Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 11:3.

 

“By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.”  Hebrews 11:3.

 

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It is a matter of fact that God created the heavens and the earth, whether we believe it or not. 

 

But, it is a matter of faith that we understand it.  Today’s Scripture teaches:  “By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things which are visible.” 

 

And let us not think that just because creation is also a matter of faith, it is not important.  We recognize that salvation is also a matter of faith, but we recognize how important salvation is and that our faith is essential to our salvation.

 

Let us consider that Hebrews Chapter 11, “The Hall of Fame for Faith” presents the use of faith to understand creation as one of the very first few uses of faith.  In other words, an element of our faith is a belief that God created the heavens and the earth.  It is that important. 

 

The Westminister Larger Catechism gives creation a proper place of importance when it states:

                      

Question 15:  What is the work of creation?

Answer:  The work of creation is that wherein God did in the beginning, by the word of his power, make of nothing the world, and all things therein, for himself, within the space of six days, and all very good.

The Heidelberg Catechism, in specifying what a belief in God the Father entails, starts out with an understanding that out of nothing, God made heaven and earth.

Question 26.  What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?

Answer.  That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them;  who likewise upholds and governs the same by his eternal counsel and providence) is for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father; on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt, but he will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body:  and further, that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me, in this valley of tears turn out to my advantage; for he is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.

Let us consider how strongly and often creation is presented in Scripture.  Here are some examples to build our faith. 

Genesis 1:1
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

 

Genesis 1:21
“God created the great sea monsters and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind; and God saw that it was good.”

 

Genesis 1:27
“God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him;  male and female He created them.”

 

Exodus 20:11
“For in six days the LORD madethe heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day;  therefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.”

 

Psalm 104:30
“You send forth Your Spirit, they are created;  And You renew the face of the ground.”

 

Psalm 148:5
“Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created.”

 

Isaiah 40:26
“Lift up your eyes on high And see who has created these stars, The One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name;  Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, Not one of them is missing.”

 

Isaiah 40:28
“Do you not know?  Have you not heard?  The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth Does not become weary or tired.  His understanding is inscrutable.”

 

Isaiah 41:20
“That they may see and recognize, And consider and gain insight as well, That the hand of the LORD has done this, And the Holy One of Israel has created it.”

 

Isaiah 42:5
“Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out, Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on it And spirit to those who walk in it,”

 

Isaiah 43:1
“But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;  I have called you by name; you are Mine!”

 

Isaiah 43:15
“I am the LORD, your Holy One, The Creator of Israel, your King.”

 

Isaiah 45:8
“Drip down, O heavens, from above, And let the clouds pour down righteousness;  Let the earth open up and salvation bear fruit, And righteousness spring up with it.  I, the LORD, have created it.”

 

Isaiah 45:12
“It is I who made the earth, and created man upon it.  I stretched out the heavens with My hands And I ordained all their host.”

 

Isaiah 45:18
“For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (He is the God who formed the earth and made it, He established it and did not create it a waste place, but formed it to be inhabited), “I am the LORD, and there is none else.”

 

Amos 4:13
“For behold, He who forms mountains and creates the wind And declares to man what are His thoughts, He who makes dawn into darkness And treads on the high places of the earth, The LORD God of hosts is His name.”

 

Mark 10:6
“But from the beginning of creation, God MADE THEM MALE AND FEMALE.”

 

Romans 1:20
“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”

 

Romans 1:25
“For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.  Amen.”

 

Colossians 1:16
“For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities— all things have been created through Him and for Him.”

 

1 Timothy 4:4
“For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude;”

 

1 Peter 4:19
“Therefore, those also who suffer according to the will of God shall entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.”

 

Revelation 4:11
“Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

 

Revelation 5:13
“And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.”

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 11:2.

 

“For by it (faith) the men of old gained approval.”  Hebrews 11:2.

 

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“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6 

 

And then, Hebrews Chapter 11, the Hall of Fame for Faith, proceeds to give examples of how men and women of faith gained approval.  God willing, we will cover these inspiring examples of faith in upcoming devotions.  “And all these, … gained approval through their faith …”  Hebrews 11:39.

 

“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.
¹⁶ The king is not saved by a mighty army;
A warrior is not delivered by great strength.
¹⁷ A horse is a false hope for victory;
Nor does it deliver anyone by its great strength.

