Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ¹⁷  He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”  Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”  And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things;  You know that I love You ” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.”  John 21:15-17.

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Jesus redeemed Peter by leading Peter to confess his love for Jesus three times, the same number of times that Peter previously denied Jesus. 

And, Jesus led Peter to recognize that love truly does things for the person loved.  Just as we learned yesterday in the first part of John Chapter 21, Jesus did not just tell His disciples that He loved them, Jesus did things for His disciples.  Jesus provided another appearance of  Himself to Thomas.  Jesus provided the miracle and instruction as to how to catch the fish.  Jesus provided the fish.  Jesus provided the bread.  Jesus provided the grilling.  Jesus provided the serving.  Jesus provided the breakfast.  Jesus provided another comforting appearance that indeed He was risen. 

Think of your spouse.  You could tell your spouse many times that you love her.  But, she has the right to expect that you will demonstrate your love for her by doing things for her, by caring for her.

Accordingly, and led by Jesus’ example, we are called to show our love for Jesus by tending Jesus’ sheep. 

Who is adequate to tend Jesus’ sheep?

But, there is hope!

Jesus is the Good Shepherd. 

^” ‘AND YOU, BETHLEHEM, LAND OF JUDAH,
         ARE BY NO MEANS LEAST AMONG THE LEADERS OF JUDAH;
         FOR OUT OF YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER
         WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE ISRAEL.’ ”  Matthew 2:6.

Jesus will accomplish His work.  Jesus will use us to tend His sheep.  “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13. 

Because of the fact that the Church is Jesus’ body and Jesus is the Head of the Church, we can have even more confidence that Jesus will use His body to accomplish His work to tend His sheep.  Jesus gives gifts and ministries to accomplish His work.     

“⁴  Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.

 ⁵  And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.

 ⁶  There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.

 ⁷  But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

 ⁸  For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit;

 ⁹  to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit,

 ¹⁰  and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues.

 ¹¹  But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.

…

  ¹⁸  But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired.

… 

 ²⁷  Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it.

 ²⁸  And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, various kinds of tongues.”  1 Corinthians 12:4-11, 18, 27-28. 

In conclusion, here is how Ephesians 4:11-13. states it.  “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”

 ²  Simon Peter, and Thomas called Didymus, and Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.

 ³  Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”  They said to him, “We will also come with you.”  They went out and got into the boat;  and that night they caught nothing.

 ⁴  But when the day was now breaking, Jesus stood on the beach;  yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

 ⁵  So Jesus said to them, “Children, you do not have any fish, do you?”  They answered Him, “No.”

 ⁶  And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right-hand side of the boat and you will find a catch.”  So they cast, and then they were not able to haul it in because of the great number of fish.

 ⁷  Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord.”  So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put his outer garment on (for he was stripped for work), and threw himself into the sea.

 ⁸  But the other disciples came in the little boat, for they were not far from the land, but about one hundred yards away, dragging the net full of fish.

 ⁹  So when they got out on the land, they saw a charcoal fire already laid and fish placed on it, and bread.

 ¹⁰  Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have now caught.”

 ¹¹  Simon Peter went up and drew the net to land, full of large fish, a hundred and fifty-three;  and although there were so many, the net was not torn.

 ¹³  Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and the fish likewise.

 ¹⁴  This is now the third time that Jesus was manifested to the disciples, after He was raised from the dead.”  John 21:1-14.

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First of all, it is interesting that Jesus chose “Doubting Thomas” as one of the disciples to whom He manifested Himself.  In the prior passage, Jesus sharply told him:  “… Because you have seen Me, have you believed?  Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” John 20:29. 

There is an introductory lesson to be learned here.  We will be reproved, disciplined, and even scourged by our LORD.  Hebrews 12:4-17.  But, let us confess our sins, turn around our behavior, and help others.     “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.”  Proverbs 27:6

The key word for this Scripture is “manifest”.  As we study Scripture, we should ask:  “How does Jesus manifest Himself in this Scripture?”

In this Scripture for today, Jesus manifests Himself as our Provider.  Jesus provided another appearance of  Himself to Thomas.  Jesus provided the miracle and instruction as to how to catch the fish.  Jesus provided the fish.  Jesus provided the bread.  Jesus provided the grilling.  Jesus provided the serving.  Jesus provided the breakfast.  Jesus provided another comforting appearance that indeed He was risen.

