Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ³³  After they had spent time there, they were sent away from the brethren in peace to those who had sent them out.

 ³⁴  [But it seemed good to Silas to remain there.]

 ³⁵  But Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, teaching and preaching with many others also, the word of the Lord.”  Acts 15:30-35. 

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“³  Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble.
    ⁴  Say to those with anxious heart,
         “Take courage, fear not
         Behold, your God will come with vengeance;
         The recompense of God will come,
         But He will save you.”
    ⁵  Then the eyes of the blind will be opened
         And the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.
    ⁶  Then the lame will leap like a deer,
         And the tongue of the mute will shout for joy
         For waters will break forth in the wilderness
         And streams in the Arabah.
    ⁷  The scorched land will become a pool
         And the thirsty ground springs of water;
         In the haunt of jackals, its resting place,
         Grass becomes reeds and rushes.
    ⁸  A highway will be there, a roadway,
         And it will be called the Highway of Holiness
         The unclean will not travel on it,
         But it will be for him who walks that way,
         And fools will not wander on it.
    ⁹  No lion will be there,
         Nor will any vicious beast go up on it;
         These will not be found there
         But the redeemed will walk there,
    ¹⁰  And the ransomed of the LORD will return
         And come with joyful shouting to Zion,
         With everlasting joy upon their heads
         They will find gladness and joy,
         And sorrow and sighing will flee away.”  Isaiah 35:3-10. 

“⁶  Each one helps his neighbor
         And says to his brother, “Be strong!”
    ⁷  So the craftsman encourages the smelter,
         And he who smooths metal with the hammer encourages him who beats the anvil,
         Saying of the soldering, “It is good“;
         And he fastens it with nails,
         So that it will not totter.
    ⁸  “But you, Israel, My servant,
         Jacob whom I have chosen,
         Descendant of Abraham My friend,
    ⁹  You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,
         And called from its remotest parts
         And said to you, ‘You are My servant,
         I have chosen you and not rejected you.
    ¹⁰  ‘Do not fear, for I am with you;
         Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God
         I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
         Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ ”  Isaiah 41:6-10.

“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.

1 Thessalonians 5:11
“Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.”

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“But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way.

For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself, saying, “I WILL SURELY BLESS YOU AND I WILL SURELY MULTIPLY YOU.”

And so, having patiently waited, he obtained the promise.

 For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute.  In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, so that by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have taken refuge would have strong encouragement to take hold of the hope set before us.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”  Hebrews 6:9-20.

 ¹⁹  “Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,

 ²⁰but that we write to them that they abstain from things contaminated by idols and from fornication and from what is strangled and from blood.

 ²¹  “For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

… (The following is the conclusion of the letter.) 

“²⁸  “For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay upon you no greater burden than these essentials:

 ²⁹  that you abstain from things sacrificed to idols and from blood and from things strangled and from fornication;  if you keep yourselves free from such things, you will do well.  Farewell.”  Acts 15:13-21 and 28-29.

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The council in Jerusalem had spiritual wisdom to preserve the unity of the church.  On the one hand, they  did not want to trouble the Gentiles.  But, on the other hand, they did not want to trouble the Jews who would be deeply offended if there were no requirements.

We are reminded of 1 Corinthians Chapter 8.  I will quote the concluding verses of this chapter. 

“But food will not commend us to God;  we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.  But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak.  For if someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol’s temple, will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat things sacrificed to idols?

For through your knowledge he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.  And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ.

Therefore, if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.”  1 Corinthians 8:8-13.

Although we are not confronted today with the specific issue of whether or not to eat food sacrificed to idols, there are more general lessons confronting us.  On the one hand, like the Gentiles, we too need to take care of our liberty, so that we do not use our liberty to cause our brother to stumble.  On the other hand, like the Jews, we too need to take care that we do not place on new converts a greater burden of requirements than essential.  We may be quite comfortable in our spiritual routines to the extent that we may be tempted to make them into requirements to new people joining our church.     

As Reformed believers, we have a lot of knowledge.  We know the freedom that we have in Christ;  we also know the position that we have as the elect.  We need to heed the warning in 1 Corinthians 8:1:  “… Knowledge makes arrogant, but love edifies.”

 ⁴  When they arrived at Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders, and they reported all that God had done with them.

 ⁵  But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”

 ⁶  The apostles and the elders came together to look into this matter.

 ⁷  After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.

 ⁸  “And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;

 ⁹  and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

 ¹⁰  “Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear?

 ¹¹  “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”

 ¹²  All the people kept silent, and they were listening to Barnabas and Paul as they were relating what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.”  Acts 15:1-12.

