Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 4:16-22.

 

“¹⁶ At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me;  may it not be counted against them.  ¹⁷ But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear;  and I was rescued out of the lion’s mouth.  ¹⁸ The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom;  to Him be the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

 

¹⁹ Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.  ²⁰  Erastus remained at Corinth, but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.  ²¹ Make every effort to come before winter.  Eubulus greets you, also Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brethren.

 

²²  The Lord be with your spirit.  Grace be with you.”  2 Timothy 4:16-22.

 

 ———————

                               

“the Lord stood with me and strengthened me”.  “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom”.  The Lord be with your spirit.  Grace be with you.”  The focus of today’s Scripture is on the Lord and what He has done and will do.

                                     

Reformed Doctrine also focuses on the Lord and what He has done and will do.  The Reformed Doctrine of Salvation is “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, which focuses on what God has done and will do:  “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace”, and “Preservation of the Saints” (the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”).  Oh, and man contributed “Total Depravity”.  Because of man’s “Total Depravity” (that is, man is dead in sin, hostile to God, and ensnared to the devil), man is totally dependent on God to do everything.

                                 

“16  And He (the Lord) saw that there was no man,
And was astonished that there was no one to intercede;
Then His own arm brought salvation to Him,
And His righteousness upheld Him.
17  He put on righteousness like a breastplate,
And a helmet of salvation on His head;
And He put on garments of vengeance for clothing
And wrapped Himself with zeal as a mantle.
18  According to their deeds, so He will repay,
Wrath to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies;
To the coastlands He will make recompense.
19  So they will fear the name of the Lord from the west
And His glory from the rising of the sun,
For He will come like a rushing stream
Which the wind of the Lord drives.
20  “A Redeemer will come to Zion,
And to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the Lord.”  

Isaiah 59:16-20.

                                    

1 Corinthians 15:50-53 pits it a different way.  “Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;  nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  Behold, I tell you a mystery;  we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet;  for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.  For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.”  Man cannot put on the imperishable by himself.  Man is totally dependent on God to put the imperishable on man.

                                 

And, who can find their own way to heaven?  Can man somehow pick himself up by his bootstraps and lift himself to heaven?  No!  But, even hypothetically if man could do so. where is heaven among the clouds?  Man is totally dependent on God to bring man to God’s heavenly kingdom.

                                  

In summary, we are dead in sin.  We are perishable.  We have no clue where heaven is.  We are totally dependent on God to bring us safely to His heavenly kingdom.  It is what Scripture states.  It is what Reformed teaches.  Through God’s grace, it makes sense to us, we believe it, and we rejoice.  “For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.”  Psalm 92:4

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 4:9-15.

 

“Make every effort to come to me soon;  for Demas, having loved this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica;  Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.  Only Luke is with me.  Pick up Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful to me for service.  But Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.  When you come bring the cloak which I left at Troas with Carpus, and the books, especially the parchments.    Alexander the coppersmith did me much harm;  the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.  Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.”  2 Timothy 4:9-15.

 

———————

 

Yesterday, we learned about the Lord as “the righteous Judge”, Who will award the crown of righteousness “to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing”.  2 Timothy 4:8.  Today, we learn about the Lord as “the righteous Judge” Who “will repay him according to his deeds”.  In other words, a righteous judge not only rewards the righteous;  a righteous judge punishes the wicked.

 

What would we think of a judge who only rewarded the righteous and did not justly punish the wicked?  We would quickly throw him or her out of office.  If justice is so important to us for our earthly welfare, how much more important should justice be for our spiritual welfare!

 

But more importantly, Scripture is filled with descriptions of the Lord, as a Righteous Judge Who punishes the wicked.  Click here: BibleGateway.com – Keyword Search: punish  

 

Here are a few Scriptures.   

 

Proverbs 10:16
“The wages of the righteous is life, The income of the wicked, punishment.”

 

Isaiah 13:11
“Thus I will punish the world for its evil And the wicked for their iniquity;  I will also put an end to the arrogance of the proud And abase the haughtiness of the ruthless.”

 

Psalm 81:15
“Those who hate the LORD would pretend obedience to Him, And their time of punishment would be forever.”

 

Proverbs 15:10
“Grievous punishment is for him who forsakes the way;  He who hates reproof will die.”

 

Isaiah 26:21
“For behold, the LORD is about to come out from His place To punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity;  And the earth will reveal her bloodshed And will no longer cover her slain.”

 

Matthew 10:28
“Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul;  but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

 

Matthew 23:33
“You serpents, you brood of vipers, how will you escape the sentence of hell?”