In beloved Psalm Chapter 23, we learn how the LORD is our Shepherd, our Provider.  In John Chapter 10, Jesus identifies Himself as that Good Shepherd.  “I am the good shepherd;  the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”  John 10:11. 

In conclusion, we should have no doubt that God provides all that we need and abundantly more.  “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.”  Psalm 84:11  “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?”  Romans 8:32.

 ²⁶  After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them.  Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”

 ²⁷  Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands;  and reach here your hand and put it into My side;  and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”

 ²⁸  Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”

 ²⁹  Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed?  Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”  John 20:24-29. 

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Like Thomas, we naturally prefer to see rather than to believe.  Some even go as far as stating:  “Seeing is believing.”  But, we know that seeing is not believing from this Scripture and other Scriptures. 

We are reminded of the Scriptures from the February 23, 2011 devotion.  “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope;  for who hopes for what he already sees?  But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”  Romans 8:24-25.  “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.  For by it the men of old gained approval.  By faith …”  Hebrews Chapter 11.  

Our righteousness is not based on our works, but rather, our righteousness is based on our faith.

^“1  What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?

 ²  For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God.

 ³  For what does the Scripture say?  “ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

 ⁴  Now to the one who works, his wage is not credited as a favor, but as what is due.

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

 ⁶  just as David also speaks of the blessing on the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
    ⁷  “BLESSED ARE THOSE WHOSE LAWLESS DEEDS HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN,
         AND WHOSE SINS HAVE BEEN COVERED.
    ⁸  “BLESSED IS THE MAN WHOSE SIN THE LORD WILL NOT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT.”  Romans 4:1-8. 

And ultimately, our faith is based on the work of Christ who has procured our faith as one of the saving gifts of His perfect sacrifice based on His death on the cross.  “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:  …”  Canons of Dordt.  “…  “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.”  John 6:26.   

We experience lack of sight, and the consequential need for us to have faith, throughout our lives.  “for we walk by faith, not by sight–”  2 Corinthians 5:7.                

“In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”  1 Peter 1:6-9.

 ²¹  So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you;  as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

 ²²  And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

 ²³  “If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them;  if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.”  John 20:19-23.

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The climax of this passage is this last verse in which Jesus hands the keys of the kingdom to the disciples.  “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven;  and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven.”  Matthew 16:19. 

Who, but our LORD Jesus, is worthy to be in charge of church discipline?  I speculate that the disciples felt that way, and I also speculate that likely feeling in the disciples is why Jesus first proclaims peace on them, twice, before making this climactic statement.  Jesus also first empowers them by the Holy Spirit, so they can fulfill their duty to discipline.

Discipline was probably the last thing on the minds of the disciples as to what they wanted to do.  It is also probably the last thing on the minds of ministers and other elders today as to things that they want to do.  Ministers and other elders also need peace and to be filled with the Holy Spirit to accomplish their duty as well, and they themselves and the congregation should pray that their minister and their elders receive peace and to be filled with the Holy Spirit to be able to handle this duty of church discipline.

The importance of discipline can be seen in The Belgic Confession.  It is one of the three marks of a true church.

Article 29:  Of the marks of the true Church, and wherein she differs from the false Church.

We believe, that we ought diligently and circumspectly to discern from the Word of God which is the true Church, since all sects which are in the world assume to themselves the name of the Church.  But we speak not here of hypocrites, who are mixed in the Church with the good, yet are not of the Church, though externally in it;  but we say that the body and communion of the true Church must be distinguished from all sects, who call themselves the Church.  The marks, by which the true Church is known, are these: if the pure doctrine of the gospel is preached therein;  if she maintains the pure administration of the sacraments as instituted by Christ;  if church discipline is exercised in punishing of sin:  in short, if all things are managed according to the pure Word of God, all things contrary thereto rejected, and Jesus Christ acknowledged as the only Head of the Church.  Hereby the true Church may certainly be known, from which no man has a right to separate himself.  With respect to those, who are members of the Church, they may be known by the marks of Christians:  namely, by faith;  and when they have received Jesus Christ the only Savior, they avoid sin, follow after righteousness, love the true God and their neighbor, neither turn aside to the right or left, and crucify the flesh with the works thereof.  But this is not to be understood, as if there did not remain in them great infirmities;  but they fight against them through the Spirit, all the days of their life, continually taking their refuge in the blood, death, passion and obedience of our Lord Jesus Christ, “in whom they have remission of sins, through faith in him.”  As for the false Church, she ascribes more power and authority to herself and her ordinances than to the Word of God, and will not submit herself to the yoke of Christ.  Neither does she administer the sacraments as appointed by Christ in his Word, but adds to and takes from them, as she thinks proper; she relieth more upon men than upon Christ; and persecutes those, who live holily according to the Word of God, and rebuke her for her errors, covetousness, and idolatry. These two Churches are easily known and distinguished from each other.

