Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

“Article 9.  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.”

I will label this true doctrine of Christ “Effective Redemption”.

To contrast this true doctrine of Christ with a false doctrine of Christ that is taught in many churches, I quote from the same Second Head of Doctrine title “Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby” in the same Canons of Dort: 

“The true doctrine having been explained, the Synod rejects the errors of those:

“III. Who teach: That Christ by his satisfaction merited neither salvation itself for anyone, nor faith, whereby this satisfaction of Christ unto salvation is effectually appropriated; but that he merited for the Father only the authority or the perfect will to deal again with man, and to prescribe new conditions as he might desire, obedience to which, however, depended on the free will of man, so that it therefore might have come to pass that either none or all should fulfill these conditions. For these adjudge too contemptuously of the death of Christ, do in no wise acknowledge the most important fruit or benefit thereby gained, and bring again out of hell the Pelagian error.”

In conclusion, many false religions, false churches, and false teachers proclaim a “christ”, their own understanding of Christ, perhaps a potential Savior or Redeemer dependent on the free-will choice of man, perhaps a good prophet, perhaps a good teacher, perhaps a good example for us to follow, or perhaps just a good man.  Their false doctrine of Christ cannot be included here as the foundation of the Church.  The true doctrine of Christ must include what Christ actually did accomplish for the Church.  Most importantly, the true doctrine of Christ, this “foundation of the Church”, must include this “Effective Redemption”.

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?

At first glance, this Scripture and surrounding Scripture in Romans 10 seems to support Arminian evangelism like Billy Graham crusades which emphasizes preaching that appeals to the free will and altar calls.  We tend to believe that everyone can hear so long as they have the Gospel preached to them.

However, when we meditate on the key verse and consider other Scripture, we come to the conclusion that not everyone who have the Gospel preached to them truly hears.  The immediate preceding verse makes this clear.  “However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?” ”  Romans 10:16.  Likewise, Isaiah 53:1-3 states:  “Who has believed our message?  And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?  …  He was despised and forsaken of men, A man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;  And like one from whom men hide their face.  He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.”

Let us look again at the key verse.  Romans 10:17:  “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”  Consider the meaning of this verse.  No one is going to have faith unless they truly hear the Gospel, and no one is going to truly hear the Gospel (even though it may be preached to them) unless they are chosen.  But, it is even more than this statement.  It is not just that only some of those who truly hear have faith.  It is not just that only some of those who receive the word of Christ truly hear.  All those who receive the word of Christ truly hear, and all of those who truly hear have faith. 

This golden chain of “word of Christ”-“hearing”-“faith” is consistent with Romans 8:29-30:  “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. 

This golden chain of “word of Christ”-“hearing”-“faith” is also consistent with John 6:44-45:  “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day.  “It is written in the prophets, ‘AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.    

Consider also Colossians 3:12-17.  This Scripture  includes a lot of exhortations including in verse 16:  “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you …”.  However, to whom are these exhortations addressed?  These exhortations are addressed to “those who have been chosen of God”  Verse 12. 

Regarding the need to truly hear in order to have faith, it is often said in Scripture that there are those while hearing do not truly hear and understand.  To truly hear and understand is a grant or gift from God.  One must be chosen.  

“11   Jesus answered them, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. 

12  “For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.

13 “Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.

14  “In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says,
         ‘YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND;
         YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; 
15      FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL,
         WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR,
         AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES,
         OTHERWISE THEY WOULD SEE WITH THEIR EYES,
         HEAR WITH THEIR EARS,
         AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN,
         AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.’  Matthew 13:11-15.

Calvin in his Commentary on this key verse (Romans 10:17:  “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”) states:  “17. Faith then is by hearing, etc. We see by this conclusion what Paul had in view by the gradation which he formed; it was to show, that wherever faith is, God has there already given an evidence of his election …”. 

“The word of Christ” is living and capable of accomplishing its intention.  It is not dead letters sitting on a dusty page.  “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”  John 6:63 (Emphasis added).  

 “For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  Hebrews 4:12.

“So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;  It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.”  Isaiah 55:11.

In conclusion, “hearing” comes from this living, active, triumphant Word of Christ.  The Word of Christ accomplish what God desires.  The Word of Christ succeeds in the matter for which God sends it.  The Word of Christ causes those to whom it comes to truly hear, and those who truly hear will believe (have faith).

17  For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.”

18  So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.”  Romans 9:11-18.  (Emphasis added.)

Man may not like it, but the world does not revolve around him.  Man may not like it, but God does not have mercy on everyone.  Man may not like it, but whether or not man receives mercy does not depend “on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy.” 

God loves some like Jacob.  God hates others like Esau.  God saves those upon whom He elects to have mercy.  God even hardens those He hates.

