Author: Reformed Baptista

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 75

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Day 75

Of Creation

Chapter 4, Paragraph 2.

“….with reasonable and immortal souls,…“

Scripture Lookup

Genesis 2:7.

Reflection

Thinking is a privilege. As humans we are not just mammals. Unlike animals, we are not guided by instinct. We have a soul that is able to reason. We are able to gather data and formulate convictions based upon that data. Holding certain beliefs and opinions is one way that we are different than the rest of creation. As such, we have a responsibility to use our reason and act accordingly. Many do not want to be burdened with having to reason, though, and willingly act like the animals from which we were we set apart. Some insist that there is no soul, just brain chemistry and neurons.

However, we are not just neurons firing. There is a spiritual aspect to our being. Our souls in this fallen world need the hope and comfort that only Christ brings. This comfort lasts far beyond this life, for the soul never dies. This means there are eternal consequences for us after death. The state of our souls before God should be of the utmost concern, for while this life is but a moment, how we respond to Christ has lasting effects. Would you have peace and comfort? Look to Christ to save your soul.

Questions to Consider

  • In what condition is your soul today?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 74

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Day 74

Of Creation

Chapter 4, Paragraph 2.

“After God had made all other Creatures, he Created man, male and female,….“

Scripture Lookup

Genesis 1:27.

Reflection

The sweet friend you’ve had since childhood. The bratty neighbor’s kid. Our current president, and the one that preceded him. All have been created by God. Do we treat them as such? It’s easy to extend kindness to our friends, but sometimes we treat the guy who gets on your nerves at work with less respect. Yet all humans should be respected on account of their Creator.

Not only did God create all people, He created them male and female. You may think that this is obvious, but in our culture today there is a denial of such a fact. Some men are denying that they were created male, and doing everything they can to be a female. There are women also who revolt against their bodies and insist they are male. But men and women are not the same. These differences were created by God. Since God created male and female from the beginning, these differences are very good.

Note that God created male, but God also created female. While Genesis explains how the woman was formed from the man, it distinctly states that God did the forming. Women are not secondhand creations. They have also been created directly by God, and therefore are equal with men. When determining the various roles men and women should have in marriage, the family, and society, it is important to begin on this foundation.

Questions to Consider

  • How do you view those created by God?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 73

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Day 73

Of Creation

Chapter 4, Paragraph 1.

“… to Create or make the world, and all things therein, whether visible or invisible, in the space of six days, and all very good.“

Scripture Lookup

Colossians 1:16.

Genesis 2:1,2.

Reflection

God made the world and everything in it. He did so in six days. What He made was very good.

Interestingly, it is rare that you hear anyone question the goodness of the new creation. If people accept that God made the world, they do not question that the world was very good when it was created. Perhaps this is because we can see that most things that are new in our world start off well. Babies have soft skin; seedlings are tender and shiny. It is over time that things decay and get weathered. A creation of God, unaffected by the Fall, would naturally be very good.

So we don’t see many question the goodness of God’s creation. However, in our modern times, the notion that the world was created in a literal six days is not just questioned but disdained. Everyone knows about evolution; everyone knows that the earth is millions of years old. It is taught as fact in schools and assumed by the media. Such strong reaction against the timing of God’s creation makes many pause and wonder if the Bible is true in this regard.

There is much symbolism and allegory in the Bible. Yet Genesis is not a book that is written as such. It is a book concerned with relating the history of the people of Israel. In accepting the creation account, we are allowing God’s word to reveal something of which we know nothing. We were not there; we did not see Creation form. It is best, then, to trust the account of the One who was there and who accomplished it.

Questions to Consider

  • How have you wrestled with a six-day creation versus evolution?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 72

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Day 72

Of Creation

Chapter 4, Paragraph 1.

“… for the manifestation of the glory of His eternal power, wisdom, and goodness,…”

Scripture Lookup

Romans 1:20.

Reflection

This whole universe exists to glorify God.