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We see the continued focus on God and what “God had done“.  See above-stated Acts 15:4 and Acts 15:12.  This focus and emphasis continues from the prior chapter and the prior devotion – Click here: “For Thou, O LORD, hast made me glad by what Thou hast done,” « Reformed Doctrine Blog

In comparison, the Law is all about man and all that man should do.  We see that point here in the very first verse of this chapter by the teaching of some.  “Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved.”  It is important to note the addition to it in verse 5.  “It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses.”  That is how those who are of the Law operate.  We can easily imagine that the list of things needed for salvation would grow.  “For as many as are of the works of the Law are under a curse;  for it is written, “CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO DOES NOT ABIDE BY ALL THINGS WRITTEN IN THE BOOK OF THE LAW, TO PERFORM THEM.”  Galatians 3:10. 

But, Peter recognized:  “He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith”.  There was no distinction or condition (such as circumcision or obedience to the Law) provided by the Jews which motivated God to elect them, and not the Gentiles, to salvation.  God unconditionally elected some to salvation from both groups, Jews and Gentiles.  Peter concluded:  “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are.”  Salvation is by grace alone.   

Again in today’s Scripture, we are confronted with Galatians 3:1-5.    

“¹  You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?

 ²  This is the only thing I want to find out from you: did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?

 ³  Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?

 ⁴  Did you suffer so many things in vain–if indeed it was in vain?

 ⁵  So then, does He who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”  Galatians 3:1-5.

In conclusion, then in Acts, and later in Galatians, and now today, God provides us with the Spirit and works miracles among us, not by the works of the Law, but by hearing with faith.

 ²⁷  When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.

 ²⁸  And they spent a long time with the disciples.”  Acts 14:24-28. 

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“I will give Thee thanks forever, because Thou hast done it, And I will wait on Thy name, for it is good, in the presence of Thy godly ones.”  Psalm 52:9.

“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.

Reformed Doctrine gives thanks and praises God for all things that God has done.  As one example, consider the focus on God and all things that God has done in the following Articles 8 and 9 of The Canons of Dordt. 

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.

Article 9.  This purpose proceeding from everlasting love towards the elect, has from the beginning of the world to this day been powerfully accomplished, and will henceforward still continue to be accomplished, notwithstanding all the ineffectual opposition of the gates of hell, so that the elect in due time may be gathered together into one, and that there never may be wanting a church composed of believers, the foundation of which is laid in the blood of Christ, which may steadfastly love, and faithfully serve him as their Savior, who as a bridegroom for his bride, laid down his life for them upon the cross, and which may celebrate his praises here and through all eternity.

On the other hand, beware of preaching and teaching that primarily puts the focus on man and what man should do!   Such preaching and teaching may seem quite pious, and it may pay lip service to God’s sovereignty and be quite subtle, softly exhorting the listener to “yield to God”, but such doctrine is similar to the doctrine which was condemned in Galatians 2.  “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?  Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”  Galatians 2:3-6.

In conclusion, let us follow the example taught in Scripture today.  Let us report all things that God had done with us.  Let us also be perceptive and understanding and teach how all those things fulfill God’s promises.  Let us thank God and praise 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.”

 ²²  strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”

 ²³  When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”  Acts 14:19-23.

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“Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”  Why? 

Tribulations identify us with Christ ^“that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death;  in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”  Philippians 3:10-11.  ^“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,”  Romans 6:5.

Tribulations showcase the greatness of God in sharp contrast to our infirmities.  “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves;  we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed;  perplexed, but not despairing;  persecuted, but not forsaken;  struck down, but not destroyed;  always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”  2 Corinthians 4:7-10.

Tribulations build our faith.  “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. 

Tribulations build our endurance, perseverance, and other virtues.  “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”  James 1:2-4.  “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance;  and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;  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 5:3-5.

But, there is hope!

“¹⁷  The righteous cry, and the LORD hears
         And delivers them out of all their troubles.
    ¹⁸  The LORD is near to the brokenhearted
         And saves those who are crushed in spirit.
    ¹⁹  Many are the afflictions of the righteous,
         But the LORD delivers him out of them all.”  Psalm 34-17-19.

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There is the external witness of God in the good provision of external things such as rains and fruitful seasons stated in today’s Scripture.

There is also the internal witness of God in the good provision of an internal conscience. 

“… so that they are without excuse”.  Romans 1:20.   

Regarding the external witness, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them;  for God made it evident to them.  For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.  For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.”  Romans 1:18-23. 

Regarding the internal witness, “For when Gentiles who do not have the Law do instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having the Law, are a law to themselves, in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.”  Romans 2:14-16.

 ¹¹  When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.”

 ¹²  And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.

 ¹³  The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

 ¹⁴  But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out

 ¹⁵  and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things?  We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, WHO MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM.”  Acts 14:8-15.

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The humility of Barnabas and Paul in today’s Scripture is a sharp contrast to the arrogance of Herod in Acts 12:20-23.  All three were called “gods”;  but Barnabas and Paul “tore their robes and rushed out” to deny that title and to point out that they were only men “of the same nature as you” and to give all the glory to God;  whereas, in contrast, Herod “did not give God the glory”. 

