Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

³⁷  As soon as He was approaching, near the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles which they had seen,

 ³⁸ shouting:
         “BLESSED IS THE KING WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD;
         Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

 ³⁹  Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples.”

 ⁴⁰  But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”  Luke 19:37-40.

Indeed!  All of creation is created to praise the LORD.   

   “¹  Praise the LORD!
         Praise the LORD from the heavens;
         Praise Him in the heights!
    ²  Praise Him, all His angels;
         Praise Him, all His hosts!
    ³  Praise Him, sun and moon;
         Praise Him, all stars of light!
    ⁴  Praise Him, highest heavens,
         And the waters that are above the heavens!
    ⁵  Let them praise the name of the LORD,
         For He commanded and they were created.
    ⁶  He has also established them forever and ever;
         He has made a decree which will not pass away.
    ⁷  Praise the LORD from the earth,
         Sea monsters and all deeps;
    ⁸  Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
         Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
    ⁹  Mountains and all hills;
         Fruit trees and all cedars;
    ¹⁰  Beasts and all cattle;
         Creeping things and winged fowl;
    ¹¹  Kings of the earth and all peoples;
         Princes and all judges of the earth;
    ¹²  Both young men and virgins;
         Old men and children.
    ¹³  Let them praise the name of the LORD,
         For His name alone is exalted;
         His glory is above earth and heaven.
    ¹⁴  And He has lifted up a horn for His people,
         Praise for all His godly ones;
         Even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him.
         Praise the LORD!”  Psalm Chapter 148.

“For as the earth brings forth its sprouts,
         And as a garden causes the things sown in it to spring up,
         So the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise
         To spring up before all the nations.”  Isaiah 61:11.

 ¹³  “And he called ten of his slaves, and gave them ten minas and said to them, ‘Do business with this until I come back.’

 ¹⁴  “But his citizens hated him and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’

 ¹⁵  “When he returned, after receiving the kingdom, he ordered that these slaves, to whom he had given the money, be called to him so that he might know what business they had done.

 ¹⁶  “The first appeared, saying, ‘Master, your mina has made ten minas more.’

 ¹⁷  “And he said to him, ‘Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.’

 ¹⁸  “The second came, saying, ‘Your mina, master, has made five minas.’

 ¹⁹  “And he said to him also, ‘And you are to be over five cities.’

 ²⁰  “Another came, saying, ‘Master, here is your mina, which I kept put away in a handkerchief;

 ²¹  for I was afraid of you, because you are an exacting man; you take up what you did not lay down and reap what you did not sow.’

 ²²  “He said to him, ‘By your own words I will judge you, you worthless slave. Did you know that I am an exacting man, taking up what I did not lay down and reaping what I did not sow?

 ²³  ‘Then why did you not put my money in the bank, and having come, I would have collected it with interest?’

 ²⁴  “Then he said to the bystanders, ‘Take the mina away from him and give it to the one who has the ten minas.’

 ²⁵  “And they said to him, ‘Master, he has ten minas already.’

 ²⁶  “I tell you that to everyone who has, more shall be given, but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.

 ²⁷  “But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”  Luke 19:11-27.

God reigns over all:  believers and unbelievers.  There are those who do not want such reign.  ‘We do not want this man to reign over us.’  Luke 19:14.  What is God’s response?  “But these enemies of mine, who did not want me to reign over them, bring them here and slay them in my presence.”  Luke 19:27.  God still reigns! 

Today’s Scripture reminds me of the following Psalm 2:2-12.

“The kings of the earth take their stand
         And the rulers take counsel together
         Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 
    “Let us tear their fetters apart
         And cast away their cords from us!” 
    He who sits in the heavens laughs,
         The Lord scoffs at them. 
    Then He will speak to them in His anger
         And terrify them in His fury, saying, 
    “But as for Me, I have installed My King
         Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”                                                                                                                             

‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
         And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. 
    ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
         You shall shatter them like earthenware.'” 
    Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
         Take warning, O judges of the earth. 
    Worship the LORD with reverence
         And rejoice with trembling. 
    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!”  

“For it is written,” AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD.”  Romans 14:11

^“For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  Philippians 2:9-11.