Did you think that He created it for you? There are those out there that do think this. “God made all this – for us!” they exclaim. And there is much to this world that we can enjoy. Yet there are a multitude of things out there that we will never experience, no matter how much you cram into one lifetime. Why then would you think that this earth was made just for you?

No matter how much we try, we cannot match the power, wisdom, and goodness of God that He has manifested in creation. Can we create weather patterns and systems to work together throughout the earth? No, we can only observe them. Can we create the proper balance of systems in the body? No, we can only manage them as best we can. Can we make the sinner good? No, we can only point the way to the One who does.

So you and I, the trees and rocks, the mountains and canyons, the stars and the lava under the earth, we all exist to show forth God’s glory. That is why He created all things. When we look at the universe with this in mind, we don’t have to explore with a consumer attitude – “What’s in this world for me?” – but we can discover with wonder all that is around us, and praise Him for it.

Questions to Consider

  • How does creation help you to glorify God?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 71

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Day 71

Of Creation

Chapter 4, Paragraph 1.

“In the beginning it pleased God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,..”

Scripture Lookup

John 1:2,3.

Hebrews 1:2.

Job 26:13.

Reflection

If we grow up hearing the stories of the Bible, it can be easy to think that God was the Father in the Old Testament, and then the trinity came along in the New. After all, it seems like we don’t hear about the Son in the Old Testament, and the Spirit sort of hangs out in the background until Acts. But God never changes, and if we look closely at Scripture we recognize that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have always been, and were all instrumental in creating our world.

The Bible tells us that all three members of the trinity took part in creation. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) The account goes on: “The Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” That Spirit is the Holy Spirit. While we do not have explicit mention of the Son in Genesis, we are told in John 1 that all things came into being through Him.

This once again demonstrates the intimate involvement God has with His creation. Not one person of the trinity was removed from the act of creation! God was in no way indifferent when He spoke our world into existence. This same God, this same trinity still takes an active role in upholding the world and drawing sinners to Himself.

Questions to Consider

  • Have you ever reflected upon the role of the trinity in the work of creation?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 70

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Day 70

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 7.

“…diligence, and abundant consolation, to all that sincerely obey the Gospel.“

Scripture Lookup

Luke 10:20.

Reflection

…work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. -Philippians 2:12,13

The doctrine of predestination does not mean that we can simply sit back and do whatever we desire. Rather, we are still called to obey God’s commands. While we strive for holiness, we do not have to be anxious about doing it on our own. The outcome is assured because God has decreed it so; we can pursue holiness with confidence that we will obtain salvation.

Knowing that God has chosen some for salvation is a great comfort when it comes to evangelism. His elect are out there!  The pressure is off; there is no convincing on our part that will change someone’s mind apart from the work of the Holy Spirit in them. There is no need to “win souls”, to meet a certain quota of decisions for Christ. Be ready to defend the Gospel, proclaim the Gospel, and be a faithful witness to the Gospel. God will use us to reach those who are His.

Because of the doctrine of predestination, we stand amazed at the wisdom and power of God. He has freely chosen a people for Himself. He has decreed the means by which His elect obtain salvation, and He loses none of them. For that, we are forever thankful.

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

Questions to Consider

  • What have you learned about the doctrine of predestination? Will it affect how you evangelize?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 69

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Day 69

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 7.

“…reverence, and admiration of God, and of humility,…“

Scripture Lookup

Romans 11:5, 6, 20.

Reflection

The doctrine of predestination should lead to reverence. That God has chosen some for eternal life, and that He has decreed the means by which this happens, demonstrates His excellent and superior character. He is good, and He is just. There is none like Him. Therefore, He is worthy of all worship.

The doctrine of predestination should lead to admiration of God. His love, mercy, and wisdom are infinite. That alone is worthy of admiration, but this righteous and holy Being is intimately involved with His creation, decreeing all things whatsoever comes to pass!

The doctrine of predestination should lead to humility. There are many who claim the name of Christian who grab hold of this doctrine and insist on beating everyone over the head with it. To speak of the doctrine of predestination, but have no humility, is brutal and boorish, the very opposite attitude than what this doctrine should produce. Because of predestination, there is absolutely nothing in us that is responsible for our salvation – it is all of God.