                                      

“For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to pits of darkness, reserved for judgment;  and did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a preacher of righteousness, with seven others, when He brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;  and if He condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to destruction by reducing them to ashes, having made them an example to those who would live ungodly lives thereafter;  and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority.”  2 Peter 2:4-10.

 

 

 

“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

                        

“The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
He will wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.
And men will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
Surely there is a God who judges on earth!”  Psalm 58:10-11.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 4:6-8.

 

“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;  in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day;  and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”  2 Timothy 4:6-8.

 

———————

 

I confess that as I began preparation for this devotion, I first focused on the phrase:  “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith”.  Pride started to swell up in me.  But, then I came to my senses.  I have not yet fought the good fight.  I have not yet finished the course.  I have not yet kept the faith.  I have not yet been poured out as a drink offering.  The time of my departure has not yet come. 

 

Do I really even love His appearing?  I had not even found Jesus in today’s Scripture when I just about completed today’s devotion. 

 

But, through grace, my Lord gently turned my head toward Himself.  I thought:  “If I love His appearing, then I should find His appearing.  Where is Jesus in today’s Scripture?

 

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 4:1-5.

 

“I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom:  preach the word;  be ready in season and out of season;  reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction.  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine;  but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.  But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”  2 Timothy 4:1-5.

 

———————–

 

There are those who “will not endure sound doctrine” and who turn aside.  They may distract us away from our ministry.  They may cause us to be discouraged and to delay our ministry.  But, Paul solemnly charges us in today’s Scripture:  “preach the word;  be ready in season and out of season;  reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction“.

 

This solemn charge follows yesterday’s Scripture:  “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17.  Although we cannot sometimes see the fruit of our labors, we must meditate on verses like 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and trust the power of God’s word to accomplish God’s purpose.  

 

Isaiah 55:11
“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;  It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”

 

And, we also need to be prepared for persecutions and sufferings (2 Timothy 3:11-12), beyond just being prepared for those who “will not endure sound doctrine” and who turn aside, Paul continues to solemnly charge us:  “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

 

Yes, these are commands from God.

 

Yes, this a commission from God:  “an authorization or command to act in a prescribed manner or to perform prescribed acts : charge” –  Click here: Commission – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary

 

 

This is also a commitment from God from beginning to end.    

 

“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 it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

 

“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. 

 

So, yes, we are under an Order.  “And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead.”  Acts 10:42.

 

But, God fulfills all of His commitment and purpose.

 

“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.

 

Matthew 24:14
“This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 3:10-17.

 

“¹⁰ Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, ¹¹ persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra;  what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!  ¹² Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.  ¹³ But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.  ¹⁶  All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; ¹⁷ so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:10-17.

 

————————-

 

“It is a jungle out there!”  Paul knew it:  “persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra;  what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me!   Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”  Verses 11 and 12.  Timothy also knew it.  He “followed” or kept track of Paul’s experiences.  Verse 10.

 

We can’t go out into the jungle with “Polo” shirts, cacti pants, and “Sperry” dock shoes.  We need to go out into the jungle with the whole armor of God.  “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”  Ephesians 6:10-13.

 

In other words, we can’t go into the jungle with only the Tampa Bay Times tucked under our arm, a Reader’s Digest in our hand, and love letters from our family in our briefcase.  We need the “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”.  Ephesians 6:17.

 

Hebrews 4:12
“For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

 

I have nothing against Tampa Bay Times, Reader’s Digest, and love letters from our family.  I read them.  But, we need to rely on the word of God.  We can hold loosely to man’s words.  But, we need to grip tightly “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God”.  We can watch TV at home in our pajamas sitting on our sofa.  But, we need to go outside into the jungle fully dressed in the armor of God.

 

Jeremiah 23:28-29 illustrates this distinction:  “The prophet who has a dream may relate his dream, but let him who has My word speak My word in truth.  What does straw have in common with grain?” declares the Lord.  “Is not My word like fire?” declares the Lord, “and like a hammer which shatters a rock?”  

                                  

“7  The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul;
The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
8  The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9  The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
10  They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
11  Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward.”  Psalm 19:7-11.

                               

“All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;  so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  Verses 16 and 17.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 3:1-9.

 

“But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.   For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power;  Avoid such men as these.  For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men of depraved mind, rejected in regard to the faith.  But they will not make further progress;  for their folly will be obvious to all, just as Jannes’s and Jambres’s folly was also.”  2 Timothy 3:1-9.

 

————————-

 

“… Avoid such men as these” ungodly men.  Verse 5.

