Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 6, 2023

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, … for every good deed”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 16:16-17.

“Three times in a year all your males shall appear before the LORD your God in the place which He chooses, at the Feast of Unleavened Bread and at the Feast of Weeks and at the Feast of Booths, and they shall not appear before the LORD empty-handed.  Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you.”  Deuteronomy 16:16-17.

—————

Oh no!  More Scripture that commands me to give!

But, today’s Scripture (“according to the blessing of the LORD your God which He has given you”) and the following supporting Scripture changes our focus from our giving to our receiving, and from our work to God’s work in us, and from our gifts to God’s gifts to us.

First, let us start with God’s most important “indescribable gift”.  

“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 1:30-31.  

We give as we should, because God gave us Christ “who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption”.

Second, we have received from God additional material gifts such that we “have an abundance for every good deed”. 

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;  as it is written,

“HE SCATTERED ABROAD, HE GAVE TO THE POOR,
HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS ENDURES FOREVER.”

Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;  you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.  For the ministry of this service is not only fully supplying the needs of the saints, but is also overflowing through many thanksgivings to God.  Because of the proof given by this ministry, they will glorify God for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to them and to all, while they also, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you.  Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!”  2 Corinthians 9:8-15.

Third, God gives us the will to give and accomplishes the good work within us so that we do in fact give as we should.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6. 

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 5, 2023

“so that you will be altogether joyful.”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 16:9-15.

“You shall count seven weeks for yourself;  you shall begin to count seven weeks from the time you begin to put the sickle to the standing grain.  Then you shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks to the LORD your God with a tribute of a freewill offering of your hand, which you shall give just as the LORD your God blesses you;  and you shall rejoice before the LORD your God, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite who is in your town, and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your midst, in the place where the LORD your God chooses to establish His name.  You shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt, and you shall be careful to observe these statutes.

“You shall celebrate the Feast of Booths seven days after you have gathered in from your threshing floor and your wine vat;  and you shall rejoice in your feast, you and your son and your daughter and your male and female servants and the Levite and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your towns.  Seven days you shall celebrate a feast to the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses, because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.”  Deuteronomy 16:9-15.

———————–

What are some of the elements presented in today’s Scripture, “so that you will be altogether joyful”?

First, “you shall rejoice before the LORD your God”.  Sadly, we tend to prefer a party where everybody but God is invited.  We want to do things at the party that we know that God would not approve.  But, today’s Scripture from beginning to the end commands us to celebrate to God, with God, and because of God.    

Second, we shall rejoice with not only before God and with family, but also with “your male and female servants and the Levite who is in your town, and the stranger and the orphan and the widow who are in your midst”.  Everyone is to be invited.  

Third, “you shall rejoice in your feast”.  There better be good food, good wine and beer, and good entertainment.  After all, we are celebrating what our wine vat produced.  

Fourth, we bring to the feast “a tribute of a freewill offering of your hand, which you shall give just as the LORD your God blesses you”.  The feast has plenty for us, but God gets something too.

Fifth, we celebrate not only what God has done for us in the past, but also for what God will do for us in the future, “because the LORD your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands”.  

“Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:11.

“For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done,
I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands.” Psalm 92:4.

“but just as it is written,

“THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD,
AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN,
ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.” 1 Corinthians 2:9.

“Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life,
And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23:6.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 4, 2023

“Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed. Therefore let us celebrate the feast, … with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 16:1-8.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2016&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“Observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Passover to the LORD your God, for in the month of Abib the LORD your God brought you out of Egypt by night.  You shall sacrifice the Passover to the LORD your God from the flock and the herd, in the place where the LORD chooses to establish His name.  You shall not eat leavened bread with it;  seven days you shall eat with it unleavened bread, the bread of affliction (for you came out of the land of Egypt in haste), so that you may remember all the days of your life the day when you came out of the land of Egypt.  For seven days no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory, and none of the flesh which you sacrifice on the evening of the first day shall remain overnight until morning.”  Deuteronomy 16:1-4.   

————

Here is the story of the Passover.

“Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel and said to them, “Go and take for yourselves lambs according to your families, and slay the Passover lamb.  You shall take a bunch of hyssop and dip it in the blood which is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin to the lintel and the two doorposts;  and none of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning.

For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians;  and when He sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not allow the destroyer to come in to your houses to smite you.  And you shall observe this event as an ordinance for you and your children forever.  When you enter the land which the LORD will give you, as He has promised, you shall observe this rite.  And when your children say to you, ‘What does this rite mean to you?’ you shall say, ‘It is a Passover sacrifice to the LORD who passed over the houses of the sons of Israel in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but spared our homes.’”  And the people bowed low and worshiped.”  Exodus 12:21-27.

Christ is our Passover.   Like the Passover lamb was sacrificed, Christ was sacrificed.  Like the blood of the Passover lamb caused the LORD to pass over the houses and not allow the destroyer to come into the houses to smite them, Christ’s blood caused the LORD to pass over His elect for whom Christ’s blood was shed and forgive them of all of their sins and not allow them to be sent to hell.  

Leaven in the Passover rite represents sin.  The elimination of leaven in the Passover rite reminds us, through God’s grace and work in us, to live Godly lives.  The following concluding Scripture puts it together and exhorts us.  

“Your boasting is not good.  Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?  Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened.  For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.  Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.”  1 Corinthians 5:6-8.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 3, 2023

“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 15:19-23.

“You shall consecrate to the LORD your God all the firstborn males that are born of your herd and of your flock;  you shall not work with the firstborn of your herd, nor shear the firstborn of your flock.  You and your household shall eat it every year before the LORD your God in the place which the LORD chooses.  But if it has any defect, such as lameness or blindness, or any serious defect, you shall not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.  You shall eat it within your gates;  the unclean and the clean alike may eat it, as a gazelle or a deer.  Only you shall not eat its blood;  you are to pour it out on the ground like water.”  Deuteronomy 15:19-23. 

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The perfect sacrifice for our sins, the only effective sacrifice, our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, did not have any defect.

Consider the following from the Heidelberg Catechism.

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

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

Q. 16.  Why must He be very man, and also perfectly righteous?

A.  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.

Q. 17. Why must He in one person be also very God?

A.  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.

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

A.  Our Lord Jesus Christ, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption.

“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 1:30-31.

“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:48.

“For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified.  …

…

Now where there is forgiveness of these things, there is no longer any offering for sin.

Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful;  and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another;  and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”  Hebrews 10:14 and 18-25.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 2, 2023

“HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 15:12-18.

“If your kinsman, a Hebrew man or woman, is sold to you, then he shall serve you six years, but in the seventh year you shall set him free.  When you set him free, you shall not send him away empty-handed.  You shall furnish him liberally from your flock and from your threshing floor and from your wine vat; you shall give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you.  You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you;  therefore I command you this today.   It shall come about if he says to you, ‘I will not go out from you,’ because he loves you and your household, since he fares well with you;  then you shall take an awl and pierce it through his ear into the door, and he shall be your servant forever.  Also you shall do likewise to your maidservant.

“It shall not seem hard to you when you set him free, for he has given you six years with double the service of a hired man;  so the LORD your God will bless you in whatever you do.”  Deuteronomy 15:12-18.

—————–

The LORD commanded Israel that when they set free their slave, “you shall not send him away empty-handed.  You shall furnish him liberally from your flock and from your threshing floor and from your wine vat”.  

The LORD also commanded Israel:  “You shall remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you;  therefore I command you this today.”

Thus, we should also remember that when the LORD redeemed Israel, the LORD did not send Israel away empty-handed.  

“Now the sons of Israel had done according to the word of Moses, for they had requested from the Egyptians articles of silver and articles of gold, and clothing;  and the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians, so that they let them have their request.  Thus they plundered the Egyptians.”  Exodus 12:35-36. 

Hmm.  I wonder.  The LORD redeemed us from the slavery of sin.  Did the LORD send us away empty-handed?

No!

“Therefore it says,

“WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH,
HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES,
AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN.”

…  And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;  until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”  Ephesians 4:8 and 11-13.

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”  Ephesians 4:7.

“Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly:  if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith;  if service, in his serving;  or he who teaches, in his teaching;  or he who exhorts, in his exhortation;  he who gives, with liberality;  he who leads, with diligence;  he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.”  Romans 12:6-8.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | October 1, 2023

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love” – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works” – “for it is God who is at work in you”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 15:1-11.

“At the end of every seven years you shall grant a remission of debts.  This is the manner of remission:  every creditor shall release what he has loaned to his neighbor;  he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother, because the LORD’S remission has been proclaimed.  From a foreigner you may exact it, but your hand shall release whatever of yours is with your brother.  However, there will be no poor among you, since the LORD will surely bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance to possess, if only you listen obediently to the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all this commandment which I am commanding you today.  For the LORD your God will bless you as He has promised you, and you will lend to many nations, but you will not borrow;  and you will rule over many nations, but they will not rule over you.

“If there is a poor man with you, one of your brothers, in any of your towns in your land which the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart, nor close your hand from your poor brother;  but you shall freely open your hand to him, and shall generously lend him sufficient for his need in whatever he lacks.  Beware that there is no base thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of remission, is near,’ and your eye is hostile toward your poor brother, and you give him nothing;  then he may cry to the LORD against you, and it will be a sin in you.  You shall generously give to him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because for this thing the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all your undertakings.  For the poor will never cease to be in the land;  therefore I command you, saying, ‘You shall freely open your hand to your brother, to your needy and poor in your land.’”  Deuteronomy 15:1-11.

——————-

That sounds good to forgive and to give, but I am selfish, even greedy.  

There are even promises attached in verses 4, 6, and 10, but I do not trust God.   

But, there is hope!

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.  Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”  Galatians 5:22-24.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”  Ephesians 2:10.

“for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”  Philippians 2:13.

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 1:6. 

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also;  and greater works than these he will do;  because I go to the Father.”  John 14:12.

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”  John 14:26-27.

“But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth;  …”  John 16:13. 

“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 1:30-31.

“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”  Matthew 5:48.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 29, 2023

“Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart.” – “God loves a cheerful giver.”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 14:22-29.

“You shall surely tithe all the produce from what you sow, which comes out of the field every year.  You shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God, at the place where He chooses to establish His name, the tithe of your grain, your new wine, your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and your flock, so that you may learn to fear the LORD your God always.  If the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the LORD your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you when the LORD your God blesses you, then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses.  You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires:  for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires;  and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.  Also you shall not neglect the Levite who is in your town, for he has no portion or inheritance among you.

“At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithe of your produce in that year, and shall deposit it in your town.  The Levite, because he has no portion or inheritance among you, and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town, shall come and eat and be satisfied, in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.”  Deuteronomy 14:22-29.

—————–

“3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.” Psalm 37:3-4.

“Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:11.

It is stunning, almost beyond belief, that God is so gracious that He provides that the tithe could be at least partially used for “wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires”. “You may spend the money for whatever your heart desires:  for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires;  and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household.” Verse 26.  Note that it is stated twice:  “whatever your heart desires”.  

God does also provide in the last paragraph of today’s Scripture for the tithe at least every third year to be used for the Levite, “and the alien, the orphan and the widow who are in your town”.  They “shall come and eat and be satisfied”.  There is even a blessing attached:  “in order that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hand which you do.” 

“So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.”  Galatians 6:10.

“Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.  Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;’  2 Corinthians 9:6-8.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 28, 2023

“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. … not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 14:3-21.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy%2014&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“You shall not eat any detestable thing.  These are the animals which you may eat:  the ox, the sheep, the goat, the deer, the gazelle, the roebuck, the wild goat, the ibex, the antelope and the mountain sheep.  Any animal that divides the hoof and has the hoof split in two and chews the cud, among the animals, that you may eat.  Nevertheless, you are not to eat of these among those which chew the cud, or among those that divide the hoof in two:  the camel and the rabbit and the shaphan, for though they chew the cud, they do not divide the hoof;  they are unclean for you.  The pig, because it divides the hoof but does not chew the cud, it is unclean for you.  You shall not eat any of their flesh nor touch their carcasses.

“These you may eat of all that are in water:  anything that has fins and scales you may eat, but anything that does not have fins and scales you shall not eat;  it is unclean for you.