 ¹³  And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”  She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”

 ¹⁴  When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.

 ¹⁵  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?  Whom are you seeking?”  Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”

 ¹⁶  Jesus said to her, “Mary!”  She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).

 ¹⁷  Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father;  but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'”

 ¹⁸  Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.”  John 20:11-18.

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The Scripture for today reminds me of Romans 8:29-30.

First, Jesus figuratively embraced His disciples as His “brethern”.  He called them His brethern.  He identified His Father as their Father.  He identified His God as their God.  Jesus had a concern for His brethern and instructed Mary to give this message to His brethern.  

Second, Jesus called:  “Mary!”, and Mary figuratively and literally embraced Jesus.  Mary figuratively embraced Jesus as her Teacher, and Mary literally embraced Jesus who replied:  “Stop clinging to Me …”    

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;  and these whom He predestined, He also called;  and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  Romans 8:29-30.

Thus, we can think about the resurrection as Jesus embracing us.  Not only did Jesus rise from the dead, He embraced us and brought us too up from the dead to new life.  

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”  1 Peter 1:3-5.

 ³  So Peter and the other disciple went forth, and they were going to the tomb.

 ⁴  The two were running together; and the other disciple ran ahead faster than Peter and came to the tomb first;

 ⁵  and stooping and looking in, he saw the linen wrappings lying there;  but he did not go in.

 ⁶  And so Simon Peter also came, following him, and entered the tomb;  and he saw the linen wrappings lying there,

 ⁷  and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself.

 ⁸  So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed.

 ⁹  For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

 ¹⁰  So the disciples went away again to their own homes.”  John 20:1-10. 

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The Empty Tomb.  We tend to rush through this passage in order to think about the resurrection, but we need to meditate on this passage as it is.

Let us think about the reactions of Mary Magdalene and the disciples Peter and John.  They seem puzzled and sad when they encountered the empty tomb.

There is a lesson for us here.  In our lives, we encounter emptiness.  We may be faced with an empty wallet or an empty home.  We may base our feelings and other reactions on what we see rather than on what we believe.  We may forget about Scripture to focus on the cold, hard facts.  We need to read and remember and meditate upon Scripture.  We need to have faith.  We need to live by 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.  By faith …”  Hebrews Chapter 11. 

“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.

 ⁴⁰  So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen wrappings with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.

 ⁴¹  Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.

 ⁴²  Therefore because of the Jewish day of preparation, since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”  John 19:38-42.

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^“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.

 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.

 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 Chapter 6.

 ³³  but coming to Jesus, when they saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs.

 ³⁴  But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out.

 ³⁵  And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true;  and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you also may believe.

 ³⁶  For these things came to pass to fulfill the Scripture, “NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.”

 ³⁷  And again another Scripture says, “THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.”  John 19:31-37. 

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As soon as Jesus died, it was indeed finished.  Christ “hath presented himself in our behalf before the Father, to appease his wrath by his full satisfaction, by offering himself on the tree of the cross, and pouring out his precious blood to purge away our sins”.  Article 21 of The Belgic Confession. 

We do not have to wait three days until the resurrection to see clues that God had accepted Christ’s perfect sacrifice as full satisfaction. 

Here is one clue.  In today’s Scripture, we read the detailed account of how the soldiers considered breaking the legs of all three of those who were crucified, but how they did not break the legs of Jesus, “to fulfill the Scripture, “NOT A BONE OF HIM SHALL BE BROKEN.” 

This Scripture refers to Psalm 34:19-20.  “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all.  He keeps all his bones, Not one of them is broken.” 

God used this “breaking of bones” event and Scripture to indicate that God considered Jesus righteous at this point of time.

Here is another clue.  In today’s Scripture, we read the detailed account of how the soldiers pierced the side of Jesus, to fulfill the Scripture, “THEY SHALL LOOK ON HIM WHOM THEY PIERCED.” 

This Scripture refers to Zechariah 12:10.  “I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace and of supplication, so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.”

God used this “piercing of the side” event and Scripture to indicate that in a sense God considered Himself as pierced at this point of time.