 

1 Corinthians 15:33
“Do not be deceived:  “Bad company corrupts good morals.”

 

Psalm 1:1
“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

 

“But they will not make further progress;  for their folly will be obvious to all …”  Verse 9.

 

 

“Do not be deceived, God is not mocked;  for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.  For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”  Galatians 6:7-8.

 

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,”  Romans 1:18. 

 

“And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper, being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil;  full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice;  they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;  and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.”  Romans 1:28-32.

 

“For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false,  in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness.”  2 Thessalonians 2:11-12.

 

 

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed, and will bring me safely to His heavenly kingdom;  to Him be the glory forever and ever.  Amen.”  2 Timothy 4:18.

 

“and if He rescued righteous Lot, oppressed by the sensual conduct of unprincipled men (for by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds), then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment for the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires and despise authority.”  2 Peter 2:7-10.

 

                                        

“1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
Will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
2  I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
My God, in whom I trust!”
3  For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper
And from the deadly pestilence.
4  He will cover you with His pinions,
And under His wings you may seek refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark.
5  You will not be afraid of the terror by night,
Or of the arrow that flies by day;
6  Of the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Or of the destruction that lays waste at noon.
7  A thousand may fall at your side
And ten thousand at your right hand,
But it shall not approach you.
8  You will only look on with your eyes
And see the recompense of the wicked.
9  For you have made the Lord, my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place.
10  No evil will befall you,
Nor will any plague come near your tent.
11  For He will give His angels charge concerning you,
To guard you in all your ways.
12  They will bear you up in their hands,
That you do not strike your foot against a stone.
13  You will tread upon the lion and cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you will trample down.
14  “Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name.
15  “He will call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16  “With a long life I will satisfy him
And let him see My salvation.”  Psalm Chapter 91.

Today’s devotion leads to 2 Timothy 2:23-26.

 

“But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels.  The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.”  2 Timothy 2:23-26.

 

———————–

 

“The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, …”.  Verses 24 and 25.

 

When we understand “Total Depravity” of man (that is, man is dead in sin, hostile to God, and ensnared to the devil), then this understanding helps us to be kind, able to teach, patient, and gentle, because we understand that unless God grants repentance, our best preaching or best teaching will not lead to change in our audience.  Thus, we don’t try too hard through our own flesh to win souls which leads to over-reaching speculations and quarrels.  

 

Relying on this understanding and the Spirit and power of God, like Paul, we can state:  “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.”  1 Corinthians 2:1-5.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 2:20-22.

 

“²⁰ Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.  ²¹ Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.  ²² Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”  2 Timothy 2:20-22.

 

—————————-

 

“Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use?   What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?   And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.”  Romans 9:21-23.

 

“So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:18.

 

God’s elect are made “vessels of mercy” which are made “for honorable use” such as “gold and silver vessels”.  The non-elect are made “vessels of wrath” which are made “for common use” such as “vessels of wood and of earthenware”.  God’s elect are made “to honor”.  The non-elect are made “to dishonor”. 

 

 

“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.

 

 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-6.

 

“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 has made everything for its own purpose,
Even the wicked for the day of evil.”  Proverbs 16:4.

 

Psalm 110:1
“The LORD says to my Lord:  “Sit at My right hand Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”

 

“But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.”  2 Peter 3:7.

 

“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice;
Let the many islands be glad.
Clouds and thick darkness surround Him;
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne.
Fire goes before Him
And burns up His adversaries round about.”  Psalm 97:1-3. 

 

Proverbs 21:15
“The exercise of justice is joy for the righteous, But is terror to the workers of iniquity.”

 

 

Today’s Scripture concludes:  “Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”  Verse 22.  Likewise, 2 Peter 1:4-11 commands us to apply all diligence and “in our faith” add moral qualities.  “Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you;  for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble;  for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.”  2 Peter 1:10-11.

 

Likewise, the Canons of Dordt (First Head of Doctrine) urge us who do use the means of grace and do seek to act rightly that we “ought not to be alarmed at the mention of reprobation, nor to rank themselves among the reprobate (vessels of wrath), but diligently to persevere in the use of means, and with ardent desires, devoutly and humbly to wait for a season of richer grace.”

                                     

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.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 2:14-19.

 

“¹⁴ Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers.  ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.  ¹⁶ But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness, ¹⁷ and their talk will spread like gangrene.  Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, ¹⁸ men who have gone astray from the truth saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and they upset the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”  2 Timothy 2:14-19.

 

——————————

 

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”  Verse 15.  Here are three things we can use to help us accurately handle the truth.  

