Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Nehemiah chapter 1.

“1  The words of Nehemiah the son of Hacaliah.

Now it happened in the month Chislev, in the twentieth year, while I was in Susa the capitol, 2 that Hanani, one of my brothers, and some men from Judah came; and I asked them concerning the Jews who had escaped and had survived the captivity, and about Jerusalem.  3 They said to me, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach, and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.”

4 When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days;  and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.  5 I said, “I beseech You, O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who preserves the covenant and lovingkindness for those who love Him and keep His commandments, 6 let Your ear now be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer of Your servant which I am praying before You now, day and night, on behalf of the sons of Israel Your servants, confessing the sins of the sons of Israel which we have sinned against You;  I and my father’s house have sinned.  7 We have acted very corruptly against You and have not kept the commandments, nor the statutes, nor the ordinances which You commanded Your servant Moses.  8 Remember the word which You commanded Your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful I will scatter you among the peoples;  9 but if you return to Me and keep My commandments and do them, though those of you who have been scattered were in the most remote part of the heavens, I will gather them from there and will bring them to the place where I have chosen to cause My name to dwell.’  10 They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.  11 O Lord, I beseech You, may Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant and the prayer of Your servants who delight to revere Your name, and make Your servant successful today and grant him compassion before this man.”

Now I was the cupbearer to the king.”   Nehemiah chapter 1.

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There is no hope in beseeching God:  “I will do better next time”.

But, there is much hope in beseeching God:  “They are Your servants and Your people whom You redeemed by Your great power and by Your strong hand.”  Verse 10.

Nevertheless, other doctrine relies on man’s wisdom and man’s will and urges us to just do better next time.

But, Reformed Doctrine recognizes that we may be given a million “second chances” but we will still not please God.  “Total Depravity” summarizes man’s natural condition of being dead in sin, hostile to God, and enslaved to sin and Satan.  “Total Depravity” is the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

Reformed Doctrine recognizes that our only hope is that God chose us.  We are His servants, His people.  We were redeemed by Him by His great power and His strong hand.

“Unconditional Election” summarizes that we did nothing to motivate God to choose us for redemption.  God did not choose us for redemption, because we were wise or because we willed to be saved.  “So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:16.  God chose us for redemption simply because He desired to do so.  “So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:18.

Q. 1.  What is thy only comfort in life and death?

 A.  That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ;  who, with His precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil;  and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head;  yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by His Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto Him.  Heidelberg Catechism.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now while Ezra was praying and making confession, weeping and prostrating himself before the house of God, a very large assembly, men, women and children, gathered to him from Israel;  for the people wept bitterly.  2 Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, said to Ezra, “We have been unfaithful to our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land;  yet now there is hope for Israel in spite of this.  3 So now let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God;  and let it be done according to the law.  4 Arise!  For this matter is your responsibility, but we will be with you;  be courageous and act.”  Ezra 10:1-4.

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Nothing is more important to us than reconciliation with God.

Today’s Scripture shows the extent to which the people tried to be reconciled to God.  But, our hope for reconciliation with God is not based on our promise (“covenant”) to put away our sins nor our actions to do so (“let it be done according to the law.”).

Our hope for reconciliation with God is based on His promise (His covenant) and His actions “namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.”  2 Corinthians 5:19.

Regarding God’s promise (His “better covenant”), “6 But now He (Christ) has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.

7 For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.  8 For finding fault with them, He says,

“Behold, days are coming, says the Lord,
When I will effect a new covenant
With the house of Israel and with the house of Judah;
9 Not like the covenant which I made with their fathers
On the day when I took them by the hand
To lead them out of the land of Egypt;
For they did not continue in My covenant,
And I did not care for them, says the Lord.
10 “For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
After those days, says the Lord:
I will put My laws into their minds,
And I will write them on their hearts.
And I will be their God,
And they shall be My people.
11 “And they shall not teach everyone his fellow citizen,
And everyone his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’
For all will know Me,
From the least to the greatest of them.
12 “For I will be merciful to their iniquities,
And I will remember their sins no more.”  Hebrews 8:6-12.

“As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.”  Psalm 103:12.

“For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son (Christ), much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”  Romans 5:10-11.

“For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him (Christ), and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross;  through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”  Colossians 1:19-20.