So, if God so quickly received the perfect sacrifice of Jesus as full satisfaction, why did God wait three days to raise Him from the dead?  Why must we also die?  Why does it state in The Apostle’s Creed that he descended into hell? 

The answers are in The Heidelberg Catechism.

Question 41.  Why was he also “buried”?

Answer.  Thereby to prove that he was really dead.

Question 42.  Since then Christ died for us, why must we also die?

Answer.  Our death is not a satisfaction for our sins, but only an abolishing of sin, and a passage into eternal life.

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.

Question 44.  Why is there added, “he descended into hell”?

Answer.  That in my greatest temptations, I may be assured, and wholly comfort myself in this, that my Lord Jesus Christ, by his inexpressible anguish, pains, terrors, and hellish agonies, in which he was plunged during all his sufferings, but especially on the cross, hath delivered me from the anguish and torments of hell.

 ³⁰  Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!”  And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.”  John 19:28-30.

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What exactly did Christ “finish” or accomplish by His death on the cross?

Here are some parts of the following Reformed Confessions which can help us understand:

The Heidelberg Catechism emphasizes that Christ made “full satisfaction”. 

Question 12.  Since then, by the righteous judgment of God, we deserved temporal and eternal punishment, is there no way by which we may escape that punishment, and be again received into favor?

Answer.  God will have his justice satisfied;  and therefore we must make this full satisfaction, either by ourselves, or by another.

The Belgic Confession (like The Heidelberg Catechism) emphasizes that Christ appeased God’s wrath by making full satisfaction.  The Belgic Confession also emphasizes that Christ’s sacrifice was perfect by which believers are made perfect forever. 

Article 21: Of the satisfaction of Christ, our only High Priest, for us.

We believe that Jesus Christ is ordained with an oath to be an everlasting High Priest, after the order of Melchisedec;  and that he hath presented himself in our behalf before the Father, to appease his wrath by his full satisfaction, by offering himself on the tree of the cross, and pouring out his precious blood to purge away our sins;  as the prophets had foretold.  For it is written:  He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities:  the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed.  He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and numbered with the transgressors, and condemned by Pontius Pilate as a malefactor, though he had first declared him innocent.  Therefore: he restored that which he took not away, and suffered, the just for the unjust, as well in his body as in his soul, feeling the terrible punishment which our sins had merited;  insomuch that his sweat became like unto drops of blood falling on the ground.  He called out, my God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? and hath suffered all this for the remission of our sins.  Wherefore we justly say with the apostle Paul:  that we know nothing, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified;  we count all things but loss and dung for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord, in whose wounds we find all manner of consolation.  Neither is it necessary to seek or invent any other means of being reconciled to God, than this only sacrifice, once offered, by which believers are made perfect forever.  This is also the reason why he was called by the angel of God, Jesus, that is to say, Savior, because he should save his people from their sins.

The Canons of Dordt details the saving gifts.

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 Westminister Larger Catechism emphasizes that Christ bore the weight of God’s wrath and laid down his life as an offering for sin. 

Q. 49. How did Christ humble himself in his death?

A. Christ humbled himself in his death, in that having been betrayed by Judas, forsaken by his disciples, scorned and rejected by the world, condemned by Pilate, and tormented by his persecutors; having also conflicted with the terrors of death, and the powers of darkness, felt and borne the weight of God’s wrath, he laid down his life an offering for sin, enduring the painful, shameful, and cursed death of the cross.

Why is it so important that we have a true understanding and appreciation for what Christ finished and accomplished on the cross?

There are those who falsely teach that Christ’s death only opened up the possibility of salvation, but it is up to man to supply what is missing, namely man-generated works or man-generated faith.  Thus, under these false teachings, salvation is ultimately determined by man. 

These false teachings may seem pious at first, but they too lightly regard the blood of Christ.  

Scripture warns:  “How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace?”  Hebrews 10:29.  I think this Scripture not only applies to those who are openly hostile to Christ;  it also applies to those who regard the blood of Christ too lightly.

Matthew 5:13 gives an example of those who trample over salt.  These people are not hostile to salt, but they give it insufficient respect.   “You are the salt of the earth;  but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?  It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.”  Likewise, there are those who regard the blood of Christ so lightly that in a sense, they trample over it.

In conclusion, let us join Paul who states:  “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.  For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.  I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.”  1 Corinthians 2:1-5.