 

 

If we want to understand and teach the meaning of a few verses, then the first thing we should do is consider the whole chapter.  The context of the chapter often simply and clearly explains the meaning of those verses.

 

But, there is also the broader context.  We should also search for other Scripture (outside of the chapter) which will help us understand and teach those verses.  

 

Oh, how we thirst for God and His words!  But, it is astonishing how many Preachers and Teachers think that we would prefer to see themselves and be given their own polluted fables.  Show us God and give us the pure cool water of His words!!

 

“O God, You are my God;  I shall seek You earnestly;
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh yearns for You,
In a dry and weary land where there is no water.
2  Thus I have seen You in the sanctuary,
To see Your power and Your glory.
3  Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips will praise You.
4  So I will bless You as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands in Your name.
5  My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth offers praises with joyful lips.”  Psalm 63:1-5.

 

 

Rev. Ronald Hanko, in his article “A Plea for Creeds”, states the importance of doctrine and creeds (also known as confessions).  His article in full can be read at the following link – http://www.prca.org/articles/plea_for_creeds.html

                                   

Here is a brief quote from his article explaining what happens when a denomination or church dismisses or minimizes the importance of doctrine:  ” …  by cutting herself off from the church of past, the church today says in effect that every generation must start all over in its searching of the Scriptures and pursuit of the truth.  Thus she sets herself an impossible task – a task that is either set aside as too great so that there is little knowledge of the truth in the church, or which leaves her no time for other things.”

‘This is well-stated by the Presbyterian author, G.I. Williamson:

The Bible contains a great wealth of information.  It isn’t easy to master it all – in fact, no one has ever mastered it completely.  It would therefore be foolish for us to try to do it on our own, starting from scratch.  We would be ignoring all the study of the Word of God that other people have done down through the centuries.  That is exactly why we have creeds.  They are the product of many centuries of Bible study by a great company of believers.  They are a kind of spiritual “road map” of the teaching of the Bible, already worked out and proved by others before us.”

 

“But avoid worldly and empty chatter, for it will lead to further ungodliness,”  Verse 16. 

 

It is disturbing when we hear a Preacher or Teacher give political views in a preaching or teaching venue.  Maybe, sometimes it is necessary, but it is still disturbing, and the detriments often exceed the benefits.  The Preacher or Teacher may be deluded into thinking that think he is wise and that his listeners thirst for his political opinions, but it is often just worldly and empty chatter.  Although “worldly and empty chatter” encompasses more than just political views, the temptation for Preachers and Teachers to engage in it now, in this time of the presidential campaign, calls for this focus.

 

“… Everyone who names the name of the Lord is to abstain from wickedness.”  Verse 19. 

 

Preachers and Teachers may think highly of themselves as if they would never engage in wickedness, but they need to be reminded:  “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.”  1 Corinthians 10:12 

 

More positively, “… like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior;”  1 Peter 1:15

 

It is amazing the amount of Scriptures that emphasize the importance of conduct in accurately handling truth.  Here are some more Scriptures. 

 

Philippians 1:27
“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”

 

1 Timothy 4:12
“Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”

 

Hebrews 13:7
“Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you;  and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”

 

James 3:13
“Who among you is wise and understanding?  Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.”

 

 

It is humbling for us to consider all of this, particularly how often our conduct falls short of what it should be.  “Pray for us, for we are sure that we have a good conscience, desiring to conduct ourselves honorably in all things.”  Hebrews 13:18

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Timothy 2:8-13.

 

“Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal;  but the word of God is not imprisoned.  For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory.  It is a trustworthy statement: 

 

God’s purpose according to His choice stands, not because of works but because of Him who calls.  Romans 9:11.  “For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:11-15. 

 

“You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”  John 15:16.

 

And, it makes logical sense.  If man is faithless, dead in sin, and hostile to God (as summarized by “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”), then man cannot provide any quality nor condition which will motivate God to elect him. 

 

 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Christ).”  Ephesians 1:3-6. 

 

 

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.

Article 9.  This purpose proceeding from everlasting love towards the elect, has from the beginning of the world to this day been powerfully accomplished, and will henceforward still continue to be accomplished, notwithstanding all the ineffectual opposition of the gates of hell, so that the elect in due time may be gathered together into one, and that there never may be wanting a church composed of believers, the foundation of which is laid in the blood of Christ, which may steadfastly love, and faithfully serve him as their Savior, who as a bridegroom for his bride, laid down his life for them upon the cross, and which may celebrate his praises here and through all eternity.