Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 2:5-8.

 

“⁵ For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking.  ⁶ But one has testified somewhere, saying,

For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him.”  Hebrews 2:5-8.

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“Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;  and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”  God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him;  male and female He created them.  God blessed them;  and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”  Then God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you;  and to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the sky and to every thing that moves on the earth which has life, I have given every green plant for food”;  and it was so.  God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good.  And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.”  Genesis 1:26-31.

Reformed Doctrine teaches “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  Yet, Reformed Doctrine makes it abundantly clear that man was not created with that condition of “Total Depravity”;  but rather God created man in the image of God, and God crowned man with glory and honor as today’s Scripture teaches.  But, man forfeited these excellent gifts from the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden (Paradise) when they revolted against God.

Here is what the Canons of Dordt states in part about the creation of man in the section titled:  “THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof”:

Article 1.  Man was originally formed after the image of God.  His understanding was adorned with a true and saving knowledge of his Creator, and of spiritual things;  his heart and will were upright; all his affections pure;  and the whole man was holy;  but revolting from God by the instigation of the devil, and abusing the freedom of his own will, he forfeited these excellent gifts; and on the contrary entailed on himself blindness of mind, horrible darkness, vanity and perverseness of judgment, became wicked, rebellious, and obdurate in heart and will, and impure in his affections.

Here is what the Heidelberg Catechism states in part about the creation of man:

Question 6.  Did God then create man so wicked and perverse?

Answer.  By no means;  but God created man good, and after his own image, in true righteousness and holiness, that he might rightly know God his Creator, heartily love him and live with him in eternal happiness to glorify and praise him. 

Question 7.  Whence then proceeds this depravity of human nature?

Answer.  From the fall and disobedience of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in Paradise; hence our nature is become so corrupt, that we are all conceived and born in sin. 

Question 8.  Are we then so corrupt that we are wholly incapable of doing any good, and inclined to all wickedness?

Answer.  Indeed we are;  except that we are regenerated by the Spirit of God. 

Here is what the Westminister Larger Catechism states about the creation of man:

Question 17:  How did God create man?

Answer:  After God had made all other creatures, he created man male and female;  formed the body of the man of the dust of the ground, and the woman of the rib of the man, endued them with living, reasonable, and immortal souls;  made them after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness;  having the law of God written in their hearts, and power to fulfil it, and dominion over the creatures;  yet subject to fall.

Here is what the Belgic Confession states in part about the creation of man:

Article 14:  Of the Creation and Fall of man, and his Incapacity to perform what is truly good.

We believe that God created man out of the dust of the earth, and made and formed him after his own image and likeness, good, righteous, and holy, capable in all things to will, agreeably to the will of God.  But being in honor, he understood it not, neither knew his excellency, but willfully subjected himself to sin, and consequently to death, and the curse, giving ear to the words of the devil.  For the commandment of life, which he had received, he transgressed; and by sin separated himself from God, who was his true life, having corrupted his whole nature; whereby he made himself liable to corporal and spiritual death.  And being thus become wicked, perverse, and corrupt in all his ways, he hath lost all his excellent gifts, which he had received from God, and only retained a few remains thereof, which, however, are sufficient to leave man without excuse;  for all the light which is in us is changed into darkness, as the Scriptures teach us, saying:  The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not:  where St. John calleth men darkness.  Therefore we reject all that is taught repugnant to this, concerning the free will of man, since man is but a slave to sin; and has nothing of himself, unless it is given from heaven.  …”

But, God did not leave man in that misery.  Stay tuned for the rest of the chapter:  Hebrews Chapter 2.

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

 

“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.  For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?  After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.”  Hebrews 2:1-4.

 

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Through Scripture as summarized by Reformed Doctrine, we have heard about “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  Rather than cling to these doctrines of grace, there are those who want to go back to the Law and depend on themselves to contribute works or even as little as the will to be saved.  But, Scripture is clear and totally eliminates man’s pride that he can contribute anything toward his salvation. 

 

“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.  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.”  So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:15-18.

 

God unconditionally elects those that He desires to save.  Man cannot provide the condition of works or the will which motivates God to save him.  This is “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”, and “Unconditional Election” is also consistent with “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP” which teaches that man is dead in sin, hostile to God, and enslaved to Satan.  There is no hope for us but “Unconditional Election”.  

 

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.  But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “Let him who boasts, boast in the Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-31. 