                                  

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”  Luke 2:14

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 11:1.

 

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”  Hebrews 11:1.

 

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There is a component of faith that God is good to us and that is assured that God will show lovingkindness to us.  Compare “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for” (Verse 1) with “he who comes to God must believe that … He is a rewarder of those who seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6). 

 

To get a better understanding of this component of faith, contrast those without faith who “shrink back into destruction” (Hebrews 10:39) with those with faith who “draw near (to God) with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:22).  

 

How do we consider the hands of God?  Consider those without faith:  “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” (Hebrews 10:31).  Consider those with faith:  “Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, So our eyes look to the LORD our God, Until He is gracious to us.”  Psalm 123:2

 

In conclusion, the Heidelberg Catehism nails down this component of faith that God is good to us and that is assured that God will show lovingkindness to us.

 

Question 26.  What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?

 

Answer.  That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them;  who likewise upholds and governs the same by his eternal counsel and providence) is for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father;  on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt, but he will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body: and further, that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me, in this valley of tears turn out to my advantage; for he is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 10:32-39.

 

“³² But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, ³³ partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated.  ³⁴ For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one.  ³⁵ Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  ³⁶ For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

³⁹ But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”  Hebrews 10:32-39.

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We don’t have faith in the strength of our own faith.  But rather, we have faith in God Who gives us that faith and Who preserves that God-given faith.  That is why we don’t shrink back.

Regarding the fact that God gives us faith, consider the following Reformed Confessions:

The Heidelberg Catechism speaks of true faith being “an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost works by the gospel, in my heart”.

Question 21.  What is true faith?

Answer.  True faith is not only a certain knowledge, whereby I hold for truth all that God has revealed to us in his word, but also an assured confidence, which the Holy Ghost works by the gospel, in my heart;  that not only to others, but to me also, remission of sin, everlasting righteousness and salvation, are freely given by God, merely of grace, only for the sake of Christ’s merits.

The Belgic Confession likewise recognizes that “the Holy Ghost kindleth in our hearts an upright faith”.  

Article 22:  Of Faith in Jesus Christ.

We believe that, to attain the true knowledge of this great mystery, the Holy Ghost kindleth in our hearts an upright faith, which embraces Jesus Christ, with all his merits, appropriates him, and seeks nothing more besides him.  For it must needs follow, either that all things, which are requisite to our salvation, are not in Jesus Christ, or if all things are in him, that then those who possess Jesus Christ through faith, have complete salvation in him. Therefore, for any to assert, that Christ is not sufficient, but that something more is required besides him, would be too gross a blasphemy:  for hence it would follow, that Christ was but half a Savior.  Therefore we justly say with Paul, that we are justified by faith alone, or by faith without works.  However, to speak more clearly, we do not mean, that faith itself justifies us, for it is only an instrument with which we embrace Christ our Righteousness.  But Jesus Christ, imputing to us all his merits and so many holy works which he has done for us, and in our stead, is our Righteousness.  And faith is an instrument that keeps us in communion with him in all his benefits, which, when become ours, are more than sufficient to acquit us of our sins.

The Westminister Larger Catechism teaches:  “Justifying faith is a saving grace, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and Word of God”. 

Question 72:  What is justifying faith?

Answer:  Justifying faith is a saving grace, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and Word of God, whereby he, being convinced of his sin and misery, and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition, not only assents to the truth of the promise of the gospel, but receives and rests upon Christ and his righteousness, therein held forth, for pardon of sin, and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for salvation.

The Canons of Dordt points to “the gift of justifying faith” and “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”.

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.

Regarding the fact that God preserves that God-given faith, consider the following from the Canons of Dordt from FIFTH HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Perseverance of the Saints:

Article 3.  By reason of these remains of indwelling sin, and the temptations of sin and of the world, those who are converted could not persevere in a state of grace, if left to their own strength.  But God is faithful, who having conferred grace, mercifully confirms, and powerfully preserves them herein, even to the end.

Article 8.  Thus, it is not in consequence of their own merits, or strength, but of God’s free mercy, that they do not totally fall from faith and grace, nor continue and perish finally in their backslidings;  which, with respect to themselves, is not only possible, but would undoubtedly happen;  but with respect to God, it is utterly impossible, since his counsel cannot be changed, nor his promise fail, neither can the call according to his purpose be revoked, nor the merit, intercession and preservation of Christ be rendered ineffectual, nor the sealing of the Holy Spirit be frustrated or obliterated.

