Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles 29:1-13.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+29&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“10 So David blessed the Lord in the sight of all the assembly; and David said, “Blessed are You, O Lord God of Israel our father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth;  Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all.  12 Both riches and honor come from You, and You rule over all, and in Your hand is power and might;  and it lies in Your hand to make great and to strengthen everyone. 1 3 Now therefore, our God, we thank You, and praise Your glorious name.”    1 Chronicles 29:10-13.

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“1 The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty;
The Lord has clothed and girded Himself with strength;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved.
2 Your throne is established from of old;
You are from everlasting.”  Psalm 93:1-2.

“Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns;
Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved;
He will judge the peoples with equity.”  Psalm 96:10.

“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands be glad.”  Psalm 97:1.

“1 The Lord reigns, let the peoples tremble;
He is enthroned above the cherubim, let the earth shake!
2 The Lord is great in Zion,
And He is exalted above all the peoples.
3 Let them praise Your great and awesome name;
Holy is He.
4 The strength of the King loves justice;
You have established equity;
You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the Lord our God
And worship at His footstool;
Holy is He.”  Psalm 99:1-5.

Which doctrine is consistent with all this Scripture?

Other doctrine which focuses on man, man’s works, and man’s will?

Or, Reformed Doctrine which focuses on God, God’s sovereignty, God’s works, and God’s will?

Other doctrine tries to place man’s salvation ultimately in man’s control whether by man’s works or man’s alleged free-will to choose or not choose Christ.

But, Reformed Doctrine recognizes that Scripture shows that man’s salvation is totally under God’s sovereign control as summarized by “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.   

“31 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
And let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
32 Let the sea roar, and all it contains;
Let the field exult, and all that is in it.
33 Then the trees of the forest will sing for joy before the Lord;
For He is coming to judge the earth.
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.

Then all the people said, “Amen,” and praised the Lord.”  1 Chronicles 16:31-36.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles chapter 28.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+28&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“10 Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary;  be courageous and act.”

11 Then David gave to his son Solomon the plan of the porch of the temple, its buildings, its storehouses, its upper rooms, its inner rooms and the room for the mercy seat;  12 and the plan of all that he had in mind, for the courts of the house of the Lord, and for all the surrounding rooms, for the storehouses of the house of God and for the storehouses of the dedicated things;  13 also for the divisions of the priests and the Levites and for all the work of the service of the house of the Lord and for all the utensils of service in the house of the Lord;  14 for the golden utensils, the weight of gold for all utensils for every kind of service; for the silver utensils, the weight of silver for all utensils for every kind of service;

…

20 Then David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and courageous, and act;  do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.”  1 Chronicles Chapter 28:  Verses 10-14 and 20.

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“Consider now, for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary;  be courageous and act.”  Verse 10.

“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 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.

There are three themes to today’s Scripture that corresponds to Reformed Doctrine.

First, God chooses us for salvation and for a certain work that He has prepared for us to do.  God chose Solomon to build the temple, the house of God.  Verse 10.  This corresponds to “Unconditional Election” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Second, God provides all that we need for salvation and for the work that He has prepared for us to do.  David provided all the plans, all the materials, all the people, and all the encouragement and exhortation to help Solomon.  Verses 11-14.  This corresponds to “Limited Atonement” and “Irresistible Grace” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Third, God preserves us and completes and perfects our work.  David encouraged Solomon:  “He will not fail you nor forsake you until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished.”  This corresponds to “Preservation of the Saints” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles chapter 27.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+27&version=NASB

I quote only the following verse.

“But David did not count those twenty years of age and under, because the Lord had said He would multiply Israel as the stars of heaven.”  1 Chronicles 27:23.

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We see David’s faith in a promise of God.

Hebrews chapter 11 is filled with other examples of other people who also had faith in promises of God.  Here are three examples.

“By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance;  and he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise;  for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”  Hebrews 11:8-10.

“By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even beyond the proper time of life, since she considered Him faithful who had promised.”  Hebrews 11:11.

“By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.”  He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type.”  Hebrews 11:17-19.

Likewise, Reformed Doctrine considers God as able to raise dead people of “Total Depravity” to life.

Other doctrine relies on their own works and their own alleged free-will.