 

But, there are some who do drift away.  They rely on their own reasoning rather than on God’s Word and think:  “Man can’t be that bad.  God must love all men.  Christ must have died for all men.  It is only just that the difference between those who are saved and those who are not saved is that those who are saved are wise enough to choose Christ.”  They may claim and sing:  “There is power in the blood of Christ.”, but they really believe that the blood of Christ is just common to everyone and that the blood of Christ needs something provided by man to be effective to save.

 

There are very stern warnings in Scripture!!!

“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.  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.  Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD.’ ” Jeremiah 17:5-7.

Arminians will deny being like this man who trusts in mankind, but the Arminian trusts in his “free will” to be the determining factor as to whether or not he will be saved.  He chooses Christ through his “free will”.  He keeps his faith through “his free will”.  He turns away from the LORD of Scripture who unconditionally elects and declares:  “That is not the God I serve!”

On the other hand, the Calvinist trusts in the LORD alone to handle all the points of salvation.  The Calvinist continually seeks the LORD and focuses on the LORD and His works.  Salvation is not a joint accomplishment between God and man to the Calvinist.  The Calvinist knows that if salvation was dependent even as little as 1% on himself, that he would not be saved.  He truly trusts in the LORD alone for his salvation and attributes his salvation to grace alone.

Scripture also sternly warns us:
“For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain terrifying expectation of judgment, and THE FURY OF A FIRE WHICH WILL CONSUME THE ADVERSARIES.  Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses.  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?  For we know Him who said: “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY.” And again, THE LORD WILL JUDGE HIS PEOPLE.”  It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:26-31.

I think this Scripture applies to Arminians who steadfastly continue to hang on to Arminianism despite receiving knowledge of the truth of Calvinism.  They hang on to the false doctrine that Jesus died for everyone (“Universal Atonement” – The Third Point of Arminianism) and they love to speak about the power in Christ’s blood.  But, Arminians realize that their doctrine forces them to conclude that Christ’s blood (as they claim, shed for everyone) by itself did not save, “purchase”, or “redeem” anyone, because they admit that most people are not saved.  Arminians claim that it is up to man to generate his own faith through his own free will in order to make Christ’s blood effective to save.  They claim that the only difference between the saved and the unsaved is not Christ’s blood, because everyone gets the blood, but rather the only difference is whether or not a certain individual will generate his own faith through his own free will to make the blood effective.  According to this logic of these Arminians, man’s faith, not Christ’s blood, is the determining factor as to whether or not one will be saved.

Because Arminians talk about the blood all the time, it is true that in a sense they are trampling it, not in the sense of being hateful to it but in the sense of treating it as ineffective by itself, like the description in Matthew 5:13:  “…if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again?  It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”

This Hebrews 10:26-31 Scripture does not apply to the person who steadfastly rejects Christ.  That person did not receive the knowledge of truth as stated in Hebrews 10:26.  That person is not sanctified, so to speak, as is stated in Hebrews 10:29.  That person does not talk about the blood of Christ.  Rather, this Hebrews 10:26-31 Scripture speaks about those received or were exposed to knowledge of the truth and were sanctified so to speak but nevertheless denied the power of the blood and insulted the Spirit of grace. Rather, this Scripture applies to Arminians who love to talk about Christ’s blood all the time, but who really treat Christ’s blood as ineffective by itself , that it does not actually “save”, “purchase”, nor “redeem” anyone, because they teach that most people are not saved and that it is up to man to generate his own faith through his own free will in order to make Christ’s blood effective to save.

Likewise, the Arminian can be compared to the one who insults the Spirit of Grace as is mentioned above in Hebrews 10:29.  Think of a situation in which your father took you out to a very expensive dinner and even left the tip in addition.  However, you did not think that the tip was sufficient so you add your $5 to the tip.  Wouldn’t your father be insulted that you thought that what he did was not enough?  Likewise, Arminians insult God by their doctrine that believes that the blood of Christ is not enough, they feel that they must add their own tip of faith.  The Calvinist thinks of faith as a gift of God;  the Arminian thinks that faith is their own gift to God which is necessary to secure salvation.

Conclusion

“For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away from it.  For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?  …”  Verses 1-3.

Today’s devotion comes from Hebrews 1:3-14.  We covered verses 3 and 4 yesterday, but I include them again today, so we are reminded of the context of today’s Scripture, specifically that Jesus Christ became “much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they”, which the angels gladly admit and rejoice.  

