Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

¹¹  and a voice came out of the heavens: “You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”

¹²  Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness.

¹³  And He was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by Satan; and He was with the wild beasts, and the angels were ministering to Him.”  Mark 1:9-13.

When I read this Scripture today, it seemed worthy of comment that immediately after God’s glorious affirmation of Christ through a voice out of the heavens (“You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.”), Jesus did not get a fun party or a peaceful retreat, rather Jesus was impelled to go into the wilderness for 40 days of temptation.  I think that there is a lesson here for us. 

Likewise, we may be sent into a difficult situation.  However, just because we may be in a difficult situation, it does not necessarily mean that God is displeased with us.  I say “necessarily”, because there certainly may be times when God punishes us or otherwise allows us to experience difficult situations due to our own actions.  But, we can take encouragement from this Scripture that God may want us exactly where we are in that difficult situation.  God may also be well-pleased with us in that difficult situation.  

Moreover, we should be careful about how we view others in difficult situations.  We should not assume that they have been greater sinners and are being solely punished because they were worse.  Consider Luke 13:1-5.  “Now on the same occasion there were some present who reported to Him about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.  And Jesus said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were greater sinners than all other Galileans because they suffered this fate?  “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.  “Or do you suppose that those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them were worse culprits than all the men who live in Jerusalem?  “I tell you, no, but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.”  Luke 13:1-5. 

Hebrews 11, the Chapter of the “Hall of Faith”, tells us of those saints, who were well-pleasing to God, but who “… experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.  They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.  And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.”  Hebrews 11:36-40. 

In conclusion, so let us have wisdom, faith, and sympathy in difficult situations.  Let us have wisdom in distinguishing and determining why we or others are in a difficult situation and ask God for wisdom to properly understand and properly respond.  Generally, when we are “innocent”, let us have faith to persevere and believe that God does love us and is pleased with us even when we are in difficult situations through no fault of ours.  Generally, it is much more difficult to assess the cause of the difficult situation of others, so let us have more sympathy when seeing others in difficult situations that God may love them and be pleased with them as well.  Rather than scoff or slander them, let us help them and pray for them.

 ⁴  John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

 ⁵  And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins.

 ⁶  John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey.

 ⁷  And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.

 ⁸  “I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  Mark 1:1-8.  (Emphasis added.)

When I read this Scripture, I immediately focused on this last phrase “but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  Who would not want to better understand this phrase?!  Who would not want to more fully  experience the presence and work of the Holy Spirit in their lives?!. 

Yet, Reformed believers may also be rightly leery of misunderstandings and flashy practices of some denominations and preachers/teachers which may lead to trouble and which may shed no or too little light on the the presence and work of the Holy Spirit.

There is an article by Rev. Gise Van Baren, a minister of the Protestant Reformed Churches that can help to sort all of this out.  It is titled “The Holy Spirit, His Presence, Power and Fruits” which is fully linked herein – Click here: The Holy Spirit: His Presence, Power and Fruits

In the article, Rev. Van Baren first recognizes:  “It is striking that Scripture, though it often mentions the Spirit, does not treat extensively the work of the Spirit — certainly not with that detail which the gospel accounts treat the work of Christ. There are chapters in Scripture which do touch somewhat upon His work, as John 14 ; Romans 8 ; Galatians 3 and 5; Ephesians 4 and 5; but even in these passages, a great deal is not presented about the Spirit. The same is true with our confessions. There is mention made of the Spirit in the Heidelberg Catechism (LORD’S DAY 8 and 20) and in the Netherlands Confession (especially Articles 1 and 11) ; but again, only brief reference to Him and His work is presented.”

There is an explanation as to why Scripture does not treat extensively the work of the Spirit.  Rev. Van Baren states:  “Related to all the above is also the (for want of a better term) self-effacing character of the Holy Spirit presented in Scripture. This factor, too, is ignored, I believe, in Pentecostalism, Neo-Pentecostalism, or whenever improper emphasis is placed upon the Spirit. I do not wish to minimize the work of the Spirit. Yet it appears that Scripture reveals that the very function of the Spirit is to reveal and magnify Father and Son. The Spirit functions not in order to reveal Who and What is the Spirit, but Who and What is God.”

Rev. Van Baren continues:  “Again, in treating of the work of the Spirit, we are confronted with far more material than can be adequately presented in this paper. I can only touch on some of this.”  