“You may eat any clean bird.  …

“You shall not eat anything which dies of itself.  You may give it to the alien who is in your town, so that he may eat it, or you may sell it to a foreigner, for you are a holy people to the LORD your God.  You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s milk.”  Deuteronomy 14:3-11 and 21.

——————–

“All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable.  All things are lawful, but not all things edify.  Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.  Eat anything that is sold in the meat market without asking questions for conscience’ sake;  FOR THE EARTH IS THE LORD’S, AND ALL IT CONTAINS.  If one of the unbelievers invites you and you want to go, eat anything that is set before you without asking questions for conscience’ sake. But if anyone says to you, “This is meat sacrificed to idols,” do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for conscience’ sake;  I mean not your own conscience, but the other man’s;  for why is my freedom judged by another’s conscience?  If I partake with thankfulness, why am I slandered concerning that for which I give thanks?

Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  Give no offense either to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God;  just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit but the profit of the many, so that they may be saved.”  1 Corinthians 10:23-33.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 27, 2023

“I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.” – “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 14:1-2.

“You are the sons of the LORD your God;  you shall not cut yourselves nor shave your forehead for the sake of the dead.  For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”  Deuteronomy 14:1-2.

———— 

We are not like other people.  We should not try to be like other peoples and follow the unholy customs and practices of other peoples.  

“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God, and the LORD has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.”  Verse 2.

“…  I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples.  …  Thus you are to be holy to Me, for I the LORD am holy;  and I have set you apart from the peoples to be Mine.”  Leviticus 20:24 and 26.

“For you are a holy people to the LORD your God;  the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His own possession out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

“The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any of the peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples,  but because the LORD loved you and kept the oath which He swore to your forefathers, the LORD brought you out by a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”  Deuteronomy 7:6-8. 

“What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?  And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.”  Romans 9:22-24.

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;  for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD;  you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.”  1 Peter 2:9-10.

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Posted by: Bill Hornbeck | September 26, 2023

“Christ died for us.” – “in order that the LORD may turn from His burning anger and show mercy to you”

Today’s devotion comes from Deuteronomy 13:12-18.

“If you hear in one of your cities, which the LORD your God is giving you to live in, anyone saying that some worthless men have gone out from among you and have seduced the inhabitants of their city, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods’ (whom you have not known), then you shall investigate and search out and inquire thoroughly.  If it is true and the matter established that this abomination has been done among you, you shall surely strike the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying it and all that is in it and its cattle with the edge of the sword.  Then you shall gather all its booty into the middle of its open square and burn the city and all its booty with fire as a whole burnt offering to the LORD your God;  and it shall be a ruin forever.  It shall never be rebuilt.  Nothing from that which is put under the ban shall cling to your hand, in order that the LORD may turn from His burning anger and show mercy to you, and have compassion on you and make you increase, just as He has sworn to your fathers, if you will listen to the voice of the LORD your God, keeping all His commandments which I am commanding you today, and doing what is right in the sight of the LORD your God.”  Deuteronomy 13:12-18.

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It is shocking what extreme measure God required if one of the cities in Israel went rogue and served other gods “in order that the LORD may turn from His burning anger and show mercy to you”.

It leads us to meditate what the LORD requires for us because of our sin in order that the LORD may turn from His burning anger and show mercy to us. 

Nothing less than the death of God’s own beloved Son can atone for our guilt!

“For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will hardly die for a righteous man;  though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.”  Romans 5:6-9.

What exactly was accomplished by Christ’s death?

Other doctrine have a low view of Christ’s death, that just a little was accomplished, but even that little was dependent on man’s work or at least man’s will in order to make that little amount effective to save.

But, Reformed Doctrine has a high view of Christ’s death, that everything that we need for salvation was accomplished by Christ’s death, and that nothing was dependent on man’s works or man’s will in order to make Christ’s death effective to save.

Consider the following from the Canons of Dordt.

Article 8.  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.  SECOND HEAD OF DOCTRINE Of the Death of Christ, and the Redemption of Men Thereby.

“For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,”  1 Thessalonians 5:9.

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