 

“³ And He (Jesus Christ) is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power. When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.

 

⁵ For to which of the angels did He ever say,

                                

“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You”?

“I will be a Father to Him
And He shall be a Son to Me”?

“And let all the angels of God worship Him.”

“Who makes His angels winds,
And His ministers a flame of fire.”

“Your throne, O God, is forever and ever,
And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.
⁹ “You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness above Your companions.”

“You, Lord, in the beginning laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the works of Your hands;
¹¹ They will perish, but You remain;
And they all will become old like a garment,
¹² And like a mantle You will roll them up;
Like a garment they will also be changed.
But You are the same,
And Your years will not come to an end.”

“Sit at My right hand,
Until I make Your enemies
A footstool for Your feet”?

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

 

“God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.  And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.  When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much better than the angels, as He has inherited a more excellent name than they.”  Hebrews 1:1-4.

 

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Jesus Christ, the Son of God, said to His disciples:  “If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also;  from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.”

 

Philip *said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”  Jesus *said to him, “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip?  He who has seen Me has seen the Father;  how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father is in Me?  The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.   Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me;  otherwise believe because of the works themselves.”  John 14:7-11. 

 

 

                                 

                                  

 

 

 

 

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.

Question 31.  Why is he called Christ, that is anointed?

Answer.  Because he is ordained of God the Father, and anointed with the Holy Ghost, to be our chief Prophet and Teacher, who has fully revealed to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our redemption;  and to be our only High Priest, who by the one sacrifice of his body, has redeemed us, and makes continual intercession with the Father for us;  and also to be our eternal King, who governs us by his word and Spirit, and who defends and preserves us in (the enjoyment of) that salvation, he has purchased for us.

Question 33.  Why is Christ called the only begotten Son of God, since we are also the children of God?

Answer.  Because Christ alone is the eternal and natural Son of God;  but we are children adopted of God, by grace, for his sake.

Question 34.  Wherefore callest thou him our Lord?

Answer.  Because he hath redeemed us, both soul and body, from all our sins, not with gold or silver, but with his precious blood, and hath delivered us from all the power of the devil;  and thus hath made us his own property.

Here is what the Westminister Larger Confession states in part about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Question 36:  Who is the Mediator of the covenant of grace?

Answer:  The only Mediator of the covenant of grace is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, of one substance and equal with the Father, in the fullness of time became man, and so was and continues to be God and man, in two entire distinct natures, and one person, forever.

Question 37:  How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?

Answer:  Christ the Son of God became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost in the womb of the virgin Mary, of her substance, and born of her, yet without sin.

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.

Question 41:  Why was our Mediator called Jesus?

Answer:  Our Mediator was called Jesus, because he saves his people from their sins.

Question 42:  Why was our Mediator called Christ?

Answer:  Our Mediator was called Christ, because he was anointed with the Holy Ghost above measure;  and so set apart, and fully furnished with all authority and ability, to execute the offices of prophet, priest, and king of his church, in the estate both of his humiliation and exaltation.

Question 43:  How does Christ execute the office of a prophet?

Answer:  Christ executes the office of a prophet, in his revealing to the church, in all ages, by his Spirit and Word, in divers ways of administration, the whole will of God, in all things concerning their edification and salvation.

Question 44:  How does Christ execute the office of a priest?

Answer:  Christ executes the office of a priest, in his once offering himself a sacrifice without spot to God, to be a reconciliation for the sins of his people;  and in making continual intercession for them.

Question 45:  How does Christ execute the office of a king?

Answer:  Christ executes the office of a king, in calling out of the world a people to himself, and giving them officers, laws, and censures, by which he visibly governs them;  in bestowing saving grace upon his elect, rewarding their obedience, and correcting them for their sins, preserving and supporting them under all their temptations and sufferings, restraining and overcoming all their enemies, and powerfully ordering all things for his own glory, and their good;  and also in taking vengeance on the rest, who know not God, and obey not the gospel.

Today’s devotion comes from Philemon 1:17-25.

 

“¹⁷ If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me.  ¹⁸ But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account;  ¹⁹ I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well). 

 

²⁰ Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord;  refresh my heart in Christ.

 

²¹ Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.

 

²² At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.

 

²³ Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, ²⁴ as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.

 

²⁵ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”  Philemon 1:17-25.