This email devotion covers much less than Rev. Van Baren’s article, so I particularly recommend and hope that you read the full article of Rev. Van Baren linked above.  In this email devotion, I will only be able to present two points of the work of the Spirit from Rev. Van Baren’s article.  I have added bold italic highlight to the first sentence in each paragraph emphasize these two points.

1.  “There is, first of all, the area of the Word of Christ and its faithful preaching. I believe that this aspect of the work of the Spirit of Christ ought to receive great emphasis. Again I remind you that it is the Spirit of Christ Who directs holy men of God to write Scripture ( I Peter 1:11 ). This, too, is evidently the idea of II Timothy 3:16 , “All Scripture is given by inspiration…” Inspiration is “God-breathed,” and the Spirit is that breath of God. And He would “bring to remembrance whatsoever I have said unto you ( John 14:26 ; cf. also I Corinthians 2:10-26 ).  With this, there is the fact that the Spirit sends forth the preaching of the Word and directs it that God’s people may be gathered and strengthened in their faith.  … And the Word spoken shows the power of the Spirit. Paul points this out in I Corinthians 2:2,4 , “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified… And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.”      

2.  “That same Spirit so applies the Word He sends, that there is response in the elect sinner. To this I would direct your attention a little later also. But notice, Romans 8:15,16 , “For, ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.” Perhaps I John 3:24 could also be mentioned, “And He that keepeth His commandments dwelleth in Him, and He in Him. And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.”  … 

As far as the power and work of the Spirit of Christ in the individual saint are concerned, we could perhaps divide this into two parts: the gift of life, and the gift of the godly walk. Galatians 5:25 suggests this, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”

We can be brief concerning the first division. There is that efficacious work of the Spirit below the consciousness whereby He implants the life of Christ into the heart of the elect sinner — the work called regeneration. Of this Jesus speaks in John 3:5 , “…Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he can not enter into the kingdom of God.” That work is not accomplished through the use of earthly means nor with the cooperation of the sinner, but directly by the power of the Spirit. Jesus reminds us again in John 3:3 that one cannot even see the kingdom apart from this rebirth.

There are several expressions in the New Testament which suggest the work of the Spirit in directing the way of the child of God by applying the Word of God to such an one. We read of the “fruit of the Spirit” ( Ephesians 5:9 ; Galatians 5:22 ); of being “filled with the Spirit” ( Ephesians 5:18 ) ; of the “walk in the Spirit” ( Galatians 5:16 ; Romans 8:1,4 ); of the “sowing to the Spirit” ( Galatians 6:8 ); of “minding the things of the Spirit.” ( Romans 8:9 ); of being “led by the Spirit” ( Romans 8:14 ); of “speaking by the Spirit” ( I Corinthians 12:3 ); of the “Spirit, dwelling in you” ( Romans 8:9,11 ) .”

 ²⁰  teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:18-20.  (Emphasis added.)

I would like to focus on the compelling authority and power of the Great  Commission.  Is man’s free will and ability sufficient power and authority to fulfill the Great Commission?  Or, is Christ’s authority and power sufficient to fulfill the Great Commission?  Is fulfillment of the Great Commission dependent on man, namely the disciples throughout history (from the 11 disciples present at the giving of the Great Commission to us disciples today)?  Or, is fulfillment of the Great Commission dependent on Christ?

Generally, we have seen Scripture like Isaiah 46:9-11 which clearly show that God will accomplish all of His good pleasure:
“Remember the former things long past,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is no one like Me,
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things which have not been done,
Saying, ‘ My purpose will be established,
And I will accomplish all My good pleasure‘;
Calling a bird of prey from the east,
The man of My purpose from a far country.
Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.
I have planned it, surely I will do it.”  Isaiah 46:9-11.   

But, we also have seen Scripture which relate specifically to God’s work making disciples.  We have seen the following in John Chapter 6.

^“Therefore they said to Him, “What shall we do, so 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.”  John 6:28-29. 

“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.”  John 6:37-39. 

We have seen how God uses His disciples but gives them the will to do his will and also works within them.  “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.  “but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”  Acts 1:8. 

