Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 5:11-15.

 

“¹¹ Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men, but we are made manifest to God;  and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.  ¹² We are not again commending ourselves to you but are giving you an occasion to be proud of us, so that you will have an answer for those who take pride in appearance and not in heart.  ¹³ For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God;  if we are of sound mind, it is for you.  ¹⁴ For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died;  ¹⁵ and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”  2 Corinthians 5:11-15.

 

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Christ’s death procures benefits for us that makes us live for God.  Here is what The Canons of Dordt state about the death of Christ.  “Article 8.  For this was the sovereign counsel, and most gracious will and purpose of God the Father, that the quickening and saving efficacy of the most precious death of his Son should extend to all the elect, for bestowing upon them alone the gift of justifying faith, thereby to bring them infallibly to salvation:  that is, it was the will of God, that Christ by the blood of the cross, whereby he confirmed the new covenant, should effectually redeem out of every people, tribe, nation, and language, all those, and those only, who were from eternity chosen to salvation, and given to him by the Father;  that he should confer upon them faith, which together with all the other saving gifts of the Holy Spirit, he purchased for them by his death;  should purge them from all sin, both original and actual, whether committed before or after believing;  and having faithfully preserved them even to the end, should at last bring them free from every spot and blemish to the enjoyment of glory in his own presence forever.”

 

“For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;  for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.  For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”  Romans 14:7-9. 

 

In conclusion, The Heidelberg Catechism sums it up so well. 

 

“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.”

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 5:6-10.

 

“⁶ Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— ⁷ for we walk by faith, not by sight— ⁸ we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord.  ⁹ Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.  ¹⁰ For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”  2 Corinthians 5:6-10.

 

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We have “good courage”, because we “walk by faith”.  Verses 6 and 7.  “¹⁶ 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.  ¹⁷ 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.  ¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ We love, because He first loved us.”  1 John 4:16-19. 

 

We do the things pleasing to God, because God first loved us, and His love abides in us:  “as He is, so also are we in this world”.  1 John 4:16-19. 

 

We do not fear, because God’s perfect love within us casts out fear.  1 John 4:18.

 

We “may have confidence in the day of judgment”, “because as He is, so also are we in this world” and God’s perfect love within us casts out fear.  1 John 4:17-18.  Therefore, we have “good courage”.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 5:1-5.

 

“¹  For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

 

²  For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven,

 

³  inasmuch as we, having put it on, will not be found naked.

 

⁴  For indeed while we are in this tent, we groan, being burdened, because we do not want to be unclothed but to be clothed, so that what is mortal will be swallowed up by life.

 

⁵  Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.”  2 Corinthians 5:1-5.

 

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Scripture describes this groaning of our temporary frail mortal bodies which wait for the eternal imperishable immortal bodies that God promises to giove us, and how the Spirit is given to us a pledge by God that He will indeed clothe us with eternal imperishable immortal bodies.

 

“And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”  Romans 8:23.  

 

“For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.”  1 Corinthians 15:53.  

 

“In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.”  Ephesians 1:13-14.  

 

 

“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope;  for who hopes for what he already sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”  Romans 8:24-25. 

 

 

“Now He who prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave to us the Spirit as a pledge.”  Verse 5.  God is the One Who gave us these our temporary frail mortal bodies.  God is the One Who promised us that He will clothe us with eternal imperishable immortal bodies.  God is the One Who gave us His Spirit as a pledge.  Verse 5.  God is the One Who gave us His Spirit Who is also a “Helper” to help us with all the help we need.  John 14:16-27.  God is the One Who will give us the eternal imperishable immortal bodies.  God is the One Who has prepared us for everything!   

 

God is also the One Who gives us all the other grace that we need while we wait.  “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake;  for when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 9:9-10. 

 

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 4:13-18.

 

“¹³ But having the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I BELIEVED, THEREFORE I SPOKE,” we also believe, therefore we also speak, ¹⁴ knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and will present us with you.  ¹⁵ For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.

                                    

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.  ¹⁷ For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen;  for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”  2 Corinthians 4:13-18.

                                                

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Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 4:7-12.

 

“⁷ But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;  ⁸ we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;  perplexed, but not despairing;  ⁹ persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;  ¹⁰ always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.  ¹¹ For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.  ¹² So death works in us, but life in you.”  2 Corinthians 4:7-12.

