Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Peter 2:11-12.

 

“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.  Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”  1 Peter 2:11-12.

 

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We are reminded of the hope that we have by which we can abstain from fleshly lusts and by which we can keep our behavior excellent.  By God’s grace and sovereign action, we are set apart from the world.  We are “aliens and strangers” to the world.  We are not like the worldly Gentiles (even if we are technically Gentiles by blood). 

 

We are different.  The previous Scripture states:  “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;  for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God;  you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  1 Peter 2:9-10. 

 

Therefore, although we can and do sin, it is now unnatural for us.  It is against our spiritual nature.  We may not be perfect, but by God’s grace and action, we are now set apart as holy.   

 

“For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;  for he who has died is freed from sin.”  Romans 6:5-6.

 

 

“Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness;  but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.  For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”  Romans 6:12-14. 

 

“Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy;  and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.”  Leviticus 20:26

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Peter 2:9-10.

 

“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;  for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God;  you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

 

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God’s purpose (in making us “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession … the people of God”) is that we “may proclaim the excellencies of Him“.

 

As “a chosen race”, we proclaim with joy God’s absolute sovereignty.

 

 

“Question 1:  What is the chief and highest end of man?

Answer:  Man’s chief and highest end is to glorify God, and fully to enjoy him forever.”  

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Peter 2:7-8.

 

“This precious value, then, is for you who believe;  but for those who disbelieve,

and,

for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this doom they were also appointed.”  1 Peter 2:7-8.

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We focus on two points in today’s Scripture.  First, Christ is the very corner stone of our salvation.  Second, God is not only sovereign in predestining those who will believe;  God is also sovereign in predestining those who will not believe.

First, regarding Christ is the very corner stone of our salvation, we are reminded of Scripture quoted in yesterday’s devotion.  “He (Jesus Christ) is the stone which was rejected by you, the builders, but which became the chief corner stone.  And there is salvation in no one else;  for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:11-12.

“What shall we say then?  That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, attained righteousness, even the righteousness which is by faith;  but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.  Why?  Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works.  They stumbled over the stumbling stone, just as it is written,

Second, today’s Scripture confirms that God is not only sovereign in predestining those who will believe;  God is also sovereign in predestining those who will not believe.  We read:  “and to this doom they were also appointed.”  Verse 8.

Here are two articles from the Canons of Dordt in the section titled “FIRST HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of Divine Predestination”. 

Article 6.  That some receive the gift of faith from God, and others do not receive it proceeds from God’s eternal decree, “For known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world,” Acts 15:18.  “Who worketh all things after the counsel of his will,” Ephesians 1:11.  According to which decree, he graciously softens the hearts of the elect, however obstinate, and inclines them to believe, while he leaves the non-elect in his just judgment to their own wickedness and obduracy.  And herein is especially displayed the profound, and merciful, and at the same time the righteous discrimination between men, equally involved in ruin;  or that decree of election and reprobation, revealed in the Word of God, which though men of perverse, impure and unstable minds wrest to their own destruction, yet to holy and pious souls affords unspeakable consolation.

But, there is hope!

Article 16.  Those who do not yet experience a lively faith in Christ, an assured confidence of soul, peace of conscience, an earnest endeavor after filial obedience, and glorying in God through Christ, efficaciously wrought in them, and do nevertheless persist in the use of the means which God hath appointed for working these graces in us, ought not to be alarmed at the mention of reprobation, nor to rank themselves among the reprobate, but diligently to persevere in the use of means, and with ardent desires, devoutly and humbly to wait for a season of richer grace.  Much less cause have they to be terrified by the doctrine of reprobation, who, though they seriously desire to be turned to God, to please him only, and to be delivered from the body of death, cannot yet reach that measure of holiness and faith to which they aspire;  since a merciful God has promised that he will not quench the smoking flax, nor break the bruised reed.  But this doctrine is justly terrible to those, who, regardless of God and of the Savior Jesus Christ, have wholly given themselves up to the cares of the world, and the pleasures of the flesh, so long as they are not seriously converted to God.

 

We conclude with praise and a quote from the above Article 6:  “decree of election and reprobation, revealed in the Word of God, which though men of perverse, impure and unstable minds wrest to their own destruction, yet to holy and pious souls affords unspeakable consolation”.  

“For You have delivered my soul from death, Indeed my feet from stumbling, So that I may walk before God In the light of the living.”  Psalm 56:13

“For You have rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears, My feet from stumbling.”  Psalm 116:8

“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.”  Jude 1:24-25.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Peter 1:22-25.

