Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 20, 2011

“the fullness of the blessing of Christ”

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 15:20-29.
 
“20 And thus I aspired to preach the gospel, not where Christ was already named, so that I would not build on another man’s foundation; 21 but as it is written,
                              
“THEY WHO HAD NO NEWS OF HIM SHALL SEE,
AND THEY WHO HAVE NOT HEARD SHALL UNDERSTAND.” 
                                  
22 For this reason I have often been prevented from coming to you; 23 but now, with no further place for me in these regions, and since I have had for many years a longing to come to you 24 whenever I go to Spain—for I hope to see you in passing, and to be helped on my way there by you, when I have first enjoyed your company for a while— 25 but now, I am going to Jerusalem serving the saints. 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem. 27 Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, I will go on by way of you to Spain. 29 I know that when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of Christ.”  Romans 15:20-29.

————————— 

Material things are certainly not as important as spiritual things, but it does not mean that they are unimportant.  “For if the Gentiles have shared in their spiritual things, they are indebted to minister to them also in material things.”  “For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the saints in Jerusalem.  Yes, they were pleased to do so, and they are indebted to them.”  “Therefore, when I have finished this, and have put my seal on this fruit of theirs, …”.  Thus, “the fullness of the blessing of Christ” does not only consist of spiritual things;  it also consists of material things. 

Psalm 84:11
“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory;  No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

“Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he?  If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!”  Matthew 7:9-11.

1 Corinthians 9:11
“If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?”

2 Corinthians 9:12
“For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.”
 
The following from The Heidelberg Catechism (with emphasis added) recognizes both that God will provide for our spiritual and material needs and that there may be times of “riches and poverty” and “health and sickness”, but it is all part of the providence of our “faithful Father”. 
 
Question 26. What believest thou when thou sayest, “I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth”?
 
Answer. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (who of nothing made heaven and earth, with all that is in them; who likewise upholds and governs the same by his eternal counsel and providence) is for the sake of Christ his Son, my God and my Father; on whom I rely so entirely, that I have no doubt, but he will provide me with all things necessary for soul and body: and further, that he will make whatever evils he sends upon me, in this valley of tears turn out to my advantage; for he is able to do it, being Almighty God, and willing, being a faithful Father.
                                      

Question 27. What dost thou mean by the providence of God?

Answer. The almighty and everywhere present power of God; whereby, as it were by his hand, he upholds and governs heaven, earth, and all creatures;  so that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, yea, and all things come, not by chance, but by his fatherly hand.

Question 28. What advantage is it to us to know that God has created, and by his providence doth still uphold all things?

Answer.  That we may be patient in adversity; thankful in prosperity; and that in all things, which may hereafter befall us, we place our firm trust in our faithful God and Father, that nothing shall separate us from his love; since all creatures are so in his hand, that without his will they cannot so much as move.
 
 
In conclusion, we do not need to live our lives nervously “waiting for the other shoe to drop”, namely reserving our happiness when we are rich and healthy, in expectation of poverty and sickness around the corner.  Rather, we can trust our Faithful Father to give us all the grace we need to deal with those times of poverty and sickness.  We can expect “the fullness of the blessing of Christ”. 
 
The fullness of the blessing of Christ includes such strong and amazing grace, even in times of poverty and sickness, that we can join the Psalmist who sings and shouts for joy …
 
“1 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
3 Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
4 Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
5 Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth isrenewed like the eagle.”  Psalm 103:1-5. 
 
The fullness of the blessing of Christ includes such strong and amazing grace, even in times of poverty and sickness, that we can join Paul who in the middle of imprisonment exclaims: 
 
Philippians 4:19
“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 19, 2011

God’s Grace, Christ’s Work, and Our Confidence

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 15:14-19.
 
“14  And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.
 
15  But I have written very boldly to you on some points so as to remind you again, because of the grace that was given me from God,
 
16  to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, ministering as a priest the gospel of God, so that my offering of the Gentiles may become acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
 
17  Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God.
 
18  For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed,
 
19  in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit;  so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.”  Romans 15:14-19.
 
———————————–
 
Paul focused on “what Christ has accomplished through me”.  Paul recognized “the grace that was given me from God”. 
 
Paul was confident of the results of that grace within him:  “resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed”.  “I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.”  “I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” 
 
We should follow Paul’s example of focus and confidence.  We should focus on God’s grace and what Christ has accomplished through us.  We should be confident of the good results of that grace and that work. 
 
Philippians 1:6
“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.”
 
Ephesians 2:10
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
 
Philippians 2:13
“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 18, 2011

“But, there is hope!”

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 15:7-13.
 
“7  Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.
 
8  For I say that Christ has become a servant to the circumcision on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers,
 
9  and fort he Gentiles to glorify God for His mercy;  as it is written,

“THEREFORE I WILL GIVE PRAISE TO YOU AMONG THE GENTILES,
AND I WILL SING TO YOUR NAME.”

