Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 27, 2011

“But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting”

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 7:7-13.
 
“7 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.”
 
8  But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind;  for apart from the Law sin is dead.
 
9  I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;
 
10  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;
 
11  for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.
 
12 So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.
                         

13  Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be!  Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.”  Romans 7:7-13. 

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Today’s Scripture explains how our sinful passions are aroused by the Law to bear fruit for death.  And, this Law is not just obscure Jewish customs or rituals, but this Law, that arouses our sinful passions to bear fruit for death, includes the Ten Commandments such as the tenth commandment:  “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.” 

So, don’t run back to the tutorship of the Law and cling to it, as if you are only released from obscure Jewish customs or rituals but are still under moral law including the Ten Commandments.  You can’t even handle just The Ten Commandments.  And, if you try to perfect yourself by The Ten Commandments, you are under a curse.  Galatians 3:1-12.    

Now, this Scripture for today repeated defends the goodness of the Law;  the problem is the sin within us.  “So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.  Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be!  Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.”  Romans 7:12-13.  

We read the solution to this problem in yesterday’s Scripture.  We were made to die to the Law, so that we might be joined to Christ.  We were released from the Law, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.  Romans 7:5-6.

Here is what The Heidelberg Catechism states:

Question 115.  Why will God then have the ten commandments so strictly preached, since no man in this life can keep them?

Answer.  First, that all our lifetime we may learn more and more to know our sinful nature, and thus become the more earnest in seeking the remission of sin, and righteousness in Christ; likewise, that we constantly endeavor and pray to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit, that we may become more and more conformable to the image of God, till we arrive at the perfection proposed to us, in a life to come. 

Even though it may be easier to “seek the remission of sin, and righteousness in Christ” and to pray for grace, than it is to obey the Ten Commandments, ultimately we don’t even depend on our own ability to so seek and pray, we trust God and the doctrine of salvation (“TULIP”) summarized by Romans 8:28-29:  “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.”

In summary, we “walk by the Spirit” and trust the Spirit to produce the fruit of the Spirit according to Galatians Chapter 5.  We “learn more and more to know our sinful nature, and thus become the more earnest in seeking the remission of sin, and righteousness in Christ;  likewise, that we constantly endeavor and pray to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit” according to The Heidelberg Catechism.  But, above all, we trust God through our faith in Christ to provide everything that we need for our salvation and to cause everything to work together for our good for our salvation.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 26, 2011

“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”

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 7:1-6.
 
“1  Or do you not know, brethren (for I am speaking to those who know the law), that the law has jurisdiction over a person as long as he lives?
 
2  For the married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is living; but if her husband dies, she is released from the law concerning the husband.
 
3  So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress;  but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.
                                     

4  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.

5  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.

6  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 7:1-6.

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“…  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.   …  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.

It is hard for us to leave the Law.  We tend to cling to it to obtain righteousness.  In our deepest thoughts, we tend to trust the Law more than we trust Christ.

So, Paul, recognizes this tendency and compares the Law with Christ.  Paul first emphatically lists his accomplishments according to the Law summing it up:  “… as to the righteousness which is in the Law, found blameless.”  Paul then concludes:  “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 3:6-9. 

The next Scripture, which is subject to tomorrow devotion, God willing, explains how the Law arouses our sinful passions to bear fruit for death.  And, this Law is not just obscure Jewish customs or rituals, but this Law, that arouses our sinful passions to bear fruit for death, includes the Ten Commandments.  If you want to jump ahead, read Romans 7:7-11.   

But, even though we read this Scripture, it is as if our minds gloss over and do not allow let this truth (of how the Law arouses our sinful passions to bear fruit for death) to sink into our beliefs.  We still want to grab that yardstick of the Law and measure ourselves to prove our own righteousness according to the Law, rather than trust God for that “righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith”.  

We are like the Galatians who Paul admonishes.  “You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?  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 3:1-5.  

But, there is hope!

“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.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 25, 2011

“you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching”

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 6:15-23.
 
“15  What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? May it never be!
 
16  Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?
 
17  But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed,
 
18  and having been freed from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.
 
19  I am speaking in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh.  For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, resulting in further lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.
                               

20  For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness.

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.

22  But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.

23  For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 6:15-23. 

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It is easy to slip back into being under the law.  When we read:  “you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness”, it is easy to only trust our knowledge of the law and our willpower to obey the law as the only way to produce that “obedience resulting in righteousness”.

