Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

John Owen on Hebrews 9:24: “This continual appearance of the Lord Christ for us, as our high priest in the presence of God, in the way explained, is the foundation of the safety of the church in all ages, and that whereon all our consolation doth depend; whence relief is derived by faith on all occasions. The consideration hereof being rightly improved will carry us through all difficulties, temptations, and trials, with safety unto the end.”

This quote reminded me of my devotion for today which included Hebrews 7:18-25.

^“18  For, on the one hand, there is a setting aside of a former commandment because of its weakness and uselessness

¹⁹  (for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.

²⁰  And inasmuch as it was not without an oath

²¹  (for they indeed became priests without an oath, but He with an oath through the One who said to Him,
         “THE LORD HAS SWORN
         AND WILL NOT CHANGE HIS MIND,
         ‘YOU ARE A PRIEST FOREVER'”);

²²  so much the more also Jesus has become the guarantee of a better covenant.

²³  The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing,

²⁴  but Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.

²⁵  Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.”  Hebrews 7:18-25.

Professor David Engelsma of the Protestant Reformed Churches has given me permission to post his following article.  This article was published in the Standard Bearer, a PRC publication.  There are also other articles on “The Regulative Principle of Worship” that you will see when you click on this link.   This is just one example of the fine articles that you will see in the Standard Bearer.  I also have a link to the Standard Bearer in the right column under “Links”.  The faithfulness of the Protestant Reformed Churches to Reformed doctrine as evidenced by the Standard Bearer is certainly one of the reasons why I so admire them and why I try to encourage and promote this denomination.  

So, here is the link to this article — http://sb.rfpa.org/index.cfm?mode=narrow&volume=76&issue=132&article=917&book=0&search=regulative%20principle&page=1&chapter=0&text_search=0

As some of you may know, I am daily reading through Scripture in its order.  Today’s devotion included 2 Timothy 2:15:  “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.”

Beware!  Just because a teaching a/k/a doctrine calls itself “Reformed”, does not mean that it is necessarily true.  In the tag above titled “About Me”, I conclude:  “The reader is advised to follow the example set forth in Acts 17:11:  “Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.”   

There is a ranking as to the authorities of Scripture, Reformed Confessions and Creeds, and publications of Reformed men.  Scripture is the supreme and infallible authority as to which everything must comply.  Reformed Confessions and Creeds are a secondary but fallible authority, nevertheless deserving to be subscribed by at least the officers of the denomination holding to them.  They are a helpful summary of the major doctrines of the Bible, and they also a basis of regulation and discipline in the church.  The publications of John Calvin, Martin Luther, and other Reformers deserve much respect, but they are only third authority. 

The purpose of this article is that I do see some danger in some Reformed circles as to such infatuation with Reformed Confessions and Creeds and the publications of Reformed men, particularly John Calvin, that Scripture seems to be an afterthought, rather than the first thought.  In this infatuation in these Reformed circles, there almost seems to be a competition as to how knowledgeable they are about Calvin and how willing they are to promote obscure “Reformed doctrine” even though it may have little or no basis for support in Scripture.  The end result is often legalism.  It is bad enough to be legalistic about something good which is taught in Scripture;  it is worse to be legalistic about something bad which is not even taught in Scripture.  In my opinion, an example of this is a Reformed teaching that musical instruments are prohibited in worship.  Although it may be a good tradition and a blessing to allow some congregational singing without musical instruments in worship, it is entirely a different matter and wrong to strictly advocate prohibiting musical instruments in worship based on obscure Reformed teaching and tradition, even if Calvin’s name is thrown about.

As another example, as we celebrate Calvin’s 500 birthday, let us not fall into this danger of elevating Calvin to an almost infallible “Pope-like status”.  Calvin would be the first to say:  “God forbid!”, and he would remind us of the words of Paul.  “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!”  Galatians 1:8.  In other words, as great as Paul was, he did not want deference to be shown him above Scripture.  Calvin would passionately join Paul in this plea to keep our focus on Scripture and to not allow Reformed Confessions and Creeds and the publications of Reformed men usurp the supreme infallible position of Scripture in our teachings a/k/a doctrine.

There is also the saying:  “Every heretic has his text.”  Just because someone has a text to support his teaching does not mean that the verse actually does support what he teaches.  It is foremost important that the reader or listener consider the context of the verse but then also to consider and compare other Scriptures elsewhere.   

I am also reminded of a TV evangelist who spouts out fast and furiously a long list of Scriptural citations to support his teaching.  There is no time for the listener to recollect what verse is cited or even time to write down the citations.  The TV evangelist hopes his listeners will be impressed by shear numbers.

