Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

^“27  And He (Jesus) was saying to her, “Let the children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.”

 ²⁸  But she answered and said to Him, “Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.”

 ²⁹  And He said to her, “Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.”

 ³⁰  And going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having left.”  Mark 7:27-30.  (Emphasis and parenthetical comment added.)

Because Jesus attributes the reason why He cast out the demon of the Gentile woman’s daughter to the answer of the Gentile woman, we would do well to consider her answer.  What do we see in her answer?  I see three things upon which I want to comment, but you may find more. 

First, I see humility.  Instead of bristling with anger at being called a dog, the Gentile woman was humble.  She begins her answer with “Yes, Lord“.  I am reminded of James 4:6:  “But He gives a greater grace.  Therefore it says, “GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.”  

Second, I see persistence.  Instead of giving up to Jesus’ statement that indicated that He was not likely to grant her request to cast the demon out of her daughter, the Gentile woman was persistent.  She adds the “but” and persists:   “Yes, Lord, but …”.  I am reminded of yesterday’s morning sermon by my Pastor Bob Burridge which emphasized and was titled “Persisting in Prayer”.  The sermon’s Scripture was Luke 11:5-13.

Third, I see knowledge and insight (wisdom).  Instead of giving up hope that the facts of this case precluded Jesus from helping, the Gentile woman found a “loophole”.  She had knowledge and insight that even dogs get crumbs, and thus, there may be hope that although her case was the exception, her daughter might get help as the exception, as the dog that gets the crumbs.  I would like to expand on this point.

We first should give credit to God for giving us that knowledge and insight (wisdom).  1 Corinthians 2:12-13 states:  “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”  

But, second, we also seek to meditate on God’s Word that we might gain such knowledge and insight (wisdom).  Colossians 3:16 exhorts us:  “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”  Proverbs is full of teachings about the importance of wisdom.  In fact, the whole Bible emphasizes the importance of wisdom.  BibleGateway web site shows there are 211 verses with the word “wisdom” in it – Click here: BibleGateway.com – Keyword Search: wisdom  Here is one of example.  Proverbs 2:2 states:  “Make your ear attentive to wisdom, Incline your heart to understanding;”

Finally, we should also consider the warning of what the lack of knowledge and insight (wisdom) can do.  “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.  Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being My priest.  Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”  Hosea 4:6 

We are missing a more important general point if we limit the teaching of this Scripture to the specific point that all foods are clean.

The more important general point is the condition of man’s heart and the only remedy.

The condition of man’s heart is shown clearly here.  “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed the evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, deeds of coveting and wickedness, as well as deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness.”  Mark 7:21-22.

^“10  as it is written,
         “THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;
    ¹¹  THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,
         THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;
    ¹²  ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;
         THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,
         THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.”
    ¹³  “THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,
         WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,”
         “THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS”;
    ¹⁴  “WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS”;
    ¹⁵  “THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,
    ¹⁶  DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,
    ¹⁷  AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN.”
    ¹⁸  “THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES.”  Romans 3:10-18.

This condition is described by “Total Depravity”, the “T” in “TULIP”, the Five Points of Calvinism.

So, how do we deal with such a heart of man?

The Conscience may affect man’s own actions.  The Conscience may help him somewhat.  At times, man may follow his Conscience and sin less times and sin “less worse” (evil thoughts instead of evil deeds).  “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.  But, man should not depend solely on his Conscience.  His Conscience will not keep him pure nor justify him.  Moreover, the Conscience may be defiled.  Titus 1:15 states:  “To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled.”

The Law will give man more knowledge (beyond just his Conscience) as to what is sinful and will hold man accountable.  “Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God;”.  Romans 3:19.  ^“But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.”  1 Timothy 1:8-11.  But, man should not depend solely on the Law, “because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.  Romans 3:20.   

The Government will punish man.  “… But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil.”  Romans 13:5.  But, man should not depend solely on the Government.  The Government may restrain man from committing some types of sins and may restrain man from committing as many sins as he may want to commit, but the Government will obviously not restrain all sins nor will it restrain any evil thoughts. 

At best, the Conscience, the Law, and the Government may make man be like one in a courtroom:  clean and groomed, well-dressed, and in perfect behavior.  But, for how long? 

At best, the Conscience, the Law, and the Government may help to sweep and put in order man’s heart, but it is only temporary, like what is described in Luke 11:24-26:  “When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’  “And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order.  “Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first.”  (Emphasis added.)

The only remedy:

We need the permanent protection of the Holy Spirit to indwell us and to protect us and to produce the fruit of the Spirit within us.  “For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”  Romans 8:3-4. 

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.  For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.”  Galatians 5:16-17.

^“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23. 

 ⁸  “Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men.”  Mark 7:6-8. 

