Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 1, 2012

“Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12.
 
“To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”  2 Thessalonians 1:11-12.
 
—————-
 
I don’t trust my desire for goodness.  I don’t even trust my desire for knowledge of God’s desire for goodness.  I need help.
 
And so, it is encouraging to read a similar Scripture which spells out help.
 
“For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;  strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience;  joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.”  Colossians 1:9-12. 
 
Our help is from God, and we can pray to Him that we “may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God“.
 
And, this prayer will be granted.  “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;  seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”  2 Peter 1:2-3.
 
Psalm 21:2
“You have given him his heart’s desire, And You have not withheld the request of his lips.”
 
Psalm 37:4
“Delight yourself in the LORD;  And He will give you the desires of your heart.”
 
Isaiah 58:11
“And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones;  And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”
                                     
“4  May He grant you your heart’s desire
And fulfill all your counsel!
5  We will sing for joy over your victory,
And in the name of our God we will set up our banners.
May the Lord fulfill all your petitions.
6  Now I know that the Lord saves His anointed;
He will answer him from His holy heaven
With the saving strength of His right hand.
7  Some boast in chariots and some in horses,
But we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God.”  Psalm 20:4-7.
 
 
The Heidelberg Catechism draws this together for us.  We pray the specific request:  “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”, and we pray with faith “Amen”, that God will grant our request, even though we may not feel in our heart much of a desire for these things from Him.   
 
Question 124.  Which is the third petition?
 
Answer.  “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven”;  that is, grant that we and all men may renounce our own will, and without murmuring obey thy will, which is only good;  that so every one may attend to, and  perform the duties of his station and calling, as willingly and faithfully as the angels do in heaven.
 
Question 129.  What doth the word “Amen” signify?
 
Answer.  “Amen” signifies, it shall truly and certainly be:  for my prayer is more assuredly heard of God, than I feel in my heart that I desire these things of him.
 
 
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.”  2 Corinthians 2:14

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 29, 2012

Righteous Judgment: Relief and Retribution

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10.
 
“This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering.  For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.”  2 Thessalonians 1:5-10.
 
————————-
 
The righteous will be given relief, and the wicked will be given retribution:  “it is only just“.  “This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment”.
 
“Thus says the Lord, “Let not a wise man boast of his wisdom, and let not the mighty man boast of his might, let not a rich man boast of his riches;  but let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, justice and righteousness on earth;  for I delight in these things,” declares the Lord.”  Jeremiah 9:23-24.
 
Do we understand and know the LORD?
 
It is easy to be infatuated with our own desired cozy image of the LORD and reject the LORD revealed by Scripture, but it is wrong, and we do not understand and know the LORD thereby. 
 
Scripture plainly shows God to be a God of justice Who delights in exercising justice on earth throughout the Old Testament and even the new Testament, including today’s Scripture which gives us a “plain indication”.
 
Luke 12:5
“But I will warn you whom to fear:  fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell;  yes, I tell you, fear Him!”
                                     
Proverbs 9:10
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
 
If we do not sufficiently know the LORD, how can we believe in Him?  
 
It is not sufficient to worship our false image of the LORD. 
 
“But the rest of it he makes into a god, his graven image.  He falls down before it and worships;  he also prays to it and says, “Deliver me, for you are my god.”  They do not know, nor do they understand, for He has smeared over their eyes so that they cannot see and their hearts so that they cannot comprehend.”  Isaiah 44:17-18.
 
“… the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.  These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power”.  Verses 7, 8, and 9.
 
But, through God’s grace, we know the LORD and believe in Him, the LORD of “lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness” as revealed by Scripture.
 
We eagerly read and hear the preaching and teaching of all of Scripture to better know and believe the LORD revealed by Scripture.  We seek to “be considered worthy of the kingdom of God”.
 
The LORD will come “to be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all who have believed—for our testimony to you was believed.”  Verse 10.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 28, 2012

“Perseverance of the Saints” a/k/a “Preservation of the Saints”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4.
 
“Paul and Silvanus and Timothy,
 
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:  Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;  therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.”  2 Thessalonians 1:1-4.
                             

————————

We persevere and maintain our faith through God’s grace which preserves us.  Therefore, “Perseverance of the Saints” is also known as “Preservation of the Saints”, the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. 

We may rightly give thanks to those who persevere and maintain their faith, so long as we also give thanks to God Who preserves us.  Although we do our best to persevere and maintain our faith, our trust is not in ourselves, but in God. 

So, we look up to God and focus on Him to receive the strength to endure and persevere.