But, we worked too hard to learn, remember, and trust that we “are not under law but under grace.”  Romans 6:14.  We will not fall back.  Rather, through God’s grace, we became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which we were committed.

What was “that form of teaching”?

That form of teaching was the doctrines of grace a/k/a the Five Points of Calvinism a/k/a The Canons of Dordt a/k/a “TULIP”.  “TULIP” emphasizes and embraces the sovereignty of God in salvation. 

For example, when we truly believe “Irresistible Grace”, the “I” of “TULIP”, we believe and eagerly embrace that we are “slaves of righteousness”.  We believe and eagerly embrace that “we are enslaved to God”.  Through God’s grace, we present our members as slaves to righteousness, resulting in sanctification.    

When we truly believe the doctrines of grace a/k/a the Five Points of Calvinism a/k/a The Canons of Dordt a/k/a “TULIP”, we believe and eagerly embrace that “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  

On the other hand, if we still cling to Arminianism, we only trust our alleged “free will” to produce that “obedience resulting in righteousness”.  We don’t really believe that we are a “slave of righteousness”;  after all, we have “free will”.  We don’t really believe that we are “enslaved to God””;  after all, we have “free will”.  We believe that we can resist grace.  We believe that we can fall from grace.  In summary, we don’t really believe that eternal life is a free gift of God;  after all, we earned some credit through either our “free will” obedience or at least our “free will” faith, until the very end.  

But thanks be to God, you became obedient from the heart to the doctrines of grace a/k/a the Five Points of Calvinism a/k/a The Canons of Dordt a/k/a “TULIP”.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 24, 2011

Life in Christ

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 6:8-14.
 
“8  Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,
 
9  knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him.
 
10  For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God.
 
11  Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
                                                

12  Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,

13  and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness;  but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

14  For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.”  Romans 6:8-14. 

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Life in Christ is the emphasis of the Scripture for today.  We live with Christ.  We are alive to God in Christ.  We are under grace. 

The Scripture does continue the important theme of the previous Scripture that we are “dead to sin” and we “are not under law”.  But, life in Christ is the emphasis for the Scripture for today, and life in Christ enables us to present ourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and our members as instruments of righteousness to God.  Life in Christ enables us to serve God as our master, not sin as our master.   

Romans 7:4-6 ties it together so well.  We are joined to Christ. 

“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.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 22, 2011

“our old self was crucified with Him, … so that we would no longer be slaves to sin”.

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 6:1-7.
 
“1 What shall we say then?  Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?
 
2 May it never be!  How shall we who died to sin still live in it?
 
3  Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death?
 
4  Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
 
5  For if we have become united with Him in the likeness of His death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of His resurrection,
 
6  knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin;
 
7  for he who has died is freed from sin.”  Romans 6:1-7.
 
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Here is an analogy.  A prisoner has been chained in prison for years.  Finally, he is unchained and escorted out of the prison.  Yes, he can come back to visit, but why would he ever want to come back to visit? 
 
Certainly, the analogy is not perfect.  But, I hope it helps us first consider the Scripture for today in briefest summary.  We are freed from sin.  Yes, we can still sin, but why would we ever want to continue in sin?
 
Here is what The Belgic Confession states in part:                                       
 
Article 24:  Of man’s Sanctification and Good Works.
                                                 

“We believe that this true faith being wrought in man by the hearing of the Word of God, and the operation of the Holy Ghost, doth regenerate and make him a new man, causing him to live a new life, and freeing him from the bondage of sin.  …”  

Here is what The Heidelberg Catechism states in part:

Question 43.  What further benefit do we receive from the sacrifice and death of Christ on the cross?

Answer.  That by virtue thereof, our old man is crucified, dead and buried with him; that so the corrupt inclinations of the flesh may no more reign in us;  but that we may offer ourselves unto him a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

Here is what The Canons of Dordt state in part:

Article 11.  But when God accomplishes his good pleasure in the elect, or works in them true conversion, he not only causes the gospel to be externally preached to them, and powerfully illumines their minds by his Holy Spirit, that they may rightly understand and discern the things of the Spirit of God;  but by the efficacy of the same regenerating Spirit, pervades the inmost recesses of the man;  he opens the closed, and softens the hardened heart, and circumcises that which was uncircumcised, infuses new qualities into the will, which though heretofore dead, he quickens; from being evil, disobedient and refractory, he renders it good, obedient, and pliable; actuates and strengthens it, that like a good tree, it may bring forth the fruits of good actions.