                  

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If Philemon forgave Onesimus, then it would not only help Onesimus, it would also help Paul who was served by Onesimus.  And, if Paul was so helped, then Paul could also better help others.

 

On the other hand, if Philemon did not forgive Onesimus (but somehow punished Onesimus), then Onesimus would be hindered from being as useful and helpful to Paul as he could be.  And, Paul would not have that resource of Onesimus to better help others.

                         

But, Paul had confidence in Philemon.  “Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say.  (Verse 21)  …  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  (Verse 25)”.

                            

Thus, there is more to today’s Scripture than the duty to forgive based on the statement of accounts in verses 18 and 19 and as illustrated in Jesus’ parable illustrated in Matthew 18:23-35 of the king who was owed ten thousand talents by one who did not forgive a fellow slave who only owed him a few hundred denarii.  There is the hope that as Philemon’s forgiveness also helped Paul, our forgiveness (of those who offend us) may help others who are served by the offenders.     

God may not only give us the grace to forgive, but there is the hope that God’s grace may use our forgiveness to abound in blessings to others beyond just the offender.        

Consider Jesus Christ.  Jesus forgave us of our sins, and His forgiveness abounded into eternal life and righteousness for many.  

“But the free gift is not like the transgression.  For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.  The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned;  for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.  For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”  Romans 5:15-17.

Today’s devotion comes from Philemon 1:8-16.

 

“Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you—since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—

 

I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.  I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;  but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.  For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a beloved brother, especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”  Philemon 1:8-16.

 

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Paul’s appeal is gentle and humble.  “I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus”.  “Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, yet for love’s sake I rather appeal to you … but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will”.

Likewise, we see the gentleness and humility of Paul’s writing to the Corinthians about a topic that normally would be much more forceful and bold.  Paul said:  “Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”  2 Corinthians 9:7

We are reminded of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30.

On this Labor Day, when we might be tempted to think we should be forceful and proud to get what we want, let us meditate on being gentle and humble.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.  Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.”  Galatians 5:22-26.

Today’s devotion comes from Philemon 1:1-7.

 

“¹ Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

 

To Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, ² and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:  ³ Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

⁴ I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, ⁵ because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;  ⁶ and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake.  ⁷ For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.”  Philemon 1:1-7.

                                  

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There is a Beatles’ song “All You Need is Love”.  Like many songs, the music is great, but the lyrics are poor.  Well, at least, the title is not true.  But, unfortunately, “All You Need is Love” is what many people think due to “pop” influences.  We are not going to fellowship or love more as we should by looking within us and “just doing it” nor love better by just trying harder.

                         

Today’s Scripture teaches us that “knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ’s sake” is a key to effective love and fellowship of our faith.  The key is not the love within our good nature.  The key is our knowledge of God’s love for us and every good thing which is in us for Christ’s sake.   

                          

“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment;  because as He is, so also are we in this world.  There is no fear in love;  but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.  We love, because He first loved us.”  1 John 4:16-19.    

                               

In the following Scripture, we read that Paul struggled greatly and prayed hard and on his knees that his disciples would grow in knowledge.  If it is as simple as “All you need is love”, why would Paul labor so hard to teach?!      

                             

“For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.”  Colossians 2:1-3.

                           

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;  having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”  Philippians 1:9-11.    

                                    

“For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;  and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

                         

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever.  Amen.”  Ephesians 3:14-21.

Today’s devotion comes from Titus 3:9-15.

 

“⁹ But avoid foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the Law, for they are unprofitable and worthless.  ¹⁰ Reject a factious man after a first and second warning, ¹¹ knowing that such a man is perverted and is sinning, being self-condemned.

 

¹² When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you, make every effort to come to me at Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there.  ¹³ Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos on their way so that nothing is lacking for them.  ¹⁴ Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful.

 

¹⁵ All who are with me greet you.  Greet those who love us in the faith.

 

Grace be with you all.”  Titus 3:9-15.

                              

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There is a sharp contrast between the foolish and factious (verses 9-11) and the faithful and fruitful (verses 12-15).

The foolish and factious create strife.  The faithful and fruitful create good deeds.

The foolish and factious are concerned about their own perverted speculations.  The faithful and fruitful are concerned about others’ pressing needs.

The foolish and factious are condemned.  The faithful and fruitful are commended.

The foolish and factious are rejected.  The faithful and fruitful are greeted.