Revelations 20:11-15 speaks of God’s reign and the Final Judgment. 

^“11  Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat upon it, from whose presence earth and heaven fled away, and no place was found for them.

 ¹²  And I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds.

 ¹³  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them;  and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.

 ¹⁴  Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire.  This is the second death, the lake of fire.

 ¹⁵  And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

In conclusion, the reign of God is awesome and absolute.  It should cause great fear of God.  “But I will warn you whom to fear:  fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell;  yes, I tell you, fear Him!”  Luke 12:5. 

But, there is hope!  A Godly fear leads to salvation.  “But the LORD your God you shall fear;  and He will deliver you from the hand of all your enemies.”  2 Kings 17:39  “The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, That one may avoid the snares of death.”  Proverbs 14:27.  “The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.”  Proverbs 19:23

 ³  Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature.

 ⁴  So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.

 ⁵  When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

 ⁶  And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly.

 ⁷  When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

 ⁸  Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.”

 ⁹  And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.

 ¹⁰  “For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”  Luke 19:1-10. 

Election:

Salvation came to Zaccheus, “because he, too, is a son of Abraham”.  Luke 19:9.  In other words, salvation came to Zaccheus, because he was one of the elect.  Most of “the crowd” were descendants of Abraham, but they were not considered the son of Abraham as Zaccheus was.  “… For they are not all Israel who are descended from Israel;  nor are they all children because they are Abraham’s descendants, but: “THROUGH ISAAC YOUR DESCENDANTS WILL BE NAMED.”  That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are regarded as descendants.”  Romans 9:6-9.

Hope: 

So often, we can lose hope when we read some discouraging Scripture.  But, if we continue to read:  “Hope is around the corner”.  Here too, in the prior chapter, we may lose hope when we read:  “And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!  “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”  Luke 18:24-25.  But, hope was around the corner, when we read today that salvation came to Zaccheus who was “rich”. 

Irresistible Grace:

Jesus came “to seek and to save that which was lost.”  Luke 19:10.  We are reminded of John 6:37-39.  “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out.  “For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.  “This is the will of Him who sent Me, that of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, but raise it up on the last day.” 

In conclusion, this is the story of Zaccheus.  He was saved, because he was one of the elect, “a son of Abraham”.  He did have hope, even though he was “rich”.  He did come to Jesus through God’s irresistible grace.

Today’s devotion is Luke 18: 35-43 which covers Jesus’ healing of Bartimaeus, the blind man who was sitting by the road begging near Jericho.  Here is the link to the chapter which contains this Scripture – Click here: Luke 18 – Passage Lookup – New American Standard Bible – BibleGateway.com  

We focus on verse 43.  “Immediately he regained his sight and began following Him, glorifying God;  and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.”  Luke 18:43.  (Emphasis added.)    

We see throughout Scripture that God is glorified by His work in the blind, the deaf, the lame, the demon-possessed, and worse, sinners like you and me.  

These Scriptures should be of great encouragement to us as we struggle with our weaknesses.   

The Apostle Paul stated:  “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake;  for when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:9-10.  

Here are three questions that may help you in your study of a Scriptural passage:

1.  Is the focus on what man has done or on what God has done?

2.  Are we urged to work harder or believe more?

3.  Did the victory come from what man did or what God did?  Who got the glory?

^“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.  But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-31.      

“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.

This should be our attitude!  We should not be preoccupied by our works.  We should not be preoccupied by what we should do.  Rather, we should focus on God’s works.  We should be glad about what God has done.

Too often, we dwell on feelings of our own failures or inadequacies.  We feel that because we are “mature Christians” we should examine ourselves more often and perfect ourselves.

It is easy to justify this focus on our self.  We can pull out selected verses from the Bible that admonish us to do this or not to do that.  Messages of failure and inadequacy even come from people we respect:  preachers, teachers, and family.  It can seem righteous to us for us to feel condemned and inadequate.  When worldly wisdom is blended into God’s Word, the resulting half truths are particularly believable and dangerous.

2 Timothy 2:15 exhorts us:  “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.”  We should not take verses out of their context.  We should read, preach, and teach the meaning of the whole passage.  Verses can be selected and isolated out of their passage as long as they are used in the meaning of the whole passage.  Beware of sermons or messages based on just one or a few verses.  Ask yourself what is the meaning of the whole passage. 