“For He (Christ) Himself is our peace, who made both groups into one and broke down the barrier of the dividing wall, by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, by it having put to death the enmity.”  Ephesians 2:14-16.

Today’s devotion comes from Ezra chapter 9.

“1 Now when these things had been completed, the princes approached me, saying, “The people of Israel and the priests and the Levites have not separated themselves from the peoples of the lands, according to their abominations, those of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians and the Amorites.  2 For they have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and for their sons, so that the holy race has intermingled with the peoples of the lands;  indeed, the hands of the princes and the rulers have been foremost in this unfaithfulness.”  3 When I heard about this matter, I tore my garment and my robe, and pulled some of the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled.  4 Then everyone who trembled at the words of the God of Israel on account of the unfaithfulness of the exiles gathered to me, and I sat appalled until the evening offering.

5 But at the evening offering I arose from my humiliation, even with my garment and my robe torn, and I fell on my knees and stretched out my hands to the Lord my God;  6 and I said, “O my God, I am ashamed and embarrassed to lift up my face to You, my God, for our iniquities have risen above our heads and our guilt has grown even to the heavens. 7 Since the days of our fathers to this day we have been in great guilt, and on account of our iniquities we, our kings and our priests have been given into the hand of the kings of the lands, to the sword, to captivity and to plunder and to open shame, as it is this day.  8 But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage.  9 For we are slaves;  yet in our bondage our God has not forsaken us, but has extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us reviving to raise up the house of our God, to restore its ruins and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.

10 “Now, our God, what shall we say after this?  For we have forsaken Your commandments, 11 which You have commanded by Your servants the prophets, saying, ‘The land which you are entering to possess is an unclean land with the uncleanness of the peoples of the lands, with their abominations which have filled it from end to end and with their impurity. 12 So now do not give your daughters to their sons nor take their daughters to your sons, and never seek their peace or their prosperity, that you may be strong and eat the good things of the land and leave it as an inheritance to your sons forever.’  13 After all that has come upon us for our evil deeds and our great guilt, since You our God have requited us less than our iniquities deserve, and have given us an escaped remnant as this, 14 shall we again break Your commandments and intermarry with the peoples who commit these abominations?  Would You not be angry with us to the point of destruction, until there is no remnant nor any who escape?  15 O Lord God of Israel, You are righteous, for we have been left an escaped remnant, as it is this day;  behold, we are before You in our guilt, for no one can stand before You because of this.”  Ezra chapter 9.

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We tend to proudly march into Christmas thinking that God is well-pleased with us because of our self-righteousness and that we deserve joy and peace.

Especially on Christmas day, it is good to read today’s Scripture and humble ourselves and confess our sins.

In addition to Ezra’s humility and prayer of confession, let us consider Mary’s Magnificat (song of thanksgiving, magnifying the Lord, when she visited Elizabeth).

“46 And Mary said:

“My soul exalts the Lord,
47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
48 “For He has had regard for the humble state of His bondslave;
For behold, from this time on all generations will count me blessed.
49 “For the Mighty One has done great things for me;
And holy is His name.
50 “And His mercy is upon generation after generation
Toward those who fear Him.
51 “He has done mighty deeds with His arm;
He has scattered those who were proud in the thoughts of their heart.
52 “He has brought down rulers from their thrones,
And has exalted those who were humble.
53 “He has filled the hungry with good things;
And sent away the rich empty-handed.
54 “He has given help to Israel His servant,
In remembrance of His mercy,
55 As He spoke to our fathers,
To Abraham and his descendants forever.”  Luke 1:46-55.

Are we proud in the thoughts of our heart?

Or, are we humble like Ezra and Mary?

Do we act as rulers on our thrones?

Or, do we act like shepherds in the field?

Are we rich with all the gifts already in our hands that we opened on Christmas Eve?

Or, are we hungry for some spiritual good things this Christmas day?

Today’s devotion comes from Ezra chapter 8.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+8&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions. 22 For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him.”  23 So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty.

…

31 Then we journeyed from the river Ahava on the twelfth of the first month to go to Jerusalem;  and the hand of our God was over us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the ambushes by the way.  32 Thus we came to Jerusalem and remained there three days.

…

35 The exiles who had come from the captivity offered burnt offerings to the God of Israel:  12 bulls for all Israel, 96 rams, 77 lambs, 12 male goats for a sin offering, all as a burnt offering to the Lord.”  Ezra Cahpter 8:  Verses 21-23 and 31-32 and 35.