God is sovereign and does not defer the decision on whom shall be saved to man.  God controls everything “so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand”.

A fundamental shaking of confidence and trust in the stock market and capitalism is occurring throughout the world.  Investors are cashing out.  World leaders, foes and even friends, are questioning whether or not capitalism and a free market are the models to imitate for their nation’s economic system. 

We need to go back to biblical principles for handling wealth to distinguish what is fundamentally good and sound from what is evil and excessive.  We need our best and most righteous minds to help us.  That is you all.

In his book, Righteous by Faith Alone, page 36, Rev. Herman Hoeksema, told his congregation at the time of the Great Depression:  “The lust of money is that we press it into the service of unrighteousness.  That is why we have a depression.”  That is the deepest root of the problems, but we need more advice than just the conclusion that we should not lust for money.  Rev. Hoeksema’s purpose was to provide sermons on the Book of Romans, and although he makes a good point in passing that we can and should apply to our current economic problems, we need more.

You have heard of the slogan:  “What would Jesus do?”  To help us answer that question, let us ask:   “What would Calvin do?” and “What does Scripture tell us to do?”. 

David W. Hall wrote an interesting series of articles titled “Calvin and Wealth”.  Here is a link to the series – Click here: Calvin and Wealth « The Calvin 500 Blog  This link will display the first three Parts.  You can click “Next Entries” to get to Parts 4 to 7.

In Part 1, he states:  “The Swiss reformer John Calvin knew that God was more important than material wealth, and Calvin’s advice can serve to steer investors and stewards in any century away from a chilling materialism. Money is—and ever will be—a creation; as such it should not be worshiped, over-emphasized, or ignored. Like the creation itself, it has a place and is useful. But outside of that designed space, it can become an idol.  Calvin was clear that Mammon was not to be served. In his commentary on Matthew 6:24, he stated the dilemma well: “[W]here riches hold the dominion of the heart, God has lost his authority. True, it is not impossible that those who are rich shall serve God; but whoever gives himself up as a slave to riches must abandon the service of God; for covetousness makes us slaves of the devil.”

In Part 2, he states:  “Rather, the historical record is clear: where Calvinism became thoroughly rooted, citizens saw economic growth. With the delicate combination of enhanced freedom and with opening economies, Calvin’s prosperity ethic would outlive him.”

One Scripture comes to mind now:  Proverbs 21:5 :  “The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage,  But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

Certain lenders were “too hasty” to make risky loans.  Certain investment bankers were “too hasty” to buy questionable mortgage-backed securities.  Their corporations and investors “came surely to poverty” (although the CEOs may have at least temporarily escaped with their golden parachutes). 

But, in contrast to the “hasty”, there will also be those people like John Templeton who made diligent financial plans and gained a financial advantage.  According to Wikepedia, Templeton “is noted for buying 100 shares of each company trading for less than $1 a share in 1939 and making many times the money back in a 4 year period. … Templeton attributed much of his success to his ability to maintain an elevated mood, avoid anxiety and stay disciplined. Uninterested in consumerism, he drove his own car, never flew first class and lived year-round in his peaceful ocean-side home in the Bahamas.  Templeton became known for his “avoiding the herd” and “buy when there’s blood in the streets” philosophy.  He also was known for taking profits when values and expectations were high.”  Click here: John Templeton – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia  We should not emulate every part of Templeton’s life.  We should particularly avoid his spiritual beliefs, particularly in his later years.  But, we can appreciate him as an example of the plans of the diligent that surely leads to advantage.

So, is our goal to make diligent personal financial plans to benefit our family, or is our goal to propose diligent national economic plans to benefit our country?  Let us work toward both goals.  The following Scripture commends both goals.

Scripture commends: “The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’  “His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.'”  Matthew 25:20-21.

Scripture also commends the industrious, excellent wife:  “Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.”  Proverbs 31:31. 

But, Scripture also commends doing good toward our rulers:  “… Do what is good and you will have praise from the same;  for it is a minister of God to you for good.  …”  Romans 13:3-4.

Consider Joseph and Daniel who were used by God to be leaders in even a foreign country and to bring peace and prosperity to the “evil empires” of Egypt and Babylon.  This peace and prosperity helped Israel in bondage lead quiet lives.  How much more should we assist our own country have peace and prosperity!

“First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.  This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  I Timothy 2:1-4. 

So, what is the purpose of this peace and prosperity?  The purpose of this peace and prosperity is not that we satisfy the lusts of the flesh.  But, rather, the purpose of this peace and prosperity is that we may be able to lead “a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” with the ultimate goal that we may “be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 

In conclusion, I encourage those of you readers who God has called to be a Joseph or a Daniel or wise slave or an excellent wife or even a Templeton.  Teach us the biblical principles for handling wealth to distinguish what is fundamentally good and sound from what is evil and excessive.  Bring peace and prosperity to your family.  Bring peace and prosperity to your country.  So, that we all may be able to lead “a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity” with the ultimate goal that we may “be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

3  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,

 4  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.

