Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 6:1-8.

 

“¹ Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, ² of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment.  ³ And this we will do, if God permits.  ⁴ For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame.  ⁷ For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God;  ⁸ but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned.”  Hebrews 6:1-8.

 

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Today’s Scripture continues to emphasize the importance of growth.  And, it contains a warning.

 

A long time ago, I attended a Pentecostal church.  Every Sunday night, the congregation was encouraged to come up to the altar and kneel down and repent.  Now, of course, repentance is good, and tears are good.  But, it does no good to go out in the following week and engage in the same bad behavior and think that all is necessary is to repent again Sunday night.  Growth is important. 

 

Jesus told a parable about the Sower and the Seed which illustrates the importance of growth.  “Now the parable is this:  the seed is the word of God.  Those beside the road are those who have heard;  then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved.  Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy;  and these have no firm root;  they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away.  The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.  But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.”  Luke 8:11-15. 

 

Yes, we are elected.  Yes, we have received magnificent promises.  But, let us also be diligent to grow and add moral qualities to our lives.  Let us press on to maturity.

 

“For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.  Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.  For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.  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 1:4-11. 

 

In conclusion, even Paul did not rest on his laurels.  “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet;  but one thing I do:  forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 3:13-14.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 5:11-14.

 

“¹¹ Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. ¹² For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.  ¹³ For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant. ¹⁴ But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.”  Hebrews 5:11-14.

 

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There is a lesson for us the congregation.  But, there is also a lesson for us the preachers and teachers. 

 

For the congregation, it is not sufficient for us to show up at church on Sunday or even twice on Sunday.  We can “go through the motions” without growing as we should.  Who would think it is sufficient to just go to a classroom without listening carefully, without taking notes, and without studying hard?!  Who would think it is sufficient to just go to a gym without working out hard?!     

 

For preachers and teachers, we can consciously or unconsciously condone this “dull of hearing” behavior of the congregation.  We may only require financial support and respect from our congregation.  We may want the congregation to need us more than we want the congregation to be able to become teachers and leaders in the church, as Paul states here that they should be.  We may praise those who just show up without showing any real growth or real fruit in their lives. 

 

It may be easier for preachers and teachers to preach and teach to “the lowest common denominator”, the “dull of hearing”.  It may be easier for preachers and teachers to just recycle sermons and lessons and give the congregation a bottle of milk rather than working hard in their sermon or lesson in order to put fresh steak in it. 

 

We sense how bad Paul wanted his congregation to grow.  “My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you— but I could wish to be present with you now and to change my tone, for I am perplexed about you.  Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law?”  Galatians 4:19-21. 

 

We see the gifts of Christ and the goal of preaching and teaching in Ephesians 4:11-15.  “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.  As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming;  but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,”  Ephesians 4:11-15.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 5:1-10.

 

“¹ For every high priest taken from among men is appointed on behalf of men in things pertaining to God, in order to offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins;  ² he can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness;  ³ and because of it he is obligated to offer sacrifices for sins, as for the people, so also for himself.  ⁴ And no one takes the honor to himself, but receives it when he is called by God, even as Aaron was.

 

⁵ So also Christ did not glorify Himself so as to become a high priest, but He who said to Him,

⁶ just as He says also in another passage,

⁷ In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety.  ⁸ Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.  ⁹ And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, ¹⁰ being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”  Hebrews 5:1-10.

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Today’s Scripture explains how Christ is “the source of eternal salvation”.  

Christ was “designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”  Verse 10.  Hebrews Chapter 7 identifies Melchizedek.  Click here: Hebrews 7 NASB – Melchizedek’s Priesthood Like – Bible Gateway

Here is some of what Hebrews Chapter 7 states about Melchizedek:

“Now observe how great this man was to whom Abraham, the patriarch, gave a tenth of the choicest spoils.  And those indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have commandment in the Law to collect a tenth from the people, that is, from their brethren, although these are descended from Abraham.  But the one whose genealogy is not traced from them collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed the one who had the promises.  But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.”  Hebrews 7:4-7.