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Today is Christmas Eve.  I planned on treating it like a holiday, not working, and not writing a devotion.

But, today’s Scripture convicted me that I should write a devotion.

We notice that Ezra and his group of exiles humbled themselves and sought God.

I thought:  “I likewise need to humble myself and seek God by at least writing this devotion.”

It is easy for me to feel entitled to take time off from seeking God.

I did not like my attitude.

But, I like the humble attitude and the actions of Ezra and his group of exiles in seeking God.

“The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him.”  Verse 22.

We notice that God delivered Ezra and his group of exiles from the enemy and the ambushes and that they safely came to Jerusalem.

We also notice that when they arrived, they made offerings to God.  And, we notice that God detailed in His word the total number of each animal offered.

God also takes note of each time we read His word, each prayer that we make, and each time we attend church.  They are more precious to Him than each animal offered to Him.

“4 “Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other men in your place and other peoples in exchange for your life.
5 “Do not fear, for I am with you;
I will bring your offspring from the east,
And gather you from the west.
6 “I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
And to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring My sons from afar
And My daughters from the ends of the earth,
7 Everyone who is called by My name,
And whom I have created for My glory,
Whom I have formed, even whom I have made.”  Isaiah 43:4-7.

Today’s devotion comes from Ezra chapter 7.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+7&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“6 This Ezra went up from Babylon, and he was a scribe skilled in the law of Moses, which the Lord God of Israel had given;  and the king granted him all he requested because the hand of the Lord his God was upon him.  7 Some of the sons of Israel and some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of King Artaxerxes.

8 He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.  9 For on the first of the first month he began to go up from Babylon;  and on the first of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, because the good hand of his God was upon him.  10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

…

27 Blessed be the Lord, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to adorn the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, 28 and has extended lovingkindness to me before the king and his counselors and before all the king’s mighty princes.  Thus I was strengthened according to the hand of the Lord my God upon me, and I gathered leading men from Israel to go up with me.  Ezra Chapter 7:  Verses 6-10 and 27-28.

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The hand of the LORD was upon Ezra.

And, what did the LORD cause by His hand upon Ezra?

By the hand of the LORD upon Ezra, the LORD caused the king to grant Ezra all he requested.  Verse 6.

By the hand of the LORD upon Ezra, the LORD caused leading men from Israel to go with Ezra to Jerusalem.  Verse 28.

The hand of the LORD is also upon us!  Praise God!!

What will the LORD cause by His hand upon us?

First, by the hand of the LORD upon us, the LORD will create us to do good works.

“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.

The LORD will give us spiritual gifts such as described in 1 Corinthians chapter 12 and Ephesians 4:11-13 for the building up of the body of Christ.

Second, by the hand of the LORD upon us, the LORD will give us the will to do His Will and will work in us for His good pleasure:  “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

Third, by the hand of the LORD upon us, the LORD will give us favor in the sight of others so that some will provide what we need and others will follow us.

“I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians;  and it shall be that when you go, you will not go empty-handed.”  Exodus 3:21.

“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you;  if they kept My word, they will keep yours also.”  John 15:20.

Fourth, by the hand of the LORD upon us, the LORD will complete and perfect the good work that He has started in us.

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from Ezra chapter 6.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+6&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“13 Then Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues carried out the decree with all diligence, just as King Darius had sent.  14 And the elders of the Jews were successful in building through the prophesying of Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo.  And they finished building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decree of Cyrus, Darius, and Artaxerxes king of Persia.  15 This temple was completed on the third day of the month Adar;  it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.

16 And the sons of Israel, the priests, the Levites and the rest of the exiles, celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.  17 They offered for the dedication of this temple of God 100 bulls, 200 rams, 400 lambs, and as a sin offering for all Israel 12 male goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel.  18 Then they appointed the priests to their divisions and the Levites in their orders for the service of God in Jerusalem, as it is written in the book of Moses.

19 The exiles observed the Passover on the fourteenth of the first month.  20 For the priests and the Levites had purified themselves together;  all of them were pure.  Then they slaughtered the Passover lamb for all the exiles, both for their brothers the priests and for themselves.  21 The sons of Israel who returned from exile and all those who had separated themselves from the impurity of the nations of the land to join them, to seek the Lord God of Israel, ate the Passover.  22 And they observed the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had caused them to rejoice, and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.”  Ezra 6:13-22.