Calvin in his Commentary on Matthew 28:18 (“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.“) states:

“… Before relating that the office of teaching was committed to the disciples, Matthew says that Christ began by speaking of his power; and not without reason.  For no ordinary authority would here have been enough, but sovereign and truly divine government ought to be possessed by him who commands them to promise eternal life in his ham to reduce the whole world under his sway, and to publish a doctrine which subdues all pride, and lays prostrate the whole of the human race.  And by this preface Christ not only encouraged the Apostles to full confidence in the discharge of their office, but confirmed the faith of his gospel in all ages.  Never, certainly, would the Apostles have had sufficient confidence to undertake so arduous an office, if they had not known that their Protector sitteth in heaven, and that the highest authority is given to him;  for without such a support it would have been impossible for them to make any progress. But when they learn that he to whom they owe their services is the Governor of heaven and earth, this alone was abundantly sufficient for preparing them to rise superior to all opposition. …

He expressly calls himself the Lord and King of heaven and earth, because, by constraining men to obey him in the preaching of the gospel, he establishes his throne on the earth;  and, by regenerating his people to a new life, and inviting them to the hope of salvation, he opens heaven to admit to a blessed immortality with angels those who formerly had not only crawled on the world, but had been plunged in the abyss of death.  …” 

In conclusion, this authority and power of Christ to fulfill the Great Commission should not only encourage us, all of His disciples, in doing our evangelism work, it also should encourage us that God with be pleased by the results of the evangelism work.  Not one will be lost whom God intends to save.  “… My purpose will be established, And I will accomplish all My good pleasure‘;  Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man of My purpose from a far country.  Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.  I have planned it, surely I will do it.”  Isaiah 46:10-11.

Today’s devotion is Matthew 28:1-15.  Jesus is risen!

“1  Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.

 2  And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.

 3  And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

 4  The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.

 6  “He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.

 7  “Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you.”

 8  And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.

 9  And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him.

 10  Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.

” 11  Now while they were on their way, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all that had happened.

 12  And when they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,

 13  and said, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’

 14  “And if this should come to the governor’s ears, we will win him over and keep you out of trouble.”

 15  And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day.” Matthew 28:1-15.

Many articles and books have been written about Christ’s resurrection and its meaning to us. The glory and the victory over death deserve that attention. However, we have heard so much about Christ’s resurrection that we may be tempted to think that we already know enough. Yet, even Paul keeps pressing on: “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. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:10-14.

And so, we too press on, seeking to learn more about Christ and the power of His resurrection.

In reading this familiar Scripture again today, I was especially impressed today with verses 9 and 10. “And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me.” Matthew 28:9-10. (Emphasis added.)

We can focus so much on the awesome glory, power, and victory of the resurrection that we may overlook Jesus’ very personal and loving action of meeting and greeting Mary Magdalene and the other Mary and Jesus’ very personal and loving action of calling His disciples “My brethren” and providing to also meet them and greet them soon.

Consider that it would have more than sufficiently demonstrated the awesome glory, power, and victory of the resurrection if Jesus proceeded immediately to ascend to heaven in front of many witnesses. Jesus could have rightly focused on Himself and all the glory and power that He experienced. Jesus could have at least talked about Himself and what He had just experienced. But, Jesus cared about Mary Magdalene and the other Mary and personally sought them out to meet and greet them on the very day of His resurrection. Jesus cared about His disciples and honored them by calling His disciples “My brethren” and by providing to also meet them and greet them soon.

Such understanding of Jesus’ personal and loving actions may help  us to easier understand and believe more the meaning and application of the resurrection to us. “Now God has not only raised the Lord, but will also raise us up through His power.” 1 Corinthians 6:14 . “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.” 1 Corinthians 15:20-21. “… Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood–and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father–to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Revelation 1:5-6.

 ⁶⁴  “Therefore, give orders for the grave to be made secure until the third day, otherwise His disciples may come and steal Him away and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last deception will be worse than the first.”

 ⁶⁵  Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go, make it as secure as you know how.”

 ⁶⁶  And they went and made the grave secure, and along with the guard they set a seal on the stone.”

Generally, The Heidelberg Catechism provides an answer as to why Jesus was buried.”  

Question 41.  Why was he also buried?                                                                                       

Answer. Thereby to prove that he was really dead.”