Psalm 29:11
“The LORD will give strength to His people;  The LORD will bless His people with peace.”

Psalm 68:35
“O God, You are awesome from Your sanctuary.  The God of Israel Himself gives strength and power to the people.  Blessed be God!”

Isaiah 40:29
“He gives strength to the weary, And to him who lacks might He increases power.”

Isaiah 58:11
“And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones;  And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”

God takes care of us from beginning to end.

Consider the golden chain of salvation in Romans 8:29-30:  “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified;  and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”

No one snatches us out of God’s hands!

If it is not enough to assure us that no one can snatch us out of Jesus’ hands, Jesus goes over the top by also assuring us that no one is also able to snatch us from God the Father’s hand:  “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish;  and no one will snatch them out of My hand.  “My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all;  and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand.” John 10:27-29.

In conclusion, here is what the Canons of Dordt states in part as to this “Perseverance of the Saints” is also known as “Preservation 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.”

You can read more about “Perseverance of the Saints” is also known as “Preservation of the Saints” through this link – Click here: The Canons of Dordt, Fifth Head of Doctrine

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 27, 2012

Footprints of Grace

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:25-28.
 
“25 Brethren, pray for us.
 
26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
 
27 I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brethren.
                                     

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:25-28.

———————–

Today’s Scripture provides some of the footprints of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We see the footprint of grace in prayer for each other.  Verse 25.  We see the footprint of grace in loving Christian fellowship.  Verse 26.  We see the footprint of grace in sound preaching and teaching.  Verse 27.

We see prayer in written letters, cards, and email replies.  We hear prayer in person in immediate response to request for prayer.  “With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,”  Ephesians 6:18.  “while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.”  2 Corinthians 9:14.   

We experience loving Christian fellowship.  At coffee fellowship hour after church, there may be some awkward pause and then some stammering:  “We sure had a lot of rain lately.”  But, we appreciate the effort made from love.  And, we see so many more forms of love, often unexpected, but exactly what we need.  “We love, because He first loved us.”  1 John 4:19  “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”  John 13:35  “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren.  …”  1 John 3:14.

We receive sound preaching and teaching.  A lot of God’s Word is preached and taught:  “holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.”  Titus 1:9  “… the word of truth, the gospel … has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;”  Colossians 1:5-6.

“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.  Therefore, we walk by the Spirit through God’s grace leaving footprints of grace in every good work and word.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 26, 2012

Our Faithful Father Himself Sanctifies Us and Makes Us Blameless

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.
 
“Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely;  and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”  1 Thessalonians 5:23-24.
 
————————
 
“30 As for God, His way is blameless;
The word of the Lord is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
31 For who is God, but the Lord?
And who is a rock, except our God,
32 The God who girds me with strength
And makes my way blameless?”  Psalm 18:30-32.
 
“I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, even as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, awaiting eagerly the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:4-8.
 
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  …”  Ephesians 1:3-4.
 
“… Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing;  but that she would be holy and blameless.”  Ephesians 5:25-27.
 
“Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you;  and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;  so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesuswith all His saints.”  1 Thesslonians 3:11-13.
 
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever.  Amen.”  Jude 1:24-25.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 25, 2012

“Do not quench the Spirit”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22.
 
“19  Do not quench the Spirit;
 
20 do not despise prophetic utterances.
 
21 But examine everything carefully;  hold fast to that which is good;
 
22 abstain from every form of evil.”  1 Thessalonians 5:19-22.
 
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What are some of the actions of the Spirit that we should be careful to not quench?
 
We read one of them in the next verse:  prophetic utterances.  Verse 20. 
 
But, particularly as Reformed believers, we rightly bristle against actions of TV evangelists who claim that they can heal through the Spirit almost anyone who is willing to come forward to them.
 
We are advised in the following two verses to “examine everything carefully;  hold fast to that which is good” and “abstain from every form of evil.” 
 
So, let us stay close to Scripture as we seek to determine some of the actions of the Spirit that we should be careful to not quench.
 
The context of today’s Scripture, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28, also instructs us about Christian conduct.  We can infer that the Holy Spirit guides us to act in Christian conduct as we should, including to: “esteem them (our leaders) very highly in love because of their work.  Live in peace with one another.  We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” and “always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.  Rejoice always;  pray without ceasing;  in everything give thanks”.  
 
Therefore, when we act inconsistent with the actions of the Spirit which prompt us to so act in love for the good of others and with joy and thanks and prayer in our hearts, then we may be quenching the Spirit.  
 