Here is what The Westminister Larger Catechism states in part:

Question 75:  What is sanctification?

Answer:  Sanctification is a work of God’s grace, whereby they whom God has, before the foundation of the world, chosen to be holy, are in time, through the powerful operation of his Spirit applying the death and resurrection of Christ unto them, renewed in their whole man after the image of God;  having the seeds of repentance unto life, and all other saving graces, put into their hearts, and those graces so stirred up, increased, and strengthened, as that they more and more die unto sin, and rise unto newness of life.

Question 76:  What is repentance unto life?

Answer:  Repentance unto life is a saving grace, wrought in the heart of a sinner by the Spirit and Word of God, whereby, out of the sight and sense, not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, and upon the apprehension of God’s mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, he so grieves for and hates his sins, as that he turns from them all to God, purposing and endeavoring constantly to walk with him in all the ways of new obedience.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 21, 2011

“so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ”

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 5:18-21.
 
“18  So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men.
 
19  For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous.
 
20  The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,
 
21  so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 5:18-21. 
 
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Regarding Adam, we read about God’s command and warning to Adam in Genesis 2:15-16:  “Then the LORD God took the man and put him into the garden of Eden to cultivate it and keep it.  The LORD God commanded the man, saying, “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely;  but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.”
 
Satan’s temptation and this “one transgression” or “one man’s disobedience” (as stated in today’s Scripture) is recorded in Genesis 3:4-6:  “The serpent said to the woman, “You surely will not die!  For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”  When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate;  and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”
 
Here is what The Westminister Larger Catechism states about this “one transgression” or “one man’s disobedience”:
 
Question 22:  Did all mankind fall in that first transgression ?
                                        

Answer:  The covenant being made with Adam as a public person, not for himself only, but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in that first transgression.

Question 23:  Into what estate did the fall bring mankind?

Answer:  The fall brought mankind into an estate of sin and misery.

Question 24:  What is sin?

Answer:  Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, any law of God, given as a rule to the reasonable creature.

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.

Question 26:  How is original sin conveyed from our first parents unto their posterity?

Answer:  Original sin is conveyed from our first parents unto their posterity by natural generation, so as all that proceed from them in that way are conceived and born in sin.

Question 27:  What misery did the fall bring upon mankind?

Answer:  The fall brought upon mankind the loss of communion with God, his displeasure and curse; so as we are by nature children of wrath, bond slaves to Satan, and justly liable to all punishments in this world, and that which is to come.

 
Regarding Christ, and His “one act of righteousness” or “the obedience of the One”  (as stated in today’s Scripture) is recorded in Philippians 2:8:  “Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”
 
Through Christ’s obedience, Hebrews 5:8-10 teaches us that Christ became the source of eternal salvation.  “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.  And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek.”  Hebrews 5:8-10.  
 
 
Regarding today’s Scripture that “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase”, Galatians 3:21-22 states:  “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.  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.”
 
 
In conclusion, God’s purpose is not that righteousness and eternal life would be given through man’s obedience to the Law as if man could earn righteousness and eternal life:  “so that no man may boast before God.”  1 Corinthians 1:29. 
 
Rather, God’s purpose is that righteousness and eternal life would be given through God’s promise as a gift:  “by Christ alone, by grace alone, by faith alone, to God alone be the glory” (four of the Five Solas).  “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 1:30-31.  “… so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Romans 5:21.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 20, 2011

“For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.”

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 5:12-17.
 
“12  Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—
 
13  for until the Law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law.
 
14  Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moses, even over those who had not sinned in the likeness of the offense of Adam, who is a type of Him who was to come.
                                

15  But the free gift is not like the transgression.  For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.

16  The gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned;  for on the one hand the judgment arose from one transgression resulting in condemnation, but on the other hand the free gift arose from many transgressions resulting in justification.

17  For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.”  Romans 5:12-17. 

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“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 3:22. 

“For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!   For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, OR WHO BECAME HIS COUNSELOR?   Or WHO HAS FIRST GIVEN TO HIM THAT IT MIGHT BE PAID BACK TO HIM AGAIN?  For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.  To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”  Romans 11:32-36. 

We may not be able to fully understand why it was necessary for Adam’s sin to enter the world and for that sin and consequential death to spread to all men.  We may not be able to fully understand why it was necessary as stated above, for all to be shut up in sin, so that God may show mercy to all.  But, we can bow down to the unfathomable wisdom of God.  We can give thanks and praise God for “the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness”.  We can “reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ”. 