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God is not only sovereign over events;  God is sovereign over hearts.

In today’s Scripture, we see that God caused the completion of the house of God.  That event was enough to cause joy and celebration.  But, in addition, we read:  “the Lord had caused them to rejoice”.  Verse 22.

As a side note, we note that in addition to being sovereign over the hearts of His people causing them to rejoice, the LORD was sovereign over the the heart of the king of Assyria.  The LORD “had turned the heart of the king of Assyria toward them to encourage them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel.”  Verse 22.

This is great encouragement for us today.  Although we may be discouraged or depressed even when events are good for us (or even when our situation is not that bad compared to other people’s troubles), and although we also get further discouraged or further depressed recognizing that we should not feel this way, we can remember that God is not only sovereign over events;  God is also sovereign over hearts.  We can seek God Who causes us to rejoice. 

Ultimately, our heart’s hope is not in events;  our heart’s hope is in God.

“You have put gladness in my heart,
More than when their grain and new wine abound.”  Psalm 4:7.

“11 Light is sown like seed for the righteous
And gladness for the upright in heart.
12 Be glad in the Lord, you righteous ones,
And give thanks to His holy name.”  Psalm 97:11-12.

“Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting:  to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him;  for this is his reward.  Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor;  this is the gift of God.  For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.”  Ecclesiastes 5:18-20.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, …”  Galatians 5:22.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“1 When the prophets, Haggai the prophet and Zechariah the son of Iddo, prophesied to the Jews who were in Judah and Jerusalem in the name of the God of Israel, who was over them, 2 then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak arose and began to rebuild the house of God which is in Jerusalem; and the prophets of God were with them supporting them.

3 At that time Tattenai, the governor of the province beyond the River, and Shethar-bozenai and their colleagues came to them and spoke to them thus, “Who issued you a decree to rebuild this temple and to finish this structure?”  4 Then we told them accordingly what the names of the men were who were reconstructing this building.  5 But the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, and they did not stop them until a report could come to Darius, and then a written reply be returned concerning it.”  Ezra 5:1-5.

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“The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous And His ears are open to their cry.”  Psalm 34:15.

In verse 5 of today’s Scripture, we read that eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews, meaning that His favor was upon them helping them to continue the rebuilding of the house of God in spite of the questioning.

We know that this does not mean that God only sees the righteous.  God sees everyone as clearly stated in the following Scripture.

“13 The Lord looks from heaven;
He sees all the sons of men;
14 From His dwelling place He looks out
On all the inhabitants of the earth,
15 He who fashions the hearts of them all,
He who understands all their works.”  Psalm 33:13-15.

Rather, “the eye of their God was on the elders of the Jews” means that God favored them.

“18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You.”  Psalm 33:18-22.

Other doctrine teaches that the eye of the Lord is on those who exercise their alleged free-will and favors those who prove themselves by their works or their will that they show the Lord.

But, Reformed Doctrine teaches that the eye of the Lord is on His chosen people, “on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness”.

“It is vain for you to rise up early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of painful labors;
For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.”  Psalm 127:2.

“9 “For the Lord’s portion is His people;
Jacob is the allotment of His inheritance.
10 “He found him in a desert land,
And in the howling waste of a wilderness;
He encircled him, He cared for him,
He guarded him as the pupil of His eye.
11 “Like an eagle that stirs up its nest,
That hovers over its young,
He spread His wings and caught them,
He carried them on His pinions.
12 “The Lord alone guided him,
And there was no foreign god with him.
13 “He made him ride on the high places of the earth,
And he ate the produce of the field;
And He made him suck honey from the rock,
And oil from the flinty rock,
14 Curds of cows, and milk of the flock,
With fat of lambs,
And rams, the breed of Bashan, and goats,
With the finest of the wheat—
And of the blood of grapes you drank wine.”  Deuteronomy 32:9-14.

So, go forth to work, You chosen ones, this Monday and every day knowing that your God’s eyes and favor are upon you!

So, sleep in peace, You beloved of God, this night and every night knowing that your God gives to you even in your sleep!

“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.

Because of the importance of this devotion and because I wanted us to meditate on it on Sunday, the day of our worship, I revised this devotion, rather than posting an entirely new devotion today.