“And this is clearer still, if another priest arises according to the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become such not on the basis of a law of physical requirement, but according to the power of an indestructible life.  For it is attested of Him,

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 7:15-19. 

Christ “can deal gently with the ignorant and misguided, since he himself also is beset with weakness”.  Verse 2.

Christ’s supplications for His people were heard by God “because of His piety”.  Verse 7.

Christ was obedient to God and made perfect.  Verses 8 and 9.

In summary, Christ is our perfect High Priest and “the source of eternal salvation”.  Verse 9.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 4:14-16.

 

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.  For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hebrews 4:14-16.

 

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If someone has previously struggled with the same type of problem that we now face, we know that they are more likely to feel empathy and have sympathy for us.  We may be more willing to accept their encouragement, advice, and other help.  

 

Christ “has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin.”  Verse 15.  Christ sympathizes with our weaknesses,  Verse 15.  Hopefully, those facts will make us more willing to accept Christ’s encouragement, advice, and other help. 

 

                              

Question 39:  Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be man?

Answer:  It was requisite that the Mediator should be man, that he might advance our nature, perform obedience to the law, suffer and make intercession for us in our nature, have a fellow feeling of our infirmities;  that we might receive the adoption of sons, and have comfort and access with boldness unto the throne of grace.

“Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”  Hebrews 2:17. 

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 4:12-13.

 

“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.  ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.”  Hebrews 4:12-13.

 

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God is “able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  Verse 12.  Nothing is “hidden from His sight”.  Verse 13. 

 

God certainly knows each sin, no matter if we think it is hidden like a thought or intention.  Therefore, we should confess our sins and seek forgiveness. 

 

“³ When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
⁴ For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer.  Selah.
⁵ I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”;
And You forgave the guilt of my sin.”  Psalm 32:3-5. 

 

We should also know that God also knows each good deed and each good thought.  His favor is on those is “on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness”.  Psalm 33:18-19.    

 

“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His. ….”  2 Chronicles 16:9.

 

“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.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 4:1-11.

 

“¹ Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it.  ² For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also;  but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.  ³ For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,

although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.  ⁴ For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day:  “And God rested on the seventh day from all His works”;  ⁵ and again in this passage, “They shall not enter My rest.”  ⁶ Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience,  ⁷ He again fixes a certain day, “Today,” saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,

⁸ For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that.  ⁹ So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God.  ¹⁰ For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.  ¹¹ Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.”  Hebrews 4:1-11.

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Notice how proud so many are when they say:  “I am so busy!”  They may think they are making progress in their lives.  They may be in fact be busy.  They may be working hard.  They may even be zealous about their work.  But, all they are doing is like Israel wandering through the desert.

Martha was busy, even serving others.  Martha’s sister Mary was “seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word”.  Martha complained:  “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone?  Then tell her to help me.”  But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;  but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”  See Luke 10:38-42.

Jesus said:  “Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal.”  Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?”  Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:27-29.

Some may protest:  “But, we are busy serving the Lord!”  Paul recognized this about his Jewish kinsman:  “For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.  For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”  Romans 10:2-4.  And, this zealous, busy, hard-working pursuit of self-righteousness is common among those who claim to be Christians as well. 

And others may strive for self-improvement.  But, Paul admonishes them as well:  “Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?  Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?  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 3:3-5.

“⁵ Thus says the Lord,
“Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind
And makes flesh his strength,
And whose heart turns away from the Lord.
⁶ “For he will be like a bush in the desert
And will not see when prosperity comes,
But will live in stony wastes in the wilderness,
A land of salt without inhabitant.

⁷ “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord
And whose trust is the Lord.
⁸ “For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes;
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.”  Jeremiah 17:5-8.

“Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.  ⁵ But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness, ⁶ just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:

Today’s devotion come from Hebrews 3:12-19.

 

“¹² Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.  ¹³ But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.  ¹⁴ For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end,  ¹⁵ while it is said,

¹⁶ For who provoked Him when they had heard?  Indeed, did not all those who came out of Egypt led by Moses?  ¹⁷ And with whom was He angry for forty years?  Was it not with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness?  ¹⁸ And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who were disobedient?  ¹⁹ So we see that they were not able to enter because of unbelief.”  Hebrews 3:12-19. 

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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 unbelievably 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 the work of Christ, or are we partially going to trust our own works? 

There is a real “tug of war” struggle in all of us, particularly mature Christians.  We are continually tempted to partially rely on our own self-righteousness and our own ability to know and obey the Law. 

Like the sons of Israel, we receive promises of God.  Are we going to trust God?  We know the “justification by faith alone in Christ alone” promise of God.  But, we also see these giants in the land, and we want to trust what we can see and depend on our own self-righteousness and our own ability to know and obey the Law. 

Paul also struggled with this “tug of war” struggle.  

There is the pull to rely on depend on our self-righteousness and our own ability to know and obey the Law (“the flesh”):  “although I myself might have confidence even in the flesh. If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more:  circumcised the eighth day, of the nation of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews;  as to the Law, a Pharisee;  as to zeal, a persecutor of the church;  as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.”  Philippians 3:4-6.  “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles;”  Galatians 2:15.

There is the pull to trust the “justification by faith in Christ alone” promise of God:  “nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.”  Galatians 2:16.

Then, there is the pull back:  “But if, while seeking to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have also been found sinners, is Christ then a minister of sin?  May it never be!”  Galatians 2:17.  We can almost hear Paul think:  “I should trust the Law and what I have been taught my whole life!”

But, Paul looks to Christ again and his faith stiffens:  “For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.  For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.  I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me;  and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.  I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”  Galatians 2:18-21.

We are on the threshhold of the Promised Land.  Are we going to trust the promises of God and enter the Promised Land despite the giants we see in the land, or are we going to shrink back?  Are we going to rest on the work of Christ alone?  Or, are we going to try to supply in addition our own works of self-righteousness just to be safe?  

“Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.”  Hebrews 4:11.  

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 3:7-11.

 

“⁷ Therefore, just as the Holy Spirit says,

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 3:1-6.

 

“Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling, consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession;  He was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was in all His house.  For He has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, by just so much as the builder of the house has more honor than the house.  For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.  Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later;  but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house—whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.”  Hebrews 3:1-6.

 

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“For the Law was given through Moses;  grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”  John 1:17.

 

“Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.  But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.  For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.  For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”  Galatians 3:24-27.

 

“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.  …  Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins;  but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time onward until His enemies be made a footstool for His feet.  For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”  Hebrews 10:1 and 11-14. 

 

“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.

 

But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?  For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.  For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it.  For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

 

Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away.  But their minds were hardened;  for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.  But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;  but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.  Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”  2 Corinthians 3:4-18.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 2:9-18.

 

“⁹ But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.¹⁰ For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.  ¹¹ For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father;  for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren, ¹² saying,

¹³ And again,

And again,

¹⁴ Therefore, since the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵ and might free those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives.  ¹⁶ For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham.  ¹⁷ Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.  ¹⁸ For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”  Hebrews 2:9-18.

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Today’s Scripture teaches us that in order for Jesus to be our Savior, He had to become man.  As the Heidelberg Catechism states:  “the justice of God requires that the same human nature which hath sinned, should likewise make satisfaction for sin;  and one, who is himself a sinner, cannot satisfy for others”.  (See Question and Answer 16 below.).  “Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”  Verse 17.

Here is what the Belgic Confession states in part about the need for our Savior to be man:

Article 18:  Of the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.