But, Reformed Doctrine relies on the four promises of God from “Unconditional Election” to “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. 

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope (Reformed Doctrine) without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;”  Hebrews 10:23.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles chapter 26.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+26&version=NASB

I quote only the following verse.

“The Levites, their relatives, had charge of the treasures of the house of God and of the treasures of the dedicated gifts.”  1 Chronicles 26:20.

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The Levites in today’s Scripture who guarded the earthly treasures of the house of God point us to those who guard the heavenly treasures of God.

“Let a man regard us in this manner, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God.  In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy.”  1 Corinthians 4:1-2.

“Retain the standard of sound words which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.  Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.”  2 Timothy 1:13-14.

Whether one is called a steward or a guard or an elder, a good one must be “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”  Titus 1:9.

Some stewards of Reformed Doctrine are embarrassed about Reformed Doctrine.  They are two-faced.  To some listeners, they state just enough so they can maintain their position.  But, to others listeners, they hide it.  They minimize it.  They are more concerned that they appear loving.  They even make cute jokes about it.  They are like the “wicked, lazy” slave who hid the one talent entrusted to him in Jesus’ Parable of the Talents in Matthew 25:14-30.

But, other stewards of Reformed Doctrine are proud of their Reformed Doctrine.  They proclaim it.  They defend it.  They may be ridiculed or even persecuted but they consider it joy.  They are like the “good and faithful” slaves who took the talents entrusted to them and made more.

We know what happened to the “wicked, lazy” slave who buried the talent entrusted to him.  His master said to him:  “Throw out the worthless slave into the outer darkness;  in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”  Matthew 25:30.

We also know what happened to the “good and faithful” slaves who made more talents from the talents entrusted to them.  Their master said to them:  “Well done, good and faithful slave.  You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things;  enter into the joy of your master.”  Matthew 25:21.

We have heard much about the heavenly treasure of Reformed Doctrine.  We may have five talents, or we may have only one talent.  But, we have been entrusted with Reformed Doctrine.  We are all stewards of it.  We are all guards of it.  We are all either literal or figurative elders.

What are we going to do with Reformed Doctrine?  Are we going to bury it?  Or, are we going to proclaim it and defend it?

“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;”  1 Peter 2:9.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles chapter 25.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+25&version=NASB

I quote only the following verse.

“All these were under the direction of their father to sing in the house of the Lord, with cymbals, harps and lyres, for the service of the house of God. Asaph, Jeduthun and Heman were under the direction of the king.”  1 Chronicles 25:6.

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“David and all Israel were celebrating before God with all their might, even with songs and with lyres, harps, tambourines, cymbals and with trumpets.”  1 Chronicles 13:8.

“Then David spoke to the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their relatives the singers, with instruments of music, harps, lyres, loud-sounding cymbals, to raise sounds of joy.”  1 Chronicles 15:16.

“Thus all Israel brought up the ark of the covenant of the Lord with shouting, and with sound of the horn, with trumpets, with loud-sounding cymbals, with harps and lyres.”  1 Chronicles 15:28.

“With them were Heman and Jeduthun, and the rest who were chosen, who were designated by name, to give thanks to the Lord, because His lovingkindness is everlasting.  And with them were Heman and Jeduthun with trumpets and cymbals for those who should sound aloud, and with instruments for the songs of God, and the sons of Jeduthun for the gate.”  1 Chronicles 16:41-42.

“in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the Lord saying, “He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting,” then the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.”  2 Chronicles 5:13-14.

“3 Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
4 Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
5 Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
6 Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord!”  Psalm 150:3-6.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles chapter 23.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+23&version=NASB

I quote only the following verse.

“For David said, “The Lord God of Israel has given rest to His people, and He dwells in Jerusalem forever.”  1 Chronicles 23:25.

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This rest is reserved for “His people”.  There was no such rest for the other inhabitants of the land.  More generally, there is no such rest for the wicked.

“There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord.”  Isaiah 48:22.

“20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea,
For it cannot be quiet,
And its waters toss up refuse and mud.
21 “There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”  Isaiah 57:20-21.

In Scripture that speaks about the rest that God promised to give to Moses and His people, we see that such grace is not common, but it is special, distinctive, and peculiar to God’s people.