“The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom,
But the perverted tongue will be cut out.
The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable,
But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.”  Proverbs 10:31-32.

“He who troubles his own house will inherit wind,
And the foolish will be servant to the wisehearted.
The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
And he who is wise wins souls.”  Proverbs 11:29-30.

“The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish tears it down with her own hands.”  Proverbs 14:1.

“A gentle answer turns away wrath,
But a harsh word stirs up anger.
The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable,
But the mouth of fools spouts folly.”  Proverbs 15:1-2.

“Folly is joy to him who lacks sense,
But a man of understanding walks straight.”  Proverbs 15:21.

“He who has a crooked mind finds no good,
And he who is perverted in his language falls into evil.”  Proverbs 17:20.

“A fool does not delight in understanding,
But only in revealing his own mind.”  Proverbs 18:2.

“A fool’s lips bring strife,
And his mouth calls for blows.
A fool’s mouth is his ruin,
And his lips are the snare of his soul.”  Proverbs 18:6-7.

“He who is generous will be blessed,
For he gives some of his food to the poor.
Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go out,
Even strife and dishonor will cease.”  Proverbs 22:9-10.

“An arrogant man stirs up strife,
But he who trusts in the Lord will prosper.
He who trusts in his own heart is a fool,
But he who walks wisely will be delivered.
He who gives to the poor will never want,
But he who shuts his eyes will have many curses.
When the wicked rise, men hide themselves;
But when they perish, the righteous increase.”  Proverbs 28:25-28.

“The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor,
The wicked does not understand such concern.
Scorners set a city aflame,
But wise men turn away anger.”  Proverbs 29:7-8.

Today’s devotion comes from Titus 3:1-8.

 

“¹ Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, ² to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.  ³ For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.  ⁴ But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, ⁵ He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, ⁶ whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, ⁷ so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.  ⁸ This is a trustworthy statement;  and concerning these things I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds.  These things are good and profitable for men.”  Titus 3:1-8.

 

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God is good.  “But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”  Verses 4-6.

 

God is good, not just because we were good.  “For we also once were foolish ourselves, disobedient, deceived, enslaved to various lusts and pleasures, spending our life in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.”  Verse 3.  “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”  Ephesians 2:4-7.     

 

God, therefore, provides a good example for us that we too should be good to others even though they may be bad to us.  “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven;  for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?  Do not even the tax collectors do the same?  If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?  Do not even the Gentiles do the same?  Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:43-48.

 

God does good work in creating us for good works.  “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.

 

Therefore, be consistent with Who God is, His example, and who you are in Christ Jesus, and be careful to engage in good deeds.  “.. I want you to speak confidently, so that those who have believed God will be careful to engage in good deeds.  These things are good and profitable for men.”  Verse 8.  We should “be ready for every good deed”.  Verse 1.

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

 

“⁹ Urge bondslaves to be subject to their own masters in everything, to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, ¹⁰ not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.

 

¹¹ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, ¹² instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

 

¹⁵ These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority.  Let no one disregard you.”  Titus 2:9-15.

                           

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Notice what the grace of God does.  “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope…”  Verses 11, 12, and 13. 

                   

First, we first note that the grace of God brings salvation to all of His elect.  This is not a “common grace”.  From Scripture, we clearly know that God does not bring salvation to literally every human being that ever lived.  The term “all men” here refers to all of God’s elect.  Although God does give good gifts, such as sunshine and rain to sprout food, to all men (Elect and non-elect), God does not give the good gifts with a grace or favor to the non-elect.  God only gives grace to His elect, and God not only gives earthly good gifts with a grace or favor to His elect, God most importantly brings eternal salvation to all of His elect through His irresistible grace.  For more on “common grace”, here is a link – Click here: Pamphlets and Articles

                          

Second, we note that the grace of God instructs us on how to live.  This is also part of irresistible grace.  Therefore, we do not need to cower as we have cowered in front of the Law.  “For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.  But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.”  Romans 7:5-6.  “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 comesthrough the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”  Galatians 2:20-21. 

                         

Third, God’s irresistible grace gives us hope.  And, this hope is not only the hope of eternal life, this hope is that God’s irresistible grace causes us to live “sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age” (verse 11), that God makes us “zealous for good deeds” (verse 14), and that God comforts, strengthens, and leads us into “every good work and word” (see following Scripture).  

 

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.”  2 Thessalonians 2:16-17.