 5  For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

 6  For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace,

 7  because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so,

 8  and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”  Romans 8:1-9. 

Let me give you an analogy of the flesh trying to prove its own righteousness through following the Law.  

I might receive written directions on how to get from my home to a certain location, let us say, Disney World.  Although, living in Florida, and even in St. Petersburg, I may be much closer than my readers to Disney World, I would still need for the following to occur in order to get to Disney World:

1.  I would need to read and understand directions.

2.  I would need to judge distances.

3.  I would need to find and read street signs.

4.  I would need to know the difference between east and west, north and south.

5.  I would need reliable transportation.

6.  I would need to be alive.

7.  I would need to want to go.

8.  I would need to be able to drive or otherwise be able to use other reliable transportation.

I could break this down further but you get my drift. 

Now, the problem is not the written directions.  They are good and perfect.  The problem is me.

Wouldn’t it be better if I had a Disney guide driving a Disney limbo to pick me up and drive me to Disney World?!

Now, think of getting to heaven and how much more difficult it is to get there than to get to Disney World!  Why would we want to cling to those written directions (the Law) and depend on ourself when we have the Spirit to guide us and take us to heaven?!

 3  So then, if while her husband is living she is joined to another man, she shall be called an adulteress; but if her husband dies, she is free from the law, so that she is not an adulteress though she is joined to another man.

 4  Therefore, my brethren, you also were made to die to the Law through the body of Christ, so that you might be joined to another, to Him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God.

 5  For while we were in the flesh, the sinful passions, which were aroused by the Law, were at work in the members of our body to bear fruit for death.

 6  But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

 7  What shall we say then? Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law; for I would not have known about coveting if the Law had not said, “YOU SHALL NOT COVET.”

 8  But sin, taking opportunity through the commandment, produced in me coveting of every kind; for apart from the Law sin is dead.

 9  I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died;

 10  and this commandment, which was to result in life, proved to result in death for me;

 11 for sin, taking an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me.

 12  So then, the Law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good.

 13  Therefore did that which is good become a cause of death for me? May it never be! Rather it was sin, in order that it might be shown to be sin by effecting my death through that which is good, so that through the commandment sin would become utterly sinful.”  (Emphasis added.)

The key verse is Romans 7:6:  “But now we have been released from the Law, having died to that by which we were bound, so that we serve in newness of the Spirit and not in oldness of the letter.

In regards to this key verse, Calvin in his Commentary states:

“6. But now we have been loosed from the law, etc. He pursues the argument derived from the opposite effect of things, — “If the restraint of the law availed so little to bridle the flesh, that it became rather the exciter of sin; then, that we may cease from sin, we must necessarily be freed from the law.” Again, “If we are freed from the bondage of the law for this end, that we may serve God; then, perversely do they act who hence take the liberty to indulge in sin; and falsely do they speak who teach, that by this means loose reins are given to lusts.” Observe, then, that we are then freed from the law, when God emancipates us from its rigid exactions and curse, and endues us with his Spirit, through whom we walk in his ways. ²⁰⁷  (²⁰⁷     That the moral, and not the ceremonial law, is meant here, is incontestably evident from what the Apostle adds in the following verses. He quotes the moral law in the next verse; he calls this law, in Romans 7:10, the commandment, την ἐντολὴν, which was unto life, see Matthew 19:16; and he says, that “by it” sin “slew” him, which could not have been said of the ceremonial law. — Ed.)

Having died to that, etc. This part contains a reason, or rather, indicates the manner in which we are made free; for the law is so far abrogated with regard to us, that we are not pressed down by its intolerable burden, and that its inexorable rigor does not overwhelm us with a curse. ²⁰⁸  (²⁰⁸     Our common version is evidently incorrect as to this clause. The pronoun αὐτῷ or ἐκεινῷ, is to be supplied. There is an exactly similar ellipsis in Romans 6:21 Beza and several others, as well as our version, have followed a reading, αποθανοντὀ, which Griesbach disregards as of no authority; and it is inconsistent with the usual phraseology of the Apostle. See Romans 7:4, and Galatians 2:19. — Ed.) — In newness of spirit; He sets the spirit in opposition to the letter; for before our will is formed according to the will of God by the Holy Spirit, we have in the law nothing but the outward letter, which indeed bridles our external actions, but does not in the least restrain the fury of our lusts. And he ascribes newness to the Spirit, because it succeeds the old man; as the letter is called old, because it perishes through the regeneration of the Spirit.”