observations helped David realize that God indeed was good to him and that he was set apart by God.

Over time, to use the language of the Canons of Dordt, God causes us to more and more observe within ourselves “spiritual joy and holy pleasure, the infallible fruits of election pointed out in the Word of God – such as a true faith in Christ, filial fear, a godly sorrow for sin, a hungering and thirsting after righteousness, etc.”.

When we confess the Apostle’s Creed, we confess that God is good to us and that God is our faithful Father and thus that we are part of His elect.

Q. 26.  What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?
 
A.  That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them;  who likewise upholds and governs the same by His eternal counsel and providence) is, for the sake of Christ His Son, my God and my Father;  on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt but He will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body;  and further, that He will make whatever evils He sends upon me, in this valley of tears, turn out to my advantage;  for He is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.”  Heidelberg Catechism.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 3.

“O Lord, how my adversaries have increased!
Many are rising up against me.
2 Many are saying of my soul,
“There is no deliverance for him in God.”  Selah.

3 But You, O Lord, are a shield about me,
My glory, and the One who lifts my head.
4 I was crying to the Lord with my voice,
And He answered me from His holy mountain.  Selah.
5 I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.
6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me round about.

7 Arise, O Lord;  save me, O my God!
For You have smitten all my enemies on the cheek;
You have shattered the teeth of the wicked.
8 Salvation belongs to the Lord;
Your blessing be upon Your people!  Selah.  Psalm chapter 3.

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Salvation belongs to the LORD from His “Unconditional Election” to His “Limited Atonement” to His “Irresistible Grace” to His “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

The LORD’s blessing is upon His people from His “Unconditional Election” to His “Limited Atonement” to His “Irresistible Grace” to His “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

“For those whom He foreknew, 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.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28.

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?”  Romans 8:32.

“Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?  God is the one who justifies;  who is the one who condemns?  Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.  Who will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?”  Romans 8:33-35.

“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.  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 1:3-8.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 2.

“Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”

10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11 Worship the Lord with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”   Psalm chapter 2.

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Psalm 2 presents a vivid description of God’s tight and total sovereign reign over everything through Christ, the Son of God.

There are those who are content with God’s control over creation but who bristle and rebel against God’s control over their alleged free-will.  Through their doctrine, they try to tear apart God’s tight and total control over them.  “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!”  Verse 3.

But, God does not bend to their wishes.

“4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”  Psalm 2:4-9.

“But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”  Luke 19:27.

But, there are the blessed who take refuge in God in His “Unconditional Election”, in His “Limited Atonement”, in His “Irresistible Grace”, and in His “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Today’s devotion comes from Psalm chapter 1.

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,
Nor stand in the path of sinners,
Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,
Which yields its fruit in its season
And its leaf does not wither;
And in whatever he does, he prospers.

4 The wicked are not so,
But they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
But the way of the wicked will perish.”    Psalm chapter 1.

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“But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.”  Verse 2.

Other doctrine depends on its wisdom and alleged free-will and sense of duty and reward to motivate to read God’s Word.

But, Reformed Doctrine recognizes “Total Depravity” as the natural condition of man.  Man is not wise.  Man does not understand.  Man is not free, but rather, man is enslaved to sin and Satan.  Man is not good.  Man does not seek God.

“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.

Instead, Reformed Doctrine recognizes “Irresistible Grace” as God’s gift to His elect.  God gives His elect a love of truth and a desire to seek God and read God’s word.  God gives understanding of God’s Word to His elect.  And, God guides His elect into all truth. 

And, there are those who did not receive the love of the truth to be saved:  “and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved.”  2 Thessalonians 2:10.

But, for those who have received the Spirit of God:  “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;  for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak;  and He will disclose to you what is to come.  He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you.  All things that the Father has are Mine;  therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.”  John 16:13-15.

“How blessed”!  Verse 1.

Today’s devotion comes from Job chapter 42.

“Then Job answered the Lord and said,

2 “I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand,
Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”
4 ‘Hear, now, and I will speak;
I will ask You, and You instruct me.’
5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear;
But now my eye sees You;
6 Therefore I retract,
And I repent in dust and ashes.”

7 It came about after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has.  8 Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, and go to My servant Job, and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves, and My servant Job will pray for you.  For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.”  9 So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord told them;  and the Lord accepted Job.

10 The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold.  11 Then all his brothers and all his sisters and all who had known him before came to him, and they ate bread with him in his house;  and they consoled him and comforted him for all the adversities that the Lord had brought on him.  And each one gave him one piece of money, and each a ring of gold.  12 The Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning;  and he had 14,000 sheep and 6,000 camels and 1,000 yoke of oxen and 1,000 female donkeys.  13 He had seven sons and three daughters.  14 He named the first Jemimah, and the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch.  15 In all the land no women were found so fair as Job’s daughters;  and their father gave them inheritance among their brothers.  16 After this, Job lived 140 years, and saw his sons and his grandsons, four generations.  17 And Job died, an old man and full of days.”  Job chapter 42.

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The temptation for us is to focus only on our own faith and righteousness.  We could easily focus only on Job’s confession of faith:  “I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.”  Verse 2.  Certainly, it is true, and our mind races to our Scripture to support it.

But, we notice and find it interesting that the LORD did not immediately praise Job for his confession, retraction, and repentance.

Instead, immediately after Job’s confession and repentance, we read about the LORD addressing Eliphaz the Temanite, one of Job’s friends, informing him of His wrath against them and commanding that he offer up a burnt offering so that He would not punish them according to their folly.

We also notice that the LORD did not restore the fortunes of Job when Job made his confession, retraction, and repentance;  rather, “The Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the Lord increased all that Job had twofold.”  Verse 10.

We can be proud of our own wisdom and understanding of Reformed Doctrine.  We can be satisfied with our own faith and righteousness.

But, today’s Scripture leads us to care for and pray for others like Job did for his friends.

“I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”  Luke 15:7.

We, Reformed Folk, tend to be like the older brother in the parable of The Prodigal Son.  We think:  “… Look!  For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours;  and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends;  but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.”  Luke 15:29-30.

And yet, we notice the father’s response:  “… Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.  But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”  Luke 15:31-32.

In conclusion, let us use today’s Scripture to seek to be a good Big Brother and care for and pray for our brothers rather than being content with our own faith and righteousness.