 

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“¹⁰ He does not delight in the strength of the horse;
He does not take pleasure in the legs of a man.
¹¹ The LORD favors those who fear Him,
Those who wait for His lovingkindness.”  Psalm 147:10-11. 

 

“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.

 

“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”  2 Corinthians 12:9

 

We may not like it.  We may “rage against age”.  But, these are the body dynamics.  Our bodies are “earthen vessels”, “so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves”, and in clear contrast, “so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh“. 

 

 

God gives us grace to deal with whatever weakness we experience:  “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing;  persecuted, but not forsaken;  struck down, but not destroyed”.  Verses 8 and 9.

 

And, God gives us further grace through the peace and joy that He gives us.  “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:7   “Great is my confidence in you;  great is my boasting on your behalf. I am filled with comfort;  I am overflowing with joy in all our affliction.”  2 Corinthians 7:4  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,”  Galatians 5:22

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 4:3-6.

 

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

 

For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.  For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”  2 Corinthians 4:3-6. 

 

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“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.”  Article 22:  Of Faith in Jesus Christ in The Belgic Confession.

 

 

For those who do not receive this gift, this light within their hearts to believe, “our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”  Verses 3 and 4. 

 

Jesus said:  “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.”  John 6:44.  “And He was saying, “For this reason I have said to you, that no one can come to Me unless it has been granted him from the Father.”  John 6:65.

 

Notice the absolute need for enlightenment by God in the following verses: or else we remain “in our bondage”, we remain in “the pit”, and we “sleep the sleep of death”.  There is no “self enlightenment”.     

 

Ezra 9:8
“But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage.”

 

Job 33:30
“To bring back his soul from the pit, That he may be enlightened with the light of life.”

 

Psalm 13:3
“Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;  Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,”

 

 

“²⁷ The LORD is God, and He has given us light;
Bind the festival sacrifice with cords to the horns of the altar.
²⁸ You are my God, and I give thanks to You;
You are my God, I extol You.
²⁹ Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.”  Psalm 118:27-29.

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

 

“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”

 

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Today’s Scripture focuses on “the manifestation of truth” and presents a few elements. 

 

First, we “renounce” the things hidden because of shame.  “Renounce” is defined as “to give up, refuse, or resign usually by formal declaration”.  Click here: Renounce – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary  “Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are:  immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”  Galatians 5:19-21.  “Therefore what benefit were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed?  For the outcome of those things is death.  But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.”  Romans 6:21-22.  

 

Second, we do not walk in craftiness.  “Do not be wise in your own eyes;  Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.”  Proverbs 3:7

 

Third, we do not adulterate the word of God.  “Adulterate” is defined as “to corrupt, debase, or make impure by the addition of a foreign or inferior substance or element”.  Click here: Adulterate – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary  We can adulterate the word of God in different ways, but an example is when we quote Scripture but also add a frequently home-spun statement to make it appear that it also comes from the word of God like:  “God helps those who help themselves.” or “God gave man free-will.”  Remember that Satan only slightly twisted the word of God in trying to tempt Jesus in the wilderness.  See Matthew 4:1-11.  

 

Fourth, we accurately handle the word of truth.  “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15   We consider the context of the Scripture when we quote it to make sure that we preach and teach in truth.  We consider other Scriptures as a cross-reference and quote them too.  We don’t only “let our good deeds speak for themselves”, but rather we try to explain our good deeds and our experiences in terms of Scripture to better manifest the truth.

 

Fifth, we present Christ who is “the Truth”.  John 14:6.  “For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake.”  2 Corinthians 4:5.  “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.  For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.”  1 Corinthians 2:1-2.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 3:12-18.

 

“¹² Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, ¹³ and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away.  ¹⁴ But their minds were hardened;  for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ.  ¹⁵ But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart;  ¹⁶ but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.  ¹⁷ Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  ¹⁸ But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”  2 Corinthians 3:12-18. 

 

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How truly glorious and amazing is the description of the ministry of the Spirit that the Spirit transforms us into His “same image from glory to glory” as we behold our Lord!  And then improved, we again behold our Lord and are transformed and improved some more, time and time again!