When Scripture quickly follows an example of what is bad with an example of what is good, we should pay more attention to the teaching and meditate on it more.  So, what can we learn from this good example of the humility of Barnabas and Paul in today’s Scripture?

We may preach or teach the “total depravity” of man, but when was the last time that we tore our clothes in humility? 

When was the last time that we “rushed out” to deny some praise?

When was the last time that we sincerely identified ourselves with a pagan or someone that we thought was more wrong than us?

In summary, does our behavior match our teaching of the importance of humility?   

Yesterday, our church had communion.  I made a personal decision that because I had some bad unresolved feelings toward some family member, I should not take communion.  It was humbling and embarrassing to not take communion.  It was the only time that I can remember in the last 40 years or so of taking communion that I remember ever passing the communion plate without participating.  (Later that Sunday, I reconciled with the family member mostly to his credit for first coming to me.  He apologized, and I then also apologized to him.)     

1 Peter 5:5
“You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders;  and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”

 ⁴  But the people of the city were divided;  and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.

 ⁵  And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them,

 ⁶  they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region;

 ⁷  and there they continued to preach the gospel.”  Acts 14:1-7. 

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It is noteworthy that in one situation of mistreatment the apostles stayed and even spent a long time there.  See Acts 14:2-3.  But, in another situation of mistreatment, the apostles fled and preached in another area.  See Acts 14:5-7. 

But, whether they stayed or whether they go, the gospel is preached.  Whether the gospel is preached by Paul and Barnabas or whether it is preached by others, the gospel is preached. 

1 Corinthians 15:11
“Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”

2 Corinthians 5:9
“Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him.”

Philippians 1:27
“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”

1 Corinthians 10:31
“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

God is in control.  God is accomplishing His work.

 ⁴⁵  But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by Paul, and were blaspheming.

 ⁴⁶  Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first;  since you repudiate it and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles.

 ⁴⁷  “For so the Lord has commanded us,
         ‘I HAVE PLACED YOU AS A LIGHT FOR THE GENTILES,
         THAT YOU MAY BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.'”

 ⁴⁸  When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord;  and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

 ⁴⁹  And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.

 ⁵⁰  But the Jews incited the devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city, and instigated a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them out of their district.

 ⁵¹  But they shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.

 ⁵²  And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 13:42-52.

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Paul and Barnabas could have felt that they had the weight of the world on them.  They had an almost impossible commission to fulfill, namely to “BRING SALVATION TO THE END OF THE EARTH.”  The Jews were filled with jealousy and began contradicting the things spoken by them, and were blaspheming.  The devout women of prominence and the leading men of the city instigated a persecution against them, and drove them out of their district.

And yet, we read “as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed”.  “And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.”  “And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.

We too may feel that we have the weight of the world on us too.  We may have an almost impossible commission to fulfill.  There may be those who contradict what we say.  There may be those who blaspheme.  There may even be those who persecute us.

Today’s Scripture reminds us of the verse in the last devotion, Acts 13:41.  “… I AM ACCOMPLISHING A WORK IN YOUR DAYS …”. 

God’s work was not finished with Paul and Barnabas.  God is accomplishing His work through us too.

We can have every confidence as we preach and teach that although there will be those who contradict, blaspheme, and persecute;  as many as had been appointed to eternal life will believe, the word of the Lord will be spread through the whole region, and we will be continually filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

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There are those like the “proconsul (who) believed when he saw what had happened, being amazed at the teaching of the Lord”.  Acts 13:12.  And, there are those scoffers who “WILL NEVER BELIEVE, THOUGH SOMEONE SHOULD DESCRIBE IT TO YOU.'”  Acts 13:41. 

Yet, we can discern if we study this Scripture carefully that salvation is not ultimately in the control of either group as if their own free-will ultimately decides who is saved and who is not saved.  We discern that God is the One accomplishing His work.

The purpose of the detailed history of Israel is to show that history is “His story”, namely God’s story. 

His story starts with God and His work.  “The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with an uplifted arm He led them out from it.”  Acts 13:17.

His story continues with God and His work.  “He put up with them in the wilderness.”  Acts 13:18.  “He had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, He distributed their land as an inheritance”.  Acts 13:19.  “He gave them judges until Samuel the prophet.”  Acts 13:20.  

“”Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years.  “After He had removed him, He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, ‘I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.’  “From the descendants of this man, according to promise, God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, ”  Acts 13:21-23. 

They crucified Jesus.  “But God raised Him from the dead;”  Acts 13:30.  “God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus”.  Acts 13:33. 

This promise is the good news of salvation.  “And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers,”  Acts 13:32.  

Is it really good news if salvation is ultimately in the control of “totally depraved” man whether it be by man’s works or even as little as man’s will of faith?

Is such a salvation ultimately in the control of “totally depraved” man consistent with the detailed control of God throughout history?

No.  God is accomplishing His work.  “… This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:29.

“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.”  So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.”  Romans 9:14-16.