We can believe in God “who works all things after the counsel of His will”.  We can “hope in Christ” eagerly seeking that “view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth” (as stated below),     

“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. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us.

In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. 

In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.”  Ephesians 1:3-12.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 19, 2011

Reconciliation

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 5:9-11.
 
“9  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.
 
10  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
 
11  And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.”  Romans 5:9-11. 
 
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Reconcile means “to restore to friendship or harmony”.  Click here: Reconcile – Definition and More from the Free Merriam-Webster Dictionary
 
We were enemies of God, hostile to God, and subject to God’s wrath.  But, through Christ’s blood, we are now reconciled to God, and we are now children of God at peace with God and blessed by God’s grace. 
 
It would be good enough to be at peace with God and blessed by God’s grace.  But, the benefits of reconciliation accomplished by God through our Lord Jesus Christ are so great that we actually exult (“leap for joy” – Merriam-Webster Dictionary above) in God.   
 
“For Thou, O LORD, hast made me glad by what Thou hast done,                                                             
I will sing for joy at the works of Thy hands.”  Psalm 92:4.
 
“Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.”  Psalm 32:11. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 18, 2011

Unconditional Election

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 5:6-8.
 
“6  For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.
 
7  For one will hardly die for a righteous man;  though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.
 
8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:6-8.
 
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Christ’s death for us, and thus salvation, is not based on our worthiness to be saved.  We did not do enough works.  We were not holy or virtuous enough.  We were not humble enough.  We were not cute.  We did not even ask to be rescued like a drowning man might wave his hand for help.  We were “the ungodly”.  We were “still helpless”.  We were “yet sinners”.
 
Our condition was “Total Depravity”, the “T” of “TULIP”, described in graphic detail two chapters earlier. 
 
“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.”  Romans 3:10-18.
 
There is not one condition that we could hold up to God to motivate Him to elect us for salvation.  Thus, God’s election of us is “Unconditional Election”, the “U” of “TULIP”. 

This understanding of “Unconditional Election” makes us better appreciate His love for us.  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:6-8.

This understanding of “Unconditional Election” also gives us courage to face this Monday and each day.  We may not feel holy or virtuous enough.  We may not feel humble enough or that we did not enough works.  But, we believe that God loved us and that Christ died for us. 

Our faith is not based on us;  our faith is based on God.  And so, we go forth this Monday and each day with peace and joy fully trusting God based on the understanding of “Unconditional Election”.  

“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.

What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who is against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?  Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?  God is the one who justifies;  who is the one who condemns?  Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”  Romans 8:29-24.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | July 17, 2011

Results of Justification by Faith in Jesus Christ

Today’s devotion comes from Romans 5:1-5.

“1  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

2  through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand;  and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

3  And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;

4  and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

5  and 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 5:1-5.

———————-

We can not fully appreciate what it means that “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,”, without understanding in contrast the wrath of God against the wicked which means all those without God’s Son Jesus Christ.  “Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.”  Ephesians 2:3.

“4  For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness;
No evil dwells with You.
5  The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes;
You hate all who do iniquity.
6  You destroy those who speak falsehood;
The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.”  Psalm 5:4-6.

Listen to the graphic description of God’s wrath in Isaiah 34:1-3!

“1  Draw near, O nations, to hear; and listen, O peoples!
Let the earth and all it contains hear, and the world and all that springs from it.
2  For the LORD’S indignation is against all the nations,
And His wrath against all their armies;
He has utterly destroyed them,
He has given them over to slaughter.
3 So their slain will be thrown out,
And their corpses will give off their stench,
And the mountains will be drenched with their blood.”  Isaiah 34:1-3.

Take warning!  Show respect and bow down to the Lordship of God’s Son Jesus Christ!

“10  Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
11  Worship the LORD with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12  Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”  Psalm 2:10-12. 

The Scripture for today contains great hope for those who do take refuge in Christ.  They escape God’s wrath.  They have peace with God.

But, even more than the absence of God’s wrath, the results of the justification by faith in Jesus Christ include “the love of God (which) has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  It would be good enough if we could just live out our lives at peace without the wrath of God against us, but it is truly amazing and overflowing to receive God’s love and the Holy Spirit, God Himself!  It is almost too good to be true.  

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  Romans 8:28.  And so, that final part of today’s Scripture makes sense, that God uses our tribulations to bring about perseverance, proven character, and hope.

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