10  Again he says,

“REJOICE, O GENTILES, WITH HIS PEOPLE.”

11  And again,

“PRAISE THE LORD ALL YOU GENTILES,
AND LET ALL THE PEOPLES PRAISE HIM.”

12  Again Isaiah says,

“THERE SHALL COME THE ROOT OF JESSE,
AND HE WHO ARISES TO RULE OVER THE GENTILES,
IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE.”

13  Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:7-13.

———————————-

By now, hopefully, you have recognized the trademark of these daily devotions which is the following exclamation:  “But, there is hope!” 

Through Scripture, we are repeatedly faced with both knowledge of what is right and our inability to do right. 

But, there is hope!   

We turn our eyes from ourselves to our God, and we gain hope.  In today’s Scripture, we read:  “IN HIM SHALL THE GENTILES HOPE.”  We also read this conclusion of hope:  “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  

Psalm 119:166
“I hope for Your salvation, O LORD, And do Your commandments.”
                                         
1 Thessalonians 5:8
“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.”
 
Romans 8:24
“For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees?”
 
In summary, let us hope for salvation.  Let us put on the armor of God including the helmet which is the hope of salvation.  Let us turn our eyes from ourselves to God and hope.  Let us realize that our God is “the God of hope“.  Let us realize that we abound in hope “by the power of the Holy Spirit“.  And finally, let us realize  “… hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  Romans 5:5.  

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 16, 2011

Perseverance and Encouragement

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 15:4-6.
 
“For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.  Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Romans 15:4-6. 
 
——————–
 
“Perseverance of the saints” is the “P” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism, the Reformed doctrine of salvation.  We read Scripture so that we may gain perseverance and encouragement.  But, we also realize that such perseverance and encouragement are gifts from God to His elect. 
 
Life is tough.  We need to persevere.  We need to be encouraged.  And so, we read Scripture.
 
But, we also must have faith.  We need to believe not only that God exists but also that God rewards those who seek Him.  We must eagerly seek out God’s promises and cling to them, believing that He is faithful to accomplish what He has promised.  “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.  
 
And so, we study Scripture for those precious promises which encourage us and help us to persevere through life. 
 
“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,”  Ephesians 1:3.
 
“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.  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”  2 Peter 1:2-4.  
 
1 Peter 5:10
“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”
 
 
In conclusion, God gives such perseverance and encouragement:  “so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 15, 2011

Sacrifice and Service

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 15:1-3.
 
“1  Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves.
 
2  Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification.
 
3  For even Christ did not please Himself;  but as it is written, “THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.”  Romans 15:1-3.
 
——————————-
 
Sacrifice and service for the good of others is the message of today’s Scripture.  This “good” is most importantly their salvation.  But, in so sacrificing and serving, it is also for our good.
 
“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more.  To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law;  to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law.  To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some.  I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.”  1 Corinthians 9:19-23. 
 
God has blessed us with all the resources that we need to serve others.
 
“But just as you abound in everything, in faith and utterance and knowledge and in all earnestness and in the love we inspired in you, see that you abound in this gracious work also.”  2 Corinthians 8:7.
 
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;”  2 Corinthians 9:8.
 
Christ is our example.
 
Mark 10:45
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
 
“… 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.
 
Hebrews 9:28
“so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many;  and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.”
 
Paul followed Christ’s example, and so should we.
 
“For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;”  2 Timothy 4:5-6.
 
Who is adequate to sacrifice and serve as they should?
 
But, there is hope!
 
God gives us grace to sacrifice and serve as we should.  Paul exclaims:  “To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,”  Ephesians 3:8.
 
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10. 
 
“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 14, 2011

Conscience, Condemnation, Confidence, and Conviction

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 14:22-23.
 
“22  The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God.  Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.
 
23  But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith;  and whatever is not from faith is sin.”  Romans 14:22-23.
 
———————
 
It is bad enough that “the fall” corrupted every part of us including our conscience. 
                                     
Here is what the Westminister Larger Catechism states in part:
                            

Question 25:  Wherein consists the sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell?

Answer:  The sinfulness of that estate whereinto man fell, consists in the guilt of Adam’s first sin, the want of that righteousness wherein he was created, and the corruption of his nature, whereby he is utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite unto all that is spiritually good, and wholly inclined to all evil, and that continually; which is commonly called original sin, and from which do proceed all actual transgressions.

But, Satan won’t even let us rest with such a bad conscience.  Satan accuses us day and night.  

“whatever is not from faith is sin.” 

Titus 1:15
“To the pure, all things are pure;  but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.” 

But, there is hope!

The blood of Christ cleanses our conscience.

Hebrews 9:14
“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?”

“let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.”  Hebrews 10:21.

Our sovereign and almighty God has thrown down Satan, the “accuser of our brethern”!

Revelation 12:10
“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.”

“Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  Romans 8:1. 

We have confidence.  We live by faith.  We don’t shrink back.

“35  Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

36  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.