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

I quote only the following verses.

“Now when the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the people of the exile were building a temple to the Lord God of Israel, they approached Zerubbabel and the heads of fathers’ households, and said to them, “Let us build with you, for we, like you, seek your God;  and we have been sacrificing to Him since the days of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us up here.”  But Zerubbabel and Jeshua and the rest of the heads of fathers’ households of Israel said to them, “You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God;  but we ourselves will together build to the Lord God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia has commanded us.”  Ezra 4:1-3.

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Today’s Scripture (“You have nothing in common with us in building a house to our God;  but we ourselves will together build to the Lord God of Israel“) leads us to pause and consider how we should apply it.

There are voices out there who offer help to build our church.  Some voices are from enemies, false shepherds, who intentionally want to sabotoge the building of our church.  If we discern their charater and intention, then we will be quick to refuse their help.  But, other voices are from unbelievers who may genuinely want to help and who are intelligent, skillful, and eloquent.  It will be more tempting to accept their offer to help, but they should also likewise be refused because they also have nothing in common with us in building our church.  Finally, there are voices from believers who may have been with the church a long time who may be qualified for certain services in the building of the church, but whose help should be refused for other services in building our church.

Most importantly, when it comes to doctrine, do we build our church with preachers and teachers who do preach and teach the pure and sound Reformed Doctrine? 

Or, do we build our church with preachers and teachers who dilute the pure and sound Reformed Doctrine and pollute it with other doctrine?   

“…  The marks, by which the true Church is known, are these:  if the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein …”  Article 29 of Belgic Confession.

What is that pure doctrine of the gospel?

In a nutshell, that pure doctrine of the gospel is “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation! 

See the Canons of Dordt which is the Reformed Confession which most specifically defines and expands these truths of sovereign grace and defends them against heresy.  There is a link to Canons of Dordt on the right margin of this page of my website.

And yet, how often do we hear about “TULIP” or Canons of Dordt from the pulpit or the Sunday classroom?

How many of our congregation can at least correctly answer what each of the letters of “TULIP” stands for, much less defend it by Scripture and the Canons of Dordt?

Too many Reformed churches have lost their distinctive salt of true pure and sound Reformed Doctrine.  Although you will hear a Reformed word here and there in a sermon, the sermon contains so much of other doctrine that the listener could not tell if he was in a Baptist church, a Methodist church, or a Reformed church except for the sign on the door.

“… all sects which are in the world assume to themselves the name of the Church.  …”  Article 29.  Belgic Confession.    All churches claim to be Biblical.

It is easy for preachers and teachers to take potshots at easy targets.

But does the preacher or teacher strive to deliver to the congregation the pure doctrine of the gospel? 

Or, does the preacher or teacher ramble to such an extent that the pure doctrine of the gospel is not simply and clearly delivered to the congregation? 

We do not need many words or many points to proclaim the pure doctrine of the gospel.  “TULIP” is only five points.  “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.  For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.  I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”  2 Corinthians 2:1-3.

Worship, even though it may be formal and zealous, is not enough.  “‘But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.’”  Matthew 15:9 and Mark 7:7.  “For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.  For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.”  Romans 10:2-3.

We must get doctrine right and pure.  “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. 

But, God is still in ultimate total sovereign control Who said:  “… I will build my church …”  Matthew 16:18.  So, with that confidence and trust in God, let us resist pressures to be with everyone else and be like everyone else in building the church.  Let us focus on the primacy of preaching the pure doctrine of the gospel as the first mark of the true Church according to the Belgic Confession.  Let us preach and teach the pure doctrine of the gospel through “TULIP” and the Canons of Dordt. 

We are certainly not perfect, but let us reform.  Let us press on to build our church with that preaching of the pure doctrine of the gospel.  “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet;  but one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13-14.

Today’s devotion comes from Ezra chapter 3.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+3&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now when the seventh month came, and the sons of Israel were in the cities, the people gathered together as one man to Jerusalem.  2 Then Jeshua the son of Jozadak and his brothers the priests, and Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and his brothers arose and built the altar of the God of Israel to offer burnt offerings on it, as it is written in the law of Moses, the man of God.  3 So they set up the altar on its foundation, for they were terrified because of the peoples of the lands;  and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, burnt offerings morning and evening.