We certainly don’t want to limit quenching the Spirit to such inconsistent acts.  As stated above, we can’t ignore verse 20:  “do not despise prophetic utterances”.  But, by reference to the verses prior to today’s Scripture, I wanted to point out that there are also other ways to quench the Spirit than just through the specific expressed way of despising prophetic utterances. 
 
We are not quenching the Spirit by not allowing a “free for all” display of claimed “in the Spirit” healings, speaking in tongues, and prophecies.   We are instructed to “examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good”.  Even in a chapter that specifically promotes prophecy (1 Corinthians Chapter 14), we are instructed:  “But all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner.”  1 Corinthians 14:40.               
 
In a similar verse to today’s verse 19 (“Do not quench the Spirit;”), we read Ephesians 4:30.  “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
 
Let us look at the context of this Ephesians 4:30.  “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.  Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.  Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”  Ephesians 4:29-32.  
 
It is remarkable that we find a similar context surrounding both today’s Scripture and surrounding Ephesians 4:20.  There is edification which is the goal of prophecy.  See 1 Corinthians 14:3, 4, 12, and especially 26.  “What is the outcome then, brethren?  When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation.  Let all things be done for edification.”  1 Corinthians 14:26.  “But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;  for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak;  and He will disclose to you what is to come.”  John 16:13
                                  
And, there is also present in both contexts the proper attitude.  We already read the proper attitude in the context of today’s Scripture which I will summarize as “Live in peace with one another.  … always seek after that which is good for one another”.  In this last context of Ephesians 4:20, the proper attitude is expressed as:  “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other”. 
 
In summary and conclusion, when we quench edification or quench the making of peace and the seeking of good for one another, then we are in danger of quenching the Spirit.  There are other ways to quench the Spirit which we should seek to determine.  But, let us at least gain insight from today’s devotion and be careful to not quench edification and be careful to not quench the making of peace and the seeking of good for one another.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 24, 2012

“Praise is becoming to the upright.”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
 
“Rejoice always;  pray without ceasing;  in everything give thanks;  for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
 
—————————
 
What makes us think that it is God’s will for us to be quiet sourpusses?!  And yet, we act that way too often and approve of that conduct in other Christians too often.  
 
Today’s Scripture reminds us that our beauty and attractiveness (our “becoming”) comes from behavior that rejoices always, prays without ceasing, and gives thanks in everything.  This is God’s will for us.   
 
Psalm 33:1
“Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones;  Praise is becoming to the upright.”
                           
Psalm 147:1
“Praise the LORD!  For it is good to sing praises to our God;  For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.”
 
 
In summary, the above-stated Psalm 33:1 verse is contained in a chapter that puts it all together in a sweeping view of history and God’s will.  Notice the rejoicing in verses 1 to 3, the thanks in verse 2, the cause for rejoicing and thanks which is God’s word and work in verses 4 through 11, what pleases God and is God’s will for us in verses 13 through 19, and the attitude of prayer in verses 20 through 22.
                                   

“Praise is becoming to the upright.
2 Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre;
Sing praises to Him with a harp of ten strings.
3 Sing to Him a new song;
Play skillfully with a shout of joy.
4 For the word of the Lord is upright,
And all His work is done in faithfulness.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the Lord.

6 By the word of the Lord the heavens were made,
And by the breath of His mouth all their host.
7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap;
He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.
9 For He spoke, and it was done;
He commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The Lord nullifies the counsel of the nations;
He frustrates the plans of the peoples.
11 The counsel of the Lord stands forever,
The plans of His heart from generation to generation.
12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord,
The people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance.

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.

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him,
On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
19 To deliver their soul from death
And to keep them alive in famine.
20 Our soul waits for the Lord;
He is our help and our shield.
21 For our heart rejoices in Him,
Because we trust in His holy name.
22 Let Your lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us,
According as we have hoped in You.”  Psalm Chapter 33.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 22, 2012

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!”

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15.
 
“But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work.  Live in peace with one another.  We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.  See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.”  1 Thessalonians 5:12-15. 
 
————————–
 
Today’s Scripture continues the recent series of “one another” conclusions.  In this chapter, we are instructed to “encourage one another”, “build up one another”, “Live in peace with one another”, and “always seek after that which is good for one another”.
 
Today’s conclusion, “always seek after that which is good for one another”, is a good summary of these other conclusions.  It is also a good summary of the detailed instructions in today’s Scripture.  “So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”  Galatians 6:10. 
 
How are we able to so do good to all people as we should?  Where is God’s help?  
 
First, let us realize how much God desires and delights in such behavior toward “one another”. 
 