 37 FOR YET IN A VERY LITTLE WHILE,
HE WHO IS COMING WILL COME, AND WILL NOT DELAY.
38 BUT MY RIGHTEOUS ONE SHALL LIVE BY FAITH;
AND IF HE SHRINKS BACK, MY SOUL HAS NO PLEASURE IN HIM.

 39  But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.”  Hebrews 10:35-39. 

Through God’s grace, we have the conviction that defines faith.

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  For by it the men of old gained approval.”  Hebrews 11:1-2.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 13, 2011

“So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up …”

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 14:19-21.
 
“18  For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.
 
19  So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.
 
20 Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food.  All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.
 
21  It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.”  Romans 14:19-21.
 
————— 
 
“So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.”
 
But, we are selfish.  We may not intentionally want to hurt our brother, but we care more about pleasing ourselves than we care about the negative impact of those actions on our brother. 
 
We need help!
 
The Holy Spirit comes to our rescue bearing fruit in our lives of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  Galatians 5:22-23. 
 
God also “works all things in all persons” giving “the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good” with different gifts given to each for the building up of the body of believers together.  1 Corinthians 12:6-10.
 
God also “so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.”  1 Corinthians 12:24-25.
 
“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift …. for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”  Ephesians 4:7-12.
 
“Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love,  being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”  Ephesians 4:1-3.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 9, 2011

The Kingdom of God: Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Spirit

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 14:13-17.
 
“13  Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.
 
14  I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself;  but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.
 
15  For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.
 
16  Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil;
 
17  for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 14:13-17.
 
——————————————-
 
The kingdom of God is not about eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.  From verse 15, we can include love.  In summary, the kingdom of God is about the fruit of the Spirit.
 
We tend to chase after and cling to food, drink, money, and so many other temporal earthly things.  These things may be good, but if they hurt our brother or sister, and yet we still cling to them, then we are not walking in love.  We need to hang loosely to these temporal earthly things and set our mind on things above. 
 
“Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.  Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.  For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”  Colossians 3:1-4. 
 
And, behind this food, drink, money, and many other temporal earthly things, we need to beware of the lust for these things which causes us to cling to these things and do evil, and which lust for these things also causes us to neglect the spiritual things and doing good.     
 
“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. 
 
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Galatians 5:22-24. 
 
And so, by God’s grace, we set our mind on things above.  We learn to treasure more the fruit of the Spirit.  We learn to walk by the Spirit.  We may enjoy food, drink, money, and many other temporal earthly things, but we hang on loosely to these things.  We look to our brother and sister, and we learn to better help them.  We pray:  “Father, please help me!  My mind is wandering!”  We pick up the Bible to read it.  We meditate on “righteousness and peace and joy” and the other fruit of the Holy Spirit.
 
In conclusion, today, I fly to Michigan for a high school reunion and leave my routine of writing these daily devotions for a few days.  There will be good food and drink and other temporal earthly things.  I can enjoy them, but will I cling to them?  Will I set my mind on things above?  God has given me this daily devotion.  God will also give me other grace for each day to help me hang loosely to these temporal earthly things and to help me to set my mind on things above, “righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit”. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 8, 2011

Accountability to God: Man’s Need for Credit

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 14:10-12.
 
“10  But you, why do you judge your brother?  Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
 
11 For it is written,

“AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME,
AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.”

12  So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.”  Romans 14:10-12.

———————————–

Today’s Scripture is scary!  Who can stand before the judgment seat of God and rely only on their own merits?!  We need credit beyond what we can produce.

“10 as it is written,

“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
13 “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
“THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
14 “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”;
15 “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”
18 “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”

19 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; 20 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 3:10-20. 

But, there is hope!

Through God’s grace, the needed credit was produced through the most precious and perfect sacrifice of His Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus 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.  The Canons of Dordt

“But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness,”  Romans 4:5

And, this needed credit is not like a little extra credit in school, where for example, a student many produce 89 points out of a possible 100 points, but need only a few extra points to give him or her an “A”. 

Our own works are like rubbish which only anger God.

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

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

Every point that we need must be gained from Christ and credited to us.  

“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 3:8-9.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 7, 2011

“We are the Lord’s”; we belong unto our faithful Savior Jesus Christ.

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 14:5-9.

“5  One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike.  Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.

6  He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God;  and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God.

7  For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself;

8  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.

9  For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”  Romans 14:5-9.

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Whether we live or die, “we are the Lord’s.”

We are the Lord’s, because He made us.  He created us.  “Know that the LORD Himself is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;  We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.”  Psalm 100:3.  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

We are the Lord’s, because He bought us.  He redeemed us, His elect, the church of God.

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.”  Acts 20:28.

“And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals;  for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.”  Revelation 5:9.

“If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;  knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.”  1 Peter 1:17-19.

This ownership of Christ is so important and so comforting that The Heidelberg Catechism starts with this principle of ownership.  This principle of ownership is also consistent  with Reformed Doctrine’s emphasis of God’s sovereignty.

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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