“But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”  Verse 39.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 10:26-31.

 

“²⁶ For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.  ²⁸ Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  ²⁹ How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?  ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.”  ³¹ It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”  Hebrews 10:26-31.

 

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This is not a call to avoid “sinning willfully” by going back to the Law and trying harder.  This is not a call to perfect ourselves by the flesh.  Remember the context of the previous chapters in how Peter was patiently comparing the old covenant represented by the works of the Law versus the new covenant represented by our perfect High Priest Jesus Christ and His perfect one-time sacrifice for us to cleanse us of our sins through His blood. 

 

This knowledge of the new covenant is the knowledge of truth that Peter refers to verse 26.  And, the sin that he refers to also in verse 26 is the sin of going back to the old covenant. 

 

                                

The sons of Israel were on the threshhold of entering the Promised Land.  God had proven Himself faithful without exception in delivering them from Egypt and caring for them with mighty miracles. 

Their spies also confirmed all the good things about the land.  “When they returned from spying out the land, at the end of forty days, they proceeded to come to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the sons of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh;  and they brought back word to them and to all the congregation and showed them the fruit of the land.  Thus they told him, and said, “We went in to the land where you sent us; and it certainly does flow with milk and honey, and this is its fruit.”  Numbers 13:25-27. 

But, the sons of Israel shrunk back into unbelief as they heard these words of the spies.  ”Nevertheless, the people who live in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large;  and moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there.”  Numbers 13:28.

Caleb tried to rebuild their faith.  “Then Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of it, for we will surely overcome it.”  Numbers 13:30.   

“But the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are too strong for us.”  So they gave out to the sons of Israel a bad report of the land which they had spied out, saying, “The land through which we have gone, in spying it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are men of great size.”  Numbers 13:31-32. 

“Then all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night.  All the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron;  and the whole congregation said to them, “Would that we had died in the land of Egypt!  Or would that we had died in this wilderness!  Why is the Lord bringing us into this land, to fall by the sword?  Our wives and our little ones will become plunder;  would it not be better for us to return to Egypt?”  So they said to one another, “Let us appoint a leader and return to Egypt.”

“Then Moses and Aaron fell on their faces in the presence of all the assembly of the congregation of the sons of Israel.  Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, of those who had spied out the land, tore their clothes;  and they spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, saying, “The land which we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land.  If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us—a land which flows with milk and honey.  Only do not rebel against the Lord;  and do not fear the people of the land, for they will be our prey.  Their protection has been removed from them, and the Lord is with us;  do not fear them.”  Numbers 14:1-9. 

“But all the congregation said to stone them with stones.”  Numbers 14:10. 

And, we know the rest of the story.  God punished the sons of Israel by forcing them to wander in the desert for 40 years, and none of that generation entered the Promised Land except Caleb and Joshua.  ”So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.”  Hebrews 3:19.

We too are on the threshhold of entering our rest.  Are we going to fully trust and rest upon the work of Christ, or are we going back to trust our own works? 

In conclusion, let us not be like those in Israel who wanted to go back to Egypt.  Let us not be like those Arminians who want to go back to trusting their own free will and their own works.  Let us not be like those who want to go back to the old covenant.  “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”  Hebrews 10:19-22.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 10:23-25.

 

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;  and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”  Hebrews 10:23-25.

 

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Some doctrine confesses man’s goodness, man’s free-will, and man’s self-improvement. 

 

Reformed doctrine confesses God’s goodness, God’s sovereignty, and God’s work to handle all the points of salvation from “Unconditional Election” through “Preservation of the Saints”, “U” through “P” of “TULIP, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. 

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

Here is Article 8 of the Canons of Dordt from the section titled:  “SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men. 

 

 

 

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful”:  “encouraging one another”.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 10:19-22.

 

“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”  Hebrews 10:19-22.

 

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“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, … let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith“.

 

We are reminded of the contrast between the works of the Law in the old covenant and the work of Christ in the new covenant. 

 

Under the works of the Law in the old covenant, there was plenty of busy worship in the outer tabernacle, “but into the second (the holy place), only the high priest enters once a year, not without taking blood, which he offers for himself and for the sins of the people committed in ignorance.  The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time.  Accordingly both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience, since they relate only to food and drink and various washings, regulations for the body imposed until a time of reformation.”  Hebrews 7:7-10.