 

“Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be.  We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.  And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”  1 John 3:2-3.

 

In contrast to the ministry of the Spirit which produces ever-increasing glory, the ministry of the Law only produces a fading glory.  We may read the Law and try to be better, but at best, it provides only a temporary fading improvement.  At worst, the Law arouses our sinful passions to bear fruit for death.  See Romans 7:5-11.

 

The Pharisees lay law upon law on the people:  “And they tie up heavy loads, and lay them on men’s shoulders;  but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.”  Matthew 23:4.

                                    

In contrast, Christ tied up the heavy loads of the law and laid them on His own shoulders and gave us His Spirit as a yoke:  “in order that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit”.  Romans 8:4.

We can either fix our eyes on the Law or fix our eyes on Jesus.  The Galatians fixed their eyes on the Law, and Paul admonished them:  “Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”  Galatians 3:3.  Or, we can fix our eyes on Jesus:  “the author and perfecter of faith”.  Hebrews 12:2.   

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”  Verse 17.  “It was for freedom that Christ set us free;  therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”  Galatians 5:1.  “You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.  For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness.”  Galatians 5:4-5.

Today’s devotion comes from 2 Corinthians 3:7-11.

 

“⁷ But if the ministry of death, in letters engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the sons of Israel could not look intently at the face of Moses because of the glory of his face, fading as it was, ⁸ how will the ministry of the Spirit fail to be even more with glory?  ⁹ For if the ministry of condemnation has glory, much more does the ministry of righteousness abound in glory.  ¹⁰ For indeed what had glory, in this case has no glory because of the glory that surpasses it.  ¹¹ For if that which fades away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.”  2 Corinthians 3:7-11.

 

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“For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did:  sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”  Romans 8:3-4.

 

“… 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.”  Galatians 3:21-22. 

 

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

 

“But now He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He is also the mediator of a better covenant, which has been enacted on better promises.  For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second.”  Hebrews 8:6-7.

 

“For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling those who have been defiled sanctify for the cleansing of the flesh, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”  Hebrews 9:13-14. 

 

“For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the very form of things, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually year by year, make perfect those who draw near.”  Hebrews 10:1. 

 

“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.  And the Holy Spirit also testifies to us;  for after saying,

 

“THIS IS THE COVENANT THAT I WILL MAKE WITH THEM
AFTER THOSE DAYS, SAYS THE LORD:
I WILL PUT MY LAWS UPON THEIR HEART,
AND ON THEIR MIND I WILL WRITE THEM,”

 

He then says,

                               

“This is the only thing I want to find out from you:  did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?  Are you so foolish?  Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?  Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?  So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”  Galatians 3:2-5. 

 

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;  for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law.”  Galatians 5:16-18. 

 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23.

Merry Christmas!

In a pitch black world governed by the letter of the law which only condemned us,  a light of Spirit and hope and life appeared.  When I meditated on today’s Scripture, I was reminded of a Christmas message that I wrote in 1995 (Gold Mine 33), and I decided to give it as today’s devotion with today’s Scripture added to the third point.

 

I thought of some ways Christ brought us to God and there are other ways:

First, Christ brought us to God by coming to earth to be our Immanuel, “GOD WITH US”. Matthew 1:23.

Second, Christ brought us to God by His sacrificial death. “For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, in order that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit”. 1 Peter 3:18. 

Third, Christ brought us to God by sending us the Holy Spirit to indwell us to give us new life. See for example John 14:16 & 26, John 16:7 & 13-15, Acts 1:8, and today’s Scripture from 2 Corinthians 3:4-6.  “Such confidence we have through Christ toward God.  Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.”  2 Corinthians 3:4-6.

Fifth, Christ brought us to God by making us His children. “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,” John 1:12.

Sixth, Christ brought us to God by being the Word and teaching us grace and truth: “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14.　

Seventh, Christ brought us to God by giving us the glory which God gave Christ so that we may be one, Christ in us, God in Christ, that we may be perfected in unity and know that God loves us as God loved Christ.  “And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one;  I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me.” John 17: 22-23.

In conclusion, as you begin to focus on yourself this Christmas and how you can draw near to God, it is the hope of this Christmas message that you will turn your attention to Christ and how He brought us to God.