Questions to Consider

  • If you have acknowledged the truth of the doctrine of predestination, do you have a humble attitude about it?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 68

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Day 68

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 7.

“so shall this doctrine afford matter of praise,…“

Scripture Lookup

Ephesians 1:6.

Romans 11:33.

Reflection

The doctrine of predestination should lead us to praise God.

Why?

He has selected a people for glory!

Slaves to sin? That is no longer who we are.

The eternal consequences of sin? We are rescued from enduring them.

We are new creations in Christ. We are growing in godliness every day. We will spend eternity in the presence of One who is most holy, most wise, most free, most absolute. The One who is infinite perfection has chosen a people to know Him and dwell with Him.

He who does all things well has decreed this. It is good. It is worthy of praise.

Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
For it is pleasant and praise is becoming.

-Psalm 147:1

Questions to Consider

  • Does the doctrine of predestination lead you to praise God?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 67

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Day 67

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 7.

“The Doctrine of this high mystery of predestination, is to be handled with special prudence, and care; that men attending the will of God revealed in his word, and yielding obedience thereunto, may from the certainty of their effectual vocation, be assured of their eternal election;...“

Scripture Lookup

1 Thessalonians 1: 4,5.

2 Peter 1:10.

Reflection

Sometimes I fear maybe I’m not chosen

You’ve hardened my heart like Pharaoh

and that would explain why life is so hard for me

-Aaron Tate, “Prove Me Wrong”

Initially, predestination is a hard doctrine to accept. It can be confusing as well. When introduced to the idea, many ask: if God has chosen some to eternal life, do we evangelize? Can the elect do whatever they want, since they are predestined anyway? How do we even know if someone is elect or not?

This confusion about predestination is why it is important to handle this doctrine “with special prudence and care”. So many, when they learn that salvation is all of God, rush to proclaim that over all other doctrines. We see this in so much of the internet today. How many of the discussions and posts on the web about predestination use care and prudence?

After learning about predestination, and realizing that salvation is not a choice made by the individual, you may wonder if you are part of the elect. Can you know if you are elect? Sam Waldron writes, “If we see faith in Christ, sanctification, perseverance in the Christian life in our own cases, they are present in us only because of electing grace….if they are our possession, we may be sure that we are elect.”

Questions to Consider

  • How have you handled the doctrine of predestination?

A Little Time With The 1689: Day 66

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Nicholas Mutton [CC BY-SA 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

Day 66

Of God’s Decree

Chapter 3, Paragraph 6.

” …neither are any other redeemed by Christ, or effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved, but the elect only.“

Scripture Lookup

John 10:26; 17:9; 6:64.

Reflection

All the elect share the same journey of being called, justified, adopted, sanctified, and saved. They are redeemed by Christ. But this journey and this redemption are only for them. Anyone who does not have faith, anyone who does not share this path to salvation, are not redeemed by Christ. They are not elect. And they have no desire to be. As Sam Waldron writes, “Outside of electing mercy…no one wants to be saved.”

There is a scene in C.S. Lewis’ book The Last Battle where a pagan warrior, Emeth, is accepted at death by Aslan for the good he did in the name of his god, Tash: “If any man swear by Tash and keep the oath for the oath’s sake, it is by me that he has truly sworn, though he know it not, and it is I who reward him.”

Lewis’ sentiment towards Emeth is shared by many. Our thoughts turn immediately to the pagan in a far-off land who never heard the Gospel. What about him? “There is good in all religions,” as someone said to me recently. It seems noble to have genuinely sincere Buddhists, or Muslims, or humanists obtain salvation. Yet the world’s view of nobility does not recognize the vileness of sin, especially the sin of unbelief. Christ must be known, for He alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. -Matthew 7:13, 14

Those redeemed by Christ will journey on the same path, through explicit faith in Him. In this there is no deviation, for “there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 1:12) May we be ever mindful of that in our witness.

Questions to Consider

  • Do you ever act as if those without Christ are still saved?