Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 5, 2012

Students, Slaves, and Sons

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 4:1-7.
 
“1 Now I say, as long as the heir is a child, he does not differ at all from a slave although he is owner of everything, 2 but he is under guardians and managers until the date set by the father.  3 So also we, while we were children, were held in bondage under the elemental things of the world.  4 But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, 5 so that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.  6 Because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”  7 Therefore you are no longer a slave, but a son;  and if a son, then an heir through God.”  Galatians 4:1-7. 
 
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Paul continues to build his case that we should not seek to be under the Law, but rather, that we should seek to be “in Christ”.  
 
At the end of the preceding chapter, Paul used the analogy of students and a tutor:  “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.”  Galatians 3:24-26. 
 
In today’s Scripture, Paul uses the analogy of slaves in bondage.  Christ redeemed His elect under the Law, so that they might receive the adoption as sons and be no longer slaves. 
 
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Christ).”  Ephesians 1:3-5.
 
And so, we begin to see more clearly that God’s grace, including our adoption as sons and every other spiritual blessing, is not based on our performance under the Law, but rather, God’s grace, including our adoption as sons and every other spiritual blessing, is based on our position in Christ:  “which (grace) He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved (Christ)”.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 4, 2012

We Belong to Christ.

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 3:27-29.
 
“27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
 
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female;  for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
 
29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.”  Galatians 3:27-29.
 
———————- 
 
Today’s Scripture provides the conclusion to this chapter and provides the answer to the question of what we should seek:  the Law or Christ.  By stating it by three different phrases, today’s Scripture provides an exclamation point in its answer.  Our goal is to “belong to Christ” also stated as “clothed yourselves with Christ” also stated simply as “in Christ”, and thus we are “heirs according to promise”.
 
Our comfort is not in the Law.  We are not going to prove our righteousness under the Law.  We are not going to receive a blessing under the Law.  Rather, under the Law, we will only prove how great of sinners that we are with the result of spiritual death.  Romans 7:7-11. 
 
“… For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law.  But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.  But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed.  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.”  Galatians 3:21-25. 
 
Our comfort is that we belong to Christ.  Even though we have read Question and Answer 1 of The Heidelberg Catechism hundreds of times, it still brings us the freshness and the joy of an ocean’s breeze.  
 
“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.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 2, 2012

The Teacher, the Train, the Father, and the Law

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 3:23-26.
 
“23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 
 
24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.
 
25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.
 
26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.”  Galatians 3:23-26.
 
———————————
 
The teacher graduates her students, and the students leave the teacher and classroom and enter the next grade or work or otherwise get on with their lives.   Likewise, “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.”  Verses 23 and 24.   
 
The train delivers its passengers to the end, the station, and the passengers get off the train and enter the station and proceed to their destination.  Likewise, the Law delivers us to Christ.  “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.”  Romans 10:4.  
 
The father hands his daughter to the groom, and the daughter leaves the father and joins her husband.  Likewise, “Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.”  Romans 7:4.
 
The Law leads us to Christ, and we leave the Law and cling to Christ.  “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.”  Galatians 2:19-20. 
 
“For in Him (Christ) all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over all rule and authority;  and in Him you were also circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, in the removal of the body of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ;  having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead.  When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us;  and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.  When He had disarmed the rulers and authorities, He made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him.”  Colossians 2:9-15. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | March 1, 2012

“But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise …”

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 3:19-22.
 
“19 Why the Law then?  It was added because of transgressions, having been ordained through angels by the agency of a mediator, until the seed would come to whom the promise had been made. 
 
20 Now a mediator is not for one party only;  whereas God is only one. 
 
21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God?  May it never be!  For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 
 
22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”  Galatians 3:19-22.
 
———————-
 
“For the Law was given through Moses;  grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”  John 1:17.
 
The purpose of the Law was not to impart righteousness and life to man, but rather the purpose of the Law was to “shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.”  Verses 21 and 22.
 
“Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;  because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight;  for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”  Romans 3:19-20.  
 
“For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.”  Romans 11:32. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 29, 2012

The Unconditional and Immutable Promise of Blessing by God

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 3:15-18.
 
“15 Brethren, I speak in terms of human relations:  even though it is only a man’s covenant, yet when it has been ratified, no one sets it aside or adds conditions to it. 
 