Here are three portions of Scripture that plainly tell us to focus on the work of God.  We need to focus on God more and on man less.  We need to believe more, rather than work more.

John 6:28-29

“They said therefore to Him, ‘What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?’  Jesus answered and said to them, ‘This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.'”

Romans 4:1-5

“What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, has found?  For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about; but not before God.  For what does Scripture say? ‘AND ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.’  Now to the one who works, his wage is not reckoned as a favor, but as what is due.  But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness,”

Galatians 3:2-5

“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?  Does He then, who provides you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?”

In conclusion, focus on God and what He has done.  Be glad by what God has done.  Sing for joy at the works of God’s hands.  “… and when all the people saw it, they gave praise to God.”

Today’s devotion is Luke 18:31-34.

“31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.

32 “For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon,

33 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.”

34 But the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.” Luke 18:31-34.

Why would Jesus take the twelve disciples aside to tell them such painful details? Considering: “… the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.” Luke 18:34.???

Maybe, it was said and written also for our sake. Let us consider what was written for Abraham, but not only written for Abraham. Let us consider what was written for Moses, but not only written for Moses.

Regarding Abraham, “Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.” Romans 4:23-25. (Emphasis added.)

Regarding Moses, “For it is written in the Law of Moses, “YOU SHALL NOT MUZZLE THE OX WHILE HE IS THRESHING ” God is not concerned about oxen, is He? Or is He speaking altogether for our sake? Yes, for our sake it was written, because the plowman ought to plow in hope, and the thresher to thresh in hope of sharing the crops. If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we reap material things from you?” 1 Corinthians 9:9-11. (Emphasis added.)

In conclusion, “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.” Romans 15:4.

In reading the Scripture for today, we persevere, we are encouraged, knowing the sovereignty of God, knowing not only that every painful step for Jesus was ordained by God, but also knowing that every step for us is ordained by God too. It was written for our sake also that “all things which are written … will be accomplished”.

Today’s devotion is Luke 18:28-30.  

“²⁸  Peter said, “Behold, we have left our own homes and followed You.”

 29  And He said to them, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,

 30  who will not receive many times as much at this time and in the age to come, eternal life.”  Luke 18:28-30. 

In essence, Peter. like many of Jesus’ disciples throughout the ages, was pondering whether or not God was just and would reward His disciples for their work.  Jesus did not rebuke Peter, but rather, Jesus encouraged Peter.  So, we should not be harsh toward Peter nor toward others who struggle to have such faith.  Peter’s statement (like a question) seemed hopeful, innocent and not accusatory.

Hebrews 11:6 teaches us that an element of faith is the hope, even expectation, of a reward.  “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

I have written about my struggles to have such faith, particularly in the face of financial struggles, in “Gold Mining” which is one of the “tags” at the top of my web site.  Here is one of my letters a/k/a “Gold Mines”.  It is also a good reminder and encouragement for me today, and I pray that it will also encourage you. 

August 21, 1992

Harry:

I am still struggling financially.  This is a hard fight.  “God give me faith”: I pray.  The Lord must think that I can bear a lot and have a lot of faith. I think it is more than I can stand through the flesh, but I trust God for strength.

My daily devotion today covered the book of Ruth.  God particularly gave me Ruth 2:12: ” ‘May the LORD reward your work, and your wages be full from the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge.’ ”

What struck me was the focus on the LORD:

1. “the LORD reward your work”

2. “your wages be full from the LORD“

3. “the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to seek refuge”.

The LORD is able to make me stand.  He has helped me in the past and delivered me.  He can do it now.  He can do it later, even when I think it is too late.  But He will rescue me.  Psalm 91:15.

     Bill

 ²⁰  “You know the commandments, ‘DO NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, DO NOT MURDER, DO NOT STEAL, DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS, HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER.'”

 ²¹  And he said, “All these things I have kept from my youth.”

 ²²  When Jesus heard this, He said to him, “One thing you still lack;  sell all that you possess and distribute it to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven;  and come, follow Me.”