“12 Then Moses said to the Lord, “See, You say to me, ‘Bring up this people!’  But You Yourself have not let me know whom You will send with me.  Moreover, You have said, ‘I have known you by name, and you have also found favor in My sight.’  13 Now therefore, I pray You, if I have found favor in Your sight, let me know Your ways that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your sight.  Consider too, that this nation is Your people.”  14 And He said, “My presence shall go with you, and I will give you rest.”  15 Then he said to Him, “If Your presence does not go with us, do not lead us up from here.  16 For how then can it be known that I have found favor in Your sight, I and Your people?  Is it not by Your going with us, so that we, I and Your people, may be distinguished from all the other people who are upon the face of the earth?”

17 The Lord said to Moses, “I will also do this thing of which you have spoken;  for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name.”  18 Then Moses said, “I pray You, show me Your glory!”  19 And He said, “I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the Lord before you;  and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”  Exodus 33:12-19.

“Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised;  not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant.”  1 Kings 8:56.

Jesus said:  “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.  …  I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.”  John 10:11, 14, and 15.  We understand that a good shepherd does not lay his life down for all the sheep of the world but only for his own sheep and that a good shepherd does not give rest to all the sheep of the world but only his own sheep.

“1 The Lord is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.”  Psalm 23:1-2.

Which doctrine is more consistent with such rest?

Other doctrine which focuses on man, man’s alleged free-will, and man’s works, whose motto is “Just do it!”?

Or, Reformed Doctrine which rests on the work of God in “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace” and “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation?!

“Thus says the Lord,
“Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths,
Where the good way is, and walk in it;
And you will find rest for your souls.  …”  Jeremiah 6:16.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles chapter 22.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+22&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“11 Now, my son, the Lord be with you that you may be successful, and build the house of the Lord your God just as He has spoken concerning you.  12 Only the Lord give you discretion and understanding, and give you charge over Israel, so that you may keep the law of the Lord your God.  13 Then you will prosper, if you are careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not fear nor be dismayed.  14 Now behold, with great pains I have prepared for the house of the Lord 100,000 talents of gold and 1,000,000 talents of silver, and bronze and iron beyond weight, for they are in great quantity; also timber and stone I have prepared, and you may add to them.  15 Moreover, there are many workmen with you, stonecutters and masons of stone and carpenters, and all men who are skillful in every kind of work.  16 Of the gold, the silver and the bronze and the iron there is no limit.  Arise and work, and may the Lord be with you.”

17 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help his son Solomon, saying, 18 “Is not the Lord your God with you?  And has He not given you rest on every side?  For He has given the inhabitants of the land into my hand, and the land is subdued before the Lord and before His people.  19 Now set your heart and your soul to seek the Lord your God;  arise, therefore, and build the sanctuary of the Lord God, so that you may bring the ark of the covenant of the Lord and the holy vessels of God into the house that is to be built for the name of the Lord.”  1 Chronicles 22:11-19.

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We too have work to do for the LORD.  “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.

We too have abundant resources to do our work.  Like David provided all the resources of gold, silver, bronze, iron, timber, stone, and helpers in great abundance for Solomon to do his work (verses 14-16), the LORD has provided all the resources in great abundance for us to do our work.

These words in today’s Scripture, by which David encouraged and exhorted Solomon and all the leaders of Israel, also provide an example for us and can help us too.  First, we seek the LORD by meditating on His Word.  Verses 19 and 13.  Second, we count our blessings.  Verse 18.  Third, we arise and do the work, being strong and courageous through our faith in the LORD.  Verses 19 and 13.  “For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.”  2 Timothy 1:7.  “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

Today’s Scripture comes from 1 Chronicles 21:18-30.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Chronicles+21&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“18 Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up and build an altar to the Lord on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.  19 So David went up at the word of Gad, which he spoke in the name of the Lord.  20 Now Ornan turned back and saw the angel, and his four sons who were with him hid themselves.  And Ornan was threshing wheat.  21 As David came to Ornan, Ornan looked and saw David, and went out from the threshing floor and prostrated himself before David with his face to the ground. 22 Then David said to Ornan, “Give me the site of this threshing floor, that I may build on it an altar to the Lord;  for the full price you shall give it to me, that the plague may be restrained from the people.”  23 Ornan said to David, “Take it for yourself; and let my lord the king do what is good in his sight.  See, I will give the oxen for burnt offerings and the threshing sledges for wood and the wheat for the grain offering;  I will give it all.”  24 But King David said to Ornan, “No, but I will surely buy it for the full price;  for I will not take what is yours for the Lord, or offer a burnt offering which costs me nothing.”  25 So David gave Ornan 600 shekels of gold by weight for the site.  26 Then David built an altar to the Lord there and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings.  And he called to the Lord and He answered him with fire from heaven on the altar of burnt offering.  27 The Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back in its sheath.”  1 Chronicles 21:18-27.