…

“10 Now when the builders had laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests stood in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites, the sons of Asaph, with cymbals, to praise the Lord according to the directions of King David of Israel.  11 They sang, praising and giving thanks to the Lord, saying, “For He is good, for His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever.”  And all the people shouted with a great shout when they praised the Lord because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.”  Ezra Chapter 3:  Verses 1-3 and 10-11.

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Some teach or imply that everyone is good.  But, the sons of Israel did not think so:  “for they were terrified because of the peoples of the lands”.  Verse 3.

In sharpest contrast, the sons of Israel attributed goodness only to the LORD:  “For He is good”.  Verse 11.

Jesus said:  “There is only One who is good”.  Matthew 19:17.

And, we also notice that the sons of Israel did not state that God’s lovingkindness was upon everyone, but rather “His lovingkindness is upon Israel forever.”  Verse 11.

We live in a time and age that pressures us to believe that basically everyone is good and that God’s lovingkindess is upon everyone.

While it is true that everyone receives good gifts from God like sunshine and rain, God does not cause these good gifts to be a blessing upon the wicked.

“18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!”  Psalm 73:18-19.

But, God’s lovingkindness is only upon His people, the true Israel.

“Surely God is good to Israel,
To those who are pure in heart!”  Psalm 73:1.

If a wife asked her husband if he loved her and the husband replied:  “Yes.  I love everyone.”, we know the wife would not be pleased.

Likewise, Christ has a peculiar love, a special love just for His church.  Just as a husband should not love and give himself up for all women, but only his own wife, Christ only loved His church and gave Himself up only for His church, not for everyone in the world.  “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her,”  Ephesians 5:25.

 
In Christ’s intercessory prayer in John 17:9, we see Christ praying for only those whom God gave Him, not for the world:  “I ask on their behalf;  I do not ask on behalf of the world, but of those whom Thou hast given Me; for they are Thine;”

Christ laid down his life for only His 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 10:14-15.

When we believe that Christ died only for us, His elect, not for the world, His love and substitutionary sacrifice is appreciated more by us.  We appreciate all the more His passion, suffering, and death, because it literally took away our sins, not for the world, not just possibly took away our sins depending on our free will or depending on whether or not we get and keep faith till our death:  “But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities;  The chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, And by His scourging we are healed.” Isaiah 53: 5.

This is summarized by “Limited Atonement”, the “L” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.

This special love for us, His chosen people, this special goodness, for us, His chosen people, is true reason for us to shout for joy.

So, let us not try to be like everyone else, but instead take comfort and joy in the fact that we are chosen by God for that special love and special goodness.

“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 Ezra chapter 2.  Here is a link to this chapter – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra+2&version=NASB

I quote only the following verses.

“1 Now these are the people of the province who came up out of the captivity of the exiles whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away to Babylon, and returned to Jerusalem and Judah, each to his city.  2 These came with Zerubbabel, Jeshua, Nehemiah, Seraiah, Reelaiah, Mordecai, Bilshan, Mispar, Bigvai, Rehum and Baanah.

The number of the men of the people of Israel:  3 the sons of Parosh, 2,172;  4 the sons of Shephatiah, 372;  5 the sons of Arah, 775;  6 the sons of Pahath-moab of the sons of Jeshua and Joab, 2,812;

…

64 The whole assembly numbered 42,360, 65 besides their male and female servants who numbered 7,337;  and they had 200 singing men and women.  66 Their horses were 736;  their mules, 245;  67 their camels, 435;  their donkeys, 6,720.

68 Some of the heads of fathers’ households, when they arrived at the house of the Lord which is in Jerusalem, offered willingly for the house of God to restore it on its foundation.

69 According to their ability they gave to the treasury for the work 61,000 gold drachmas and 5,000 silver minas and 100 priestly garments.

70 Now the priests and the Levites, some of the people, the singers, the gatekeepers and the temple servants lived in their cities, and all Israel in their cities.”  Ezra Chapter 2:  Verses 1-6 and 64-70.

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Why are there so many names in this Scripture?

Why are there so many numbers in this Scripture?

God deeply cares about each person.

God deeply cares about each detail.

But, God is not like those who only watch and wring their hands.  God does not panic.  God is not anxious.  God does not even hope without accomplishing all His good pleasure.

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