 

“Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.  For,

And this is the word which was preached to you.”  1 Peter 1:22-25.

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The living and enduring word of God causes us to be born again.  Verse 23.   

“For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 1:18 

“and he will speak words to you by which you will be saved, you and all your household.’”  Acts 11:14

The living and enduring word of God causes us to live out our lives. 

“But He answered and said,  “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”  Matthew 4:4

The living and enduring word of God guides us and protects us.
 
Psalm 119:105
“Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”

Proverbs 30:5
“Every word of God is tested;  He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”

The living and enduring word of God blesses us.

Proverbs 16:20
“He who gives attention to the word will find good, And blessed is he who trusts in the LORD.”

Luke 11:28
“… blessed are those who hear the word of God and observe it.”

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
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.”  Psalm 1:2-3.

The living and enduring word of God causes us to fervently love our brethren.  Verses 22 and 23.  

“but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected.  By this we know that we are in Him:”  1 John 2:5

In summary, the living and enduring word of God performs its work in you who believe.  “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.”  1 Thessalonians 2:13

Today, I leave for a 7 day cruise vacation.  God willing, my next daily devotion will be December 24, Christmas Eve.  May God continue to sustain you and cheer you through His Word. 

 

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

 

“If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;  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.  For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”  1 Peter 1:17-21.

 

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The following Canons of Dordt (SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby) lists some of the gifts: “the gift of justifying faith” and “all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit”.

 

In summary, the following Canons of Dordt states that the precious blood of Christ purges us from all sin and effectively redeems us to salvation.  Christ “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”.

 

 

Thereby, we more fully understand today’s Scripture that we, “through Him are believers in God” and our “faith and hope are in God”.  Through Christ’s precious blood, we received “the gift of justifying faith” and “all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit”.

                                

Man wants credit for his works or at least his faith.  “Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  John 6:28.

But, God will not share credit for salvation.  Accordingly, “Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:29.  It is God’s work that we even believe in Christ.

“But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:30-31.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Peter 1:13-16.

 

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;  because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

 

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In today’s Scripture, and in all the similar following Scriptures, there is hope that we can be holy and do those things that we should do.  Today’s Scripture instructs us to “fix your hope completely on the grace”. 

 

Likewise, notice the hope in the following similar Scriptures which contain similar duties but which also contain similar hope that we can be holy and do those things that we should do.  I have highlighted the words of hope in bold italic font.   

 

“But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief;  for you are all sons of light and sons of day.  We are not of night nor of darkness;  so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.  For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.  But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.”  1 Thessalonians 5:4-8. 

 

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”  Romans 12:2.

 

“For I am the Lord your God.  Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.  …  For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God;  thus you shall be holy, for I am holy.’”  Leviticus 11:44-45.

 

 

In conclusion, as today’s Scripture commands, “fix your hope completely on the grace”. 

 

God has made us to be sons of light.  So, we walk in the light sober and alert and prepared for action. 

 

 

The will of God is that we do what is good and acceptable and perfect.  Therefore, we do what is good and perfect and acceptable.  “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.

 

“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,
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‘;
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.

 

God is the One Who makes us holy.  So, we are holy.  “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely;  and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23

 

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Peter 1:10-12.

 

“As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.  It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves, but you, in these things which now have been announced to you through those who preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things into which angels long to look.”  1 Peter 1:10-12.

 

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“As to this salvation”, we need to exercise due diligence and make “careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know” all that Scripture teaches us about this salvation.  Verses 10 and 11.  These are “things into which angels long to look.”  Verse 12.

 

 

We can turn to two of Jesus’ parables for that answer.

 

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again;  and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”  Matthew 13:44.

 

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.”  Matthew 13:45-46.

 

“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.  For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?  …”  Hebrews 2:1-2.

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Peter 1:6-9.

 

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”  1 Peter 1:6-9.

 

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Because we “are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5), we “greatly rejoice” and endure the various trials, proving our faith in “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. 

 

Simply, we don’t have faith in ourselves that we will persevere.  We have faith in God that He will protect and preserve us. 

 

This faith is not a begrudging faith.  This faith is a “greatly rejoice” faith.

 

We view various trials as stepping stones to salvation not as stumbling blocks to a cruise through life.

 

We don’t view various trials as nuisances nor as nonsense.  We view various trials as part of God’s sovereign providence for our lives which causes all things to work together for our good.  Romans 8:28.