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David paid the full price for his offering, and it points us to Christ Who also paid the full price of His offering.

The full price for David’s offering was 600 shekels of gold.  But, the full price for Christ’s offering was infinitely more valuable, His precious blood:  “knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”  1 Peter 1:18-19.

The result of the David’s offering was:  “The Lord commanded the angel, and he put his sword back in its sheath.”  Verse 27.

The result of Christ’s offering was:  “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”  Romans 5:9.  “For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”  Hebrews 10:14.

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 the Canons of Dordt.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Chronicles 21:9-17.

“9 The Lord spoke to Gad, David’s seer, saying, 10 “Go and speak to David, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord, “I offer you three things;  choose for yourself one of them, which I will do to you.”’”  11 So Gad came to David and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Take for yourself 12 either three years of famine, or three months to be swept away before your foes, while the sword of your enemies overtakes you, or else three days of the sword of the Lord, even pestilence in the land, and the angel of the Lord destroying throughout all the territory of Israel.’  Now, therefore, consider what answer I shall return to Him who sent me.”  13 David said to Gad, “I am in great distress;  please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are very great.  But do not let me fall into the hand of man.”

14 So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel; 70,000 men of Israel fell.  15 And God sent an angel to Jerusalem to destroy it; but as he was about to destroy it, the Lord saw and was sorry over the calamity, and said to the destroying angel, “It is enough; now relax your hand.”  And the angel of the Lord was standing by the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.  16 Then David lifted up his eyes and saw the angel of the Lord standing between earth and heaven, with his drawn sword in his hand stretched out over Jerusalem.  Then David and the elders, covered with sackcloth, fell on their faces.  17 David said to God, “Is it not I who commanded to count the people?  Indeed, I am the one who has sinned and done very wickedly, but these sheep, what have they done?  O Lord my God, please let Your hand be against me and my father’s household, but not against Your people that they should be plagued.”  1 Chronicles 21:9-17.

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We remember from the prior Scripture that David sinned by numbering Israel, showing trust in man and the number of his soldiers rather than showing trust in God.  Here, we read the choice of punishments that the LORD offered David.

Today’s Scripture sharply contrasts the mercies of God compared to “the hand of man”:  “please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are very great.  But do not let me fall into the hand of man.”  Verse 13.

Generally, Psalm 145:8-21 speaks about the great mercies of God.

“8 The Lord is gracious and merciful;
Slow to anger and great in lovingkindness.
9 The Lord is good to all,
And His mercies are over all His works.
10 All Your works shall give thanks to You, O Lord,
And Your godly ones shall bless You.
11 They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom
And talk of Your power;
12 To make known to the sons of men Your mighty acts
And the glory of the majesty of Your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures throughout all generations.

14 The Lord sustains all who fall
And raises up all who are bowed down.
15 The eyes of all look to You,
And You give them their food in due time.
16 You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways
And kind in all His deeds.
18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He will also hear their cry and will save them.
20 The Lord keeps all who love Him,
But all the wicked He will destroy.
21 My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
And all flesh will bless His holy name forever and ever.”  Psalm 145:8-21.

Specifically, Romans 5:6-15 speaks of God’s supreme act of mercy in sending His only beloved Son Jesus Christ to die for us and thus assume the punishment for us. 

“6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man;  though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.  8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.  10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned— 13 for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.  14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.

15 But the free gift is not like the transgression.  For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.”  Romans 5:6-15.

Other doctrine wants us to fall into the hands of man.  “Just give us free-will”:  it pleads. 

But, Reformed Doctrine pleads for “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  It pleads:  “please let me fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are very great.  But do not let me fall into the hand of man.”