 ²³  But when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.

 ²⁴  And Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!

 ²⁵  “For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

 ²⁶  They who heard it said, “Then who can be saved?”

 ²⁷  But He said, “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”  Luke 18:18-27.

We have met quite a range of characters in this chapter:  a demanding and persistent widow,  an unrighteous judge, a self-righteous Pharisee, a humble Publican (tax collector), babies, and a moral young rich ruler.  Rather than focus on only the wealthy when Jesus said “How hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God!”, they who heard it said:  “Then who can be saved?”  Jesus did not correct them, but rather He replied:  “The things that are impossible with people are possible with God.”  

All of us, old and young, rich and poor, proud and humble, moral and immoral, need a Savior to handle all the points of salvation.  “And He saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede;  Then His own arm brought salvation to Him, And His righteousness upheld Him.”  Isaiah 59:16.

Here is how The Heidelberg Catechism explains our need, impossible for people to meet, and the solution (possible with God):

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.

Question 13.  Can we ourselves then make this satisfaction?

Answer.  By no means;  but on the contrary we daily increase our debt.

Question 14.  Can there be found anywhere, one, who is a mere creature, able to satisfy for us?

Answer.  None;  for, first, God will not punish any other creature for the sin which man hath committed;  and further, no mere creature can sustain the burden of God’s eternal wrath against sin, so as to deliver others from it.

Question 15.  What sort of a mediator and deliverer then must we seek for?

Answer.  For one who is very man, and perfectly righteous;  and yet more powerful than all creatures;  that is, one who is also very God.

Question 16.  Why must he be very man, and also perfectly righteous?

Answer.  Because the justice of God requires that the same human nature which hath sinned, should  likewise make satisfaction for sin; and one, who is himself a sinner, cannot satisfy for others.

Question 17.  Why must he in one person be also very God?

Answer.  That he might, by the power of his Godhead sustain in his human nature, the burden of God’s wrath;  and might obtain for, and restore to us, righteousness and life.

Question 18. Who then is that Mediator, who is in one person both very God, and a real righteous man?

Answer.  Our Lord Jesus Christ:  “who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.”

Question 19.  Whence knowest thou this?

Answer.  From the holy gospel, which God himself first revealed in Paradise;  and afterwards published by the patriarchs and prophets, and represented by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law; and lastly, has fulfilled it by his only begotten Son.

 ¹⁷  “Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.”  Luke 18:15-17. 

We are therefore eager to learn how a child receives the kingdom of God.

The first thing we notice is that “they were bringing even their babies to Him”.  This speaks of the irresistible grace that we see in John 6:44:  “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him;  and I will raise him up on the last day.”  Just as the parents were irresistably bringing their babies to Jesus, the Father irresistably draws His elect to Jesus.

Consider that the children did not come to Jesus through their wisdom or through their “free will choice”.  Instead, the children came to Jesus, just because their parents brought them.

This is “irresistible grace” which is the “I” of “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism a/k/a Reformed Doctrine. 

This past Saturday, seven former NFL football stars were inducted into the Hall of Fame.  Although most tried to be humble and give credit to their teammates, they entered the Hall of Fame, because they earned it by their works. 

With the kingdom of God, we enter it as a child.  We may prefer to enter the kingdom of God like these seven former NFL football stars based on our own works (and strong drive or willpower) and likewise get the glory, but we enter the kingdom of God just because we were brought into the kingdom of God by our Heavenly Father.     

“For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;  but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no man may boast before God.   

But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written, “LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.”  1 Corinthians 1:26-31.  (Emphasis added.)

 ¹¹  “The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.

 ¹²  ‘I fast twice a week;  I pay tithes of all that I get.’

 ¹³  “But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, the sinner!’

 ¹⁴  “I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other;  for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”  Luke 18:9-14.

“TULIP”, the Reformed Doctrine of Salvation a/k/a Five Points of Calvinism starts humbly with the “T” of “Total Depravity”. 

Here is what The Canons of Dordt state in part about “Total Depravity”.

THIRD AND FOURTH HEADS OF DOCTRINE
Of the Corruption of Man, His Conversion to God, and the Manner Thereof.