16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed.  He does not say, “And to seeds,” as referring to many, but rather to one, “And to your seed,” that is, Christ. 
 
17 What I am saying is this:  the Law, which came four hundred and thirty years later, does not invalidate a covenant previously ratified by God, so as to nullify the promise. 
 
18 For if the inheritance is based on law, it is no longer based on a promise;  but God has granted it to Abraham by means of a promise.”  Galatians 3:15-18.
 
—————————–
 
Today’s Scripture presents four points as to why the Law does not invalidate nor change the promise of blessing by God.  First, verse 15 focuses on the unchangeable (immutable) nature of the promise of God’s blessing.  Second, verse 16 focuses on the recipients of God’s blessing:  Abraham and Christ.  We are blessed in Christ.  Third, verse 17 focuses on the time sequence of the promise of God and the giving of the Law.  The subsequent Law does not change God’s previous promise.  Fourth, verse 18 focuses on the contrast between a conditional blessing based on man’s weak and changing performance under the Law compared to an unconditional blessing based on the strong immutability of God’s Word.  God grants the blessing or inheritance on the basis of His promise, not on the basis of our performance under the Law.
                                     
In summary, the Law, given to Moses much later after God gave His unconditional and immutable promise of blessing to Abraham and his seed Christ, does not invalidate nor change this promise of God. 
 
Reformed Doctrine a/k/a Calvinism teaches a salvation based on the unconditional and immutable promise of God.  Arminianism a/k/a “man-centered gospel” teaches a salvation based on man’s free-will and man’s weak and changing performance under the Law. 
 
Reformed Doctrine a/k/a Calvinism teaches a salvation in which God unconditionally and immutably promises and provides everything the elect need for salvation from “Limited Atonement” to “Irresistible Grace” to “Preservation of the Saints”, the “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism which is the Reformed Doctrine of salvation.  
 
“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.
 
“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. 
 
“For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation:  that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father; that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death;  should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing;  and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.”  Article 8. of the Reformed Confession Canons of Dordt. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 28, 2012

“the curse of the Law”

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 3:10-14.
 
“10 For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse;  for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”  11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident;  for, “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”  12 However, the Law is not of faith;  on the contrary, “HE WHO PRACTICES THEM SHALL LIVE BY THEM.”  13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us—for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE”— 14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”  Galatians 3:10-14.
 
————————-
 
“… the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.”  Romans 7:12.  “But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind;  for apart from the Law sin is dead.  I was once alive apart from the Law;  but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”  Romans 7:8-11. 
 
Thus, the “curse of the Law” is not the isolated and inherent quality of the Law itself.  Rather, the “curse of the Law” is its affect on those who depend on it to become righteous.  “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”  Verse 10.  
 
The Law does not help us crawl out of the “Total Depravity” of man (the “T” of “TULIP”) so eloquently described in Romans 3:10-16.  Rather, the Law just proves how sinful we are, and the result of the Law is death for us.  “Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;  because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight;  for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.”  Romans 3:19-20.  See also above-stated Romans 7:8-11.  
 
But, there is hope!
 
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us … in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.”  Verses 13 and 14.  “THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH.”  Verse 11.
 
“Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.”  Romans 7:4.
 
But, we can no longer retreat back to the Law. 
 
We may falsely think the Law provides security like Israel looked back to Egypt when she was in the wilderness.  See Exodus Chapter 14. 
 
We also may falsely think the Law can provide help like Israel did again, much later, when  she looked back to Egypt when she faced other military threats from other countries.  See Isaiah Chapter 31. 
 
Isaiah 31:1
“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!” 
 
“It was for freedom that Christ set us free;  therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.  Behold I, Paul, say to you that if you receive circumcision, Christ will be of no benefit to you.  And I testify again to every man who receives circumcision, that he is under obligation to keep the whole Law.  You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law;  you have fallen from grace.  For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.”  Galatians 5:1-5. 
 
“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.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 27, 2012

True Faith Seeks Blessing a/k/a Reward

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 3:6-9.
 
“6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.  7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.  8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.”  9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.”  Galatians 3:6-9.
 
—————-
 
Abraham believed God’s promise that God would give to him descendants as numerous as the stars in the heavens even though Abraham was old at that time without any children.  “In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.”  Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb;  yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.  Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”  Romans 4:18-22.
 