We confess, therefore, that God did fulfill the promise, which he made to the fathers, by the mouth of his holy prophets, when he sent into the world, at the time appointed by him, his own, only-begotten and eternal Son, who took upon him the form of a servant, and became like unto man, really assuming the true human nature, with all its infirmities, sin excepted, being conceived in the womb of the blessed Virgin Mary, by the power of the Holy Ghost, without the means of man, and did not only assume human nature as to the body, but also a true human soul, that he might be a real man.  For since the soul was lost as well as the body, it was necessary that he should take both upon him, to save both.  Therefore we confess (in opposition to the heresy of the Anabaptists, who deny that Christ assumed human flesh of his mother) that Christ is become a partaker of the flesh and blood of the children;  that he is a fruit of the loins of David after the flesh;  made of the seed of David according to the flesh;  a fruit of the womb of the Virgin Mary, made of a woman, a branch of David;  a shoot of the root of Jesse;  sprung from the tribe of Judah;  descended from the Jews according to the flesh;  of the seed of Abraham, since he took on him the seed of Abraham, and became like unto his brethren in all things, sin excepted, so that in truth he is our Immanuel, that is to say, God with us.

Here is what the Westminister Larger Catechism states in part about the need for our Savior to be man:

Question 38:  Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be God?

Answer:  It was requisite that the Mediator should be God, that he might sustain and keep the human nature from sinking under the infinite wrath of God, and the power of death;  give worth and efficacy to his sufferings, obedience, and intercession;  and to satisfy God’s justice, procure his favor, purchase a peculiar people, give his Spirit to them, conquer all their enemies, and bring them to everlasting salvation.

Question 39:  Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be man?

Answer:  It was requisite that the Mediator should be man, that he might advance our nature, perform obedience to the law, suffer and make intercession for us in our nature, have a fellow feeling of our infirmities;  that we might receive the adoption of sons, and have comfort and access with boldness unto the throne of grace.

Question 40:  Why was it requisite that the Mediator should be God and man in one person ?

Answer:  It was requisite that the Mediator, who was to reconcile God and man, should himself be both God and man, and this in one person, that the proper works of each nature might be accepted of God for us, and relied on by us, as the works of the whole person.

Here is what the Heidelberg Catechism states in part about the need for our Savior to be man:

V. LORD’S DAY.

Question 12.  Since then, by the righteous judgment of God, we deserved temporal and eternal punishment, is there no way by which we may escape that punishment, and be again received into favor?

Answer.  God will have his justice satisfied; and therefore we must make this full satisfaction, either by ourselves, or by another.

Question 13.  Can we ourselves then make this satisfaction?

Answer.  By no means;  but on the contrary we daily increase our debt.

Question 14.  Can there be found anywhere, one, who is a mere creature, able to satisfy for us?

Answer.  None;  for, first, God will not punish any other creature for the sin which man hath committed;  and further, no mere creature can sustain the burden of God’s eternal wrath against sin, so as to deliver others from it.

Question 15.  What sort of a mediator and deliverer then must we seek for?

Answer.  For one who is very man, and perfectly righteous; and yet more powerful than all creatures;  that is, one who is also very God.

VI. LORD’S DAY.

Question 16.  Why must he be very man, and also perfectly righteous?

Answer.  Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which hath sinned, should  likewise make satisfaction for sin;  and one, who is himself a sinner, cannot satisfy for others.

Question 17.  Why must he in one person be also very God?

Answer.  That he might, by the power of his Godhead sustain in his human nature, the burden of God’s wrath;  and might obtain for, and restore to us, righteousness and life.

Question 18.  Who then is that Mediator, who is in one person both very God, and a real righteous man?

Answer.  Our Lord Jesus Christ:  “who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”

Question 19. Whence knowest thou this?

Answer.  From the holy gospel, which God himself first revealed in Paradise;  and afterwards published by the patriarchs and prophets, and represented by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law;  and lastly, has fulfilled it by his only begotten Son.