Article 1.  Man was originally formed after the image of God. His understanding was adorned with a true and saving knowledge of his Creator, and of spiritual things; his heart and will were upright; all his affections pure; and the whole man was holy; but revolting from God by the instigation of the devil, and abusing the freedom of his own will, he forfeited these excellent gifts; and on the contrary entailed on himself blindness of mind, horrible darkness, vanity and perverseness of judgment, became wicked, rebellious, and obdurate in heart and will, and impure in his affections.

Article 2.  Man after the fall begat children in his own likeness. A corrupt stock produced a corrupt offspring. Hence all the posterity of Adam, Christ only excepted, have derived corruption from their original parent, not by imitation, as the Pelagians of old asserted, but by the propagation of a vicious nature.

Article 3.  Therefore all men are conceived in sin, and by nature children of wrath, incapable of saving good, prone to evil, dead in sin, and in bondage thereto, and without the regenerating grace of the Holy Spirit, they are neither able nor willing to return to God, to reform the depravity of their nature, nor to dispose themselves to reformation.

Here is how Total Depravity is described in Five Points of Calvinism by David N. Steele and Curtis C. Thomas. Louisville: Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1989, page 25. 

“When Calvinists speak of man as totally depraved, they mean that man’s nature is corrupt, perverse, and sinful throughout. The adjective “total” does not mean that each sinner is as totally or completely corrupt in his actions and thoughts as it is possible for him to be. Instead, the word “total” is used to indicate that the “whole” of man’s being has been affected by sin. The corruption extends to every part of man, his body and soul; sin has affected all (the totality) of man’s faculties – his mind, his will, etc.”

“As a result of this inborn corruption, the natural man is totally unable to do anything spiritually good; thus Calvinists speak of man’s “total inability.” The inability intended by this terminology is spiritual inability; it means that the sinner is so spiritually bankrupt that he can do nothing pertaining to his salvation. ”

“It is quite evident that many unsaved people, when judged by man’s standards, do possess admirable qualities and do perform virtuous acts. But in the spiritual realm, when judged by God’s standards, the unsaved sinner is incapable of good. The natural man is enslaved to sin; he is a child of Satan, rebellious toward God, blind to the truth, corrupt, and unable to save himself or to prepare himself for salvation. In short, the unsaved man is DEAD IN SIN, and his WILL IS ENSLAVED to his evil nature.” (Emphasis added.)

A few Biblical descriptions of Total Depravity:

Romans 5:12:
“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–”

Ephesians 2:1-3:
“And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  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.”

Romans 3:10-11:
“as it is written,
“THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.” (Emphasis added by bold, italic underline)

Bill’s Conclusion:

This “Total Depravity” point is difficult for our pride to swallow.  But, as the Scripture for today states:  “he who humbles himself will be exalted.”   

If we correctly understand this first point of total inability to save oneself or prepare oneself for salvation, then we understand and appreciate all the more the need for God’s unconditional election of us, which is the second point of Calvinism.  There is nothing virtuous or desirable or “calling to God” in our “total depraved” nature that motivates God to elect us.  There is no condition that we can supply that motivates God to elect us.    

We need to understand our hopeless state, repeatedly referred to in Scripture as “dead”, in order to understand our desperate need for a Savior to handle all the points of salvation. 

 ³  “There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, ‘Give me legal protection from my opponent.’

 ⁴  “For a while he was unwilling; but afterward he said to himself, ‘Even though I do not fear God nor respect man,

 ⁵  yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.'”

 ⁶  And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge said;

 ⁷  now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?

 ⁸  “I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”  Luke 18:1-8. 

There was not a clear reference to anything righteous in the two main characters of this prayer parable.  The judge was directly described as unrighteous, and the widow was just demanding with nothing disclosed that tugs at our heart that she was righteous or otherwise entitled.  This simple setting focuses on the importance of persistence in prayer.  We are encouraged by the question and statement:  “… will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?  I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly.”

But, there is a puzzling conclusion.  “However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?”

I am sure that there a lot of good interpretations and commentaries on the purpose of this conclusion.  You can look them up.  But, for me, James 1:5-8 pops up:  “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  (Emphasis added.)