This is also the gospel.  “The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.”  Verse 8. 
                                        
“Now not for his (Abraham’s) sake only was it written that it (righteousness) was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.”  Romans 4:23-25.  We believe that Christ was raised for the blessing of our justification.   
 
True faith seeks a blessing a/k/a reward.  “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”  Hebrews 11:6.
 
Abraham exhibited faith in seeking a reward.  “After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you;  Your reward shall be very great.”  Genesis 15:1
 
Boaz, a redeemer-kinsman and type of Christ, encouraged Ruth to seek a reward as part of her faith and blessed her.  “May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.”  Ruth 2:12
 
We fear the LORD and are humble, seeking a reward as part of our faith.  “The reward of humility and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.”  Proverbs 22:4
 
We believe the LORD is a Savior and a Rewarder.  “Behold, the LORD has proclaimed to the end of the earth, Say to the daughter of Zion, “Lo, your salvation comes;  Behold His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him.”  Isaiah 62:11
 
We endure insults and persecution through faith which believes and seeks a reward.  “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great;  for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  Matthew 5:11-12. 
 
We love our enemies through faith which believes and seeks a reward.  “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return;  and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High;  for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men.”  Luke 6:35
                                      
Moses endured ill-treatment having faith that there would be a reward.  “By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt;  for he was looking to the reward.”  Hebrews 11:24-26.
                        
We wait patiently believing our Lord God brings a reward with him.  “Behold, the Lord GOD will come with might, With His arm ruling for Him.  Behold, His reward is with Him And His recompense before Him.”  Isaiah 40:10
 
We persevere in faith, trusting God “who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS:  to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life;”  Romans 2:6-7.
 
The Heidelberg Catechism teaches that true faith seeks all the blessings of salvation in Christ:  “… they, who by a true faith receive this Savior, must find all things in him necessary to their salvation.”  Answer to Question 30.      
 
And so, we are called to believe God and be blessed with Abraham.  “Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham.”  Verse 7.  “So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.”  Verse 9.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 26, 2012

Sola Christo (Christ Alone): Through Faith, We have Complete Salvation in Him

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 3:1-5.
 
“1  You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?  2 This is the only thing I want to find out from you:  did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?  3 Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?  4 Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?  5 So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”  Galatians 3:1-5.
 
————————–
 
God provides us with the Spirit and works miracles among us by hearing with faith, not by the works of the Law.  God made us alive and began His work within us by the Spirit;  we are not going to switch back to the flesh to be perfected by the flesh.  “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6.
 

Here is how the Reformed Belgic Confession describes this work of the Spirit (“the Holy Ghost”), this hearing with faith, and that all things that we need for salvation are in Christ.        

Article 22:  Of Faith in Jesus Christ.

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

Sola Christo (Christ Alone): “those who possess Jesus Christ through faith, have complete salvation in him.”.  See above Article 22 of The Belgic Confession.  Sola Christo (Christ Alone) is one of “The Five Solas” of the Reformation.  (For further explanation of “The Five Solas“, see the tag on top of my web site.)    

And, even faith is a gift of God. 

“Faith is therefore to be considered as the gift of God, not on account of its being offered by God to man, to be accepted or rejected at his pleasure;  but because it is in reality conferred, breathed, and infused into him;  or even because God bestows the power or ability to believe, and then expects that man should by the exercise of his own free will, consent to the terms of that salvation, and actually believe in Christ; but because he who works in man both to will and to do, and indeed all things in all, produces both the will to believe, and the act of believing also.”  Article 14 of the Reformed Canons of Dordt. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 24, 2012

Sola Gratia (Grace Alone): “I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.”

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 2:18-21.
 
“18 For if I rebuild what I have once destroyed, I prove myself to be a transgressor.  19 For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.  20 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.  21 I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.”  Galatians 2:18-21.
 
—————————–
 
Admit it.  It is hard to believe:  “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.”  Verse 19.
 
But, we read a confirming parallel Scripture in Romans 7:4-6.  “Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.  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 7:4-6.  
 
