Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Grace is why we have eternal life.  Verse 25.  “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:23.  “Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;  but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst;  but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”  John 4:13-14.  “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 5:20-21.

Grace is why we have the anointing that teaches us about all things.  Verse 27.  “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”  John 14:26.  “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.”  John 16:13-14.  

Grace is why we have confidence and do not shrink back from Christ in shame.  Verse 28.  “Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.  Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit;  for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”  2 Corinthians 3:4-6. 

Grace is why we are born again and practice righteousness.  Verse 29.  “Little children, make sure no one deceives you;  the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;  the one who practices sin is of the devil;  for the devil has sinned from the beginning.  The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.  No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him;  and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious:  anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.”  1 John 3:7-10.

Grace is why we have all these saving gifts. 

The following Article 8 of the Canons of Dordt (SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby) reminds us that God’s grace is the source of all saving gifts. 

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.   

Thus, when we think of grace, we should think of gifts.  When we think of grace, we should think of righteousness.  When we think of grace, we should think of anointing.  When we think of grace, we should think of confidence.  And, when we think of grace, we should think of eternal life.

Some explain grace making grace an acronym for “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense”.  Today’s devotion also makes me think of grace as an acronym for these other key words of grace:

Gifts                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Righteousness                                                                                                                                          Anointing                                                                                                                                                  Confidence                                                                                                                                               Eternal Life

We believe that we have no access unto God, but alone through the only Mediator and Advocate, Jesus Christ the righteous, who therefore became man, having united in one person the divine and human natures, that we men might have access to the divine Majesty, which access would otherwise be barred against us.  …  If then we should seek for another Mediator, who would be well affected towards us, whom could we find, who loved us more than he, who laid down his life for us, even when we were his enemies?  And if we seek for one who hath power and majesty, who is there that has so much of both as he who sits at the right hand of his Father, and who hath all power in heaven and on earth?  And who will sooner be heard than the own well beloved Son of God?  …  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities;  but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.  The same apostle saith, having boldness to enter into the holiest, by the blood of Jesus;  let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, etc.  Likewise, Christ hath an unchangeable priesthood, wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.  …  Therefore according to the command of Christ, we call upon the heavenly Father through Jesus Christ our own Mediator, as we are taught in the Lord’s prayer; being assured that whatever we ask of the Father in his name, will be granted us.”

We can better follow Jesus if we look and focus on Jesus.  It is easy for us to agree with this point that we should look and focus on Jesus, but I experience in myself, and also see in other Christians, a tendency or attraction to look at ourselves.

We are more inclined to look at ourselves and try to do on our own what we think we should do.  The question posed by the Jews to Jesus is also our question:  “… What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  John 6:28.  (Emphasis added.) 

But, notice Jesus’ answer:  “Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:29. 

If we truly believe that Jesus is “the Light of the world”, through God’s grace (“the work of God”), then we will be more inclined to look and focus on Jesus, rather than look at ourselves.   

If we are to follow Christ, we should above all seek to see Him:  “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith …”  Hebrews 12:2. 

We keep our eyes on Jesus by faithfully reading God’s Word and meditating and believing, through God’s grace, what it teaches us about Jesus.  

If we take our eyes off of Jesus, then we will slow down, fall behind or wander. But, if we keep our eyes on Him, we can almost effortlessly follow Him.  We do not need to think about:  “Am I walking fast enough?  Am I tired?  Am I staying on course?”  If we keep our eyes on Jesus, then we will be able to follow Him:  “seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”  2 Peter 1:3.

Likewise, we are comforted that we will be able to follow Him, because the Christian life is often described as a walk.  (For examples:  “walk in the Light”  Verse 7;  “walk by the Spirit”,  Galatians 5:16;  “walk in My statutes”,  Leviticus 26:3;  “walk in newness of life”,  Romans 6:4;  and “walk in a manner worthy of the calling”,  Ephesians 4:1).  

Finally, we have Christ’s promise.  “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me;  and I give eternal life to them; and they shall never perish;  and no one shall snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:27-28.

In conclusion, to tie everything together and summarize, we walk in the Light by following Jesus, “the Light of the world”.  We follow Jesus by “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith …”  Hebrews 12:2.  We fix our eyes on Jesus by faithfully reading God’s Word and meditating and believing, through God’s grace (“the work of God”), what it teaches us about Jesus.  We can do it.  It is a walk.  And, we have the Good Shepherd (Jesus) to insure that we do walk in His Light and follow Him.