Regarding the guarding of the tomb that is the subject matter of today’s devotion, Calvin in his Commentary on these verses states in part:

“The resurrection of Christ would undoubtedly have been less manifest, or, at least, they would have had more plausible grounds for denying it, if they had not taken pains to station witnesses at the sepulcher. We see then how the Lord not only disappointeth the crafty, (Job 5:12,) but employs even their own schemes as snares for holding them fast, that he may draw and compel them to render obedience to him. …

Yet let us observe that God, as if he had hired them for the purpose, employed their services for rendering the glory of Christ more illustrious, because no plausible ground for lying, in order to deny it, was left to them when they found the grave empty; not that they desisted from their wicked rage, but with all persons of correct and sober judgment it was a sufficient testimony that Christ was risen, since his body, which had been placed in a grave, and protected by guards who surrounded it on all sides, was not to be found.”

In conclusion, notice how the burial of Jesus is included in what is of “first importance”.  “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas (Peter), then to the twelve.”  1 Corinthians 15:3-5.  (Emphasis added.).  That is why the burial is not neglected in Scripture nor in our creeds.  Even the very short Apostles’ Creed does not omit the burial.  Every time that we affirm our faith by The Apostles’ Creed, we state that Jesus Christ “was crucified, dead, and buried“.  (Emphasis added.)

We are also taught that the kingdom of Christ ought not to be estimated by the sense of the flesh, but by the judgment of faith and of the Spirit. For so long as our minds grovel in the world, we look: upon his kingdom not only as contemptible, but even as loaded with shame and disgrace; but as soon as our minds rise by faith to heaven, not only will the spiritual majesty of Christ be presented to us, so as to obliterate all the dishonor of the cross, but the spittings, scourgings, blows, and other indignities, will lead us to the contemplation of his glory; as Paul informs us, that God hath given him a name, and the highest authority, that before him every knee might bow, because he willingly emptied himself (ἐκένωσε) even to the death of the cross, (Philippians 2:8-10.)

If, therefore, even in the present day, the world insolently mocks at Christ, let us learn to rise above these offenses by elevated faith; and let us not stop to inquire, what unworthy opposition is made to Christ by wicked men, but with what ornaments the Father hath clothed him, with what scepter and with what crown he hath adorned him, so as to raise him high, not only above men, but even above all the angels.  …”

In summary of this above-stated Calvin Commentary, Jesus’ sufferings of being persecuted, beaten, and mocked should make us “consider what we have deserved”.  “This was also a proof which Christ gave of his astonishing love towards us, that there was no ignominy to which he refused to submit for our salvation.”  “but the spittings, scourgings, blows, and other indignities, will lead us to the contemplation of his glory; as Paul informs us, that God hath given him a name, and the highest authority, that before him every knee might bow, because he willingly emptied himself (ἐκένωσε) even to the death of the cross, (Philippians 2:8-10.)”.  “If, therefore, even in the present day, the world insolently mocks at Christ, let us learn to rise above these offenses by elevated faith; and let us not stop to inquire, what unworthy opposition is made to Christ by wicked men, but with what ornaments the Father hath clothed him, with what scepter and with what crown he hath adorned him, so as to raise him high, not only above men, but even above all the angels.”

When Jesus had told His disciples that they would all fall away and scatter that night, they all protested.  “But Peter said to Him, “Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away.”  Jesus said to him, “Truly I say to you that this very night, before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.”  Peter said to Him, “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” All the disciples said the same thing too.”  Matthew 26:33-35. 

Yet, Jesus recognized that although His disciples (and man in general) may intend to be faithful, “…  the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Matthew 26:41.  And we see the weakness of the flesh in Peter’s denials in today’s devotion.

One lesson that we can glean from this Scripture is that we should not depend on our own alleged “free will”.  In other words, we should not depend on our own ability to know what is right and to just do it.  We need God’s Will.  We need God to work within us.  “for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13. 

We need His divine power:  “seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.”  2 Peter 1:3-4.   

Without His Will, without His divine power, and without His work within us, we too can so easily deny Christ by our words and actions.  But, with His Will, with His divine power, and with His work within us, we can be like Peter at Pentecost who, filled with the Holy Spirit, boldly and effectively proclaimed the Gospel to all in attendance, friend and foe, including those who crucified Jesus.

Peter said:  “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ–this Jesus whom you crucified.”  Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”  Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”  And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!”  So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls.”  Acts 2:36-41.