And, we are not talking about just the law of circumcision or obscure Jewish rituals.    Romans Chapter 7 confirms that “The Law” primarily refers to the Ten Commandments.  “What shall we say then?  Is the Law sin?  May it never be!  On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law;  for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.”  But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind;  for apart from the Law sin is dead.  I was once alive apart from the Law;  but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.”  Romans 7:7-10.
 
But, Reformed Doctrine a/k/a Calvinism makes it easier to believe that we are not justified by the works of the Law, but rather that we “were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you (we) might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.”  Romans 7:4.    
 
Reformed Doctrine destroys any hope in man achieving any righteousness through the Law.  Reformed Doctrine teaches that all that man achieves through the Law is only spiritual death, “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation. 
 
Reformed Doctrine builds up hope and trust in God.  Reformed Doctrine proclaims the works of God including but not limited to:  “Unconditional Election”, “Limited Atonement”, “Irresistible Grace”, and “Preservation of the Saints”, the “U”, “L”, “I”, and “P” of “TULIP”.
 
On the other hand, Arminianism builds up hope in man achieving righteousness through the Law. It maintains that man is not dead in sin, only injured and affected by sin.  It maintains that man has “free-will”.  Arminianism focuses on man and places its hope on him. 
 
Reformed Doctrine does not cling to hope in man nor hope in the works of the Law.  But rather, Reformed Doctrine clings to Christ and calls out:  “For through the Law I died to the Law, so that I might live to God.“    
 
Reformed Doctrine focuses on God and believes that God can and does give righteousness.   “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.  Reformed Doctrine believes that God can and does give righteousness as a gift through faith in Jesus Christ.  Romans 5:17. 
 
Reformed Doctrine emphasizes the grace of God.  It will not nullify the grace of God in the language of Galatians 2:21.  But rather, Reformed Doctrine solely trusts the grace of God.  “For by grace you have been saved through faith;  and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;  not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.”  Ephesians 2:8-9.  Reformed Doctrine shouts out Sola Gratia (Grace Alone)!  Sola Gratia (Grace Alone) is one of “The Five Solas” of the Reformation.  (For further explanation of “The Five Solas“, see the tag on top of my web site.)

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | February 23, 2012

Sola Fide (Faith Alone): “straightforward about the truth of the gospel”

Today’s devotion comes from Galatians 2:11-16.
 
“11 But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned.  12 For prior to the coming of certain men from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles;  but when they came, he began to withdraw and hold himself aloof, fearing the party of the circumcision.  13 The rest of the Jews joined him in hypocrisy, with the result that even Barnabas was carried away by their hypocrisy.  14 But when I saw that they were not straightforward about the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in the presence of all, “If you, being a Jew, live like the Gentiles and not like the Jews, how is it that you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?  15 “We are Jews by nature and not sinners from among the Gentiles;  16 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 2:11-16.
 
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Today’s Scripture teaches the Reformed Doctrine Sola Fide (Faith Alone) “that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus”.  Sola Fide (Faith Alone) is one of “The Five Solas” of the Reformation.  (For further explanation of “The Five Solas“, see the tag on top of my web site.) 

That precious point is continually under attack whether it be by the hypocrisy of Cephas (Peter) and the rest of the Jews in the beginning (as we read in today’s Scripture) or by those in the Roman Catholic Church that the Reformers refuted during the Protestant Reformation or by those current preachers and teachers today who directly teach the Federal Vision or indirectly teach that we are justified by faith and works without any label. 

And, before we of the Reformed faith get too smug, we too often live self-righteously as if we are justified by faith and works.  We take pride in our perceived standing in the church based on our works.  We also don’t quite trust faith alone in Christ;  we want some “salvation insurance” by our works.

We need to continually be on guard. 

“Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision;  for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,  although I (Paul) 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.

But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,”  Philippians 3:2-9. 

We are called to not only believe in Sola Fide (Faith Alone), but we are also called to live our lives accordingly,  “straightforward about the truth of the gospel”. 

“For you were called to freedom, brethren;  only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.  For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.”  But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.  But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”  Galatians 5:13-16.

And so, we live our lives “straightforward” by “faith alone” and “walk by the Spirit” trusting the Spirit to produce love, joy, peace, and other fruit of the Spirit.  We do not alienate new Christians, standing aloof in our self-righteousness, but we patiently teach them Reformed Doctrine so that they too will trust God and patiently wait for the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith in Christ.

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