                                 

“For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.”  Hebrews 7:18-19.

 

 

“What shall we say then?  Is the Law sin?  May it never be!  On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law;  for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “You shall not covet.”  But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind;  for apart from the Law sin is dead.  I was once alive apart from the Law;  but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”  Hebrews 7:7-11.  

 

 

“So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.  But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”  Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son;  and if a son, then an heir through God.”  Galatians 4:3-7.

 

“For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”  Romans 8:15.

 

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free;  therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”  Galatians 5:1.

 

^“You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law;  you have fallen from grace.”  Galatians 5:4.

 

“But My righteous one shall live by faith;
And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

 

“But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”  Hebrews 10:38-39. 

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 10:11-18.

 

“¹¹ Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;  ¹² but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, ¹³ waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.  ¹⁴ For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.  ¹⁵ And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us;  for after saying,

He then says,

¹⁸ Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.”  Hebrews 10:11-18.

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“O sing to the Lord a new song,
For He has done wonderful things,
His right hand and His holy arm have gained the victory for Him.
² The Lord has made known His salvation;
He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations.
³ He has remembered His lovingkindness and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”  Verse 14. 

In contrast to this work of Christ in the new covenant, there are the works of the Law in the old covenant.  “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse;  for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who does not abide by all things written in the book of the law, to perform them.”  Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, “The righteous man shall live by faith.”  Galatians 3:10-11.  “This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?  Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”  Galatians 3:2-4. 

“Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;”  Verse 11.

“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did:  sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.  For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.”  Romans 8:3-5.

He then says,

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 10:1-10.

 

“¹ For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near. ² Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins?  ³ But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins year by year.  ⁴ For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.  ⁵ Therefore, when He comes into the world, He says,

⁸ After saying above, “Sacrifices and offerings and whole burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin You have not desired, nor have You taken pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the Law), ⁹ then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.” He takes away the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰ By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  Hebrews 10:1-10.

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We have seen in Galatians that we can not perfect ourselves through our own works of the Law (first covenant).  “This is the only thing I want to find out from you:  did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?  ³ Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?  ⁴ Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?  ⁵ So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”  Galatians 3:2-4.

And now in today’s Scripture, we see that we are not even made perfect through the sacrifices of the Law.  “For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.”  Verse 1.  

Our only hope is the will of God in the second covenant through the work of Jesus Christ:  “then He (Jesus Christ) said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will.”  He takes away the first (covenant) in order to establish the second (covenant).  By this will (the will of God the Father) we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”  Verses 9 and 10.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 9:23-28.

 

“²³ Therefore it was necessary for the copies of the things in the heavens to be cleansed with these, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these.  ²⁴ For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us;  ²⁵ nor was it that He would offer Himself often, as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own.  ²⁶ Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world;  but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.  ²⁷ And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once and after this comes judgment, ²⁸ so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin, to those who eagerly await Him.”  Hebrews 9:23-28.

 

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Do we still look back at the Law wanting to prove our own self-righteousness?  Or, do we heed the building momentum of the Book of Hebrews and eagerly await Christ Who has born our sins and Who will bring us salvation?

 

Do we “hedge our bets” by thinking we believe in Jesus, but to be safe, by also trying to perfect ourselves by our flesh?  Or, do we rest upon Christ and His work? 

 

Here is what the following Reformed Confessions state:

 

Question 30.  Do such then believe in Jesus the only Savior, who seek their salvation and welfare of saints, of themselves, or anywhere else?

 

Answer.  They do not;  for though they boast of him in words, yet in deeds they deny Jesus the only deliverer and Savior;  for one of these two things must be true, that either Jesus is not a complete Savior; or that they, who by a true faith receive this Savior, must find all things in him necessary to their salvation.  The Heidelberg Catechism.

                               

Question 72:  What is justifying faith?

Answer:  Justifying faith is a saving grace, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and Word of God, whereby he, being convinced of his sin and misery, and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition, not only assents to the truth of the promise of the gospel, but receives and rests upon Christ and his righteousness, therein held forth, for pardon of sin, and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for salvation.  The Westminister Larger Catechism.

Article 22:  Of Faith in Jesus Christ.