Please understand that I am certainly not denigrating Reformed Confessions and Creeds and the publications of Reformed men.  God forbid!  They are very important and helpful.  You will notice a tag above titled “Plea for Creeds” which speaks of their importance.  They are like a “spiritual roadmap”.  They are particularly helpful to summarize Scripture.  Like a roadmap in which you can see a whole state on one page,  Reformed Confessions and Creeds and the publications of Reformed men give you some overall perspective.  However, just like one would not ignore clear highway signs and prefer and defer to the map, one should not ignore clear Scripture to prefer and defer to these Reformed Confessions and Creeds and the publications of Reformed men.    

In conclusion, we are called to be wise and skillful workman “accurately handling the word of truth”.  So, let us remember these three points.  First, let us remember the supreme infallible status of Scripture.  Let our first thoughts be of Scripture.  Let us not elevate Reformed Confessions and Creeds and the publications of Reformed men above Scripture.  Second, let us consider the context of any verse brought to our attention and also consider and compare other Scripture elsewhere.  Third, most importantly where Scripture seems unclear or there appears to be two alternative teachings that each have equal support in weight in Scripture, comparable to a fork in the road without clear signs, let us use those Reformed Confessions and Creeds and the publications of Reformed men to be our “spiritual roadmap”.

⁷  But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;

⁸  for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.

⁹  It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.

¹⁰  For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.

¹¹  Prescribe and teach these things.

¹²  Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.

¹³  Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.

¹⁴  Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery.

¹⁵  Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.

¹⁶  Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.”  1 Timothy 4:6-16. 

First, in verse 6, “In pointing out these things to the brethren”, I want to point out what I read in Scripture.  I think that it is important that I read through Scripture in its order and point out certain things.

Second, in verse 7, “But have nothing to do with worldly fables“, I do not want to include fables or stories, but rather I want to emphasize Scripture and the Reformed creeds and confessions.

Third, in verse 11, “Prescribe and teach these things”, the command is simple and direct.  I want to teach these things which I interpret as teaching foremost Scripture. 

Fourth, in verse 12, “Let no one look down on your youthfulness”, I can imagine how some of my readers, particularly the Ministers and Professors, react when they receive my writings.  They could think:  “Who does he think he is?!!!”.  But, you all have been so gracious, kind, and patient to me.  You have encouraged me to heed:  “Let no one look down on your youthfulness”.  (Not that I am young in age, but I am young in the sense that I am uneducated and inexperienced, so I do my best to write about what is most important (through God’s inspiration) and to write clearly and to write the best that I can.)

Fifth, also in verse 12, “but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”, there are different ways that we can be examples.  The foremost meaning is to be an example that another one can emulate, and I think the foremost example is to be one who is holy and Godly in behavior.  This would be for me “What I Want To Be”.  If I am a good example to anyone now, it probably would be to encourage others to write down and share their thoughts about what they read in Scripture. 

But, there are also different kinds of examples.  Along the lines of this other “different kind of example”, Paul writes:  “It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.  Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”  1 Timothy 1:15-16.  Along these lines, I may be an example and encouragement to  those, like me, who have drifted away from Reformed doctrine and Reformed churches, but who through God’s grace, have re-discovered the truth and joy of Reformed doctrine as I write on the page tagged above as “About Me”. 

Sixth, in verse 14, “Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you”, we all have unique spiritual gifts.  I have a friend who is a Cadet counselor in a CRC church.  He is a kid at heart and hates to speak in public and write.  However, he loves kids, camping, and all the other “Cadet-stuff”, and he has been a faithful Cadet counselor and exercised his spiritual gifts for years.  He does not try to be like me, and I don’t try to be like him.  We both appreciate each other and thank God that He gives different spiritual gifts to different members of the Body of Christ. 

Seventh, in verse 15 and 16, “Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, …  Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things”, I want to be meticulous in commenting about all of Scripture about which I feel led to write.  Although I fall far short, I want to perfect my writings.  I want to write regularly, at least once or twice a week.

Eighth, also in verse 16, “for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you”, I recognize that I receive very little feedback.  But, I write foremost for myself.  Writing forces me to perfect my thoughts about Scripture that I read.  It forces me “to put it in stone”.  Writing helps me the most.  “What I Want To Be” leads me to think more and adopt new strategies, through God’s guidance, as to how I can help others more through my writings.  In the 1990’s, I started to write my best friend in Grand Rapids “Letters to Harry” which I actually mailed to him.  You can see those letters under the tag above titled “Gold Mining”.  In the 2000’s, I developed two web sites with this Reformed doctrine blog web site my most recent attempt to reach and help others.  I look forward to the next stage, whatever that may be, where God will help me to reach out to more people and help more people.