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,
Coming down upon the beard,
Even Aaron’s beard,
Coming down upon the edge of his robes.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon
Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;
For there the Lord commanded the blessing— life forever.”  Psalm Chapter 133.
 
Second, because God desires it so much, we can better understand God’s will for His church, Christ’s body, to so get along with one another and do good to one another, and we can better understand His abundant provisions to enable it.
 
Third, God the Spirit produces the fruit of “goodness” in us.  Galatians 6:22.  In addition, God gives us spiritual gifts and works within us “for the common good”.  “Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-7.  We will also get along with one another and do good to one another, because God “… has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.”  1 Corinthians 12:18. 
 
In conclusion, we may sometimes think that we have been randomly thrown in a room of strangers and left to ourselves to get along and do good to strangers while God watches us with his arms folded.  But, now we can better see God behind the scenes putting us together exactly as He wants, giving us spiritual gifts to help those next to us in the best possible way, working within us “for the common good”, and pouring the sweet Holy Spirit over us like oil flowing down Aaron’s beard.  “It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion;  For there the Lord commanded the blessing— life forever.”  Psalm Chapter 133:3.   

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 21, 2012

Our Hope of Salvation

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.
 
“Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.  For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.  While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.  But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you  like a thief;  for you are all sons of light and sons of day.  We are not of night nor of darkness;  so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober.  For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.
 
But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.  For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.  Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”  1 Thessalonians 5:1-11.
 
——————————–
 
Our “hope of salvation” is predestination:  “God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation“.  Because of this predestination, we will not receive the wrath of God in “the day of the Lord” in today’s Scripture. 
 
We are not embarrassed about predestination a/k/a the “Unconditional Election” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  We are not ashamed of it.  We do not obscure it nor minimize it.  We do not hide it.
                         
Psalm 40:10
“I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart;  I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation;  I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great congregation.”
                                        
Rather, we exult in predestination a/k/a the “Unconditional Election” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation.  “Then Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the LORD;  My horn is exalted in the LORD, My mouth speaks boldly against my enemies, Because I rejoice in Your salvation.”  1 Samuel 2:1
 
Isaiah 61:10
“I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God;  For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
                       
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.  In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.”  Ephesians 1:3-6.
 
“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans  8:29-30.
 
Therefore, we pound the table on “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation, and we encourage one another and build up one another as to predestination a/k/a “Unconditional Election”, our hope of salvation.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | June 20, 2012

Comfort One Another

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
 
“13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope.
 
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
 
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
 
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
 
17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
 
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.”  1 Thessalonians 4:13-18.
 
———————–
 
The comfort of today’s Scripture is not only that we who are alive will be raised to “always be with the Lord”;  the comfort of today’s Scripture is that our beloved deceased ones (“those who are asleep”) will also be raised and that we shall be “together with them” always with the Lord.  “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”  Verse 18.
 
Eschatology is a “branch of theology” concerning “death, the end of the world, or the ultimate destiny of humankind;  specifically:  any of various Christian doctrines concerning the Second Coming, the resurrection of the dead, or the Last Judgment”.  Click here: Eschatology – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary  Today’s Scripture, the Book of Revelations, and other Scripture provide the basis for the study and formation of eschatology.   
 
Sometimes, eschatology is wrongly used by some preachers and teachers as a club to prove what a great Bible scholar that they are and to do battle with others.  They may try to complicate and scare others to get them to cling to them.  They may try to get people to reject other preachers and teachers altogether because of some small detail of the eschatology beliefs of these other preachers and teachers that they claim is wrong.  But, today’s Scripture instructs us that one of the purposes of these words is to “comfort one another”. 
 
William Hendricksen in his book More than Conquerors:  An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation is a good example of how we should handle eschatology.  His scholarship is very detailed and excellent, but he is not condescending nor difficult to comprehend.  One of his purposes is to simplify and comfort Christians.  Click here: Amazon.com: More Than Conquerors: An Interpretation of the Book of Revelation (9780801057922): William Hendriksen:  
 
The Heidelberg Catechism also does a great job to simplify and comfort Christians, starting in the very first Question and Answer.
 
Question 1.  What is thy only comfort in life and death?
 
Answer.  That I with body and soul, both in life and death, am not my own, but belong unto my faithful Savior Jesus Christ;  who, with his precious blood, hath fully satisfied for all my sins, and delivered me from all the power of the devil;  and so preserves me that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, he also assures me of eternal life, and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him.
 
And, this should also be one of the purposes of our preaching and teaching:  to simplify and comfort Christians.

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