We are missing a more important point if we limit the teaching of this Scripture to the specific point that we should not hold to obscure Jewish traditions and rituals such as the washing of hands which may lead us to neglect the commandments of God.

The more important general point is that people can worship God in vain if they teach or hold to false doctrines.  Despite society’s constant loud message that it does not matter what one believes, it does matter what one believes.  “Spirituality” is not enough.  Zeal is not enough.  Paul noted that the nation of Israel had a zeal for God, “but Israel, pursuing a law of righteousness, did not arrive at that law.  Why? Because they did not pursue it by faith, but as though it were by works.”  Romans 9:31-32.

Paul continues:  “Brethren, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation.  For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.  For not knowing about God’s righteousness and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.  For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.  For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.”  Romans 10:1-5. 

John 4:24 states:  “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Paul makes it clear that it is not only those worshippers who adhere to another religion that are in trouble.  Paul calls those who “merely” distort the gospel of Christ as “accursed”.  He states:  “I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel;  which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.  But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!  As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed!”  Galatians 1:6-9. 

Calvin in his Commentary on these verses states:  “…  his greatest severity of language is directed, as we shall see, against the false apostles. He charges them with turning aside, not only from his gospel, but from Christ; for it was impossible for them to retain their attachment to Christ, without acknowledging that he has graciously delivered us from the bondage of the law.  But such a belief cannot be reconciled with those notions respecting the obligation of ceremonial observance which the false apostles inculcated.  They were removed from Christ; not that they entirely rejected Christianity, but that the corruption of their doctrines was such as to leave them nothing more than an imaginary Christ.

Thus, in our own times, the Papists, choosing to have a divided and mangled Christ, have none, and are therefore “removed from Christ.”  They are full of superstitions, which are directly at variance with the nature of Christ.  Let it be carefully observed, that we are removed from Christ, when we fall into those views which are inconsistent with his mediatorial office; for light can have no fellowship with darkness.

On the same principle, he calls it another gospel, that is, a gospel different from the true one.  And yet the false apostles professed that they preached the gospel of Christ; but, mingling with it their own inventions, by which its principal efficacy was destroyed, they held a false, corrupt, and spurious gospel.  …  The gospel of Christ.  To know what are the leading points of the gospel, is a matter of unceasing importance. When these are attacked, the gospel is destroyed.  … 

Of what avail was it to profess respect for the gospel, and not to know what it meant?  With Papists, who hold themselves bound to render implicit faith, that might be perfectly sufficient; but with Christians, where there is no knowledge, there is no faith.  That the Galatians, who were otherwise disposed to obey the gospel, might not wander hither and thither, and “find no rest for the sole of their foot,” (Genesis 8:9,) Paul enjoins them to stand steadfastly by his doctrine. He demands such unhesitating belief of his preaching, that he pronounces a curse on all who dared to contradict it.  …

Or an angel from heaven.  In order to destroy more completely the pretensions of the false apostles, he rises so high as to speak of angels; and, on the supposition that they taught a different doctrine, he does not satisfy himself with saying that they were not entitled to be heard, but declares that they ought to be held accursed.  Some may think, that it was absurd to engage in a controversy with angels about his doctrine; but a just view of the whole matter will enable any one to perceive, that this part of the apostle’s proceedings was proper and necessary.  It is impossible, no doubt, for angels from heaven to teach anything else than the certain truth of God. But when the credit due to doctrines which God had revealed concerning the salvation of men was the subject of controversy, he did not reckon it enough to disclaim the judgment of men, without declining, at the same time, the authority of angels.  …

Accordingly he enjoins them to regard as devils those who shall dare to bring forward a gospel different from his, — meaning by another gospel, one to which the inventions of other men are added; for the doctrine of the false apostles was not entirely contrary, or even different, from that of Paul, but corrupted by false additions.  …”   (Emphasis added by bold font.)

Here is the link to his full Commentary on Galatians 1:6-9 – Click here: Commentary on Galatians and Ephesians | Christian Classics Ethereal Library

What I think is particularly noteworthy is the importance that Calvin puts on the doctrine of salvation which is the gospel.  Note Calvin’s conclusion that “another gospel” was “not entirely contrary, or even different, from that of Paul, but corrupted by false additions“. 

So, what could these false additions be?  Calvin states, as most directly taught by Galatians, that they could be “the obligation of ceremonial observance”.  But, Calvin also adds that they could be the Papists (followers of the Catholic Pope) who were “full of superstitions”.

Could the false addition be “our works” such as those who teach that we are saved by “faith and works”?

Could the false addition be “our free will” such as those who teach that we are saved through “our free will acceptance of Christ”? 

I am not going to answer these last two questions within the limited confines of this email.  I only want to emphasize the general importance of believing and teaching a true doctrine of salvation.  For more, I refer you to my article – Click here to learn how Calvinism is the true doctrine of salvation